CHAPTER 1

Ad' Drin, August 22, 3577, 2056 Hours

Hera looked up to the night sky. The lime-greenhaze slowly changed into crimson red, as ithad every night for two years now. The calamitydestroyed the first human empire and brought itto ashes under a shower of Lime-Green Stew. Allthat remained was anarchy: decaying city-statesand occupied bands of survivors, slowly watchingAd' Drin die.

Death came in lime-green clouds that explodedinto life with four small ships on every humanworld, in the confederacy as well as arc worlds.This unique energy fell in tendrils, touching randomspots on the planet. All it touched fell dead, rotted,or in most cases changed life, turning into mutantsor bringing the dead to life.

Hera picked at a small cut on his right forearm.He gazed back at the small city, one of the fewremaining on the south end of the continent. Asmall lime-green cloud sat over the ruined city.Hera could see small lines begin to condense inthe cloud. "Tendrils need to hurry. They don't havemuch time."

Hera was a young man, barely nineteen now.He was six foot two, with skin darkened by thesun, and messy black hair and red highlights.

Hera came up to the gates of the small city,catching his breath. He began to speak. "You needto warn the people of this city. Tendrils are aboutto fall."

One of two guards approached Hera, yelling athim. "Piss off, boy. The city gates are closed. Comeback in the morning."

"Damn it, you, the Lime- Green cloud is goingto fall y'all need to warn someone or people willdie."

"That cloud has been lingering for weeks. If itwas going to fall, it would have by now!"

"Beat it, kid!"

The man raised his weapon to scare Hera awaybut quickly fell to his knees. Hera punched the manin his lower jaw. The second man jumped fromthe barrier. Hera had him on the ground beforethe man realized what happened. The small blacksword opened, exposing a barrel. "Tell whoever incharge they need to release everyone. Tendrils areabout to fall. Do ya get me?"

Hera ran to the city as sirens were being alarmed.He began to make his way to the center of the city.His goal was to help people escape. He would stayto the last minute. Hera stopped at the sound ofsinging. "Fucking Christians, no imaginary beingis going to save you." Hera raced to the music. Alarge church dominated the street.

The secular wars unified humans and gavebirth to Coelum Simia, a new race of man, muchstronger than their predecessors and brought bygenetic tapering and exotic climates. Each wascapable of doing superhuman feats of strength;these humans had more animal-like stances andmovements. Children of the gods waged war withsecular simians to purge them from the planet.They were blamed for the destruction of the Earth'secology, disease, and causing needless deaths. Butseculars outnumbered religious three to one, andthe war was lost.

People's singing in the church turned intoscreams as Hera blasted the doors open. "Everyone,you need to evacuate the city. Tendrils are aboutto fall."

"We know, my dear boy, that's why we arehere. We are ready to return to god."

"You can't believe that, sir."

"How many churches, young man, have youbarged in, asking for people to go with you, andhow many left in your hands?"

"Actually this is my first. I usually let y'all die."

"We are here to give our souls to the savior,son. All we ask for is peace."

"And you shall have it. Sorry for interruptingyour sermon, sir."

"All is forgiven."

"If anyone wants to come with me, you shall,but I'm going to leave now." Hera lowered hisweapon and went for the door.

"Wait." Hera turned to see a young girl, who wasmaybe seventeen, with tears in her eyes. She hadpale skin and orange hair with blue highlights.

"Star, if you go with him, you abandon god."

"No, Mum, I don't. He's not my god. He'syours."

Star took off after Hera, her mother screamingfor her behind her. Hera was waiting for her outsidethe church. "Let's go."

Star had trouble keeping up with Hera's pace,but she did her best. Chaos roamed the street, asit was every man for himself.

"Come on, we are almost to the city gates."Hera grabbed the girl's arm and hauled her throughthe crowd.

Star turned her head to look behind her. Tendrilsbegan to touch down. Long arms of lime-greenexotic radiation wrapped itself around every objectit touched. Then with no effort crushed buildingto their foundations. Blue lighting shot from thearms, striking people in the streets or blanketingthem in lime-green haze. Star and Hera made itout of the doomed city. Hera ran for the crowd ofpeople.

"Hey, can I have everyone's attention? We needto keep moving. The cloud has killed the city, but itwill not remain such for long. There's a safe zoneabout ten miles south of here. I suggest you getmoving or die this night. That is where I'm going.Please, everyone, follow behind me."

Hi' Ko Safe Zone, August 23, 3577, 0410 Hours

Hera was in front of the crowd, leading them tosafety. "What's your name, girl?" Hera asked.

"Star," the girl said, turning her tired eyes tohim. "Star Cassidy."

"Star Cassidy sounds like a cowboy," Herasaid.

"What is your name?" Star asked.

"Hera Kila' Ka."

"Hera, I believe that first I heard that name ona man before."

Hera laughed. "My parents were hippies."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Hera," Star replied.

"Mum's not dead, nor is my father or youngersister. They are all alive in T' ne."

"Okay, sorry, I guess. What is it you exactly doaround here in the wasteland?"

It took some time before Hera answered, "Iroamed the waste to help survivors, tell themwhere they need to go to find T' ne. Food, safety,weapons, rights, and a clean slate are waiting forthem there."

"I take it that's where we are not going, is it?"Star asked Hera.

Hera pulled out a cigarette from an unusedammo pouch. "Nope, we are not. T' ne is over twohundred miles away, and I am no babysitter. I'mtaking everyone to Hi' Ko. There you have a placeto live and work. If not, you'll leave with clotheson your back. Speaking of which, we are here."Hera ran in front of the crowd, stopping them."If everyone would wait here for a minute, thankyou." Hera walked to the gate of Hi' Ko City. Hewas approached by men in hazmat gear.

Star tried to hear what they were talking about.She tried to get closer through the crowd but wasstopped by one of the men in biohazard gear. "Hey,what the hell! Let go of me!"

"Sorry, ma'am, it's protocol."

"Hera, please help me!"

"No, you all are not my problem anymore!"

"Hera!"

Star and other survivors were taken by the menin hazmat, through the city gates. Other men werein civilian attire. They opened a giant hangar door.Star began to cry. She knew what would happennow. "What are y'all doing to me?" The men stayedsilent. "Answer me, damn you!"

Star was thrown into the wall. The men beganto search her for valuables, as they did witheveryone who made their way to Hi' Ko. "No,leave me alone. Stop it, please." Star was on thecold cement, hugging her body. The men beganto throw delousing power and other chemicals onher. "What the fuck! This burns!" Star tried to clearher eyes but was hosed down by water.

She was immediately thrown to her knees. Thewater was colder than she had ever felt before.Gasping for air, she still tried to yell,...