Jeremy Flagg's Blog, page 2

The Body Shop

Paladins

The Culling eliminated the growing threat of mentalists in the United States. After the nuclear disaster in New England, President Joyce assigns Mark Davis to oversee the New York Research Facility, including its studies of mentalists and their abilities. But seeing the potential of mentalists, the program is expanded with military operations. Operation Second Sight is launched within the Research Facility.

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Eleanor P. Valentine

Eleanor Bouvier is born on February 13, 1917 to Grace and Harold Bouvier on a small farm in the Midwest. Four years later, she is joined by her brother Benjamin ���Benji��� Bouvier. School records describe Eleanor as a curious young girl with a fondness for literature. However, they also describe her as often having tantrums and creating a world of make-believe she insists are real. Eventually, she and her brother are homeschooled by their mother.

Because of poor documentation, little else is known about Eleanor during her formative years. A grave marker shows that both her father and brother died before her teen years. Mother, Grace eventually begins working at a nurse at a local hospital and Eleanor is listed as a volunteer helping wounded soldiers.

At this point, there is a gap. During this period, in the closest city to their family farm, a young girl is recorded as being committed to psychiatric care. However, internal records give no name. This same girl is suspected of killing a psychiatrist and fleeing the institution. The headlines read, ���Girl Runaway, Dangerous.�����

Years later, Eleanor Bouvier surfaces in New York City as the beneficiary of Frank Wright and renter of a small apartment. While little is known, her name appears alongside socialites and artists. Her affiliation and occupation are unknown.��

The name Eleanor P. Bouvier is never used again, but documents suggest she changed her name to Eleanor P. Valentine. Reason is unknown. Press coverage of the United Nations shows photographic evidence of Eleanor Valentine alongside the United Nations Commissioner on Human Rights and former First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt. No connection can be found.

It is not until President Cecilia Joyce makes a public statement about the existence of mentalists is Eleanor P. Valentine revealed. With her precognition, the media coverage declares her the ���Daughter of Nostradamus.��� President Joyce claims Eleanor as a ���long-time family friend,��� but the connection is unclear. At this point, she works for the White House in an advisory capacity.��

Her tenure as White House Advisor leads to the United States avoiding declarations of war and expanding its infrastructure while investing in emerging technologies. This is cut short by her attempt to assassinate President Joyce and leads to the ���Culling��� of mentalists across the country.

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Genesis Division

Genesis Division is known for its advancements in technology in cybernetics, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and augmented reality. Since 1992, Genesis Division partnered with the United States to implement its technologies at every level, both domestically and internationally. Later, they are awarded the sole military contract, leading to nearly all innovations being driven by government demand.

New York City records show that Genesis Division is established on June 1, 1946. However, there is no mention of the founder(s) and because of their connection with the United States of America, files are redacted. This continues to be a source of conspiracy theories. Dominant belief is that the company���s origins are tied to President Cecilia Joyce���s family.

Prior to the 1992 ���Cleansing,��� Genesis Division created a branch with the sole intent of studying mentalists and the source of their supernatural abilities. While they achieved no medical breakthroughs, this results in a database of all persons with mental abilities. The government later uses this list to eradicate all mentalists in the name of national security.

While their mentalist research offered no results, they resurrected this division in response to the 2012 Nostradamus Effect. Genesis Division determines that while mentalists are a subsect of Homo Sapien, it is an unidentified cosmic event transforming mankind into powered individuals. At the behest of the President, resources are driven to understanding the growing concern around powered individuals.

While researchers seek to unlock the source of their abilities, Genesis Division also establishes the synthetic program, providing law enforcement and military support with robotic reinforcements. Partnering with their biotechnology division, Genesis Division offers medical and prosthetic options for soldiers injured in combat. Shortly after, they open the first known, ���Body Shop��� offering soldiers enhancements to aid them in their service. Two years later, the first civilian Body Shop is created, catering to the wealthy and elite.��

During this period, Genesis Division seeks to dominate in global media. Within two years��� time, Genesis Division is the sole provider of media of television, radio, and internet. Only Asia remains independent from their reach.

Speculation about the success of Genesis Division continues to emerge. Their ability to overcome recessions and make technological advancements defy logic. A consistent rumor is whispered between the between President Cecilia Joyce and her connection to former White House advisor, Eleanor P. Valentine. While there may be evidence to lend credence to this conspiracy, Genesis Division has the resources to keep it suppressed.

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The Outlands

The states known as New England ceased to exist in 1992. At the command of President Joyce, mentalists across the United States are neutralized in their sleep. Capitalizing on country-wide chaos, eco-terrorists invade nuclear power stations in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. All three nuclear reactors are breeched and lead to an explosion destroying surrounding cities. With the reactor buildings destroyed, large amounts of radiation escape into the atmosphere, rendering the surrounding states a ���kill zone.���

The government makes no evacuation attempt. Twelve-million citizens of Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire and upstate New York are presumed dead. Canada opens its borders for evacuees.

The president declares New England the ���Outlands.���

The United States declares the Outlands uninhabitable until 2030. Vegetation returns and claims decaying architecture. Surveillance drones patrol the wasteland and report small populations emerging within its lawless borders. Deemed, ���Outlanders,��� these tribal communities hide within buildings capable of withstanding radiation poisoning. These groups deemed no threat to the United States government.

With prison systems overwhelmed by the efficiency of synthetic soldiers, the President turns to the Outlands for a solution. Walls are erected on the borders of the Outlands, patrolled by automated sentries. Convicted felons are offered a chance to live out their sentences within the Outlands. Many fight for resources and eventually join the gangs for protection. Conflicts between rivals maintain population control.��

After discovering their immunity to sickness, including radiation poisoning, Children of Nostradamus live in the area formerly known as Downtown Boston. What started as a small contingent of escapees had grown into a sizable community. Government action is taken and the first military strike disperses their numbers. However, a small band of Children remains. The situation remains closely monitored by the Corps.

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Synthetic (Police Issue)

Originally designed by Genesis Division for additional workforce in potentially lethal environments. Early models of synthetics utilized rudimentary artificial intelligence to complete repetitive tasks. With the second generation and increased task complexity, it was found the artificial intelligence worked best when paired with human operators. Obtaining an exclusive contract with the United States Corps, Genesis Division pivoted with a focus on developing new models suited for peace keeping missions both domestically and internationally.

Production increased and synthetic development plants were created in Chicago and Maryland. Synthetics were mobilized in high-crime cities and within weeks, peace was maintained. By executive order of President Joyce, synthetics were incorporated in every metropolitan police department. Displaced officers were recruited to be part of the hubs requiring human intelligence to augment the synthetic artificial intelligence.

The residents of synthetic supervised report brutality, claiming the machines are unable to distinguish between petty and capital crimes. Official reports claim operations permitted the use of deadly force. While residents fear the machines patrolling their streets, crime statistics continue to drop with their introduction. In larger cities such as Los Angeles, Chicago, Baltimore and Boston, synthetics have all but replaced the human officers.

Genesis Division continue their research and development. Synthetics are equipped with additional crowd suppression technology and non-lethal weapons. Shortly after, attempts to remove the human operators from integrating with synthetics is attempted and resulted in mass casualties during a peaceful protest. Human operators are reinstated as Genesis Division invest resources into the expansion of their Artificial Intelligence program.

Later models of synthetics include variations in shape and armament for specific tasks. HPCLs (High Powered Compact Lasers) are added to their arsenal. The introduction of “K9” models are developed to allow for faster pursuit. This leads to standard synthetics having the ability to transform as needed.��

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