Vortex:HEROS

The world’s media is abuzz at the new discovery at the scientific corporation Rift Technologies, commonly known as Riftec. This has the potential to be exactly the solution to some of the energy issues. Riftec’s headquarters is located in Tokyo, Japan. Word of their discovery has attracted many investors, military and civilian alike. The day of the demonstration has arrived, and all of the investors gather at the showcase. They enter into a long room with a large drill like device on the other side.

“Let’s begin” says director Dr. Kensuke Nakajima. “Ok, everyone please take your seats” responds Dr. Samuel Carted. “As you well know, we are running out of ways to power our cities. While renewable energy helps, our growing population needs more energy. Our scientists have developed groundbreaking technology, and we have discovered a new source. It is close to us, but at the same time it isn’t. It is located in another dimension. Using our breakthrough invention, we will now harvest this power”. “Start the drill” orders Dr. Nakajima.

At his word the dimensional drill activates. A loud whirring noise is heard. A red swirl wraps around the drill as it moves forward. The drill penetrates the Dimensional Wall and a red lightning bolt strikes the collector. The indicator reads that the energy collector has gathered an incredible amount. “Excellent, now we ca- “A sudden alarm interrupts Dr. Carter. The energy levels suddenly spiked, and the surrounding consoles spark with electricity. “Emergency discharge!” yells Dr. Nakajima. The technician hits a button and a large red energy bolt launches upward. It flies out of the showroom and into the sky. The bolt extends outward and shoot off red lightning in all directions.

Moments later a strange purple cloud appears in the sky. This cloud sinks to the ground and begins to expand upwards. Suddenly, several energy beams shoot outward and a pathway between dimensions forms. Strange beings pour out. They look like living storm clouds gathered around a large yellow orb. They range in size from 50 to 75 meters tall. These beings begin to wreak havoc, attacking everything around them. More rifts open up around the city, allowing additional beings to pass through. Within the next hour rifts have opened up all over the world.

Within the next week, 95% of humanity is wiped out. The militaries of the world gathered together to stop these creatures. Normal weapons did nothing, so they used nuclear strikes. After the dust settled, the beings remained undamaged. They retaliate with golden beams of energy, decimating the soldiers. The few survivors run away. The creatures rampage around the world for three weeks. They don’t sleep, don’t eat, and don’t stop. The event is named the Red Tear

The surviving humans regroup. In total there are about 8000 people left alive. They decide to build one last city capable of ensuring humanity’s survival. It will be located in Europe. Europe was chosen because it was not nuked. This city, to be named Bulwark, is designed to defend against the creatures, now called Vortex. The city will take at least five years to be completed. The survivors know that the city alone will not survive another attack. The newly formed council enacts the Harmful Entity Repellant Operational System, or HEROS project. With Dr. Kensuke Nakajima’s help, and studying the remnants of the Vortex, they hope to fight the Vortex and defend the city. The candidates will be the orphans who survived the attack. 100 children are selected, and the military took custody of all of them. Their names were taken away and they were given Id numbers. One of the trainees, pilot B3N2297 has one memento of his former life. He wears a heart shaped locket, with a portrait of his parents inside. It belonged to his mother.

The defense project has been working on a prototype of the HEROS cockpit system. The pilots will be neurologically linked with the machine. To achieve the neural link, probes will be attached directly to the spinal cord. The insertion of the probes is incredibly painful, but will not damage the spine. The pilot seat aligns their backs for optimal positioning of the probes.

The 100 Kids, now age 6, are brought one at a time into a large room. In the room is the cockpit. General Allen Harke steps forward. He is imposing, standing at almost 2 meters tall. “Listen up pilots! Now we will test your compatibility with the linking process. First up is you, recruit V1N2657”. He goes up and sits on the seat. The appendage connects to his back, and he moves his arms to the lock in position. The machine activates, and the probes dig into his back. He yells out in pain. “Focus pilot! Now try and move the attached arm” says Harke. The arm moves a little. Suddenly the recruit’s vital signs flatline. He has a seizure and dies on the spot. “Damn, not compatible...” says Harke. Several more kids meet the same fate. There were a total of 12 deaths, reducing the number of kids to 88.

“It would seem that natural compatibility is not possible...” says Dr. Nakajima. “We need to fix this...” General Harke walks in and says “So, what do we do?” “The machinery is powered by cores infused with red energy....so we need to transfer the element directly into the kids.” replies Nakajima. “You’re a monster, you know that?” Harke says. “Dr, Nakajima sighs, and says “Yeah, I may be a monster, but I must become one to save the world”. “How many will survive?” “At best, only a handful”.

The remaining 88 kids are brought to a medical center and are strapped to tables. Medical staff comes to each one and hooks up an iv. Dr. Nakajima is above in an observation area. He activates the central machine and all of the kids receive a high dose of the red material. All cry out in pain as the red matter enters their bloodstream. The energy ravages their bodies, and infuses their cells. Unfortunately, most of the kids can’t handle this level of pain and stress. Of the 88, only 12 survive. Two days later, recruit B3N2297 is selected for a comparability test. He holds his heart shaped locket tightly in his hands and sits in the seat. His arms are locked into place, and the probes are inserted. A jolt of red energy emits from inside him, passing through the machine. The compatibility test is a success and he easily moves the machine arm. “We finally have a pilot!” Nakajima says as he watches. All of the remaining kids pass their tests.

Several years pass as the development of the HEROS machines continue. The recruits spend all of their time training to be pilots. They are separated into groups of 3. In group Alpha are B3N2297, M4RK268, and L1Z5719. They showed the highest compatibility with the machines. The other pilots form up Beta, Delta, and Gamma units. At the moment, the prototypes are only available for Alpha.

The HEROS project now has several working mechs. There are three types of prototypes currently built. First is the Swordsman, which uses an energy blade. Next is the Lancer. It is equipped with an extendable energy lance and a shield for defense. Third is the Marksman, wielding a bow that fires energy arrows. The HEROS machines are 65 meters tall and are made of strong metal alloys and have internal organic components. The organic components were based on Vortex remnants and regulate the HEROS energy levels. They are kept functional by a red material liquid constantly circulating inside the HEROS.

The pilots are now at age 11. The energy infusion has had a dramatic effect on their bodies. The energy triggered a growth spurt and early development. B3N2297 is a young man with brown hair and blue eyes. He has a pale complexion. M4RK268 has a darker skin color, brown eyes, and short black hair. L1Z5719 has bright orange hair and green eyes. She has a scar on her back from when she was injured during the Red Tear. All three have been brought up by the military. They were kept separate from each other to focus on training. They had very little social interaction and are focused on completing the mission. Once they were selected for the same group, they were assigned the same dorm to grow as a team.

When they began living together, things were awkward. They worked great as a military team, as they were trained for, but they didn’t interact much during their off hours. It took a while for the three to start talking. It quickly became apparent that referring to each other by their id numbers wasn’t working. They decided on nicknames for each other. B3N became Ben, M4RK became Mark, and L1Z became Liz.

The time has come for the first field test of the HEROS machines. Ben was assigned the Sword HEROS, Mark was paired with the Lancer, and Liz was placed with the Marksman. Ben, Mark, and Liz walked towards the hangar, each wearing a pilot suit. Each suit is colored similarly to the corresponding HEROS. The HEROS units are large humanoid robots. The HEROS units are gray figures wearing armor. The Swordsman has blue, the Lancer has green, and the Marksman has silver.

Alpha unit was loaded into their HEROS machines. Once inside they sit in their seats and their arms lock into place. The probes move into position. The suits the pilots have has the guidance for the correct placement. The probes enter inside their bodies. This causes all three intense pain. “Alright Alpha Unit, deploy!” yells General Harke.” Release the docking clamps”. The restraints disengage and the HEROS take their first steps. Everything proceeds smoothly and the machines take a walk around Bulwark. “Now, let’s test the weapons system” Harke says. Ben activates the energy blade. It looks like a hilt to a Katana. It has a switch in the side that extends the energy blade. Ben swings it around. Liz takes out her bow and fires off a couple energy arrows. Mark uses the energy lance and thrusts it a few times. “The tests are going well, bring the machines b- “a loud alarm interrupts Harke. “Sir, we are detecting several Vortex patterns!” “Battle stations!” yells Harke. “Alpha Unit, move to intercept!

The three Vortex are class 1’s. Class 1 Vortex look like a mass of swirling energy. They float around, and look like a storm cloud. The Vortex bodies are varying shades of purple surrounding a golden core. The core holds the mass together. It is capable of firing a beam of yellow energy that can tear through almost anything. If the core is penetrated by an energy weapon it will dissipate and the Vortex will die.

Within the next few minutes three Vortex are sighted. “Sir, the class ones are closing in!” “Designate targets as Vortex 1-3” Harke says. Ben, Liz and Mark ready their weapons. Liz takes a shot at Vortex 2. It grazes, and the Vortex returns fire. A golden beam of energy is shot from the center and Mark moves to block it. His shield easily absorbs the impact. Ben takes the opening and rushes in. He slashes Vortex 2 through the center, destroying the core. The Vortex dissipates, leaving behind the core shell. Liz takes aim at Vortex 1 and strikes the core with an arrow. The Vortex dissolves and Mark advances on Vortex 3. It fires another golden beam and he blocks it. The Vortex continues to blast him with the beam. Mark uses his shield and pushes toward the Vortex. With a strike with his lance, Mark defeats Vortex 3. “Well done, Alpha team! There’s our first Vortex kills! Humanity now has a fighting chance!”