Genetically Engineered and Genetically Enhanced

New Horizons Research

New Horizons Research was a small research facility founded in the year 1785 on the Reonan calendar. When the Earthlings invaded Reona in the year 1792, New Horizons developed a group of genetically engineered humans with superior strength, excellent hand-to-hand combat skills, more durable skin, superior speed, and superior agility. They also lack empathy and basic human emotion making them the perfect soldiers. They were all male. The research made them defeat Earthling humans and win the war.

After the war, the Reonan humans and Earthling humans signed a peace treaty and they coexisted. However, the Earthling humans lived on separate colonies from the Reonan humans. The genetically engineered men were introduced into the workforce doing labor for the humans that bought them. Eventually, the genetically engineered men went maverick and turned on both Reonans and Earthlings. They killed every Earthling on Reona and killed some Reonans, as well. The genetically engineered men and the scientists that created them were ordered to be executed. They shot and burned the bodies of the genetically engineered men and hung the scientists. 

Come the 20th century in 1918, Dr. Wolfgang Duerr and Dr. Dodd Lancaster discovered old notes left behind in an old ruin. Both scientists brought them back to their lab to study the notes. They were fascinated with such a concept and Dr. Lancaster thought it would be good to revive New Horizons in case of another Earthling invasion or invasion from any other planet. 

Dr. Duerr suggested that instead of creating new humans as the notes read, he wanted to enhance humans. The first genetically enhanced test subject was in 1922. 

Genetically Engineered Men

Genetically engineered humans are like the aforementioned created in the late 18th century. However, the newer ones were born between the years 1964 to 1975. New Horizons Research undertook pregnant women willing to undergo their experiments. They inserted a device in their womb to engineer the baby. The babies born were all male, but none of the mothers who gave birth to the boys survived the childbirth. This project was a failure because the boys born had inferior intelligence, short attention span, and no interest in combat. The project was shut down in the late 70s. Genetically engineered men have no psionic abilities and nothing beyond superior strength and durability. Their motor and intelligence are significantly poorer than normal human beings. Their lifespans are also shorter, so they usually die between the ages of 21-24. The earliest genetically engineered men had shorter lifespans at 13-years-old is when they eventually drop dead. 

Genetically Enhanced Humans

Dr. Duerr had his first genetically enhanced test subject in 1922 and the last recorded test subjects were in 1981. They inject the serum into a human and the serum alters their genetics. This can either kill the test subject or give them special abilities called "ethereal prowess." These special abilities can be super strength, super speed, flight, psionic powers, shapeshifting, etc. One person can have one ethereal prowess each, but there are rare cases when a person can have two at most. 

Genetically enhanced people will never age and they are biologically immortal. They cannot die unless they are killed. 

Too much of the serum can give a person sharp teeth or turn their eyes silver. 

If a person has psionic abilities and they use their powers to the fullest extent, it will overwhelm them and they need rest, reenergizing serum, and/or eating copious amounts of food. 

In the year 1964, a bunch of children was sold to a New Horizons Research Facility to undergo serum treatments and extensive training to become super soldiers. The project was shut down in 1974 when a masked man broke in to rescue a child and set the place ablaze. 

In the year 1981, New Horizons Research started another project under the guise of a camp located in Rose Lakewood, Garden State. The premise of the camp was for campers to get away and take the pain away. The real premise was to genetically enhance more people. The scientists injected the campers with serum and at the end of the summer of 1981, the camp shut down and vanished without a trace. 

Reona and Pink Top City

 Planet Reona

The story of Verdant Hawk takes place on Planet Reona. Earth has been destroyed years ago and Earthlings invaded Reona in the year 1792. 1792 in Reona would be on Earth's far future. The current year of the story is 1987. Reona has two natural satellites that orbit the planet and one sun in their solar system.

Reonans

Reonans, although aliens are human beings. They are not Earthling humans, nevertheless, they are human. They are omnivores, but some choose to be vegetarian, vegan, or pescatarian. They come in many shapes and sizes and look very much like Earthlings. However, Reonans DO NOT GROW HAIR BELOW THE NECKLINE. This is why when they are nude they have no pubic hair. Back in the 1970s, some bought pubic wigs—mainly porn stars and sex workers—because it was a fad and some men bought chest hair wigs. Some men don't grow facial hair at all. These men would be Deimos Katsaros, Lazaros Katsaros, Dr. Mark Koks, John Somers, Trevor Hinkley, and Ray Osborne. 

Reonans are fifty times stronger than an Earthling. Their skin is more durable; their strength is much greater. 

Reonans also have natural hair colors such as green, red, yellow, pink, blue, and purple. Purple is the most common eye color. The most common hair color is blue. Blonde hair on Reonans is incredibly rare and so are brown eyes.

Reonans do not get sexually transmitted diseases or most of the viruses and diseases Earthlings get. They do get the Red Nile Virus, which develops within them and there is no known cure. It is not contagious. Blair's grandmother, Concetta Donati, died of the Red Nile Virus in 1982.

Pink Top City

It takes place in Pink Top City, Palm Tree State, United States. Pink Top City is based on Miami, Florida. It doesn't snow in Pink Top City; the only recorded snowfall was in January of 1942 and the snow didn't accumulate. It does have four seasons like anywhere else in the world. However, their climate is warmer but wet. The average temperature in summer (June, July, and August) would be 85º to 90º; the average temperature in winter (December, January, and February) would be 76º to 55º; the average temperature in spring (March, April, and May) would be 81º to 69º, and the average temperature in autumn (September, October, and November) would be 85º to 71º. Many palm trees grow in the state Pink Top City is in. The wildlife consists of snakes, some venomous snakes but nothing too lethal, spiders, the Palm Tree State panther, alligators, frogs, etc. 

Transportation

On Reona, people drive cars, motorbikes, or scooters. If they don't drive, they go on a bike, skateboard, get a taxi, or use public transportation. Public transportation in the city consists of buses, trains, and subways. You need a license to drive a car. The age to get your permit varies by state. In Palm Tree State, the age is 16. 

Clothing and Jewelry 

It's typical clothing and jewelry of the 1980s. Legwarmers, jelly shoes, fingerless gloves, stretch stirrup pants, torn jeans, oversized blazers, etc. 

Architecture and Furniture

Most of the (better) homes in Pink Top City are Mediterranean style homes, haciendas, etc.

The Katsaros' live in a modern, hacienda mansion with a semicircular driveway going right up to the front door and a palm-tree-dotted yard. Once entered, guests are greeted with an immense parlor, decorated in neo-Victorian style, and designed to accommodate dozens of guests. The living room was spacious, with a white sectional sofa and an easy chair facing a stylishly engraved coffee table and an inbuilt entertainment center. The backyard was a luxurious back patio with a huge swimming pool, palm tree gardens, fire pits lit up, and picnic tables for dining, lounges, all in a climate-controlled enclosure.

The Donatis live in an elaborate hacienda-style façade looked posher than it actually is. Arched windows and a dramatic portico with scrolled columns gracefully feature in this Mediterranean design. This home overflowed with character and detail. Space for entertaining is shared between the dining room and the elegant living room, accented by the zero corner sliding glass doors, and the casual wet bar. The living room is impressive with its fireplace and built-in shelving. The kitchen works well with the dinette and its beautiful section of mitered glass. It is a cozy, rustic-looking kitchen with hardwood on nearly every surface and ample seating for quick meals or full banquets. An enormous family room has a warming fireplace and a built-in entertainment center. You could see the backyard from the window in the kitchen. It is a luxurious back patio with a Japanese rock garden and a reflecting pool.

Music

It's the music of the 1980s. There is a rise in dance and new wave. Rock music continues to enjoy a wide audience; there's soft rock, glam metal, thrash metal, shred guitar characterized by heavy distortion, pinch harmonics, and whammy bar abuse. Smooth jazz is also popular. Glam metal is currently the most successful genre in the United States. 

Indie bands are also a big thing in Pink Top City. One of their indie bands is Ouro Novo, which is an electro synthpop band. 

After the Earthling Invasion of 1792 and Reona made peace with what Earthlings survived the war, they became enamored and fascinated with their culture. They introduced many things the Earthlings celebrated to Reona such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, etc. 

Holidays, Wedding and Funeral Customs

Wedding and funeral customs vary by country or by person. Some countries do arrange marriages and some countries don't believe in cremation. In the country Pink Top City is in, for most, you can marry who you fall in love with (or whose money you want). Weddings are held on the beach, a park, or a replica of a church on Earth should someone want a wedding as the Earthlings had. 

Funerals are held in a funeral home or, in rare cases, the deceased's home. 

Technology

Although medical technology is much more advanced than Earth's was, the technology currently is that of the 1980s with the internet being that of the early 1990s. Not many people have the internet or use it sans government places. They use brick phones, pagers, payphones, etc. 

Cuisine

Pink Top City is known for its wide variety of cuisines from all over the world. They're best known for their fish sandwiches, rock shrimp, stone crab, steak sandwiches, key lime pies, fried Oreos, mojitos, and fried snapper. The very rich will order Pine Tree State Lobster in spring. Deimos' favorite dish is lobster shipped from Pine Tree State. 

Arms

Weapons such as guns, grenades, knives, swords, kukris, etc. are used for combat. Most civilians keep at least one handgun stored in a gun cabinet. The police are also armed with guns. Celeste uses a wide variety of weapons, but she prefers her Beretta 84 Cheetah. 

Taboos

Genetically engineered humans and genetically enhanced humans are illegal. Since the Earthling invasion of 1792, it was made illegal. A group of scientists created thirteen genetically engineered men created to be super soldiers. They were sterile, all-male, had a short life span, and seemingly no emotion. They were successful in eradicating most of the Earthlings. However, when the war ended and the Reonans made peace with the Earthlings, the super soldiers were free to do whatever they wanted for the remainder of their natural life. The men went maverick and turned on Reonans and killed one of the princes. They were ordered to be executed as well as the scientists who created them. 

That isn't stopping underground facilities from creating artificial life or genetically enhancing humans and animals to be super soldiers. 

The Peleus Star System

 

The Peleus Star System is a very small part of the Zagreus Galaxy. It is 4 million light-years away from The Milky Way galaxy. 

The Peleus Star System is the star system where the planet Reona is located. It's the third planet in the orbit. On a clear Reonan night, the dwarf planet, Theurilia, Crade BXC6, and the "Blue Star" Dalmeron can be seen. 

Theurilia

Theurilia is the dwarf terrestrial planet closest to the sun. It's also known as the "red star" and can be seen with the naked on a clear Reonan night. Theurillia is the smallest planet in the Paleus Star System. It has no natural satellites and no life. No life could settle on Theurilia due to the asteroids colliding with the planet and the days being incredibly hot, the nights being incredibly cold. The demonym for the planet is Theurilian. 

Crade BXC6

Crade BXC6, otherwise known as the "orange star", is another small terrestrial planet in the Paleus Star System. Like Theurilia, it has no natural satellites. The atmosphere on Crade BXC6 is very dangerous. It has a thick, toxic atmosphere filled with carbon dioxide and it’s perpetually shrouded in thick, orange clouds of mostly sulfuric acid that trap heat, causing a runaway greenhouse effect. As with Theurilia, no life could settle on Crade BXC6. The demonym for the planet is Cradian. 

Reona 

Reona is a large terrestrial planet and the only planet in the Paleus Star System that has human life. Although Reonans are humans, they are not Earthling humans. Reona is the second-largest planet in the Paleus Star System. It has two natural satellites. Reona's atmosphere protects them from incoming meteoroids, most of which break up in the atmosphere before they can strike the surface. The atmosphere is made up of mostly nitrogen and plenty of oxygen, which made it the perfect planet for Earthlings to invade. The demonym for the planet is Reonan.

Dalmeron

Dalmeron is the largest terrestrial planet in the Paleus star system. Since there are no clouds, night and day skies are always clear. Dalmeron once had life before the Earthling unleashed a virus on the planet killing almost everyone on it, except for the three of the four great rulers. Reona received the blame for unleashing the virus. Dalmeronians are sexless humanoid species. They use "he/him" pronouns and some can reproduce asexually. Their skin and hair colors range from pink, purple, blue, green, orange, and red. They're usually over eight-feet tall, have long elven ears, and tails ranging from bob to long. Dalmeronians are all biologically immortal and can eat at least four times a year. The atmosphere on Dalmeron is made up of argon, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen. The planet has three natural satellites. Since there is no life on there now, it's considered a dead planet. 

Strao

Strao is a medium-size diamond planet. Like Chaenope, Strao rotates counter-clockwise but unlike Chaenope, it rotates on its side. Strao has one ring and three natural satellites. The surface on Strao resembles yellow diamonds or crystals. The atmosphere is made up of hydrogen, helium, and methane. Due to the atmosphere, Strao couldn't support any kind of life. The demonym for the planet is Straoan. 

Chaenope

Chaenope is the third-largest terrestrial planet in the Paleus Star system. It is also known as the "purple ring star." The planet is adorned with thousands of ringlets. It has twenty-three natural satellites. It also has life. Chaenopians are humanoid, anthropomorphic feline beings. The atmosphere is perpetually shrouded in purple clouds, thus making it next to impossible to see anything in the sky. The planet is made up of sixty percent of land and forty percent of water. The demonym for the planet is Chaenopian. 

Boapra

Boapra is another terrestrial planet with life on it. They are anthropomorphic snakes who need to be near or live in water. Boapra is a swap planet made up of a muddy green surface and green, murky water. Boapra has three natural satellites and one ring. The demonym for the planet is Boapran. 

Gralopra

Gralopra is another terrestrial planet with life on it. They are large reptilian bipeds that thrive on cold, dry surfaces. The terrain on Gralopra is rugged, dry, and has little water. Gralopra has three rings and two natural satellites. 

Xupra 

Xupra is a terrestrial planet with life on it. The life on Xupra is anything but intelligent. They are cockroaches who cannot be killed by anything unless they eat peanuts or nuts. There was vegetation and plant life on Xupra until the Xuprans ate it all and now it's a planet filled with stupid cockroaches and trash. The garbage from Reona is shipped off to Xupra. Xupra has one ring and one natural satellite. The demonym is Xupran.