Vanguard Base, nestled at the edge of the expansive Barran Plains, had always been a place of power and purpose. It was a fortress of iron and stone, shrouded in secrecy and rigor, where only the strongest were allowed to train, and where the faintest weaknesses were weeded out. The Genesis Batch, the 300 handpicked recruits from across the globe, were considered the best of the best. Yet, in this place, they were nothing more than seeds—seeds for a purpose far greater than their individual selves.
The sterile halls of the base buzzed with the hum of advanced technology and the occasional snap of boots on the floor. The Genesis Batch, now split into specialized squads, each focused on a different aspect of combat and strategy, walked with purpose through the complex corridors. They had already been in training for two years—two grueling years that had forged their bodies and minds into weapons. Yet, their transformation had only just begun.
Inside one of the larger training rooms, a class was in session. The room was filled with steel desks and hard-backed chairs, each one occupied by a member of the Genesis Batch. Today’s lecture, like many others, was about the very thing that made them different from the rest of humanity: the Stellar Factor, or S-Factor.
At the front of the room stood General Martin “Hawk” Eberhardt, the grizzled, no-nonsense officer who oversaw the Genesis Batch's training. His sharp eyes scanned the room, taking in each of the students with a quiet intensity that seemed to bore into their very souls.
“Hear me, all of you,” General Hawk began, his voice gravelly from years of command.
“What makes you different isn’t your strength, your speed, or your intelligence. It’s the S-Factor coursing through you. It’s a cosmic power, one that isn’t naturally born of this world. It's harvested from the cracks in the fabric of space itself. The same cracks that connect us to worlds beyond our own.”
The room fell silent, every ear attuned to the words of their instructor. Nilo Finnegan, sitting in the second row, stared at the general with unwavering focus. For the hundredth time, he was reminded of the vastness of the world they were part of—how their strength came from a source that no ordinary person could even begin to comprehend.
“The first of you to witness S-Factor's true power were the Titans,” General Hawk continued, his gaze sweeping across the room. “Ancient beings, born from the cracks in space. They controlled the power of the stars themselves. Over time, this power was sealed, hidden away to prevent its misuse. But even in its dormant state, the S-Factor was too tempting for mankind to ignore.”
He clicked a remote, and a holographic image appeared in front of the class—a map of Earth, dotted with various marks. Each mark represented a space crack, a rift in space-time that led to a universe far beyond their own. The cracks were as diverse as the worlds they connected to—some filled with treasure, others teeming with monstrous creatures, all of them holding an untold wealth of power.
“This,” Hawk said, pointing to one of the brightest marks on the map, “is what brought us here. The Space Cracks.”
A faint hum filled the room as the image shifted to show a massive, chaotic whirlpool of energy, constantly shifting and pulsing. These were the very cracks they had been trained to explore, to extract the S-Factor from. Some were dangerous, others… not so much. But all of them held the potential to change the world—if one could survive long enough to harness the power inside.
Nilo shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his fingers tapping nervously against the desk. He had heard the stories. How the first Stellar Soldiers had been born when a group of soldiers, like him, had stumbled upon one of these cracks. How they were chosen for their potential—chosen to carry a power that could alter the fate of entire nations. But the cracks were not the only danger they faced. The true challenge lay in surviving long enough to claim the power inside.
“The S-Factor is unpredictable,” General Hawk said, drawing Nilo’s attention back to the front. “Not all of you will survive the process. Not all of you will make it to the point where you can access its full potential. Some will crack under the pressure, some will lose themselves in the power it gives them. The history of the Stellar Soldiers is one of both triumph and tragedy.”
A murmur rippled through the class. Nilo could feel it—the unease, the uncertainty. They all knew the risks, but that didn’t make them any easier to bear.
“Any questions?” General Hawk asked, his voice cutting through the tension.
A hand shot up in the back of the room. It was Rohan, known as Absorber for his ability to take in and convert energy. He had been one of the first to show potential in the program, and his sharp mind often stood out in class discussions.
“I have a question,” Rohan said, his voice clear and confident. “We’re told that the S-Factor is harvested from these Space Cracks, but what exactly is the S-Factor? Is it just energy, or is there more to it?”
General Hawk regarded Rohan for a moment, his eyes narrowing as he thought. “Good question,” he replied, tapping his chin. “The S-Factor, at its core, is a form of pure cosmic energy—something that exists beyond our understanding of the natural world. It can be molded, shaped, and used in different ways. For some, it enhances physical abilities, granting them strength, speed, or healing powers. For others, like Nilo here”—Hawk gestured toward Nilo, who froze under the unexpected attention—“it manifests in the form of thought acceleration and fire. Each person’s connection to the S-Factor is different. It’s part of what makes you all unique.”
Nilo shifted uncomfortably under the weight of his sudden spotlight. The classroom seemed to hang on every word, and for a moment, he wished he could disappear into the walls. He didn’t like being reminded of the fact that his abilities, the very ones that had made him different from everyone else, were both a gift and a curse.
“What about the risks?” A new voice broke through the silence. It was Lee, one of the newer members of the Genesis Batch, a quiet yet sharp individual. “How do we know if we’re even ready for this? How do we control it?”
General Hawk’s expression grew serious. “You don’t. You learn to manage it. You learn to push your body and mind beyond its natural limits. The S-Factor is a beast that doesn’t come with a manual. You either master it… or it masters you.”
Nilo felt the familiar weight of that statement settle in his chest. He’d heard it all before—every one of them had. But hearing it again, knowing how close they were to the edge, brought a certain clarity. There was no going back.
The class continued with a deeper dive into the mechanics of S-Factor control and its applications. But the words had lost their weight to Nilo. His mind wandered back to the day he had first harnessed his powers, back to the moment he had learned what it truly meant to be part of the Genesis Batch.
He had been a rookie, unsure of what lay ahead. But now, as the lessons continued, Nilo knew that the true test was not in mastering the power within them, but in surviving the consequences of that power. The day would come when they would have to face that reckoning—and not everyone would make it out alive.
The day’s lecture ended with a quiet hum, and the members of the Genesis Batch dispersed for their next trial. This was not the end of the lesson, but the beginning. The real challenge lay in their training, the way they would hone their abilities and forge the bonds that would sustain them when they faced the unknown.
Training that day began with the introduction of what had become a hallmark of the Genesis Batch: the S-Factor Trials.
Each member of the Batch had to undergo a set of challenges meant to test their abilities, their mind, and their will to survive. The trials were designed to mimic real-life combat situations—unpredictable, brutal, and unforgiving. And in the heart of those trials, bonds were formed, tested, and sometimes shattered.
Love what you're reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
Nilo had faced a number of these trials by now, but the most recent one stood out to him. It had taken place in the simulated jungle terrain of Vanguard’s training ground, where they had been tasked with retrieving a beacon located deep within enemy territory. It was a mock operation, but the stakes had felt all too real.
The mission had been a mess from the start. The terrain was dense, and the squad had been divided into smaller teams. As usual, Nilo and Rohan were paired together, their abilities complementing each other perfectly. Nilo’s thought acceleration had allowed him to guide their movements, predicting enemy patterns and making their way through the dense jungle with precision. Rohan, with his energy manipulation, had been able to clear obstacles and deal with environmental hazards that would have been impossible for the others.
They had reached the target location just as the enemy squad had set up an ambush. The battle had been fierce. Rohan absorbed a barrage of energy blasts aimed at him, transforming them into raw force that tore through the enemy ranks. Nilo, guided by his accelerated thoughts, had been able to predict the enemy’s next moves with pinpoint accuracy, leading their team through the chaos with swift decisiveness.
But it wasn’t until they were caught in the middle of a collapsing structure that the bond between Nilo and Rohan truly solidified. Rohan had been the one to act first—he had used his ability to absorb the crushing force of the collapsing building, redirecting it into a barrier that shielded their team from harm.
In that moment, Nilo understood the true depth of their bond. They were not just comrades—they were connected by something deeper, something forged in the fires of shared struggle.
After the dust settled, Nilo stood amidst the wreckage, looking at his squad. They had made it through this trial, but not without scars—physical and emotional. He could feel the weight of their shared experience hanging in the air, the knowledge that each of them had been tested in ways they couldn’t yet fully comprehend.
In the days that followed, they began to rely on each other more, pushing themselves and each other to be better, to be stronger. And in the quiet moments, when the adrenaline had faded, they would catch each other’s gaze and know that no matter what trials lay ahead, they would face them together.
And for Nilo, that was the only certainty he could hold onto in a world that seemed to change with every passing moment.
The trials at Vanguard Base were relentless. Each day was a new test, a new obstacle to overcome. But the Genesis Batch, the elite group of recruits destined to become the first true Stellar Soldiers, had learned to adapt. They were no longer just individuals—they were a unit, bound by the trials they had faced together. The bonds forged in combat were unbreakable, tested time and time again by the training that pushed them to their limits.
As the weeks passed, their understanding of the S-Factor deepened. Some began to manifest new abilities—abilities that defied the limits of human potential. Others, like Nilo, learned to control their powers with greater precision, making them even more dangerous on the battlefield. The class discussions on S-Factor, led by General Hawk, became less about theory and more about practical application. The students no longer asked how they could control it—they asked how they could use it to its fullest extent.
But even as they grew in strength and ability, doubts lingered. There were times when the weight of the S-Factor, and the responsibility it came with, felt almost unbearable. Nilo could see it in the eyes of his comrades—each of them grappling with their own inner demons, their own fears about the power they wielded.
One evening, as the sun set over the horizon, casting long shadows over Vanguard Base, Nilo found himself sitting alone in one of the training rooms. His fingers drummed nervously on the edge of the table, and his thoughts wandered back to the mission they had completed earlier that day.
The mission had been a success, but it had left a lingering unease in his chest. They had completed their objective, secured the target, and returned to base without casualties. But the operation had been more dangerous than he had anticipated, and for the first time since joining the Genesis Batch, Nilo felt the weight of his powers pressing against him.
His accelerated thoughts, while a gift, were also a curse. They allowed him to move faster, think clearer, and predict the movements of his enemies with unparalleled precision. But the constant flow of information could be overwhelming. It was like trying to drink from a fire hose—too much to process, too much to handle. Sometimes, Nilo wondered if he was losing himself in the chaos of it all.
A soft knock on the door broke him from his thoughts.
“Got a minute?” It was Rohan, his tone casual but the look in his eyes betraying the concern he probably hadn’t intended to show.
Nilo nodded and gestured to the empty chair across from him. “Yeah. What’s up?”
Rohan sat down, folding his arms across his chest. He had always been a quiet one, more introspective than most, but there was an intensity to him that drew people in. It was no surprise that he had been one of the first to show true potential with the S-Factor. His energy absorption abilities had proven invaluable in their training, and Nilo knew that Rohan’s intellect was just as sharp as his power.
“I’ve been thinking,” Rohan began, “about the trials. The S-Factor. What we’re supposed to become.” His eyes flickered for a moment, as if he were considering his next words carefully. “We’re not ordinary soldiers, Nilo. We’re not like them. We’re something else, something… more.”
Nilo shifted in his seat, avoiding Rohan’s gaze for a moment. He had heard these thoughts before. The Genesis Batch was a unique breed—born from the fusion of human potential and cosmic power. They were stronger, faster, and more capable than any soldier before them. But with that power came an inevitable truth: They were no longer truly human.
“I know what you mean,” Nilo said softly. “I’ve been thinking about that too. The more I train, the more I use my powers, the more I feel like I’m losing myself. It’s like I’m not the same person I was before all this.” He leaned forward, his hands clasped tightly together. “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.”
Rohan remained silent for a long moment, watching Nilo carefully. Then, finally, he spoke again. “We’re all changing, Nilo. The S-Factor is transforming us into something new, something better—or at least that’s what they say. But change isn’t easy. And it’s not always clean.”
“I guess that’s what scares me,” Nilo admitted. “What if I can’t control it? What if I go too far, and the power takes over?”
Rohan gave him a sharp look. “We’re supposed to change. That’s the point of this whole thing. The question is, how do we adapt to the change? How do we stay who we are, even as we become something else?”
Nilo didn’t answer right away. Instead, he stared out the window, watching as the last rays of sunlight dipped beneath the horizon. His mind raced with thoughts of what they were becoming. Were they truly becoming stronger? Or were they simply losing themselves in the pursuit of power?
A crash suddenly disturbed the silence between the two Brilliant Cadets, it was a head poking from the floor.
“Uhh, can you guys call the Hawk, or some medics. I think I broke too much stuff this time” Byron laughed awkwardly while looking up at the two of them.
The three young men looked at each other and started laughing nonstop.
---
In the days that followed, the Genesis Batch continued their training, each trial pushing them further into the unknown. The bonds between the recruits strengthened, forged through shared struggles and triumphs. Nilo found himself growing closer to some of the members—especially Rohan, whose quiet strength and unwavering resolve had earned his respect.
There was also something more that Nilo had begun to notice—something subtle but undeniable. The cracks in their unity were starting to show. They were becoming different people, each one struggling with their own sense of identity and purpose. Some of them were starting to question the program, the mission, and their place in it all.
It wasn’t long before the next trial arrived.
The squad was assembled in the briefing room, standing at attention as General Hawk entered. His usual stern demeanor was replaced with something else—a look of resolve, as though he had received an order that he could not ignore.
“Listen up,” Hawk said, his voice cutting through the tension in the room. “We’ve received intel on a new mission. This one’s going to be different. I need all of you at your best. No mistakes. Understood?”
The team nodded in unison, the weight of the General’s words hanging heavily in the air.
“This mission is a high-risk operation. We’re being sent to secure a key facility in the Eastern Coalition, one that has been developing advanced technology. We don’t know exactly what they’ve been working on, but we do know it’s dangerous. We’re not just dealing with a standard enemy force. This is a black-ops mission, and you’re the only ones who can handle it.”
Nilo felt a chill run down his spine as the reality of the situation set in. The Eastern Coalition had been one of the most technologically advanced powers in the world, and their military was known for being ruthless and unpredictable. This mission was going to be their biggest test yet.
“The mission parameters are simple,” General Hawk continued. “You’ll be split into squads. The goal is to infiltrate the facility, neutralize any threats, and secure any intelligence. You’ll have limited support, so expect to be operating in hostile territory. Get in, get the job done, and get out. No heroics. Just the mission.”
Nilo glanced around at his teammates, the familiar faces of his comrades now filled with an intensity that matched his own. They had trained for moments like this, but the reality of it was different. It was no longer just a drill. This was real.
Rohan caught Nilo’s gaze and gave him a small, reassuring nod. They had faced the unknown together before. This time would be no different.
“We’re all in this together,” Nilo muttered under his breath. And with that, he knew there was no turning back. This mission would change everything.
---
The Genesis Batch had grown into something more than just a group of soldiers. They were the future of warfare, a new breed of soldier forged from the stars themselves. And though they faced uncertain paths ahead, they had one thing that set them apart from the rest of humanity: They were no ordinaries. And no matter what came next, they would face it together.
