QuAD-RU;PLET

Solemn peaceful fog stirred over the horizon, blanketing the surroundings of a nearby beach shore. The pale and lifeless color of the sands, followed by the white waves splashing against the muddy rocks gave no indication of inhabitants due to its dull silence. But once the Lordrans gathered here and made the location their official establishment, nothing seemed to change about the lifeless nature of the location. To them, they seldom lacked the capacity to replicate humanity's primitive qualities to bring life where they lived. Instead, they were empty husks, feeding off one of another's lust for greater power.

Among the dull shores were three of the Lordran clones; yet one was missing. The great bashful and aggressive Lordran was not there to set the stage for cheerful small talk, making the stage even duller.

The Lordrans partook in activities that were replications of humanity. Therefore, the Lordrans partook in activities such as reading, exercising, eating simple tastes, and sleeping. But none of them ever found the reason behind it. Logic was nonexistent, which is why the first Lordran studied a book about logic, and the second one persevered through capturing and eating. The fourth, whose brash hyena-like personality always broke the silence between the quadruplets from their maniacal laughter, was sent to slumber while the others partook in these productive times.

"If Mother was here, don't you think she would have disowned us by now?" The second Lordran asked the others. He examined the flesh of his torn right arm, touching the base of where it was severed and poking it like a child would for their first toy. "I mean, we are doing what our destroyers did."

"We are," The first Lordran said, flipping the book on his page of logic. "She would be upset, but she would also be proud of us."

"How so?"

"We condemn such traitorous activities for Mother, but we seek to understand its limitations and flaws to condemn it with logic rather than destruction. Would it not be better to rebuild this planet without soiling and staining our hands with blood?"

The second Lordran pouted and pressed his elbows against a wooden table set near the shore. A table lamp rested near the corner of it, but its plug was loosened, floating among the waters like fish bait. "Mother would have done the latter," He said. Suddenly, he exploded with vibrant jubilation over talk of Mother and shouted at the top of his lungs. "Wait, so does that mean we're one big happy family?! You, me, and the other two?"

"I guess you could say that. Your logic is wise." The first Lordran said.

"So... we're like brothers then, right?"

"That is correct. But your point is vague. What do you seek to replicate?"

"I just want to be one big happy family!" The second Lordran exclaimed, nestling back into his seat. "I'm just so excited to see Mother, and I'm sure she'd be proud to see how much we've grown."

The first Lordran set the book on logic aside and stood up from his wooden seat, resting his palms behind his waist. He walked to the distant shores and examined the emptiness of the foggy vistas blanketing the world. "In order to prepare for Mother's return, we must do all we can to usher in this new age just for her. But Battalion Gamma is doing everything for us. We must seek to be productive otherwise."

"Oh, I know!" The second Lordran exploded from his seat. "Let's give each other official names, just like mothers would give their sons!"

The fourth Lordran, who had awoken from his nap, chuckled in agreement.

"I see. Then, what would you like to be called?"

"Something cool and memorable! Like Sand! Or something."

"Sand? You wish to be named after the dirt we stand upon?"

"Or... Wave! Ugh, I got nothing..."

The first Lordran chuckled before turning back toward the waves. The other two glanced upon him, wishing for his wise nature to activate and bless them. "We are the progenitors of Mother, the creation of our life. In humanity's version of the first kind, they kindly called their three sons Cain, Abel, and Seth."

"Ooh, I like it!" The second Lordran grimaced at the joy of the names. "Wait, but there's four of us."

"We shall give Seth to the name of the third, while..." The first Lordran glared at the fourth, resting innocently on the shore with a dumbfounded expression that failed to conduce a decision among the declaration. "Our fourth shall be named... Joy."

The fourth laughed and nodded fiercely; so fierce that their eyeballs nearly popped out of their socket with the amount of excitement surging through their veins.

"I think he likes it," The second Lordran guessed. "So, I guess I'm Abel now... wait, why do I have to be Abel again?"

"It was your idea to create names to impress Mother for her return," Cain said, stepping back into his wooden seat with the book of logic in his lap. "Besides, I like the name. It suits you, Abel."

"Abel, huh," Abel's heart brimmed to the peak with excitement, having him jump in joy. "Abel! Abel! I like it now! It's got a certain ring to it! You're a genius, brother! Hey, but... where's Seth?"

"He's currently researching an interesting specimen of humanity," Cain said, flipping back to the pages of his book. "One that we hope to visit quite soon, and one who holds great influence over the current standings of the planet. His presence befalls the world as more of a... imperial warlord well-known to the public."

"Wow, a warlord..." Abel squished his cheeks and rested back into his seat. His eyes gleamed with envy. "Wish I could be a warlord for Mother. I could command her soldiers to ravage the humans! They're part of her, aren't they?"

"We already do, Abel. We already do, master of ceremonies." Cain said.

"Oh, right," Abel muttered. "Then, I guess I'll practice my warlord talk! The next time I see Seth, he'll be proud of me!"