The Humanity's Greed

[Start]

Another two years passed, and everybody was aware of the Gears. The concept of these extraordinary tools seeped into the fabric of human existence, like a murmuring wind swelling into a storm. Streets buzzed with conversations, filled with awe and fear, as businesses illuminated with bright neon signs flaunted their new technological wares. Each storefront echoed with the voices of hopeful citizens, who were either eager to acquire their own Gears or caught in a web of paranoia and uncertainty, wondering what it meant to live in a world dominated by such power.

Some enterprises tried to commercialize a cheap replication of the Gears and palliative serums. The atmosphere was tense, charged with a sense of impending change; a gray sky threatened rain, as the sun peeked through shifting clouds casting dramatic shadows. Thanks to some researchers who grouped themselves as a non-governmental organization named DEP (Department of External Phenomenon), we could mention the neuroscientist from the USA (Mark Robinson, age 32, with twin children, one of whom is blind), the engineer from Germany (Leo Reinhard, age 28), the plastic surgeon from Canada (Christina Narcy, age 48, researching against aging), the biologist from Japan (Kanzaki Shinjoku, age 55), and many other volunteer scientists who disclosed some processes for fabricating the Gears with good intentions, thinking it would stop humans from killing each other to acquire them.

[Main]

Naturally, that wasn't the case; humans were still greedy worldwide. The shadows of dimly lit alleyways crept with unease as citizens who didn't have the Gears could be killed by thugs who possessed them or be abused with alternative Gears to commit crueler crimes. The air thickened with tension, amplified by whispered confrontations at street corners. Each government increased security in accordance with directives instructed by the United Nations, which supplied defense systems to all countries with the help of researchers who did their best to collaborate with the government. It felt like a widespread martial law, an invisible shroud layering over daily life.

The USA and its allies created an organization named TAB ("The Anti-Gears Battalion"); when a country could not overcome the menace in its region, the TAB intervened with powerful soldiers. The scientists in TAB created equipment that could neutralize Gear users and render them ineffective. Being in the TAB organization granted unlimited advantages worldwide; you could travel anywhere without a visa or passport, and you had a special card to purchase whatever you wanted, an enticing lure as people began to jockey for position within its ranks.

Russia and its allies did not want this, so they created their own organization named DOP ("Defense Of the Planet"), which had almost the same privileges as the TAB, while China created POH ("Protection Of Humanity"). Arabic countries also created their alliance, named FAE ("Force Against Evil"), and finally, Africa made its own alliance called POW ("Peace Of World").

Genau (actual rank <23S>) could not help but join the TAB, the clamor of clashing ideologies swelling around him like an endless storm. The government knew he was a Gear user, having used it to create his company, and his fight with that unknown adversary was his main preoccupation, like a ghost haunting him in a maze of darkened rooms filled with memories. He could not resist the government's duty; he now thought there might be beings more powerful than him, even though he was an Esper who mastered electricity voltage. He would remain low-profile for now, his heart pounding like a war drum.

Working with TAB, he met his battalion, assigned to him: Leonardo Grantis (actual rank <25S>, an Esper for black holes, functioning like vacuum cleaners), and June Kang (age 20, from South Korea, actual rank <18S>, having the ability to change an object's weight to [200g - 1000 Kg] for 10 seconds). It was a cacophony of anticipation and uncertainty as they barged into the large assembly room, its walls embellished with the flags of numerous nations hanging triumphantly overhead. To his great surprise, among the battalions gathered in the large room, he recognized the annoying face of Maria (actual rank <18S>, an Esper with telekinesis who could levitate objects, max weight to lift: normal cars).

She was in another battalion with Martin Rousseau (actual rank <15S>, an Esper for healing), and finally, Tifany Moon (actual rank <16S>, an Esper who could create any object from steel, like swords, hammers, keys, etc.). The principle in the TAB agency was simple: the highest-ranked member of each battalion commanded the others. Genau hid his face, but Maria spotted him from afar, as if she knew he would be there, trying to approach to tease him as usual, as if they were a couple.

Meanwhile, in the DOP, battalion 1 consisted of Ivan Rukovski (actual rank <25S>, an Esper with ground manipulation). The atmosphere was heavy with rain, droplets cascading down windows like tears. A sense of dread lingered in the air, punctuated by the sharper gusts of wind that rattled the ancient trees surrounding their command center. Don Yung (age 40, from North Korea, actual rank <24S>, an Esper specializing in explosives), and Taimas Zhanat (age 35, from Kazakhstan, actual rank <23S>, an Esper of invisibility), comprised the rest of the group, each bearing the weight of their own experiences and scars.

Among the battalions with members close to Russia, like Pakistan, Mongolia, etc., the anguish of endless power struggles echoed. This was also the moment for Genau to find out about the old man who had defeated him back in the USA; he wanted to find an opportunity to pay him back, a fire burning deep within him, a need for redemption and strength coursing through his veins.

Meanwhile, in POH, their battalion consisted of Wu Chang (actual rank <23S>, an Esper with teleportation, max weight for teleportation: approximately 2 persons, could only teleport to 20 m of distance), Malik Kali (age 48, from India, actual rank <22S>, an Esper with vision/prediction for 5 minutes into the future), Maya Rini (age 25, actual rank <21S>, from Indonesia, an Esper with mirage/illusion abilities), and other battalions with members from China, like Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, etc. The strong scent of spices wafted around the makeshift barracks, causing the atmosphere to blend with culinary warmth amidst the battlefield turmoil.

Meanwhile, in FAE, their battalion 1 comprised Arash Behzad (age 28, from Iran, actual rank <24S>, an Esper capable of controlling another's body upon touching them), Adem Ahmet (age 35, from Turkey, actual rank <21S>, an Esper specializing in mind manipulation), Aida Bast (age 25, from Egypt, actual rank <20S>, an Esper in tree and fertility or ground manipulation), and other battalions with members from countries close to Egypt like Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq, Syria, etc. The air was rich with tension, layered with the weight of dense histories and intricate alliances that made communication fractious, echoing the struggles and victories of generations past.

Meanwhile, in POW, their battalion 1 included Omar Assan (age 38, from Mali, actual rank <24S>, an Esper with physical strength), Sitota Maleda (age 22, from Ethiopia, actual rank <23S>, an Esper who could control fire), and Michael Sello (age 32, from South Africa, actual rank <23S>, an Esper who controlled water), alongside other battalions with members from countries like Chad, Cameroon, Niger, and Côte d'Ivoire, etc. Physical confrontations in training grounds echoed proudly within their battalion, where the rhythm of panting breaths and clashing bodies amplified the fierce camaraderie they forged through shared struggles.

The world was in disarray, but thanks to these organizations, the situation was maintained, at least for the moment. Meanwhile, the DEP also released another research paper for a beta test medicine that could regenerate human DNA cells. As people leaned against their workstations, eyes glued to monitors broadcasting live reports, no one was untouched by the poignant reality that youth slipped away like grains of sand through hands. People couldn't fight against aging, thanks to the research of Christina Narcy and Kanzaki Shinjoku. Some companies in the USA, China, and Germany were beginning to mass-produce it; at that moment, the medicine was expensive, and some elites/wealthy people pre-ordered it to regain their youth, their murmurings consumed in a tide of ambition and desire for the impossible.

China became the first country to start the commercialization of a mini teleportation device, thanks to Wu Chang's research. As soon as the news broke, excitement surged, spreading through crowded markets and noisily bustling streets. People could now use these devices at home to teleport objects weighing less than 10 kg. Thanks to this, the shipment of products online became easy to deliver, and many other countries purchased the devices. An enthusiastic buzz reverberated as citizens reveled in their newfound convenience, making it common to swiftly send letters, products, and food, or receive packages rapidly at home. At the time, China became the richest country on the planet, greed and ambition running rampant in the streets, a dance of prosperity built on miracles.

Meanwhile, new technologies emerged, unfurling like petals in spring, showcasing human ingenuity. Nations were able to overcome their energy needs using nuclear energy with hydrogen, which helped them thrive; people enjoyed free electricity and water at home. Desert areas like those in the Sahara in North Africa and the northwest of China or Australia utilized this energy to pump water into those regions, which became greener and favored agriculture and new living areas. During winter, people could keep warm at home with free electricity, their faces glowing with warmth amidst the cold winds that howled outside.

There were some cases, like in Mexico, where cheap serums made by companies were being dealt with unofficially by gangs, causing instability that the government couldn't handle. Shadows flickered under street lamps as crime swelled like an unchecked tide, each report of violence a chilling reminder of disorder. This led to the dispatch of the TAB battalion 1 (Genau Stein, June Kang, and Leonardo Grantis) as aid, while battalion 3 (Maria Delly, Martin Rousseau, and Tifany Moon) was sent to Australia to confront unidentified monsters that had emerged and were rampaging in the northwest of the country. The cries of terrified civilians echoed in the night air, punctuated by the guttural roars of the creatures they faced. These monsters were created by evil scientists running an underground lab in that region; their goal was to take control of the country via a coup d'état by using these monsters to claim the actual government was ineffective.

Meanwhile, the DOP sent their battalion 1 (Ivan Rukovski, Don Yung, and Taimas Zhanat) to Uzbekistan, where a terrorist organization named Wakda was expanding the country's frontier through the southwest of Kazakhstan to reach the Caspian Sea. The shifting sands of uncertainty drowned the nation, the whispers of treachery echoing through crowded market squares. Presently, Uzbekistan had to acquire goods from either Turkmenistan or Kazakhstan, and each time, the country had to pay transportation taxes. Kazakhstan accused the Uzbekistan government of secretly funding these terrorists, a storm brewing in the political landscape.

Meanwhile, the POH sent their battalion 1 (Wu Chang, Malik Kali, and Maya Rini) to Malaysia to protect the marine trade routes, where pirates were blocking boats transporting goods. A salty breeze swept through the air, and the crashing waves sang a treacherous tune as the sun set over swaying palm trees. China accused the USA of being behind this to supply weapons to the pirates to obstruct China's shipment, given that it was the richest country, hidden agendas swirling like a fog over the tumultuous waters.

Meanwhile, the POW sent their battalion 1 (Omar Assan, Sitota Maleda, and Michael Sello) to the DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo), as resources were still being extracted by terrorists in the eastern part of the country. The rustling of leaves intertwined with grim whispers of despair, blending with the poignant cacophony of the jungle. The DRC suspected Rwanda of being behind this plot with the complicity of Western countries to extract resources, the fragile fabric of trust unraveling thread by thread.

A few months later, breaking news from an independent astronomer in the UK, Isaac Theodore (age 50), revealed that an asteroid would crash into the planet in two years, and according to his simulations, the impact would be fatal, shattering the planet into pieces. Gasps reverberated as the world stood still for a moment, a collective intake of breath saturated with dread. Scientists around the world confirmed this after extensive research, quiet laboratories bustling with frantic energy. Citizens worldwide panicked and descended into chaos, shops emptied as people rushed to prepare for the looming apocalypse.

Countries and defense organizations began calming the population to mitigate the instability caused by the news. The air was thick with anxiety, the hum of crowded rooms teeming with restless energy, a desperate need for answers. Countries with their respective alliances (TAB, DOP, POH, FAE, and POW) initiated collaboration to build common spaceships and space stations. Together, under a blanket of stars and uncertainty, they faced a shared destiny that was no longer theirs alone to navigate.

Fortunately, as they received energy, they could forge raw materials and technologies to achieve this with the help of user scientists employing their Gears. Collaborations flourished under dim lights of brainstorming sessions and crowded conferences. To accomplish this, groups of physicians and engineers (mostly from Germany and Japan) recommended an efficient method for launching spaceships with minimal fuel. Excitement buzzed in the air, alive with ideas and blueprints that flipped from person to person, bolstered by fervent discussions.

They proposed building multiple platforms that formed a kind of floor (like a sandwich but separated by distance) until reaching the atmosphere. On the final platform, they could launch spaceships with minimal fuel, making it a lot easier to breach Earth's gravity after a short distance. A shared hope flickered as laughter erupted in spontaneous bursts around the conference table. They also suggested constructing a mother space station (arch) with sub-stations that would orbit the mother space station.

Countries and organizations embraced this idea like a newfound beacon of hope amidst the encroaching dread. A few months later, China built its gravitational platforms (like heliports, flat squares where each corner had motors/propellers powered by electricity), where each platform formed a level/floor separated by distance from top to bottom until reaching the atmosphere, buzzing with anticipation as their first spaceship soared into the depths of space. They launched their spaceships into space and modules for the future space station with its allies, followed by the USA and its allies, then Russia and its allies, then Iran and its allies, and finally Africa. They extracted every possible raw material from their respective territories to construct their largest stations and sub-stations, their determination unyielding amid adversity.

Around the Earth, they built their headquarters/mother space station and sub-stations for their allies, positioning them above each continent. Technological marvels hovered seamlessly, where machinery whirred and hummed like a well-tuned symphony. For TAB (headquarters/mother space station and sub-stations included), it was situated above the central area between America and Europe, covering a surface area of (in m²) equivalent to the combined size of Mexico and France. For DOP (headquarters/mother space station and sub-stations included), it was positioned above Russia, fitting the size of Mongolia. For POW (headquarters/mother space station and sub-stations included), it was above the SEA region, spanning the size of Tibet. For FAE (headquarters/mother space station and sub-stations included), it was high above Arab territories near Saudi Arabia, encompassing the size of Iraq. Lastly, for POW (headquarters/mother space station and sub-stations included), it was positioned above the DRC, encompassing the size of Cameroon and Gabon.

For the laws of physics, they were located at a distance from Earth comparable to that of the Moon; their headquarters space stations gravitated around the Earth, while the sub-stations revolved around the mother space station. The stars twinkled with the promise of the unknown, offering silent companionship as history unfolded.

A year and a half later, after their new stations stabilized seamlessly, with virtual environments suitable for life (including plants, animals, and humans) established after multiple tests, they planned to transport people, plants, and animals. The most pressing concern was choosing who to prioritize; most organizations opted to prioritize humans last, others put humans first. This sparked public debate, heated discussions resonating as voices clashed and fingers pointed. Compounding the chaos was the fact that the space station could not accommodate all the population, leading to another contentious issue worldwide as elites, scientists, and soldiers were transported as a priority, prompting the public to demand equal rights.

Police were present in all zones where the platforms were established, their authority dwindling in the wave of despair. Still, organizations selected healthy children and citizens; the elderly and prisoners were given the lowest priority. In hushed tones, families worried aloud about their chances; an oppressive fear festered beneath tightly-cropped hair and lips quivering in anxiety. Some chose to stay behind to spend their last days on Earth with family or friends, stepping into a veil of uncertainty as they felt the weight of coming changes. Others willingly decided to remain to protest against the government, believing that escaping into space wouldn't change anything, calling it "the shitty government that they are." The chants rang out defiantly as the air grew thick with tension.

Gradually, humans and other species (except aquatic species, due to the lack of water and space for them) were transported to each of their respective organizations. The overwhelming hum of machinery surrounded the chosen ones like a tide, the ambiance chaotic yet driven, echoing with the uncertainty of new beginnings. It is worth noting that all citizens not originally selected received the cheap Gear replicas that DEP scientists had previously disclosed on Earth, which were mass-produced for everyone. This allowed them to breathe in space without issue and provided protection against damage, as the suit had advanced technology to convert hydrogen to oxygen through a nano reaction.

Five months later, the stations were filled with humans and other species. Each headquarters/mother station bore distinctive designs in both exterior and interior appearances, with a myriad of colors flashing vividly like sparks in the night sky. Subspace stations constructed iconic cities and buildings reflective of their home countries, while the mother station amalgamated iconic elements from each and served as the venue for parliament, meetings, and military operations.

For the USA and its allies, their mother/hq station had 12 floors, where the last two floors were designated for agriculture and farming. The scent of fresh earth filled the air, mingling with sunlight streaming through expansive windows that beckoned life into their sterile surroundings. The 9th and 8th floors hosted the parliament and council, involving the populations of all allies, a whirlwind of discussions swirling in the grand chamber. The 7th floor served as a leisure area, bustling with laughter and chatter. The 6th floor housed shops and malls, echoing with the sounds of children playing and joyous voices. The 5th floor held residences for elites and the wealthy, a stark contrast to the other levels, while the 4th floor accommodated the headquarters of TAB, aggressive energy flooding the space with purposeful strides.

The 3rd floor had residential buildings for soldiers and scientists of TAB, where camaraderie thrived under the clang of metal and the earthy scent of construction. The 2nd floor was designated for all other staff (stewards, servants, aides, technicians) maintaining the spaceship, while the 1st floor served as the port and entry point for other spaceships, a steady stream of craft flying in. And the -1st floor housed factories converting raw materials. The steady pulse of production swept through like a heartbeat, invigorating the very core of their operations. The -2nd floor served as a warehouse for raw materials like steel and gold, echoing with the weight of potential.

Additionally, the numerous sub-stations orbiting were mostly structured similarly to the mother station in terms of floors, except they lacked the TAB headquarters floors. Here in this interconnected eco-system, life pulsated with the energy of hope as they sought to shape a new future in the stars.

On the 3rd floor, the residential quarters for soldiers consisted of large apartments (featuring sub-apartments connected to a meeting room for battalion members to plan their missions or discuss strategies). The walls echoed with mischief and laughter, punctuated by animated discussions mixed with the syrupy-sweet aroma of coffee brewing. Divided into three sections for each battalion member, while pure scientists (like Kanzaki and other elders) who couldn't fight had their buildings situated elsewhere, providing individual apartments for living with family. Geanu, Leonardo, and June opted for the top floor of a building in the soldier's section, gazing wistfully through large windows toward an unknown future, the cosmos stretching endlessly beyond.

Meanwhile, on Earth, people indulged in their last days, as crime surged—sex, drugs, etc. The air buzzed ominously, thick with vice, and the muffled cries of desperation mingled bitterly with frustrated laughter. With no authority remaining, and the police and soldiers who chose to stay unable to maintain order, total depravity ensued, anarchy blossoming amidst desperate circumstances. Chaos reigned supreme as society fragmented, ebbing and flowing like waves crashing against the shore.

Finally, in the last month, as predicted, the asteroid approached at high speed; all stations retreated far away from the Moon, anticipating the impact of the wave collision and debris that could reach the Moon's surface. The massive asteroid barreled directly toward Earth, brimming with fury, leading to a cataclysmic collision that showered dust around the shattered remains of the Earth. A deep, rumbling silence followed, and desolation sprawled before them, a graveyard of realms.

A few weeks later, after stabilization, what remained of Earth manifested as gigantic blocks, having split into 48 parts scattered closely together, accompanied by smaller rocks the size of towns, bricks suitable for single homes, and floating bubbles of ocean water, as well as a boiling bubble of rock at the center of the shattered Earth, containing a lava core. The Moon was also affected, beginning to rotate 180 degrees on itself, a significant change since previously, only half of the Moon's face had been visible for centuries, the cosmic dance of the universe forever altered.

[End]

All countries in the stations witnessed the state of the Earth; these became days of mourning for people who lost relatives, the walls echoing with sobs and silent prayers. After that, the UN ("United Nations") transformed into the UOE ("Unification Of the Earthlings") to cease rivalry and cold wars that had brought them to the brink of extermination, realizing the stations did not guarantee their survival. Consequentially, as the stars twinkled above them, new laws were established for the space around Earth and the solar system, with one of the members being Ana Lesedi (age 40, from South Africa, a female lawyer), a glimmer of hope weaving through the darkness, guiding them toward a future unknown.