All Hail Lux Nocturna! (Part 1)

Genesis was born August 3, 2065 In the land of Purgatory, The Great Purge was in full effect and this poor little girl was caught in the middle of it. Her mother was a courtesan that worked at a temple located at the western region of the city. She would unfortunately succumb to her addiction to amphetamines only a few years after Genesis was born. Thus, the Wolfhounds decided to step in and place Genesis in one of the orphanages that are involuntarily ran by them. To say that Genesis had a rough time at the orphanage is a heavy understatement. She was routinely beaten by her superiors, locked in the basement cellar as punishment for making the simplest mistakes, and sometimes had to survive entire days without food and water. In midst of all the turmoil, she did have a few friends at the orphanage with one that bleakly stood out in particular. A young man named Billy, who was a few years older than Genesis, quickly became fond of her shy yet quirky personality. Whenever Billy was given food by the caretakers, he would always share them with Genesis and made sure she had enough water to drink. Despite his caring nature, he was often targeted by the Wolfhounds and other caretakers for standing up for himself and Genesis. He had a quiet resilience, but it came at a cost. His caretakers would claim that he was secretly resisting the authority of the orphanage’s oppressive regime. Rumors circulated among the other orphans that Billy was being watched closely. Billy and Genesis had many conversations amongst one another about the Atomic Holocaust and the Old Era. One topic that would become WAY more important down the line was the subject of superheroes. Genesis along with a group of other kids were discussing who their favorite superhero was and what kind of superpower would they want to have. As Genesis was struggling to answer the latter question, she suddenly blurted out, "I want a superpower that no one's ever even thought of before!" As if somewhat aroused by the statement, Billy ominously mumbled, "Hmph...intriguing to say the least."

Late in the year of 2080, a grave disaster would hit the orphanage like a freight train. Billy was caught trying to sneak in to the basement cellar in an attempt to smuggle out a message or a small object that could serve as evidence of the orphanage’s dark secrets. All of a sudden, a random explosion occurred that would somehow cause the whole building to catch on fire. In the weeks leading up to this catastrophe, Billy had begun to notice strange behaviors among the orphanage staff. Strange visitors would come at night, and there were whispers of secret experiments and clandestine activities within the orphanage's hidden corridors. He even tried to warn Genesis about the growing danger, but fear kept him silent at times. Despite all the chaos that ensued, The Wolfhounds somehow miraculously managed to safely evacuate everyone out of the building. Everyone except Billy and Genesis. She was still trapped inside one of the children's bedrooms due to the carelessness of her superiors. Every low effort attempt to save her quickly failed. The next day, Genesis was officially pronounced dead but her body was never recovered by the local authorities. Oddly enough, Billy also vanished from the orphanage’s records, leaving behind only faint traces of his defiance and hope. His fate remained a mystery—possibly alive, possibly lost forever in the aftermath of the incident. Yet, within Genesis’s memories, Billy’s sacrifice and kindness lived on, fueling her desire for justice and meaning.

Somewhere in a dark void in the afterlife, Genesis woke up in a cold sweat. She was overwhelmed with fear and had no idea where she was. Genesis tried desperately to wake up but to no avail. As she floated within the cold, endless void, fragments of her past flickered like distant stars. She saw herself as a small child, clutching a worn stuffed animal, hiding behind her mother's skirts in the bustling temple, the scent of incense and faint whispers of lullabies echoing softly. Distant echoes of her screams and laughter blended into the cosmic symphony, a haunting reminder of who she was and what she yearned to become. The harsh realities of the orphanage faded into the background, replaced by fleeting images of Billy’s kind smile and the warmth of a stolen moment of innocence. The void felt like a mirror of her soul, broken yet shimmering with the potential of rebirth. She suddenly started to hear a familiar voice in the distance. It was Billy's voice. Genesis began running towards the voice ecstatic to know that she wasn't alone in this nightmare. However, as she got closer, she slowly realized that she wasn't meeting up with an old friend. This was much different. His presence didn't even feel human. More like something from a darker dimension. The voice urged Genesis not to be afraid and told her that he simply wants to make a proposal to her. "Do you remember that wish you wanted a long time ago? About having a superpower that no one's ever thought of before? I can still make that a possibility, you know?" Genesis replied, "You can really do that?". "Yes, but I must warn you, your life as a human will be completely over. EVERYTHING about you will be transformed into something much greater." With a small fraction of hesitation, Genesis replied, "Fine! I don't care what happens today or tomorrow! JUST DO IT!" The voice responded with a devilish chuckle, "Hang on tight, little girl." Instantly, Genesis' body was torn apart limb from limb and broken down into simple atoms. They were then multiplied, divided, and rearranged into a beautiful constellation of stars in the night sky. Genesis paused for a brief moment to take a look at what she has become. As she stared in amazement, the demonic voice made a quick, ghastly return: "Not quite done yet." Suddenly, Genesis was pulled into a mini black hole where her body would face further reconfiguration. What would soon emerge was something that can only be described as a "metaphysical Picasso”….