Survival, such a thought or instinct is basic for all life in existence. From the smallest cell to the larger predator. It is instinctual as if by the hand of some creator embedding such instructions. Imprinting them upon everything regardless of origin. To survive is to live, to live is to fight, no matter the cost we must pay it. So, in the end we thrive.

Unfortunately, I was not there to witness this great struggle. I had yet to be born or the more apt term... made. My earliest memory was a sense of warmth surrounding me. A euphoria I could only describe as divine. Little did I know at the time it was merely the artificial embryonic fluid. Coating my near fetal body encased in a roneam plated vat. If I were to witness such an event from the outside. I may have been impressed by the apparatus capable of sustaining a lifeform so well. But alas such an honour was not given to one such as I. Merely visions of terms, specifications, concepts and knowledge embedded into my psyche as I slept awaiting my awakening.

From those earliest memories I could understand several things as the knowledge was force feed to my mind. The first knowledge was of my world, a planet they called Korvan centred in the Remas solar system. It comprised five celestial bodies in total, Korvan, Malex, Havtan, our sun Peltor and our orbiting moon of Meraxis. Such concepts meant little to me at the time but we are fascinating nonetheless. Especially since each planet was named after a great ruler of ages after each era was formed.

The species of which I believe I am part of are called the Korvenin, from images I could discern what I may look like. Fully grown I'm dark red skin, two legs, two arms, solid black eyes with a silver iris. They apparently glow in the dark likely for night vision. Two indents on the side of our heads with small holes I believe used for hearing. A protrusion on the centre of our face for a sense of smell. A slit just below guarding sharpened teeth perhaps we were predators in the past as we evolved to dominate this planet.

Other concepts were shown to me such as the social hierarchy of the country. A country I apparently owed my allegiance to. The Samsiran Empire, a civilisation that spans their entire continent with twenty administered zones. Containing on average four to seven cities, with a total imperial population exceeding two billion inhabitants. The structure of this civilisation I owed absolute and unquestioning loyalty to is a curious thing. According to history a virus known as the Vuruten Seed was used by another Empire known as the Martop Imperium. Though they deny ever releasing such a virus. It was used to render most of the population sterile with only a small percentage able to be vaccinated. But no matter the damage was done, and the virus spread across the globe. Infecting the world as over ninety-nine percent of the populace became sterile and unable to have children.

A sensible Korvenin would think this event could bridge the gap between the four warring countries that dotted this world. Alas my people did not believe in simply surviving together but to thrive above all others. The former way of life was gone as a new culture and governmental system came about with the new social order. Those that could reproduce fit perfectly in our dynasty based imperial system, as our imperial family fell to a revolt. The pillars of our glorious empire were replaced with those that believed they were chosen to survive the Vuruten calamity and quickly seized power.

Wars raged with more ferocity as the four countries, Samsiran Empire, Martop Imperium, The Followers of Meraxis and the Potif Kingdom. All fought and blamed each other for the world scale calamity. As if to defy sensible reason they burned through the living resources as each fought for advantage. Driven by expansionist ideals, prejudicial hatred, and utter insanity. Amidst this chaos of destruction and warfare a solution emerged that would give an edge to the Samsiran Empire.

Cloning, the development of such technology you would think would spark mass change for the better. As they could solve their population problem but no, it was merely another weapon of war. The mass production of soldiers enslaved to the will of the new noble race that called them the Imperial Creators. As if they were blessed to survive the virus by happenstance and coincidence. Their capability to reproduce naturally and the old laws of imperial succession allowed them to rule with absolute authority as the world reached the brink.

Clones were mass produced as soldiers; their minds moulded to military purpose before their eyes were even opened. Via cybernetic implants downloading tactical data and commands with no sense of will available. The clones fought on the front lines as if canon fodders so the naturally born could live. They were tools of the Empire nothing more, they died in droves without a single thought to why they fought or why they dead. Merely obedience until there last breath.

Time passed, blood was shed and as the new era began and the devastation reached its peak. The old laws went by the wayside. The Samsiran Empire advanced into enemy land claiming territory with their vast army of obedient clones and crushed all who resisted. Until destruction became a simple past time and the old treaty to ban nuclear weapons was lost. The remaining two countries that launched their missiles in an attempt to destroy their adversaries. The timing was far to coincidental to be random as the bombs dropped. Laying waste to the remaining continents, and sending this world unto ash and decay.

I survived unlike those that struggle against the harsh life the journey deals us. Simply the benefit of being away from the death and devastation. Underground in the cold and dark vat that was once my home, my womb, and my life. As when I first opened my eyes to this cage. That was my home concealing me from the world above. I had but one question, circumstance allowed me to live and follow the journey of life, shall I seek to survive or shall I endeavour to thrive.