Fiction:Midnight Sanctuary



"They call themselves a "sanctuary". Those that don't know them believe them. Those that think they know them call them a zoo. Those that truly know them call them an organ farm." Unknown

The Midnight Sanctuary, often just called the Sanctuary, is a civilization located within the Tuuros Galaxy, specifically within The Schism. The center of it's territory is located within the Midnight Nebula. It contains numerous species. The exact number of species is difficult to quantify, as a large number of organisms contained with are hybrids, cyborgs and mechanical beings. The organization of the Sanctuary is unusual- worlds are assigned to a particular "Phylum" by an enigmatic central command body known as The Advisor. Additionally, there is an area known as the Central Domain, territory which belongs to no Phylum and is directly ruled by The Advisor.

The goal of the Midnight Sanctuary is to discover, induce and examine as many species as possible, with the ultimate goal of creating the perfect organism. To accomplish this, each Phylum has varying methods and ideas. Many Sanctuary vessels and vehicles are dedicated to abducting creatures, which are placed on worlds to be experimented on. Some of the most notable methods used by the Sanctuary include genetic modification, deliberately mutating organisms, and directly combining organs and body parts of different species.

History
The Midnight Sanctuary originated from a world within the Midnight Nebula known as Alvakyos XII. The frozen planet was beginning to foster life, when the star it orbited experienced a supernova, wiping out almost every living thing. However, a small number of organisms survived, using radiation from the surface to gather energy. Over an enormous period of time, life began to return to Alvakyos XII. This life was adapted to the harsh void of space, and intelligent organisms began to develop.

Technology began to advance. However, when genetic modification technology arrived, some used it to develop a devastating bioweapon, crippling the fertility of the species and killing billions. Those that remained called themselves "the Fading", as they relied upon cloning technology to sustain their population. Mutations were rampant, and soon they became desperate. One group developed mechanical beings to take the place of the decaying, biological beings. Others attempted a rush to faster-than-light technology, to find other species and use their knowledge to help.

Gradually, a new dominant philosophy emerged. The Fading began to keep themselves alive through organ transplants. As desperation increased, genetic modification was used to remove immune rejection responses, allowing for the parts of other species to be grafted on. Each Fading was becoming increasingly varied in anatomy. They were the same species in name only, as culture too diverged.

Then, the mechanical development project succeeded. Sentient artificial intelligence emerged, their own views on this fusion of species also formulated. They desired more efficiency, the optimal possible combination of parts. Space exploration discovered new worlds containing life. These machines saw opportunity for increased diversity, superior organs, better results. They formed their own enclave, inside of which they collected as many specimens as possible. Many decided to implant their computerized minds into living bodies. Their goal had now become a quest for perfection.

The mechanicals achieved dominance over the living Fading, and began to spread their influence across space, conquering worlds to gain new biochemistries, new organs, new concepts and ideas. Abducting other creatures to experiment upon them became common. When a tribal group of intelligent beings was discovered, they were "induced" forcefully into this society. Reorganization occurred, leading to this civilization being called the Midnight Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary became divided into Phylums based upon the philosophy of their members. Each was given territory, and a singular overarching goal- obtain perfection. A new central authority known as The Advisor was created, in order to maintain control over each Phylum and its own Central Domain. More exotic species were induced into the Midnight Sanctuary, many of them adopting the dominant philosophy within and beginning to alter themselves for improvement.

Astrography
Extending from the fringes of the Schism to a moderate way within, the territory of the Midnight Sanctuary is not overwhelmingly large, but neither can it be considered minuscule. At the heart of the Sanctuary is a large nebula known as the Midnight Nebula, from which the Midnight Sanctuary derives its name. Due to incredibly varying biology and dominance by mechanicals, all manner of worlds are contained within its borders, from temperate terrestrial planets to searing, diamond-covered worlds to rogue planets without stars to orbit.

There are a total of seven Phylums into which the Midnight Sanctuary is divided, in addition to the Central Domain found at the society's core. This division is highly erratic to provide as much diversity to each Phylum as possible, rather than by type of world, dominant species or astrographical locations.

Government
Most regulations inside of the Midnight Sanctuary are dependent upon Phylum. Phylums are disallowed to conflict except after an accepted official request to The Advisor, or upon special "combat worlds". Decisions about the entire Sanctuary are made via majority vote of each Phylum, and the opinion of The Advisor. Each Phylum may petition to consider hostile attacks as an attack on the entire Midnight Sanctuary. If this succeeds, every Phylum is obligated to aid in defensive efforts.

Member Species
Fading= "Our kind is dying, fading from the darkness...but we shall remain eternal. Trial shall turn to triumph, the light shall turn to darkness, and we shall rise into the void as incarnations of the ultimate existence...we are Fading, for we are dying. We are Fading, for we shall live"

The Fading, far more rarely known as Alvakyoids, are one of the founding species of the Midnight Sanctuary. Their biology is highly unusual. Rather than consume food or utilise photosynthesis, they instead gather energy by absorbing radiation. As an unusual side effect, this causes them to drain areas of light over time as their absorption of radiation also allows them to take energy from photons. In terms of external anatomy, the natural form of the Fading has trilateral symmetry, as does the remainder of life on their home world. They are adapted to worlds with tenuous atmospheres, high amounts of radiation and low gravity. Fading are tall and slender, an adaptation evolved in a low gravity environment. In worlds of higher gravity, their bodies compress and reduce their height, and their muscles become far less powerful.

The "face" of a Fading features one protrusion extending outward in each of the three axes of their body. Each protrusion contains a single crystalline orb that serves as a form of optical sensor. However, these structures are also capable of reflecting light outward, and can therefore act in a similar manner to torches or, in extreme cases, lasers. Facing vertically outward from the centre of a Fading's uppermost portion is a group of chemical and olfactory sensors which serve to detect scents. Slightly further downward, these converge on the point at which the body begins.

Fading have a total of three arms, each of which ends in a three-fingered grasper. The fingertips of Fading contain hemispherical structures, which are designed to crate traction and serve effectively as biological suction cups. These allow Fading to easily grip surfaces in low gravity. They are also capable of manipulating tools using their hands. The arms have a single ball joint in their centre to allow for full rotation in the forearms. The forearms have purple scale-like structures, which can emit mucus of either slippery or adhesive quality. They are also capable of rapid vibration and creating powerful electrical shocks, although the feedback from the electrocution will stun the Fading afterwards.

The body of a Fading is surrounded by brittle pink armour that primarily serves to help radiation absorption and is also a considerable defensive asset. This area of a fading also contains their electrolocation organs, which are the primary sense of the species. Internally, this component of a Fading also contains various other internal organs, including those use for pigment circulation, toxin filtration, and respiration.

The legs of a Fading are similar in structure to their arms. However, they possess three ball joints, allowing for an exceptionally high level of contortion. Like the forearms, the lower legs feature purple pigmentation on protective scales, and share similar mucus production and electrocution potential. Their feet feature three suction cup-like structures on the toes, to allow for additional traction. These are pink due to lower pigmentation of the area.

Due to their exotic biochemistry, Fading are adapted to extremely cold environments. Their bloodstream is gaseous, and they are capable of naturally withstanding the void of space, even when extreme amounts of radiation are present. When a Fading can no longer absorb more radiation, they will emit a purple aura which is in reality them defelcting the excess. Fading reproduce in an unusual manner. They shatter their armour plating to reveal their reproductive organs and released mist into the air. This mist contains spores that connect with each other, combining genetic material and developing into cysts which gradually grow to become larvae. These larvae are given additional genetic material later on, which causes them to undergo metamorphosis and become mature. Fading age slowly and have a low birth rate, even accounting for the cloning technology upon which they depend.

Midnight Mechanical= "Our objective is perfection. Numerous species will be salvaged from flaw. Progress will occur. Compliance is not optional."

Midnight Mechanicals are the second founding species of the Midnight Sanctuary. Originally, they were sentient computers uploaded to robotic bodies in hopes of assistance the living Fading and in an attempt to one day allow for mind uploading. However, this stage of development was never reached. Midnight Mechanicals observed the condition of the Fading, and determined that through exploitation of various methods, they could optimise the species. This gradually became the overriding directive of the creations, and would drive the creation of the Midnight Sanctuary.

The usual form of Midnight mechanicals features three limbs, each ending in two-pronged pincers. They use a form of levitation technology that allows them to hover above the ground and serves as their main form of locomotion. They have three sensors, resembling red circular structures. They also have relatively flat top-mounted plating, which contains much of their circuitry. Midnight Mechanicals are capable of being uploaded to different physical forms.

Axkeron= "Improvement. Is it not our goal in life, to be the best we can be? Evolution is a powerful tool, with a single large drawback- it is too slow. We have risen above this concern. We shall guide life's creation, its improvement, its adaptation, until the ultimate life form is created!"

The Axkerons are perhaps the only civilisation to willingly assimilate into the Midnight Sanctuary. Their homeworld was located on the edges of the Midnight Nebula, their society dominated by an ambition to be the best one could be. they became expert ecologists, using terraforming and accelerated evolution techniques to mutate new life that would perform tasks for them. When the opportunity for what they saw as greater improvement potential arrived, they accepted it quickly.

Axkerons are highly adaptable creatures. They have crystalline shells, which protect them from attack. Axkerons may depart from these shells at any time, leaving behind their mouths and their armour plating to become highly mobile invertebrates capable of becoming almost liquid in terms of flexibility- however, they can only sustain this for a short duration before they begin to die. Axkerons have four tentacles, which are capable of becoming sticky to grasp objects. They have three eyes, placed upon stalks to allow a greater field of vision. They primarily consume meat.

Notably, Axkerons reproduce by entering their shells, and splitting themselves. This means that an Axkeron that has been bisected is capable of reproducing to survive. However, this also makes them vulnerable during the splitting process.

Central Domain
The Central Domain is an unusual aspect of the Midnight Sanctuary. It serves to keep order and ensure that the Phylums of the Sanctuary, regardless of their actions and disputes, continue towards the path of perfection and do not perform actions that result in detriment to this goal. As such, the Central Domain has unique authority over the other Phylums. The location of the Central Domain lies within the Midnight Nebula, the heart of the Midnight Sacntuary. It is the most passive of the Phlylums.

Paradigm Phylum
The Paradigm Phylum is based upon the concept of mechanical superiority over organic and inorganic life. As as a result, it is one of the few outright xenophobic Phylums. Dominated by Midnight Mechanicals, it controls a large number of barren worlds rich with minerals and useful resources. It is currently commanded by Iota.

Assmilation
"You will join us in perfection."


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Collaboration
"You assist us."


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Integration
"You will be of use to us. You will assist perfection. That is mandatory."


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Extimction
"You are of no use. Detrimental elements will be destroyed."


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