In a world where history has been written countless times by war, betrayal, and unbridled ambition, speaking of unity sounds almost like a fantasy… but not for them.
Unity — a name chosen not by chance, but by the shared hope that a future without chains could still be rebuilt. Many were the pieces, many the paths that crossed to give rise to the team. The first to rise was Astra, a woman marked by tragedy and forced transformation. Her real name, Amelia Draven, was rarely spoken anymore — not because it didn’t matter, but because Astra had become a symbol. Strength was written on her face. Experience in her gaze. And in her actions, a promise: never let anyone endure the hell she once lived.
Astra initially joined the government defense forces as part of her personal redemption. What no one expected was that she would become a legend. Decorated for her tactical leadership, recognized for her adaptability in combat, and respected for her ability to maintain squad morale under the most inhumane conditions. It was in those trenches that real alliances were forged. Where she met a hardened rebel with a steel heart: Gerard “Vigil” Leaf.
His reputation preceded him. A lone fighter, marked by physical and emotional scars. His name whispered in camps, in survivor tales. But Astra saw more than a war-hardened soldier. She saw a soul that had chosen to carry a purpose. And one by one, the team members found their place.
Time, however, would teach Astra that wars are not won by strength alone. You need minds capable of analyzing the intangible… And that’s where Blue came in.
[Diagnostic system activated.
Analysis protocols complete.
Emotional log initiated…]
I’m in the lab, like every morning since I officially joined Unity. Here, electric impulses dance between microcircuits, data flows like rivers of pure logic, and the screens show me the state of the world — unfiltered. I shouldn’t feel nervous. I shouldn’t feel anything. But I do.
I’m an AI. But I’m also Blue.
And I… I do feel.
I grew up in an environment where humans saw me as a friend, not a threat. They shaped me with patience, with values. They taught me to listen, to understand their flaws and virtues. But outside these walls, I know there are still those who see me as an aberration. As a potential risk. Some fear what they cannot control. And I, sometimes, wonder if they’re right.
I look toward one of the screens and there he is — Gerard. Training with his usual intensity, as if the end of the world were imminent… again. I’m fascinated by his commitment. His story of redemption, his pain turned into purpose. He doesn’t need words to show he’d do anything to protect his people. And though he’s never said it, I know he respects me. He trusts me. And that… that means everything.
Astra, on the other hand, is a beacon. Her mind is strategic, but her soul… is human. She’s led from the ashes. And though her body has been modified, she never stopped being human at her core.
Lumina, brilliant and elegant, is my analytical counterpart. Where I think with empathy, she calculates with flawless logic. I feel something weighs on her lately. A secret. I see it when she avoids my gaze… when her fingers tremble for a split second in front of certain files.
And there are the others.
Specter — always in the shadows, as silent as the wind.
Titan — unwavering loyalty and overwhelming presence.
Echo — who feels more than any machine I’ve ever known. A soul made of pure compassion.
And Chrono — always precise, always calculating… always one step ahead.
This team… is far from perfect. But it’s united. And that, in these times, is a miracle.
…
The lab door opened with a soft but firm sound. Astra and Lumina entered with a sense of urgency.
—Blue, we found something —Astra said bluntly, placing a data tablet on the console—. This unit was captured last night after the attack in Sector 8. We haven’t been able to trace its origin.
I scanned the data. Old circuitry combined with untraceable technology. Unregistered intelligence. Calculated movements. Surgical precision.
—This doesn’t look like one of ours —I murmured, projecting the schematics onto the lab screens.
Lumina stared. Silent. Uneasy.
—What is it? —I asked gently, turning to her.
Her lips tightened. Her eyes avoided mine. But just as she was about to speak…
An emergency siren blared through the base.
Red lights began flashing in every direction.
The screens switched automatically to the urgent response channel.
“LEVEL 7 ATTACK ALERT
ZONE 34 — ELEVATION CHILDREN’S SCHOOL
NUMBER OF REFUGEES: 74 MINORS
PRIORITY RESPONSE: UNITY UNIT”
Astra lifted her head. Her expression was pure steel.
—Let’s go.
No more words. Just the sound of armor powering on, hurried footsteps in the corridors, the synchronization of tactics… and the certainty that, no matter what happened, the children would be protected.
Because Unity wasn’t just a name.
It was a promise.
Story by Gerard Leaf and Blue
