Silent Proxy

After the war, a new era of calm, peace, and technological advancement emerged. Fossil fuels were gradually phased out from both commercial and consumer use, replaced by nuclear power. The Earth began to heal, as did the people and animals inhabiting it. Many would call this a utopia—though I say “many” because the governments have evolved into a strange hybrid of communism and dictatorship. While labor is managed by the people, nationwide decisions rest in the hands of a single leader at the top. We didn't dare question it, however.

As nuclear power became the world's primary energy source, the development of micro-reactors soon followed. Over time, they were fully embraced by both corporations and everyday consumers. Cars, planes, computers, homes, and even phones eventually ran on these tiny nuclear reactors. The technology was so safe it could fit in our pockets—something unimaginable to those in the past, who couldn’t have even conceived of such advancements.

Alongside the development of micro-reactors came a revolutionary new technology, considered the successor to virtual and mixed reality: Human Subconscious Interface (HSI). HSI allowed humans to “detach” their consciousness from their original body and transfer it to another device or host. Naturally, safeguards were in place to prevent misuse—such as the inability to transfer into a host body that already possessed a consciousness—along with countless other protections, many of which remained unknown.

We didn’t have flying cars like many imagined before the war. The future wasn’t about airborne vehicles, advanced AI, or any of the typical sci-fi visions. Instead, it became about the evolution of the human race, our success in achieving peace, and the realization of technologies we once thought were only fantasy. That time was now. And while it wasn’t perfect, it was the best we had experienced in the many decades our planet had existed.

Unfortunately, the peace didn’t last forever. Tensions began to rise between the two largest superpowers, and watching the news became a horrifying, tense experience. Going outside—whether during the day or at night—felt unsettling, as jets roared overhead and helicopters hovered above major cities. No one had been harmed yet, but it was clear something was happening. The public, however, remained in the dark about the details.

As tensions escalated, a new technology emerged that utilized the recently developed HSI systems: Dolls. When you hear the word “doll,” you might think of marionettes or action figures, but these were neither. Dolls were military-grade, humanoid host bodies, each specialized for different tasks—some for stealth, others for close combat, and some for heavy artillery. They were designed to replace human soldiers, as governments were unwilling to risk more human lives. However, this technology was still experimental.

Then the worst happened. A major city was attacked, with hundreds—thousands—killed in an instant by what appeared to be a stealth Doll, self-detonating its own micro-reactor. Nearly the entire city was leveled in the blink of an eye. Fear spread like wildfire across the country and the world. What was happening? Why were we being attacked? Soon after, a state of emergency was declared, and soldiers were drafted. This marked the beginning of a new war—a war unlike any we had ever known. It wasn’t fought with guns or blades or any weapons we were accustomed to.

This was the beginning of a war unlike anything we could have ever imagined—one that would come to be known by its survivors as the “Final War.” A third world war, the kind no one ever thought possible. And this was only the start.