EXODUS NEWS FEATURE – SILICATES

To say the arrival of humanity in the Centauri Cluster was not easy is a dramatic understatement. We faced unknown challenges and deadly enemies, spread across thousands of planets in hundreds of systems. Against these overwhelming odds, humanity’s focus was on survival.

Fortunately, our ancestors who made it to Centauri were experts in survival. After travelling for generations across thousands of light years aboard the ark ships fleeing a dying Earth, they were not about to back down from any fight.

In Centauri, we encountered harsh, uninhabitable landscapes or regions controlled by creatures that had no intention of sharing their living space with humans. Many of these “aliens” were recognizable as distant relatives of terrestrial animals that had evolved and adapted to their new surroundings. Others were beings genetically engineered to thrive in the most extreme conditions; monsters resembling the things that crawl through the dark corners of our worst cryosleep nightmares.

However, the greatest threat to our survival was – and always will be – the Celestials themselves. Descended from the first settlers from Earth to reach Centauri, these ancient beings have shed the last vestiges of their humanity and evolved into something unrecognizable and terrifying. With technological advancements far eclipsing our own, we found ourselves exposed and at their mercy.

This vulnerability gave rise to The Travelers - heroic explorers who dare to stand as champions of humanity across the Cluster. In their journeys to distant stars, they seek out relics and remnants from lost Celestial civilizations to use in our never-ending battle for survival. But they also found something else. Something even the Celestials hadn’t discovered – Silicates.

Nobody knows exactly what ancient culture gave rise to the Silicates. ​ The true origins of the Silicates remain a mystery even to this day. We do not know if they were created by a long-forgotten civilization, or if they are true alien “life” that evolved independently in Centauri… or perhaps somewhere else.

For Celestials, Silicate “eggs” appear as rare but simple crystals or gems with no power or significance. Only with the touch of a human does the symbiotic bond awaken, allowing the Silicate to “hatch” and merge with human flesh. For most, this merger is fatal. But for a precious few, it is transcendent. Once a human bonds with a silicate their transformation is radical… and permanent. As the saying goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.

The symbiotic union of humans and Silicate creates a new being, known as a Daemon. The individual’s skin changes, becoming translucent but virtually impervious. Their musculature evolves, giving them incredible speed, strength, and other physical abilities. They become something greater – something even the Celestials fear.

Silicates are humanity’s leverage. Daemons don’t need weapons – they are weapons. They give humanity a fighting chance against the Celestials; they even the playing field. Because Silicates will only bond with humans, there are some who see them in a religious light. They believe human-silicate coexistence was preordained; it was meant to be and brought to fruition by some higher power. Others just see it as a fortunate break for humanity – a piece of good luck to offset all the hardships that we have endured.

However, Silicates are not without their drawbacks. Daemons are prone to intrusive, violent thoughts and urges. Some theorize the silicates are “speaking” to their hosts through these dark musings, influencing and changing their behavior to suit their own dark purpose. Others feel the silicates merely allow Daemons to tap into the primal shadow that exists within all humanity, buried beneath a veneer of civilization and manners.

But whatever reservations humanity may have about Silicates and Daemons, one thing is certain – the Celestials fear them far more than we do. That alone validates their true value to our cause.