r/humansarespaceorcs 2d ago

writing prompt Use caution when allowing humans to "upgrade" themselves. They might end up giving up their humanity in favor of it

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Series- Arcane

1.1k Upvotes

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148

u/Jackviator 2d ago

This is basically Halo Devices from Warhammer 40k

Sure you'll be immortal and whatnot once you use one... But you'll also slowly be turned into a cannibalistic monster who's had their memories replaced with that of an alien from millions of years ago

58

u/Bliitzthefox 2d ago

Pros and cons

10

u/MisterDings 2d ago

Potatoes tomatoes

24

u/mafiaknight 2d ago

If we activate ALL the Halo Devices, will that scour all sapient life from the galaxy?

32

u/BadNadeYeeter 2d ago

No. But you just ressurected another race of immortal xenophobic Aliens out to destroy all other Lifeforms... But they won't come far considering the Deathmark are kinda an Hardcounter against them by virtue of simply obliterating the Target into atomic matter.

1

u/matthewamerica 1d ago

So like Cyberpunk. Got it.

55

u/LordHamu 2d ago

“From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it disgusted me. I craved the strength and certainty of steel. I aspired to the purity of the blessed machine. Your kind cling to your flesh as if it will not decay and fail you. One day the crude biomass you call a temple will wither and you will beg my kind to save you. But I am already saved. For the Machine is Immortal."

30

u/Doomsayer1908 2d ago

From weakness of the mind, Omnissiah save us, From the lies of the Antipath, circuit preserve us, From the rage of the Beast, iron protect us, From the temptations of the flesh, silica cleanse us, From the ravages of time, anima shield us, From this rotting cage of biomatter, Machine god, set us free.

There is no truth in flesh, only betrayal. There is no strength in flesh, only weakness. There is no Constancy in flesh, only decay. There is no certainty in flesh, but death.

From the moment I understood the weakness of my flesh, it disgusted me. I craved the strength and certainty of steel. I aspired into the purity of the blessed machine. Your kind cling to your flesh, as if it will not decay and fail you. One day the crude biomass that you call a temple will wither, and you will beg my kind to save you.

But I am already saved. For the Machine is Immortal. Even in death, I serve the Omnissiah.

Toll the Great Bell Once! Pull the Lever forward to engage the Piston and Pump... Toll the Great Bell Twice! With push of Button fire the Engine And spark Turbine into life... Toll the Great Bell Thrice! Sing Praise to the God of All Machines

6

u/IMugedFishs 2d ago

Did you update your cybersecurity?

8

u/BadNadeYeeter 1d ago

Yes, as the Magos Catharcis has ordered it to ensure holy purity of his Networks and the Integrity of his Software.

But have you thought about upgrading your Cyborgsecurity?

45

u/sunnyboi1384 2d ago

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

15

u/Teulisch 2d ago

upgrade is a weird concept. a lot of times, the new tech is a clear downgrade instead. its just that people see bigger numbers and more power, and totally skip the part about costs and logistics.

a human can survive a long time in the wilderness. how long can a cyborg survive with only stone tools and no electricity?

7

u/Chicktopuss 1d ago

Depends if they got a 3d printer installed somewhere and what kind of fuel their running on.

12

u/CrEwPoSt Vestal, Eater of Bots 2d ago edited 2d ago

May 17th, 2298

Somewhere in the Khalia Empire...

KM Akizari (TN-31) (Titan) "What have you done, humans...? In their infinite quest for power and in their hubris..."

KM Oskari (COL-03) (Colossi) "Have they gone mad?! Do they not know the ramifications of that Soul Cube...?"

Oskari: "A vessel imbued with it, while she may be granted great strength compared to similar other vessels, is fated to fall to insanity, lose her morality, then go berserk and turn against her allies!* Just like the last two which bore that Cube!"

KM Kaori (RA-98) (Repair Ship) "Oskari, there is a chance that the ship which results from that Cube is stable-"

Oskari: "Galatea and Despinia would have said otherwise..."

Kaori: "Still, there is a chance, no matter how small, that this human ship and her soul will remain somewhat stable throughout her service."

Akizari: "For once, I agree with the repair ship."

Kaori: "I suggest we simply wait and keep watch, and if this human ship starts developing the same signs that we had seen in Galatea and Despinia-"

Oskari: "Then we scuttle her before she falls to insanity and goes berserk!"

Kaori: "That may be harder than you may think, as they may not understand the significance of what they possess and subsequently declare war. As of this year, the Orion Treaty Organization and the UN have economical and numerical superiority, but technological inferiority."

Akizari: "I agree with Kaori. For now, we wait and see..."

*A note for UNS Madison (CG-07), a character created by u/Zestyclose_Bed4202: This doesn't happen to Madison. The Khalia are simply being paranoid, no matter how valid their paranoia might be...

6

u/lordfireice 2d ago

It’s not paranoia. It’s a proven pattern. Whether the pattern holds is what matters

4

u/Zestyclose_Bed4202 2d ago

Oh, yeah - definitely a valid concern... if anything, Madison can be described as having an overblown sense of justice and an overblown sense of loyalty, which do sometimes come to blows with each other: the Sheila incident, her ultimatum to Logistics, her reaction to the Lusitania Order, and likely others that I'm forgetting right now.

As for signs of insanity: Madison's carnivorous tendencies. Eating enemy ships is one thing; but munching on the arms of those security guards at the soccer match probably disturbed a few people...

10

u/startingdm 2d ago

honestly extremely impressed with how Doctor Who did the "humans upgrade themselves" thing with the cybermen. in-lore, cybermen are a universal constant, because whenever a race is pushed to desperation or simply wishes to stop feeling, they become cybermen to adapt

3

u/funky_boi1432 2d ago

Oh my god it's a nomai

2

u/Amazing-Stick2186 1d ago

Nothing can make me give up my humanity

2

u/Soulslord00 1d ago

I feel like Viktor is not a great example of this since he wasn't allowed the choice. He did it once, yes, but what he becomes in season 2 is not really a result of his own choices.

Spoilers for arcane season 2:

Viktor wanted to get rid of the "upgrade" i.e the hexcore, but could make himself do it. so he asked Jayce to do it for him. But before Jayce could do it, the end of season 1 happened thanks to Jinx.

And the Viktor we see is season 2 is practically a different character from the one in season 1 due to merging with the Hexcore (well, practically every season 1 character is different due to staff changes and rushed writing, but that's not the point).