3000 years into the future, Humanity is once again fighting for it's very survival. There of course are those heroes who make sacrifices for the sake of others. Some have to sacrifice more than most people will ever know. Thanks to the Praetorians, our lives can continue...

Assholes to belly-buttons, or Nutt's to Butt's as we call it. We stood in single file, herded like cattle. Each of us practically hugging the person in front of us. I had no idea how long the line was, but every ten minutes or so the line would shuffle forward a bit before settling back down. My feet were killing me and I had begun shifting my weight from one foot to the next, unfortunately the rather massive brute behind me had felt my movements and had popped a boner. We all knew the drill, keep quite and say nothing about it, no room for queers in this man’s Army. I quietly mumbled “Sorry” to the guy behind me, breaking the unspoken rule. He just chuckled in response and I’m sure I felt him shrug. I didn’t know the guy, hell I didn’t know anyone here. This wasn’t my platoon or even my company. We were all here as potential candidates for the Praetorian program.

About three-thousand years ago the First Earth had been reduced to a class 2 planet, basically the air and water was poisonous, and had killed off most life on the planet. All that remained were certain types of bacteria and microscopic plant life in the oceans. That of course gave us hope that one day humanity will be able to return to it’s home world, but after around three millennia no one expects to see it happen in their lifetime. Anyway, humanity was forced to leave Earth and began looking for a new planet. After 300 years of drifting through space, living off replicated food created from protein packs. The survivors of humanity found a habitable world, and of course, named it Earth II.

Earth II was a huge planet, estimated to be twelve times the size of First earth. The larger planet size of course made for very long days and nights. One day was approximately ninety-four Earth hours, just under four standard Earth days. Due to the oddity of the Day/Night cycle, the original time standard was kept. Time was not the only unusual thing about Earth II though. The planet was teaming with life, lush tropical forests was the norm. Herbivores and Carnivores dominated the surface. With such complex life forms on the planet it was amazing that there was no sentient life. Earth II was quickly settled and humanity once again began to thrive. This time however we were very cautious of pollutants, and strove to live in harmony with nature while still advancing in science and technology. It had of course helped that in the last days of First Earth that Zero-point energy was discovered. With our energy problems solved all we needed was to be conservative with garbage and building materials.

As a precaution, a moon of Earth II was terraformed , the moon was small, about the size of First Earth’s moon. Originally it was done as an experiment to see if it could be done and hopefully allow for other planets and moons to be terraformed as well. Before it was terraformed the moon was called Asmodeus due to it’s sharp jutting peaks and ridges, the terrain was overall inhospitable and several people had died due to torn spacesuits on the moon while preparing for the terraforming. The project took much longer than anyone ever anticipated, and the planet was not deemed safe until 1,000 years latter. Which was a very good thing, as we needed it badly.

A government experiment dealing with viral DNA had escaped from a compound due to an earthquake. The virus had spread so fast that all life on the planet had been infected within twenty-six days (SET-Standard Earth Time). The only survivors were the construction crews, scientists, and spacers that was on Asmodeus. The virus released on Earth II was mutagenic, and caused every living thing to mutate into something very aggressive and very strong. A dog had been recorded to have mutated into a 6 foot hound with razor sharp teeth, hide thick as a bull and a REALLY bad attitude. Humans who had been infected lost their sanity and would attempt to claw or bite anyone they had seen, thus spreading the virus. Oddly the infected recognized each other and would only attack people and creatures thus far unaffected. Fortunately the virus had quickly mutated and was only air-born for the first five or six hours of it’s life, but that was all it needed to infect the entire planet.

Asmodeus, or Third Earth as it is known today, was never really meant to sustain our whole race indefinitely. 500 years was the estimated duration and that was being forgiving. We are pushing 800 years now and we have used up almost all of the resources that Third Earth can provide. All that remains is aluminum and even that is beginning to become harder to find. In good judgment the government had begun researching different methods of obtaining materials from Earth II. All attempts proved to be disastrous, as most activity would draw the unwelcome attention of the current inhabitants of the planet.

A recent technology, called an N.T.D. or Neural Transference Device, was at first sold on the black market, and though it probably still is, the government crackdown on the NTD makes even the black market sweat at the sight of one. Possession of an NTD is an automatic death sentence, no questions asked thanks in part to the Hawthorn Act of Identity theft. It was discovered that Emperor Hawthorn had been abducted and had the NTD used to swap him through several different people. First was a terrorist who took his body and power, then he was swapped with a two year old girl. It took five years for anyone to believe his story, and once his case hit the supreme court the Hawthorn Act was quickly instated. Videos of a regal looking seven year old girl talking circles around trial lawyers gave Emperor Hawthorn a massive boost in public support as well as his body back.

Human cloning, at least to the point of sentience, has been banned for several millennia. However, scientist Peter Cartwright developed a new cloning method. The specifics have been classified, but it was theorized that in conjunction with the NTD, a person could live forever. They would clone themselves and when they grew older or were seriously injured, they could used the NTD to jump into their clone. Due to the nature of the cloning process a personality was never developed in the clone, thus no breaking of any laws, of course this is all just theory. It was that theory that lead to the creation of the Praetorians. Using a clone crafted specifically to be immune to the virus unleashed on Earth II and the NTD it was possible to give people a body capable of living on Earth II.

Due to the pressing need of resources the NTD was authorized for the sole use of creating Praetorians. A year after the first 100 Praetorians were sent to Earth II, the first influx of steel came to Third Earth, as did the stories of the heroics of their Praetorian guards. The stories were astounding, of one person fighting against several of the wild beasts and living. The most famous tale is of the Praetorian Black Guard, the five most elite Praetorians on Earth II. It was said that the five of them stood up to practically an army, as wave after wave assaulted their mining camp one night. A 45 second video clip was smuggled out and released to the public illegally. The Praetorians themselves looked beastly, two in the video clip looked something like wolf-men. An elongated mouth that was almost a snout, heavy hair that almost resembled fur, clawed hands.

Needless to say the public was at first in an uproar about the monstrosities committed against these individuals. Even today, 10 years latter, there are still some protest against it, but it is now common knowledge that all the Praetorians are volunteers who are told all the nasty secrets before they submit to becoming a Praetorian. Because of their noble sacrifice to the human race, Praetorians are held in the highest regard, even so, very few are permitted back on Third Earth. Which brings me to why I’m standing here in this hall, uncomfortably sandwiched between these two big guys.

As we shuffle forward I once again check the time, 2:45, it’s only been ten minutes. I still couldn’t tell how far back in line I was. I’m somewhat short for a Space Marine, at five foot six inches, most these guys tower over me. I’m used to it though, it has never affected my combat ability, I mean why should how big and muscular I am affect my aim with a laser rifle? If anything I’m better because of it, my endurance is almost legendary amongst my platoon. I can run three miles in 10 minutes and 45 seconds. Although that doesn’t break the world record of 9 minutes and 3 seconds, my time is the battalion record.

Suddenly the big guy in front of me stepped forward and I could now see into the med bay, I was next in line. I was anxious now, I’ve been preparing for this for five years now. Ever since the story of the Black Guard hit Third Earth, I knew I wanted to be counted in their ranks. I enlisted in the Space Marines at 17 and I’ve fought tooth and nail for an exemplary record. I’m only 19 now, but I’ve made it to sergeant already with meritorious promotions. My scores on the firing range are excellent, having tied the company record. Strike while the iron is hot as they say, I know I’m not going to be able to keep pulling off miracles. If I don’t make it this selection period I doubt I’ll be able to keep my record of near perfection. Already I hate my reputation as a by the book perfectionist, and for once I’d like just go out and have fun.

A cute brunette nurse peaked around the corner, “Next!” her beautiful soprano voice sang. I stepped forward and followed her into a curtained off partition where sat you’re A-typical doctor on stool. He was probably in his 40’s and had a nice size gut sitting in his lap. There I sat for the next twenty minutes being poked and prodded in every orifice I had at least twice, and having enough blood drawn to fully satisfy a kiss of vampires. Stool sample, Urine sample, Saliva sample, Semen sample, Skin cell sample, Hair sample, blood sample, but the worst of it all was the Spinal Fluid sample. If you’ve never had a spinal tap, thank your lucky stars and try to keep it that way.

After the torture session was over, I was given not just a bill of clean health but of near perfect health. I was also handed my acceptance letter. Finally! After five years of hardship I was finally accepted as a Praetorian! All that was left was the mandatory Full Disclosure, my signature and then my NTD session with my new body.