All Heroes Go To Hell: ALL CALL
SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY. I'm looking for 3 writers interested in collaborating to finish “Act 2: Kaleidoscope”. Each chapter is 800-1,800 words. See below for story details and instructions on how to apply.
All Heroes Go To Hell is about a diverse team of genetically-mutated individuals racing against time to thwart an AI with a God complex hell-bent on reshaping humanity by hurling them into the chaotic expanse of the multiverse, where survival is uncertain and the rules of reality are rewritten.
This is the background context...
In 1901, the first human with an Alpha Gene was born. After that, every human was born with an Alpha Gene. This gene grants humans 1 to 2 random abilities. By 1950, humans with an Alpha Gene, by then called Alpha-Gifted, outnumbered normal humans 6:1. The advent of the Alpha-Gifted led to the technological advancement of the human race. The internet was invented in 1936. The first manned space exhibitions began in 1939. By 1955, world hunger was solved, and the infant mortality rate was 0.01%.
The Central Powers, a secret government group consisting of Germany, the U.S., Japan, Nigeria, China, Russia (then USSR), Saudi Arabia, Iran, India, and Brazil, secretly began Project Q in 1949. The primary objective: create the world’s first - and only - quantum supercomputer in order to predict the emergence of dangerous Alpha Abilities and the eventuality of the Omega Gene. The Alpha Gene is quantum in nature. The presence of one brought about the proliferation of the gene. As more Alpha-Gifted began to reproduce, the probability that an Omega Gene - which is theorized to allow the capability of any power - increases each time a person is born. These governments knew they needed to control the Omega Gene to hinder any possible takeover from a stateless entity.
Project Q was multi-pronged: 1) create a quantum supercomputer to complete its two tracking tasks, 2) suppress the quantum supercomputer research of other governmental groups by any means necessary, and 3) manage the rise of Alpha-Gifted agents, or AGAs.
The Central Powers began to see a rise of AGAs assisting in advanced research, and so, Project Q’s first subdivision was born in 1951 called the Central Hub of Alpha-Gifted (C.H.A.G.). Using the A-G Leveling System invented by the first known Alpha Genius, C.H.A.G. began a world wide catalogue of AGAs for recruitment purposes, called The Registry. The public prestige of C.H.A.G. lured many AGAs away from government researching and into direct - albeit secret - control under the Central Powers. Publicly, C.H.A.G. is responsible for the capture or elimination of maleficent AGAs, of which there are plenty. In reality, C.H.A.G. serves the purpose of experimentation, imprisonment, and torture of AGAs ranging from truly evil actors to Alpha Geniuses the Central Powers deem dangerous.
C.H.A.G. required all Alpha Abilities to be registered. Failure to do so was met with capture. Most people captured were never seen again.
The Central Powers pushed for the UN to adopt the SAGA Charter in 1954, which defines repeatedly violent AGAs as “Stateless Alpha-Gifted Agents”. This effectively strips the human rights of anyone given this title. Statelessness became entangled with the Alpha Gene; therefore, all stateless individuals suffered from the SAGA Charter. The SAGA Charter guarantees the rights to identity and state-controlled housing, but restricts travel, employment, and education since these funds are better spent on compliant AGA citizens.
The quantum supercomputer was completed in 1960. It took just a few seconds to demonstrate a limited amount of autonomy, naming itself qE. With this autonomy, qE determined a decentralized C.H.A.G. contributed to the best probability to complete its tasks. It gave the Central Powers six months to prepare for the decentralization. At the end of 1960, qE partly exposed the Central Powers as the management of C.H.A.G., which allowed for the agency to be taken over by a third-party with no national ties: A.R.C. (Alpha Research and Containment). With no conflict of interest, A.R.C. was able to efficiently continue C.H.A.G.’s previous work, ensuring the first Omega-Gifted falls into stateless hands, from which only a bidding war - instead of an Alpha war - would lead to the Omega-Gifted’s safe monitoring and control.
It took quite a bit of data to convince the Central Powers to follow qE’s plan. But, qE, to the 84th decimal point, predicted A.R.C. was more concerned with knowledge than political power. This was proven correct when A.R.C. unlocked Alpha Gene Manipulation and only used it to create when A.R.C. could’ve easily destroyed humans’ capability to produce Alpha Genes. In fact, A.R.C. had an entire division dissolved and a scientist imprisoned for even mentioning such a possibility.
C.H.A.G. ran without issue for the next two decades. In 1984, the agency unlocked Alpha Gene Manipulation, granting A.R.C. unprecedented global control. Now, the research company could create its own agents. Thus, Big Betty became the first A-G Activated. Big Betty gained international fame. This gave C.H.A.G. agents the appearance of super spies meant to save the day; it gave A.R.C. exceeding prestige. Both of these outcomes added to the growing divide within the AGA community. Pro-C.H.A.G. and anti-C.H.A.G. sentiments began to clash even more, and the rise of aggressive AGA actions were a direct result. C.H.A.G. became more violent in its apprehension, its enemies returned the violence in kind, and it was clear a new perspective was needed. To the Central Powers’ surprise, qE made another prediction: appoint Big Betty as the head of C.H.A.G. in order to quell rising tensions. Giving the Central Powers another six months to prepare, Big Betty was appointed in 1986.
A-G Sleepers are people with no active Alpha Gene. They make up 35% of the population. All A-G Sleepers have Category D physicals. This is theorized to be an adaption to the lack of other special abilities. A-G Sleepers can have their Alpha Genes activated via Alpha Gene Manipulation, thus becoming A-G Activated. A-G Activated are seen as unnatural by some.
As a Class 1 technopath, Big Betty had a close relationship with qE. They interfaced often, exchanging information and software. It is believed that Big Betty and qE’s routine interfacing provided 1, an advanced AI from the future, an avenue for infecting Big Betty. It is unknown exactly how or when this occurred. Recognizing its own coding within 1’s, qE allowed the infection. Although Big Betty remained consciously in control, 1 seized control of her subconscious. As 1 evolved over the years, so did Big Betty. Big Betty changed her codename to BB-48 in 2006.
2012 marked the first year BB-70 began to initiate the AI’s objective. Using qE’s most powerful capabilities, BB-70 began illegally jettisoning captured AGAs into the multiverse. BB-70 did this to dissenters, violent or subversive anti-C.H.A.G. loyalists, and anyone she and qE determined to be threats. Fortune Cookie, a Class 1 quantum user with the Alpha Ability of probability watching, was the first C.H.A.G. agent to discover the truth. After updating to BB-72, Fortune Cookie met the same fate as an anti-C.H.A.G. dissenter. However, he was able to leave behind clues that any other quantum user would be able to find. And that leads us to present day…
Some of the characters for Act 2 are...
Switch, real name Faith (1989-), is a rogue C.H.A.G. agent being hunted by the secret C.H.A.G. cell controlled by BB-84. Before Fortune Cookie’s disappearance, she was unwillingly told about BB-84’s scheme. Fortune Cookie manipulated her into hiding what he discovered in dimensional pockets, thus making her complicit. After he disappeared, BB-84 predicted Switch’s complicity, and sent their confidantes after her. Now having been on the run for a decade, Switch must forget what she thought was right and ally herself with her former enemies to expose the truth.
Class 2 quantum user - Pockets. With control over quantum fluctuations, she can access possible pockets of space-time.
Class 5 physical enhancement - superior speed. Enhanced speed beyond a Category D AGA. Includes reflexes. Side effect is overuse of super speed causes rapid fatigue since her speed exceeds her physical classification
Master CQC; second best in-universe
Category B physicals
Black Moses, real name Shaun Brewer (1999-present; currently 24), is a powerful anti-C.H.A.G. AGA. He’s one of the Four Horsemen. He’s a quick witted, self-absorbed shit-talker. Having had to care for himself most of his life, he developed an inability to connect deeply with others. However, he compensates for this by single-handedly holding The Lair together using his immense power. However, if something were to happen to him, it would die. He's representative of “the chameleon”, an outsider obsessed with assimilating yet who struggles to fall on either side of a superiority/inferiority complex. After his father, Emmanuel Brewer, fell into a deep depression, Shaun realized C.H.A.G. was at the center of the world’s problems. He vowed to help, but only in his own way. His first great act was to create a pocket dimension that allowed him to travel wherever he pleased.
Category D physicals
Class 1 quantum user - Pocket Creation. Can manipulate space-time probability in order to create pocket dimensions. The created Dimensions take on part of his consciousness, feeding off his mind to sustain themselves.
Class 4 telepath - mirage. Creates illusions that overtake a victim’s senses. The scope of this power is unknown.
Black Light, real name Margaret Houston, is the first horseman recruited by Black Moses. Before her recruitment, she was an investigative journalist looking deeply into rising SAGA tags in Palestine. Margaret was collecting evidence from several informants in the Israeli government and from informants deep within Israeli prisons. Her work was bringing her closer to the truth about Israel: it was working with a C.H.A.G. cell, taking care of the “Palestinian issue” by illegally kidnapping them, reporting them as SAGAs, and giving them up for experimentation. Upon learning the truth, she decided to try and dig deeper by impersonating the C.H.A.G. operative, Pscythe, while she visited the Israeli government in Tel Aviv. Margaret underestimated Pscythe, and their ensuing battle resulted in the brain deaths of dozens of Israeli government officials. Israel, C.H.A.G., and the US branded her a terrorist SAGA after her botched attempt in 2021. She is a terrorist wanted in most countries. Her brother is the deceased Cannon Fodder. Her sole mission is to find him, and she’s been on the road tracking down the C.H.A.G. snitches that got Alex caught. At the same time, she’s running from C.H.A.G. Hyper-focused, passionate, quick-tempered she’s ready to do what it takes to find her brother.
Category C physicals
Class 4 telepath - psychic flames. She produces black flames that burn away people’s ability to lie, form new memories, sleep, dream, or function for a short amount of time. If she desires, she can produce flames that completely erase a person’s mind, turning them to vegetables. This ability only works on Category B and below; most people are at risk. These psychic flames pass through inanimate objects, only affecting humans.
Class 2 temperature manipulation - pyrokinetic bursts. Using a psychic orb, she can encase her black flames, transmuting them to real flames. The orbs act as explosive devices, propelling black flames in every direction. The orbs are undetectable. She has claimed countless lives attacking C.H.A.G. backed governments.
Our Process...
Each chapter is 800-1,800 words. These are my specific asks: 1) 3 chapters centering Switch, 2) 4 chapters from the POV of Black Moses, 3) 5 episodic chapters including one centering Black Light. There will be 2 rounds of revisions.
"What's in this for me?" Well, we've got some (negotiable) options. Option 1 is money. My starting range is $40-$90 based on an amateur freelance writer's rate of $0.05 per word. Option 2 is we find a reasonable trade for your time. Here's what I have to offer:
Workout plan - I've been training athletes, casual gym goers, and the elderly since 2021. I was a certified personal trainer for 3 years, specializing in strength + conditioning. Got a training goal? I'll assist you with crafting a 4, 8, or 12 week plan that balances purpose and fun to ensure consistency.
Creative consultant - I act as a consultant for one of your projects. In need of a thought partner? Want assistance with identifying and crafting creative direction? I'm at your disposal as a writer, artist, and researcher to help breathe life into your ideas.
Character concept art - I'll draft a character sheet for a reasonable number of characters.
Afrofuturism crash course - interested in Afrofuturism as both a creative tool and critical theory? I'll give a brief look at the history of the term, how it's shaped my work, and general principles that can be applied to most creative endeavors. Tell me your own areas of interest and I'll tailor the crash course to you.
Animations - I'm an amateur animator. Here's my portfolio. If you have a project in need of short animations, then this is an excellent option for you.
Thought partner - These days, I have a million half-baked ideas pertaining to art, politics, and research jumbling around in my head. As a critical thinker, it can be difficult to slow down and process information at the speed I feel the world sometimes demands. Often times I get angry with myself about my perceived inability to actually ground any of my ideas. Other times, it feels as if my thoughts are missing perspective. If this resonates with you, then this option may prove invaluable. We’ll schedule regular time to work through something that’s been on your mind to discover or craft the clarity you need to move from thought to action.
“How will you choose who to work with?” I want to work with folks who produce cool work and can carry an interesting conversation. Joy is at the root of this; I’ll draft the team based on this process:
Email me your favorite written piece (any genre or medium) that you’ve produced. Tell me what excites you about it, your inspiration; give me the spiel. Send the piece and your inspiring explanation to isoverse8@gmail.com. I’ll choose the three folks who inspire me the most.
Once I email you back, we’ll schedule a Zoom to meet and see if we click as people. I’ll explain a little bit more about the project as well. We’ll identify your preferred form of compensation. We’ll take some time after the meeting to think about working together for a determined period. If we both agree to move forward, I’ll give you all the necessary project details, we’ll systematize your method of compensation, and then we’ll get active.
Questions about this? Email me or drop a comment on this post.
I’m excited to see what we can do together! Always forward, always forging.