UNBREAKABLE

The vast cloning facility hummed with the quiet efficiency of countless machines working in perfect harmony. In the decanting chamber, rows upon rows of cylindrical tanks lined the walls, each filled with a viscous, amber fluid. Within these artificial wombs, new life stirred.

In tank LNA-637, eyelids opened for the first time. Fingers twitched, testing their movement in the nutrient-rich soup. A heart, freshly formed, began to beat with increasing strength. The machines monitoring the tank registered these changes, their soft beeps a staccato rhythm in the otherwise silent room.

Suddenly, the amber fluid began to drain. As the liquid level dropped, a young woman's body was revealed, skin glistening and pale. Her chest heaved as she took her first breath of air, a gasp that turned into a cough. Dark eyes snapped open, filled with confusion and fear.

The tank's glass front slid open with a pneumatic hiss. Attendants in sterile white uniforms rushed forward, catching the newly decanted clone as she stumbled out. They wrapped her in a soft blanket, murmuring soothing words as they guided her towards a nearby examination table.

"Designation LNA-637," one attendant announced, consulting a datapad. "Scheduled for agricultural division."

The clone, who would soon be known as Lin, could only blink in response, her mind struggling to process the flood of sensory information. The harsh lights, the clinical smell of disinfectant, the cold metal of the examination table against her skin - it was all overwhelming.

Several tanks away, in KTR-259, another life was coming into being. Muscles tensed and relaxed, testing their strength. Lungs expanded, drawing in the nutrient fluid in a reflex as old as life itself. The machines registered elevated heart rate and brain activity, signalling the imminent arrival of another clone.

As with Lin's tank, the fluid drained away. This time, it revealed a woman with a more athletic build, her body honed for a different purpose. Her eyes opened, revealing a sharp, alert gaze that darted around the room, taking in every detail.

When the tank opened, she didn't stumble but stepped out with surprising steadiness. The attendants still moved to support her, but there was less urgency in their actions.

"Designation KTR-259," an attendant called out. "Scheduled for military division."

The clone who would become Keiko stood straight, already carrying herself with a soldier's bearing. Her gaze locked onto the attendants, watching their every move with keen interest.

Neither Lin nor Keiko were aware of each other's existence at that moment. Their tanks were separated by rows of machinery and other clones in various stages of development. Yet their lives had begun almost simultaneously, two sparks of consciousness igniting in the sterile expanse of the cloning facility.

As the attendants began their examinations and the initial briefings, Lin and Keiko's lives were already diverging. One destined for the rice fields, the other for the battlefield. Neither could have imagined the path that would eventually bring them together, or the bond that would form between them.

For now, they were simply two more clones among thousands, their designations recorded, their futures mapped out by an unseen master.

Days blurred together as Lin and Keiko underwent their respective training regimens. Lin's mind was flooded with neural downloads, her synapses crackling as information about rice cultivation, soil composition, and crop yields was forcibly implanted. She would wake from these sessions with a splitting headache, her temples throbbing as if her skull was trying to contain too much knowledge.

Keiko's training was more physical, her muscles screaming in protest as she ran endless drills, learned to field-strip weapons blindfolded, and endured simulated combat scenarios that left her bruised and exhausted. The acrid smell of gunpowder became as familiar to her as her own sweat.

It was during one of the rare moments of respite that fate intervened. The facility's Mensa, usually a place of regimented meal times and bland nutrient paste, became the backdrop for a chance encounter that would change both of their lives.

The sterile corridors of the cloning facility were eerily quiet as Lin crept towards the Mensa one night, her bare feet making no sound on the cold floor. Her stomach growled, and she was on a mission to raid the kitchen’s storage area for something better than the bland nutrient paste that passed for dinner. She had heard plenty of stories about “the good stuff”, which the kitchen personnel hid for themselves. Just as she reached for the kitchen area’s door controls, another hand brushed against hers.

Lin stifled a gasp, her heart pounding as she locked eyes with another clone in the darkness. The stranger's cropped hair and lean muscle marked her as a military clone.

Before either could speak, the kitchen facility’s door slid open with a pneumatic hiss. Two Prime Guard Troopers stood there, their imposing black armour gleaming as harsh fluorescent lights flickered to life.

"Well, well," one trooper's voice crackled through her helmet's speaker. "Looks like we've got ourselves a couple of thieves."

Lin and the other clone exchanged a panicked glance, both knowing they were in deep trouble.

The troopers marched them through the facility, their heavy footsteps echoing off the walls. They were led to a small holding cell, its stark white interior a match for the corridors outside.

"You'll spend the night here," the second trooper announced, her tone almost bored. "Let this be a lesson in respecting facility rules."

The cell door slammed shut with a resounding clang, leaving Lin and her fellow captive alone.

For a moment, they stood in awkward silence. Then, to Lin's surprise, the other clone started to laugh.

"Well, this isn't quite how I planned to spend my evening," she said, her eyes twinkling with mirth. "I'm Keiko, by the way. Military clone, serial number KTR-259."

Lin couldn't help but smile in return. "Lin, agricultural division. LNA-637." She glanced around the cell. "I guess our plans for the night cycle are ruined."

Keiko snorted, settling down on one of the narrow bunks. "Oh, I don't know. The ambiance here is lovely. Very minimalist." She looked up at Lin. “And the company is not bad either,” she added with a wink.

Lin giggled, some of the tension easing from her shoulders. She perched on the edge of the other bunk. "Oh yes, and such attentive service. The Prime Guards really know how to treat their guests!"

They both burst into laughter, the absurdity of their situation finally hitting home.

As their mirth subsided, Keiko tilted her head, studying Lin with curiosity. "So, agricultural division, huh? What's that like?"

Lin shrugged. "Lots of neural downloads about crop yields and soil composition. Not exactly thrilling stuff. What about you? I bet military training is more exciting."

Keiko rolled her eyes dramatically. "Oh sure, if you find endless drills and getting yelled at exciting. Although..." she leaned in conspiratorially, "I did get to fire a railgun last week..."

Lin's eyes widened. "What was it like?"

As Keiko launched into an animated description of her weapons training, complete with sound effects, Lin found herself captivated. Not just by the story, but by Keiko herself. There was a warmth to her, a vibrancy that seemed at odds with the sterile environment of the cloning facility.

They talked for hours, swapping stories about their respective training regimens, speculating about the world outside the facility, and sharing dreams of what they might do once their service was complete.

"You know," Lin said as the conversation lulled, "I'm glad we got caught. I wouldn't have met you otherwise."

Keiko's smile softened. "Yeah, me too. Who knew getting thrown in the brig could be so… nice?"

They shared a look, something unspoken passing between them. Lin felt a warmth in her chest, a flutter of emotion she couldn't quite name.

The moment was broken by the sound of approaching footsteps. The cell door opened, revealing a stern-faced overseer.

"Alright, you two. Time's up. Back to your assigned quarters."

As they were led out of the cell, Keiko managed to catch Lin's eye one last time. She mouthed silently, "See you around?"

Lin nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. As they were marched in opposite directions, she found herself looking forward to their next encounter, whatever form it might take.

The nutrient bars might have eluded them, but Lin felt like she'd gained something far more valuable that night. A friend.

In the time that followed, Lin and Keiko carved out precious moments together. They would meet in secluded corners of the facility, sharing stories of their vastly different training experiences. Lin's eyes would light up as she described the intricate patterns of rice paddies she could see in her mind's eye, while Keiko's hands moved with precision as she demonstrated combat manoeuvres.

As days turned to weeks and months, their friendship deepened, blossoming into something more. Lingering glances, the electric thrill of fingers brushing against each other, the warmth that spread through their chests when they caught sight of one another across a crowded room - all spoke of a connection that defied their preordained roles.

But their time together was destined to be short-lived. The day of deployment arrived with brutal swiftness, tearing them apart just as they had begun to understand and admit the depth of their feelings for each other.

After a long ride across the outside world inside a huge land train, Lin found herself thrust into the harsh reality of the rice fields, along with hundreds of clones of her batch, the lush green landscape a stark contrast to the sterile environment they had known in their lives so far. The work was backbreaking, her hands quickly becoming calloused and raw as she toiled under the merciless sun. The humid air clung to her skin, making every breath a struggle.

She watched helplessly as her fellow workers succumbed to exhaustion, disease, and the ever present mutant kraken that lurked in the deeper waters at the edges of the fields. Each night, Lin would collapse onto her thin pallet, muscles aching, the realisation sinking in that she would likely die here, her dreams of freedom nothing more than a cruel joke. She missed Keiko and wondered what fate had in store for her friend.

Meanwhile, Keiko's world exploded into chaos the moment she stepped off a drop ship for the first time. Deployed deep into the green hell, the jungle erupted in a hail of gunfire, the air filled with the screams of her fellow soldiers as they fell to hidden Neo-Cong ambushers. The pungent smell of cordite mixed with the coppery tang of blood, creating a nauseating miasma.

Keiko's training kicked in, her body moving on autopilot as she dove for cover. She watched in horror as her squadmates were cut down, their bodies torn apart by a storm of bullets. The lush foliage, so alien to her eyes, became a green hell of death and confusion.

By some miracle, Keiko survived that first engagement, but the cost was high. She emerged as the sole survivor of her squad, her skin splattered with the warm blood of her comrades, her eyes haunted by the carnage and senseless slaughter she had witnessed on her first day of deployment. She decided that day that she would live. That she would fight, and do whatever it took to see Lin again There was no sense in trying to hold on to anything else.

Months passed, grinding Lin and Keiko down in their respective hells. Lin's world narrowed to the endless cycle of planting, tending, and harvesting. She watched friends wither away from malnutrition and overwork, their bodies unceremoniously dumped into the very fields they had tended to fertilise the next planting cycle. The futility of their situation weighed heavily on her, the knowledge that they would never live long enough to see freedom and that she would never again see Keiko, a constant, gnawing ache.

Then came the day of the Neo-Cong raid. The air was suddenly filled with the chatter of gunfire and the acrid smell of smoke. Lin huddled with her fellow workers, terror gripping her heart as chaos erupted around them. She watched in horror as people she had come to care for were cut down in the crossfire between the Neo-Cong and the rice field overseers, their bodies falling into the muddy water of the rice paddies, staining it crimson.

As the dust settled, Lin found herself "liberated," though the cost had been high. The Neo-Cong warriors, their eyes burning with fervour and caring nothing for collateral damage, herded the survivors into the depths of the jungle. What followed was a nightmarish journey through a landscape that seemed intent on devouring them.

The jungle was a living, breathing entity, hostile to their very presence. Massive plants with leaves sharp enough to slice through flesh reached out to snare the unwary. The air itself seemed to pulse with malevolent life, filled with spores that could burrow into unprotected skin, turning the infected into mindless, fungal puppets.

Lin watched in horror as her fellow escapees fell victim to the jungle's many perils. Some were snatched by tentacled monstrosities that lurked in murky ponds, dragged beneath the surface with barely a scream. Others were dragged into hidden crevices by thorny vines that were cutting their flesh, their desperate cries fading as they were swallowed by the earth.

At night, bioluminescent creatures emerged, their eerie glow a siren call to the curious or desperate. Those who approached never returned, their fate left to terrible imagination.

After weeks of torturous travel, the surviving members of the group finally reached the Neo-Cong sanctuary. Nestled in a hidden valley, it seemed like paradise compared to the hell they had traversed. But Lin soon discovered that this haven came with its own price.

The monks of the Bright Path, their eyes gleaming with zealous fire, began the process of indoctrination. Lin found herself swept up in a whirlwind of propaganda, her mind assaulted by passionate speeches about sacrifice and the greater good. Though she didn't fully buy into their rhetoric, the alternative - being cast back into the jungle - was unthinkable.

And so, Lin found herself training to become a Neo-Cong warrior, armed with nothing more than a sharpened bamboo spear. The training was brutal, designed to strip away any remaining sense of individuality. Lin's body ached from countless drills, her hands blistered and bleeding from hours of weapons practice.

When she was finally sent into battle, the monks' words echoed in her mind: "Your life is but a small price to pay for the future of humanity." Lin clung to her memories of Keiko, using them as a shield against the relentless indoctrination.

As Lin was being moulded into a weapon of the Neo-Cong, Keiko's world had devolved into a never-ending nightmare of combat and loss. Now a squad leader, she led her troops through the treacherous jungle, each mission feeling more pointless than the last.

Her squad moved cautiously through the dense foliage, every sense on high alert. Suddenly, a muffled cry rang out. Keiko spun around to see one of her soldiers, a young woman named Yuki, being dragged into the undergrowth by a mass of writhing vines. Yuki's eyes were wide with terror as the plants constricted around her, thorns piercing her flesh. Her screams were cut short as she drowned in her own blood and disappeared into the green maw of the jungle.

Keiko had no time to mourn. A whistle in the air was her only warning before a hail of poison arrows rained down on them. Two more of her squad fell, their bodies impaled and convulsing as the toxin took hold. The survivors scrambled for cover, returning fire at unseen enemies.

As they pushed forward, the ground beneath a trooper called Arika suddenly gave way. She plummeted into a hidden pit, impaling herself on sharpened stakes. Her agonised screams echoed through the jungle as Keiko and the others could only watch helplessly as Arika died in unspeakable pain, unable to reach her in the deep pit without risking the same fate.

The relentless assault of the jungle continued. Massive, mutated spiders descended from the canopy, their jaws dripping with venom. Keiko watched in horror as one of these monstrosities caught her second in command Hira in its jaws, dragging her back up into the dense, dark tree canopy before her very eyes. Hira’s desperate cries for help etched another scar into Keiko’s soul.

With each loss, Keiko felt a piece of herself die. The faces of her fallen comrades haunted her dreams, their voices echoing in her mind during the rare moments of silence. The futility of their mission became increasingly apparent. They were all going to die in this green hell, their lives sacrificed for some unseen, unknowable purpose. 

As Keiko's squad dwindled, they found themselves surrounded, the jungle alive with the movement of Neo-Cong warriors. Wave after wave of attackers emerged from the undergrowth, armed with little more than bamboo spears and fanatical determination.

Keiko and her remaining troopers fought with desperate ferocity. The air was filled with the staccato of gunfire and the meaty thud of bullets hitting flesh. Neo-Cong warriors fell by the dozens, their bodies piling up to form grisly barricades.

Keiko lost count of how many Neo-Cong she’d killed. But for every attacker that fell, two more seemed to take their place. Keiko watched as her squad was whittled down, one by one. Taro was impaled by the bamboo spear of an attacker that broke through, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at the shaft protruding from her chest. Mei's head exploded in a spray of bone and brain matter, victim of a lucky shot from a hidden Neo-Cong sniper.

As the battle raged on, Keiko felt a growing hollowness in her chest. The absurdity of their situation struck her like a physical blow. They were all pawns in some cruel greater scheme, their lives utterly meaningless and expendable in the pursuit of an unattainable victory.

With a sickening realisation, Keiko understood that there was no point to any of this. They were all going to die here, in this godforsaken jungle, having achieved nothing but more bloodshed.

The Neo-Cong attacks were staggered in relentless waves, each assault more desperate than the last. Lin found herself swept up in the madness, her body moving forward even as her mind screamed in protest.

The first wave was a massacre. Lin watched as her comrades were cut down by withering fire from the Jade Domain position. Bodies fell like wheat before a scythe, the jungle floor quickly becoming slick with blood.

They retreated, regrouped, and attacked again. And again. Each time, Lin had to steel herself against the horror of climbing over the broken bodies of her fallen friends, slipping on blood and wet mud. The stench of death filled her nostrils, the cries of the wounded a constant backdrop to the chaos.

In the final push, Lin found herself at the forefront of the attack. Her feet slipped on the gore-slicked ground as she charged forward, her bamboo spear held before her like a talisman against death. She vaulted over a pile of corpses, coming face to face with a Jade Domain trooper whose ammunition had run dry.

Without thinking, Lin thrust her spear forward. She felt the sickening give as it pierced flesh, saw the look of shock and pain in the trooper's eyes. As the soldier crumpled to the ground, the full weight of what she had done crashed down on Lin. She fell to her knees, retching, tears streaming down her face as she locked eyes with the dying trooper. The senselessness of it all overwhelmed her, they were both clones, probably even born in the same facility, there was no reason why they should be enemies.

As the sounds of battle faded, Lin looked up, suddenly aware that she was the only one of her unit left. A lone Jade Domain trooper stood before her, aiming a rifle at her. Lin winced as the trooper pulled the trigger.

The weapon clicked dry. With an angry snarl, the trooper discarded the rifle. Lin jumped back to her feet and they charged at each other, all technique forgotten in their exhaustion and desperation. They grappled in the mud, each trying to gain the upper hand. They each clawed at each other’s throats, trying to strangle their opponent.

And then, like a bolt of lightning cutting through the fog of war, recognition dawned. Through the mud and blood, past the changes wrought by months of hardship, Lin saw a face she thought she'd never see again. The trooper was Keiko.

Time seemed to stand still as they stared at each other, chests heaving, minds reeling from the impossibility of the moment. Then, as if a dam had burst, they fell into each other's arms, sobs wracking their bodies.

They kissed with desperate intensity, pent-up longing and the sheer joy of survival pouring out in a moment of passionate connection. The taste of blood and sweat mingled on their lips, but neither cared. In that moment, the war, the jungle, the whole cursed world faded away. There was only this moment, only them.

After a few minutes, Lin and Keiko reluctantly pulled away from one another. The reality of their situation reasserted itself. The sounds of battle were disappearing into the distance and daylight was fading fast.

"We need to find shelter," Keiko said, her tactical training kicking in despite her exhaustion. "The jungle's even more dangerous at night."

Lin nodded, her eyes scanning the darkening landscape. "There," she pointed to a massive, gnarled tree whose roots formed a natural cave. "We can hide there, at least for now."

They made their way to the shelter, every step an effort against fatigue and the treacherous terrain. Once inside, they collapsed against each other, the adrenaline of battle and reunion finally wearing off.

In the close confines of their hideout, they rediscovered each other. Fingers traced new scars, lips brushed against skin toughened by months of hardship. They talked in hushed whispers, sharing the horrors they had endured and the slim hopes that had kept them going.

"I thought of you every day," Lin murmured, her head resting on Keiko's shoulder. "The memory of our time together... it was the only thing that kept me sane."

Keiko tightened her arms around Lin, her voice thick with emotion when she replied. "When everything else lost meaning, the hope of seeing you again one day gave me a reason to keep fighting."

As the first light of dawn filtered through the roots of their shelter, Lin and Keiko knew they couldn't stay hidden forever. The jungle was already stirring, the distant roars and chittering of its monstrous inhabitants a reminder of the dangers that lurked beyond their temporary haven.

"We need weapons," Keiko said, her military training asserting itself. "And supplies, if we can find them."

Lin nodded, her face set in grim determination. "There are bodies everywhere," she suggested. "There must be something we can salvage."

Cautiously, they emerged from their hiding place. The carnage of the battle was laid out before them, made all the more grotesque by the rising mist of the early dawn. Bodies lay strewn across the muddy ground, already being reclaimed by the voracious jungle.

They moved carefully among the dead, gathering what they could. Keiko found a serviceable rifle with half a magazine of ammunition. Lin salvaged a grenade and a combat knife. They found some pouches and stuffed them with ration bars taken from the fallen, giving a silent thanks for these precious provisions to the dead.

As they worked, Lin and Keiko made a pact. They had survived against all odds, found each other in the midst of hell. They would not be separated again. Whatever came next, they would face it together.

Suddenly, a blood-curdling shriek split the air, causing both women to freeze. Through a gap in the foliage, they saw a massive shape moving with terrifying speed. A large mutant spider, its body as tall as that of a human, burst into the clearing. Caught in its sharp jaws was a warrior, her body still twitching. It was impossible to tell if she was Neo-Cong or Jade Trooper at this point, her half-devoured body covered in black ichor and blood.

Lin and Keiko shared a look of grim determination. Against all the odds they had found each other again, and for the first time in their lives, they had something worth fighting for.

"Ready?" Keiko asked, raising her rifle.

Lin nodded, gripping her knife tightly. "Always," she replied.

As the spider turned towards them, sensing new prey, Lin and Keiko stood their ground. The mutant spider's multiple eyes fixed on Lin and Keiko, its jaws clicking in hungry anticipation. Ichor dripped from its fangs, sizzling as it hit the jungle floor. The half-devoured body of the warrior fell from its grasp, landing with a sickening squelch in the mud.

Keiko raised her salvaged rifle, muscles tensing as she took aim. The spider lunged forward, its grotesquely elongated legs propelling its massive bulk with unnatural speed. Keiko squeezed the trigger, the rifle's report deafening in the thick morning mist.

The bullet found its mark, punching through one of the creature's eyes in a spray of viscous fluid. But the spider barely slowed, its chitinous armour deflecting the rest of Keiko's desperate volley.

"Lin, move!" Keiko shouted, diving to the side as the spider barreled past, its legs scything through the air where she had stood moments before.

Lin rolled in the opposite direction, coming up in a crouch with her knife at the ready. The spider skidded to a halt, its bulk crashing through underbrush and sending smaller creatures scurrying for cover. It whirled around, its razor sharp jaws gnashing in fury.

Keiko's rifle clicked empty. With a curse, she cast it aside and drew her own knife. "We need to flank it," she called to Lin, her voice steady despite the fear coursing through her veins.

Lin nodded, her eyes never leaving the monstrous arachnid. They began to circle the creature, their movements synchronised as if they had fought side by side for years. The spider's head swivelled back and forth, unsure which prey to pursue.

Seizing the moment of indecision, Lin darted forward. Her knife flashed in the first rays of sunlight as she slashed at one of the spider's legs. The blade bit deep, black ichor spurting from the wound. The spider let out an unearthly shriek, rearing back on its hind legs.

Keiko saw her opening. With a running start, she launched herself onto the spider's back, driving her knife down with all her strength. The blade skittered across the creature's armoured carapace before finding purchase in a joint.

The spider bucked wildly, nearly throwing Keiko off. She clung on desperately, twisting the knife deeper as the monster thrashed beneath her. Lin circled around, looking for another opening.

"The grenade!" Keiko shouted, her voice strained with effort. "Use the grenade!"

Lin's eyes widened in understanding. She fumbled through her pouch, fingers closing around the cold metal of the grenade she had found earlier. With a swift motion, she pulled the pin and lobbed the explosive towards the spider's underbelly.

"Jump!" Lin screamed, already diving for cover.

Keiko released her grip on the knife, pushing off from the spider's back with all her strength. She hit the ground hard, the impact driving the air from her lungs. Lin's arms were around her in an instant, dragging her behind the twisted trunk of a fallen tree.

The explosion rocked the clearing, sending a shockwave of heat and pressure washing over them. The spider's screeching as its body was torn apart, chunks of carapace and legs raining down around them.

For a moment, all was silent save for the ringing in their ears and their own ragged breathing. Then, slowly, the sounds of the jungle began to reassert themselves – the distant calls of birds, the rustle of leaves in the morning breeze.

Lin and Keiko looked at each other, their faces streaked with mud, sweat, and the spider's ichor. Despite everything, they began to laugh – a sound of relief, of shared triumph, of sheer joy at being alive.

Their laughter faded as they surveyed the carnage around them. The spider's shattered body lay in a smoking crater, surrounded by the fallen of yesterday's battle. The stench of death hung heavy in the air, a grim reminder of where they were.

"We can't stay here," Keiko said, wiping her blade clean on a clump of grass. "That explosion will draw too much attention."

Lin nodded, her expression turning serious. "Where do we go? The Neo-Cong will be looking for survivors, and I'm sure the Jade Domain has patrols in the area."

Keiko was silent for a moment, her brow furrowed in thought. "South," she said finally. "We keep going until we hit the coast, no matter how long it takes. If we can make it to one of the port cities, we might be able to find work on a freighter and get out of this hell."

Lin nodded. Anywhere was better than here, as long as she could stay with Keiko.

They gathered what additional supplies they could, knowing that every ounce of food or ammunition could mean the difference between life and death in the days to come. As they prepared to leave, Lin paused, her gaze drawn to the bodies strewn across the clearing.

"We should... we should do something for them," she said softly.

Keiko followed her gaze, understanding dawning in her eyes. She gently laid a hand on Lin’s shoulder. “We can’t do anything for them now. If we stay, if anyone finds us, we will be separated again. Lin nodded. “You’re right. Let’s get as away from here as possible. Right now.”

With a final glance, Lin and Keiko turned away, plunging into the depths of the jungle. As they moved through the undergrowth, alert for any sign of threat, Lin felt a spark of hope kindle in her chest. It was a fragile thing, easily extinguished by the horrors that surrounded them. But it was there, growing stronger with each step they took together. Against all the odds, they had found something worth fighting for in this hell – each other.