This section unveils the stories of the most significant figures who have left a mark on the world, both before and after the apocalypse. Each character has a life, actions, and a vision that have shaped the fate of humanity and what remains of it. Here, their origins, motivations, key decisions, and psychology are explored, offering a window into their souls and intentions.

For now, this section focuses on the fundamental characters at the origin of the apocalypse, those whose actions led to the collapse of civilization. However, in the future, many more protagonists of the post-apocalyptic world will be added, characters who have risen from the ashes to lead, survive, or destroy.

Over time, this section will grow to include the lives of those who govern the cities, roam the Wasteland, or seek to restore what once was.

Zachary Albright

Age: 42 years

Occupation: CEO of Geneteq, pioneer in biotechnology

Physical description: Tall, slender but with a dominant and elegant posture. His dark hair is always impeccably slicked back, and his gray eyes project both the coldness of a calculating man and the shadow of an old pain. His tailored suits, always flawless, reflect his need for control and perfection.

Personality: Visionary, ambitious, and obsessed with control over life and death. Zachary is a man who has sacrificed everything in his personal life for the promise of transcending the limits of human biology. Beneath his cold and calculating exterior, he hides a deep despair for the losses he has suffered, and while he may seem relentless, he constantly struggles against the emotional void left by the death of his mother and sister.

Motivation and Tragic Past

Zachary Albright grew up in a family devastated by illness and pain. His mother suffered from a degenerative genetic disease that inexorably destroyed her physical and mental faculties, leading to a slow and agonizing death. From a young age, Zachary witnessed his mother's harrowing decline, an experience that deeply scarred him. After her death, his father, unable to bear the loss, took his own life, leaving Zachary and his older sister completely alone and emotionally shattered.

The pain of these losses drove him to immerse himself in biotechnology, desperately seeking a cure that could save his sister, who had also inherited the disease. Although his own life was at risk, his priority was always to save her, his last familial and emotional connection. For years, he devoted his life to research, sacrificing his physical and mental health in an unrelenting quest for a cure to save her.

Eventually, Zachary developed the cure, but just as he was about to treat his sister, he encountered an insurmountable bureaucratic obstacle: medical regulations required additional testing before it could be applied to humans. In his desperation, Zachary attempted to bypass the rules and administer the cure clandestinely but was stopped by hospital security. Watching his sister succumb to the same disease that had taken his mother, just as he held the solution in his hands, left him utterly devastated.

This failure transformed him. The helplessness he felt at that moment changed his perspective on rules and ethics. Since then, he became a man willing to break any barrier or rule standing in his way to achieve absolute control over life and death. He could no longer allow more innocent and good people to die if there was a way to save them, and this determination led him to make increasingly risky and morally questionable decisions.

Years later, when the first symptoms of the disease began manifesting in himself, Zachary finally managed to save his own life using the same cure he could not administer to his sister. However, this "victory" only fueled his torment. He survived, but the price was the loss of his family, a guilt he has never been able to overcome. This ambivalence between professional success and personal failure defines much of his character.

Personal Life and Torment

The void left by the death of his mother and sister is something Zachary has never been able to fill. After saving himself from the disease, he threw himself into creating Geneteq, a company that quickly became a titan in biotechnology. However, his success in the professional realm was not matched by emotional stability.

Unable to form deep relationships due to his fear of loss, Zachary surrounds himself with lovers and luxuries, but nothing seems to fill the void consuming him. He lives a life of excess, but these only reinforce his sense of isolation and disconnection. Despite his success and fortune, he remains a tormented man, unable to escape the pain of surviving while his loved ones could not.

His personal life is marked by emotional detachment and superficiality. Those around him do not see him as a vulnerable human being but as a symbol of power and wealth. This disconnection from others has led him to focus even more on his work, the only thing where he still feels in control.

Over time, his growing presence on social media and his vehement opposition to any attempts to regulate innovation in biotechnology turned him into a controversial figure. Zachary positioned himself as a relentless advocate for scientific progress, publicly criticizing politicians and parties attempting to impose restrictions, which attracted both admiration and rejection. To many, he was a visionary breaking barriers for the sake of humanity, someone challenging bureaucratic stagnation in the name of science. But to his detractors, he was a dangerous threat, an arrogant figure willing to sacrifice ethics and public safety in his quest for power and recognition. This polarization made him a controversial celebrity, followed by masses of admirers and fiercely attacked by those who feared the consequences of his ambition.

Relationship with Other Characters

• Dr. Elias Vandermeer: Initially, Zachary saw Vandermeer as an ally, someone with the ethics and skills needed to help him carry out his most ambitious projects. However, Vandermeer’s constant warnings about the dangers of the NT Virus led to an inevitable conflict between them. Vandermeer represented a barrier Zachary was unwilling to tolerate, ultimately leading to the scientist’s disappearance, removing the last ethical obstacle in Albright’s path.
• Mr. Shadow: Although he does not know him personally, Mr. Shadow’s actions, orchestrated by the Geneteq board, have deeply impacted Albright. The cleanup of the NT Virus disaster was carried out without his knowledge, a sign that even within his own company, forces are operating in the shadows.
• Geneteq Board of Directors: Despite Zachary being the public face of the company, the board views him with suspicion due to his growing ambitions and willingness to take ethical risks. Although they have supported his vision, the recent NT Virus crisis has weakened their confidence in him, prompting them to take measures behind his back to manage the situation.

Additional Details

• Absolute Control: Zachary’s motivation has shifted from his original goal. It is no longer solely about saving lives or finding cures but about achieving absolute control over life itself. He is increasingly moving toward biotechnology that defies natural laws, placing him on a dangerous path.
• Vision of the Future: His vision has become distorted over time. While he initially sought to prevent the death of his loved ones, he now sees the NT Virus as an opportunity to transform humanity into something beyond what we know. He believes he can redeem his failures by creating an enhanced humanity, but his judgment is clouded by pain and guilt.

Elias Vandermeer

Age: 58 years

Occupation: Head of Research at Geneteq (missing)

Physical Description: Of medium height, with graying hair and a slightly unkempt beard. His eyes convey intelligence, conviction, and a deep sensitivity to ethical dilemmas. Though he always dresses simply, his presence reflects an unshakable moral firmness.

Personality: Elias is a principled man, committed to social and scientific causes from a young age. His religious upbringing instilled values of humility and service to others, but his activism against the power of biotech corporations and the fight against climate change turned him into an opponent of corporate interests. His character is firm and upright, often clashing with more ambitious figures, but his vision is guided by the belief that science must improve human life without compromising ethics.

Motivation and Past

Elias Vandermeer comes from a humble and deeply religious family. His father, a contractor, and his mother, a homemaker, believed that Elias’s God-given talent should be used to benefit humanity. Though his parents couldn’t afford his education, Vandermeer earned a prestigious scholarship that allowed him to study at one of the country’s top universities. There, he not only excelled academically but also became deeply involved in activism.

During his university years, Elias became an ardent activist fighting against the growing power of biotech corporations and the lack of political will to address climate change. These activities led to confrontations with authorities, multiple arrests, and inclusion on blacklists that hindered his professional career. Despite these challenges, Vandermeer completed his doctorate and post-doctorate with flying colors, only to find the corporate-dominated job market largely closed to him.

Despite the obstacles, Elias never wavered in his principles or his faith. Believing his talents should serve the greater good, he spent over 30 years working in small government-funded labs, achieving significant academic milestones. His greatest setback came when a trusted colleague and close friend stole his most important research and won the Nobel Prize with it, leaving him entirely sidelined. To add insult to injury, this former friend invited him to the award ceremony. At the last moment, Elias decided to attend, though he couldn’t explain why. This decision would change the course of his life.

At the ceremony, he met Zachary Albright, someone he saw as embodying everything he had fought against. Yet, to his surprise, they hit it off quickly. Albright, impressed by Vandermeer’s accomplishments and aware of his reputation, offered him a position at Geneteq with virtually unlimited funding for his research. Despite his initial hesitation, Elias accepted, seeing an opportunity to elevate his projects as long as he could remain true to his principles.

Personal Life

Throughout his life, Elias Vandermeer remained steadfast in balancing his passion for science with his strong ethics. Coming from a religious family, he believed his talent was a divine gift, carrying a profound responsibility to use it for good. His unwavering commitment to ethics and activism against corporate power distanced him from much of the academic and business world, and also created emotional barriers with those close to him. While his family supported him, they didn’t fully understand the magnitude of the internal and external battles he faced.

Elias never married or started a family of his own, partly because his obsession with scientific and social justice consumed him entirely, and partly because he distrusted a world he believed had been corrupted by selfishness and ambition. He often spent long hours isolated in his work, convinced that his mission in life extended beyond personal matters. His colleagues respected him, but few got close enough to know the man behind the scientist. This isolation, both personal and professional, was in many ways self-imposed—a sacrifice Elias considered necessary to remain true to his ideals.

Despite his academic success, Elias spent much of his professional life in small laboratories with limited funding and without the widespread recognition he deserved. For over three decades, he worked on innovative projects, always overshadowed by the corporations that dominated the scientific world. His resistance to aligning with their interests made him a target of silencing and boycotts. The most painful moment of his career came when a colleague betrayed him, stealing his most significant research and winning the Nobel Prize for it. Devastated, Elias received an invitation to the Nobel ceremony—a cruel mockery he decided to accept at the last minute, driven by a mix of humiliation and curiosity.

At that ceremony, however, fate had a surprise in store. It was there he met Zachary Albright. Although Elias had spent years criticizing the growing power of figures like Albright, he was most surprised by how well they got along. Albright not only knew his work but admired Vandermeer’s integrity. For Elias, it was disconcerting to find affinity in someone who represented everything he had fought against, but the personal connection between them was undeniable. Zachary offered him a position at Geneteq, with unlimited resources and the promise of continuing his research without the bureaucratic restrictions that had stifled him for so long.

For years, the relationship between Albright and Vandermeer was surprisingly productive. Though they clashed on ethical issues, they always found a way to resolve their differences. Vandermeer trusted that Albright understood the need to balance innovation with responsibility. However, everything changed with the discovery of the NT Virus. Elias led the Arctic expedition that uncovered it, and from the start, he knew this virus represented something that had to be handled with extreme caution.

The NT Virus embodied all of Vandermeer’s fears: a scientific breakthrough that, if used irresponsibly, could unleash devastating consequences. While Albright saw revolutionary potential in the virus, Elias viewed it as a warning about the dangers of human arrogance. This divergence in perspectives marked the beginning of the end of their professional relationship—and, likely, the cause of Vandermeer’s eventual disappearance.

Relationship with Other Characters

• Zachary Albright: Although they began with a friendly and mutually respectful relationship, their visions regarding the use of science eventually put them at odds. Zachary, more ambitious and willing to cross ethical lines, constantly clashed with Elias, who saw the NT Virus as a threat that could not be ignored. Despite years of collaboration, the discovery of the virus definitively broke their relationship, and Elias’s disappearance left many questions unanswered.
• Mr. Shadow: Elias never met Mr. Shadow, but the mercenary played a key role in the covert operation that led to his disappearance. Mr. Shadow’s actions were driven by Geneteq’s desire to cover up the NT Virus disaster, and while never confirmed, it is suspected that Elias was eliminated for opposing the company’s plans.
• The Geneteq Board of Directors: The board never appreciated the ethical influence Vandermeer exerted on some team members. Although they acknowledged his intelligence, his firm opposition to the NT Virus and his warnings about its dangers made him a problematic figure for their interests, ultimately leading to his disappearance.

Additional Details

• Activism and Struggle: Elias was a committed activist against biotech corporations and climate change from a young age, leading to multiple imprisonments and his inclusion on blacklists that deeply affected his career. Even so, he never abandoned his principles and always fought for science to serve humanity.
• Religion and Purpose: His religious faith was a cornerstone of his life. He believed God had given him his talent to do good and improve the world, driving him to maintain a firm stance against the dangerous uses of science.
• Relationship with Albright: Although initially distrustful of Albright, their relationship was strong for years. Elias admired Albright’s ability to push science to unprecedented levels, but when Zachary’s ambition led him to disregard warnings about the dangers of the NT Virus, the relationship irreversibly fractured.

Mr. Shadow

Age: Unknown

Occupation: Undercover agent, problem solver, high-level mercenary.

Physical Description: Always impeccably dressed in a dark suit that seems to blend with the environment, Mr. Shadow never attracts attention despite his elegant attire. His height and athletic build are notable, but his presence is so discreet that even those who have seen him in person have difficulty remembering specific details about him. He is a figure that seems to fade from memory, leaving only a trail of efficiency and professionalism.

Personality: Mr. Shadow is an impenetrable figure, characterized by unshakable calm and almost superhuman efficiency. His methodical behavior and absolute tranquility allow him to carry out his missions with no margin for error. Although he is paid for his services, he does not seem motivated solely by money. He has turned down jobs without explanation and, on occasion, has inserted himself into problems by offering his services as the ideal solution, raising more questions than answers about his true interests.

Past and Suspicious Missions

Mr. Shadow’s past is shrouded in mystery. It is rumored that he was part of special forces or secret intelligence programs, but there is no conclusive evidence. What is known is that he has been involved in operations that have shaped the fate of powerful corporations and governments. His name is mentioned in elite circles when the elimination of impossible problems is required.

Among the missions he is believed to have been involved in are high-impact operations that never reached the public eye. It is rumored that he was behind the downfall of a powerful organization in Asia, causing the leaders to self-destruct in an internal war triggered by carefully leaked information. On another occasion, a tech mogul died under circumstances recorded as suicide, but internal investigations pointed to the influence of Mr. Shadow.

One of the most enigmatic cases occurred when Mr. Shadow was hired to dismantle a military group that opposed a powerful megacorporation. Shortly after accepting the mission, internal tensions within the faction began to escalate rapidly, leading to a series of violent clashes among its own members. Within weeks, the faction had destroyed itself through violence, with no direct intervention from external forces. What was most perplexing was that, although the destruction was brutal, there were no signs that Mr. Shadow used violence against them. It seemed that he had manipulated the circumstances from the shadows, using information and strategy to drive the faction to self-destruction without ever getting his hands dirty.

Relationship with Power

Mr. Shadow has worked for the most powerful: governments, large corporations, and key figures in the business world. Although he charges for his services, what truly motivates him remains a mystery. He has rejected million-dollar contracts without apparent explanation and, on other occasions, has appeared unexpectedly, offering a perfect solution to problems that seemed unsolvable. Those who have dealt with him know that his loyalty cannot be easily bought; although he always fulfills his contracts, it is clear that his true interest goes far beyond simple money.

In some cases, he has deployed elite tactical teams, carefully selected and trained under his command. These teams operate with surgical precision, carrying out missions with great effectiveness. What is perplexing is that, despite being funded by the same resources as Mr. Shadow, it is unknown how or where they are recruited, and their identities remain as hidden as that of their leader. On other occasions, however, he appears to operate alone, and the results are equally devastating.

Effectiveness and Methods

What is most puzzling about Mr. Shadow is that he has never been seen using weapons. Not because he doesn’t need them, but because his true power lies in his ability to manipulate people and situations to his advantage. Instead of carrying out direct assassinations, he often provokes his targets into eliminating themselves, either through "suicides" carefully induced or internal conflicts that destroy organizations from within. He has caused entire companies to turn against themselves in a surreal twist of events that seem like a stroke of luck, but are actually the result of his meticulous planning.

Although he usually acts alone, in missions that require a more tactical approach, Mr. Shadow mobilizes entire teams of professionals, all under his control. These teams operate with pinpoint efficiency, as if every move had been calculated in advance by their leader. None of his operatives have failed, which has solidified Mr. Shadow’s reputation as someone who never leaves loose ends.

His unshakable calm in any situation is legendary. He has never been seen flustered, not even in the most tense moments. The few who have worked with him agree that Mr. Shadow seems to always be one step ahead of everyone, as if he already knows what the outcome will be long before it happens. There is no rush in his actions, only the certainty that the outcome will always be as expected.