Ten years before….

On the planet of Solera, two scientists, Dr. Hurrock Torrent and his mate, Neyene, stumbled upon a breakthrough after years of genetics research. The two, members of the small population forest lizards known as Kaldoran Monitors, known for their adaptable nature and relatively good health, traced through their genetic code. Within it, they discovered the key to seemingly enhance the strength of the body's regenerative and immune abilities. It was a cure, a discovery so meaningful that it could change society.

But their comrades weren't too accepting. They claimed the pair had gone too far, that it possibly couldn't be implemented on the general public. The two were shunned, with all their funding pulled and their discoveries being termed as speculative. With fresh feelings of betrayal and invalidation, the intelligent male turned to his people, urging that if they abandoned normal society and followed him, that they'd live better lives, never grow sick or frail. It was an effort to prove everyone wrong….that went on for far too long, and had dire consequences.

The whole population of Monitors relocated to a distant planet outside of the general alignment of the Lumerian main planets, but one that still shared its sun. Torrent used the last of his favors to have a new laboratory built on the less habitable planet, and there he began his trials, giving those members who were willing shots and medications to influence their bodies to change. And, much to the pair's delight, they found that the treatments worked.

But it wasn't enough. Reports back to Solera went unanswered, and with the mindset to keep his research from going into the dark and never being seen or valued again…..Hurrock decided to use it in a different way.

He took up the title of General, and cut his people off from the rest of the “corrupt, vile scum that lay planets over”. His experiments, and his race’s desire to be recognized grew, and soon the goal was no longer just to heal illness or create strong bodies.

It was to create the perfect race. One that never grew sick or old, but more over, one that grew immune to outside influence, attacks, and one that if let loose on the rest of the world….would surely leave their mark.

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13 months ago….

Now in full sweep of the galaxy for any extra additions to add to their golden genetic code, the Dominian ruler becomes aware of a strange lizard who lived off planet near Solera. The subject, named Tang, originally came from Earth, a completely artificially created being who was created to be a biological weapon for the weaker race. It seemed he was keeping quiet now, having been off the thriving planet for over a decade, and doing odd jobs to try to fit in and forget his past. The perfect citizen to make disappear from the general population and use his secrets to perfect the code.

Their first attempt to obtain him through a weapons deal failed, when an enhanced human named Ryland whom he'd picked up as a hitch hiker saved him, using his strange magical abilities to blow up all the inventory and create a distraction for the lizard to flee capture.

Deciding it wasn't wise to show his cards, a thief of high regard was hired. Lela Pantera, a black Leopard of the outlaw planet Cerata would kidnap the reptile and deliver him personally to the General. The plan worked, until the human who'd been flying with Tang to get to the next planet over, took a stand, and enlisted the help of a young rogue vigilante wolf named Kotai to help infiltrate the ship Lela took and get Tang back. In their efforts, they took Lela as a bargaining chip to ensure she wouldn't run back to the General and tell him what happened.

The four, now on Tang's live-in ship, running from an enemy that vastly outnumbered them, realize the truth. They were all complicit, but more important, they were the only ones who knew what the corrupt tribe of lizards were doing, and despite their differences, if they split ways and didn't stop it, no one would. They would unleash an attack on Solera out of rage, and no one would have any clue how to stop the assault. They could protect themselves….or step up.

They prepared, growing slightly close, though Ryland and Tang grew perhaps a bit too much so, the combination of Ryland’s guilt for what his people had done to Tang, and the hybrid's own self-destructive isolating tendencies and desperation leading to a romance amidst the chaos.

Soon enough, the attack befell Solera at the yearly government hearing, where General O’Malley as well as the others of nearby plants met before the press to discuss how each planet was doing well and how they could do better. The Dominians, having snuck onto the planet in tow of their General showing his face on Solera after a decade of absence, set upon the building, attacking reporters and civilians alike.

But unsuspectingly, the team of four who likely would have never met if not for this conflict, joined the Soleran guards, attacking with skill, and specially made dosage bullets that would knock the Dominian's out and begin to undo the damage that Torrents experiments had done to them over the years. They split up, Tang shooting strays from afar while the other three fought on the ground.

Upon seeing all he'd worked for had fallen, a defeated General Torrent sought shelter inside an old church, where Ryland followed him, and initiated his own attempt to kill the General and save his friends. Armed with a spear dipped with Tang's own acidic venom, and more than enough of it to do more than harm, Ryland attacked. Though the Dominian ruler had the upper hand against an inexperienced Ryland, and nearly killed him, the human ended up stabbing the lizard in the back with the spear, lifted by his magic when the reptile had dropped his guard.

And with that, the looming threat of world domination at the hands of a crazed man given far too much power was gone.

They had won.

After Torrent’s death, the remaining Dominians, who were now again referred to as their species name, were admitted to the military hospital, where they were cared for and treated for their ailments thanks to the years of experimentation. Tang and his crew were hailed as heroes….but the group found themselves at odds. Lela wanted no recognition, and she fled Solera again not long after the battle. Ryland and Tang's relationship reached a tipping point for the worst, and they split, leaving Kotai to go back to his quiet life of making weapons and saving people through the disguise of a mask. The group was fractured, split by the inability to adapt and recognize their importance. They were all flawed, and the realization that they didn't feel like heroes only cemented the split.

They were separate…..until new problems, and new stakes with dire consequences would come their way again. When the world needed not heroes, but special players who had a will to do what's right and protect their home.

That time would come sooner than they thought.