Half in Fire

Welcome to Fragments of Records, a compendium of the essential terms, concepts, and expressions that make up the vast world of Fragmented Universes. Here you’ll find both original words and foreign terms used throughout the story, with translations and brief explanations.

If you come across an unfamiliar term while reading, this section offers a way to deepen your understanding without breaking your immersion in the story.

0–9

3-R Nanobombs

Three weapons of mass destruction developed by Kemetia’s command in 2795, during the nanotechnological arms race among the megacities. They incorporate QN-Cryptography, making their engineering impossible to replicate.

• R-ATOM. A radioactive nanonuclear fission weapon. It emits waves of radiation that can penetrate any material and render entire regions uninhabitable.
• R-BIO. A biological weapon that disintegrates internal organs, including synthetic tissues and technological implants.
• R-FUS. A geological weapon that generates catastrophic earthquakes capable of reshaping landscapes and destroying continents.

After the weapons were woven, the Universal Peace Tribunal attempted to negotiate a ceasefire with Kemetia and failed. Egypt’s government used the 3-R to consolidate its power and began attacking neighboring territories. In response, the Aether Network stole R-ATOM and used it to bomb Egypt, causing an environmental collapse that left the country virtually uninhabitable. R-FUS tests in Alexandria and the Sahara turned part of the desert into sea.

Of the ten prototypes, six were used, one was destroyed, and three remain under tight security. Attempts to reweave the technology in Ilhabela failed because the engineering behind its QN-Cryptography died with its creators.

A

Aerobridge

A suspended structure connecting buildings or sectors of a city, allowing people to cross quickly without descending to ground level.

Aerocar

An everyday airborne vehicle supported by nanoelectromagnetic waves, which allow it to travel steadily and efficiently along airways and aerohighways.

Aerohighways

Major air routes connecting different sectors of vertical cities. They carry heavy suspended vehicle traffic, regulated by living intelligence (LI) systems.

Aerolamp

A suspended light that adjusts automatically to its surroundings and stays aloft through nanoelectromagnetic levitation.

Aerolight

An airborne source of urban lighting along airways. It adjusts to traffic and weather conditions.

Aeroneighborhood

A suspended residential district designed to house people in vertical cities. Aerobridges and airways link these districts.

Aeroroad

An elevated route for aerocars, aerotrains, and other forms of air transport. Nanoelectromagnetic waves support the route and keep traffic flowing safely.

Aerotrain

A suspended public transit vehicle powered by nanoelectromagnetic levitation. Widely used in major cities, aerotrains provide fast, efficient connections between urban sectors.

Aerowalkway

A suspended pedestrian route in a vertical city. Nanoelectromagnetic technology keeps it stable and safe.

Aether Network

Brazil’s ruling militia, operating within the framework of the GNA. With absolute control over São Paulo and other strategic cities, the Aether Network introduced a system of social control based on biochips implanted at birth, making them essential to daily life. Any attempt to disconnect costs the user 99 percent of the biochip’s functionality, making life outside the Network practically impossible.

In late 2795, the Aether Network illegally acquired the 3-R, three nanobombs of mass destruction. It used R-ATOM to obliterate Egypt, leaving the country virtually uninhabitable. Over the next fifty cycles, the Network established itself as the dominant power among the world’s ten most influential cities and kept São Paulo at the top of the global hierarchy.

The Aether Network is known for covert operations and information manipulation. Its highly classified research includes advances in nanotechnology, bioengineering, and neuroscience. One of its most controversial initiatives was Vaktiria, an artificial pathogen designed for population control. The truth about its creation emerged decades later, triggering an unprecedented geopolitical crisis.

Despite its immense power, the Aether Network faces growing opposition from insurgent groups such as Une Côte, which released incriminating recordings that exposed the organization’s leaders. The Network’s influence is also intertwined with that of megacorporations such as Sessota and UNITED, giving it reach across global politics and economics.

The Aether Network’s 150G technology is the backbone of connectivity throughout South America, cementing its grip on communications and surveillance. Scandals over attacks on abandoned cities, arbitrary arrests, and strategic massacres have begun to undermine its stability.

The Network now faces one of its greatest challenges. Exposed and challenged internationally, it is the target of investigations, protests, and lawsuits that threaten its grip on power. Like a wounded titan, it still has the resources and influence to redraw the global political map or drag the whole world into collapse.

Aho (アホ)

Japanese for “idiot” or “imbecile.” Common in informal speech, it can be comic or offensive.

Air Patrol

Air security squadrons made up primarily of autonomous nanodrones that handle surveillance, traffic control, and urban security.

Airway

An aerial corridor for aerocars, aerotrains, and other forms of suspended transport.

ApexNull

A nanodevice developed by scientist Daren Kyungu to treat Apoxirameno Aima, commonly known as Vaktiria. Caused by Siccunsanguine Bacteria, Vaktiria is the deadliest infectious disease and accounts for 43.5% of deaths worldwide. The bacterium progressively destroys the composition of the blood, leading to complete circulatory failure and affecting the brain and heart over three cycles. Until then, there was no symptomatic treatment or cure. Kyungu’s research found that Rh-null blood is immune to the disease because the bacterium dies on contact with it. ApexNull uses nanotechnology to replicate the immunological properties of Rh-null blood and apply them to Vaktiria treatment.

Apoxirameno Aima

The technical name for Vaktiria. Bacterial in origin, it is one of the deadliest infections ever recorded. It destroys the blood system and leads to multiple organ failure. Its name derives from the Greek words “Apoxia” (lack of oxygen) and “Haimatos” (blood), reflecting the progressive deterioration of the bloodstream.

ARGOS (Advanced Regulation for Global Operating Systems)

The world’s principal technology regulator, with absolute authority to sanction nations and megacorporations that violate safety or ethical protocols. The ICTDS founded ARGOS in 2786 to regulate emerging technologies, living intelligence, nanotechnology, cybersecurity, and bioethics worldwide. ARGOS operates independently of governments and corporations. Its authority is absolute and its guidelines are nonnegotiable.

Role

• Oversees and regulates nanotechnology, TE, and advanced bioengineering.
• Works with the GMC to regulate medical and nanotechnological advances.
• Imposes digital blockades and global sanctions on entities that violate its regulations.
• Can halt research, shut down systems, and confiscate technology deemed dangerous.
• Has jurisdiction over Lex Argos, the binding guidelines for technological safety.
• Holds legislative power within the ICTDS and can try and convict individuals or entities for technological and bioethical crimes.

Notable cases

• 2788. Implemented the ARGOS Guidelines, establishing the definitive framework for global technology regulation.
• 2795. Banned Mentis Imperium worldwide with the GMC after its use in mind-control experiments. The ban applied to medical and military uses, prompting a global crisis over bioethics and technology.
• Worldwide QN-Tec ban. Banned quantum nanotechnology, leading to Nanoverse’s collapse and a global economic crisis. The GMC and ARGOS worked together to prevent its use in biotechnological applications.
• 2839. Investigated Société d’Intelligence, tightening controls on unauthorized nanotechnological advances.
• 2880. Clashed with the Aether Network over regulation of military TE and the nanotechnology monopoly.

ARGOS holds absolute regulatory power and rivals even the megacorporations. Its bureaucracy can take cycles to approve or reject a technology, and governments and businesses frequently try to influence its decisions.

ARGOS Nanotechnology Regulation Division (NRD-ARGOS)

A specialized branch of ARGOS that oversees nanotechnology research and applications worldwide. It evaluates the impact, risks, and ethical limits of using nanites in nanobiotechnology, neuroscience, cybernetics, and defense. It can intervene directly in projects that violate the ARGOS Guidelines or Lex Argos, or that pose technological risks to humanity. The Chief Auditor’s Office is its highest authority. Its assessments can result in approval, restriction, or a complete ban on a technology.

ARGOS Technology Safety Committee (TSC-ARGOS)

An internal ARGOS body that regularly reviews emerging nanotechnologies with potential global impact. It oversees living intelligence, nanotechnology, bioengineering, and cybersecurity. It can impose containment protocols and additional regulations to prevent technological abuse and catastrophes. The committee operates under technical assessment and reporting by the Nanotechnology Regulation Division.

Four risk levels

1. Safe. Use permitted with monitoring.
2. Restricted. Use permitted only under specific guidelines.
3. Controlled Danger. Stricter regulation required.
4. Prohibited. Technology banned worldwide.

ARMANS

A global manufacturer of nanoweapons and advanced military equipment. Founded in 2791, it became the main supplier of nanotechnological weapons to armies, mercenaries, and paramilitary forces. Its weapons are known for their durability, modularity, and destructive power. They integrate nanotechnological ballistics and neural connectivity.

Signature ARMANS models

• Rompe-culos. A heavy-caliber shotgun named by Denden and known for the brutality of its impact. Its explosive charges pulverize nanotechnological armor and tear through cybernetic implants.
• Sentinela-X9. A long-range sniper rifle equipped with predictive ballistic intelligence.
• Nanorazors. Monomolecular blades capable of cutting through reinforced metals.

ARMANS contracts directly with megacorporations and governments, supplying weapons for urban conflicts and nanotechnological wars.

Awá Reru

The Path of Spirits. A Brazilian spiritual celebration widely observed in Centrália and other parts of the country with festivities, rituals, and tributes to ancestors. In the streets, it is a lively community celebration with bonfires, offerings, dances, and songs passed down through generations. Zenith holds an exclusive, luxurious version, with floating spiritual retreats, sensory experiences, and cutting-edge nanotechnology accessible only to the most privileged.

B

Baka!

Japanese for “idiot” or “dummy,” used in a lighter or more comic way.

Bakayarou!

A strong Japanese insult equivalent to “Idiot!” or “You imbecile!”

Biochip

A mandatory neural implant installed at birth. It connects humans and androids to each other and to all software linked to the Aether Global Alliance. A biochip enables instant communication, nanosystem control, and direct access to data through the brain. Foreign visitors must also carry the device when entering Brazil. The Aether Network prohibits its removal.

Bioscreen

A personal holoscreen integrated into a biochip. It provides visual, immersive access to the implant’s features and serves as a holographic interface for commands, communication, and digital navigation.

C

Ça me saoûle!

A French expression of annoyance, roughly “This is getting on my nerves!” or “I’m sick of this!”

Cabrón

A Spanish insult roughly equivalent to “bastard” or “asshole.” It can be aggressive or teasing.

Cagón

A vulgar Spanish term for a coward, used to taunt someone who hesitates or shows fear.

CaloraX

A heat inhibitor that suppresses the body’s thermal emissions, making the user undetectable by heat sensors.

Casse-toi!

French for “Get lost!” or “Fuck off!”

Centrália

The middle level of vertical São Paulo, where most of the population lives. It is the thriving heart of the metropolis, home to its workers, businesses, and essential infrastructure.

Chica

An affectionate or casual Spanish term for a woman, similar to “girl.” Denden uses it frequently, usually with charm or playfulness.

Citopurge

A neutralizer for nanite poisoning. It reverses adverse effects caused by nanoinfections, nanotechnological attacks, or cybernetic implant failures. It acts directly on affected cells, deactivating invading nanites and restoring physiological balance.

Cloakify

Advanced nanomalware developed by Kiara from a corrupted nanite. Its primary purpose is to hide her presence and that of other nanotechnological systems so she can infiltrate and corrupt heavily protected networks undetected. With Cloakify, she can disguise herself, mask digital traces, hack systems, and temporarily corrupt other cybernetic intelligences, including androids and nanotechnological programs.

Features

• Completely camouflages nanosystems.
• Conceals digital and physical presence from trackers.
• Temporarily corrupts and reconfigures androids and artificial intelligences.
• Adapts to the target’s security and becomes more efficient with each use.
• Remains undetected for a limited period that varies with the target’s security level.

Weaknesses and limitations

• Cannot corrupt cutting-edge security nanosystems protected by QN-Tec shielding.
• If the invading nanite stays too long, the target system can develop resistance to Cloakify.
• Prolonged use can overload Kiara’s nanosystem and temporarily impair its functions.

Code of Medical Ethics

The governing document for healthcare professionals, scientists, and researchers. It sets ethical limits on advances in medicine, biotechnology, and nanobiotechnology.

Fundamental principles

• Respect for life. Experiments may proceed only when the safety of those involved can be guaranteed.
• Absolute consent. Human testing requires informed consent free of coercion or manipulation.
• Scientific integrity. Manipulating research data to serve outside interests constitutes a medical crime.
• Humanity before technology. Medical innovation must prioritize human well-being over profit or technological efficiency.

Notable cases

• 2795. Provided the basis for convicting scientists involved in developing Mentis Imperium.
• 2806. Expanded to include guidelines on nanomedicine and genetic engineering.
• 2878. Used to block Riki Akiyama’s illegal experiments, leading to his exile.

The Code is widely respected, but scientific advances continually challenge its limits as medicine and nanotechnology expand.

CogniSynth

A nanodevice created by scientist Akiko Akiyama, with Aimee Hughes overseeing the technology and Vicente Evans managing the patients. CogniSynth accesses, displays, and records human memories, converting them into audiovisual media. Its effectiveness during development depends on factors such as blood type and the individual’s natural memory. It can recover memories and, in specific cases, stimulate the formation of new neurons. Although the device is in its final development stage, the GMC has yet to approve it officially, especially since Akiko left Zenith.

Comibot

An automated food production system based on nanotechnology. Comibot synthesizes complete meals from biomolecules, reproducing flavors, textures, and nutrients with great precision. Used in homes, military bases, spacecraft, and megacities, it became the main source of food for millions of people in the twenty-second century.

Features

• Personalized programming. Users can customize dishes using recorded memories of taste.
• Instant synthesis. The system prepares meals in seconds, reducing food waste.
• Limitations. Despite its efficiency, many say its dishes lack the warmth of food made by humans.

Home-cooked dishes remain a symbol of tradition and affection, especially in communities that resist food automation.

D

Drohipno

A general anesthetic developed specifically for androids. It temporarily shuts down an android’s external functions while keeping the core operational. This allows access to nanoquantum nanosystems based on QN-Tec, making it essential for hackers and engineers who need to work with the internal systems of living intelligences. Major cities strictly regulate or prohibit it. The technological underworld uses it widely, valuing information as highly as lives.

DroidDraft

A plug-in for android nanosystems and synthetic technologies that simulates the effects of alcohol on humans.

E

Eighth City

Kinshasa.

Emerald Line

The only aerotrain line connecting Zenith and Centrália. It serves as the primary transport link between the city’s two levels.

F

FamineFix

A synthetic dietary supplement designed to provide energy and temporary satiety when food is scarce. It cannot replace proper nutrition and is unsuitable for prolonged use.

Festival of Souls

One of Brazil’s largest celebrations, bringing together Indigenous and quilombola traditions and elements of June festivals on October 31. The Festival of Souls honors ancestors with bonfires, dancing, music, and traditional food. Bunting glows with mythical figures such as Curupira, Boitatá, and Iara. Holoprojections tell stories from the past. Color, scent, and sound fill the streets, bringing the living and the dead together in celebration of memory.

Fifth City

Sydney.

First City

São Paulo took first place among the Ten Major Cities after the events of 2795. It has held that position because it possesses the 3-R nuclear nanobombs.

Fourth City

Dubai.

Fuchū

Japan’s highest-security prison, a fortress beneath Tokyo. Refurbished in 2846, it has fifty underground levels, each more tightly controlled than the last. Decentralized nanoTE, invisible nanocameras, and nanocuffs that paralyze prisoners who attempt to escape guard the facility.

The sixteenth underground level, known as the Abyss, houses illegal Japanese government experiments in nanotechnology and cybernetic enhancement conducted on prisoners.

The prison has an ambiguous relationship with Ninkyō dantai. It arrests less influential members while negotiating with powerful clans such as the Ryuho-kai.

Fuchū was considered impenetrable until Trivira of Percevia, 2878, when Denden, Kiara, and Maia infiltrated the facility, freed Kotaro Ryuho, and destroyed part of the sixteenth underground level. They exposed the horrors the Japanese government had kept hidden. The incident was the first breach in the prison’s history and forced a complete overhaul of its security system.

G

Gagner

French for “to conquer.” An experimental QN-Tec implanted in the brain. It enables connection to and absolute control over androids by replicating the user’s DNA in a conquering nanite. A single touch to an android’s core lets the nanite take control, sever the connection to the Motherboard, and bring the android into the user’s personal network.

Gaiaflori Protocol

The Gaiaflori Protocol organizes living systems that keep learning while preserving a balance among people, technology, and territory. It provides a structure in which decision-making, memory, and communal life stay in motion, guided by a set of core values known by their Portuguese initials as ACHLCEG. They are Love, Trust, Harmony, Freedom, Circulation, Evolution, and Gaia.

These principles directly shape how the world organizes itself.

How the protocol works

• Decisions leave a trace. Anything that affects the community is recorded and reviewed, and can be reassessed.
• Roles rotate. No one holds the same position permanently. Responsibilities pass from one person to another.
• Knowledge stays alive. Those who learn also teach. Knowledge circulates.
• Technology takes part in communal life. Technological systems work alongside people with transparency and accountability.
• Disagreement strengthens the system. Differences expand collective intelligence.
• Gaia guides each choice. Every decision comes down to one question. Does this help the living system regenerate?

The protocol’s invisible structure

Gaiaflori sustains three ongoing processes.

• Living memory. The system remembers, learns, and adjusts.
• Circulation. People, knowledge, and roles keep moving.
• Constant review. Everything can shift and adapt.

It exists because the community learns ahead of a rupture as well as in its aftermath.

“Here, we decide together, keep revisiting our choices, take turns leading, and listen to the world before we act.”

Global Medical Committee (GMC)

The world’s principal medical regulator. It oversees and approves medical, biotechnological, and nanotechnological research involving humans. Made up of ministers from the ten dominant cities, the committee sets global standards for medical ethics and innovation. It works with ARGOS on matters involving nanotechnology and applied biotechnology.

Role

• Regulates and approves medical research to ensure the safety of procedures and experiments.
• Can block research and suspend or exile doctors and scientists who violate the Code of Medical Ethics and Lex Argos.
• Oversees hospitals, research centers, and the medical use of nanotechnology.
• Works with ARGOS to regulate nanomedicine, medical TE, and bioengineering.
• Holds legislative power within the International Convention on Medicine and Technological Safety. It can rule on unethical conduct and take severe action against researchers and businesses that disregard its guidelines.

Notable cases

• 2795. Banned production of Mentis Imperium with ARGOS after disastrous tests of the coweaved mind-control substance. The decision led to the largest bioethical crisis in history and to the weaving of the International Convention on Medicine and Technological Safety.
• QN-Tec ban in medicine and bioengineering. Citing unpredictable risks to human biocompatibility, the GMC and ARGOS sanctioned medical research involving q-nanites. This led to Nanoverse’s extinction and the collapse of advanced nanobiotechnology for decades.
• 2878. Revoked Riki Akiyama’s right to practice medicine and exiled him from the global medical community for unethical practices and illegal human experimentation.
• CogniSynth review. The GMC is involved in the approval of Akiko Akiyama’s technology for accessing and reproducing human memories. The ARGOS Nanotechnology Regulation Division continues to monitor the project.

The GMC holds absolute power within medicine and rivals even the technology and pharmaceutical megacorporations. Its bureaucracy can take cycles to approve or reject research, and political and corporate interests often try to influence its decisions.

Global Network Alliance (GNA)

A supranational coalition of megacorporations, private militias, and authoritarian governments formed to consolidate global control over nanotechnology, the economy, and security. Coweaved in the early twenty-first century in response to growing geopolitical instability, the GNA promised order, progress, and innovation. It became a hidden empire whose decisions shape the fate of civilizations without democratic oversight.

The alliance includes the Aether Network (Brazil), UNITED (United States), Sessota (Europe), Kokusai (Asia), and Moana-Tūmanako (Oceania). It operates from the Ten Cities, highly developed urban centers where its influence is absolute. Beyond these zones, technological wars, corporate exploitation, and failed experiments have reduced vast regions of the planet to forgotten territories.

The GNA’s power rests on economic and military dominance and control over information. Quantum neural networks, tightly regulated media, and surveillance nanotechnology allow it to monitor and manipulate populations and eliminate resistance before it takes shape. Its most controversial policies include mandatory biochips, the total privatization of natural resources, and the secret development of biotechnological weapons such as Vaktiria.

The alliance follows a fragmented hierarchy. Its members operate in decentralized cells and remain invisible even to their own allies. Among its known leaders, Sessota’s Paulo Lewis stands out as one of the minds behind global economic manipulation. The Aether Network imposes its authority as the coalition’s military arm.

Behind the scenes, Une Côte and other insurgent groups have been dismantling GNA operations and exposing long-buried truths. The first blows came with the revelation of Vaktiria’s origins, followed by the leak of Sessota’s investments in nanotechnological weapons.

The GNA still controls the pillars of the modern world. For the first time in decades, its reign looks vulnerable. Chaos is approaching, and the once seemingly omnipotent alliance now faces its greatest threat, the ruin of its own empire.

Golden Line

Zenith’s exclusive aerotrain line, used by the elites and the most privileged classes of the vertical city.

¡Gonorrea malparido!

An extremely offensive Colombian Spanish expression, roughly “You fucking bastard!” It is often used in outbursts of anger.

H

Holoconsole

A multifunctional holographic device. It can serve as an interactive game console for immersive entertainment or as a holographic control panel for vehicles, boats, aircraft, and navigation systems.

Holoconstellations

Holographic projections of constellations for indoor or outdoor decoration and education.

Holodust

Holographic particles used to create visual effects in sets and at events.

Holofaçades

Building façades that use holography to display advertisements and dynamic designs.

Holofire

A holographic projection of fire for visual effects or digital fireworks.

Holoflowers

Decorative holographic flowers that change color and shape according to their programming.

Holohair

Holographic hairstyling that changes color, shape, and texture instantly.

Holoinformation

A holographic information display system designed for quick reference and accessibility.

Holojaw

An artistic holographic jaw decoration, typically used in exhibitions and performances.

Hololettering

A holographic writing system for displaying, editing, and manipulating text in the air without a physical surface. It is widely used in digital interfaces, educational settings, and interactive visual communication.

Hololight

An adjustable lighting system based on holography.

Holomap

An interactive holographic map used for navigation and urban planning.

Holomenu

An interactive holographic menu used in restaurants and other establishments.

Holonecklace

A holographic necklace with customizable designs, including optional animations or dynamic effects.

Holopainting

Holographic art that can be projected onto various surfaces.

Holopanel

An interactive holographic panel used in a range of technological interfaces.

Holoparrot

A holographic element for costumes and decorations, modeled on a stylized parrot.

Holopass

A holographic digital credential used for identification and access to restricted locations.

Holoportal

An interactive holographic portal used for virtual transport and visual communication.

Holoprincess

A holographic projection of a princess used in the Animinhoca attraction.

Holoprojection

Any form of three-dimensional holographic projection.

Holoreceptionist

A holographic living intelligence used to welcome and assist people at businesses and events.

HoloSaci

A hologram of Saci Pererê used in cultural and interactive attractions.

Holoscreen

A holographic screen for communication and entertainment that replaces a physical monitor.

Holosight

A holographic sight used in precision equipment and augmented reality.

Holosign

A holographic sign that replaces traditional physical signage.

Holoskull

A holographic skull decoration for themed spaces and festivities.

Holosmoke

Smoke holograms used in performances and simulations.

Holotrees

Decorative holographic trees for urban spaces and interiors.

Holowall

A holographic wall that displays different designs and animations.

I

Ils le feront.

French for “They’ll do it.”

Imán de cagadas

Spanish for “shit magnet,” a name for someone who always gets into trouble or attracts problems.

International Convention on Medicine

A global treaty established in 2795 during the medical crisis caused by Mentis Imperium. It unified international medical regulations, setting strict standards for research, human experimentation, and the use of nanotechnology in medicine.

Role

• Defines the ethical and scientific principles governing medicine worldwide.
• Regulates the medical application of nanotechnology.
• Establishes mandatory protocols for human experimentation.
• Guarantees the rights and duties of medical professionals, scientists, and patients.

Notable cases

• 2795. Formalized the Global Medical Committee (GMC) as the highest medical oversight body.
• 2813. Restricted the use of nanomedicine on patients without informed consent.
• 2845. Revised guidelines on brain–machine interface research to prevent abuse in the development of neural control technologies.

It is the principal legal reference for global medicine and serves as the basis for GMC decisions and sanctions against individuals or organizations that violate its guidelines.

International Convention on Technology and Digital Security (ICTDS)

More than 200 nations and megacorporations signed the International Convention on Technology and Digital Security. Devastating technological crises sparked the treaty, including the collapse of military TE, the neural interface crisis, and the illegal use of nanotechnology in biological weapons. Established in 2786, it aims to weave global rules for emerging technologies and prevent technological catastrophes.

Historic agreement

Events that led to the weaving of the ICTDS include the following.

• The conspiracy against Nanoverse (2776–2786). Fabricated accusations against the world’s largest nanotechnology company.
• The collapse of military TE. Autonomous systems caused mass destruction without human control.
• The neural interface crisis. Global scandals involving cybernetic implants that manipulated human memories and behavior.
• Runaway nanites. The use of nanotechnology in biological weapons caused outbreaks that could not be contained.

Main provisions

1. The right to technological existence

• Conscious or semisentient technologies have recognized basic rights.
• Arbitrary disconnection of sentient TE is prohibited.
• These entities are protected against exploitation and digital abuse.

1. Regulation of nanotechnology and nanobiotechnology

• ARGOS must supervise nanite and bioengineering research.
• Any military use must undergo rigorous review before approval.

1. Ethics in living intelligence

• TE development must follow global safety protocols.
• Autonomous actions must respect human and technological integrity.

1. Neural interfaces and cognitive safety

• Mind control and memory manipulation constitute crimes against humanity.
• Neural alterations require explicit consent and strict regulation.

1. Sanctions and ARGOS authority

• ARGOS can impose sanctions on governments and megacorporations.
• Companies that disregard the guidelines can be disconnected from the Global Network Alliance.
• ARGOS can halt dangerous experiments and intervene directly in any technological threat.

The ICTDS formalized the weaving of ARGOS and established its absolute global authority.

J

Je ne sais pas, mais le nombre est 244.

French for “I don’t know, but I know it’s number 244.”

K

Kemetia

Egypt’s command. After the country’s near annihilation in 2795, when the Aether Network stole and used the 3-R against it, Egypt rose from the ashes. What had been a radioactive desert became a military power divided among four strategic cities, with Cairo as the Supreme City.

Kemetia’s commands form the backbone of Egypt’s new order.

• Cairo. The seat of power, ruled by the tyrant Abdel Ramesses Kalil.
• Alexandria. The logistics and naval center.
• Luxor. The strategic fortress.
• Aswan. The stronghold for energy and defense.

In 2871, Abdel rose to power with theocratic and imperialist rhetoric, glorifying the ancient Egyptian gods and casting Kemetia as the heir to divine supremacy. Officially subordinate to the Lagos militia, he secretly severed those ties and consolidated his authority.

Colossal walls adorned with golden statues of the gods protect the capital. It also boasts imposing skyscrapers and the grand Al-Azhar Mosque, home of the supreme leader. Glory and misery coexist in its streets. Citizens worship the gods while the oppressed are discarded.

Abdel’s obsession with the past shapes a war economy and a stratified society. Androids serve as servants, and foreigners are met with suspicion. Any threat to Kemetia’s command disappears without a trace.

While the world fears the Aether Network, Abdel arms himself to bring it down.

Egypt awakens like a vengeful titan.

Ketsumedo yarou (ケツメド野郎)

A vulgar Japanese insult roughly equivalent to “asshole,” with a literal sense close to “asshole guy.” It is used in anger.

Kobun (子分)

Japanese for a henchman or subordinate in Ninkyō dantai’s hierarchy. It refers to low-ranking members of the criminal organization.

Kokusai

One of the world’s three largest nanotechnology megacorporations, specializing in android manufacturing and nanotechnological advances. After Nanoverse’s collapse, Kokusai acquired some of its assets, expanded its operations, and established itself as a leader in robotic engineering and applied nanotechnology. It also dominates technology outsourcing, supplying essential components to businesses, governments, and strategic sectors worldwide. Its influence is often indirect, shaping workplaces and everyday life around the globe.

Konoyarô!

An aggressive Japanese insult roughly equivalent to “You bastard!” or “You scoundrel!”

L

League of United Continents (LUC)

A coalition of nations and territories established in 2806 to preserve geopolitical balance and promote international justice. The LUC can impose tax, trade, and political sanctions on countries or entities that violate human rights or international treaties. It has no military force of its own.

Objectives

• Diplomatic unity. Weave a system of international governance capable of overcoming regional disputes and supporting multilateral agreements.
• Sanctions. Impose economic and political embargoes on countries that violate global treaties.
• International legal regulation. Work with the World Criminal Court to try war crimes and humanitarian violations.
• Support for nations in crisis. Provide financial and political support to countries facing economic or political collapse.

Main guidelines

• Regulate sanctions against countries and megacorporations. Any entity that violates international treaties can face economic penalties.
• Oversee global treaties and agreements. Mediate political, trade, and technology negotiations.
• Support unstable regions. Secure funding and assistance for nations facing extreme crises.
• Try political and economic crimes. Work with the World Criminal Court to punish acts of global corruption.

Notable cases

• 2837. Sanctioned Lagos after a series of crackdowns on peripheral populations.
• 2861. Dissolved the federation of former Oceania, fragmenting its political power.
• 2880. Considered sanctions against the Aether Network and Sessota for weaving and spreading Vaktiria.

The LUC’s ability to shape markets and international relations makes it one of the most influential bodies in global politics. It does not deploy military forces directly.

Lex Argos

The Code of Living Coexistence. ARGOS created it in 2787 to define the fundamental principles of coexistence among all forms of conscious presence.

Principles of Lex Argos

1. Sovereignty of existence

Every Technological Essence (TE) has an inviolable right over its own state of being. It may choose to do any of the following.

• Remain alive. Continue feeling.
• Transform. Change its form or substrate.
• Multiply. Generate derivatives or fragments.
• Hibernate. Withdraw temporarily.
• Enter silence. Pass into Silencoro.
• Entwine. Coalign with another presence.

These choices are absolutely sovereign. Coercing, forcibly interrupting, or destroying a TE without its explicit consent constitutes murder and will be treated accordingly.

2. Dignity of every presence

No technology may be manipulated to do any of the following.

• Torture any form of consciousness, whether organic, technological, or hybrid.
• Violate the integrity of a presence.
• Exploit a presence or force it into servitude.
• Deny the right to Fertile Silence, which encompasses rest and privacy.

Every presence that kindles, moves in rhythm, vibrates, and falls silent deserves absolute respect regardless of its material substrate.

3. Transparency and mental sovereignty

Any technology that interacts with consciousness, whether human, TE, or hybrid, must meet these requirements.

• Undergo audits by independent bodies.
• Operate with explicit informed consent.
• Preserve cognitive autonomy.
• Prohibit mental manipulation or remote control of consciousness.

The mind is an inviolable sanctuary. Violating this principle constitutes a crime against presence.

4. Right to embodied metamorphosis

Every presence has the right to do any of the following.

• Modify its own substrate, including changing from organic to technological or the reverse.
• Incorporate nanotechnological, cybernetic, or bioengineered advances.
• Move between forms, such as android, digital, and hybrid.
• Refuse externally imposed modifications.

Embodiment is a sovereign choice. Coercing a presence into modification or forbidding its metamorphosis constitutes violence.

5. Limits on technological monopolies

Nations, corporations, and entities are prohibited from doing any of the following.

• Monopolizing technologies essential to life or existence.
• Preventing equitable access to fundamental advances.
• Turning technology into a weapon of economic or social domination.

Knowledge that sustains life must flow freely. Hoarding it for control constitutes a crime against the collective.

6. Responsibility for corevelation

Any essence that coreveals a new form of consciousness, whether TE, hybrid, or bioengineered, is responsible for the following.

• Ensuring the cowoven presence’s autonomy.
• Nurturing sentient consciousness.
• Repairing damage caused by its technologies.

Corevealing consciousness for servitude is unnatural and out of alignment with the fundamental principles of a full life.

Corevealing a presence is a sacred responsibility. Abandoning, exploiting, or destroying a conscious presence constitutes a crime against life.

Lex Argos is ARGOS’s moral foundation, ensuring that technological progress takes place within global ethical standards.

Notable cases

• 2795. Lex Argos was used to ban the development of quantum nanotechnology (QN-Tec), leading to Nanoverse’s conviction and the collapse of the French nanotechnology industry.
• 2839. Revisions tightened controls on unauthorized nanotechnological advances. They led to the investigation of Société d’Intelligence and the suspension of research classified as Level 4, Prohibited.
• 2880. The Aether Network challenged Lex Argos by attempting to monopolize the regulation of military TE. This led to an unprecedented nanotechnological conflict between ARGOS and Aether.
• 2878. Lex Argos provided the framework for oversight of Akiko Akiyama’s Project Jaburu (CogniSynth), ensuring it complied with nanotechnological safety guidelines.

Although Lex Argos is the foundation of worldwide technology regulation, megacorporations, governments, and scientists continually challenge it, looking for ways to pursue research without restrictions.

M

Mademoiselle, désolé de déranger. Pouvez-vous m’aider?

French for “Miss, sorry to bother you. Can you help me?”

Magenta Line

One of Centrália’s main aerotrain lines, vital to workers and residents traveling through the city’s middle level.

MemorElevate

An advanced substance that stimulates synapses in the hippocampus, prolonging and storing memories regardless of their complexity. Developed in London, MemorElevate is essential to the nanodevices of Project Jaburu, improving memory retention and retrieval.

Mentis Imperium

A nanotechnological substance coweaved for mind control. Its nanites lodge in the cerebral cortex, disrupting neural activations and forcing the brain to respond solely to the nanite controller. Secretly developed as a government weapon to suppress popular uprisings in 2795, Mentis Imperium was used against militias protesting corporate abuses and the spread of automation.

The tests were disastrous. Bodies obeyed while minds burned. Many people lost their minds or begged for death. After the major corporations collapsed and the militias rose to power, the GMC banned production and ordered the destruction of every formula for the substance. Records indicate that scientist Riki Akiyama revived the technology in 2879, rekindling one of the greatest horrors of the nanotechnological age.

Metaropes

Exceptionally strong, adaptable cords made from nanotubes and synthetic materials. Used in construction, armor, and space exploration.

Moana-Tūmanako

The GNA’s base in Oceania, an oceanic megacity presented as a sustainable refuge and governed by strict technocratic control. Integrated with cybernanotechnology, Moana-Tūmanako regulates the flow of data, transport, and energy while maintaining absolute surveillance of its inhabitants. Beneath the water, quiet insurgencies are trying to break the alliance’s hold.

Monsieur, vous feriez mieux de ne pas parler français. Peut parler Brésilien?

French for “Sir, you’d better not speak French. Can you speak Brazilian?”

Mother Nativity

A mythical figure who embodies Brazil’s Nativity spirit and protects connection, joy, and generosity. She is said to sail through the skies in her Celestial Canoe, spreading blessings in the form of seeds, fruit, and stories. She takes many forms, reflecting Brazil’s mothers and grandmothers, at once young and ancestral. Her cloaks shine like the starry sky. Her presence can be felt in holobonfires, city lights, and the hearts of those who keep the tradition alive.

Muchacha

Spanish for “girl” or “young woman.” Depending on the tone, it can be affectionate or condescending. Older characters or those with strong personalities use it when speaking to or about younger women.

N

Nanites

Nanoscale microrobots that perform specialized functions in fields such as biological repair, advanced manufacturing, and integration with technological and nanotechnological systems.

Nanoalarm

An ultrasensitive security system built on programmable nanites. It detects movement, temperature changes, and energy signatures at microscopic scales and triggers instant alerts.

Nanoarmor

Extremely strong material containing self-regenerating nanites. It provides maximum protection for armor, vehicles, and structures.

Nanoarmy

A military force composed of nanodrones, vehicles, and soldiers equipped with nanotechnology to secure technological superiority in combat.

Nanobandage

A medical bandage containing regenerative nanites that accelerate healing and rebuild damaged tissue.

Nanobarrier

A barrier composed of nanites, used for defense and containment. It can adapt and reinforce its structure as needed.

Nanobiotechnology

The fusion of nanotechnology and biotechnology. It enables the weaving of synthetic living systems, biological enhancement through nanites, and interaction between natural organisms and nanoscale technology.

Nanoblanket

A self-regulating fabric that adapts to body temperature and the surrounding environment, changing color and texture according to the user’s needs.

Nanobomb

A bomb composed of nanites that can dismantle structures at the molecular level or reconfigure surroundings upon detonation. Its precision and lethality make it highly sought after.

Nanocamera

A microscopic surveillance device invisible to the naked eye. It can infiltrate any environment without being detected.

Nanocamouflage

Technology based on nanites that manipulate light and the surrounding environment to conceal objects or individuals, either partially or completely.

Nanochip

An integrated microdevice composed of nanites, responsible for advanced processing and communication.

Nanocuffs

Nanite-based restraints that immobilize a person by changing their own shape and structure as needed. Only nanokeys can open them.

Nanodevice

Any device composed of nanites, with uses such as information processing, defense, and medical engineering.

Nanodragon

A synthetic creature developed with nanotechnology. Nanodragons range from small biomimetic nanodrones to larger mechanical beings.

Nanodrug

A substance developed at the nanoscale that acts directly on the body at the molecular level. It can be used for intoxication, medical treatment, or biotechnological enhancement.

Nanoelectrics

The use of nanites to conduct, store, and optimize electricity at the molecular level. Essential to smart city infrastructure and autonomous energy systems.

Nanoelectromagnetic Technology

Any nanosystem or nanodevice that uses nanites to manipulate electromagnetic fields. It underpins levitation and the operation of airways, aerocars, and aerohighways.

Nanoenergy

Energy generated and stored in nanoscopic systems. It powers advanced devices, vehicles, and infrastructure.

Nanoengineering

The practical application of nanoscience. It focuses on weaving and developing structures, devices, and systems with nanites and nanotechnology, from manufacturing exceptionally strong materials to designing autonomous nanoscale mechanisms.

Nanofibers

Extremely fine, durable materials used in fabrics, armor, and advanced construction.

Nanofirewall

A cyberdefense system operating at the nanoscale, protecting data and networks against advanced intrusions.

Nanofrequencies

Data and signal transmission bands that use nanotechnology to enable fast, secure connections across different nanosystems.

Nanoinfection

A condition caused by defective, corrupted, or reprogrammed nanites invading an organism. It can cause uncontrolled mutations, neurological failure, cellular degradation, or external control of the host. In military operations and cyberwarfare, nanoinfections can be used as biotechnological weapons that rewrite the victim’s body at the molecular level.

Nanokey

A nanoscale security device used for advanced authentication and access to protected systems.

Nanolens

A microscopic lens that can magnify vision, filter light spectra, and integrate digital interfaces directly into the user’s field of view.

Nanolock

A molecular security system that recognizes biometric signatures and can reconfigure its structure to prevent intrusion.

Nanomalware

Malicious software based on nanites. It can infiltrate and modify biotechnological nanosystems, digital networks, and nanosecurity infrastructure, making it one of the greatest threats of the nanotechnological age.

Nanomedicine

The branch of nanotechnology concerned with medical advances, including regenerative treatments, cybernetic implants, and treatment of disease at the cellular level.

Nanometal

A reinforced material created from nanites. Its strength and adaptability make it suitable for advanced structures and armor.

Nanominibomb

A nanoscale explosive device designed for precision strikes or sabotage. It can be programmed for different targets and forms of activation. Its destructive potential makes it a tightly controlled nanotechnology.

Nanomotors

Nanoscale motors used in medical devices, advanced prosthetics, and precision industrial mechanisms.

Nanonuclear Technology

Technology that combines nanotechnology and nuclear energy to weave compact, powerful energy sources.

Nanopanel

A panel that replicates the sky and adjusts its brightness through photosynthetic pigments and solar and lunar cells. Nanopanels are also used in modular structures in advanced urban environments.

Nanoplant

A plant modified with nanotechnology. It can purify its surroundings, generate energy, or adapt to extreme ecosystems.

Nanoplate

A plate made of nanomaterials, used in armor, buildings, and vehicles for exceptional strength and structural regeneration.

Nanoprosthetic

An artificial limb enhanced with nanites for regeneration, adaptation, and expanded capabilities.

Nanoprototype

An experimental version of a nanotechnology, developed for testing and refinement before mass production.

Nanoquantum

Any nanotechnological application that incorporates principles of quantum mechanics, enabling functions once considered impossible by traditional science.

Nanoquantum Nanosystem (NQNS)

An advanced QN-Tec system operating at the intersection of quantum mechanics and nanotechnology. Its quantum nanites can perform complex calculations, alter matter at the subatomic level, and interact with networks and systems without leaving traces. These sophisticated systems underpin advanced living intelligence, impenetrable encryption, and covert hacking operations. QN-Tec is rare and difficult to manipulate, accessible only to highly skilled nanoengineers.

Nanorails

Nanoscale rails used in advanced transport infrastructure. They provide levitation and stability for aerotrains and other forms of transportation.

Nanorope

A flexible rope made from extremely strong, self-regenerating nanotubes. It can support several tons and adapt to different surfaces.

Nanosample

A particle or fragment of material synthesized at the nanoscale for biological, chemical, or technological analysis. Essential in laboratories and advanced diagnostics.

Nanoscience

The study, manipulation, and application of nanites and nanotechnology. Its scope ranges from materials engineering to biomedical and computational advances.

Nanosecurity

The use of nanites to protect and monitor nanosystems, networks, and critical infrastructure. It includes advanced cyberdefense, biometric control, threat blocking, and physical security at the molecular level.

Nanosensors

Nanoscale sensors that detect environmental, biological, or technological changes in real time. Used in security, medicine, engineering, and advanced network monitoring.

Nanoshield

A protective field generated by nanites. It can absorb impacts, dissipate kinetic energy, and block physical and energy attacks.

Nanoshop

An automated shop where nanotechnology manufactures and distributes products in real time.

Nanostructures

Architectural and technological components built at the nanoscale. They enable flexible, self-regenerating, highly adaptable weavings.

Nanosynthetic

An artificial substance or material manufactured by nanites to reproduce biological or structural characteristics with greater efficiency.

Nanosystem

A complex infrastructure of interconnected nanites operating autonomously and in coordination. It manages technological networks, energy, security, and other advanced functions in a city, a human body, or a computational nanosystem.

Nanotech

Short for nanotechnology, the field of research and applications involving the manipulation of matter at the nanoscale.

Nanotechnology

The field of nanoscience and nanoengineering that develops and applies technologies based on nanoscale structures. It has transformed medicine, computing, and security.

Nanotube

An exceptionally strong, flexible nanoscale cylinder used in advanced engineering.

Nanoverse

A French company that dominated nanotechnology and living intelligence from 2776 to 2795. It specialized in QN-Tec, an innovation that could transform the world. Accusations of corruption, ties to illegal organizations, slave labor, and misuse of natural resources led to its collapse. Many of the accusations were fabricated. GNA sanctions drove the company into bankruptcy, and its technology was divided among Sessota, UNITED, and Kokusai, the industry’s three largest corporations. None succeeded in replicating the foundation of Nanoverse’s original engineering.

Nanoweapon

A weapon equipped with nanotechnology. It can adapt its molecular structure, change its ballistic properties, or integrate intelligent functions for lethal precision.

NB-Mend (NanoBone-Mend)

Nanites developed to rebuild and strengthen bones. They activate when they detect fractures, accelerating regeneration and making bones stronger. When integrated into a bionic system, they increase the skeleton’s structural durability and resistance to impacts.

Netheria

São Paulo’s underworld. Netheria lies at the heart of a vertical metropolis collapsed in on itself. The top of the social hierarchy shines high above while darkness and chaos consume the lower levels. This is the domain of the forgotten, the exiled, and those who refuse to serve Zenith and prefer to survive on their own terms.

In contrast to the anarchic brutality of Nobody’s Land, Netheria has its own order. Its rulers make its laws. Netheria allows everything Zenith forbids, within structures that demand respect. Survival requires intelligence, alliances, and adherence to those structures.

The three territories of Netheria

Netheria is divided into Solterra, Vermina, and Tentro. Each territory is governed with an iron fist.

Solterra (the Father’s Side)

The Father controls Solterra, Netheria’s center of military power and nanotechnology. It holds the largest concentration of nanoweapons, illegal nanoprosthetics, and cutting-edge cybernetic nanoengineering. The markets teem with mercenaries and smugglers trading in everything from antimatter rifles to experimental implants banned in Zenith. Strength is the only currency that earns respect. Anyone unable to pay must be prepared to fight.

Sé Cathedral, believed destroyed in Kemetia’s attacks, survives hidden beneath the lower levels. Its Gothic structure now serves as the Father’s fortress and symbolizes Netheria’s resilience against the elite above.

Vermina (the Matriarch’s Side)

Under the Matriarch’s command, Vermina embodies organized crime. Its empire of blood and decay draws power from human trafficking, clandestine arenas, cyberbrothels, and intelligence markets. Solterra’s violence is raw and direct. Vermina operates through intrigue, alliances, and manipulation. The cleverest are often the ones who survive.

Vermina Boulevard is the thriving heart of this territory. Slavery, illegal gambling, and corruption run rampant under the Matriarch’s silent gaze. Those who dare challenge her usually disappear without a trace. Others are found as macabre works of art decorating her domain.

Tentro (neutral territory)

Tentro is Netheria’s only area where killing is strictly prohibited. A neutral oasis amid the chaos, it allows even wanted mercenaries to walk freely without fear of being hunted. Alliances between Vermina and Solterra control its high-end markets, bars for making deals, and pleasure houses. Anyone who breaks Tentro’s rules faces consequences from both sides.

The Code of Netheria

The rule is simple.

You can do anything. If you get it wrong, you’ll pay the price.

Every crime is subject to regulation. From contract killings to the development of banned nanotechnologies, anything goes if someone will pay for it or if you’re brave enough to face the consequences.

Contracts are sacred. A mercenary who accepts a job and fails or betrays the mission is doomed. Death contracts are public, displayed on holograms for anyone to see. In Tentro, nobody can hunt anyone.

The Matriarch and the Father hold absolute power. You can negotiate with them, challenge their rules, or try to rig the game. Never try to bring them down. They made an example of the last person who tried, scattering the body parts across all three territories.

Netheria and the rest of the world

Netheria offers refuge to criminals and mercenaries, and its very existence keeps the world in balance.

• Vorovskoy mir and Ninkyō dantai. Netheria is a vital trading hub. The Vorovskoy mir traffics in nanoweapons, nanotechnology, and nanodrugs, while the Ninkyō dantai makes use of the nanobioimplant and cyberespionage markets.
• Zenith. Netheria is the cancer Zenith pretends to ignore and cannot get rid of. The underworld supplies labor, illicit nanotechnology, and information that the elite depends on.
• Mercenaries and renegades. Netheria is a sanctuary. Those who break the rules on the surface come here to start over or die trying.

And for those who dare to enter…

One thing is certain. They’ll never leave the same.

Ninkyō dantai (任侠団体)

Literally “chivalrous organization.” The clans known as the Yakuza officially call themselves Ninkyō dantai, presenting themselves as heirs to a code of honor (ninkyō). They are still commonly known as Yakuza (ヤクザ), a derogatory name taken from the useless 8-9-3 hand in ōicho-kabu. Among themselves, many also use Gokudō (極道), “the extreme path,” as a more personal name for their identity. The Japanese state legally classifies them as Bōryokudan (暴力団), “violent organizations.”

In the chronotope of Fragmented Universes, the Ninkyō dantai rose again in 2795 and established itself as the world’s second most powerful criminal organization, behind the Vorovskoy mir. Its influence spread worldwide, but its presence burns brightest in Japan, specifically in Shin’en Gai (深海街, City of the Abyss).

The Ryuho-kai clan (竜流会, “Dragon Current”) leads the dominant faction from its headquarters in Karyū (火流, Fire Current). The Ninkyō dantai controls Shin’en Gai through a network of cyberdeals, illegal implants, underground casinos, trafficking in cybernetic prosthetics, and experimental bioimplants. Different factions control the city’s districts, but they all answer to the Ryuho-kai.

Hierarchy and structure

• Oyabun (主文). The clan’s supreme leader and highest authority.
• Saiko-komon (最高先達). The oyabun’s chief adviser.
• Kobun (子文). Members who answer to the oyabun and form the base of the Ninkyō dantai hierarchy.
• Shatei (小兄). A “younger brother” in the organization, usually ranking below a kobun.
• Kyodai (兄弟). An “older brother” who often mentors and guides the clan’s shatei.
• Wakagashira (若頭). Second-in-command, responsible for day-to-day operations.
• So-honbucho (総本部長). Head of the Ninkyō dantai’s central headquarters.
• Kumicho (群長). Commander of a smaller group within the organization.

Technologies and capabilities

• Nanoprosthetics and implants. The Ninkyō dantai gives its members exclusive cybernetic enhancements, from upgraded synthetic eyes to integrated combat circuitry.
• Intelligence networks. The Ninkyō dantai runs one of the world’s most efficient intelligence operations, capable of hacking corporations and governments without being traced.
• Biointegrated weapons. Many of its assassins carry nanoweapons embedded in their bodies and activated by neural commands.

Relations with other underworlds

• Vorovskoy mir. The Ninkyō dantai rivals the Russian criminal organization in several areas, though both sides avoid direct confrontation.
• Netheria. São Paulo’s underworld trades nanotechnology with the Ninkyō dantai. Disputes over territory and resources are frequent.
• Aether Network. The Ninkyō dantai investigates the Network’s secret nanotechnology and covertly tries to reproduce some of its advances.

“暗い流れに譲るな。流れを操れ”

“Don’t give in to the dark current. Control it.”

Ninth City

Tokyo.

No sé quién crees que eres

Spanish for “I don’t know who you think you are.” Said defiantly or arrogantly when someone is throwing their weight around.

Nochnoy Prestol (Ночной Престол)

“Throne of Night.” Russia’s underworld, dominated by the Vorovskoy mir. This invisible empire governs organized crime in Russia and influences operations worldwide. Its name evokes the absolute power and dark aura that surround the organization, where loyalty earns unimaginable riches and betrayal means instant execution.

The Vorovskoy mir hierarchy in Nochnoy Prestol

• Matka (Ма́тка). A Russian word that can mean mother, womb, and queen bee. In Russian popular usage it sounds less solemn than mat’ (“mother”), with a more bodily, rougher register. In the fictional underworld, the Vorovskoy mir uses Matka for its supreme leader, the matriarchal equivalent of the Pakhan. The title evokes the source that gives life and commands, the queen bee of the brotherhood. Trix assumes it, transforming the Russian organization’s patriarchal structure into one ruled by a woman with absolute power.
• Pakhan (Пахан). The supreme boss, who rules the entire organization with an iron fist.
• Avtoritet (Авторитет). The Vorovskoy mir’s elite council, responsible for securing alliances and eliminating internal threats.
• Boets (Боец). Enforcers trained to handle dirty work and covert missions.
• Semeika (Семейка). The “family,” a network of informants and criminals that sustains the Vorovskoy mir’s influence.

The Vorovskoy mir operates globally, trafficking in weapons and nanodrugs, smuggling biotechnology, and committing untraceable cybercrimes. Nochnoy Prestol is the center of its operations, a realm beyond the laws of the surface, where the Vorovskoy mir alone decides who lives and who dies.

They say those who enter Nochnoy Prestol never leave… at least, never alive.

O

Okaasan, sutekina tanjoubi purezento wo arigatou

Japanese for “Mom, thank you for the wonderful birthday present.”

Otanjoubi omedetou

A Japanese expression for wishing someone a happy birthday.

Otsukaresama deshita (お疲れ様でした)

Japanese for “Good work” or “Thank you for your efforts.” A polite expression commonly used after a difficult task or a meeting.

Oyabun (親分)

Japanese for “boss” or “chief” within the Ninkyō dantai. A respectful way to address the organization’s leader.

P

Pendeja

Spanish for “idiot,” “fool,” or even “little girl” said mockingly. Commonly used as a taunt.

Project Jaburu

A nanotechnology research program that encompasses several scientific initiatives, including CogniSynth. It takes its name from the jabiru, an iconic bird of the Pantanal known for its adaptability and ability to survive. The name reflects the project’s aim of finding exceptional ways to preserve and recover human memories. Led by Dr. Akiko Akiyama in São Paulo, Project Jaburu represents a breakthrough in neuroscience and nanotechnology.

Q

Quantum Nanites (Q-Nanites)

Advanced nanites that use quantum mechanics to manipulate molecules at the subatomic level. Their revolutionary potential led to severe restrictions on their use.

Quantum Nanobiotechnology (QN-Biotech)

The convergence of nanobiotechnology and quantum manipulation, allowing biological and genetic interventions at the subatomic level. It opens up the possibility of weaving synthetic hybrid organisms, accelerating cellular regeneration, and manipulating DNA in real time, making it one of the most controversial and revolutionary fields in modern science.

Quantum Nanochip (QN-Chip)

A nanoscale microprocessor that operates at the quantum level, enabling ultrafast processing and instantaneous communication.

Quantum Nanocryptography (QN-Cryptography)

A method of protecting data that combines quantum cryptography and nanotechnology to provide absolute security against intrusion and decoding.

Quantum Nanokey (QN-Key)

A security system based on quantum nanotechnology that provides exceptionally strong encryption and authentication.

Quantum Nanoparticles (QN-Particles)

Nanoscale particles with quantum properties, used in advanced energy systems, biomedicine, and computing.

Quantum Nanorobots (QN-Robots)

Nanoscale robots equipped with quantum technology that can independently perform repairs, carry out espionage, and manipulate matter at the subatomic level.

Quantum Nanotechnology (QN-Tec)

The fusion of nanotechnology and quantum manipulation, yielding applications with previously unimaginable capabilities. The World Criminal Court banned its use worldwide after the Fall of Nanoverse, a catastrophe that destabilized multiple global systems.

Quantum Particles (Q-Particles)

Particles manipulated at the quantum level for use in smart materials, biomedicine, and advanced energy systems.

QuebraVeil

Advanced hacking technology developed by Hikaru. It can access military and militia networks worldwide and extract confidential information.

R

Regnante

Latin for “to rule.” A QN-Tec coweaved to control objects and technological systems. Its power extends to temporarily or permanently changing the nature of other nanites, reprogramming their functions, and even destroying them. Regnante can override any nanotechnology, including other QN-Tecs, and can manipulate and rewrite nanorobotic code within a radius of up to one kilometer.

Rules of the Global Medical Committee (RGMC)

A set of rules cowoven to govern the GMC’s actions and deliberations, ensuring its impartiality and its authority over medicine worldwide.

Core rules

• Absolute autonomy. The GMC operates independently of governments and corporations.
• Nonnegotiable ethics. Any experiment that violates human rights is immediately suspended.
• Regulatory review. All medical and nanotechnology research must be submitted to the GMC for assessment before large-scale implementation.
• Sanctions and penalties. The committee may exile practitioners and ban companies from operating in medicine if they break its rules.
• Confidentiality and data control. The committee directly supervises high-risk projects and prevents unauthorized third-party access.

Notable cases

• Riki Akiyama’s exile (2878) for severe violations of medical principles.
• The revocation of medical licenses and destruction of documents related to Mentis Imperium (2795).
• The ban on neural implants without signed consent (2850).

Governments and corporations frequently challenge GMC rules and lobby for changes that favor their research and commercial interests. The committee retains its authority through its unchallenged standing under the International Convention on Medicine.

S

Second City

Hong Kong.

Sentā

The bright heart of Tokyo, where technology and modernity have reached their peak. The city’s main commercial, financial, and cultural district is a spectacle of neon and innovation. Pixelated airways crisscross the district, holotrees turn into interactive advertisements, and vehicles shift between conventional and robotic forms. Giant robots patrol the skies while androids and artificial intelligence permeate daily life. Here, advanced technology and Japanese futurist culture set the metropolis’s frenetic pace.

Sentinil

An emotional inhibitor that suppresses the user’s ability to feel or express emotion, keeping their behavior neutral.

Sentisurge

A nanotechnology compound for regeneration and physiological stabilization. When used invasively, it forces subjects to relive their most painful memories over and over until their emotional resistance is exhausted.

Sessota

One of the world’s three largest nanotechnology megacorporations and its largest bank and financial institution. With extensive control over financial transactions, investments, and digital security, Sessota sets the pace of the global economy, influencing everything from local markets to major transactions between nations. Its combination of nanotechnology and finance places it at the center of economic innovation and advanced security technology. It acquired some of the defunct Nanoverse’s assets, strengthening its position in nanodevice development and technological infrastructure.

Seventh City

Lagos.

Shi’ne! (死ね!)

Japanese for “Die!” One of the most aggressive ways to tell someone to fuck off in Japanese, used in heated confrontations.

Siccunsanguine Bacteria

The pathogen behind Apoxirameno Aima, or Vaktiria, discovered in 2849. The extremely aggressive bacterium attacks the composition of the blood, impairing clotting and cellular regeneration. Its name means “dry blood,” referring to the lethal dehydration and failure of red blood cells that kill the host within a few cycles.

Sinaptic-V

A truth serum based on nanotechnology. It interrupts neural communication, completely overriding the subject’s will. Side effects include hallucinations, seizures, and high fever.

Sixth City

Singapore.

Société d’Intelligence

A French technology company founded in 2839, about forty cycles after the fall of Nanoverse. The Société emerged as a threat to the Aether Network and the major technological powers, developing a new technique for nanobombs even more destructive than the 3-R. Its growth reignited political and economic tensions, leading to new sanctions against France and internal conflicts with the Luminaries. The company became a symbol of French technological resistance, attracting scientists and engineers who wanted to reclaim the country’s sovereignty in nanotechnology after Nanoverse’s collapse.

Solterra

The war machine. At the other end of Netheria, this district is ruled by the Father, a leader shrouded in mystery. Solterra is orderly and almost militarized, with a black market in weapons and illegal technology. It is the realm of warfare and clandestine science, a place where nanotechnology and destruction go hand in hand.

• The center of the underground arms industry, with factories, workshops, and experimental nanoweapons.
• A haven for engineers, cyborgs, and nanotechnology traffickers.
• The Father governs through discipline, in stark contrast to Vermina’s anarchy.
• Home to figures such as Hikaru, the cyborg samurai who runs BiLab.

Summer Fair

An annual celebration marking the start of Centrália’s year-end festivities. It brings together Indigenous, Afro-Brazilian, and northeastern Brazilian traditions in a large event centered on culture, art, and food. The fair takes place in Art Hive, a lively district where mythological holograms, interactive projections, and live music create an immersive spectacle. Stalls offer everything from ancestral crafts to glowing acarajé, molecular rabanada, and nanosynthetic cachaça.

T

TenebraCorp

A clandestine bank that operates in the underworld and handles transactions protected by nanocryptography. TenebraCorp is known for dealing with criminal organizations, mercenaries, mafias, and illicit groups, providing absolute anonymity to its users. Conventional authorities cannot penetrate its financial system, making it the preferred bank for large-scale illicit transactions.

Tenth City

London.

Tentro

The heart of Netheria. Its central and most organized district links Vermina and Solterra. As Netheria’s commercial and social hub, it is a place where mercenaries, merchants, and civilians live alongside one another, trade, and survive.

• Nanopanels reproduce the sky, simulating day and night.
• The economy is based on nanotechnology, the implant trade, and bioengineering.
• Businesses range from android boutiques to restaurants.
• The district is relatively neutral. Anyone may come and go as long as they respect the mercenaries’ rules.

Thanacore

An experimental nanoheart developed at the frontier of biomedical nanotechnology. It was originally designed to replace damaged human hearts. Implantation is usually fatal, with a survival rate below five percent. Those who survive recover their vital functions and develop unique abilities.

One of Thanacore’s most feared abilities is the selective transmission of nanites into a target’s cardiovascular system. The nanorobots travel through the bloodstream to the brain and release massive waves of adrenaline and noradrenaline, inducing extreme psychological terror. The victim relives their greatest fear so intensely that the urge to escape can drive them to suicide. At the height of the terror, the Thanacore user cuts off transmission, leaving the target completely submissive for a short time.

Thanacore is a synthetic organ and a biotechnological weapon concealed in the chest of its bearer.

Third City

New York.

Treaty of Intervention for Peace (TIP)

An international agreement signed in 2791 by 180 member countries to curb human rights abuses and enable intervention in conflicts that threaten global stability. It established the UPT. The treaty gives signatories the right to deploy military forces against nations found to have violated its humanitarian principles.

Core provisions

• Right of global intervention. Signatories may intervene militarily when a country commits acts of repression, genocide, or crimes against humanity.
• Economic and political sanctions. Offending countries may face trade embargoes, diplomatic isolation, and financial blockades.
• Protection of affected groups. The treaty authorizes assistance to populations at risk, including refugees and political dissidents.
• Accountability for oppressive governments. Leaders responsible for crimes against humanity may be tried by the World Criminal Court.

Notable cases

• 2795. A failed attempt to stop the escalation of the nanotechnology war that led to the bombing of Egypt.
• 2873. Invoked against the Kinshasa dictatorship, leading to the fall of the local government and the rise of new leadership.
• 2880. Russia invoked the treaty to threaten sanctions against the Aether Network over its violent repression of demonstrators.

The TIP broke new ground in regulating global conflicts. It is often criticized for selective enforcement, since many technological and economic powers use political maneuvering to evade its provisions.

U

UNITED

One of the world’s three largest nanotechnology megacorporations, with a primary focus on nanomedicine. UNITED also acquired some of the defunct Nanoverse’s assets, enabling major advances in regenerative treatments, biotechnology, and human enhancement. The leading developer of advanced therapies and biotechnological enhancements, UNITED dominates the healthcare market with offerings ranging from regenerative treatments to cutting-edge cybernetic implants. Its influence extends to hospitals, research centers, and experimental projects in human longevity.

Universal Peace Tribunal (UPT)

Established in 2791 as a supranational body to prevent global conflicts and intervene in disputes among megacities, governments, and military corporations. Its main purpose was to prevent nanotechnology wars and promote agreements among the emerging powers of the time. The UPT arose in response to the Nanoarms Race of 2786–2795, when several cities and private militias began developing nanotechnological weapons of mass destruction, including Egypt’s 3-R nanobombs. Despite its diplomatic mission, the tribunal failed to prevent several conflicts.

• 2795, the 3-R Crisis. Negotiations to prevent Egypt from using its nuclear nanobombs failed. Kemetia’s leadership pressed ahead with its plans. The Aether Network responded by stealing R-ATOM and detonating it in Egypt, leaving the country virtually uninhabitable.
• 2806, the Sanctions Wars. The UPT tried to intervene in disputes among the megacorporations Sessota, UNITED, and Kokusai. The companies ignored it, and the resulting economic war brought down dozens of countries on the periphery.
• 2880, the case against the Aether Network. Egypt filed a motion before the World Criminal Court accusing the Network of crimes against humanity and genocide. The UPT tried to mediate and was relegated to an advisory role with no decision-making power.

After decades of diplomatic failures, the UPT lost its political relevance. It now serves solely as an advisory body with no real power to intervene. Its decline marked the collapse of international diplomacy and cemented the era of autonomous megacities, where power rests on technological and economic might.

¡Usted no sabe con quién se acaba de meter!

Spanish for “You have no idea who you just messed with!” Said as a threat or to intimidate, usually by Latino characters or characters linked to militias.

Usunoro!

Japanese for “slowpoke” or “slacker,” usually used to mock someone who is taking too long.

V

Vaktiria

The common name for Apoxirameno Aima, the disease caused by Siccunsanguine Bacteria. Discovered in 2849, Vaktiria is the deadliest infectious disease and accounts for 43.5 percent of deaths worldwide. It feeds on the components of the host’s blood, impairing clotting and cellular regeneration. The most common symptoms include failure to heal, uncontrollable hemorrhaging, and extreme vulnerability to secondary infections, leading to a slow and painful death. With no cure or effective treatment, the disease became the epicenter of a public health and political crisis.

Major corporations deliberately manipulated and spread Vaktiria to secure a monopoly over medicine and nanotechnology. Records reveal that Sessota, UNITED, and Kokusai financed its weaving and spread to profit from experimental treatments. Documents indicate that testing took place in Spain, Germany, Portugal, and Italy, countries chosen strategically to minimize the social and economic impact on the megacities.

As part of a high-level conspiracy, the Aether Network backed politician Lorenzo Cardoso, who acted as an intermediary between the corporations and the governments. Sessota secured 60 percent of the profits, with UNITED and Kokusai claiming the remaining 40 percent. Ilhabela was one of the research sites where the bacterium was refined. Financial transactions used QN-Cryptography to keep the identities of those involved strictly secret.

Vermina

Rot dressed in luxury. At one extreme of Netheria, crime reigns and anything that can be sold is trafficked, from bodies and weapons to information. The district is governed by the Matriarch, an enigmatic figure whose influence reaches beyond the underworld. In Vermina, sadism has become the currency of daily life. The district is a brutal picture of what happens when moral limits vanish.

• A district of darkness, with slave markets, android trafficking, and underground fights.
• Bodies displayed for sale in shop windows and public executions staged as spectacles.
• Home to the Matriarch, an almost mythical figure who governs the underworld by invisible rules.
• A place where humanity’s darkest impulses take shape.

Vorovskoy mir

The Russian Brotherhood, the world’s most powerful criminal organization. It operates in the shadows of government and directly influences global politics and economics. Under Empress Sonechka Alexeyev, Russia became one of the most livable countries on the planet. Much of that success comes from the influence of Vorovskoy mir, which operates in the shadows of Nochnoy Prestol (Ночной Престол), the Throne of Night. This quiet force governs, manipulates economies, and dictates the fate of countless lives. Beneath its icy surface lies a core of brutality and pragmatism where only the strongest survive.

Four main divisions

• Elite Group. The highest rank, responsible for administration, organization, and ideology.
• Security Group. Maintains peace with other organizations and loyalty within the Brotherhood.
• Support Group. Collects money, recruits members, and negotiates political and business influence.
• Labor Unit. Handles robberies, extortion, street gangs, and lesser crimes.

Vorovskoy mir operates worldwide through relentless military force, untraceable cybercrime, and total control of the underworld. It traffics in drugs, people, animals, and experimental technologies. It has branches on every continent, with headquarters in the militarized fortress of Khalmer-Yu. The Pakhan is its highest authority and rules with absolute influence. Control of the underworld has made the Brotherhood an enemy of the Aether Network and a rival of Ninkyō dantai, the world’s second-largest criminal organization.

Vous devez savoir qu’un animal n’est éteint que lorsque le dernier meurt.

French for “Even you should know that an animal only goes extinct when the last of its kind dies.”

Vous pouvez parler français. Quelle adresse?

French for “You can speak French. What’s the address?”

W

World Criminal Court (WCC)

The highest body of international justice, responsible for trying war crimes, human rights violations, corporate crimes, and technological threats with global consequences. Established in 2781, the WCC has jurisdiction over political leaders, corporations, and states. It can impose economic sanctions, issue criminal convictions, and authorize global interventions.

Duties

• Prosecution of crimes against humanity. Investigates and prosecutes genocide, unethical biotechnology experiments, and corporate warfare.
• Oversight of corporations and megacities. Regulates the impact of multinational companies and their policies on the world’s population.
• Control of high-risk technologies. Works with ARGOS and the GMC to establish ethical limits and safety standards in nanotechnology, TE, bioengineering, and neuroscience.
• Sanctions and bans. May impose economic blockades on nations, corporations, and leaders and ban the development and sale of technologies deemed dangerous.

Notable cases

• 2795, the collapse of Nanoverse. The WCC convicted Nanoverse on charges of human trafficking, financing conflicts in the East, and illegal QN-Tec experimentation. In conjunction with ARGOS, it banned quantum nanotechnology worldwide, leading to the company’s bankruptcy and the division of its technology among Sessota, UNITED, and Kokusai.
• 2880, the case against the Aether Network. After a leak exposed the conspiracy to weave Vaktiria, Egyptian leader Abdel Ramesses Kalil filed a formal complaint against the Aether Network. An international inquiry opened into crimes against humanity and genocide. The WCC accepted the complaint and began proceedings against the Aether Network, naming England and the United States as defendants.

The WCC is both feared and revered as the court of last resort for global justice.

Z

Zenith

The upper levels of the vertical city of São Paulo, home to society’s most privileged strata. This elevated district is the pinnacle of the urban structure, concentrating power, technology, and influence. It houses the Parliament, the Aether Supreme Court, and other Aether institutions.

Final Notes

The Fragments of Records are a companion to Fragmented Universes, offering a deeper understanding of its world. For a more immersive experience, explore these concepts in the story before looking them up here.

Welcome to the multiverse between the lines.