A Day in the Life of Ivan Transhumanov

By Stephen Volk

In a near-future Moscow ravaged by fierce drone warfare and satellite laser battles, humanity teeters on the brink of total surrender to transhumanist control. Ivan Petrov, a once-loyal soldier, awakens with twisted memories and an enhanced body that no longer feels his own. Plagued by guilt and the echoes of his past, he navigates a world where emotions are muted and individuality is a fleeting dream.

Amidst the chaos, Ivan's brilliant sister, Anastasia, hacks into the shadows of a corporate syndicate run by the ruthless Dmitri Sorosovich, who profits from the very enslavement of transhumans. Together with Valentina, the fierce leader of a rogue faction, and other comrades, they unite to reclaim their humanity and dismantle the oppressive regime orchestrating a cultural revolution from the ashes of their lives.

From the haunting undertones of lost memories to the ambiguous morality of enhancement technology, this groundbreaking tale explores the fragility of identity and the power of rebellion in a world driven by profit and control. As Ivan and his allies strive for freedom, they must confront their own monsters—both human and transhuman—in a battle that will redefine what it means to be truly alive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Feb 18, 2025
• ISBN: 9781300559757

Book preview

A Day

in the Life of

Ivan Transhumanov

Stephen Michael Volk

© 2025 by Stephen Volk.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publishers, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a newspaper, magazine or journal.

First printing

At the specific preference of the author, the publisher allowed this work to remain exactly as the author intended, verbatim, without editorial input.  In this version is combined AI and assorted author materials.

ISBN  978-1-300-55975-7

Published by Towering Sanctuary Press

Printed in the United States of America

Available @ www.lulu.com

A Day in the Life of Ivan Transhumanov

In the near-future dystopia of New Novgorod, Ivan Petrov wakes up in a world where transhuman enhancements are both a gift and a curse. As a former soldier turned rogue transhuman, he grapples with distorted memories—echoes of comrades long gone and battles fought not only against foes but against his own fragmented identity. Driven by guilt and anger, Ivan seeks to reclaim his lost humanity.

Anastasia, his sister and a brilliant hacker, orchestrates a digital rebellion against Dmitri Sorosovich, the ruthless head of the corporate syndicate profiting from transhuman enslavement. Meanwhile, Valentina Sergeyev leads a faction of visionaries fighting back against the regime, relying on her own enhanced abilities.

Svetlana Orlova creates provocative art to ignite the spirit of rebellion, while Alexei the Mechanic faces a moral crisis over his role in modifying transhuman technologies. Irina Fedorova, a civilian caught amidst the chaos, searches for her family, embodying the struggle for normalcy. As betrayals unfold and alliances shift, Ivan must choose between loyalty to his past and the fight for a free future, ultimately discovering that redemption lies not in enhancements but in human connection.

1. The Awakening: Transhumanism in Moscow 

2. The Siege Begins: Drones and Satellites Overhead 

3. Fateful Combat: The Drone Protocols Engage 

4. The Aftermath: Transhuman Physical Effects 

5. Shattered Minds: The Mental Effects of Transition 

6. Emotions Unbound: The Emotional Turmoil of Transhumanism 

7. The Fractured Self: Will and Memory in Flux 

8. Shadows of Control: Who Really Holds the Power? 

9. Profit and Pain: Slavery for Corporate Profiteers 

10. The Transhuman Armed Forces: A New Breed of Soldier 

11. Rogue Transhumans: The Rise of the Uncontrolled 

12. The Cultural Shift: Forcing a New Revolution 

13. Art in the Age of Transhumanism 

14. The Price of Freedom: Living in a Cashless Society 

15. A Day in the Life: Ivan's Struggle for Identity 

16. The Underground Resistance: Fighting Back Against Control 

17. Fractured Alliances: Trust in a Transhuman World 

18. The Confrontation: Power Dynamics Unveiled 

19. Pieces of Humanity: Rediscovering Lost Memories 

20. The Final Stand: Hope Amidst Chaos 

21. The Dawn of a New Era: What Freedom Looks Like 

22. Reflections: The Future of Transhumanism and Society

The Awakening: Transhumanism in Moscow

In the year 2045, Moscow lay under the shadow of a new world order, where transhumanism reigned supreme. Once a bustling metropolis of culture and history, it now echoed with the hum of drones guarding the skies, and the whisper of artificial intelligence governing the streets below. The remnants of humanity clung to existence, caught between the promise of enhancement and the dark reality of control.

Ivan Petrov opened his eyes to a sterile room, the faint whir of machines that mingled with the distant sounds of chaos beyond. He felt different—he was different. The memories of gunfire, orders barked in the heat of battle, and the camaraderie of his fellow soldiers flickered like faulty neon lights in an abandoned alley. Yet, he grasped at the fragments of his past, trying to stitch them into a coherent narrative while grappling with the realization that his very essence had been altered.

Wake up, Ivan, a voice called, breaking the stillness. It belonged to Sergei Ghost Antonov, a legendary rogue in the underbelly of the city; his presence a dark specter who had become both a friend and a nemesis. The city is changing, and you must decide where you stand. The drones are restless.

Ivan sat up, feeling the weight of metal augmentations beneath his skin. Enhanced reflexes, improved strength—gifts and curses of a soldier molded into a weapon. He reached for his chronicle of memories, conjuring the face of his sister, Anastasia, who had once filled their home with laughter. Her fierce determination ignited in him a spark of hope, even as he battled the ghosts of loyalty and betrayal within.

Do you remember your brother? Ghost prompted, watching him closely. The one who fought for his country until the end? They changed you, Ivan, but they stole him.

Haunted by the weight of that lost memory, Ivan felt a well of anger rise inside him. Beneath the layers of enhancements, traces of humanity lingered: the guilt for choices made, and the wounds of loss. He had once been a soldier; now he was a pawn in a game he barely understood.

Outside the window, the air crackled with energy as colossal drone swarms patrolled the foggy skyline. Their glowing sensors hunted down dissidents like a wolf pack gauging the terrain, searching for the vulnerable. Ivan’s heart raced, a foreign mix of fear and adrenaline; how many of his comrades had turned? The line between man and machine blurred daily.

Meanwhile, deep in the encrypted networks that governed New Novgorod, his sister Anastasia worked tirelessly. She saw beyond the artificial glow of the screens; she saw enslavement masquerading as advancement. Trained in the art of hacking, she poured her anger into the rebellion against the corporations fueling the transhuman propaganda.

Dmitri Sorosovich won’t stop until everyone is a cog in his cashless machine, she muttered as she monitored a data stream. Beneath her fierce exterior lay the raw pain of her brother’s transformation. The loss of their sibling had ignited a fire within her. Every coded rebellion she triggered brought the specter of justice closer, inch by pixel.

Ivan had once promised her a future; they'd share laughter, sunrise runs, and fleeting moments of freedom. But now? Will we ever be free again? she pondered, her fingers dancing over the keyboard, determined to sever the digital chains binding their people.

Simultaneously, Valentina Sergeyev convened leaders from the rogue factions. A visionary in her own right, she embodied the strength of the people's will. Her augmented abilities granted her insight into the emotions of others—a double-edged sword that rendered her an empath, but also a powerful weapon against oppression.

People are scared, and fear is a weapon they wield against us, Valentina asserted, her strong voice commanding the attention of her followers in a dimly lit basement. It’s time we strike against the oppressors before they render us completely obsolete. We are more than just enhanced beings; we are human. The room erupted in fervent discussions, passion igniting the often unyielding hearts of those who lived in the shadows.

As daylight faded, Svetlana Orlova, another transhuman with an artist’s heart, spread her latest creation across graffiti-scarred walls. The bold colors clashed against the drab reality of their world, demanding recognition—a protest against the enforced cultural revolution. Each stroke of her brush rediscovered the lost soul of Moscow; her artwork echoed the humanity that the enhancements sought to eclipse.

Yet, she too felt the emotional dissonance that accompanied her enhancements. As shadows crept around her, she struggled to connect with her true feelings in a sea of mechanically influenced emotions. We must remind the people of their hearts, she whispered to herself, her art becoming a rebellious anthem for those caught in limbo.

In the graphic expanse of a city ravaged by oppression, Irina Fedorova wandered the streets, her mission to find her family entwining her likeness with a thousand faces. Desperate and resilient, she fought through the chaos surrounding her, her heart longing for the warmth of familiar embraces, the safety of home. Her eyes witnessed countless others who had been rendered mere shells of their former selves by corporate greed masked as progress.

Meanwhile, Alexei