Chapter 0 - Prologue

Full Description: Years after the Third World War destroyed the earth in nuclear fire, strange creatures simply called 'The Y' began to harass the remains of society. Now, fifty years after the destruction of the world, humanity has begun to to rebound, finding new life in self-contained cities dotted across the landscape. In Japan, one such city sees rise to a higher population of Y then others, and it's up to a specialized task force to eliminate them. One agent - a crude elitist named Tachyon - has been dispatched to a very heavily concentrated 'Hive' of Y with the simple task of eliminating them with extreme prejudice. However, the things Tachyon discovers over the course of the mission will lead to a much larger threat... one that threatens the entire city. 

Disclaimer: I don't own <Insert Parent Francise Name Here>.
Author's Note: I realize how vague and unhelpfrul my disclaimer is... and really the rest of the story, as well. You have to understand I want to preserve an air of mystery to the story that I just can't get if I come out and spill the beans.

Y-Wars
Prologue

Even in the mid-morning sun, it's hard to believe this city is the city of my childhood. I grew up here, I was born here... yet every year I see it slip farther and farther from the beacon of humanity it once was. To be brutally honest, it's not completely our fault. Crime, overpopulation, hunger... all of these problems are just the ones we can try to fix. That doesn't even get into the big issue. Everyone just calls them... the Y, everyone too paranoid and full of a supernatural belief that using their real name will make them suddenly... appear. In a word, the Y are monsters, creatures of nightmare and twisted fantasy – most are just mindless killing machines, designed to forge the path for the greater ones... but there are some that terrify and excite in some twisted manner. The larger ones reproduce by... forcing themselves onto human women, and impregnating them with their seed. These women are then forced to give birth to another of their kind – the young Y eating it's way out of the victim's chest and stomach, then consume the rest of their victim... it's a fate I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

The Y have, for the most part, been quiet these last two years. Even since the inaugural missions of a select few, they've gone away... into hiding, I suspect. That's not to say they're not still around... we hear rumors – mostly from drunks and homeless – about Y dwelling in the sewers and sometimes openly in the slums. Alas, if we could only answer every call we get. Even now, we've received three calls in regards to Y sightings... I suspect all three will go unanswered. I stand at the window and look out into the city. It's hard to believe that this... seething pile of filth was once one of the country's largest city's... the capital, I've been told. Now...? Now it's just a rotting collection of corpses and withered dreams. To everyone here, it's home. To everyone else... it's just the 'Central City'.

I owe my life to those bastard Y. Without them, someone of my particular talents would have been consigned to nightly entertainment at an underground bar, perhaps somewhere where the fighting would be less visceral. I belong to an organization dedicated to hunting down and eliminating the Y wherever they may dwell... the 'select few' I mentioned earlier. After our initial branch opened in another city to great success, they saw fit to open branches in every city in the immediate area. I won't bore you with details... if you're anything like me, details just tend to get in the way of your job. My birthname I tell no one; a relic from a dead past, given to me by a dead woman... the name I gave myself is Tachyon. I kill Y for a living. And I'm very good at my job.

“Tachyon.” Came a voice behind me, causing me to slowly turn. I'm dressed in the standard uniform for my employers, a rather simple blue blazer jacket and color-coordinated pants. The collar of my jacket displays my position within this organization as well as my current on-duty status. I fold my arms across my chest and look at the smaller man who addressed me. I say 'smaller', but it's hard to find someone who can match up to my rather impressive seven foot five inch frame. I gaze down at him through violet eyes, waiting for the next part of his words. “Commander Kawazoe wants to speak to you. Says she's got a job for you.” I unfold my arms from the commanding stance.

“Could she not have called me over the intercom?” I ask, starting to follow the man out of the large lounge we had set up for the soldiers and officers here.

“Eeeeh, she mentioned something about this being an 'off the books' operation. As you know, more and more of our resources are being diverted to different projects around the city. Several of our combat units have been deployed to fundraisers – fundraisers! - for political parties.”

“Bah...” I scoff, disgusted at the recent practice. “Let them find their own money. We shouldn't be wasting combat-capable units on standing around and looking pretty. We should be bringing this fight to the damned monsters in our midst.”

“Trust me, Tachyon, you won't find anyone here who agrees with you more... but those same political parties also control our fundings...”

“You don't need to remind me... it's a deplorable thing... but necessary.” He nodded at this, leading me out of the lounge into the hall, toward the elevator near the end. I've always hated the politics we've been forced to play, ever since the official end of open Y hostilities. Our manpower has been reduced to glorified statues – standing around or just... wasting time – and for what? They throw breadcrumbs our way, all the while telling people the Y are gone. People are ignorant if that's what they believe. The Y are about as 'gone' as I am dead. The elevator arrived with a ding and the pair of us stepped in. He looked me over as we began our ascent. I can't imagine he'd seen someone dressed like I in our organization. My hands and feet were both covered in blackened, burnished steel plate boots and gauntlets, attached firmly to my body with thick, durable leather straps.

Through the plate gauntlets, I cracked my knuckles, the pops reverberating off the metal gloves making the sensation only better to take in. No one liked letting me out of the building. My last operation ended with two dead civilians – not my fault – and a hundred thousand in collateral damage. My employer has recently taken to assigning me as being a 'blunt instrument' of sorts, assigning me only missions that have no threat of collateral damage or injury to civilians. That's all well and good with me. The fewer restrictions I have, and the more freedom I'm granted to kill any and all Y just makes me happier. And everyone likes to keep me happy. The elevator jerked to a stop and let us both out, revealing the command center floor of the building. Several people milled about, doing their jobs of monitoring the city's police networks and direct phone lines. Standing among the chaos and doing her damnedest to keep everything organized, was Commander Homura Kawazoe, my superior officer, and close confidant. She's gotten me out of more spats of trouble then I care to mention.
“Ah, Tachyon... I appreciate the timely response.” She nodded to the man who brought me here, who went to a vacant station and put on a pair of headphones. “You're probably wondering why I called you here.”
“Among a great many other questions, yes. What can I assist you with, Commander?” My relationship with Homura was hyper professional. We didn't really speak much outside of anything official she had to discuss with me, so I didn't feel it worthwhile to go out of my way to be buddy-buddy with her.

“I have a task that needs done... but it needs to be done quietly.”

“I'm honored you'd trust me with it.”

“Normally, Tachyon, I wouldn't. Hell, some days I wonder why I even keep you around. You're arrogant, you're introverted... you don't work well at all with a team – and your insistance on hand-to-hand combat is incredibly dangerous! But... it's for these reasons that no one else but you could possibly pull off what I need. You're a rare breed, Tachyon. You're not only a damn good soldier... but you're fiercely independent. Which I need right now. A woman came in a few hours ago – said she was from Little Kyoto – and had information for us about something she described as a Y Hive... a hole near her place of employment that apparently went straight down into the earth... and Y were coming out of it like a nest. For anyone else in this building, the words that are about to come out of my mouth would be suicide. But for you? For you, Tachyon, it might just be the early morning stroll you need to curb that bloodlust of yours. I want you to enter this 'Y Hive' and follow it to it's source. If it's a breeding ground, or anything like that, I want it destroyed. Once the source is snuffed out, return and call for a demolition crew to seal the holes.”

“Now, we're not officially sanctioned for this, and the Council has been riding my ass to reduce operations. I've already got to get the whole building ready for retraining by the end of the week, so you'll have no back up on this. I want you to go in in plain clothes and discover the source and if you can... shut it down.”

“Of course, Commander.” I may be arrogant, I may be beligerant, and I may have a bloodlust urge six hundred miles long... but she was right. I was the only one crazy enough to agree to what stacked to suicide for anyone else. Wading, hip-deep, into a hive of Y. It was glorious. She smiled to me – a rare sight for my eyes – and nodded slowly to me.

“Good. Thank you, Tachyon. There's a driver in the motor pool with a car ready. He'll bring you over once you're all ready.” No time like the present. I nodded curtly and bowed arbitrarily, before heading back towards the elevator. Diving into a Y Hive... I can't say I'm not thrilled by the idea. The thought I could wade knee-deep into that damn place, smash every skull, break ever bone, and squeeze every sanquine drop from their unholy bodies gave me no end of pleasure... but her words weren't just arbitrary. A Y Hive was not a place to drop your guard, even for me. I'd have to be careful. I got off the elevator at my quarters and quickly changed into more street appropriate clothing. I'm sure I'd draw attention with my gauntlets and boots but... really I didn't care about that right now.

Ugh... Little Kyoto. I disliked going to the Red Light district of the city but... I suppose if I was just passing through, it was tolerable. The problem I had with Little Kyoto wasn't that it was the Red Light district. If people wanted to drown their woes in sex and alcohol, that was their prerogative. The problem I had, and always will, is half the damn prostitutes in Little Kyoto don't know how to take a 'no' response. They'll follow you down the street, begging and pleading the whole way. Really, it was embarassing and degrading. But again... if they wanted to spend their lives doing that... their prerogative.

Taking the elevator down once more, I found myself in the motor pool, cars lined up on either side, a few painted the blue hue of my employer, but more then one plain as a method of moving under cover. I had found a pair of faded blue jeans and an old long-sleeve shirt in my closet to dress myself in, looking as little like a soldier as I could... though I suppose a perceptive set of eyes could discern that by simply looking at the permanent grimace on my face. I rounded the corner in the motor pool, looking for this driver who was supposed to be taking me to Little Kyoto, finding a man in similar civilian clothes standing near a black sedan, arms crossed and looking like he was waiting for someone. His head panned left slowly until his eyes fell on me. He scrambled to his feet to look busy.

“Tachyon?” He asked simply, causing me to nod. “I'm to take you to Little Kyoto.”

“I know.” I responded to the man. He opened the passenger seat of the car and held it open for me.

“It should be a pretty short drive, provided traffic holds.” I slipped into the seat and pulled the seatbelt down to latch it across my chest and lap, the man closing the door. He walked quickly about the front of the car and squeezed himself into the driver's seat. The guy beside us parked too damn close. Or my driver did, I can't tell. “I got to say... I've heard a lot about your work, Tachyon... I know Command frowns on your methods but... I admire that kind of strength in-”

“Are you going to drive... or just sit there and suck my dick?” I growled to him, never taking my eyes off the front. He went quiet for a moment and started the car.

“My apologies.”

“Mm.” We backed out of the parking spot and began to circle the motor pool to leave the building. The motor pool had a two-way ramp that lead from the motor pool on the fifteenth floor, all the way down to the entrance at street-level. I know a lot of people would frown on my treatment of the guy... a lot of the non-combat staff do hold us combat soldiers in high-regard, but I didn't like praise. It was always hallow and empty... more of a motion people went through when they wanted something in return... and I can promise you, I had nothing anyone wanted. We clattered out of the door and onto the city's streets, merging flawlessly into the flow of traffic. We'd hit a lull in the traffic, the number of cars on the road jammed somewhere between breakfast and rush hour, we proceeded towards Little Kyoto with a decent clip.

“So.” I finally broke my silence after a few moments. “I take it you're going to be waiting for me to complete my mission?”

“Yes, of course.” He answered quickly and concisely.

“Can I trust you to be waiting with the car... not between a stripper's breasts?”

“Don't worry. I won't be distracting myself. I've got a job to do, too.” I cracked a little smile at his comment, and chuckled. “What's so funny?”

“We'll see if you're telling the truth or not.” I fell silent once more, watching the brake lights of the car in front of us – a shit-for-brains bitch who didn't have a lick of sense how to operate a motor vehicle – all the while preparing for the mission ahead.

Technically, for a great many reasons, I was not allowed to operate in the field... hell, there were a few politicians who were convinced I was a loose cannon, unable to follow orders or do my job... a 'blunt instrument' as one called me. I may be a blunt instrument... but I was a damn effective blunt instrument. One thought I should restrain myself when I fight the Y... that I was setting a 'bad example' for the whole of my organization. Pheh. I think I showed enough restraint not punching that dick in the dick.

“Here.” I spoke, a few moments after entering Little Kyoto.

“H-here? I was instructed to drop you off at the-”

“I know damn well what you were instructed to do. I want... to take a walk. Clear my head. I've been cooped up in that damn building for a month now... I want to stretch my legs.” He slowed to a stop as I unbuckled.
“It's just up the road there, three blocks up. Between the Broken Chalice and the Twin Peaks strip club.” I nodded silently, standing out of the small car... Shit, for someone of my height, these sedans are like being crammed into a sardine can... I shut the door as he drove off to park in the near-by parking garage, and rolled my neck. Shit, it felt good to be outside again. I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with as much cool city air as I could. I'm not saying the air in the building was bad... but the air out here was just... natural. After the war that devastated the world, it was hard to find a place with 'clean' air... hell, even here it was only possible by the aerial saturation of an anti-radiation agent... shit, they still do flybys and drop those bombs all over the city... a newcomer might get surprised to see a helicopter drop a canister bomb in the middle of the city... only to be embarrassed to find out it's a dispersal bomb for an anti-radiation chemical.

I stuffed my hands best I could into my pockets, only able to get two or three fingers in with the metal gloves, and began to walk down the street. Being so early in the morning, most of the whores that would be lining this road were still either in bed – recovering from the previous night's drinking binge - or still inside their brothels, getting their make up on to look more like diseased rats.

“Hey honey...” A passing girl spoke to me. “Lookin' for a date.”

“No.” I answered firmly, continuing to walk and pay her no mind.

“Mmmm... you sure? Strong lookin' darlin' like you?”

“Still no.” Came my same cold response. I could hear her pouting.

“Give you a discount...”

“Still no.” I repeated. This, apparently, worked, as she stopped following me and switched to another poor sod a few paces behind me. Christ, I hated it here... can't take a step without stepping on a whore or a pimp. Hell, I would count myself lucky if I could get to my destination without running into another one. Of course... I'm very, very unlucky.

“You... look like someone who could use some company... am I right or am I right?” Came a man's voice. I looking just enough to see a figure dressed in a garish coat and swinging a cane like he owned the place.

“Actually, I'm someone who could use less company in my life.” He laughed at me.

“Don't be like that... I got a sweet little thing that can make all your problems disappear... for the right price.”

“Let me tell you something...” I started, stopping to turn and face him. He was a scrawny little thing, coming up to only about my chest with his full height. “I have four problems right now... I doubt any whore you have can solve three of them... and you're number four right now. So fuck off.”

“Hey man, you can't talk about my girls like that...”
“What are you going to do about it? Cry? Get out of my face.” He twirled his cane in a familiar fashion. I knew that flourish.

“You don't turn your back on me!” I snapped my arm out and caught the cane mid-swing. “H-hey!” I glared daggers at him, holding fast onto his cane. He struggled to pull it out of my grasp, but I proved too strong for him.

“Boy.” I started, ripping the cane out of his paltry grasp. “You just made the biggest fuck up of your life.” I kill Y for a living... did he really think his punk ass stood a chance? I bashed his cane against a nearby lightpole, shattering it into a hundred pieces. “I've got to be somewhere... so I'm going to give you... half power.”

“Half po-” He was cut off by my fist connecting with his face. Okay, that was closer to thirty percent power. Regardless, it was enough to knock him off his feet and about ten feet into the street.

“Three bounces... impressive.” I nodded at the number of times I skipped him off the asphalt. I watched a woman come out of a building to help him back onto the sidewalk, the man very well and good unconscious at this point. I grabbed the girl's shoulder as she went by. “Hey.” I told her, the woman trembling with fear in her eyes. “When he wakes up. Tell him I gave him ample warning.” I released her and continued about my way.
Thankfully, my little display of violence assured I'd get accosted no more, my feet taking me to my destination swiftly, dodging and weaving between people going about their daily lives. I turned the corner into the alley between a strip club and a smoke shop as instructed, finding two police officers at the far end.

“I'm sorry, but this area is off limits.” As I got closer, I stood straight so they could see me.

“Don't worry. I'm here to solve your problem.” One of the officers – a woman with short black hair – looked strangely at me.

“Who sent you?”

“Homura Kawazoe.” I answered plainly.

“Tachyon?” The black-haired officer asked, getting only a nod from me. “Christ, I didn't think she was serious about sending one person... usually, this would be a full-time operation... commanders, and a full unit of soldiers, at least...”

“I'm special.” I answered simply. “Now, can I pass?” Both officers stepped to the side.

“Of course, Agent Tachyon. Is there anything you require of us?”

“Yes...” I mused gently with a nod. “Stay here, keep others out... and stay out of my way.” Both grunted a response as I looked at the hole in the ground. It was small... I figured I could probably fit, but anyone with any more girth on them would probably get stuck... I've seen man holes that were bigger then this. I turned back to the officers. “Light stick.” The black haired woman reached into one of the pouches on her belt and withdrew a pair of green glow sticks, handing both to me. “Flashlight too.”

“Shouldn't you have brought all this?”

“Shouldn't you shut up and do what I ask?” I rebuttled, the other officer – a dour looking blonde woman – handed me her flashlight.

“Do you want my gun, too?” The dour blonde responded sarcastically.

“No. Guns are for pussies.” I cracked the lightsticks and dropped them down the hole. They tumbled a good ten feet before bouncing on the black ground. Hell, I could hardly tell they had stopped, if it weren't for the dim green glow around them. Rolling my shoulders and cracking my neck, I jumped in – feet-first into hell. The drop was short, the ground meeting me ten-some feet below, my hand slamming into the ground to brace my fall. Clicking the flashlight on, I clipped it to my shirt pocket so I could see. The tunnel extended for what seemed like ever, the walls vanishing into darkness. Turning, I shown the light on the wall that was the end of the tunnel. Good, it didn't go in that direction too. Putting a hand to my ear, I turned on the small headset I had – a direct line to Homura back and base. “Commander Kawazoe, this is Tachyon.”

“I read you clearly, Tachyon. Report.”

“I've arrived at the destination. Beginning operation.”

