The flying car continued it’s flight, cruising smoothly over the city. Inside, there were a total of 10 individuals – Kazu, Hiroshi, and the 8 members of Kazu’s team. Of these 8, 7 were men and 1 was a female, all comfortably seated inside the spacious interior.
As they continued their flight, the mood inside the flying car was relatively stagnant. Most of the team appeared bored, gazing out the windows or checking their devices. Kazu and the female member of the team were engaged in a soft conversation, passing the time with soft talk.
Hiroshi’s eyes wandered to the front seat, specifically to the driver’s seat which lay vacant. He knew that all vehicles these days came quipped with advanced autopilot systems, reducing the occurrence of accidents and fatalities caused by human error. The car smoothly navigated through the air, its autopilot system handling the driving effortlessly. With the advancements in technology, the need for human drivers was obsolete.
But still, although most vehicles in modern Japan were equipped with autopilot systems, some older police cars still had the option for manual human-driven operation. This was a holdover from previous generations, but it still proved to be useful in certain cases where a human was required.
Hiroshi, feeling the weariness of the evening setting in, decided to enter “do not disturb” mode using the neuro-chip implanted in his brain. This feature allowed him to enter a deeply relaxed yet semi-awake state, perfect for resting without losing awareness entirely.
As the chip activated, Hiroshi’s body slackened, and his breathing slowed, entering a tranquil doze-like state. Despite his relaxed appearance, he remained partially aware of his surroundings, ready to awaken at a moment’s notice.
______________________________________
Kazu’s attention was fully focused on the lone female member of his team, with whom he was having a light-hearted conversation. There was a subtle affection in his eyes when he looked at her, a clear indication of his soft spot for her. He genuinely cared about her and enjoyed her company.
Her given name was Sachiko Kobayashi. At just 19 years old, she was the youngest member of Kazu’s team. She was a petite woman, standing at an average height for Japanese standards, with shoulder-length black hair and soft, brown eyes. Despite her seemingly delicate appearance, she was good at sniping, so it didn’t really even matter much. As the only female member of Kazu’s team, it was a bit awkward at times.
There were a few instances when Sachiko’s presence brought an awkward vibe to the team. For example, in the team’s earlier days, some of the male members would occasionally make inappropriate comments or gestures, not quite used to having a female around. Kazu, sensing her discomfort, would quickly put a stop to it. This was how Kazu and her had bonded at first.
Kazu talked to Sachiko, a subtle smile on his lips. “You know, you’ve gotten really good at sniping lately,” he praised her.
Sachiko chuckled modestly, her cheeks reddening slightly at the compliment. “Thanks, Kazu. I’ve been practicing a lot.”
Kazu nodded thoughtfully before adding, “Yeah, I can tell. Your precision has improved significantly.
Kazu’s smile faded slightly as he shifted the topic. “Oh, by the way, there’s something I need to tell you,” he said, a serious tone in his voice. Sachiko looked at him quizzically, her intuition telling her that the conversation was about to take a more somber turn. “When we arrive in Yokohama,” Kazu began, looking directly at her, “you’ll probably have to kill a few people.”
Kazu was deliberately being gentle with Sachiko since she was the youngest and least experienced member of the team. Normally, he would not mince words, but he wanted to lessen the mental and emotional impact on her. He didn’t want her to get cold feet or hesitate when the situation demanded action. The last thing he wanted was for her to freeze up or make a mistake due to inexperience, which could lead to disastrous consequences for the entire team.
She nodded, She smiled slightly, albeit a bit nervously, and replied, “Yeah, it’s fine. It’s our job, after all. I’ll do my part, don’t worry.”
“Just remember, your actions reflect on the entire team,” he reminded her, his tone firm. “Be careful, but don’t hesitate if you need to take someone out.”
Sachiko nodded and then Kazu looked over at Hiroshi, he saw that the latter seemed to be resting. He was tempted to speak with him about something, but he decided against disturbing him and let him rest instead. Kazu turned back to Sachiko and resumed their previous conversation, discussing various topics to pass the time until they arrived at their destination.
______________________________________
In just a few minutes they had arrived at their destination. The flying car touched down gently on the rooftop of the train station, its hover engines quieting to a low hum. As it landed on a parking lot reserved for flying vehicles. One by one, the members of the team exited the flying car, stepping out onto the rooftop of the train station. The night air was quite cold, being around 8°C inside the city due to heaters being present all over the city. It was fully empty and this was because Hiroshi’s company had gone the extra mile to ensure their mission’s success. He had arranged for the entire train station to be privately rented out for an hour, eliminating the possibility of any disturbances or interference from pedestrians. As they stepped out, Hiroshi’s eyes scanned the surroundings, and then they got ready.
Hiroshi, Kazu, and the rest of the team walked over to the far right side of the parking lot, where an elevator was located. This elevator would take them directly from the rooftop level down to the train station below. As they approached the elevator, Kazu led the way, pressing the call button. The doors slid open with a soft sound, revealing the well-lit interior of the lift.
One by one, they entered the elevator, the space feeling rather cramped with so many people inside. However, the elevator was quite roomy, having been specially designed to accommodate more people than usual.
Once everyone was inside, Kazu pressed the button for the level they wanted to go to. The elevator hummed as it began its descent. And in less than 20 seconds they were down there.
The elevator came to a halt, the doors sliding open again to reveal the expansive main lobby of the train station. A vast and open space with numerous shops, restaurants and other services available on both sides. There was hardly anyone here, as Hiroshi company had booked the whole place for them.
As the team made their way down to the ground floor, the few guards stationed there merely nodded in acknowledgment upon seeing them, already informed about their identities and mission. They proceeded further, heading towards the basement level where the trains were located.
The team stepped onto a escalator leading to the basement level of the train station. As they descended, they entered the actual train station, where bright lights illuminated the entire place. There were several seating areas available, each accompanied by a sign indicating a 150¥ fee. In front of them, a transparent, circular tube housed the train.
The train was rather small in comparison to conventional trains, made entirely of sleek, silver metal without any windows or windows. On the lower level of the train, below the tracks several air cushions were placed. Seats were placed in pairs of two facing the front providing space for up to 100 passengers at once. Passengers traveled in pairs, with their luggage accommodated in designated storage areas at the front or rear of the individual capsules. The design ensured that acceleration was always below 0.5g, prioritizing passenger comfort and safety.
Kazu and Hiroshi approached the transparent capsule, which slid open automatically to the side of the train, revealing the passenger cabin. The train’s door, which opened upwards, opened as well, revealing the entrance to the sleek interior. Once the doors of the train and capsule were fully open, Kazu and Hiroshi stepped onto the train, followed by the other team members one by one. The interior of the train was compact yet comfortable with two seats facing the front.
As everyone entered and took their respective seats, The doors slid shut and locked into position, securing the passengers. With everyone comfortable and the train properly engaged with the tube it was in, there was a soft ding, signaling that they were ready to depart. The train jerked gently as it began to move forward, picking up speed rapidly as it accelerated.
Within a mere 2 minutes, the train had accelerated to its max speed of 1220 km/h, just shy of breaking the sound barrier. Inside the capsule, the passengers could feel the slight acceleration as the train smoothly navigated the tracks at a significant pace.
Inside the train, the team settled into their seats. Some team members opted to pass the time by watching movies or programs through their eye lenses, while others were resting. Hiroshi and Kazu were among the latter, taking this time to relax.
______________________________________
After a smooth 23-minute ride, the train arrived at Saitama Train Station. The capsule slowly decelerated as it came to a stop, coming to a standstill by a underground platform of the station.
As the train came to a halt, the doors of both the train itself and the capsule slid open, allowing the team to exit to the platform. They gathered together, looking around briefly as the train station was empty. The platform was well-lit, but eerily quiet and deserted at the moment. The only people present were a few security officers patrolling the area.
One of the officer’s who was assigned to guide them came over to them, he was a tall, lean man with a sharp jaw line and a somewhat tired expression. He had dark circles under his eyes and his uniform looked a bit too big for him. His black hair was unkempt and looked overdue for a haircut.
The officer approached the group and greeted them by bowing slightly. “Good evening, my name is Akira Kato,” he said in a slightly raspy voice. “Follow me, I’ll guide you to your car.”
The officer, Akira, gestured for the team to follow him as he began to lead them to the exit, presumably their car was waiting for them somewhere outside. They walked through the empty hallway, their footsteps echoing off the walls, the only other sound being the buzz of the lights. Then, the hallway came to an end and opened up into a massive underground parking lot.
The expansive underground parking lot was deserted, with only one vehicle visible – an black armoured truck. It was the only vehicle present in the whole area.
The black truck was a heavy-duty vehicle, modified for security and protection. Its exterior was reinforced with armour plating, adding to its imposing appearance. The windows were made of bulletproof glass, darkly tinted, and the tyres were wide and chunky, suitable for off-road driving.
The truck’s front had a formidable bullbar attached and There were various security cameras mounted on the exterior of the vehicle from multiple angles, their blinking red lights the only sign that they were active.
Hiroshi studied the armoured truck, his expression showing a hint of disdain. From his perspective, it appeared slow and excessive for the situation at hand. After all, except for passing through the slums of Neo-Tokyo, there was little cause for concern. He sighed silently, recognizing that he had no say in the matter as the security officer had already arranged this transportation.
If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Hiroshi gave a subtle look at Kazu, who showed no signs of objection. As everyone climbed into the armoured truck, Hiroshi was taken aback to see it was a manual vehicle. He hadn’t anticipated this and was silently questioning why they had chosen a manual truck.
As the team gathered in the back of the armoured truck, Hiroshi observed Kazu and Sachiko both in the driver’s and passenger’s seats respectively. Feeling a tinge of envy, he sat among the rest of Kazu’s team members in the rear of the truck.
From his spot in the back of the truck, Hiroshi called out to Kazu. “Hey, what’s the top speed of this thing?” he inquired, his voice slightly raised to be heard over the din in the back.
Kazu, who was seated in the driver’s seat, heard Hiroshi’s question and responded. “This truck’s top speed is around 140 km/h,” he replied, glancing back momentarily.
Hiroshi nodded in acknowledgement, taking note of the speed. “Not bad,” he mused to himself. 140 km/h should be enough, considering from Saitama to Yokohama through Tokyo was only 75km so they should be there in 23-24 minutes.
The truck started up with a rumble and set off, accelerating out of the parking lot and onto the road, heading towards Tokyo.
______________________________________
Ten minutes later and the armoured truck continued on its journey, now travelling through the old and decaying roads of the ruins of Tokyo due to the nuclear bombing it had endured in the past. The once bustling city was replaced by a barren wasteland, covered with a layer of ashy snow. The poor visibility was further worsened by the heavy smog that engulfed the area, reducing the view to a few dozen meters ahead. The nuclear bomb that struck Tokyo was colossal in size. It had a yield of 50,000 kilotons, creating a fireball with a radius of 6.7 kilometers, and the explosion was powerful enough to travel through the atmosphere, leaving a trail of radioactive contamination behind. The number of victims was staggering, with more than 7 million people losing their lives and around 9 million more injured. This tragic event occurred during the middle phases of World War Three.
As the armoured truck moved through the outskirts of Tokyo. Sachiko, sitting in the passenger seat, was wearing thermal goggles for entertainment. She casually looked outside to her right when she suddenly spotted a heat signature that was completely out of place. Tokyo was generally restricted and off-limits to most people, and the slum dwellers rarely roamed this far.
The unexpected sight immediately grabbed Sachiko’s attention, causing her to straighten in her seat and turn towards Kazu in the driving seat. “Hey, Kazu, there’s something odd out there,” she said, her voice laced with a mixture of curiosity and caution.
Kazu, seemingly unfazed, simply replied, “Eh, it’s probably nothing,” dismissing Sachiko’s concerns with a casual wave of his hand.
“No, I want to check it out. Just stop the car, please,”
Kazu let out a weary sigh, reluctantly giving in to Sachiko’s request. “Alright, alright. We’ll stop,” he acquiesced, pulling the armoured truck over to the side of the snowy road.
“Hurry up,” Kazu said, getting out of the truck. “You have five minutes. Let’s make it quick,” he added.
______________________________________
Hiroshi, sitting in the back with the other team members, was as puzzled as the rest of them when Kazu abruptly halted the truck. A mixture of confusion and curiosity etched on their faces, as they wondered why they had stopped.
Hiroshi, along with the rest of the team, stepped out of the truck, donning their masks. The masks, integrated into their suits, filtered out the toxic smog, protecting their breathing. Hiroshi, in particular, was feeling a bit irked by the unexpected stop.
Hiroshi saw and then approached Kazu and Sachiko, who were standing in front of him. “What’s the point of stopping here?” he questioned, a tone of irritation in his voice, “What’s so important that we had to stop in the middle of nowhere?”
Kazu, looking calm,pointed towards the distance. “Sachiko saw something,” he explained, “She wanted to check it out, so we stopped here.”
Hiroshi’s annoyance grew as he looked in the direction Kazu was pointing. “Seriously?” he said, sounding frustrated. “We stopped here just because she saw something?”
“It won’t take long,” Kazu assured him, trying to ease his irritation, “Just a quick look, and we’ll be on our way.”
Hiroshi sighed in annoyance and then clenched his teeth, struggling to suppress his irritation and cold. It was November, and the absence of sunlight coupled with the radiation from the nuclear bombing had left the area unbearably cold. The temperature was a staggering 2 degrees Celsius. Hiroshi wasn’t accustomed to such extreme temperatures, mostly cooped up in his heated house or office, where the temperature always hovered around a comfortable 27 to 28 degrees Celsius. In the city, it usually stayed between 12 to 14 degrees Celsius, but this was a whole new level of cold.
Kazu, noticing Hiroshi’s discomfort, informed him delicately, “By the way, we have a spare suit in the truck. It’s similar to what we’re wearing. If you’re feeling cold, you can change into that.”
“Alright,” he finally said, “That would be nice.”
Hiroshi returned to the truck, looking around the interior until he spotted a metal closet in the left corner. Curiously, he walked over and touched it, causing it to slide open effortlessly. Inside, neatly hung a spare suit, identical to the ones Kazu and his team were wearing. Eager to escape the cold, Hiroshi quickly donned the suit over his clothes.
Not knowing how to operate the heating system in the suit, Hiroshi thought it was likely voice-activated and said aloud, “Start the heaters.” To his surprise, the moment he uttered those words, the fabric began to warm up, bringing warmth to his body.
After successfully activating the heating system in his new suit, Hiroshi closed the back door of the truck and joined the rest of the team.
Kazu’s team, with their automatic rifles in hand, were prepared for any unexpected threats. These modern rifles, released in 2100, exuded power and sleek design. They were streamlined, made of a lightweight alloy, and adorned with tactical attachments, such as scopes and foldable stocks. The rifles’ precision and rapid-fire capabilities made them an effective tool for any combat situation.
The guns used by Kazu’s team utilized advanced ammunition, firing small, high-velocity rounds known as Nano-carbide projectiles. These projectiles were made of an extremely hard, self-sharpening material, capable of penetrating the toughest of armors. With each trigger pull, a burst of high-pressure propellant sent the projectile flying at supersonic speeds.
One of the team members unclipped a flashlight from his belt and switched it on, bathing the area in a powerful beam of light. The flashlight was astonishingly potent, illuminating an impressive 100 meters ahead, dispelling the darkness and providing a clear view of their surroundings.
As the team shone their flashlights, the surrounding area came into view. The sight that met their eyes was disheartening – ruined, decaying houses, most of them reduced to rubble by the destructive events of the 2040s.
Sachiko gestured towards a particular house situated a significant distance away from the others, distinguishable due to its seemingly well-preserved state in comparison to its surroundings. “The signature is coming from over there,” she announced, indicating the direction with a pointed finger.
Kazu, frustrated, sighed in resignation. His discontentment was apparent as he muttered, “This is a waste of time.” He made a mental note to never again entertain Sachiko’s whims.
“Alright, let’s go check it out,” he reluctantly instructed, gesturing for the team to follow him towards the house that Sachiko pointed to.
The team, following Kazu’s lead, trekked through the desolate, snow-covered streets towards the house that Yumi had pinpointed as the source of the heat signature. Leaving footprints on the grey snow.
The house stood before them. It had been abandoned since decades ago and now, in 2109, it showed the wear and tear of decades of neglect. The house’s wood was rotting, and the windows were shattered, allowing the cold air to flow inside. Snow had piled up against the walls, and the front door hung loosely from its hinges, creaking eerily as it dangled in the chill air.
Hiroshi directed his attention to the house and inquired in a hushed tone, “Where is the person located?”
“They’re on the second floor.”
Kazu and the team cautiously entered the house first, their automatic rifles raised and ready. Yumi and Hiroshi followed, crossing the threshold into the dilapidated building. The entrance was once lined with wooden planks, but time had reduced them to mud, as the wood had long since rotted away.
The interior of the house was just as neglected as the entrance, with the floors and walls covered in various debris. A thick layer of dust and dirt coated every surface.Kazu carefully made his way down the dusty hallway, the team following closely behind. When they reached the end, they encountered three rooms. Kazu attempted to open one of the doors, but it simply collapsed, hanging by a thread.
The team proceeded cautiously through the rooms they opened up, checking one by one. The first room was just a toilet, while the one on the left revealed a living room. The dust-covered furniture, including an ancient television that looked like it belonged in a museum.
The room’s air was thick with the musty smell of decay, the floor creaking gently beneath their feet. A broken mirror hung on one of the walls, its shattered pieces reflecting faint glimmers of light that barely filtered in. A small coffee table rested in front of the old, worn-out couch, and the team felt like they had stepped back in time back into the 2020s, not that any of them were even alive back then.
Sachiko’s gaze caught sight of a small photo frame lying on the floor. As she picked it up, she saw that the glass was cracked. A young Japanese boy, who appeared to be around 20 years old, was the focus of the picture, and he was standing in the center. Flanked by a middle-aged man on one side, presumably his father who looked to be in his 40s. On the boy’s left stood a woman who was about the same age, likely his mother. They were likely the original residents of this house.
Sachiko unceremoniously tossed the photo frame onto the ground and stomped on it, shredding the image within. She displayed a callous disregard for the picture.
Hiroshi observed what she was doing, and his thoughts turned to the girl’s mental state. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was somewhat unhinged in the head.
He decided to keep a slight distance from her, not fully understanding her actions but sensing that there might be underlying issues at play.
After the last member of Kazu’s team had finished searching the remaining room, there was only one more place left to check – the second floor, where the heat signature had been picked up.
The team gathered together, Kazu gestured for Sachiko and Hiroshi to stay behind them, signaling that they would take the lead in exploring the upper floor.
The team carefully climbed the rickety staircase, ensuring that they didn’t place too much weight on any of the steps. Every creak of the wood sent a subtle shudder through the structure, and they held their breath, fearing that the stairs might collapse under them.
Once they reached the second floor, they found themselves in a hallway. Several doors lined the walls on either side. The heat signature was coming from left side of the rooms at the end of the corridor.
Kazu and the team cautiously made their way down the hallway. It was eerily quiet, apart from the soft sounds of their footsteps and the subtle creaking of the floorboards. As they approached the door at the end of the hallway, Kazu’s team noticed something alarming. All their electronic equipment, including their flashlights and communication devices, suddenly stopped working. It was as if an EMP, or Electromagnetic Pulse, had been activated, disabling all their technological gear.
The team stood in silent confusion about the malfunctioning electronics, Kazu cast a sidelong glare at Sachiko. Silently expressing that if they hadn’t come on this detour, they would have already reached their destination safely by now but now was not the time for that as Kazu wasted no time and kicked open the door, leading the entire team to storm into the room, their guns raised and ready. The sight that greeted them was not that of a normal man but rather something monstrous. A figure sat on the old bed, an abomination instead of a human...A demon.
______________________________________
Hiroshi, who had led a sheltered life in a protected household, had experienced very few dangerous situations up until now. As he faced the demonic figure before him, he felt a surge of genuine fear. It was the first time he had experienced this, Pure dread.
As Hiroshi laid eyes on the abomination before him, his body responded involuntarily to the intense fear coursing through his veins. His hands visibly trembled, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead. His breathing became shallow, and his eyes widened in terror. Hiroshi looked as if he was frozen in place, caught in a state of paralysis.
The monstrosity facing Hiroshi stood 7 feet tall, towering over him. The creature’s massive, shadowy wings were spread out, casting an ominous shadow in the room. Two jet-black horns sprouted from its head, further adding to its demonic appearance. It was clad in robes and cloth, as if taken straight from a fantasy game
Despite a small, hopeful part of his mind trying to convince him that this was just a cosplayer, Hiroshi couldn’t deny the obvious truth. This wasn’t a mere costume, and if it was, it was the most elaborate and convincing one he had ever seen. But he realized that this was no mere costume. Every fiber of his being screamed that this was something far more sinister.
Every instinct in his body told him that this was not a human under a costume, but an actual creature from the depths of hell.
Hiroshi desperately tried to speak but found himself unable to utter a word. His fear reached its peak as he slowly shifted his gaze toward Kazu and his team. They were experienced fighters, having taken lives before. Surely they would remain composed and fight this creature, right? However, he saw that they were just as frozen as he was.
If they, with their combat expertise, were also unable to respond, what hope did he, an average person, have?
Hiroshi was acutely aware that a single wrong move could lead to his demise. A strong survival instinct kicked in, Every fiber of his being screamed for him to do anything necessary to survive this encounter. It was a desperate fight for self-preservation against a creature beyond his comprehension and just then, the creature spoke.