Chapter I

For centuries the human race has had their idea of how the world would end; fire and brimstone coming from the sky, dark hand of a benevolent creator, or some global extinction event. But it has already come to the blind eye. It was predicted by an ancient civilization that the end of the world was to occur in 2012, according to modern society. But they were wrong; it didn’t predict anything. Whatever was to come after that was to be a fate held in the people of the world hands. When the clock stroke midnight at the end of New Year’s Eve everyone waited for the end; but nothing happened. Just another day passing by; so they thought. Month after rumors and reports started to come in sight of monsters in the water, creatures in the shadows, real vampires being photographed, werewolves hunting in the evening and the most noticeable, people doing inhuman things. The media would joke and spin the stories as pure fiction to the rest of the world, but those curious enough took the reports to heart and not some instance of fiction. As more reports began to make their way into the media, not just in the news but on social media, the government got involved. They banned specific footage on the news and forced laws of what could be filmed and posted on all media platforms. Anything reported was instantly flagged, taken down and usually the person responsible blocked from the site and arrested needed be. But they were soon outsmarted. An underground hacker known simply as “Kemical” hacked the servers at government facility, masked as an Asylum. They live streamed an incident that was swept under the rug by local governed jurisdiction. An massive escape and battle was underway and made its way toward a public park that transferred to a nearby baseball game full of children, filmed by roadside  camera’s and cell phones. Cars were filmed being thrown like lawn furniture and tremors shook the ground, power outages filtered through the area the mass spread. When it was over the government attempted to get the media to put a spin on the entire confrontation- a movie stunt, but it was too late; the public was aware of the supernatural and paranormal. It became more apparent when more reports began to show up of super humans causing power surges at power plants, setting fires with their hands, vampires feeding on people in public parks. Shock and fear took society by storm but then curiosity and questions came about. It was just the calm before the storm, once people began to disappear it brought more and uncomfortable questions of history that could not be answered- and that is when the fear began to set in. To keep peace the governments across the world created the International Alliance of Protection and Defense, a new branch of government made of humans to decide the best terms of peace with all species. Their first thing done, they entrusted the help of a billionaire genius, William Shreveport and his brother Eric, to create and fund a super computer of their own creation; the WORLD ARTIFICIAL NETWORK. Its sole purpose was to police, track and capture hostile individuals for rehabilitation, to which it did by creating an entire race of machines that eventually became known to the world as the Iron League. To seem more human and humble to the public the government the brothers even created a superhero team known as “The Elite.” Their job, handle the hardest and most dangerous hostiles. A job they did well while leading a public superhero life style of endorsements and fame. Lastly done was passing of a law to force all sub-humans to register what they were, who they were and what they could do; a law that took shape in more ways than one on Election Day of 2013. Reports from all over the world flooded the newspapers, magazines, television and the internet of a terrorist attack at one of the many registration sites across the planet. One of the sub-species had massacred an entire city block of innocent people, humans and non-humans. This new act had sparked a new sense of fear among society to which they not only hated the supernatural and paranormal beings but felt small to their power and capabilities to their vast numbers as a race of people. It was here that all creatures not humans were dubbed S.P.E.C.S. Today these beings hide if they aren’t registered and are harassed on many levels even if they are to keep to themselves.

Bren Turtle is such a young man but sits in the urban city of Chicago’s china town city in the park. Flying drones controlled by the W.A.N. patrol the area in stealth, several thousand feet below flying cars taking to the sky in the far distance above. He is roughly in his mid to late 20’s and is of mixed race with curly dark hair, and brown skin. He wears a black and white Native American choker, olive green military flight jack-with a hood attached up on his head, olive green fatigues, and green high top converse shoes. He carries with him only a sketch book and a book bag. As he sits he takes notice of the drones and put his hood up to stay inconspicuous by the river near a park where children play behind him, and pulling out his sketch book with his own thoughts in mind.

Bren:  “S.P.E.C.S. It’s what they call us.” He thinks. “A supernatural, paranormal, enigmatic, concealed sub-species… cause we are supposedly beneath them…but they are scared of us. Our power…what we can do. Everything’s changed in so little time…it’s as if we are living a nightmare while awake.” He finishes his thought as he starts to draw. He’s suddenly distracted by distant grinding machinery moving. “Damn it…the Iron League…” He thinks. “They are doing sweeps for us…people like me.”

He puts his hood up more to hide his face more but the two Iron droids walk toward him still. From head to foot they are plated in yellow and blue metal with glowing blue eyes that scan each person they pass facial features. Human in size they smell like oil and rubber, hated by sub-humans and loved by actual people. As they walk toward him, he grows nervous. A confrontation could hurt the nearby children he thinks but he will not risk being caught. As they draw closer they are distracted by the sound of distant stun fire power. A drone has spotted a nearby SPECS and is in pursuit. The Iron League patrol assist the drone with the capture as they follow pursuit.

Droids:  “CITIZENS PLEASE REMAIN CALM AND EXIT THE AREA!” They say robotically as they walk quickly with their arm blaster cannons toward the known SPECS when all of a sudden a red lightning spark and blur races through the park, around it several times and in a blink of an eye before seen running across the river, up a building and leaping to another; the patrol follows in pursuit through the air after it. When the commotion ends everyone, including Bren, look to see what the graffiti says as they pull out cellphones and cameras and talk indistinctively to photograph the words in bright yellow paint “The Asian Flash Lives.” Bren then walks away casually after placing his sketch book into his book bag and book bag on his shoulder.

Bren:  “The Asian Flash,” Bren says to himself. “…An activist for us SPECS…maybe… but she’s constantly tagging places downtown and in the outskirts around china town area protesting the rights of us SPECS. At least that what she must call it I assume. No one really knows cause no one has ever seen her face…She’s a blur even when she stops and is snapped by a photo. One thing’s for sure…the local people know she’s a woman and they won’t turn her in. She protects them from the bad elements in the area…” He continues while walking quickly down the street. She’s stopped countless robberies and assaults. Stopped money laundering in local corporations, extortion from gangs… and she gives back to the community. She’s practically their Robin Hood... would you turn her in? But...if she was anywhere else…she’d be dead… hell only a matter of time before the right authorities get involved.” He says as he looks at public advertising poster of a young woman, with pink blue and black hair, posing bravely and tough with her hands on her hips in a pink, black and blue leotard, with the caption reading “SAMARA WANTS YOU TO REPORT ALL SPECS! Help the Elite;” and continues to walk quickly to take refuge under a bridge nearby.

Meanwhile, several miles away; in the Bronx, New York a young woman stresses and cries as she sits over stacks of notices and delinquent bills that have piled up in her apartment, including an eviction notice. She has long dread locked hair, darkened skin, heavy smeared makeup from crying and a variety of piercings in her face and ears. She is full-figured and wearing a robe as the small television across the room from her blares the news in the, her name is Victoria Black.

Victoria: “Six months ago,” (she thinks to herself) “I loved the idea of everything I grew up loving and admiring turning out to be real. Vampires, magic…the occult…all of it. Hell, even worked in a 24 hour occult book store in hopes I would meet someone or something of that nature…but instead I picked up a few good reads on cleansing aura’s, chakra’s, potion making…summoning but never have had a chance to try any of it out due to working too much. Work to which I no longer have due to what I am it turns out. You seem when all this commotion with the SPECS started people began to turn heads and cast doubt. Tran’s people were already struggling and it just got worse…much worse. The owner of my job establishment said I ‘was bad for business’ being who I am… and they fired me. I threatened to sue for discrimination…but because the job was strictly pay under the table…I couldn’t. So since I haven’t been able to find work. People were already against the Tran’s community… the awakening of the supernatural presence changed that completely; and not for the best. With no job, I have fallen behind on my hormone shots because I had to dip into my savings for my surgery just to keep them paid…but that ran out fast. I even tried to use magic a few times to obtain some form of income but that proved to be bullshit. I guess I’m no witch. There is only one solution now, my sister Lilith.” She says as she picks up her house phone and starts to dial.” I know she has been through a lot in the last year. I mean she lost her two sons, my nephews, in a cab driving accident to which only she survived. The insurance company and law suit settlement helped with all the arrangements and widened her pockets…but it didn’t take away her heartbreak and pain. Instead it did what many were going through or have been… it activated her evolution gene as the media calls it. She became one of the specs overnight. Ironically. She can shape shift…lucky her…can turn into any creature or person she wants; which means she can be anywhere right now…or anyone. I just hope her phones near cause I need this loan, so I am not homeless by weeks end…or worse,” she’s says as the phone goes to voice mail and hang up. I’ll try again in a minute.” She says as the news on the TV mentions a terrorist strike by a group calling themselves “The First.” Victoria picks up the phone and dials again.

Back in Gary, Indiana, to which Bren had made his way to by night fall, he sits in a abandoned post office with a small lantern and sleeping bag. Looking out a window with no glass, fiddling with a ring and pendant around his neck.

Bren: I managed to get some food and a couple necessities cause you know…being on the run is one thing but sleeping on the ground is another. Only cost me pawning my wedding ring. They offered me double for my wife’s ring because it had a black diamond in it…but $500 was enough to get me where I am going, so I declined. Besides no amount of money can buy the memories I have of her…or him,” he says as he opens the pendant revealing a locket of a young boy and woman with blond hair, and closes it. ”Tomorrow another day. If I can get into Michigan I can make my way into Canada, things there are better than here,” saying to himself as he falls asleep.

Elsewhere, in New York City, night has fallen and Victoria has taken to a nearby bar and become blatantly drunk. So drunk she is thrown out, tripping into the nearby side walk step, after she’s unable to pay her tab.

Bouncer: “AND DON”T COME BACK YOU FREAK!!!” Screams the bouncer as he pushes Victoria out. She starts to walk home, stumbling over her own feet every step, falls a few times and picks herself up which catches some attention from local passersby. Not noticing, Victoria is followed by a group of young men as she walks through a nearby park to head home. She eventually trips and collapses to the ground. The three young men soon catch up and one sits down next to her while the others stand around close by looking around suspiciously for other people.

Young hood 1: “You alright baby? You seem a bit out of it,” said the one sitting next to her on the ground.

Young hood 2: “Need us to walk you home?” The second one adds but Victoria groans in a tired response.

Young hood 3: “Come with us, we’ll take care of you.” The third says as he sits down next to her and helps the first pick her up on to her feet with her arms draped over their shoulders, carrying her as the last man follows behind continuing to look around in cautiously around the group.

As they all walk, carrying Victoria, they laugh and poke fun of her intoxication as well as her dress attire but she’s mostly unconscious. The scene catches the eyes of a mysterious shadowy figure in the distance that the group passes on the way.

Shadowy Figure: “You know call me old fashion in my age but I have to say I love a woman in a dress. I’ve also always admired that of the human race…well some humans I should say, are more respectful to others of said race regardless of gender or lack thereof.” The figure says in compliment.

Young hood 1: Just walking her home… no harm in that.” One man says.

Shadowy Figure: “Admirable.” The figure replies “I guess chivalry is about as dead as lying. Tell me, does she know what you plan to actually do to her? You know the ‘fun’ complete with emotional and physically scarring?”

Young hood 3: “Look we were just…” He begins to say until the shadowy figure steps out of the shadows revealing herself.

She’s a tall creature standing over seven feet tall, with purple skin. Long tentacles draped down her back and side and is covered in Egyptian attire and robes, holding a crystal ball in her hands the size of a basketball, gently spinning it between them.

Shadowy Figure: “I like to have ‘fun’ too.

Young hood 2: “Sorry baby, but’s no Halloween party.”

Young hood 1: “But maybe we can make an exception… I like’em freaky.’

Young hood 3: “Hey careful man she’s not just some freak… she’s one of those things in the news.” He says with disgust.

Young hood 1: “It ain’t the weird ones you gotta watch out for man,” He says as he drops Victoria from one of his shoulders and begins to walk toward the figure. “What’s that you got there baby? Gonna tell me my fortune?” Saying as he approaches closer.

Shadow Figure: “Maybe.” The female creature says as she holds the ball up in front of him. It then glows as he looks into it and soon after passes out from shock.

Young hood 3: “What was that?!” One yells.

Shadow figure: “What? All I did was show him his future, was what he wanted. Want to see yours?” She says as she holds the crystal ball in one hand and makes it float while simultaneously animating her tentacles all around herself, several feet in every direction wildly in an octopus in water; smiling creepily.

Scaring the other two men so much they leave Victoria and flee in terror, screaming. The figure then turns her attention to Victoria, who glances at her with blurred vision and passes out.

The next morning in Gary, Indiana; Bren is suddenly woken up by a gang of street punks armed with chains, bats, skateboards and various other objects. The leader nudges Bren awake.

Leader:” Wake up sleeping beauty…its check out time.” He says.

Bren: Sorry, didn’t know this place was taken..I…I will be on my way.” Bren says as he gets up.

Leader: That’s all good but after you pay.” He says.

Bren: “Pay?” He says curiously.

Leader: “Yea… you see this is our turf and camping out on out turf is a fifty dollar a night fee,” he says.

Bren: “It’s a public place…abandoned even. I think there’s enough room for everyone… never mind. I’ll just go.” He says as he starts to pack up.

Leader: “No, you misunderstand. We want you to stay and be comfortable but the nightly rate is 50 bucks…right now or we break something.” Saying as he and all his friends stand up ready for a fight with weapons in their hands and beer bottles.

Bren: Bren then gets an idea. “How about this,” saying as he pulls a twenty dollar bill out of his jacket. “You guys takes this and get another case on me, my treat?”

Leader: Getting upset the leader responds “The tab just doubled ‘friend.’ Or we break something… last chance.” Pulling out a knife.

Bren’s flight response suddenly kicks in and he flees. The gang chases him through the abandoned building as he parkours his way around avoiding thrown beer bottles, cans, rocks and attacks with variety of chains, bats, and knives. Bren eventually makes it to the roof, having no other place to go but up, and is cornered four stories up the abandoned building.

Leader: “Now it’s triple you piece of shit. Or we throw you off, and I’m betting all those ninja skills won’t help your fall.” He says angrily.

Bren attempts to run past them but they grab and move in to jump him. The commotion forces Bren to use his power and push the group with his mind in all directions removing them away out of his way but revealing what he was.

Gang member 1: “He’s one of them!” One of the members says. “Get him!”

Gang member 2: “Screw that! We don’t know what he can do! Call the cops!” Another member screams.

Bren then runs to the edge of the roof, leaps up and off as one of the gang members films him doing so.

Bren: “Shit, I hope they didn’t get my face… if so…I’m screwed. Not sure if sentries are near.” He says to himself as he lands at a nearby bus station where no one sees him. Seeing the first bus he jumps on it and sees cops arrive moments later in the distance as it pulls off.

Back in New York, Victoria wakes in her apartment with blurred and distorted vision and makes her way to her bathroom to wash her face, to which her makeup is partial rubbed off.

Victoria: “What happened?” She says to herself and wonders as she looks into the mirror then continues to wash. She is soon startled as she looks in the mirror and doesn’t see her reflection in it but something else. A quick flash that comes and goes in the blink of an eye, she looks closer and see’s it again then heads to the kitchen for water in her fridge which she drinks quickly. “Must be some kind of hang over or maybe I hit my head and have concussion…seeing things?” She wonders.

A mysterious voice answers in a whisper saying “No you aren’t” A sentence that scares her more as no one else is in the apartment. “Scare are you?” The voices continue, “I would be too” saying as she picks up the phone frightened of the voices but is soon stopped by the shadowy figure from the previous night that appears in the shadows in her apartment in front of her through her closet door way and says “No.” The lights begin to flicker and the temperature drops in the room so low Victoria catches a chill.

Victoria: “Who are you?” Victoria ask frightfully. “What do you want? Whatever it is I had no part in it! Nor do I want any!”

Shadowy Figure: “But you, my dear, do. You summoned me recently actually. I have answered.” The figure says commonly.

Victoria: “The summoning spell…for guidance…but it didn’t work…” she says with a confused look.

Shadow Figure: On the contrary, it did. You called, I’ve come and not I am going to make all you want and desire yours. I just need you to help me do one thing.” She responds.

Victoria: “What… what is that?” She asks curiously.

Shadow Figure: “Preserve the balance and save the world” she responds as Victoria looks puzzled. “I just need you to say, yes.”

Victoria nods in agreement nervously.

Shadowy Figure: “Then we have a deal,” the creature says as energy fills the room engulfing it slowly.