Outrun Odysseys

## PROLOGUE

*Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada -*

The year is 2028. The world is embroiled in turmoil in panic. The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine splashed onto continental Europe and set the continent ablaze, with alliances decades in the making declaring total war on one another as far north as Longyearbyen and as far south as Gibraltar, Sicily, and the Aegean islands. The massive disruptions in economies and supply chains caused rebellions throughout the world that led to the rise of extremist governments both aggressive and isolationist. Yet, humanity's nadir had not yet been reached.

At the height of the war, a myriad of meteorites besieged Earth's atmosphere and plummeted into civilizations the world over, landing in city centers, rural communities, and the ocean alike. Of unknown origin, the meteorites caused the birth of a most strange phenomenon - powers expressing the human soul itself, known as『*STANDS*』. Peace talks began rapidly as the old regimes fell and citizens turned to repair their ruined countries and communities.

In a world now unrecognizable, a new type of government emerged - government by military company. Dictators, presidents, and kings had been left in the old world. The virtues of security and stability were paramount, and enforced by gold and by gun. Veritable thousands of new corporations arose, all with different goals and methodologies; some formed around business lines, seeking to administer force in exchange for money. Some are simply looking to use their newfound power for a quick buck. Others arose along community lines for local self-defense. Others yet are cults, believing the day of true judgement is yet in the future, and ravaging the world with their proselytizing by force. Among all, the power to use a『*STAND*』is highly coveted - and there exist users both good and evil, if such a dichotomy still exists.

At the intersection of these all lies a single beacon,『*MAPLETON SECURITY SERVICES*』, founded by wealthy Canadian entrepreneur Mathew Mapleton. He describes himself as a simple man, believing that the new world is one based on flexibility and proportionality. His company deals in black ops, assassinations, and illegal trade; but provides healthcare for the poor and desolate, and protects the needy. Mr. Mapleton's fundamental ideology is that of give and take - an *equivalent exchange* is behind everything in this new world.

The company is headquarted in downtown Halifax, with innumerable sublocations around the world. Its ranks are stocked with highly eccentric and gifted stand users recruited from all over the globe. Mr. Mapleton administers his law through them, taking contracts from individuals and corporations and fulfilling them for the right price - giving and taking - and it all runs like clockwork.

However, in an ever-changing world, not everything is at it seems.

## EPISODE I - WICKED KING, PART I

A beautiful sun rose over the Halifax skyline, its light falling in broken beams into the high-rise bedroom of a sleeping man. The room was well-kept and decorated with band and game posters, with a large fish tank in the corner opposite the bed. The invasive sun stirred and awakened the man, who rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and checked the text message he had just received.

"Good morning, friend. We're expecting you at noon today." - M.M.

A new mission... both exciting and unwelcome. For the last week, Mr. Jeremy Steele had been finishing the onboarding process for a new job as an agent for Mapleton Security Services, North America's premier security and holdings company. Invited by none other than the C.E.O, Mr. Mapleton, he was hard-pressed to deny a job that would save him from the ennui of general warehouse and driving jobs throughout central Nova Scotia. He was resistant to using his stand in battle again, but simultaneously hoped to use it for good.

Not much is known about Mr. Steele by anyone other than Mr. Mapleton. He was born in Yonkers, NY, at the close of the 20th century as the youngest of multiple children. Physically gifted, he finished high school and worked for a prominent overnight security contractor while studying part-time. He was drafted during the war, serving as an infantryman in the Baltics. He developed his own stand during the starfall, and used it heroically on the front lines before the final peace settlement. He opted to move to Canada rather than return home for unknown reasons.

At the moment, the time was 9:00AM. Jeremy had the time for a snack, a good workout, a shower and lunch and could still make it to HQ early. He rose out of bed, putting on some slippers before heading to bathroom. He brushed his teeth with his right hand, fixing his hair with another right hand. He made his way to the kitchen, putting some bacon strips on the stove to eat with a glass of milk, and turned on the news.

"THE G BROTHERS STILL AT LARGE - EAST CANADA BEWARE"

Same thing, different day - another group of stand users committing robbery or murder. Probably the biggest reason Steele applied to Mapleton. He was a misanthropist by no means, but the emergence of powers that reflect the human soul seemed to have caused ten times more harm than good. While he was glad to use his for good, he'd rather they not exist at all - even if it'd cost him a fancy high-paying job.

The sound of the cooking bacon reached a crispy high. Jeremy stood up to serve himself a glass of milk, and when he sat back down, the pan of bacon was at his right and a fork at his left. He chugged the milk down, eating the strips intermittently. Once done, he set the utensils in the sink, turned off the TV, put on his gym shoes, and made his way downstairs.

Mr. Steele was a man of routine first and foremost. Bench press, 315 pounds, 3 sets of 8. Dumbbell shoulder press, 80 pounds each, 3 sets of 8. Tricep pushdowns, 130 pounds, 3 sets of 8. And a few minutes on the elliptical to wash it all down; his heart will thank him later, he thinks. Standing at 6'5" and 280 pounds, he had to eat a lot and sweat a lot. It's one of those things that keeps the boredom at bay, anyway. To top off his routine, he went back upstairs to shower. Before heading out, he grabbed his sports bag and dropped a FitCrunch bar into it just in case. He planned to eat dinner at the HQ today, having heard great things about the chef.

Mr. Steele's car was definitely nothing to write home about; a gray 2005 Toyota Corolla. He preferred to sit on his sign-on bonus, and this car was his trusty steed, brought over from Yonkers, where he got it for his 17th birthday. He turned to his favorite station for 2000s rock, and was pleased to hear *American Idiot* come through the speakers. He made his way out of the dark parking garage and onto the nearby freeway, overlooking the scenic Halifax Harbour. Even from here, the cutting-edge Mapleton building could be seen standing tall. It was made by renowned architects, and resembled the new 1 World Trade Center in design and material. It reflected the rays of the sun into cool blue beams, and the courtyard was adorned with fountains and a statue of Wayne Gretzky. Mr. Mapleton was an avid hockey fan.

Mr. Steele turned his mind off for a bit, and enjoyed the drive. It wasn't often one could relax in the new world, with skyrocketing crime rates and an incident at seemingly every turn. One would almost forget that with the sight of the Atlantic and the security HQ on the horizon - but only almost.