This is totally AU to my previous stories.
This is a Vampire Earth. Based on the novels by E E Knight, see vampireearth. Also has links to the British mini series Ultraviolet.
Prologue
My name is Peter Phillips, and I am Immortal. Just over two hundred years old, and my mentor was Mark Sabat a very powerful Immortal mage who I met in the 1960's. He taught a few of us for a few hours every day for about twenty years. In the late 1990's I joined the army in the United Kingdom under my false identity. If it hadn't been for Mark I my ID would not have passed the rigorous testing and inspection process for the SAS, but as he was a 'contractor' for both the US and UK, his opinion was very highly thought of. I spent almost fifteen years with the Special Services; SAS for ten years & at one point I transferred to the SBS for another five. Immortals if they learn to use their Quickening correctly cannot drown. Inorder to hide my true 'nature' I left and had the opportunity to become a 'contractor' of sorts, having links to both MI5 & MI6, and T-Branch.
A part of the British Government is trying to destroy vampires. It would seem vampires are concerned that mankind can finally destroy itself, and want to ensure their survival. They are busy recruiting scientists and 'bringing them over'. Their aim is to create a land of eternal night via nuclear winter. They have been experimenting & hope to live off cloned blood. Their ultimate goal is to exterminate mankind. They are years ahead of the human governments in scientific research, but being immortal gives you lots of thinking time. They do not eat, or breathe, are vulnerable to daylight, staking is temporarily fatal. Some are susceptible to holy items, but it is more psychosomatic than anything else. They do not cast a reflection, and neither can they be recorded electronically in any way. Sounds strange but true; no point trying to tape a confession, you get static. Upon 'death', they burst into flames and explode leaving behind a red residue or powder, should this red powder have the same type of vampire blood poured on it, full regeneration takes place. The remains of any assassinated vampires is held in containment by the representatives of this organisation, which has ties to the Vatican. They do not know about Immortals, Living Vampires, or Shapeshifters. The latter three do not count ourselves as being included in the plans of the 'Dead Ones'; although we all form part of the Preternatural Community, it is called the 'Community' for short.
In 2009, a massive EMP hit the USA, it was thought to be the work of terrorists. Overnight the United States became a third world country, with even more hunger and starvation than ever before, massive widespread corruption; for the safeguards that were previously in place were gone. The 'community' tried to protect itself and any loved ones, other mutants already on the run from a previous government created in the 1970's tried to help in the ensuing panic. Many losses occurred that day, and thereafter. Little did any of us know what was to come.
Things came crashing to an abrupt halt in 2022. Huge climate change, economic chaos taxing reserves. It was when the tidal waves and Tsunamis hit the East Coast of the USA, and Malaysia, huge Earthquakes levelled whole cities with no survivors. Almost 80 percent of the human race died in these years. While humanity was weak, the Umbrella Corporation had an accidental release ofthe 'T-Virus' in the USA, which rapidly spread to the rest of the world. It allowed a small spark of life to remain. Another type of virus being tested by one of their branches in the UK was the 'Rage', although the latter would only survive for twenty-eight days before the organisms 'burnt out'.
The M.O. for both virus's was identical; saliva, blood and other bodily fluids caused infection, consciousness was gone and the individual is dead to all intents and purposes. These zombies were impervious to pain, and could only be stopped by destroying the brain, or severing the spinal column. Many people would kill one at close range only to have the blood splash into eyes or mouth causing infection in them. The mainstream 'Community' seemed to impervious to infection by either virus due toour altered metabolism. Some of fringe groups in the 'Community' like Mages & Mutants helped in the fight but were not immune to infection and like the otherssuccumbing to virus. Many people were unable to distinguish between either virus and infectees became known simply as the 'Ravies'.
Those who were analysing all the Intelligence realised that the EMP strike in 2009 had been a test. That whomever had done orchestrated it had realised it had been a complete success. The current situation was a follow on attack, with bio warfare on a massive scale. Even the military was overwhelmed as resources were spread just too thin to cope. Contact in the 'Community' became less, many of us dying off; or those capable of leaving did so. Some may have gone to the Deveel's Bazaar for help.
Into the disaster came the Reapers. Scarecrow figures in their heavy cloaks, seemingly superhuman in their terrible strength, they took control where civil order was weakest, and imposed their rule mercilessly. Elsewhere armies of Grog warriors, huge seven feet tall apelike creatures, adapting with alacrity to human arms when they did not posses better weapons of their own. I never fought a Reaper, I died not long after they were encountered by being shot in the chest by a Grog. I was one of many that were dumped in a mass grave. No one even bothered to strip or take my equipment away. One savage rainstorm, and indeterminate years later I awoke gasping for breath, coughing for oxygen.
The year was currently 2065, I had been 'dead' for approximately 30 years, my clothes in tatters when I awoke. I was one of the few that were ex-military pre-fall that could make my own ammunition without being a 'smithy'. Unfortunately I didn't have the materials to make some of my equipment how it was, but having an associate who owned a Blacksmith was handy though. My old P90 is effectively useless as the rounds are so hard to make, repairs are a bitch. I have two modified Glock 10mm, an MP5, and a combat knife. I usually carry about five hundred rounds of 10mm ammunition but whereas pre-fall the empty clips would be discard I keep mine and reload at any opportunity. Spare ammo is kept in a back pack. Now I know what you're going to say, why am I not carrying a sword like other Immortals. Quite frankly, I've not come across one, or any of the 'community', although I have met plenty of mutants, just not human created.
You see, the Kurians were once called the Lifeweavers, and although long lived they do age and die. A faction in their government came across some information regarding the Pre-entities. These 'Old Ones' had learnt how to steal the lifeforce of a sentient, and this ability ensured immortality, and it is this skill that caused a 'schism' in the Lifeweavers. One part thought this a way to ensure their survival, others would not indulge in such actions. One faction, now known as the Kurians attacked the Lifeweavers, what happened no one knows. Another skill of the Lifeweavers was to shape and manipulate DNA like we carve clay. Some of the Lifeweavers are helping the resistance against their 'vampiric' brethren by creating human champions, 'wolves, 'cats', and 'bears'; altered humans subject to DNA adjustment. It may be here that man first learnt of mutans.
Some of Humanity has rebelled against their new 'masters' the Kurians, but being 'eaten' has a tendency to do that for some. One pocket of resistance in the USA is Ozarks Command, that owes no allegiance to the Kurians. Other 'freehold' territories exist, but they do not seek to aid other territories, only to hold their own. It is rumoured that any Reapers that cross the borders never return. It is there I wish to go but have not had the chance to get all the way there.
I don't work directly for the resistance at Ozarks Free Territory, Southern Command, although I do help out from time to time. Mostly I gather intel and kill a 'worthy' target. Sometimes the information I have will sold to Ozarks Command in exchange for other information or something else. At this moment I was currently wandering into a very unfriendly city by all accounts, Miami. A large area of Farmlands controlled by the Kurians, and some of the Quislings who serve them. I really hate Quislings, people who sold out humanity to save themselves.