Rain fell in a fine mist across the dark, dank alley in the slum city outside London. Nothing but rats moved in the streets. Nobody would dare. The dull thump of several heavy pairs of boots hitting sodden tarmac echoed down the alley. Eight shadows flickered briefly across the walls, the soft light only just casting their shadows. The shadows belonged to some of humanities strongest and best. Unfortunately for humanity, they weren't on their side.
The grey-black armoured clad soldiers ran towards a run down apartment building, sky blue gas mask lenses glowing faintly, leaving faint light trails to a watching eye. They split into two groups of four, hugging the walls of the alley, moving fast, but quietly and smoothly, dodging the numerous ripped bin bags, spilling their effluence into the alleyway. The soldiers lined up either side of the beaten up and mostly rotten, yet intact, door to the building, and paused for a second, not a sound between them heard. The rear soldier of the left hand four slung his long blued metal assault carbine behind him and reached into his belt, touching a button on it lightly and a fist sized cylinder, simply came loose, catching it with the same hand as he had pressed the button. The others visibly tensed, shouldering their weapons, their grey metal masks showing no fear or other emotion. The cylinder and its holder moved up the line, and his line moved backwards, allowing him to slot into position next to the door, like some sort of well oiled machine. The slightest of nods, and suddenly all 8 became a flurry of movement. The soldier directly opposite the cylinder holder, with a single deep red shoulder pad, stepped in front of the door, and raised a booted and armoured leg. The others moved closer to each other and hunched further over their menacing weapons. As they did this, the foot descended into the centre of the door, the sheer force shattering the already rotten door into the room. The cylinder swiftly flew in, emitting a quiet yet noticeable beeping. The soldier who smashed the door retook his position, and a viciously blue light poured out of every crack and hole in the building, followed by screams, screams of horror and of realisation. The team burst through the doorway as soon as the screams began. Torch beams mounted on their helmets sprang into existence, and laser beams leapt from beneath their now aimed weapons. The torchlights froze onto crouched forms, cowering and rubbing their eyes from the light grenade. As each torch beam found a victim, the others moved on. The screaming intensified as the others recalled the stories about what came after the black armoured monsters. Some tried to run. Red pulses of raw energy spat towards them, splashing onto backs, dropping them to the floor, leaving instantly cauterised burn wounds, and then the soldiers moved on to find their torches a new victim. Eventually all the ones who attempted to flee were dead, leaving a handful of cowering, whimpering rag doll excuses for humans. Through the doorway the mist, backlit by the faint moonlight, was interrupted by something far more solid.
Three distinguishable human shapes stood in the doorway, wearing long black trench coats. The soldier with the red shoulder pad walked towards the group, and speakers mounted on the undersides of the cheeks of the helmet crackled with noise,
" Ma'am! Two in this room, one in the back, and four upstairs, including a child. Four tried to get away. They were eliminated as per usual. One of them had a UV torch… I think some of them are beginning to get intelligent"
A black gauntleted thumb gesticulated over his shoulder towards one of the cowering tramps in the corner, illuminated by torchlight.
"Well done Edward. Well done indeed my pet." Whispered a female voice.
The shape moved forward swiftly, coat billowing behind, and the two others moved with it, as if they were attached.
" Id rather we kept to our agreed hierarchy Ma'am, especially around my men" replied the soldier tersely
" Very well… you can have your hierarchy… just remember who is in ultimate command," said the woman as she brushed past the soldier, delicate fingernails tracing a trail across the dust on his armour.
Even through the vast hulk of the armour plates the solider twitched.
The two followers smiled gently and passed either side of him.
As they did, he shot bolt up right, and swung his assault carbine back into his hand, gripping it tightly. He tapped the side of his helmet, and moved off, stepping outside the doorway back into the alley. As he did so, the screams began again, and the other soldiers torches died one by one as they moved off as well, spinning and exiting as quickly and smoothly as they entered. They formed up around Edward, as he took off his helmet, slung his assault carbine and walked away, head down. The screams were cut off, one by one, just like the torch beams.
All of a sudden, one of the people in the building burst out of the door. The soldiers span round, emotionless blue glows staring unblinkingly towards the fleeing soul. Just as suddenly his head snapped back, blood flicking towards the sky as the heavy 9 millimetres round smashed through skin, skull and brain. The body, severed from any motor functions continued to stumble forward for two steps on sheer momentum, then collapsed heavily into the wet tarmac, eyes still open. The rain grew heavier for a moment, washing the blood from the once alive person's hair. Edward's pistol was holstered once again. One of the followers burst from the doorway, in her true form, sharp teeth glistening with blood, and ran towards the body. A rattle of equipment and armour as the soldiers, without command, turned and aimed towards the vampire, its visage removed. Some dropped to one knee, hunched into the holosights of the weapon. Another, bigger than the rest placed a foot firmly forward and pointed from the hip. Edward stood there, hair plastered to his forehead by the rain, looking towards the creature. His hand shot into the air, fist clenched. Some members of his team flexed their hands on their guns. The vampire, consumed by its blood frenzy, attacked, seeing the human flesh on Edward, screeching. The team opened fire, an angry swarm of red laser whipping through the rain, causing a steaming path in the rain to open up. Edward's stance changed dramatically, left hand falling to his right wrist, and gripping the handle of a silver blade, inlaid with wood in a swirling, tribal pattern. His red armoured shoulder dropped and twisted, pointing towards the vampire. The knife pulled free from its wrist holster, spinning to be held, blunt side against his left wrist. The vampire spun, clothes burning in patches from the superheated plasma, but still charging. It tripped, and all the lances of red swung towards the fallen body, pouring into it. The sheer amount of fire burned its head off, and the body writhed, wreathed in fire, until there was nothing left. Edward stood back up, and sheathed the knife. Looking up through the rain, he saw the vampire leader looking at him through the window of the top floor of the apartment. He looked back, turned and put his helmet on, walking away once more. His team held the woman's gaze for half a second longer, and walked with him.
A child's shrill voice screamed for its mother, then was cut off, just like the others
Intending this for the moment to essentially be a prologue, although I may use it Tarantino style to introduce some of the main characters.