"Stand my ground, I won't give in
No more denying, I got to face it.
Won't close my eyes and hide the truth inside
If I don't make it, someone else will stand my ground"
The year is 2064. War, famine, and plague have crippled the people of the land, and allowed a corrupt government run by the Fox Party to take control. It seemed, at first, that all would be well, but after a few years of Fox rule, it has become quite obvious that they are not looking towards the betterment of the people, but instead would prefer to allow the world to remain in shambles. With the use of their suit-clad "Agents" the Fox Party had been able to quell any uprising.
However, hidden deep within the sewers of "Fox City", the capital city of the New World, a group of citizens known to the government by the name "The Phoenix Resistance" has grown in number as well as courage. Fueled by the fire of the screaming poor and hungry, they have taken it upon themselves to rid the world of evil, and eliminate the Fox Party once and for all.
2064
"I'm sorry, Michiru…but he has her. He has my baby! And if I don't kill you…he's going to kill her…or worse, turn her into one of them. You have to understand," her voice shook, as did the knife she clutched in her hand.
"Umeko…don't do this…" The woman in question held out her hand, backing away slowly. Aqua ringlets wove their way to the center of her back, her slender body clothed in an over-sized white dress shirt (which belonged to the advancing woman) and a black skirt. Her eyes were wide, not with fear, but with betrayal.
"You don't seem to understand! I have to! I have to kill you to protect her, don't you see!" Umeko screamed, her cheeks stained with tears. She was a few inches taller than Michiru; her eyes were a deep emerald green, her hair a deep chestnut brown. She wiped her eyes as Michiru felt her back hit a wall.
"Umeko, we can save her. The resistance can save her!" Michiru shouted back, her voice shaking as the knife weaved its way closer and closer towards her body.
"I don't think the resistance can do much of anything, Michiru…" She met the woman she had been courting for months eyes before plunging the knife deep into her gut; her own eyes closed as she felt a heavy thud by her feet. The woman moved her eyes to take in what she had done; Michiru's hair lay splayed the dark wood of the floor, her eyes closed in eternal sleep. The large hunting knife jutted from her gut.
"I'm sorry, Michiru.I truly am. This was his plan. Cut off the head, kill the snake. You were the head of the snake, Michiru. When I agreed to this... I didn't ever think I would fall in love with you. But I did. I loved you so much." She knelt down and kissed the fallen woman softly on her pale lips, her face glimmering with tears. She stood up and draped the long black coat she wore over Michiru's body, and turned to walk away from her.
"Is it done?"
"As you asked. Where is my daughter, Haruo?"
"Right where you left her. Though, Umeko, you never seem to remember that she is my daughter too." His words were sickly sweet. Haruo was tall, nearing 6'4'', and muscular. His dark blonde, poker straight hair hung in his face, a set of deep gray eyes shining from behind the hair curtain. A dark blue suit stretched over his muscled frame, his tie a deep gold to show his high standing within the ranks of the Agents.
"Of course, Haruo. How could I ever forget, since she looks just like you." Umeko's voice was cold.
"You fell in love with that rebel bitch, didn't you?" Haruo was smirking. It was that smirk that had attracted Umeko to him in the first place. One night stand later, and they now had a permanent connection between them.
"Fuck you, Haruo. It's done."
"To me, yes. To you...it never will be." His smirk grew wider.
"Get out of my house, and stay away from my daughter." She moved to push past him, but he held up his hand, stopping her.
"Fine. A deal is a deal. And thank you for cutting off the serpents head. So odd...how something so young can deal so much damage." He chuckled softly, and left Umeko alone, the door snapping shut behind him. The woman sank to the floor and leaned against the wall, crying softly into her hands. The one person she had allowed herself to fall for, was dead.
2084
"Jurou, has this contraption been tested?" A woman asked, her voice being husky. She wore rough leather boots which were covered by blue jeans that were littered with holes, a dark blue flannel shirt and a rugged looking leather jacket. Her gray eyes shone against her sun-darkened face, her dark blonde hair hanging to her shoulders in an unkept mass. The man she spoke to looked up, he being several years younger than her 28 years, being around 22, his features seeming to be chiseled from marble at how pale he was. He had dark auburn hair with copper highlights and bright green eyes. He stood in front of a run down computer, the screen so cracked it was a wonder it still worked. A black keyboard consisting of strange symbols, several keys missing. A huge machine, lined with blue neon lights that blinked as he typed on the computer, a door sliding open to reveal an internal structure of silver metal with green blinking lights.
"Haruka... I went through it just last week to seek guidance from the elder Pheonixes. You know, the ones that started this."
"Uh huh... and you couldn't have went on this rescue mission then?" She rolled her eyes as he stood up, being several inches taller than she.
"You know that Akihiko says that this is your mission. He's always rambling something about how this is your destiny, and that you're the only one who can do it. But, you know how he gets, hm?" He gave her a smile and then turned back to the machine, typing in a date. "I find it amazing that she is considered the only person who can defeat the Fox, yet she died so early in their reign."
"As you said, Akihiko is the man in charge. What's my cover story?"
"Um...well...you're on your own there. I don't have one planned out for you. All I can say to you...is be careful. You have to save this woman, but you have to be careful just how much you alter the time line." He stepped back. "It's all set. Got your things?"
"Yes, dad. I have my things." She smirked and stuck her tongue out at him, picking up a backpack. He, once again, rolled his eyes at her antics.
"Okay. Be careful, and remember what I said about the time line. I don't agree with this, but...try not to alter time too too much, alright?"
"I got it! Save the day, don't fuck up time." She stepped into the machine with her backpack. "How do I get back?"
"You will have to wait a month."
"A month?"
"I am putting you almost three weeks ahead of when we think The One was killed. It gives you time to earn her trust so you can be near her when it happens. A week after you save her, a portal will open and you can come back."
"Fine. How then I will come back and she'll be here and the world will be well? Right?"
"That's what Akihiko is saying..."
"She was 16 years old! How was she such an important piece?"
"Akihiko won't tell me."
"Why wouldn't he." She sighed. "Well...beam me up Scotty." She laughed softly, and gave him a two fingered salute. "See you in a month."
"See you, Haruka. Be safe!" And then he pushed the button.