Breath of Fire - Vacant Wings
by Dr. Gigyas
"Adaptation - An alteration or adjustment in structure or habits, often hereditary, by which a species or individual improves its condition in relationship to its environment."
- I -
The rebellion was crushed swiftly; I know because I had been in the frontlines. The rebels' veins had been running so hard with Verotoxin that I had to shoot one of them in the head three times before he collapsed. Such brutal deaths, and I bet none of them even felt it because they were so full drugs. Used like a religion by the rebellion, Verotoxin so badly contorted their muscles that some of the rebels didn't even look physically human. I felt I was doing them a favor by ending it... Should I have felt that way?
After the war against the rebels the job of exterminating the last remnants went to the individual city police. Only a few factions were left, but it did keep the police occupied. I had made high lieutenant in the army before they sent me to work with the police force in Kagen, my home town.
My foster parents had moved to Wiava as soon as the rebellion started to stay away from the action. Before everything started I remember walking home from school one day and I saw a letter taped to our front door. It was addressed to my foster parents, sent by the government. I thought it might have something to do with the war so I opened it. It said that every first born over the age of fifteen had to register in the war against the rebellion, or we would be assumed traitors. Alec was their only child by relation, and the government was asking for him... he had just turned fifteen. I crumpled up the letter, threw it in the trash, and I registered in their name. I had saved Alec from seeing the things that I had seen. I am still thankful for that everyday.
Kagen is a big city with skyscrapers, HVO railways or Hovies, and timid people. It was home, it has always felt like it. I leaned my head against the window of the Hovie; Hovies had been created to quell the pollution problem, they're similar to the old subways underground but their tracks were suspended in the air and wrapped around buildings. Anyone could go to almost any high-rise or even some none super-commercial buildings traveling on them. Not many people can afford the car taxes anymore, of course the taxes were exempt for police officers and other emergency sub-branches, so I had my license and my own vehicle. It was a standard issue KW9-08 motorcycle; they're fast, maneuverable, and have a compartment for firearms, not exactly a luxury ride.
The Hovie slowed and stopped in front of police and government headquarters, the center of Kagen, and I stepped off. The crisp design on the building I have never liked, it seemed too gaudy, but everything about most government buildings were. The door slid open for me as I entered. The vestibule of the reception lobby was grandiose, but doubtfully that word is even strong enough to describe it with its tall pilasters plastered with relief sculptors and its overly elaborate ceiling fresco of the mythological god of Justice.
Sarah, the conceited receptionist, greeted me from the desk. It must have been hard for her to pull her thoughts away from herself just to do her job because the smile barely touched her lips before it was gone. Maybe she didn't really even smile. "Police Headquarter's locker room," I told the elevator as I entered. The doors slid shut and I grabbed onto the rail as the elevator descended. I pushed myself off the floor adding to the momentary weight loss of drifting down the building. Sometimes I thought that if I just thought real hard that maybe I could stay like this-
I was cut short as the door opened at the locker room. Scybias Voi, or Scy as we call him, met me as I entered. "General Koe dropped by earlier too bad you missed it," he told me as I opened my locker, "Gives a real powerful speech, that one." Scy pawed under his muzzle; he's a descendant of the Hound Clan which means he looks like a dog that walks around like a human. "Really, I think I'm coming down with something, Ryu. I mean my nose has been dry since yesterday."
"Put some cream on it, you'll be fine," I told him. Scy's broad smile faded and his voice became serious.
"Did you hear about what happened at the docks?"
"I just got here," I said shaking my head.
"Oh... well, they found schematics-" An alarm erupted through the building.
"87-A has met with the enemy, support is needed.. Repeat, 87-A has met with the enemy, support is needed," the voice over the intercom blared.
"Adaptation - An alteration or adjustment in structure or habits, often hereditary, by which a species or individual improves its condition in relationship to its environment."
- I -
The rebellion was crushed swiftly; I know because I had been in the frontlines. The rebels' veins had been running so hard with Verotoxin that I had to shoot one of them in the head three times before he collapsed. Such brutal deaths, and I bet none of them even felt it because they were so full drugs. Used like a religion by the rebellion, Verotoxin so badly contorted their muscles that some of the rebels didn't even look physically human. I felt I was doing them a favor by ending it... Should I have felt that way?
After the war against the rebels the job of exterminating the last remnants went to the individual city police. Only a few factions were left, but it did keep the police occupied. I had made high lieutenant in the army before they sent me to work with the police force in Kagen, my home town.
My foster parents had moved to Wiava as soon as the rebellion started to stay away from the action. Before everything started I remember walking home from school one day and I saw a letter taped to our front door. It was addressed to my foster parents, sent by the government. I thought it might have something to do with the war so I opened it. It said that every first born over the age of fifteen had to register in the war against the rebellion, or we would be assumed traitors. Alec was their only child by relation, and the government was asking for him... he had just turned fifteen. I crumpled up the letter, threw it in the trash, and I registered in their name. I had saved Alec from seeing the things that I had seen. I am still thankful for that everyday.
Kagen is a big city with skyscrapers, HVO railways or Hovies, and timid people. It was home, it has always felt like it. I leaned my head against the window of the Hovie; Hovies had been created to quell the pollution problem, they're similar to the old subways underground but their tracks were suspended in the air and wrapped around buildings. Anyone could go to almost any high-rise or even some none super-commercial buildings traveling on them. Not many people can afford the car taxes anymore, of course the taxes were exempt for police officers and other emergency sub-branches, so I had my license and my own vehicle. It was a standard issue KW9-08 motorcycle; they're fast, maneuverable, and have a compartment for firearms, not exactly a luxury ride.
The Hovie slowed and stopped in front of police and government headquarters, the center of Kagen, and I stepped off. The crisp design on the building I have never liked, it seemed too gaudy, but everything about most government buildings were. The door slid open for me as I entered. The vestibule of the reception lobby was grandiose, but doubtfully that word is even strong enough to describe it with its tall pilasters plastered with relief sculptors and its overly elaborate ceiling fresco of the mythological god of Justice.
Sarah, the conceited receptionist, greeted me from the desk. It must have been hard for her to pull her thoughts away from herself just to do her job because the smile barely touched her lips before it was gone. Maybe she didn't really even smile. "Police Headquarter's locker room," I told the elevator as I entered. The doors slid shut and I grabbed onto the rail as the elevator descended. I pushed myself off the floor adding to the momentary weight loss of drifting down the building. Sometimes I thought that if I just thought real hard that maybe I could stay like this-
I was cut short as the door opened at the locker room. Scybias Voi, or Scy as we call him, met me as I entered. "General Koe dropped by earlier too bad you missed it," he told me as I opened my locker, "Gives a real powerful speech, that one." Scy pawed under his muzzle; he's a descendant of the Hound Clan which means he looks like a dog that walks around like a human. "Really, I think I'm coming down with something, Ryu. I mean my nose has been dry since yesterday."
"Put some cream on it, you'll be fine," I told him. Scy's broad smile faded and his voice became serious.
"Did you hear about what happened at the docks?"
"I just got here," I said shaking my head.
"Oh... well, they found schematics-" An alarm erupted through the building.
"87-A has met with the enemy, support is needed.. Repeat, 87-A has met with the enemy, support is needed," the voice over the intercom blared.