Origins

All power and knowledge comes at a cost. It is an undeniable fact of our and even the other worlds. Few truly understand how high the price can be. Some understand all too well. I have come to understand how terribly high that price can be, how much one can truly lose.

-Pulled from the personal logs of Deimos

A worried Koenma watches his screen. A darkened warehouse, crowded by other similarly constructed buildings with towering cargo ships in the background. The moon was at its fullest providing a decent amount of lighting. The rest of the lights were out, some from neglect, others on purpose. Sighing, the ruler of the spirit world moves the focus a little, moving the view closer to the warehouse.

"Something wrong, Koenma sir?" A tall blue Ogre asks coming in with a stack of papers.

"Only everything Ogre. The U.S. government has picked up on the criminal activities of several of the more despicable Japanese crime lords."

"Excuse me sir, but how is that a bad thing?" Ogre asks, clearly confused.

"Because Ogre, these crime lords unfortunately have ties with some rather nasty demons. We currently have no spirit detective to intervene on that end. That means that more then likely every one of those humans will be killed. But the bigger problem is the risk of knowledge of the spirit world spreading. The American government is notorious for recording everything."

On the screen a number of humans move around the building in preparation.

"Alpha squad checking in," a male voice whispers over a slightly crackling radio system.

"Beta squad checking in," another different male voice replies.

"All squads in position sir. Our Japanese liaison informs me their forces are standing by as well." A female voice confirms over the radio.

"Good, our intelligence reports from both the Japanese authorities and our own sources say that some kind of big purchase going down between several Yokuzi crime lords." A tall American agent replies over the radio to the gathered agents. A Japanese agent began to relay a similar message to the Japanese police forces. "They are likely well armed, so be careful. In addition the only details on the items being sold are biological in nature, so watch your fire."

"Roger," both squadron leaders reply.

Clad in their standard black body armor the American S.W.A.T. teams begin to sweep in carefully using two by two cover formation. Approaching the stairwell, they flank outward, the Japanese police forces moving for the front entrance. The first team moves up the stairs to the upper level, the other team heading for the blacked out windows. A few cracks allow pinpricks of light to escape into the otherwise dark alleyways. Inside twisted, rancorous laughter drifts out occasionally. Usually after a piercing, almost otherworldly scream. The building was well insulated so few sounds escape to those listening in from the outside.

"This is going to be messy…" Koenma moans.

The soft clatter of weapons safeties being switched off and cocked and magazines secured briefly breaks the silence of the world outside. Inside an armored van sitting half a block away, a dedicated crew of translators and tacticians work feverishly to keep everything running smoothly. Checking and then rechecking the timing and coordination they give permission for the operation to proceed. Towards the back, one of American operatives leans back for a moment and takes a sip of his soda. Running a hand through his red hair, he begins tapping a pencil against the console as he waits. Outside the night seems to take a deep breath then pause, waiting for the first blow to fall.

It did not have to wait long as with precise execution all the team members crouched beside the windows pull the pins from their flash bangs. Tossing them through the windows into the building the teams immediately look away to avoid being blinded. Chaos erupts inside as shouts of confusion replaced by comprehension fill the warehouse. Breaking down doors and smashing through windows the assembled forces quickly move in to take advantage of the stunned crime lords and any guards. Inside most of the crime lords were still trying to recover from the effects of the flash bangs however a couple had managed to cover their eyes in time. Their guards however were not stunned, immediately drawing the attention of the attackers.

"Everyone down! You are all under arrest!" Several of the officers yell, both in English and Japanese. Red dots dance over the still standing guards as weapons are trained on them.

One of the guards skin begins to darken as he begins to visibly change in size. A sudden roar from within the illuminated cages causes the attention of the US/Japanese forces to shift away from the guards. Several weapons are almost dropped as it became the attackers turn to be stunned. A much closer and sinister sound of murderous laughter causes the various forces to whirl around back towards the guards. Where there had been guards stood creatures that could only be called monsters. Strange, mottled skin or scales, discolored hair and frighteningly long nails were just the features common to each of the monstrosities. One had too many eyes , another's tongue was extremely long and barbed, and yet another had spikes growing from its skin. Chuckling to each other the gaurds launch themselves forward at the intruding law enforcement forces. Following their training, all the various forces fire upon the creatures before them. Fear and chaos begins to sink as the bullets either bounce off completely or impact to no effect. The first guard falls upon the first agent bashing him to the ground with his enormous tongue. Screams of pain and terror follow as the guard begins to tear the agent apart with his claws. Blood sprays outward as the monster gashes open the arteries in agents neck. Even as the other agents watch in shock as one of their own is torn apart the other guards fall upon them. Moving amongst them like wolves among sheep the guards rip into the agents. Confusion and panic begins to break out, as careful training is replaced by raw instinct. Firing widely one of the agents accidentally destroys the lock on several of the cages. New roars of beasts free join the sounds of death already filling the warehouse.

Back at the van it is no less chaotic as the various support agents try to make sense of the babble coming through the channel. Messages of panic in both languages flood the network, making it impossible for the translation teams to separate out the critical information from screams of men being slaughtered. The video feeds only cause further confusion as intelligence teams try and confirm the feeds are authentic. Some agents are even frozen in place, watching impossible beasts throw grown men like dolls into the bars of metal cages. Suddenly everyone's gaze is averted to the door as a large dog like creature rips it away with oversized and razor sharp looking teeth. Several agents manage to draw their pistols only to be eaten often times before they could fire. Towards the back one American agent manages to force open the emergency door just as the creature falls upon him. Elongated claws tear at the agents arms as he tries to fend off the powerful creature, shredding away his protective vest. The agent can smell the creatures fetid breath as it snaps trying to reach for his throat, the beasts hind claws tearing at the agents legs as he attempts to kick the creature off. As his strength drains away, his blood leaving him and pain lacing throughout his body, the creature suddenly looks up and goes lobbing off after some unseen shadow. Lying broken and bleeding the agent could barely lift his head long enough to seen the bodies around him before falling unconscious.

As the first shots were being fired ambulance crews were immediately routed to see to the injured. While the agents all had first aid skills any serious injuries on either side would more then likely need expert care. Pulling up on the scene, sirens blaring emergency medical crew rush from their vehicles only to walk into a scene of carnage. A couple of the EMT's are forced to stop for a moment as their stomach empties it's contents onto the cold concrete. Even the more veteran members were taken aback at death laid out before them, sweeping out they frantically search for survivors amongst all the corpses. Spent casings and blood everywhere were the only signs of whatever had done this to two dozen armed and highly trained government agents. Suddenly one of the EMT's shouts from the farther down the dock. Kneeling near the overturned husk of a van he is carefully wrapping the wounds of what had once been a man.

"Found a survivor. Massive trauma and blood loss." The EMT says in Japanese. Several other EMT's join him and carefully transfer the injured man onto a helicopter that had just arrived.

Back in Spirit World, Koenma is groaning and looking at the stack of papers in front of him. This stack was just the tip of the iceberg of the headache that was to follow this debacle. "Maybe I should have let dad handle this one."

"But sir, that would be irresponsible." Pips up Ogre, carrying another stack of papers.

"Yes, but at least then I wouldn't be the one doing all the paperwork for a class 4 intervention to erase all the video evidence of what happened. As it is the US is going to be investigating this incident most thoroughly. They are going to want to know who killed their operatives and we don't need a major government learning about spirit world or demons."

"So did anyone survive sir?"

"There was one initial survivor but his was very badly wounded. It is unlikely he will live for very long even with medical care. Everyone else but the criminals and their body guards are dead."

"So what are we going to do about the criminals and their demons sir? Are we just going to let them go unpunished?"

"At present we have no spirit detective for earth and this incident as bad as it was certainly didn't warrant the SDF being called into action. So unfortunately all we can do is damage control for the moment."

"That seems wrong sir."

"I don't like it anymore then you Ogre."

"Sir, what will you do if that one human does survive? I mean he saw everything."

"If he does live, it is unlikely anyone will believe him without the supporting evidence of the video files. And I hate to sound callous Orge, however he may be better off not surviving those injuries."

Back on earth, surgeons work anxiously to keep the man alive. Even as the surgery is ongoing a US ambassador watches carefully. No one knew what went wrong. The only clues were the shredded remains of US and Japanese law enforcement personnel, strewn weapons and spent bullet casings. The man laying on the table was their only living, and that term could only be applied in the loosest manner, eyewitness to what the hell had happened. Approaching behind the ambassador, a man dressed in a simple black suit stops beside him. The ambassador speaks up first.

"So who is he?"

"Senmat, Patrick T. Senmat, sir. A linguist and tactician expert, he was assigned to this case as apart of the translation and coordination team."

"Do we have any idea what happened yet?"

"It is still being investigated. However one thing has been made crystal clear by the investigators, not one of our or the Japanese agents had any bullet wounds. All the wounds are more in keeping with what someone would expect from a shark attack or a bear mauling." The black suited man replies as calmly as he can, an edge of anger still present in his voice.

"Once they have him stabilized I want him transferred back to the US. Let the specialists there see if they can do anything for him."

"His injuries are quite extensive. Even if he survives, the doctors say it is unlikely he will ever be able to move again."

"Spinal damage?"

"No sir. Just nearly all the muscle tissue on his arms and legs has been shredded and his torso isn't much better. It is a miracle he managed to live long enough for help to arrive and transport him here."

"Until we get confirmation he is going to make it, the official line is there were no survivors. The criminals, when cornered by the combined forces, chose to release the biological weapons rather then be captured. While the arresting forces were killed, quick action by both governments allowed us to contain the danger to the dock area. That will be the official response to the reporters. It will also explain the lockdown around the area without raising suspicion." The Ambassador responds, walking away from the observation window towards the double doors at the end of the hall. Pausing for a moment he turns back to the black suited man. "Be sure to notify us as soon as there is any change."

"Of course sir." The black suited man replies, nodding and turning his attention to the surgery.

Over ten hours later the surgeons manage to stabilize the agents condition bringing him out of immediate danger. After another four hours the head surgeon was able to confirm with a fair degree of certainty that the patient would live. Making a call back to the embassy the man in the black suit reports back the good news.

"I just spoke with the doctor. As long as we are extremely careful in transporting him back to the States he will survive the trip. We can take him as soon as the proper measures have been taken."

"Excellent, I have just the place to send him."

The next few months are spent mostly in a drugged stupor for Senmat. Voices and shapes dance around him, sometimes whispering, mostly they speak in gibberish. Occasionally he becomes aware enough to take in his surroundings. It was the vaguely familiar setting of a government medical facility, and yet there were things that seemed very out of place. Pieces of machinery that looked out of place in a hospital. With precious little time to ponder such mysteries Senmat just drifts in and out of consciousness. Occasionally the shapes and voices wake him and ask questions. Each time Senmat is only able to answer a few questions before the wrenching image of a strange beast filled with sharp with and claws causes him to pass out from terror.

"Are you sure he is telling the truth?" Inquires a tall general, dressed in his full uniform.

"In his current state he is pretty much in capable of lying. He is on enough pain killers, that most of the time he probably is only barely aware he is even alive." A white coated lab worker replies looking up from a clipboard.

"Can you seriously be suggesting that his story is true? That it was demons that attacked our men in Japan?"

"As I said, in his current state he is incapable of lying. And given the extent of his injuries before he arrived here I wouldn't dismiss the possibility."

"Hmmmm…so what is going to happen to him?"

"His injuries are too extensive for any amount of surgery to repair. There's someone in the experimental technologies department who's working on cybernetics but even that is a long shot."

"Why is that?"

"Apparently he's been successful with animal subjects but the few human attempts were apparently messy."

"Perhaps I can assist in that endeavor." A new, fairly high pitched voice interrupts.

Looking down the lab worker takes stock of the midget standing next to him. Something about him was offsetting. And it went beyond him being physically repulsive, it was more a gut reaction. The general looks down and addresses the newcomer.

"Greetings Dr. Ichigaki. Understand your involvement is these matters is strictly confidential. While I still have my doubts about you, someone higher up says to give you our full cooperation in this matter."

"Of course general, the very nature of such research requires discretion." Dr. Ichigaki responds laughing slightly.

"Show the doctor to his lab, he'll be working with Dr. Kensington on that cybernetics project. And have the agent Senmat transferred to them as well."

"One thing if you would." Dr Ichigaki interjects. "Get his permission first. Such experiments must be done on a willing subject, or else they are doomed to failure."

Suddenly Senmat is moved again. He cannot tell where only that it is somewhere not inside the hospital he had been in. Mind searing pain causes him to be more awake and aware of his enviorment then he had been for the last few months. A thin, wiry scraggly haired man in a simple white robe and another much shorter white robed man greet his vision. They told him that if he agreed to let them use his body to test some new technologies, the pain would be gone and he would even regain the use of his body. They said that if all went well he would even be stronger then before. Of course Senmat agrees to the doctors proposal. It would be months later before he would emerge to from the nightmarish pain. Just after completing their work, Dr. Ichigaki disappears with most of the notes. Dr. Kensington also vanished for a short time before being found in very small, neatly cut slices hidden around the labs. Opening his eye to small group of scientists and a single politician Senmat learns what happened. Looking upon his new body he freezes and barely hears the words from the politician.

"Patrick T. Semnat is officially dead. Your new name is Deimos, and you are to be the first agent of the Paranormal Investigation and Defense Forces."

Warning, only five minutes of reserve oxygen left. A warning voice is Deimos's head chimes waking him.