Fic: [Original] Wolf and Red
(Fictionpress has the italics etc etc.)
Title: Wolf And Red
Series: Original
Link: www.fictionpress.com/s/2792096/5/Wolf-and-Red-Monster-Hunters
From Soldier of the Fantastic, Issue #130
Japan, under the surface of conformity and politeness, is a deeply, deeply strange place, and if you take a job there you need to be prepared. Not only is it culturally weird (visit 4chan, as a primer, but be prepared to be offended) but Japan is home to hundreds of local supernatural species that can't be found anywhere else.
Worse, you will have extreme difficulty in bringing weapons into the country. They are extremely reluctant to allow mercs to bring in weapons, and you will need a local with political clout to do so. Even taking that into account, you may go days or even weeks weaponless.
"Incoming!" Wolf yelped as she grabbed Red and ducked as a trash can crashed through the night club window.
Red looked around wildly, cursing the lack of weapons. She picked up a annoyingly flimsy chair, scowling as the shambling people started climbing in.
"No, you don't want to hurt them!" Akira Tobina yelled, the police officer having invited them out with her. Sadly, she hadn't expected this, which just meant she didn't know Wolf and Red that wellk yet. Disaster followed them like a puppy.
"Are you nuts?" Red demanded but didn't clout the first one through the hole.
"They're people, not monsters. We can't hurt them." Akira said firmly.
Wolf sniffed the air, then looked at the zombie-like people. "She's right," she told Red, "I think they're possessed or something." She sniffed again, "They kinda smell of the alien thing we killed earlier."
"It's kids?" Red asked as she fended one off with the table.
"Oh god," the young cop whimpered. She had nearly become a host to one of the critter's spawn, and clearly had some issues.
"Probably," Wolf agreed as she punched a man in the face. Surprisingly it barely fased him. As more people lurched inside she demanded, "Got a plan?"
"Get the screaming civies out then run," Red decided succinctly.
"Good plan," Wolf agreed.
Akira was fighting to keep it together, but Red's comment about screaming civilians snapped her out of her panic. The crowd of women in the bar was panicking, and at least that was something the off duty cop could do something about.
"Everyone to the back doors," Akira yelled, waving the women towards the kitchen. HOPEFULLY they weren't blocked, or they were in more trouble. Then once they were outside she'd try her cellphone and call out the cops.
"What the HELL is going on?" Catherine demanded, the host of the bar having forced her way through the frightened mob
"Mind controlled zombies, pretty much," Red answered as she kept using a chair to fend the attackers off.
"I've heard of crazier," Catherine conceded as she picked up a stool and used it like a lion tamer keeping a pissed off cat at bay.
From Soldier of the Fantastic, Issue #130
The problem with fighting anyone under mind control or possession is, it's very hard to determine how much force to use. A blow that might render a normal person unconscious can be ignored. Similarly blows that should generate crippling levels of pain seem to be shrugged off.
Similarly it is complicated using lethal tactics. While it may seem expedient to simply kill the mind controlled subject, in a urban environment you might find yourself charged with a homicide. (Outside of a urban setting the circumstances may be different. Use your own judgment.) But normally, lethal force is not advised.
If someone is being controlled and you have to stop them, the only alternative may be crippling them. Despite the person ignoring pain, a broken leg WILL slow them down, and a properly delivered strike will do minimal damage.
The lumbering men and women pressed forward, trying to get through the doors and broken windows. Thankfully they were clumsy, getting in each others way, and there was a limited area they could move through. But they advanced steadily, over a dozen trying to cram inside.
"Looks like we gotta do," Red sighed as she stepped close to one, then hammered the man's leg. There was a wet crack, then he went down as she stepped backwards.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Akira yelped.
"I just broke his leg, chill," Red shot back.
"Is everyone out of the building?" Catherine demanded. A shrill scream came from upstairs. "Guess not?" she sighed. She looked at Akira, "Check upstairs, get anyone there out of here."
"But...," Akira sounded torn.
"Do it!" Catherine barked and the girl hurried off.
"Nice," Wolf noted admiringly as they punched and kicked, breaking limbs and slowing the advance of their attackers.
"She'd keep arguing with you," Catherine said flatly as they backed towards the kitchen. "This IS the only way to slow them down, correct?" she asked grimly.
"Short of actually killing them," Red shrugged as they reached the stairway and held their ground.
A few moments later and Akira hurried down the stairs, carrying a unconscious woman over her shoulders in a fireman's carry, several more women following behind her.
"Is that Yuki?" Catherine blinked, recognizing Akira's former date.
"She was hysterical," Akira said flatly as they rushed for the rear exit.
"Bet she enjoyed cold cocking her," Catherine muttered low enough so the younger woman couldn't hear.
Wolf chuckled softly. "Come on, let's go," she ordered, everyone heading out of the building as fast as they could.
They hit the street, thankful that there seemed no mind controlled people out there. They rushed away from the building as they heard crashing and violence, hurrying up the street. "Could someone grab her?" Akira asked, grunting tiredly under the out cold woman.
"Right," Red got her off Akira's shoulders then unceremoniously dumped the woman right on the ground.
Akira looked like she wanted to protest, then decided against it. Instead she dialed her cellphone, trying the police line. Her expression was oddly blank as she listened.
"Bad?" Wolf had to ask.
"The switchboard is completely overwhelmed," Akira revealed grimly, "I'm not even getting the usual automated message."
"Which means?" Red had to ask.
"Things are very very bad," Akira answered. She hit a switch and changed calls, "Going to try the boss' personal line."
"Shiro better answer," Wolf muttered softly.
Chief Inspector Shiro Azuma answered after a moment, his voice clearly strained. "What?" he snapped, surprisingly. He NEVER snapped, at least as far as Akira knew.
Akira answered calmly, "Officer Akira Tobina here, sir. I need to report a incident."
"Oh, god, Akira," Shiro breathed out, "you're all right."
Akira looked at the phone in disbelief, even as Red reached out and bodily snatched the phone out of her hand. "Shiro!" Red barked, "What the hell is going on?"
"Trouble," Shiro said honestly, "there are what looks like zombie mobs attacking people all over Tokyo and the surrounding region."
"Fuck," Wolf breathed out.
Akira snatched the phone back, "Sir, we've also had a attack." She gave the address then added, "Do we know if the attacks have anything in common?"
"Not that we've determined," Shiro admitted. "They're scattered around, and we're scrambling to try to cover everything."
Catherine put her hands on her hips as her customers milled around worriedly. "I'm sure this is all fascinating," she noted, "but can we expect some help soon? I think they're DESTROYING MY CLUB."
There was a beat of silence then Shiro said apologetically as he said, "I'm sorry, we're stretched very very thin. I can tell you where the nearest police defense line is."
Catherine's mouth opened and she was going to say something rude, then Wolf just shook her head. "Where?" Red demanded grimly.
"Oh hell." Wolf listened, her expression grim. "We have to run to the station, pretty much?" she asked thoughtfully.
"They're leaving what's left of the club," one of the women called worriedly as the almost zombie like people began to spill out of the back of the club.
"Son of a bitch," Catherine cursed softly.
"We'd better move," Red decided, "Shiro, can we stay in touch?"
"I can't stay in touch," Shiro said, "I'm juggling a lot right now. Call me back once you reach the defense line, please. I want to know you're safe."
"Yeah, yeah," Red handed the phone back to Akira. She turned to the other escapees from the club, "Okay, folks, we are heading to reach the cops. We are not waiting for you, so you had better damn well keep up."
"You're not helping us?" Yuki demanded.
"I don't even like you," Red shot back. She looked at Wolf, "Let's get out of here before these things catch up with us."
"Right," Wolf agreed, looking at Akira with a crisp nod.
To be continued...
Title: Wolf And Red
Series: Original
Link: www.fictionpress.com/s/2792096/5/Wolf-and-Red-Monster-Hunters
From Soldier of the Fantastic, Issue #130
Japan, under the surface of conformity and politeness, is a deeply, deeply strange place, and if you take a job there you need to be prepared. Not only is it culturally weird (visit 4chan, as a primer, but be prepared to be offended) but Japan is home to hundreds of local supernatural species that can't be found anywhere else.
Worse, you will have extreme difficulty in bringing weapons into the country. They are extremely reluctant to allow mercs to bring in weapons, and you will need a local with political clout to do so. Even taking that into account, you may go days or even weeks weaponless.
"Incoming!" Wolf yelped as she grabbed Red and ducked as a trash can crashed through the night club window.
Red looked around wildly, cursing the lack of weapons. She picked up a annoyingly flimsy chair, scowling as the shambling people started climbing in.
"No, you don't want to hurt them!" Akira Tobina yelled, the police officer having invited them out with her. Sadly, she hadn't expected this, which just meant she didn't know Wolf and Red that wellk yet. Disaster followed them like a puppy.
"Are you nuts?" Red demanded but didn't clout the first one through the hole.
"They're people, not monsters. We can't hurt them." Akira said firmly.
Wolf sniffed the air, then looked at the zombie-like people. "She's right," she told Red, "I think they're possessed or something." She sniffed again, "They kinda smell of the alien thing we killed earlier."
"It's kids?" Red asked as she fended one off with the table.
"Oh god," the young cop whimpered. She had nearly become a host to one of the critter's spawn, and clearly had some issues.
"Probably," Wolf agreed as she punched a man in the face. Surprisingly it barely fased him. As more people lurched inside she demanded, "Got a plan?"
"Get the screaming civies out then run," Red decided succinctly.
"Good plan," Wolf agreed.
Akira was fighting to keep it together, but Red's comment about screaming civilians snapped her out of her panic. The crowd of women in the bar was panicking, and at least that was something the off duty cop could do something about.
"Everyone to the back doors," Akira yelled, waving the women towards the kitchen. HOPEFULLY they weren't blocked, or they were in more trouble. Then once they were outside she'd try her cellphone and call out the cops.
"What the HELL is going on?" Catherine demanded, the host of the bar having forced her way through the frightened mob
"Mind controlled zombies, pretty much," Red answered as she kept using a chair to fend the attackers off.
"I've heard of crazier," Catherine conceded as she picked up a stool and used it like a lion tamer keeping a pissed off cat at bay.
From Soldier of the Fantastic, Issue #130
The problem with fighting anyone under mind control or possession is, it's very hard to determine how much force to use. A blow that might render a normal person unconscious can be ignored. Similarly blows that should generate crippling levels of pain seem to be shrugged off.
Similarly it is complicated using lethal tactics. While it may seem expedient to simply kill the mind controlled subject, in a urban environment you might find yourself charged with a homicide. (Outside of a urban setting the circumstances may be different. Use your own judgment.) But normally, lethal force is not advised.
If someone is being controlled and you have to stop them, the only alternative may be crippling them. Despite the person ignoring pain, a broken leg WILL slow them down, and a properly delivered strike will do minimal damage.
The lumbering men and women pressed forward, trying to get through the doors and broken windows. Thankfully they were clumsy, getting in each others way, and there was a limited area they could move through. But they advanced steadily, over a dozen trying to cram inside.
"Looks like we gotta do," Red sighed as she stepped close to one, then hammered the man's leg. There was a wet crack, then he went down as she stepped backwards.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" Akira yelped.
"I just broke his leg, chill," Red shot back.
"Is everyone out of the building?" Catherine demanded. A shrill scream came from upstairs. "Guess not?" she sighed. She looked at Akira, "Check upstairs, get anyone there out of here."
"But...," Akira sounded torn.
"Do it!" Catherine barked and the girl hurried off.
"Nice," Wolf noted admiringly as they punched and kicked, breaking limbs and slowing the advance of their attackers.
"She'd keep arguing with you," Catherine said flatly as they backed towards the kitchen. "This IS the only way to slow them down, correct?" she asked grimly.
"Short of actually killing them," Red shrugged as they reached the stairway and held their ground.
A few moments later and Akira hurried down the stairs, carrying a unconscious woman over her shoulders in a fireman's carry, several more women following behind her.
"Is that Yuki?" Catherine blinked, recognizing Akira's former date.
"She was hysterical," Akira said flatly as they rushed for the rear exit.
"Bet she enjoyed cold cocking her," Catherine muttered low enough so the younger woman couldn't hear.
Wolf chuckled softly. "Come on, let's go," she ordered, everyone heading out of the building as fast as they could.
They hit the street, thankful that there seemed no mind controlled people out there. They rushed away from the building as they heard crashing and violence, hurrying up the street. "Could someone grab her?" Akira asked, grunting tiredly under the out cold woman.
"Right," Red got her off Akira's shoulders then unceremoniously dumped the woman right on the ground.
Akira looked like she wanted to protest, then decided against it. Instead she dialed her cellphone, trying the police line. Her expression was oddly blank as she listened.
"Bad?" Wolf had to ask.
"The switchboard is completely overwhelmed," Akira revealed grimly, "I'm not even getting the usual automated message."
"Which means?" Red had to ask.
"Things are very very bad," Akira answered. She hit a switch and changed calls, "Going to try the boss' personal line."
"Shiro better answer," Wolf muttered softly.
Chief Inspector Shiro Azuma answered after a moment, his voice clearly strained. "What?" he snapped, surprisingly. He NEVER snapped, at least as far as Akira knew.
Akira answered calmly, "Officer Akira Tobina here, sir. I need to report a incident."
"Oh, god, Akira," Shiro breathed out, "you're all right."
Akira looked at the phone in disbelief, even as Red reached out and bodily snatched the phone out of her hand. "Shiro!" Red barked, "What the hell is going on?"
"Trouble," Shiro said honestly, "there are what looks like zombie mobs attacking people all over Tokyo and the surrounding region."
"Fuck," Wolf breathed out.
Akira snatched the phone back, "Sir, we've also had a attack." She gave the address then added, "Do we know if the attacks have anything in common?"
"Not that we've determined," Shiro admitted. "They're scattered around, and we're scrambling to try to cover everything."
Catherine put her hands on her hips as her customers milled around worriedly. "I'm sure this is all fascinating," she noted, "but can we expect some help soon? I think they're DESTROYING MY CLUB."
There was a beat of silence then Shiro said apologetically as he said, "I'm sorry, we're stretched very very thin. I can tell you where the nearest police defense line is."
Catherine's mouth opened and she was going to say something rude, then Wolf just shook her head. "Where?" Red demanded grimly.
"Oh hell." Wolf listened, her expression grim. "We have to run to the station, pretty much?" she asked thoughtfully.
"They're leaving what's left of the club," one of the women called worriedly as the almost zombie like people began to spill out of the back of the club.
"Son of a bitch," Catherine cursed softly.
"We'd better move," Red decided, "Shiro, can we stay in touch?"
"I can't stay in touch," Shiro said, "I'm juggling a lot right now. Call me back once you reach the defense line, please. I want to know you're safe."
"Yeah, yeah," Red handed the phone back to Akira. She turned to the other escapees from the club, "Okay, folks, we are heading to reach the cops. We are not waiting for you, so you had better damn well keep up."
"You're not helping us?" Yuki demanded.
"I don't even like you," Red shot back. She looked at Wolf, "Let's get out of here before these things catch up with us."
"Right," Wolf agreed, looking at Akira with a crisp nod.
To be continued...