Perfect Flaws By: Geo S

 Uncomfortable in your own skin

A disgraced doctor turned mad scientist works with human traffickers to create enhanced humans to sell to the highest bidders, while one of his creations seeks revenge

A long stretch of road, a bloody gun fight and multiple car wrecks. About a dozen dead but one woman stumbles to a nearby SUV. A man struggles to reach his gun in the backseat but the woman stabs him and takes his phone and a laptop on the seat. She sees a Porsche still in good condition. She removes the dead driver. Another man sees this and equips himself with a rocket launcher that nearly hits the Porsche. The rocket hits another vehicle and explodes. The woman speeds away. 

At a lavish gala in a stately home, a beautiful woman entertains a crowd with a brilliant violin performance of Maurice Ravel’s Pavane pour une infante defunte in G Major. She performs it flawlessly but she hates performing it. The crowd cheers. She bows, she smiles, and she holds back her tears. Her lover is in the crowd, he does not hold back his tears. He is truly moved by one of his prized trophies, his favourite toy, his beloved Valentina. 

At the scene of the shootout, two Interpol Agents inspect the crime scene. The body count, expensive weapons and vehicles makes it obvious that this is very much an organized crime event. The woman who caused the pile up is wounded and after ditching the Porsche steals another car and repairs her wounds in a gas station bathroom. After a brief reprieve she reaches out to her "family". A father figure that trained her and others like her and his son who is like a younger brother to her, who can crack the smartphone and laptop she stole from her former boss in the shootout, the Ace of Spades.

At the party, Valentina accepts plaudits from the guests while the lover, Dr. Reginald Alan Hawthorne privately speaks with clients and prospective buyers for his goods and services. The good doctor is interrupted by a phone call and passes his business talk to his assistant, Dominique. He is informed there has been a mess and his business partner Dimitri would like to meet. The party continues.

Dominique guides clients and buyers to the “auction house” of the estate. Several individuals are up for bid or rental. All categorized like a deck of cards. Clubs for labour and other misc. Activities. Diamonds for intelligence and intellectual ventures, Hearts for entertainment and sexual purposes, and Spades for murder and security. Aces of each suit function as “Management” and are not always enhanced. All individuals are personally designed, created, tested, and authenticated by Dr. Hawthorne and his discreet team with the latest in biological enhancements. Age and gender are not a concern and all individuals come in varying degrees of docility from aggressive to unconscious if need be. Organs and “spare parts'' are also up for auction along with stem cells. The “Deck of Cards” is replenished after each transaction or termination. One of the clients inquires about Dominique and the services she personally provides. Later on, the client is naked and chained standing up. Dominique in a tight latex clad outfit proceeds to whip the client to his delight.

Dr. Hawthorne continues surgery on his latest subject and afterwards has a meeting with Dimitri. They discuss the shootout. The Ace of Spades is dead. Dimitri warns that someone is targeting them but is confident it will be taken care of. An unconcerned Hawthorne requests more test subjects as he believes he is getting close to a “breakthrough”.

A bullet fires fiercely through the head of a man. More bullets fly and several people drop to the ground. The woman from the shootout is the Six of Spades. Her movement, agility, sight, and hearing, all enhanced. She along with the other Spades are trained killers. She takes a knife to the throat of one man, puts a bullet in another. She is forced to dive to the ground and flawlessly puts more bullets in another man. She stands, a gun to her head at point blank range, a bullet wizzes by from another gun, she turns. The Ten of Spades shoots the man dead and saves her life. They passionately lock eyes. Her Ten of Spades, her man, her lover. Six and Ten briefly inspect the carnage. They kiss as the sounds of gunfire, yelling, and screaming surround them. They don’t notice, it might as well be the sounds of soft raindrops on a window. The Jack of Spades interrupts them via radio com. Six of Spades wakes up from her dream, a happier memory from her past. 

Six of Spades enters a hotel penthouse. She needs to be quiet. She stalks her way in like a cat and kills the door man. The rest fall like dominoes. The final man cowers and begs for his life. He fails, Six of Spades shoots him. The Ace of Diamonds is dead.

A man is chained standing up, his mouth is gagged and being whipped by a cat O’nine tails. His tears flow down the side of his cheeks and mix with splattered blood. This man is not a client nor is he enjoying it. The one enjoying it is the performer on her “stage”. The Queen Bee, Dominique dressed as a Nazi inquisitor. She exits stage right while her victim cries for mercy through a gagged mouth. Dominique sips her wine and berates the man for lusting after the wrong woman, Valentina who is seated directly across the naked chained man. Her beautiful face hides her horror to perfection as Dr. Hawthorne gently has his arm on her shoulder. He walks over to the hunk of meat that was once this man. He tells him not to worry. He tells him he is going to do everything in his power to keep him alive… The man is unchained and taken away.

Dr. Hawthorne privately now with Valentina verbally abuses her. She says nothing. Hawthorne reminds her that her name is not even Valentina. He reminds her of where he found her, in the gutters on the streets. He reminds her that he took her in and made her useful instead of nothing which is what she will be if he so chooses. He reminds her of the opportunities he has given her and the life of luxury she lives. He tells her that he is fucking Dominique and will continue to do so at his hearts content. He then demands that she strips and performs her duty to him. She does so without question, Hawthorne slaps her and demands that she smiles and enjoys it. He then slaps her some more because he enjoys it and rapes her.

A man sits in his luxury home enjoying a scotch and reading a book. All is calm as the man stands up. The glass of scotch in his hand breaks and a small hole is in the wall in front of him. It is deadly silence. Blood pours from the man’s chest as he sits back down, his life drains from him. His wife and son walk in the room to see their dead husband and father. Six of Spades inspects through the scope of her sniper rifle. She is satisfied with her work. The Ace of Clubs is dead.

Jack of Spades is working with the Interpol agents. They reach out to Valentina in hopes of getting her to cooperate. She is a scared wreck but the female agent attempts to convince her woman to woman that her life will be safe. Valentina is mildly convinced. They are trying to build a case against Dimitri and Hawthorne but keep hitting dead ends. Jack of Spades has a hunch as to why, his former squad member, Six of Spades. 

Six of Spades meets with the Seven of Hearts who goes by Candace and is trained in the arts of sexual pleasure, seduction, and getting people to talk. Skills she has been trained in since she was nine years old. Years of abuse, grooming, and drugs has resulted in her bipolar condition and she is clinging to the fringes of her own sanity. Her lover is a powerful client and Candace has been his personal toy since she was Twelve. He wines and dines her all the while his wife and children have no idea. Candace is jealous of his family and wants a family of her own with him. The client scoffed at the idea and hit her. Candace wants him punished. 

Candace is bubbly, jumpy, and nervous. She attempts to make friends with Six but Six is in no mood. Candace thinks they are superheroes and that Hawthorne gave them “super powers''. Six says there is nothing super about them, just super fucked up. A song plays from the car they are sitting in and Candace sings along. Six notices the song and remarks that the pop singer, JT Knight is also a Hawthorne creation. A Heart but she doesn’t know his number she also informs Candace that she used to bodyguard for him. There was a rumor that the Ace of Hearts runs a powerful talent agency but she doesn’t know who it is and believes Candaces’ lover does. Candace is shocked and inquires about an all girl pop band, “Heaven’s Sin”. Six confirms they are Hearts as well and that Hawthorne’s main squeeze “some girl named Val or something, I don’t remember” was supposed to be part of the pop group but Hawthorne wanted her for himself. Six remembers that Val was a better singer, dancer, and prettier than the other girls. Candace remembers the other girls and boys growing up and how some of them were being trained to sing and dance. And how some of them “smiled better” which creeped her out. Candace asks Six why she is doing all this as she thought Spades were all killers who followed orders and never disobeyed...

A beach house in the tropics is filled with bullets, cash, drugs, and dead people. The Spades complete a job well done. A few remain alive. The Spades enjoy the spoils of victory, pillaging through the carnage. Six looks on with indifferent disgust. She has seen this all before, again and again. The Queen of Spades lectures her on “how the world works” or at least how their world works. Ten is sick of this. He confronts the King of Spades who is tearing off the clothes off a young woman. Heated words are exchanged and confrontation ensues. Jack of Spades arrives for Extraction. Six, Ten, Jack, and a couple other Spades plan to go off the grid and walk away. King finds out and gets the OK from the Ace of Spades to terminate them. The fighting is vicious. Six kills the Queen and Ten kills the King but is badly wounded. Jack is alive but everyone else is dead.

A team of medics arrives stating they work for the Ace of Spades. Ten, Six, and Jack are nervous but can’t move Ten. The chief medic on-site is Dominique. Six in tears is by his side. Jack nervously looks on. Dominique makes conversation and is fascinated at the level of emotion, compassion, and love being shown by a Spade. She asks if Six and Ten even knew each other's real names, (they don’t and never did). It hits a nerve and Six is reminded that she doesn’t know her own real name. Dominique gently smiles, she injects Ten with a drug that causes him extreme pain. Six and Ten lock eyes in love, in pain, in horror. Ten screams in agony. His life escapes from his body. Six feels his soul, her love, slipping away. Six pulls away from Ten in utter shock and stares at the agony filled corpse that was the love of her life. Dominique notes his brain and organs are in good order, the rest can burn… unless Six wants to keep a certain appendage… Dominique ensures she can make it stiff and useful again. Six leaps at Dominique but the other doctor on-site taser her. Jack kills the guards. Jack and Six shoot their way out and escape.

Chit chat and music time is over. Candace and the client make passionate love. He likes a glass of cognac and a cigar afterwards. Candace gives the signal. Six bursts in the hotel room. The client is reluctant to talk but a swift beating does the trick. He claims he doesn’t know how to reach the Ace of Hearts but gives up Dominiques location. Candace interferes, manically screaming and begging a confused Six not to kill him as she is in love with him and begs to spare him. Six tosses her aside and beats the client as punishment for abusing Candace since she was twelve. Six leaves them be while Candace is in tears telling the client “I’m sorry” over and over… and over. 

Six is kidnapped by Dimitri and his goons but is rescued by Jack and the Interpol Agents. Dimitri escapes and injects himself with a strength serum created by Hawthorne. The drug has side effects and causes Dimitri’s muscle growth to increase beyond control and his heart literally explodes before his muscles tear his skin open. Six pursues him but only witnesses his final moments before death. Afterwards Jack tries to convince Six to help them takedown Hawthorne to which she agrees in exchange for a clean slate and a new ID. Interpol reluctantly agree as they can’t pin her to the murder of the Aces. Six keeps it to herself on the location of Dominique. Jack knows this and doesn’t interfere. 

There is a party at Hawthorne’s estate to celebrate his birthday. The good doctor is unaware of Dimitri’s death and the authorities are closing in around him. He prepares for a lavish party with many clients and guests. His auction house of humans for sale is ready to go. Dominique is preparing for another client before attending the party. Dressed in her finest lingerie she finds her client seated comfortably with a cut throat. Six attacks the surprised Dominique and beats her mercilessly. Despite being bruised, broken and bloody, Dominique audaciously claims that she will have Six tortured and will personally dissect her like a science experiment, because after all that is what she is. Six wastes no further time. She uses Dominique's whip and hangs her with it. Her neck doesn’t break right away much to the satisfaction of Six who enjoys watching her suffocate to death and starts to cry and laugh with a sense of relief and revenge completed. 

Hawthorne is still unaware of Dimitri and Dominique's deaths and he still doesn’t know Valentina is working with the authorities. The alcohol, drugs, and debauchery flow and a nervous drug fueled Valentina has convinced herself that Hawthorne knows. While in their bedroom a drunken Hawthorne gushes about the party and hints that he wants an additional woman in his bed as a birthday gift. For all his medical training he barely notices how Valentina is barely holding it together and then she cracks, Valentina charges at Hawthorne with a knife and stabs him repeatedly. The good doctor can barely fight her off and yells for security who burst in. The last thing a bloodied knife wielding Valentina sees is an armed guard with a gun pointed at her. The blast of the gun sends her flying backwards off the bed and she lays there with her eyes and mouth open. Some girl named Val, she makes for a beautiful corpse. 

Six, Jack, and Interpol burst in on the estate. Several arrests are made and the auction house along with the labs are raided. Hawthorne is dead. During the raid digital files are found on Six, Ten, Jack, Candace, and many others including Hawthorne himself. The disgraced doctor’s HIV vaccination claims and illegal test trials landed him in prison where he befriended Dimitri’s brother and saved his life after being stabbed. Dimitri arranged to fake the doctor’s death and helped him escape under a new name, emerging as Dr. Reginald Alan Hawthorne. His work in biological enhancements and stem cell research were remarkable at times and unremarkable at others but side effects were glossed over on the black market in the name of illegal profits.

Most surprising is the file on Valentina. She didn’t have any enhancements of any kind. Her musical skills and beauty were all hers naturally. There is no file on the Ace of Hearts much to everyone's disappointment. During the raid a test subject is found which is the biological clone of Hawthorne as an adolescent. Six and Jack suggest terminating it but the authorities take the body away much to their chagrin. One of the Interpol agents asks about Dominique and hints that Six killed her but agrees with Jack to stay silent about it.

Jack continues to work with Interpol to track down the remaining cards in the deck and other human trafficking operations. Six is offered the same job but declines. She says to ask her again in a year or so. She is given her personnel file and reluctantly reads it. The contents of the file shock and anger her and she destroys it afterwards not discussing it with Jack or Interpol. She leaves with her new clean slate and ID, returning to the beach location when she was last with Ten.

Epilogue

A few months later... some crazy shit went down

In a back alley in a rough neighbourhood in a rougher part of town of an already rough city the heavy rain begins to subside. The nightlife slowly begins to buzz again as a woman waits outside what appears to be an abandoned building. Her phone buzzes and gives her the greenlight. The target is one mean ombre with a posse just as mean. The objective is a simple one: kill the ombre and retrieve an external hard drive that he keeps on his person. The strategy and tactics are a bit more complicated but for someone of this woman's experience and skill, this is just a little bit of advanced “cardio”. She still goes by Six, if you’re paying that is. The client is paying and it's time to go to work.

She bursts in with lightning speed and one man is down and another drops just as quick from rapid punches. A third pulls a gun from about 20 yard away to the right. Before he can get her in his sights she has already put three bullets in him. More baddies appear and more drop. Some knocked out cold, some fatally stabbed, and some filled with bullets. The ombre is the big boss and is in another room. Six stalks her prey like the killer big cat that she is. She cleans house in a hallway against some baddies that know how to fight, a mild challenge just to get her senses going and get that taste of blood flowing, she likes it, she is in her element.

The Crazy Shit... 

She exits the hallway and the big boss surprises. He is a violent madman with a trick up his sleeve. An armored mech suit equipped with heavy machine guns. There are civilians there, they go running scared and screaming. The big boss is firing wildly at everything in sight and the lumbering mech suit smashes about. Six moves in quickly and opts for a creative attack. An ibar is just above and Six makes her way atop it via some scaffolding. She leaps on top of the mech suit with her target nestled below, bullets firing wildly. She pumps the glass canopy full of bullets, swings in front and crashes through with her feet directly into her target's chest. The big boss curses like the lunatic that he is and scuffles with Six until she makes it through to his inside pocket for the hard drive and coolly fills his head and chest with bullets. She leaps off just as the armored mech suit crashes to the ground and races for a back exit. Another baddie arrives on the scene who is conveniently riding a rather nice motorcycle which Six uses to her advantage after tossing him off by his shoulder. She speeds away.

A job well done deserves it just rewards and on a relatively muggy night like this, a delicious banana mango smoothie hits the spot for Six. The client is satisfied with the completed job and Six receives confirmation of her payment. She chills on her new motorcycle and watches the people and nightlife.

Guilty Innocents By: Geo S

 A helluva bloody way to make a living

Two foolish and naïve teenagers get involved in the murder for hire business and things quickly spiral out of control

A man sitting on a bench in Miami is met by an old female friend looking disheveled, scared, and childlike. The friend nervously asks for help and mentions that aside from everything else, they are both Brits in America and he should help her out. The man contemplates. 

A nervous man in a hotel room in NYC watches a football match when he gets a knock at the door thinking it's a delivery package with new ID and travel information. Instead the delivery is a single paper with a hand-written message “The New Family Says Hello”. The man is shot dead by the messenger.

Kayla Caruthers and her best friend Domenic “Fats Domino” Hartwell or just “Fats” because of his weight are born and raised in a poor part of London UK. Recently and barely past high school, the two mates spend most of their time on video games, partying, marijuana, and pretty much wasting time while working at dead end jobs. 

In an attempt to earn some extra loot Kayla convinces Fats to join in her taking a job offer from a local gangster and former military officer Roger Roundhouse to kill someone and leave their respective broken homes where Kayla has a drug addicted mother and deadbeat step father and Fats has an alcoholic father and elderly grandmother.

Kayla, initially confident of committing the murder and having Fats as the getaway driver is a nervous wreck when the time comes to do the job. Kayla sloppily kills the man and vomits afterwards while driving away. Afterwards, Fats sneaks out of his home but Kayla is interrupted by her mother who questions and blames her for not calling the police when she was 11 and hid in a closet when her older sister Laura was murdered in their home by an ex-boyfriend. Kayla yells at her mother and angrily pulls a gun on her stepfather before Fats interrupts and the two leave with Kayla in tears.

The messenger from the hotel is an ex-military man named Jake Seaton who also works for Roundhouse and turns out to know Kayla and Fats as he grew up in the same neighbourhood and was fancied by Kayla's sister Laura prior to her death. Seaton is not keen on Kayla and Fats getting involved in the murder for hire business but Roundhouse ensures him they could be valuable assets as they are young, dumb, and willing to take on riskier jobs without knowing the consequences.

Over the next few weeks Roundhouse has Kayla and Fats carry out gangland hits. Kayla quickly develops a taste for killing while Fats never participates but indirectly assists. Roundhouse has them take on a more serious job for a wealthy American heir who wants a rival dead in the West African mining industry, a job that Seaton turned down deeming it too risky as the heir seemed reckless and unreliable. 

Kayla jumps at the opportunity and along with Fats travel to West Africa to carry out the hit which goes smoothly. Kayla and Fats party heavily that night with local gangsters and in a drunken and drug fueled state meet the heir at his home to collect payment. The heir, a drunken drug fueled mess himself, is reluctant to pay due to his family cutting him off. Kayla kills the heirs girlfriend for insulting her cockney accent and then pistol whips the heir demanding payment. Fats notices a significant stash of uncut diamonds which Kayla, not knowing their value, dismisses as worthless baubles. Fats informs her of their actual value and the two leave with the uncut diamonds.

Kayla and Fats sell some of the diamonds and use the money to go to Paris for a vacation. Jakes gets in contact with the two and meets with Kayla at a pub to inform her that their actions are getting out of hand and attracting the wrong attention. The uncut diamonds belonging to powerful gangsters in the United States have forced Roundhouse to cut ties with Kayla and Fats. Kayla is convinced the money from the diamonds and her ability to kill her way out of problems will keep her and Fats safe. Killers representing the US gangsters enter the pub and engage in polite conversation with Jake and Kayla resulting in a violent shootout that leaves everyone dead except for Jake and Kayla. 

Fats comes to meet them along the banks of the Seine River. Seaton continues to lecture them both for bad decisions and Kayla breaks down blaming Jake for not loving her sister and how Kayla has had to take unfair blame for not doing enough to stop her murder. The two depart and Fats informs Kayla that through his cousin Theo Hartwell (a powerful drug kingpin in Jamaica) he has secured them both travel and safety with an associate, DeMarcus Hall in Miami, Florida. 

While in Miami Fats suggests keeping a low profile but Kayla insists on drinking, drugs, and partying. They continue to associate with gangsters. Fats contemplates if Kayla and himself are bad people but Kayla reasons that they do bad things to bad people and are not bad themselves. Fats, who has been keeping score of their murders, mentions to an excited Kayla that they are nearing 100 and subsequently perform a hit on an unfaithful husband and mistress. Post murder, a night of drunken bragging leads to being attacked by the gangsters that own the diamonds. The gangsters brutally beat Fats to death and force Kayla to watch and give her 48 hours to come up with the diamonds and remaining money that was spent. A broken down Kayla reaches out to DeMarcus who helps her transport Fats body somewhere safe. He informs her that he is an informant for the FBI and it is time to come clean. A meeting with DeMarcus’ FBI handler puts Kayla in frozen shock and is unsure of accepting their assistance.

Jake completes a hit job in Miami and Kayla reaches out to him, meeting him at the beach. She tells him everything and Jake is saddened but not shocked about Fats death. Thinking that she is working for the FBI, Jake chooses his words carefully and searches Kayla and finds no recording device. Kayla says whatever is left of the diamonds is in the apartment she and Fats were staying in but she is not going back. Jake reaches out to Fats cousin Theo and arranges for her to take Fats body to Jamaica for burial. 

While in Jamaica, Fats is given a proper burial by Theo and lets Kayla know she can stick around but if she causes any trouble she will disappear. Kayla falls further into depression and writes a letter. It is a grammatical and spelling mess. She should have paid more attention in school. She puts a gun in her mouth and commits suicide. The cleaning staff find her the next morning. Theo tells Jake about Kayla’s death and has her buried next to Fats. Jake hunts down Fats murderers, killing them all. 

Jakes returns to London and there is a small memorial service for Kayla and Fats. Fat's father makes a spectacle of himself claiming to have found Jesus and Kayla’s mother doesn’t show despite Jake getting into an argument with her about attending. Jake is furious at Roundhouse for allowing Kayla and Fats to get involved with the murder for hire business in the first place but Roundhouse reminds Jake that despite their mistakes they were quite effective and made him good money. A disgusted Jake says he is done with this life and Roundhouse smirks telling him to enjoy his break and that he has lucrative business for him when he returns. 

New Eden By: Geo S

 A Stellar Case of Adventure!

This is the story of the Centurion Officers Academy Cadets and the galactic community in which they operate

Background and Setting

Around the year 2100, technological advancements primarily in the energy sector created “free energy” through Nuclear Fusion Reactors which helped shrink CO2 levels to minor amounts. Medical breakthroughs eradicated such diseases as Alzhemier's, mitigated cancers, created an HIV vaccine, repaired brain and spinal injuries, and advanced robotic prosthetic limbs. These accomplishments lead to an era known as the “Golden Age”. A sense of global prosperity pushed the population to roughly 15 billion. Due to this; a great strain was placed on resources particularly food, housing, access to medicine, jobs that were replaced by robotics, and natural environmental degradation. Point blank, the human species could not keep up with themselves. While these technological breakthroughs saw great strides it still faced fierce opposition from traditional industries that were losing their power and market share. These events were the crux of the Resource War. 

While not formerly fought between countries in a military sense although there were battles both traditional and guerilla warfare, the Resource War was primarily fought in boardrooms, courtrooms, corporate espionage, and clandestine dealings and murders along with political assassinations. Many riots took place globally particularly fueled by the last desperate remnants of organized religion turned cult like declaring “holy wars” and condemning various peoples for the current woes. The climax of the war was the socioeconomic and overall collapse of North Korea. This collapse triggered the last and insane leader of the Kim Dynasty to launch a quadruple nuclear strike against Seoul, Tokyo, Los Angeles, and suicidally, Pyongyang. The Pyongyang detonation destroyed the city but the Seoul strike was averted by South Korea Special Forces. The Tokyo strike was shot down in the Sea of Japan, and the strike against Los Angeles was shot down but detonated in the North Pacific Ocean. This was collectively known as “The Four Mushrooms Attack” and the symbolic end of the Resource War in 2125.

Super corporations emerged victorious with vast expansionist plans of global infrastructure, further space exploration, colonization, and being forced to answer to public demand for a reduction in AI and robotic advancement replacing jobs with the threat of further violence. While robots and AI played a pivotal role in society it was written into law to ensure that the human species remained creators, players, and the future/legacy of its and Earth’s future. This would lead to significant gains in human education particularly in STEM fields. Entrepreneur Sir Arthur Morningstar took credit for making Earth’s first contact with an intelligent species in 2153 when receiving radio communication from a star in the solar neighbourhood. This communication would lead to our solar system becoming a member of the “Orion Alliance”. Super corporations were the prime players in space communication, infrastructure, mining, technology, and travel/tourism. The most powerful players being Morningstar Enterprises, Geotech Industries, and Nova Corp. The Orion Alliance is a collection of five solar systems including our own that possessed civilized intelligence and space faring capabilities. Aside from our System there is the Bolero Major Star Kingdom, home of the Bolerians, a technologically advanced humanoid race similar to our own ruled by a monarchy. The Sethares System, home of the Sethareans, a military dictatorship of battle hardened warriors who resemble dinosaurs. The 001 System, a highly sophisticated machine intelligence, and the mysteriously reclusive Apexia System, home of the Apexians who rarely interact directly. Their membership in the Alliance is fragile at best.

Earth’s governments still played a role as they pooled their resources into the revamped United Nations forming the United Nations Space Alliance which would give birth to the now famed Centurion Officers Academy. Earth’s best and brightest, the ambassadors to the galactic community, and primary first line of defense to internal and external global/solar system threats.

The British Columbia based Centurion Officers Academy accepts only 100 cadets a year for a 12 month training program in 100 disciplines across STEM fields, astronaut training, military strategy/tactics, and political science. They will be trained and expected to master the usage of the Geotech Omni Suit, a nanotube fibre suit designed for any environment, atmospheric or outer space. All of their training culminates in the dreaded final exam known as “The Gauntlet”. A fearsome test of physical and mental aptitude. All cadets must be born on Earth or within the Solar System. The program is broken up into 10 teams of 10 with five men and five women to each team. Team names are designated as Alpha, Bravo, Corsair, Delta, Echo, Foxtrot, Gold, Horus, and Indigo. There are graduation medals for the top teams and cadets. This is the story of the Centurions and the galactic community they operate in.

Plot Synopsis

In the year 2253, the countries of planet Earth remained autonomous. Culturally, society as a whole has essentially eliminated gender and racial divides with insignificant pockets of resistance. Organized Religion has been pushed to a novelty of the past that has small denominations practicing faith in a more ceremonial respectful fashion as opposed to dogma. 

Through both government and primarily private funding, Earth now boasts a space elevator located in the South Pacific that stretches to the International Space Station (ISS) in low Earth orbit. Aside from scientific endeavor's it is now a major tourist attraction. The majority of ships are now built, docked, and launched from space with connecting voyages to all planets in the Sol system each equipped with an orbital Space Station. Luna, Mars, Europa orbiting Jupiter, Enceladus, and Titan orbiting Saturn are also equipped with surface based stations. The asteroid belt is also used for mining. While the International Space Station has a general tourism function, visits to the other stations are more expensive and have a limited scope of tourism. Nuclear Fusion is the current propulsion of choice. Other propulsion such as Antimatter (still in development), Ramjet, and Solar Sails are in use for specific need cases. The Sabre engine has also grown in popularity giving the ability for atmospheric to orbital take off minus rocketry. Earth also operates one of the five Oasis Space Stations. Strategically placed through the Orion Alliance territory as bases of rest, relaxation, and repairs.

In 2253 an adolescent Charlie Sanders Jr. and his younger half brother Geo Sanders visit the ISS as part of a school trip. Charlie is mesmerized and dreams of joining the United Nations Space Alliance (UNSA). Geo is less than impressed. Charlie and Geo are both sons of Army Major Charles Sanders. Sanders Sr. expects his sons to follow in the family military footsteps and attend a military academy after high school. An easy step for Charlie Jr. who wants the same but problematic for Geo who shows little interest

Later on, Charlie Jr. and Geo are both star high school football players. Charlie Jr. accepts an offer to the Air Force Academy. Geo has one more year of high school and has offers from top NCAA schools. Due to his American father (Geo being born in Canada), Geo is pressured to attend West Point Army Academy. After consultation from his mother, brother, and idolizing younger cousin, Geo begrudgingly agrees. The brothers win back to back Heisman Trophies and while Geo is looking forward to a career in the NFL, Charlie Jr. opts to become a space pilot for the UNSA. Geo having to perform his military duty before the NFL is to his surprise offered acceptance into the Centurion Officers Academy (COA) which he, at the urging of Charlie Jr. accepts. 

Natalie Wilshire in Liverpool UK follows in her late father’s footsteps and joins the British Army with hopes of attending the COA which she is accepted into. She doesn’t receive much support from her mother who fears she will end up like her father or her older sister who she has long standing friction with. Her younger brother despite his annoying behaviour is happy for her.

Skyler Robbins is an astrobiology graduate student at the University of Toronto where she is lauded for an algorithm she created on a whim which suggested that Geo Sanders is statistically the ideal Centurion. She doesn’t take the algorithm seriously and is baffled at the plaudits she receives thinking it’s just a PR stunt. She accepts an offer into the COA to work in their Science Department following in her parents footsteps who currently work for the UNSA.

Gaetano “Guy” Delvechio is a star college football player like Charlie Jr. and Greg. He is also an academic all-american who accepts an offer into the COA. The friendly good natured Guy is looking for adventure. Daisy Park from Seoul, Ivan Olshenkov from Kiev, Matthew Kanu from Lagos, the Esperonza Twins Carmen and Carlita from Mexico City, Helen Steiger from Dortmund, and Kelvin Kaino from Samoa are all accepted into the COA along with 90 other cadets. 

Sir Arthur Morningstar III, one of the most powerful and wealthy individuals in the world is the keynote speaker at the Orion Alliance Conference. The event will feature some of the most powerful individuals in the known civilized and intelligent galaxy via in person or holographic representation on time delay. Morningstar III is married to Princess Claire of the Monaco Royal Family. They have one daughter Dutchess Athenia Morningstar and had a young son, Duke Arthur Morningstar IV. Athenia, educated at Oxford has developed celebrity fame for her shameless opulent lifestyle. Despite the beloved reputations of her childhood best friends Francis Boneventure, a lawyer on her father's legal team and model Simone Duvalier, Athenia cannot shake her persistent reputation for snobby cruelty.

After an orientation at the COA Geo, Natalie, Guy, Daisy, Ivan, Matthew, Helen, Carmen and Carlita, and Kelvin are all assigned to the Indigo Team. The training is grueling and a great strain physically and mentally to the cadets who are put through the ringer courtesy of COA Director Xia Liang and Master Drill Instructor Steve “Quick Draw” McGraw. Natalie quickly assumes team captain status and is hell bent on winning even at the expense of alienating her teammates. Geo shows natural ability but also struggles to keep up and his overwhelmed by the competition which prevents him from reaching higher goals and also makes Skyler look bad as her algorithm results are put into question. She is also lightheartedly teased for perhaps having a romantic bias towards Geo who makes competitive enemies with fellow cadet Curtis “Crusher” Cartwright.

At the Orion Alliance Conference Morningstar III makes the shock announcement that Morningstar Enterprises will be placed in a trust with government oversight to ensure a fair progression to the general public of its vast technology empire thus eliminating Athenia from solely inheriting the corporation. After being mocked by an investor who will be part of the future trust and suggesting sexual favours will help keep her place, Athenia violently assaults him. Also at the conference is the touchy subject of how to split the resource rich planet dubbed “New Eden” among the government and industry elites in the Alliance. As it stands several planets and their respective governments and corporations have interest in colonization operations on New Eden while conservation groups in the Alliance stress minimal if any intervention at all and more time for scientific research. New Eden itself, significantly larger Earth has no humanoid or intelligent species but thousands of animal species some of which are fearsome predators. It is similar to Earth in rotational orientation to its star and atmosphere. An emerging powerful religion called The Children of New Eden is also in attendance at the conference much to the dismay of other attendees. The Children of New Eden claim Eden is “something more” and cite interconnectivity of artifacts on Earth and other Alliance planets indicating Eden as the “True Omnipotence”. They also claim to have strong relationships with the Apexians. 

Stationed on the USS Davey Crocket, Charlie Jr is orbiting New Eden protecting UNSA interests as a fighter pilot of a Nova Corp Star Fighter 1. Charlie Jr. has settled in nicely and enjoys his work carrying out security patrol duties. The prime worry being the Sethareans who maintain a presence on New Eden claiming dominance of the planet. At the COA Geo outshines Crusher in a military drill and makes sure Skyler is there to see it. After a bit of gloating he gets into a physical altercation with Crusher. Skyler is not impressed by Geo’s macho bravado and Natalie dismisses the incident as a needless distraction and chastises Geo for not being team focused but he has the backing of his teammates. Word gets around to other cadets that a fight in the boxing gym between Geo and Crusher is imminent. Quick Draw does not openly support the fight but does not discourage either as it's under a controlled environment and he sees it as an informal test and entertainment. Geo wins the fight narrowly and Crusher nearly kills him afterwards. Crusher is expelled from the Academy and his team, Foxtrot are deducted points. Indigo falls in the points standing and a fuming Natalie openly questions the desire and heart of her teammates. After a pep talk from Director Liang about needing to be liked and not just good, Natalie with the help of Geo rallies their teammates. The science department notes to Skyler that Geo does have the “it” factor about him.

When the Gauntlet arrives, team Indigo pass their mental aptitude test with flying colours and execute the physical portion which is a HALO jump from Low Martian Orbit to a facility where a rescue extraction mission must be completed. Indigo successfully completes the extraction in the fastest time with Greg starring in taking out the most enemy robotic targets. Bashfully, Skyler is quite pleased with Geo’s performance and shows concern for his safety. On the night before graduation Geo and Skyler nearly kiss but Skyler stops short embarrassing a heartbroken Geo. 

On graduation day, Indigo’s performance in The Gauntlet is enough to push them to the Gold medal in the team competition. Natalie and Geo are both in the running for top student but in the end American Apache Nathan Northchild takes the Gold medal with Natalie and Geo taking Silver and Bronze respectively. During the Graduation party Geo and Skyler finally kiss along with Natalie and Guy but Natalie deems it unprofessional and tells Guy to be quiet about it. Unknown to the cadets who are now officers, the celebratory mood coincides with a battle on New Eden. The Sethareans have attacked the USS Davey Crocket. Charlie Jr. is sent into action and becomes a Space Ace with seven enemy bandits shot down but his efforts are in vain as he dies in battle and the Davey Crocket is destroyed. Indigo Team and the other COA graduates celebrate. USS Davey Crocket burns, and Earth is about to be plunged into a military response.

Alley Ways By: Geo S

 Many things go bump in the night

A violent animal turf war erupts in a bad neighbourhood

Ralph, the patriarch German Shepard of the neighbourhood pets is laid to rest. His long life was a good one and was beloved by his master, the people, and his fellow pets who deeply mourned his loss. His death on the other hand was sad and brutal. While defending the territory of Hastings, the downtown city neighbourhood they call home. Ralph was defeated and killed in battle at the paws of Cerberus, the fearsome Pitbull owned by Mr. Hades, the cruel landlord of Hastings Hall Apartment Complex.

In a dark alley of Hastings a feral black cat named Hector overhears a conversation between a rat, a dog, and another feral cat. The three of them are making disparaging remarks and jokes about Ralph. Hector tells them to show some respect. The rat, dog, and cat attack Hector but Hector kills all three.

Aurora the cat has given birth to seven kittens but the birthing is kept secret as Mr. Hades dislikes cats. Fellow cats and dogs living in the complex keep watch to protect her while her master tries to find prospective masters for the kittens. Arthur, the father of the kittens, is on night patrol when he is chased by Cerberus. He manages to escape down a sewage grate but encounters the Rat King, Crawley. Crawley and his rats kill Arthur. 

The wise Merlin the Cat and Kepler the Labrador call a pet counsel and extend invitations to the squirrel, bird, raccoon, and mice factions of the downtown core. The deaths of Ralph, Arthur, and the threat against Aurora’s new-born kittens have caused great sorrow in what was once a happy neighbourhood. The paws of anger and frustrations are clearly pointed at Cerberus, King Crawley, flies that work as his spies, and the increasing menace of the ever growing cockroach empire who Crawley has formed an alliance with. Many pets feel Hastings is lost and their masters have already begun preparing moving plans to other neighbourhoods. Merlin and Kepler want to stand firm and defend their home as Aurora's master can’t afford to move. The squirrels and birds are indifferent stating they will survive and thrive regardless while the raccoons are ready to fight as they have a long standing feud with King Crawley. The mice are supportive but too afraid to challenge their rat overlords.

Hector does not speak at the meeting but Merlin and Kepler notice this and call him to task afterwards for not speaking up more as he is battle hardened and has dealt with the menaces before during the previous “Battle of Hastings”. Hector notes an all out war will lead to a “cleansing” of Hastings at the hands of the “Net Men” and they will all be placed in cages or poisoned. Merlin and Kepler urge Hector to be part of the process to improve things to which Hector agrees too, noting that Arthur and Ralph were good friends. 

Aurora is with her seven kittens outside on a grass filled balcony created by her master. This is the kitten’s first time outdoors. While playing, one of the kittens falls only to be rescued by Hector. Aurora thanks him and says she wishes that Hector was around more often and not to harbor guilt over the death of her sister Meadow whom Hector was in love with and died during the “Battle of Hastings”. Hector promises to help keep an eye on Aurora and the kittens. Later that evening a cat, dog, and a couple racoons are in an alley and are excitedly plotting their plans for war. Their talk gets the attention of some rats, feral cats, stray dogs and Cerberus. A fierce and violent fight breaks out. Only Cerberus is left standing. One of the fallen rats is Crawley II, the eldest son of King Crawley who vows revenge and specifically wants Aurora and her kittens dead to send a message about who really controls Hastings. Cerberus notes that his master Mr. Hades is the true boss of Hastings but Crawley dismisses him and notes that if he was truly in charge he would have poisoned the rats and roach empire long ago. Mr. Hades visits tenants who are late on rent and Cerberus goes with him. While visiting Aurora’s master Cerberus smells and detects Aurora and her kittens. 

While eating in an alley Hector is met by some raccoons who state they are on the hunt for rats and any other friends of theirs. They are quickly jumped by rats and outnumbered by a swarming cockroach attack. Hector kills several rats and the racoons surprisingly know how to use a poison aerosol can to kill the roaches. The attack was a trap to lure defenses away from Aurora. 

Cerberus attacks Aurora’s master while she is returning home and gains entry to the apartment. Merlin and Kepler hear the attack and rush to protect Aurora. Aurora is safe in her master’s room with the kittens but only counts six. The one that fell off the balcony earlier is again playing in the same area. Cerberus attacks and kills the kitten before Aurora can stop him. Merlin and Kepler rush to attack Cerberus but are overpowered by Cerberus. A mourning and furious Aurora attacks Cerberus and cuts one of his eyes badly but Cerberus is too strong and badly wounds Aurora. 

Hector and the racoons meet-up with a wounded Merlin and Kepler. Hector is furious and demands the heads of Cerberus and King Crawley. Kepler insists they play it smart and obtain allies in the Ant Army and the usage of a black widow spider assassin. Hector agrees aslong as Cerberus is his. The raccoons secure the services of the Ant Army to Merlin's displeasure as he believes the Ant Queen will simply take the territory that the cockroaches already have. Hector gains the assistance of the black widow assassin. She previously helped him in locating the feline murderer of Meadow. Aurora’s master packs her things and takes the kittens with her elsewhere for safety. Mr. Hades beats Cerberus for attacking Aurora’s master, fearing the authorities. Mr. Hades gets so worked up that he drops dead of a heart attack and Cerberus furiously attacks his master in anger.

King Crawley warns there will be a counter attack and requests the roach empire to fill the alleys. While the roaches are on the move they are ambushed in a surprise attack by the Ant Army in a double pincer formation. The fighting is fierce but the ants emerge victorious and then quickly move to the plumbing and sewage HQ of the cockroach empire to finish off the rest. The news infuriates and worries Crawlely who barricades himself in only to have his guards plucked off one by one and die suffocatingly. Crawley hints at an assassin and escapes out into the open alleys. Hector notices and slowly stalks Crawley before pouncing and killing the rat king by decapitation. The remaining rats fall in battle at the hands of the raccoons, cats, and mice who worked up the courage to challenge the rats.

Cerberus is unhinged and attacking anything in sight. Merlin and Kepler lure him to the building rooftop to get him away from the larger battle in hopes of pushing him off the roof. Merlin and Kepler are both severely wounded but alive. Cerberus is about to finish them off but Hector is on the roof as well and after a vicious fight cuts Cerberus’ throat killing the dangerous beast. While the masters only hear a loud night of animal activity the animals know the true cost. 

In the passing weeks Hastings Apartment Complex is sold off to developers looking to gentrify the neighbourhood. Merlin and Kepler are on the mend and their masters move with them to quieter neighbourhoods. Aurora is recovering with her master who finds homes for all the kittens with good loving masters. The raccoons and mice opt to move to the southern waterfront park forests. Whatever is left of the rats and roaches roam aimlessly in the alleys for food. Hector returns to the alleys quietly. He encounters a rat, a dog, and feral cat looking to make a name for themselves by killing him. Hector fights them off with ease. A nearby pub owner taking out his garbage notices this and remarks to his waitress that he is impressed with his toughness. He gives Hector food and water and tells him he is welcome to come by any time, free of charge. 

Crimson Romance By: Geo S

 Desperate for love, hungry for something more

A lonely bachelorette is unwittingly pulled into the world of vampires

Lonely office worker Helena Bathory is excited for her first date in ages only to be stood up at the last minute while waiting in a restaurant. Her predicament catches the eye of smooth operator Victor Tepis. Victor approaches Helena and offers to buy her dinner and be her date for the evening which Helena happily accepts. Victor, pouring on the charm, wows Helena with his worldly knowledge and experiences which Helena swoons over while Helena essentially tells her lonely life story lacking love and filled with the mundane of office work to which Victor compassionately listens too. 

As the evening progresses, Helena surprises Victor by inviting him to her apartment to which Victor initially refuses but ultimately accepts to Helena’s delight. At the apartment Helena opens a bottle of wine that she was saving for special occasions, this being the most special in long memory for her. The evening progresses into the night and into the bedroom where Helena and Victor have passionate sex. Afterwards a sleeping Helena is unaware of a departing Victor who leaves a hand-written note indicating to call him the next evening.

Helena awakens the next morning feeling cold, slightly sick, very hungry, and scratching at her neck. When opening her blinds to what is a sunny day she quickly closes them back after noticing the sunlight has a burning feel. When she looks in her bathroom mirror she is shockingly startled and screams as there is no reflection in the mirror. The continued scratching at her neck, burning sunlight, and no reflection leads her to believe that Victor was a vampire and has bitten/infected her aswell. After calling in sick at work she calls Victor who sounds annoyed on the phone and explains to Helena that he prefers to sleep during the day and she should have called later. A scared yet furious Helena begs Victor to explain what happened to her and to cure her but a disinterested Victor simply informs her she will just have to get used to it and that he will call her back later in the evening.

Becoming increasingly paranoid and delirious Helena begins to think she is hallucinating and it is all a bad dream. She takes extra drowsy headache tablets in hopes of sleeping it off. Upon awakening later in the day and still in the same situation as before, Helena opens her blinds again and realizes the sunlight of the setting sun is less painful, the bite marks on her neck are nearly fully healed but she still casts no reflection and her hunger is reaching painful levels. Realizing she has not eaten anything all day she quickly notices that all of her food and beverages have no taste or flavour and are essentially useless. 

After a call from her nurse friend Sally, Helena agrees to invite her over hoping her medical skills can assist her. Sally is shocked at Helena’s state as her eyes appear bloodshot, skin pale, lower than normal body temperature, and overall weak appearance of Helena. Sally attempts to administer fluids to Helena to no avail who is now desperately hungry and becoming increasingly unresponsive to Sally. When Sally attempts to call 911 Helena leaps at her biting her neck with ferocity. While Helena’s hunger is satisfied she is shocked at her actions and not wanting her friend to end up like her, cuts her throat, stabs her repeatedly and puts her body in the bathtub.

Victor arrives at the apartment and Helena attacks him with a knife but Victor subdues her and utilizing his charm once again, calms her down and explains that this is her life now and what happened to Sally will be one of many going forward. Victor notes that sunlight is really the only thing that can kill them once the “purity” takes effect. And, since Sally has not fully turned her body will have to be disposed of in a more normal fashion which he will help arrange. Victor has Helena get dressed for dinner as they are meeting her new “friends”

On the way to dinner Victor explains he is well over 500 years old and there is no cure “only everlasting life under the stars.” Helena is fascinated and mesmerized by his speech and questions him on when she can eat again to which Victor assures her it will be shortly. At the dinner Helena meets other vampires who embrace their “purity” and welcome Helena into their world which operates at its best when the sun is set. The guests explain that many of the missing persons in the city are often kidnapped and used as their “food” to satisfy their eternal requirement for blood but often instead of adding to their numbers, the victims are quickly killed and disposed of with only a select approved few being groomed and accepted into their ranks. Helena being selected by Victor because he saw “deep sorrow, pity, and elegant beauty” in her. Whatever ailments their victims might have, disease, substance abuse or otherwise only affects the quality of taste as opposed to transmitting any ailments to them. Helena is offered a kidnapped victim which she initially is reluctant to “eat” but ultimately her hunger takes over and she feeds on them with the body disposed of afterwards.

Later in the night Victor takes Helena home and they have rather rough sex that Helena initiates to Victor’s delight. Afterwards Helena spikes Victor's wine with the extra drowsy headache tablets and ties him to the bed. In the morning Helena opens the blinds to a bright sunny summer day while Victor in horror is steadily cooked alive screaming in agony until he is burnt to a crisp. Helena then contemplates standing in the sun herself but then wonders how to trick and gather the other vampires into sunlight instead. 

Inner Demons By: Geo S

 What’s inside of us, is the most feared of all

An emerging young sorceress and her parents must rescue a severely depressed man being held captive by a powerful demon acting as a doppelganger

    Byron Phoenix, a mild-mannered, kind and good man has spent his entire life being bullied. Yet, marches on with a positive attitude that he credits to his mother who is always there for him. His work life is starting to crumble due to a difficult boss and his social life is nonexistent. 

After weeks of online chatting and securing an actual date, Byron’s fortunes turn sour after he and his date Jessica bump into her former lover and his three friends. While the three friends distract Byron, Jessica and her former lover kiss. Byron confronts them only to be physically assaulted by the lover and three friends.

Byron returns home and breaks down completely and sinks into deep depression that had been building for years. Byron awakens the next morning to extreme sleep paralysis. He is able to see and hear while a man pulls him up. The Man looks identical to him and informs him that he is going to correct all of Byron’s failures because he “couldn’t get the job done”. The man berates, insults, and humiliates Byron and then places his paralyzed body in the closet.

The Man looking identical to Byron maintains identical relations with Byron’s mother as she never suspects a difference and at Byron’s job including being humiliated by his boss. The Man later brutally murders Byron’s boss. The Man then gets in contact with Jessica who apologizes for the earlier assault and sleeps with The Man thinking it's Byron and being impressed with his new alpha personality. Afterwards the man tells a terrified Jessica the truth and then murders her to Byron’s horror who is forced to listen. The Man hunts down the former lover and his friends, mercilessly killing and resurrecting them as his zombie slaves. The Man tells Byron that his assaulters will become The Man’s “Horsemen”. The Man explains that Byron will be kept alive to maintain his tether to “this level of existence” and that The Man must wait for Byron’s life force to expire before fully taking over. The Man using mysterious mists causes Byron to sleep with nightmares of unspeakable horrors.

Celeste Valentine, a recent graduate in Parapsychology and Occult Studies and daughter of famed professors in the paranormal, Arthur and Marian Valentine, is in the midst of training in telepathic communication when she comes across the essence of an “unattached soul” that is now Byron. Celeste communicates with Byron and learns of his plight taking great pity on him and wishing to help. After consultation from her parents they determine Byron’s deep depression and weakened soul opened a gateway for a mid-level demon called Geminor to enter the human world. Arthur is now worried that Geminor will specifically target a dangerous cult, Enlightened Dawn, in hopes of stealing their metaphysical portal in order to transport more demons to the human world.

Geminor along with his Horsemen target the Enlightened Dawn during a human sacrifice taking place in the basement of a suburban home. The sacrifice was meant to appease their demon of worship, Varlex. Geminor appears instead to the shocked Dawnites. Geminor laughs and mocks the Dawnites for worshiping Varlex, a low level demon of no value according to Geminor. He berates them for not worshiping him and when they switch allegiance to him he has his horsemen slaughter them all and steal their portal which Geminor states the Dawnites had no clue how to operate.

Celeste and her parents arrive shortly after just missing Geminor. Marian Valentine uses a spell to track his next location and Arthur Valentine reaches out to their colleagues in the paranormal society. One of their colleagues informs them that the only way to defeat Geminor is for Byron to conquer him directly in single combat. Celeste telepathically contacts Byron informing him she will rescue him. Geminor notices “a disturbance” and picks up on Celeste's communication with Byron and knows that her parents and their knowledge of spell powers are a threat. He informs Byron that his mother will be his next target and will take his time with her.

Geminor sends his horsemen to guard Byron as Celeste needs to be in direct contact to release him. Geminor goes to the Valentines University offices and uses the metaphysical portal to call more demons. Celeste uses her spell powers to defeat the horseman. One being torn apart by the other three, the second is overrun by boils and bursts, the third has their weight reduced to skeletal remains, and the fourth has their heart explode. Celestes awakens Byron with a powerful incantation. His life force is near depleted and admits to wanting to die but speaking to Celeste and thinking of his mother kept him going. Celeste uses a powerful concoction of potions to create an elixir that restores Byron's physical and mental strength. 

Arthur and Marian arrive too late as Geminor has successfully transported ten other demons to the human world and their whereabouts could be anywhere in the world at this point. Arthur notes that their colleagues won’t make it in time. They engage Geminor in combat in hopes of weakening him for Byron and fight valiantly but Marian is killed first and then Arthur sacrifices himself and destroys the portal preventing any further demons from arriving. Byron and Celeste arrive too late.

A shocked grief stricken Celeste unleashes latent magic powers that damage Geminor. Geminor tosses Celeste away and teleports with Byron to Hell. Byron stands firm as no terrors Geminor can create can match the nightmares and terrors that Byron has mentally been through already thus unleashing latent confidence, leadership, heroism, and strength in his psyche. A booming ominous voice interrupts and informs Geminor that according to “eternal laws” Byron must be provided weaponry and given a fair fight to which Geminor is infuriated. Byron is given armour and after a fierce battle defeats “himself” thus exposing Geminors true form as a fearsome demon. Byron decapitates Geminor and his soul withers. 

The voice indicates that Geminor had broken “eternal laws” by applying his demonic skills to “an innocent” and that his soul will forever be tormented within the Abyss. The voice transports Byron to the human world and informs him and Celeste that the powers that be will perform a “time alteration” to change the murders of Geminor and the horsemen to appear as accidental or natural causes. Celeste’s parents spiritually communicate with Celeste to say goodbye. They tell a saddened Byron that he is not to blame. The voice informs Byron and Celeste that even though a “time alteration” has been performed because of their involvement they will have to retain knowledge of the truth. 

Byron’s mother is safe and has no idea of the events that took place. She invites Byron over for dinner and Celeste accepts Byron’s invite to join him. After dinner the voice returns and asks Byron and Celeste to track down and defeat the ten escaped demons. The voice says that the powers that be forbid it from direct interference but Byron and Celeste will be provided an “Underworld Lord” and “Saint from Above” to assist them. Byron and Celeste accept the quest.

Martial Law By: Geo S

 Self Defense, by any means necessary

After escaping a rape attempt and killing her attacker in self defense, a highly trained martial arts student has a three million dollar bounty placed on her head by her attacker’s crime boss father

Born and raised in a crime and poverty-stricken city and in a home school for girls without ever knowing her birth parents, student athlete and recent college graduate Morgan Callahan is preparing for the championship final in a martial arts tournament. A win in the final would secure her as the winningest competitor in school and conference history, surpassing her mentor/coach Carly Ross and former teammate and “big sister” Maxine Love. 

Love, a fellow product of the home school for girls and previous survivor of a sex trafficking ring, managed to turn her life around through Ross’ mentorship but threw much of her opportunities away due to fighting out of school and was kicked off the team. She now finds herself working as hired muscle and security with a vicious reputation.

Morgan narrowly wins the championship in a grueling contest. Maxine is also in attendance but shows no emotion to Morgan’s victory and declines to meet and congratulate her. A party is held after and Morgan’s friend Shayna suspects that mutual friend Abby is being catfished on her upcoming date. This proves to be true as Abby is brutally beaten and robbed. Shayna suspects the notorious Full Moon Gang that Maxine now associates with. 

Morgan confronts Maxine on her knowledge of the catfishing to which Maxine scoffs at and denies. Maxine's friends allude to orchestrating the attack for a laugh which leads to a fight between Maxine and Morgan in which Maxine toys with and ruthlessly dispatches her. 

Morgan later has a date with fellow student, Ray but the couple is interrupted by the Full Moon Gang (Maxine is not present) and Ray is fatally stabbed. While escaping Morgan spots a police car but the gang brazening murder two officers and taser/kidnap Morgan who is to be offered as a birthday gift to Carson Wilcox Jr., the son of Full Moon Gang Kingpin Carson Wilcox Sr. Wilcox Jr. tries to rape Morgan but she fights him off, kills him, and escapes without notice. 

One year later, Morgan is cleared of murder charges against Wilcox Jr. as it is deemed self defense. She is now under witness protection and being set-up as a surprise star witness in the trial for the murdered police officers and Ray, linking them both to organized crime charges against Carson Wilcox Sr. Wilcox Sr. learns of Morgan’s location and offers $3 million dollars to anyone who brings her in alive as he wants to be the one to kill her himself. Maxine arrives back in the city after a year away and has a hit job on the leaders of the same sex trafficking ring that she was a victim of in her youth.

The $3 million dollar offer attracts dangerous characters and some attack the hotel that Morgan has been staying at. The officers guarding her are killed. She is able to fight them off but does not kill anyone as all are either incapacitated, unconscious, or have broken bones and unable to move. Morgan goes to her college to meet Coach Ross but Ross informs her that some of the other students trained in martial arts aswell want the money. Shayna is also there and tells Morgan that she told the Full Moon Gang about Morgan’s date with Ray after they threatened to kill her. Several of the students attack Morgan but she defeats them with no kills. Coach Ross suggests Morgan heads to her family's cabin outside of the city while Ross contacts the city prosecutor. 

Maxine brutally kills the sex traffickers, eviscerating one and decapitating another. She then kills the two men who originally paid for the hit job as they attempted to renege on paying her. Maxine hears about the bounty on Morgan through social media and is curious if her fight skills have improved.

Morgan originally heads out of the city but turns around because she wants to put an end to the violence and defend herself. She makes it to the downtown hotel where Wilcox Sr. operates. She defeats many of his henchmen without killing them and is nearly defeated herself by a highly skilled martial artist. The mysterious practitioner informs Morgan that Maxine is back in town and he is supposed to meet her at the rooftop patio where she is waiting now.

Morgan makes her way to the penthouse floor of Wilcox Sr. but she is nearly defeated by his two female twin bodyguards. Morgan barely escapes with her life largely in part to Wilcox Sr. who accidentally fatally shoots the twins. Morgan defeats Wilcox Sr. but doesn’t kill him and makes her way to the rooftop patio where she gets the jump on a surprised Maxine, shockingly defeating her with superior skill. The police burst in on the rooftop but Maxine escapes and is not found.

Later at the police station Morgan is hailed as a hero by the news and social media. An Interpol Agent speaks with Morgan and informs her that Maxine and the mysterious martial artist were working for the Yakuza and that Maxine likely has left the city for Japan or elsewhere. The Interpol Agent asks Morgan if she would like to assist with their work and tells her that they have a dossier on her birth parents.