FA+
Shop
383
Views
Views
1
Favorites
Favorites
Category
Story / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 50 x 50
File Size 92.6 kB
Report this content
More from Blackspell
Introduction.
Right, first of all I like to thank everyone who is actually considering to read this since this is my fist real attempt to write a full story apart form a currently closed down text RP. As such any and all comments or criticisms you may care to make are welcome since I'm sure there are still things I could improve.
As for the story itself I feel I should explain a few things since it will make what follows a lot easier to understand. The story takes place in the same universe as the Jack webcomic and as such it is assumed the reader is least familiar with some of the places, (like Vince's Colosseum) or situations, (like how the damned re-spawn) from the comic. Some things might still be explained if that would be necessary for one of the characters, but the reader will usually be assumed to know what's going on. If you have any questions I'll be happy to answer, but I suggest you just read the comic.
(Note to those reading this on the Jack Original Works subforum; I know the above might sound a bit odd but I'm also posting this elsewhere and this is the standard introduction I'll use everywhere.)
In addition to the standard horror and supernatural elements from Jack, (which I sorta borrowed without asking, but since this is a non-profit project and I'm not claiming copyrights for anything apart from my own characters and some additional elements I don't expect Dave will object). I also wrote-in several SF elements including cybernetics, implanted computers and my own unique, (I think) brand of time and interdimensional travel. So if you enjoy both horror and SF with a occasional dose of black humor you'll hopefully love this story. If you like some of those elements maybe and if you like none of them... Why the hell are you still bothering to read this damn intro?
As for the two main characters:
Tiffany Adrian is a female anthropomorphic black cat with a tiny quantum computer and a Video Communicator, (aka VidComm. A short range radio communicator spliced into her optic nerves to provide a video display) implanted into her brain. Furs from her own time would recognize the short telltale antenna sticking out from behind left ear and a cable jack socket, (for connecting directly with compatible electronics by means of a optical cable) at the back of her neck. Unlike most furs with such implants Tiffany's mind completely embraced her machine side and hence she has a instinctive insight in computer systems, allowing her to hack into and control lesser systems with terrifying ease, think within microseconds and even to temporary leave her body as a purely digital entity.
Jill Rain is female anthropomorphic red fox with a much more modest computer implant and a VidComm similar to the one Tiffany has, (although she doesn't have a visible antenna or cable jack) and some covert modifications that can help her to avoid detection by conventional or electronic surveillance. Eventually she'll receive a few additional cybernetics enhancements, but at the start of the story she is still very close to being a normal, late twenty first century fur.
Well, that concludes my somewhat lengthy intro. At this point I have absolutely no idea how long the story will become or how long it will take me to write it. Neither can I promise regular updates so the next update might be ready next week or two months from now, you'll get no promises there. However I can promise that I most definitely won't just quit writing right in the middle of the story. It might eventually have a open ending, but I most certainly won't just quit or wrap things up in about three sentences just because I'm to lazy to finish what I started. That's all for now, enjoy reading.
1.1
Earth. USA. Florence, Colorado.
Tiffany's apartment, approximately 6 miles from the nearby corporate SuperMax prison facility.
Tiffany Adrian. 00:34 AM. Friday 21-06-2058 AD.
Sleep finally came. If anything it felt like waking up with a strange sense of déjà vu until she remembered everything she saw and did really had already happened. Propylpromyacin was well known for this side-effect and it was in fact the primary reason why so many furs longing for a brief glimpse of the past had become so hopelessly addicted.
Those were the lucky ones.
Were the recreational users relaxed and enjoyed happier times, others used Propylpromyacin or ''Midnight'' because it was simply the only thing apart from dangerous street drugs that was absolutely guarantied to put them to sleep. Like most of those users she didn't enjoy the flashbacks.
She'd taken a small dose anyway, because she hardly needed to be a doctor to understand going without sleep for more then two days was extremely unhealthy even if the exhaustion didn't cause her to make some fatal mistake at work, but right now, doomed to relive some of the worst moments of her life, all she knew was the need to scream.
She was back at university. There was only a week to go until spring break and even the most serious students couldn't be bothered by Mr. Vosburgh's feeble attempt to make the early history of the old European Union sound even more boring then it actually was.
Reaching out through her implant she linked up with the Net and began checking the news feeds for something more interesting then the long dead opposition leaders of some ancient national power. She failed to suppress a yawn as Channel 55 started another endless analysis about the impending war between the USA and the Federation. It was just ridicules. Neither side would ever risk a direct confrontation, which explained how their war could still be ''impending'' after four years of veiled threats, propaganda and utter non-sense.
Four more years of global anarchy held in check only by stagnation. Four more years of environmental disasters and recessions. Four more years without any significant scientific progress thanks to the lack of funding... Four more years wasted... So much inefficiency. So much weakness...
She had just been about to call some of her friends to see if any of them had plans for the afternoon when a hostage situation was reported in the local news.
The sleeping feline twisted and turned violently, for she knew exactly what she was about to witness and desperately wanted to scream, to beg her younger self to just disconnect and head downtown and enjoy the sun.
''You would not have listened Adrian.''
She froze. That voice definitely wasn't part of her memories. A hallucination or perhaps some unknown kind of virus? If the Midnight had been tainted... Analyzing...
''I assure you there is no cause for alarm. The Midnight was fine and I am far more then a mere figment of your drug induced imagination.''
As her mind began to clear the flashback slowly faded until nothing remained except for a dark, featureless dreamscape, all alone except for...
''Who the hell are you and how dare you invade my privacy like this!?! My system, my files... How dare you!?! I'll trace you... I don't recognize your signal... No matter! I'll get you, I swear! You don't have the faintest idea what you're dealing with!''
''Oh, I am perfectly aware you are a powerful technopath with strong sociopathic tendencies.''
''Oh really? So then you know a mere minute of sleep means more to me then your pathetic life and yet you choose to disturb me anyway? And you think I'm the insane one!?''
''Actually, based upon what I have seen so far I can only conclude that you have the capacity to be frighteningly rational as long as you manage to keep yourself reasonably calm. Regardless, you are in fact still vast asleep so there is neither a cause nor a opportunity to kill me, eh?''
''I have never killed anyone in my life! Face me me like a fur you filthy, lying piece of hacker trash!'' Come on, take the bait. Just give me a tiny glimpse and...
''I think not, but I do apologize. Somehow the fact that you never actually killed anyone in person at this point seemed to have completely slipped my mind, although I think you will have to agree that is just a technical detail, eh?''
''No, I don't! And you know what!? Stay in the goddamn shadows if you like your precious little mysterious bastard act so much! Just give me your pitiful excuse for disturbing me and go back to whatever the hell you came from!''
''When we eventually meet in person I am sure you will see the irony in that particular choice of words Adrian... But for now I have come to give you some free advice.''
''Free equals worthless, while my time is precious.''
''Life is precious Adrian... And so are final bullets. Spend both wisely.''
''Riiiiight, I'll make sure to treasure those little nuggets of wisdom. Anything else?''
''Yes, but first I need you to understand that while I knew in advance that you would never listen but I still had to try.''
''Yeah right, well you gave it your best shot so you can go now. Thanks for nothing, hope you'll die, bye bye.''
''You cannot hope for anything until you remember what you truly are Adrian. Would it really hurt so much to try?''
''Yes. Leave. Now!''
''Alright Adrian, I am sure you will figure it all out by yourself given time, but the main reason I came was to give you a administrator access code you should be able to put to very good use a few months from now. Try sending; Crimson Dawn Omicron with capital first letters in inverted binary the instant the storm relents. Goodnight little Hellcat.''
Gone. Good. Now... NOOOO!
Numerous unshielded electrical devices across the entire neighborhood instantly burned out accompanied by a long, bestial howl of frustration as the artificial dreamscape faded only to make way for another long night of endlessly repetitive flashbacks.
Earth. USA. Chicago, Illinois.
WinstoneGoldmann Corporate HQ, the main entrance to ''New Dreamland;'' a subterranean research facility.
Jill Rain. 7:34 AM. Monday 14-09-2093 AD.
''Name and ID please.''
''Excuse me?''
Jill only barely managed not to curse at this point. Well over a hundred thousand furs worked at WinGold at any given time, most only for a couple of months or less and yet every single one of the arrogant brats firmly believed he or she would one day own the place.
''I am terribly sorry for the inconvenience sir, but I am going to need your name and corporate ID to see if you have been granted permission to enter the facility. Security requirements have temporarily been increased and hence we have been ordered to manually double check your records after you have been cleared by our standard automated scans.''
The fur before her, who appeared to be some some sort of ferret/lion hodgepodge made a vaguely humorous attempt to look like indignant royalty.
''Young lady, do you have any idea who I am?!''
A lower-end supervisor with delusions of grandeur? A ignorant little weasel who will likely get kicked out well before the next quarter? A utterly useless waste of space? Suppressing another long sigh she looked up from the holodisplay. ''Sir with all due respect I do not and even if I did it would not matter. Our orders come straight from the CEO and he specifically instructed us to ask everyone for their name and ID... Including him.''
The hodgepodge rolled his eyes like he had never been so insulted in his entire life, which as far as Jill was concerned would mean he must have been far more lucky then he actually deserved. ''Ridicules, how can you not know who I am? Have you been rejected?''
''For your information ''sir'' I have in fact been augmented and my implants are functioning well withing acceptable parameters. However, since I was originally intended to be a pilot I require external systems like our corporate mainframe to use functions like the kind of augmented memory which would have allowed me to identify you, without actually ever having met you. Unfortunately I have been specifically forbidden to do so for the duration of this particular operation since using the same system for both the original and the additional security checks would be little more then a pretentious display, eh?''
''A failed pilot? No wonder our profits are down if our recruiting standards have become that low.''
''Indeed... Now can I please have your name and ID? There appear to be quite a lot of furs in the line behind you that actually want to hear our CEO's speech.''
''And many will be late because of you. Enjoy your employment while it lasts, for I at the very least intend to file a complaint.''
''Is that so? Well since you already intend to complain about the fact that I follow company directives, there will probably be no need to inform you that our CEO also instructed us to remove anyone unable or unwilling to properly identify himself... With extreme prejudice.''
The hodgepodge seemed to shrink a couple of inches as she meaningfully patted her sidearm with a loving grin.
''Peter C Seaman, corporate ID 346-786-231-756.''
''There, there, that was not that bad now was it? Thank you so much for you cooperation and have a nice day. Oh, and please give my regards to our CEO when you explain your complaint.''
The hodgepodge gave a final offended snort, before leaving as quickly as his remaining dignity would allow. Jill smiled briefly as she watched him go until she remembered the rest of the ever growing line and all of the remaining self-obsessed bureaucrats who were steadily loosing what passed for their patience. She let out a long resigned sigh. It was going to be a long day, but whatever else happened it could hardly get much worse then they already was...
Infinitely far away, in a darked meditation chamber hidden deep within a brooding, twisted tower a demon smiled. The creature still looked much like the middle aged anthropomorphic fox he had been so many centuries ago, but only a utter fool would still mistake him for such a ordinary fur these days.
Clad only in a loincloth and a dark robe in a Asian style form days long gone even a casual observer would instantly note how both his lower arms had replaced with cybernetic replicas ending in lethal, impossibly sharp claws and the sinister, greenish glow which began to spread from his eyes as he slowly opened them.
So little did mortals know. So little did they understand or appreciate how things could always get worse...
Right, first of all I like to thank everyone who is actually considering to read this since this is my fist real attempt to write a full story apart form a currently closed down text RP. As such any and all comments or criticisms you may care to make are welcome since I'm sure there are still things I could improve.
As for the story itself I feel I should explain a few things since it will make what follows a lot easier to understand. The story takes place in the same universe as the Jack webcomic and as such it is assumed the reader is least familiar with some of the places, (like Vince's Colosseum) or situations, (like how the damned re-spawn) from the comic. Some things might still be explained if that would be necessary for one of the characters, but the reader will usually be assumed to know what's going on. If you have any questions I'll be happy to answer, but I suggest you just read the comic.
(Note to those reading this on the Jack Original Works subforum; I know the above might sound a bit odd but I'm also posting this elsewhere and this is the standard introduction I'll use everywhere.)
In addition to the standard horror and supernatural elements from Jack, (which I sorta borrowed without asking, but since this is a non-profit project and I'm not claiming copyrights for anything apart from my own characters and some additional elements I don't expect Dave will object). I also wrote-in several SF elements including cybernetics, implanted computers and my own unique, (I think) brand of time and interdimensional travel. So if you enjoy both horror and SF with a occasional dose of black humor you'll hopefully love this story. If you like some of those elements maybe and if you like none of them... Why the hell are you still bothering to read this damn intro?
As for the two main characters:
Tiffany Adrian is a female anthropomorphic black cat with a tiny quantum computer and a Video Communicator, (aka VidComm. A short range radio communicator spliced into her optic nerves to provide a video display) implanted into her brain. Furs from her own time would recognize the short telltale antenna sticking out from behind left ear and a cable jack socket, (for connecting directly with compatible electronics by means of a optical cable) at the back of her neck. Unlike most furs with such implants Tiffany's mind completely embraced her machine side and hence she has a instinctive insight in computer systems, allowing her to hack into and control lesser systems with terrifying ease, think within microseconds and even to temporary leave her body as a purely digital entity.
Jill Rain is female anthropomorphic red fox with a much more modest computer implant and a VidComm similar to the one Tiffany has, (although she doesn't have a visible antenna or cable jack) and some covert modifications that can help her to avoid detection by conventional or electronic surveillance. Eventually she'll receive a few additional cybernetics enhancements, but at the start of the story she is still very close to being a normal, late twenty first century fur.
Well, that concludes my somewhat lengthy intro. At this point I have absolutely no idea how long the story will become or how long it will take me to write it. Neither can I promise regular updates so the next update might be ready next week or two months from now, you'll get no promises there. However I can promise that I most definitely won't just quit writing right in the middle of the story. It might eventually have a open ending, but I most certainly won't just quit or wrap things up in about three sentences just because I'm to lazy to finish what I started. That's all for now, enjoy reading.
1.1
Earth. USA. Florence, Colorado.
Tiffany's apartment, approximately 6 miles from the nearby corporate SuperMax prison facility.
Tiffany Adrian. 00:34 AM. Friday 21-06-2058 AD.
Sleep finally came. If anything it felt like waking up with a strange sense of déjà vu until she remembered everything she saw and did really had already happened. Propylpromyacin was well known for this side-effect and it was in fact the primary reason why so many furs longing for a brief glimpse of the past had become so hopelessly addicted.
Those were the lucky ones.
Were the recreational users relaxed and enjoyed happier times, others used Propylpromyacin or ''Midnight'' because it was simply the only thing apart from dangerous street drugs that was absolutely guarantied to put them to sleep. Like most of those users she didn't enjoy the flashbacks.
She'd taken a small dose anyway, because she hardly needed to be a doctor to understand going without sleep for more then two days was extremely unhealthy even if the exhaustion didn't cause her to make some fatal mistake at work, but right now, doomed to relive some of the worst moments of her life, all she knew was the need to scream.
She was back at university. There was only a week to go until spring break and even the most serious students couldn't be bothered by Mr. Vosburgh's feeble attempt to make the early history of the old European Union sound even more boring then it actually was.
Reaching out through her implant she linked up with the Net and began checking the news feeds for something more interesting then the long dead opposition leaders of some ancient national power. She failed to suppress a yawn as Channel 55 started another endless analysis about the impending war between the USA and the Federation. It was just ridicules. Neither side would ever risk a direct confrontation, which explained how their war could still be ''impending'' after four years of veiled threats, propaganda and utter non-sense.
Four more years of global anarchy held in check only by stagnation. Four more years of environmental disasters and recessions. Four more years without any significant scientific progress thanks to the lack of funding... Four more years wasted... So much inefficiency. So much weakness...
She had just been about to call some of her friends to see if any of them had plans for the afternoon when a hostage situation was reported in the local news.
The sleeping feline twisted and turned violently, for she knew exactly what she was about to witness and desperately wanted to scream, to beg her younger self to just disconnect and head downtown and enjoy the sun.
''You would not have listened Adrian.''
She froze. That voice definitely wasn't part of her memories. A hallucination or perhaps some unknown kind of virus? If the Midnight had been tainted... Analyzing...
''I assure you there is no cause for alarm. The Midnight was fine and I am far more then a mere figment of your drug induced imagination.''
As her mind began to clear the flashback slowly faded until nothing remained except for a dark, featureless dreamscape, all alone except for...
''Who the hell are you and how dare you invade my privacy like this!?! My system, my files... How dare you!?! I'll trace you... I don't recognize your signal... No matter! I'll get you, I swear! You don't have the faintest idea what you're dealing with!''
''Oh, I am perfectly aware you are a powerful technopath with strong sociopathic tendencies.''
''Oh really? So then you know a mere minute of sleep means more to me then your pathetic life and yet you choose to disturb me anyway? And you think I'm the insane one!?''
''Actually, based upon what I have seen so far I can only conclude that you have the capacity to be frighteningly rational as long as you manage to keep yourself reasonably calm. Regardless, you are in fact still vast asleep so there is neither a cause nor a opportunity to kill me, eh?''
''I have never killed anyone in my life! Face me me like a fur you filthy, lying piece of hacker trash!'' Come on, take the bait. Just give me a tiny glimpse and...
''I think not, but I do apologize. Somehow the fact that you never actually killed anyone in person at this point seemed to have completely slipped my mind, although I think you will have to agree that is just a technical detail, eh?''
''No, I don't! And you know what!? Stay in the goddamn shadows if you like your precious little mysterious bastard act so much! Just give me your pitiful excuse for disturbing me and go back to whatever the hell you came from!''
''When we eventually meet in person I am sure you will see the irony in that particular choice of words Adrian... But for now I have come to give you some free advice.''
''Free equals worthless, while my time is precious.''
''Life is precious Adrian... And so are final bullets. Spend both wisely.''
''Riiiiight, I'll make sure to treasure those little nuggets of wisdom. Anything else?''
''Yes, but first I need you to understand that while I knew in advance that you would never listen but I still had to try.''
''Yeah right, well you gave it your best shot so you can go now. Thanks for nothing, hope you'll die, bye bye.''
''You cannot hope for anything until you remember what you truly are Adrian. Would it really hurt so much to try?''
''Yes. Leave. Now!''
''Alright Adrian, I am sure you will figure it all out by yourself given time, but the main reason I came was to give you a administrator access code you should be able to put to very good use a few months from now. Try sending; Crimson Dawn Omicron with capital first letters in inverted binary the instant the storm relents. Goodnight little Hellcat.''
Gone. Good. Now... NOOOO!
Numerous unshielded electrical devices across the entire neighborhood instantly burned out accompanied by a long, bestial howl of frustration as the artificial dreamscape faded only to make way for another long night of endlessly repetitive flashbacks.
Earth. USA. Chicago, Illinois.
WinstoneGoldmann Corporate HQ, the main entrance to ''New Dreamland;'' a subterranean research facility.
Jill Rain. 7:34 AM. Monday 14-09-2093 AD.
''Name and ID please.''
''Excuse me?''
Jill only barely managed not to curse at this point. Well over a hundred thousand furs worked at WinGold at any given time, most only for a couple of months or less and yet every single one of the arrogant brats firmly believed he or she would one day own the place.
''I am terribly sorry for the inconvenience sir, but I am going to need your name and corporate ID to see if you have been granted permission to enter the facility. Security requirements have temporarily been increased and hence we have been ordered to manually double check your records after you have been cleared by our standard automated scans.''
The fur before her, who appeared to be some some sort of ferret/lion hodgepodge made a vaguely humorous attempt to look like indignant royalty.
''Young lady, do you have any idea who I am?!''
A lower-end supervisor with delusions of grandeur? A ignorant little weasel who will likely get kicked out well before the next quarter? A utterly useless waste of space? Suppressing another long sigh she looked up from the holodisplay. ''Sir with all due respect I do not and even if I did it would not matter. Our orders come straight from the CEO and he specifically instructed us to ask everyone for their name and ID... Including him.''
The hodgepodge rolled his eyes like he had never been so insulted in his entire life, which as far as Jill was concerned would mean he must have been far more lucky then he actually deserved. ''Ridicules, how can you not know who I am? Have you been rejected?''
''For your information ''sir'' I have in fact been augmented and my implants are functioning well withing acceptable parameters. However, since I was originally intended to be a pilot I require external systems like our corporate mainframe to use functions like the kind of augmented memory which would have allowed me to identify you, without actually ever having met you. Unfortunately I have been specifically forbidden to do so for the duration of this particular operation since using the same system for both the original and the additional security checks would be little more then a pretentious display, eh?''
''A failed pilot? No wonder our profits are down if our recruiting standards have become that low.''
''Indeed... Now can I please have your name and ID? There appear to be quite a lot of furs in the line behind you that actually want to hear our CEO's speech.''
''And many will be late because of you. Enjoy your employment while it lasts, for I at the very least intend to file a complaint.''
''Is that so? Well since you already intend to complain about the fact that I follow company directives, there will probably be no need to inform you that our CEO also instructed us to remove anyone unable or unwilling to properly identify himself... With extreme prejudice.''
The hodgepodge seemed to shrink a couple of inches as she meaningfully patted her sidearm with a loving grin.
''Peter C Seaman, corporate ID 346-786-231-756.''
''There, there, that was not that bad now was it? Thank you so much for you cooperation and have a nice day. Oh, and please give my regards to our CEO when you explain your complaint.''
The hodgepodge gave a final offended snort, before leaving as quickly as his remaining dignity would allow. Jill smiled briefly as she watched him go until she remembered the rest of the ever growing line and all of the remaining self-obsessed bureaucrats who were steadily loosing what passed for their patience. She let out a long resigned sigh. It was going to be a long day, but whatever else happened it could hardly get much worse then they already was...
Infinitely far away, in a darked meditation chamber hidden deep within a brooding, twisted tower a demon smiled. The creature still looked much like the middle aged anthropomorphic fox he had been so many centuries ago, but only a utter fool would still mistake him for such a ordinary fur these days.
Clad only in a loincloth and a dark robe in a Asian style form days long gone even a casual observer would instantly note how both his lower arms had replaced with cybernetic replicas ending in lethal, impossibly sharp claws and the sinister, greenish glow which began to spread from his eyes as he slowly opened them.
So little did mortals know. So little did they understand or appreciate how things could always get worse...
Category Story / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 50 x 50px
File Size 92.6 kB
Comments