Warning: This exciting story contains violence...
By: Deus Ex
10.23.2025; 10:00am - Secret Compound
After 5 years of being nearly dead, Sam finally begins to show some signs of life. Doctors huddle around him, monitoring his every move.
Doctor: "Hey! Look at this! It looks like he's becoming conscious again!"
Doctor #2: "It could be..."
Sam begins to moan for a few minutes. Hours passed as they monitor his condition. Suddenly, something went wrong. He began struggling in pain. Loud screams were let out. "Aaahhhhhh!!!" The machines were malfunctioning, and they begun sparking.
????: "What the hell's happening?!!!"
Doctor: "I don't know! Some machines must've malfunctioned, they might be shocking him!"
Doctor #2: "It's affecting his Nervous System! He's not going to make it if we don't do something quick!" the doctor said looking at some equipment.
????: "Shut off the damn power to those machines! NOW!"
Doctor #3: "Power's off!" the doctor said after scrambling to the switch.
The shocking stopped and Sam settled. He lay on his bed, unconscious, yet again. Doctors scurry about analyzing if Sam will make it.
????: "Will he be okay?" the worried man asked. There was a minute of silence...then they spoke.
Doctor: "He's lucky...he still seems to be faintly alive. This guy's tough..."
Doctor #2: "There's a very distinct chance he'll ever wake up again."
????: "WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?!!" asked the man, slowly becoming furious.
Doctor #3: "Umm...I...accidentally spilled my coffee on the console, I got up and I tripped a wire...sorry."
????: "Are you telling me that we almost lost our only hope just because of some spilt coffee and a clumsy doctor!!!!" The man was outraged. "I wanted to try and stop it from beginning...now it seems that if he ever does wake up.... he'll be fighting much more difficulties than what he would've today..." He was in calm despair. "But.... I know that he is still the only one who is going to be able to save us." He thought for a second. "Place him in the experimental suspended animation chamber; at least he'll still be young and strong."
Doctor: "But sir...that is still in its experimental stage! We haven't even tested it yet!"
????: "Well...now you have a test subject." The man left and walked to his office.
The doctors place Sam into one of the Suspended Animation chambers. Sam's only friend was there; he was the one who had developed the idea, Akira Kusama. He started up the Suspended Animation process.
Akira: "Sam...if you can hear me, you'll be okay. I'll be here watching you. I'm sorry."
????: "How long will he be like this Akira?"
Akira: "No telling...possibly...forever..."
????: "Slaggit. Come on Denton...please... don't let us down."
As Sam sleeps through the years remaining in Suspended Animation, many things change in the world. The first few decades of the new millennium saw the United States decimated by waves of "super-plagues" until Page Industries introduced the first of several vaccines that blunted the tide of disease. It seemed as the country was finally beginning to recover from its run of misfortunes when disaster struck: a giant earthquake centered just north of Los Angeles shattered California, sending LA to the bottom of the ocean and turning most of southern California into the SoCal coastline. California was declared a disaster area and America spiraled into bankruptcy. Some have speculated that the disaster was a result of a government "black project" gone awry. Others insist that it was a calculated effort by some unknown entity to destabilize the United States government. Many others believe it was just a natural disaster.
When Gray Death was descended on the world, it quickly became the deadliest human epidemic in history. The virus wreaked havoc on the world's population, much of which believed the disease to be a natural phenomenon. Some considered this belief naďve and searched (to date, in vain) for evidence that the Gray Death was a human invention created for some unknown but terrible purpose. As confirmation to their beliefs, these investigators pointed to the immediate availability of Ambrosia, a counteragent to the virus. The powerful and wealthy were saved from the ravages of the disease - as long as they were wiling to pay the high price of ongoing Ambrosia treatments. Once it became apparent that the advantaged were being treated for the cruel disease while the population at large was being decimated, riots broke out in cities throughout the world - leading to the declaration of martial law (Temporary rule by military authorities, imposed on a civilian population especially in time of war or when civil authority has broken down.) in New York, Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Moscow.
Pokémon population increased, but still, no one knows how these creatures came to be on Earth. Many Pokémon scientists and researchers continue to analyze and study pokémon. And others involved with pokémon (which basically the whole world was.) still trained and loved their pokémon. Inventors come up with newer, more advanced pokémon technologies from the preceding technology, which unexplainably came with the appearance of pokémon. On the bad side, some pokémon were becoming very close to extinction, mainly the Scyther species. Some say that the government and military are kidnapping these Scythers to create large armies of specially trained Scyther. Imagine the ferocity of something like that. Others say that Scythers are being killed and sold over the black market for unknown uses, and because they are worth quite a bit.
Rumors and conspiracy theories of a secret world government are nothing new. But those who publicly proclaim such suspicions are routinely discredited as 'crack pots' by the intellectual and social elite.
In 2030, a secret agency was established as a division of the US SOCOM (Special Operations Command). This agency is known as the Suppressive Mission Force, the SMF, to the few that actually believes it exists. The SMF was established in an effort to improve the world's current conditions, and execute many missions under secrecy. Joseph Manderley is the head of this agency. His father, Thomas Manderley, was the man (????) who saved Denton; he was the head of SOCOM at the time. He was assassinated by an unknown person(s). Akira, who was Denton's friend died of Gray Death, and left a son in the world, Kenji Kusama; who is now about 24 years old, and employed at the SMF, working as a weapons specialist/designer and various inventor for the agency alone. Kenji has orders that if Sam ever revives, to render him unsuspended, and introduce him to the world.
The science of nano-technology was introduced in 2039, and over the years has repeatedly taken numerous strides. Recently, SMF developed microscopic organic machines that can live in symbiosis with a human host body, granting them enhanced abilities without the cosmetic disfiguration of mechanical augmentations that other agencies, military and terrorists use. But they believe that someone else has also developed this technology. While more research still remains to be done, nano-augmented SMF agents - if they really exist - are the newest and best hope for creating a lasting world peace.
The year is now 2055, and chronologically, Sam is supposed to be 54 years old. Instead he is only 24 due to the effects of the Suspended Animation. Kenji has decided to try a procedure to reawaken Sam, or he'll never live again, and Kenji would put him to sleep for good.
05.20.2055; 9:00am - SMF Lab.
Kenji: "Are we ready?"
Doctor: "Yes. I am."
Joseph: "Yes, proceed."
They prepare as Kenji readies the test. He walks out of the room where Denton is placed. At a console he presses a button and types in a command. The room lit up with electricity from a bunch of Mareep. After a few seconds of shocking the monitors read some activity in Denton's body. Kenji stops the process and walks into the room. The Doctors follow behind him, along with Joseph.
Kenji: "Hey, are you awake? Sam? Sam Denton?" Denton opens his eyes slowly.
Sam: "Uhh...am...I...dead?"
Doctor: "No, you are very much alive. Just relax we'll have you up in a few hours."
Sam: "Great...why do I feel so weak?"
Doctor: "Oh, don't worry about that, you've been 'out of commission' for a long time. We'll restore you back to your normal state of being, physically. Just sit back, relax." After a while they finished rebuilding me. I sat up and looked around the room.
Sam: "Akira? Akira Kusama?! Is...that you?"
Kenji: "No, I'm his son. I know, I bare an uncanny resemblance to him. My father died years ago. How are ya?"
Sam: "Not so good, tired. And what do you mean, 'years ago'? What year is this?"
Joseph: "You should be...It's been about quite a while since you were last 'alive'. It's 2055 now. Lots of things have changed. I am Joseph Manderley, the head man of this organization."
Sam: "What? 2055??!! How the hell? Organization?! What do you mean?"
Joseph: "You are in SMF's secret underground headquarters; which is underground beneath Liberty Island in New York (Where the Statue of Liberty is). We are a special, secret division of SOCOM, the Suppressive Mission Force. I'm sure you've heard of SOCOM, correct?"
Sam: "Yeah, The Special Operations Command unit, most of the military's special operations are conducted through SOCOM; using any one of the Special Forces. And, you're SMF. The Suppressive Mission Force, what is it you do?"
Joseph: "Well, we are the secret division of SOCOM. We actively employ and use our own Agents for our duties and missions. Of course, everything we do is super-classified; basically, we don't even exist. We are the deadly force that SOCOM uses if there is no other way, or if they want their dirty work done right. But...we are beginning to question what's really going on; that'll be explained later."
Sam: "How am I in the year 2055?"
Kenji: "My father placed you in Suspended Animation. It was believed that you would be the one who saves us. And at the time you weren't exactly saving anything lying unconscious, so he placed you in suspended animation so you wouldn't age."
Sam: "Me? Save you? From what?"
Joseph: "Not us, the world and all its beings. From all of the conflicts which are concurrent."
Sam: "Okay...I can suppose that my brother has died as well."
Joseph: "Ah, yes, Joe Denton, he was a good man. Worked for SOCOM. You are alone in the world now."
Sam: "So SMF, huh? But, why am I here?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing; these people don't even exist to anyone but themselves? Why was I here? Have they chosen me to join them...? What will happen if I do?
Joseph: "We choose who gets to join us, and we only choose the best. You are/were a best in what you do; therefore we have chosen you. And you have a choice: you can choose to join us. You will be part of our family. If you choose to fight with us you will be sacrificing social acceptance in the sense that no one will know who you really are; you won't be able to tell anyone either. If you should join you will have the choice to be the first agent that uses the new Nano-Augmentation System; but that will be explained later. If you choose not to fight with us, you will be released into the world on your own, and you are still not to tell a single soul about SMF; you'll need to disappear. The choice is yours."
Kenji: "I was chosen right after my father died and went through the one-month training period, it's hard as hell; but it's worth it. Then I learned you were being kept alive and hoped you'd get better. And guess what, they even let you have your own pokémon!"
Sam: "Heh, thanks. Are you a field Agent?"
Kenji: "No, I stay inside; but if they ever need me to be...I'd be ready, thanks to the training. Right now I'm a weapons specialist and I help with many inventions that are made in the R&D (Research & Development) level. See, we have different areas of R&D. Medical, Ammunitions, Augmentations, Body Armor, and Vehicles; just to name a few. I do a little of everything. Our R&D level is quite huge. Most our highly advanced technology comes from there." Even though Kenji is an inventor, he keeps in really good shape and is in good condition.
Sam: "This is so exciting, but all so sudden...I'll need some time to think. Hey, what about my father?"
Joseph: "Your father was assassinated the day after the hijacking. It's just you and us now...if you choose."
Sam: "He's dead. I don't believe it, I wasn't there to say goodbye." I thought in despair, I couldn't believe my father was killed. I thought and decided I wanted to go out later. "Um, I'll want to go out later...see the city."
Joseph: "Very well, you may go tomorrow; you need your rest, it's about 9 at night. You'll have 48 hours to decide. There's a pokémon center here, the best in fact, also; if you need anything pokémon or for yourself, check out the A-5 GigaMall level. We have everything from pokéballs to Body Armor. Agent Kusama, take him to his living quarters."
Kenji: "Yes sir. Come on, Sam."
Sam: "Okay." I followed Agent Kusama as he leaded me to my quarters. "Thanks...is it really worth it?" I look at him in the eyes.
Agent Kusama: "Yes. I never thought I could do such great things, now I know." He leaves and closes the door behind him.
I look around the big living quarters. It was amazing, very high-tech and comfortable. It was so clean and well kept. I walked through the house and visited the kitchen and the bathroom. To my amazement, there was a vacuum toilet! I then walked into the bedroom; it was amazing and vast. I finally decided to take a shower and go to bed.
05.21.2055; 7:00am - SMF Compound
An alarm sounded off next to me. Opening my eyes I looked around, finding myself in the same room I came to sleep in. That assured me that what had happened yesterday was no dream. I got up and slipped into my clothes from yesterday. I stepped out into the hall and a distant smell of a scrumptious meal awaiting its time to be exquisitely eaten was sensed. Heading towards the smell, I found that on the same floor were special restaurants for SMF Agents. I entered and ordered a 'Liberty Breakfast'. It was free, and great, enough to say that it was the best cooking I've ever had. Amazed, I stepped out of the SMF mess hall, and wandered around until I found myself at the Main Elevator. Inside, I pushed the button and headed up to the surface. At the top, there were security guards and many transport vehicles. I step out of the elevator and one guard greeted me.
Guard: "Hello, are you leaving?"
Sam: "Yeah, I'm going out for a while."
Guard: "You aren't an Agent here, what's your name?"
Sam: "Sam Denton."
Guard: "Okay," the guard walks to what looks like some sort of high-tech intercom security system. "This is Security, we have a depart. A Sam Denton."
Joseph over intercom: "Yes, let him go, I said he could go out today. Go ahead Sam."
Sam: "Thanks, I'll be back later."
The guard let me through and I walked and observed the many vehicles. I spotted a helicopter and a man beside it. I walked up to him and he greeted me.
Man: "Hello there! I'm Jock, the best pilot in the coalition. Need to go somewhere?"
Sam: "Hi, I'm Sam. Yes, could you take me anywhere near 10921 Pecan Bend in New York City...it's in the outskirts. My...dad...lived there."
Jock: "Let me check." He enters the chopper and enters the address given to him. "Yeah, in fact, I could land you right in front of it. It's all grass field."
Sam: "Alright, thanks." I enter the chopper and sat down.
He started the helicopter and once he was ready, he took off. As we flew over the ocean and city, I was enjoying the view. It was amazing, from up here; buildings and skyscrapers spanned the horizon. Most technologically advanced to present times. Wow, May 2055, that means I'll be 25 on the 4th of July. In only minutes we arrived in front of my dads old house. Jock landed the chopper in the field across the street from the house.
Jock: "Here we are. I'll be right here."
Sam: "Thanks, I'll be right back."
I stepped off the helicopter and headed across the street to the house. There was a car in the driveway; people must live here. I knocked on the door and seconds later a woman answered.
Woman: "Hello, may I help you?" She had a puzzled look on her face.
Sam: "I'm Sam, how long ago did you move in here?"
Woman: "About 2-3 years, why?"
Sam: "No reason, my dad used to live here, he was killed here. Sorry to bother you."
I left the driveway and looked back at the house. "Dad..." I thought for a moment, and then walked over to the helicopter. I told Jock just to fly around, then I saw a library.
Sam: "Hey, think you can let me down near here?"
Jock: "Sure, just a second." He landed the chopper quickly. "Here you are."
Sam: "Thanks, I'll be back in a while."
I went inside the library and located the usable computers for the public. I sat in front of the computer, and logged on to the Internet. In a military search engine I typed: Colonel Paul Denton. An obituary appeared. I read the whole thing, and at the bottom, the date of death...11.10.2020. It was true...he died. I wondered if Joe ever found out about this. I logged off and walked out of the library, and to Jock. We lifted off, and just kinda wandered around a bit. I saw most of the city from up here. I saw some pokémon flying around, along with some birds that weren't pokémon, very beautiful. I wondered how pokémon ever got here, were they here from the beginning? So much I don't know about pokémon, and so much I want to know.
Sam: "Jock, take me back to SMF."
Jock: "Alright, we'll be there in no time."
Jock seemed to be the enthusiastic type. He might be useful later if I do join SMF. Within minutes we were back to the compound. We landed and the security guard called in my arrival. I entered the compound taking the elevator down. I decided to go check out the A-5 GigaMall level. The elevator stopped on floor and I stepped off. Right in front of me were a dozen stores, which where very neatly located. I saw some Agents walking around and I overheard some of their conversation.
Agent #1: "Hey, did you see the new pokéball their selling?"
Agent #2: "Yeah, it looks cool." They walked off.
"New pokéball? Whoa." I thought. I walked around and entered the first store. It had healing items and remedies for pokémon, from Potion to Full Restore. I walked around looking at all the items. I walked out, then into another store. A pokéball store, containing every pokéball from Pokéball to Fastball, I was amazed at all the things they had here. Into another store I went. This one was for pokémon nutrition. I began to notice something weird. All the prices were displayed in something called ACP instead of the usual creds and dollars. I looked around for a while longer.
I decided to stop by Joseph's office. Once I saw most of what this Agency has to offer, I thought: "Hey, what's there to lose?" Besides it sounds kinda fun. I just hoped that they'd educate me about present times before they let me actually go out. I entered Manderley's office and there he was.
05.21.2055; 10:00pm - Manderley's Office
Joseph: "Have you decided? Your time's up...what will it be?"
Sam: "Yes."
Joseph: "Good, you will begin training the first of June. Are you willing to become the first Agent to be nano-augmented?"
Sam: "Yes, but what exactly is that? Will it give me super powers or something?"
Joseph: "No. It will grant you enhanced abilities. You will be informed more of this during your training. And remember, you will be competing against 5 others we have chosen. Try your best. Good Luck."
Sam: "Thank you." I walked out of the office and to my quarters.
Kenji walked into Joseph's office.
Joseph: "Our fathers were right...I can see it in his eyes..."
Kenji: "Mm-hmm."
To Be Continued...