Fan Fiction ❯ Espoir ❯ Fortunes of Birth ( Chapter 1 )

Title: Espoir

 

Summary: As Earth enters the final stage of it's existance, humanity tries one last stance to save themselves. A experiment that had been studied ever since the start of Earth's destruction is put into action. Project Espoir 1 has begun...

 

Rating: PG-13+

 

Genre: Drama, Action, Post-Apocalypse

 

Chapter One

Fortunes of Birth

\/\/\/\/\/\/\

 

The world's pain, life's almost unstoppable demise. It was all a terrible thing to think about.

 

That was the reason Kuris Takasa tried desperatly not to think about it.

 

He did not understand it and didnt really want to. What were the Judges, why were they attacking Earth. From what Kuris knew, nobody could really figure out what it was the Judges wanted. Much less what the hell they were.

 

Kuris had always made it a habit to avoid what he couldn't understand and try not to face the unavoidable. It ran in his family, to tell the truth.

 

That is the reason Kuris continued to carry out his life as if nothing was happening around him. He continued going to school and still hung out with his friends. It was Kuris' beleif that if you didnt face your troubles, they would just give up and go away.

 

His class had shrunk over the last few months. The entire population of Calcotto, Japan had gone down, leaving his already tiny high school with only a handful of students.

 

The lack of a couple of the students didnt really bother Kuris. He wasnt too fond of many of his classmates. The 17-year old was a popular teenager. He had plenty of friends and most of which had stayed at the school as well.

 

Kuris wasnt a overly athletic boy. He didnt participate in sports and was in very few activitys. However, he was very charming and his looks went right along with his charisma.

 

The school day was passing by quite uneventful. The teacher, the third one for that class this year, had told them just to take a study hall for the day. Kuris knew it wouldnt be long before he left as well.

 

That was how most classes went. All save for one class, of course. World History. A man named Mr. Jimenez taught the class, he took the class over soon after the first wave of the Judges and had been with the school the longest.

 

Jimenez was a strange fellow. He didnt look at the attack with much fear but found a strange need to educate his students about it. Ever since he took over, he'd been lecturing and talking about the Judges and the history of their attack on the planet.

 

It was the last class of the day for Kuris and he usually just sat through the class, trying his best not to pay attention to the rambling of the educator. He didnt need to know the information. Jimenez didnt test his students or even ask questions. He just talked and talked and talked about the same thing.

 

"Last year on December the 7th, an American satellite detected a slight increase in 'space junk' floating in the solar system." Jimenez said tirelessly, not even looking at the class as he taught. "American scientists found the information to be unimportant and didnt take much heed. The rise in clutter continued for several months before the US finally reported the information to the United Nations."

 

He cleared his throat, "A research team was sent into orbit to investigate. They rounded their destination once before all communications were lost. No information on the astronauts were ever released."

 

A tap on the shoulder tore Kuris' attention from the boring professor and he turned his head around to see the pretty face of his friend, Anya. She smiled at him and rolled her eyes at the teacher.

 

"You on for tonight, Takasa?" She asked with a twinkle in her auburn eyes.

 

"For what?" He asked with a smirk, pushing a bit of black hair across his forehead.

 

She sighed, "We're all meeting at Toru's. You have to come, I'm making you."

 

Kuris raised an eyebrow at Anya and nearly laughed. She'd had a crush on him since they were in junior high school. He'd humored her, thinking of her as more of a inmature goody-goody. However, recently she'd become more... mature in her endeavours. Perhaps she was finally ready for his attention.

 

"Then how can I resist?" He said with a smile and a wink before turning his attention back to the front of the class. It was not a surprise to see Jimenez still rambling on.

 

"On July the 15th, the first contact with the unknown race occured in western Alaska. Although there were no witnesses, scientists say that the western coast had been melted away and reduced heavily. It was later confirmed that 'the Judges' had caused the destruction." Jimenez finally turned to gaze upon the class, "It only took a few weeks for the UN to announce to the world of the strange enemy and the open hostility they displayed."

 

The bell rang just as soon as the teacher finished his last sentence. The class stood in unison and paid little attention as Jimenez wished them a healthy farewell and said he'd hope to see them tomorrow.

 

Kuris stretched as he left the classroom and glanced around him to see his usual group of comrades around him.

 

A large hand slapped him on the shoulder and he nodded to Toru, one of his closer friends.

 

The boy grinned, "Your coming tonight then?" Kuris nodded, "Great. It should be fun." He winked, "For you especially."

 

Kuris smiled as well as they left the small schoolhouse. The parking lot outside was pretty bare, only a total of six cars were parked in the space. After saying farewell to his friends, Kuris strolled across the concrete lot and unlocked the door to his car.

 

It wasnt a particularly special car, just enough to get him around. He took the driver's seat welcomingly and turned the ignition. The automobile roared to life and Kuris started out of the parking lot, waving once again to his friends as he went.

 

Once outside of the school zone, Kuris reached into his glove compartment and put the tip of a cigarette into his mouth, lighting it with perfect skill. He heaved a puff of the cigarette and yawned once more.

 

Life was short, why waste it?

 

\/\/\/\/\/\/\

 

The crowd grew everyday. More people flowed through the doors each morning and night, bringing more sorrow and pain to the pathetic little safe house.

 

It was a terrible place to be, thought Kei Hayatomo.

 

Her family had been forced out of their home in the center of Tokyo by police officers as they thought the well populated area to be a important target for the Judges.

 

Her brother disagreed. Zen Hayamoto had been laughing at the whole situation ever since it's start back in July. Of course, Zen was a condemned madman.

 

The Judges dont care about how many people are there, he had said. The police had paid him no attention but it was kind of true. Their targets had made no sense. First the uninhabited coast of Alaska and most recently, a partially populated valley in Japan. The most populated area they attacked was a city in Germany that didnt hold close to as many people as Tokyo.

 

Their actions were unpredictable, their reasoning unknown, and their being unimaginable. The Judges certaintly were a mysterious race.

 

None of that mattered, however. Her family was still moved to the safehouse at a undisclosed location in Japan. Kei's father took the move silently. All he worried about was his family's safety. He'd been the only reason the little family hadnt been separated in the mass movement.

 

Kei was the youngest of three in the family. Zen being the eldest and her sister Chika a year younger than he. Kei had been born two years later, sixteen years ago.

 

Her father had always been a protective parent. Their mother had died when Kei was still young and Mamoru Hayamoto had put a short leash on his youngest daughter ever since.

 

The move from Tokyo had been a frightful one. The crowd was huge and one could easily get swept into it's mass. However, Mamoru had his children close to him. Many a time, he'd pulled Kei in from the swarm just as she was being swept away.

 

Now that the transport was over, Kei didnt feel as much fear as she did sorrow. She saw people broken, laying around her in bent masses of sadness and disgust.

 

The police assured the crowd that they were safe now. Over a intercom, they told the people their journey was over and that they'd found a protective safehouse. As the group grew silent, a loud laugh emitted from Zen.

 

"Safe?" He laughed once more as all eyes turned to him, "No one is safe from their judgement! Their decisions have been made and they are final." His voice shook with painful insanity and his words were cryptic, they had been thorughout his life.

 

A officer had warned her father that if he didnt keep his son quiet, they would take the situation into their own hands. Zen paid them no heed but had stayed quiet for the remainder of the time.

 

Kei leaned against the concrete wall and stared up at the cieling tiredly. She had not slept in days and now felt suddenly tired. Her brother's words echoed in her mind as her eyes drooped shut and felt a assuring hand on her leg as her father whispered that it was okay to get some sleep.

 

That was all the girl needed to drift off into slumber.

 

Dreams are only a escape from sorrow.

 

\/\/\/\/\/\/\

 

The sea crashed against the rocks.

 

Just as it had every day since it's creation. Since the days that Adam and Eve roamed free of sin in the Garden, an escape from qualms. It was hard to beleive one little mistake had ended that pleasure.

 

Sean Malvin sat on the wooden dock of the now abandoned church, peering out over the Atlantic nostalgically.

 

Life certaintly was unpredictable. It had only been two years since the twenty year old had begun his college education, training in dedication to achieve his goal.

 

All of his life, Sean had been saved by the grace of the Lord. He'd been on his vacation, returning home from college in Nevada when the Judges launched their first ever attack on the United States. His campus and the surrounding area was all destroyed in the invasion. The entire faculty and students that remained on the campus had died in the destruction.

 

The news had struck hard for Sean. Many of his friends and professor's had remained and had died at the hands of the unknown force. His parents had been releived that their son had agreed to come home for the break but Sean only felt anger. Mad that he had escaped the death that had ceased so many. Mad at the fact that there was nothing be could do about it.

 

It had taken over a week for Sean to come to terms with the destruction, and much prayer. He didnt understand why these things known as the Judges had condemned humanity, making it their priority to end the lifes of so many.

 

The Judges. Just the name was enough to bring anger to Sean. Only One thing was worthy enough to pass judgement onto people and Sean knew that these things were not the work of His. That he knew for certain.

 

Footsteps from behind brought Sean out of his thoughts and he turned his head to see his father walking across the dock, cane tapping against the floor.

 

Sean smiled underneath his beard to his father, "Come to enjoy the scenery?"

 

"Perhaps." The man said in his raspy, distant voice. "You mind?"

 

"Of course not."

 

Growing up, Sean hadnt been close with his father. He'd always thought the man was distant and unloving. However, he'd simply mistaken that with his father's own expiriences. A ex-special forces agent, Marcus Malvin had seen quite a bit in his fifty plus years of living. He now walked with a cane due to a incident years and years ago.

 

His father never spoke of what he saw and Sean never asked. He knew all he needed to know about his father's past and that was enough for him to accept him.

 

"Tokyo has been evacuated." The man said with a hint of sadness in his voice, "Rumor says that New York and a few other big citys are gonna do the same."

 

Sean nodded, "I dont see how that would help anything."

 

A chuckle came from his father, "You used to be such a optimist."

 

"I still am." He said as he smiled a bit at the older man, "I'm just stating the obvious."

 

Marcus nodded slowly as he gazed out over the ocean. He yawned a bit, "The military still hasnt found where they're coming from but I'm sure it wont take much longer." He silently rubbed his cane, his voice seeming far away. "The news said a meeting was held a few days ago in France. Something about a new project being launched or something."

 

"I'm not surprised." Sean said as he cracked his knuckles, "I bet they'll try just about anything to stop them."

 

"We'll see if it helps at all. The goverment is keeping it on the down low so no one knows anything about the project." He shrugged his shoulders a bit.

 

Sean leaned back and closed his eyes, "I just hope whatever it is can help. They'd better have some good people involved." Sean opened his eyes and watched as the sun neared the horizon, "It's not in our hands. Just keep praying, Dad."

 

Faith is life's ultimate weapon.

 

\/\/\/\/\/\/\

 

The fire still burns.

 

It may have all been covered up or hidden but it still burnt in the minds of everyone who saw it.

 

It had been a good three weeks since the destruction of his home along the Japanese countryside.

 

That town was the only place Bray Jackson had ever been able to call home. Born in the United States, Bray had been the son of a young mother who wanted nothing less than a child. She'd given him to her parent's friends, a japanese couple who had returned to their homeland with the boy.

 

He'd gotten quite a few stares growing up. It wasnt that often that you saw a little black kid living in a small, japanese village. However, people had grown used to him and accepted him as a friend.

 

Bray had grown as well. He stood well over six foot with more muscle that the entire village put together and at only twenty years of age.

 

He'd been off in Tokyo, visiting a few friends of high school when the attack occured. He heard of the initial onslaught and immediatly hurried out of Tokyo, speeding towards his home. Just as the village came into sight, it exploded into a sea of flame and destruction as a beam the size of a skyscraper shot through the dark clouds.

 

Bray quickly made his way back to the remains of the village, searching frantically for any sign of life. No one was found alive, all that was left behind were things that could barely even be called remains.

 

The goverment tried to force Bray into a safehouse but he refused. There were a few other survivors still around that had left the village just after hearing of the attack and the large man hunted them down quickly.

 

It was a sorrowful bunch. A few elderly people and some children. His parents hadnt made it out and Bray could only blame himself. If he hadnt been out messing around with friends then he could have gotten his family out of the village and they would still be alive. If anything, he could be dead with them and not have to feel the empty void of their missing.

 

Bray stayed with a elderly couple that he knew from the village for awhile, making sure they were okay. The goverment was taking care of them very well and even offered Bray wellfare. He turned it down, stating that he wasnt a survivor, only a lucky son of a bitch that had been out of town at the perfect time.

 

He tried signing onto the military but had eyesight crippled him. As a child, Bray had been blinded in a accident and was lucky to even have any sight at all. Still, Bray swore that somehow, he would get his revenge on the Judges and justify the deaths of his friends and family.

 

It was a hearty swear but one Bray vowed to keep.

 

Death or revenge.

 

\/\/\/\/\/\/\

 

The audience grew louder by the moment. Cheering on the inhuman act that unfolded in front of them. It was one of the only forms of entertainment still entertaining.

 

The large, white fist was the last thing Kane Kisho saw before sharp pain shot through his right cheek and his saw his vision blur for a split second.

 

He fell back a few paces but regained his feet and stared foreward at the blurry image of his foe. He saw large with bushy hair and rather bulging biceps. Nonetheless, he hit like a sissy.

 

Kane widened his base as to get better balance and so he was lower than his towering enemy. The large man nearly laughed as he saw the smaller man ready for more and came barreling towards him.

 

It may have been inhumane for the people to watch and it may have been a stupid, risky act to take place in but it was the only thing Kane Kisho took pride in. He was a street fighter, a back alley thug that fought for cash and pride. A no good thug that entertained that trash of the slums with his good-for-nothing life. Kane knew how people thought and frankly, did not care.

 

His father had lived in poverty, his brothers had until their untimely deaths and Kane knew for a fact that he was destined to. He couldnt fight it, it was in his destiny. However, Kane amde a vow that he wouldnt live in this world as a worthless poor man. He wanted to be someone, poor or not.

 

Fighting was the one thing Kane had. He could beat the hell out of a man three times his size and keep the crowd happy throughout the bout. It was his skill, his pride.

 

When the Judgement War began, it only strengthened Kane's desire for his occupation. The people in the slums were effected by the war even more so than the rich. They were the ones that would be fighting those aliens, or whatever they were. The poor would be the ones dying for the hope of those still paying taxes.

 

Kane decided that he was one of the few people that could keep the population's spirits up. His brave spirit and ability to peer in the eyes of danger and even spit in it's face had the people confident. There were still warriors in the world that could help the planet.

 

So, Kane Kisho fought. He may not be fighting the Judges but he was helping those who were. He was fighting fear and hopelessness. Helping the planet regain it's confidence. In his own little way, Kane was fighting the war himself.

 

The thought of enlisting had never crossed his mind. His father and eldest brother had joined the Vietnamese army when they saw no more hope. His father had had a heart attack during basic training and Kiyoshi had been shot during service. The military took lives, chewed them up, and spit them at their beloved's feet and Kane vowed his loved one's, and there werent too many left, wouldnt have to go through that pain.

 

The large man's fist came right at Kane once again as a worried shout came from the crowd. A smirk crossed Kane's tan face as he bent a little at the knees and the fist flew over his top of black hair. His own knuckles slammed into the abdomen of his enemy and the large man reared over his pain.

 

Kane jumped back as the man puked, his meager lunch spread all over the ground. After a bit of gagging on his part, Kane swept over the man and gave him a swift kick right in the back of the knee. He fell onto his back as Kane crossed his arms and spat on the male's shirt before raising a hand in victory.

 

The crowd roared in excitment and rushed in to congradulate their fighter. Their hope.

 

And Kane smiled at their approval. They were happy and that was his job. He knew he would have to fight quite a bit as the war went on and pledged that he would do it as long as it worked. The Judges may be able to kill people and destroy citys but they would never break the people's spirit.

 

Espescially not Kane Kisho's.

 

Life was lost in war, but not Spirit.

 

\/\/\/\/\/\/\

 

It was all a mess.

 

Judges. War. Death. Pain. Sorrow. Insanity.

 

It didnt discriminate. It effected all and that was a fact.

 

The Judgement War, the only war in the history of mankind that involved the entire planet as a whole against a force that they could not even identifty. It was kinda sad.

 

Yukio Raidon knew it effected everyone and knew everyone was the same in this war.

 

However, he refused to think of himself as vulnerable. He couldnt fight and knew he would just be a liability in the military. Plus, even he had to laugh at the sight of himself holding a rifle. It was a akward vision.

 

The boy had been born lucky. With a silver spoon in his mouth, as some would say. Heck, he even had the spoon to prove it. His parents had bought one as a birth present for him the day he was born and he still had it hanging on his wall.

 

Just proof of his assets.

 

The war had yet effected Yukio's life in Tokyo until the evacuation was issued. Sure, he'd put up a fight. If everyone moved out of the city except for him and maybe a few choice people then the Judges would surely not attack.

 

The police did not agree and Yukio soon found himself packing his things and making his way out of his beloved city.

 

However, he refused to travel with the masses. He may be the same as everyone else and may be just as vulnerable but he refused to be put into the same category as those helpless sheep. He was not helpless and would never bee seen as.

 

So, Yukio had packed his things, said farewell to his friends and family, and made his own journey out of Tokyo.

 

At first, he didnt know where to go. All his family lived in Tokyo and had called him insane when he decided to leave alone. Yukio didnt intend to leave alone but his helpless family was sold on the illusion that they would be safe where the goverment told them to go. Yukio had laughed.

 

He'd debated where to go many times in his mind. Yukio was a intelligent twenty-two year old and had always been a rational man, despite his boldness. It took some time but he finally made his decision. If the goverment beleived that the Judges would be attacking the largest city in Japan then Yukio would simply go to the opposite. Surely they wouldnt bother attacking the smallest village in Japan.

 

It took some research but he finally found his destination. Haruhoshi, the smallest known village in Japan with the little's population. It only strengthened Yukio's decision when he learned of the village's location. Fifty-three miles of the beach, far away from Tokyo. This would be Yukio's safe haven until the Earth's forces eliminated the Judge threat and he could return to his home in Tokyo.

 

It would simply be a game of waiting.

 

The world was a place for the strong, all other's would die along the way.

 

\/\/\/\/\/\/\

 

The field was illuminated with the lights.

 

The crowd cheered in unison.

 

The grunt of hard working and tired young men filled the air.

 

This was a Friday night for Craig Stone. This was his life.

 

People's views of Craig varied. Some hated him for his talent, some loved him. No matter what they thought, however, didnt change that fact that the young man was gifted.

 

He was a born athlete but worked hard for every ounce of his skill. He was faster than the fastest and could throw a football farther than the pros.

 

You had to be blind to think that the future wasnt bright for Craig Stone.

 

Craig's eyes scanned the field in front of him as he stood behind the line of large, padded men in front of him. They were his protection and each of them put it all on the line for their quarterback. He was a real good guy. The best.

 

He glanced all around him, trying desperatly to remember the feeling. He wanted to always be able to remember his last high school football game of his life.

 

However, Craig did know for sure it would not be his last. He had verablly committed to play college football for Ohio State University next year and they were all too happy to get him. He was the total package. The most athletic kid in the country, one of the most intelligent too.

 

He was a 4.0 GPA student who was already fluent in two language and was attempting to learn a third. Everyone spoke highly of the young man who wore number sixteen. He certaintly was a desired athlete for anyone.

 

Finally, Craig heaved in a deep breath as he decided it was time to end it all. A perfect season, undefeated and this was the last play. They were up by forty and the only reason they were even running another play was for the seniors. So they could remember it all one last time.

 

The ball was snapped and Craig watched it float into his hands. He caught it and dropped back two steps, scanning over the field as his recievers sprinted down it at full speed. It was just for looks though, Craig already knew what he was gonna do.

 

After looking from right to left once more, Craig took off. He sprinted to the right sideline, tucking the ball securly in between his wrist and elbow. The defense didnt even get a chance to react before Number 16 was sprinting down the sideline on a non-stop course for the end zone, and there was nothing they could do about it.

 

A smile crossed the young man's face as he dodged the last possible tackler and jogged into the endzone, watching happily as six points were added to his team's already unbeatable score then shouted in excitment as his teammates came rushing at him with equal enthusiasm.

 

Craig Stone normally wasnt a selfish player but he wanted to go out with a bang. Give his fans something to look foreward when they came to his college games and four years later, professional.

 

He handed the ball to the referee and walked to the sidelines, receiving his team's congradulations modestly. He shook the hand of his tearful coach and walked towards the fence, removing his helmet as he did so.

 

The crowd chanted his name as he came up to the fence and he smiled happily, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. He looked from side-to-side, nodding to his mother and grandfather then watching as the love of his life came jogging up to him.

 

She looked beatiful as she put her small hands on his shoulder pads, ignoring his sweaty uniform. Her smile was to die for and her eyes sparkled with youth. Craig smiled to her as she said something that he couldnt hear over the crowd, then leaned in and kissed her.

 

It was the perfect ending to a perfect high school career. The perfect beginning to a all ready perfect life. Craig had it all and nothing could get in the way of his joy, nothing could stop his success.

 

Craig looked away from his love just in time to see the time tick down. 03, 02, 01...00.

 

The crowd roared as the rest of the team marched out onto the field to shake hands and Craig pushed himself away from his girl to join his teammates. The fans shouts crowding his mind.

 

Good things happen to good people.

 

\/\/\/\/\/\/\

 

"Project Espoir 1"

 

The title echoed in the mind of Professor Ray George.

 

He'd heard the title for the first time months ago, when a former colleague of his had called him up and told him of the mad idea of the scientists Pierre LeFluer. Of course, Professor George respected originality.

 

As soon as LeFluer told him of the project in his own words, George jumped on board and begun his own research. When he heard that the UN had given the go ahead for the project, he'd immediatly packed his things and flown to France for the opening meeting.

 

The entire staff was there, except for two. Dr. Walsh's flight from India had been delayed and Professor Cinton had died in the few months since the beginning of the project.

 

LeFluer sat at the head of the rectangular table, his stopped former making it look like he was staring at the table. Of course, George wouldnt be surprised if the scientists was even having a conversation with the piece of wood. LeFluer was after all, crazy.

 

It was a rumor that had started years ago for reasons unknown. His colleagues had begun the it, telling of the unreasonable and unpredictable antics of the man. Those rumors aided in the near end of the scientists' career. In fact, nothing was heard of LeFluer until he started contacting other's about Project Espoir.

 

Crazy or not, the project was intriguing. George had looked at the older scientists' research and was amazed. It was a long shot and may just be a simple mutation that caused nothing more than some cell disfigurment. Nonetheless, it was worth a shot.

 

Many of the other scientists at the meeting didnt feel the same. The thought of the world's well being put into the hands of a bunch of kids who could hardly call themselves adults, just because they had a genetic mutation. It was very unsettling.

 

Still, just the fact that they were there was proof that the scientists agreed with Raymond. LeFluer's find was intriuiging and the scientists were realistic enough to know that the Earth needed every bit of hope it could get.

 

The meeting had gone by smoothly. LeFluer spoke little, leaving the meeting up to the younger scientists to report their own finds. Some argument broke up but it was all that could be expected at such a converntion. The room was loud as many spoke, translators had to repeat other's words in their own language so it was understandable.

 

Finally, the room grew quiet at a sound of papers hustling. All attention went to the center of the table where the head of the meeting had thrown a stack of yellow folders. Each folder had a few characters on the front: Es1 subs.

 

They all knew what the documents were and they didnt need LeFluer to explain that within those folders were the names of the young people that carried the mutation.

 

Lefluer was looking up now, gazing around the room with a distant look. He cleared his throat and spoke in a raspy monotone, "If you all are done with your banter, we can hand these over to the UN and have our hope rounded up."

 

The crowd once again went up in excited voices as translated and scientists alike spoke in unison. Lefluer simply looked at the folders laying in the center.

 

George knew what was about to happen to those 'kids.'

 

They all carried the same gene. All were within the ages of fourteen and twenty-four. Some would be chosen to defend the planet and George knew that they were going to mature fast.

 

No matter who they were, they were the Earth's last hope.

 

Project Espoir 1 was underway.

 

\/\/\/\/\/\/\

To Be Continued...

\/\/\/\/\/\/\