A Fractured World [Plot]

[Rikutsu]

Destoria.

Once a single world, ruled over by humankind. It all changed in what seemed like an instant, but in reality, the change had begun decades earlier, spanning nearly two generations until everything unraveled and spiraled out of the control of one man who had been behind it all. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. We'll start from the beginning...

~ Chapter One - Ambitions ~

In the year of 2013, a young man by the name of Paul Sullivan accidentally discovered solid evidence of alternate universes. At the age of twelve, he was much too young to truly understand the implications. He had no experience with which to hold onto this proof so that, when he spoke of what he had seen, people would believe him. Because of this, people did not pay any mind to what he told them. His words were passed off as childish fantasies. Imaginary friends. Mere whimsey and make believe. After all, there were no such things as talking cats.

What Sullivan had, in fact, discovered was a race of beings known as Nekomata. He didn't know this at the time, but when no one would listen to him, the lad decided to do some research on his own. The years went by, and when he was in high school, Sullivan still could not let what he had experienced go. Even though he never again had an experience with something otherworldly. Often, he would discuss possibilities with his friends and acquaintances. And although many of them jested and teased him for his ideals, it was difficult for anyone to provide reasons as to why an alternate world couldn't exist. There were simply no worldly or divine laws stating that it was impossible. Alas, humans always find it hard to believe what they cannot see with their own eyes. Sullivan could attest to that, for neither would he believe if he had not encountered the Nekomata as a child. So he forgave them for their ignorance. Instead, he took up research in a variety of scientific courses, including astronomy and astrophysics, always searching for answers to the biggest question that the human race asked; where they really alone in the universe? Sullivan was convinced that they were not and so dedicated his life to the research of alternate universes and supernatural creatures. His ambition would get him far in his chosen career working in atomic, molecular and optical physics, but his focus on alternate universes managed to get him labeled as eccentric and crazy.

With time, the young man began to lose credibility with his peers. No matter how much research he did, no matter how hard he tried to gather proof of what he had experienced, he continued to come up empty handed. Friends and co-workers could only look on with concern as Sullivan slowly began to question his own sanity. Had all he had done been for naught? What he remembered, had it all really been just a dream? A fantasy that he created to amuse himself as a child? Even as he asked himself these things, he knew in his heart and soul that it hadn't all been a dream. He had seen a talking cat. And he was going to prove it.

To Be Continued...

[Rikutsu]

~ Chapter Two - A Dark Turn ~

Paul Sullivan had failed. He had failed in his research. He had failed in his career. And now, he was failing in life. So dedicated to his work as he was, the man had no social life to speak of. His insistence of other worlds and the supernatural had cost him his family, his friends and his career. As he had turned his back on them all, so they too had turned their backs on him. Deemed an incompetent fool and a lunatic, Sullivan found himself utterly alone with his endeavors. He became the laughingstock of his peers and those that knew his name. Eventually, he decided to take his research elsewhere. Somewhere new. Somewhere people didn't know his face or his name. This is how Sullivan found himself living in Los Angeles, where he took up the job as a physics teacher at one of the local high schools, while continuing his mad search in the shadows.

As a middle-aged schoolteacher, Sullivan began devising a way to open up a portal to these other worlds that he was so sure existed. The school provided good cover. If he stayed late to do his research, he always had an alibi; grading tests and other paperwork. And so, his search went on unnoticed. If he could just find one of those Nekomata, capture it, then everyone would believe him. They would have to! He would rub the evidence right in their smug faces and no one would be able to call him crazy ever again.

For years, he toiled away, pouring over documents and information that the scientific community had always laughed at, but Sullivan knew that he would be the one laughing in the end. It took him many years, but to his delight, he managed to construct and complete a device that opened up a small portal to what he assumed was another world. An alternate universe. And it was just the right size for a cat. Thrilled with his success, the man left the machine on overnight inside one of the school's science rooms, making sure that every window and every door were locked up tight before he left. This way, if something were to pass though, it would be trapped in the room and he would be able to fetch it in the morning. However, upon his return the following day, Sullivan was dismayed to see that nothing had come through his portal. Outraged at his own failure, the man vowed that he would make the device larger and stronger. He would drag something out from one of those other worlds if he had to. He refused to be called a fool any longer.

To Be Continued...

[Rikutsu]

~ Chapter Three - Darkness Falls ~

When Sullivan was nearing his fifth year as the school's history teacher, his research was uncovered. Not by the school itself, no, but by a single staff member who reported him to the police. Things did not end the way that the employee had anticipated. Instead of Sullivan being arrested and fired from his job, the government stepped in.

It was revealed to him that they had always been aware of other worlds and that they had been attempting to breach them, just as Sullivan had, but they, too were unsuccessful. However, Sullivan had gotten farther and obtained much more information than even their heavily funded teams. A puzzle, for sure, but it was theorized that Sullivan knew more after actually having an encounter with a supernatural creature and speaking with it. And, although it remained unspoken, due to his crazed determination to succeed and prove the world wrong. With this knowledge, the government demanded that Sullivan continue his research under the guise of a history teacher. Of course, there was no need for such demands, as the man was more than pleased to continue his work. And now, with the government backing him up, he had more than he needed to build the gateway which would open up other dimensions for humankind.

Sullivan toiled away for the next two years, eventually managing to complete his machine and allow a squad of specially trained FBI agents to enter through. This groundbreaking event was held in secret. The world would never know just exactly what had transpired during that time, but what is known is that when the team returned, they had brought back with them something supernatural. Something dangerous. And the government now had this creature under their control. Free to do with it as they wished, and what they wished was to experiment on the being. It was nothing at all what Sullivan had planned. He had merely wanted to prove the existence of the supernatural and alternate universes. His superiors wanted more. They wanted control of these other worlds and the inhabitants. They wanted weapons. Power.

Realizing what he had done, Sullivan attempted to reason with the government and all those who had participated in getting through to this other dimension, but not a soul would hear him. Now that he was no longer needed, he was ignored. For the time being. There were plans to eliminate him to keep him from talking. Sullivan was certain of it. He needed to do something before that happened.

To Be Continued...

[Rikutsu]

~ Chapter Four - A Means To An End ~

Things had changed in the world of Destoria. It was the year 2147 and over a century had passed since the government first announced the discovery of alternate worlds. Unknown to the public, the man who had started it all had been cruelly murdered for what he knew. However, his journal had been passed down from father to son over the generations. Now, Thomas Sullivan was in possession of his great, great grandfather's father's journal. Yet he did not want it. What Thomas read frightened him. And so, the journal and all of its secrets were handed over to his twin sisters; Lea and Lye. What the boy did not know was that his sisters had inherited their ancestors desire for the truth and want for progress into the future. Armed with the knowlege from the journal, the girls were easily pulled into the government's plans. While authorities didn't know about Paul Sullivan's journal, they were aware of the twin's knowlege and intelligence, and accepted them into their world.

Over time, Lea began to question the methods of the government and what they were attempting to accomplish by capturing and controlling supernatural beings from other worlds. These beings were not all dangerous. Many of them were intelligent, had emotions, formed bonds and cared for family, just as humans did. How could everyone around not see this? A rift formed between the two sisters. When their superior caught wind of Lea's opposition, Lye was commanded to silence her sister. Despite their differences in opinion, Lye could not do this. She loved her twin with all of her heart and could not bring herself to execute her boss's orders. Because of this, it was Lea who became the downfall of the government's project. With the help of some who shared her beliefs, a small group infiltrated the largest of the facilities and set free as many supernatural creatures as they could. Together, they went about destroying what equipment they could. Alerted to what was happening, the government quickly rallied their forces to defend their labs, but it was too late. The gates that had been built were gone. All but one. Supernatural beings ran amuck, rampaging against those that had held them captive. The strongest gate that had been built was the last to fall, but an unexpected turn of events changed everything.

Instead of fizzling away as it should have, the last portal collapsed in on itself, twisting into an explosive force that could only be described as a massive, destructive wave that leveled the surrounding area. It spread, and the world appeared to split and fracture. Like a mirror that had fallen, the glass splintering into fragments of what it once was, revealing new facets. Many were lost that day. Both human and supernatural. In a few decades, the human race would still remember. Even if they couldn't always see them, even if they kept to their own societies, the supernatural walked among them. They would always remember.

To Be Continued...