Prologue (1/3)

There's a question that everyone always asked within the confines of day to day life, that many had pondered and thought about over and over again.

Was everyone created equal?

For most, this answer was a resounding no, and for good reason. There were far too many variables put in place for equality to even be considered a possibility, even for those who were just recently born. Birth complications, disabilities, environment, and proper medical care were just a few examples of differences for those just brought into the world. The only thing everyone had in common was the fact they were born, and the only time they would ever share anything ever again was when they would eventually kick the proverbial bucket just as all living things once did. Inequality was prevalent since birth and the gap widened the further into life one got, the disparity becoming more and more apparent.

Everyone could see it. Not everyone would acknowledge it but everyone could see the differences one way or another.

That being said, if everyone was put into a world where the fight for survival was a universal situation and just living through a singular day was a challenge for what remained of the human population, would everyone be considered equal? Would the playing field be even, where everyone had equal opportunity?

In Akito's opinion, there wasn't any sort of clear definitive answer to that question.

Staring down from the shattered window of a six story building, watching a few goblins drag a screaming male human into a veritable sea of grotesque monsters, Akito struggled to believe that anyone could truly be equal. Regardless of circumstances, some people just had better luck than others while others had next to no luck. Some people could still fall victim to the clutches of the monsters that now roamed the streets of New York even while taking every precaution. On the other hand, some lucky moron could take no precautions and somehow make it through a good portion of the city without alerting a single beast because of sheer luck.

There never had been and there never would be such a thing as true equality. At least that was Akito's opinion.

[["This is Red Robin contacting Denny's. Do you read me Denny's? If so, please respond. Over"]]

Tearing his eyes away from the brutal scene of one screaming, teary eyed man, the black haired Akito slipped the pitch black walkie talkie from his hip.

[["This is Denny's. Go ahead Red Robin,"]] Akito responded, pressing the button on the side before releasing.

It wasn't long before the voice known as Red Robin came back in.

[["The gasoline traps have been set. A storm is on the verge of rolling in but that shouldn't detract from the time needed in which to clear the mission. The metal we're after is about half a Klik from your current position. Arby's is stationed at the halfway point and will provide cover from the street corner should the need arise. Wendy's will help with extraction if things go too far south which they shouldn't if everything goes as planned and no other variables present themselves."]]

"So basically she'll be showing up regardless," Akito muttered to himself. "Since when do these things ever run smoothly."

[["So yes, she'll probably be showing up regardless,"]] Red Robin continued as if he could hear the black haired adolescent. [["Whenever you're ready just give Subway the command and we'll commence the operation. Over and out."]]

As the walkie talkie fell silent, a final scream of pain could be heard from the ground below before the voice was cut off in it's entirety. The rumbles of thunder and the various noises coming from the ocean of monsters still echoed through the city but the shrieks and pleas for mercy had ceased. Akito didn't even have to look to know the monsters had finished playing with their food and were now tearing the man apart, diving into him like a full five star meal. Backing away from the place he had been resting, the young twelve year old strolled over towards an adjoining window and pressed the button on the side of the walkie talkie.

[["Denny's to Subway. Come in Subway. Confirm your positioning,"]]

There was a moment of static before a slightly higher pitched voice responded.

[["This is Subway. Ready and in place. Just give the order and we'll deliver these fuckers a piping hot footlong."]]

[["Very well. All members sound off."]]

[["Red Robin. At the ready."]]

[["Wendy's. Sounding off."]]

[[Subway. Let's get it."]]

[["Arby's. Eyes locked in."]]

As the calls came in one at a time, Akito grabbed a piece of metal resting on one of the rooms nearby office tables and quickly positioned it over a line of wire that had been fixed just above the window. Without waiting for everyone to finish presenting themselves, the young man leapt out of the window and used the metal line to surf towards a much lower building, safely traversing a street crawling with hideous looking puke green goblins. A few of them had the foresight to glance upwards but they didn't get a chance to do anything significant as Akito landed safely into the other building.

Jabbing the button on the walkie talkie, Akito tossed the metal piece to the side, yanking out a pitch black metallic dagger fixed to his hip.

[["Let's get this over with. Stay alive everyone. Subway, light em up."]]

A few seconds passed after that as Akito made a beeline towards the other end of the building, speeding towards the stairs leading to the ground floor. Each and every step was silent despite the speed at which he was going, even when he would step over shards of glass and the skeletal remains of monsters and fellow humans. Not a single sound was uttered as he hopped down the full flight of stairs two to three steps at a time.

Somewhere far away, he heard an earth shattering explosion, one loud enough to be felt with his entire chest.

The mission had just gotten underway.