Broken Republic and all affiliated Chapters and characters are copyright Steven Swanson 2000-2001. The characters and events in this document are purely fictional, any resemblance between the characters and any person, living or dead, are purely coincidental. UNATCO, the FBI, the CIA, the NYPD, INTERPOL, the Spetznaz, the Mossad, and the NSA are all real organizations and should not be cited as the creation of any single person. Mason Industries is not affiliated with any existing corporations in the real world. Due to mature content, reader discretion is advised. No part of this document may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission of the author. Steven Swanson is not responsible for any difficult reading caused by the influence of drugs, alcohol, or just plain idiocy. If you are offended by some of the content in this script, that's your problem. Conspiracy theorists are warned not to take this seriously, and that this disclaimer is to simply cover my ass and make aware to plagiarists that ALL the aforementioned agencies feel that that practice could be bad for your health. Uh, well, that's pretty much it. Don’t say you haven’t been warned, and get reading!

May 11, 2020

The sunset on the beaches of Thailand reminded Paul of that morning on Myrtle Beach when the sky was clear and he could look out onto the ocean as far as the horizon could reach. A million ephemeral sparkles glinted and flashed along the ebbing, living sea while a brilliant reflection mirrored the red sun as it finally began to sink to sleep beyond the horizon. The scents of the sea blasted into his nostrils with the soothing cool breeze, causing him to calmly close his eyes and take in the scents. He deduced them: Fish, seawater, plankton, algae, sand, and a slight taint of pollution that trailed along a distant fishing boat.

He looked through his orange illuminated eyelids and pulled his right foot through the sand, feeling the fine grains pass under his footpads and scratch around his claws. Distracted by a slight movement on his furred right arm, he looked down to see Dana nuzzling up against his warm fur, clutching his arm and resting her head in his lap. Sprawled across a beach towel that had flapped up against her bare leg in the wind, Paul deduced that she was stirring from sleep.

Looking back at the horizon, he remembered what Amanda had said about his relationship with Dana, everything about going ahead. Looking back on the past two years, he realized what a coward he had been when it came to standing up for himself. Dana had given him something to truly live for, something real, a sense of devotion and loyalty, and priorities.

A cool gust of wind cut through the thick fur on his bare chest and chilled his skin, making him shiver slightly as a rod of icy discomfort shot up his spine. Along with the wind came the smell of garbage, not the greasy, pathogen rich trash of the U.S., but more a heady, organic smell. Dana must have caught a whiff as well, as she was stirring from sleep with a wrinkled nose. She sniffed like a dog that had caught the scent of a cat and rose with the same attitude, jolting out of her fully reclined position.

With a squint, she sat up and rubbed her eyes. "Mmmm… Yuck, what is that?"

Paul smiled and looked at her as she got up and cradled her legs with her arms. She had a strange radiance in the orange light. "Just some trash." He pointed out a trash barge approaching slowly from the west. "I think we might be just in time for the night shift." He spotted fishermen and nocturnal workers stumbling across the beach to their primitive, but strangely sturdy fishing boats. The accelerating putter of a one-cylinder engine sounded in the distance. Dana looked at her watch.

"Good lord! How long have I been asleep?"

"Since that game of volleyball. You looked pretty beat."

She smiled candidly, looking into his eyes. "Thanks for keeping me warm. You bring a whole new meaning to ‘security blanket’."

Paul chuckled slightly, looking at the gold band on his left ring finger. This was quite a honeymoon, he had to say for himself. It was amazing that his old-school parents and Dana’s left wing parents managed to cooperate and organize a Christian wedding. His stepparents, though opposed to genetic testing, had a respect for the military, while Dana’s liberal anti-military family ignored the fact that he was UNATCO and encouraged the decidedly interspecies marriage, always trying new things.

It couldn’t have worked any better, though the ceremonies were still somewhat rocky. Since the introduction of genetic splicing in humans as well as cellular symbiosis, clinics and practitioners clamored for the facilities to splice people cosmetically or athletically, though the government put restrictions as to how much. The devout Christians, however, looked at this as playing God, pointing out that God created man in his own image on the sixth day. Either way, all the ignorance in the world couldn’t topple two people who really cared for each other and understood each other.

Not that they would actually engage in intercourse, however. That would be quite disgusting, and as much as the scientists denied the possibility of fertilization, the idea of having a freakish child that would probably not survive childbirth horrified him and Dana. They could wait, but for now they’d have to settle for mere social interaction.

Paul leaned into her, speaking with a mischievous grin. "You played pretty well out there… for a human." She smiled back, teasingly shoving his shoulder and torso into the soft sand. "Hey!"

Fighting back playfully, he soon pinned her down on her back by her shoulders. He smiled wolfishly as she reached up and kissed his nose, which he returned the only way he could, licking her on the cheek. "Tell me something, did you have any thoughts about those guys we played with?"

With a devilish smile, she replied. "Those Speedo-wearing libertines? Of course not!" Paul gestured in a classic Pinocchio style, pretending that his nose was growing to a tree-sized lie. "Oh, alright, alright. I guess I thought about it a little, but what could I do? Besides, it’s not like you didn’t drool when you saw those scantily clad Australian bikini girls… did you?"

In a tight-lipped, suppressive grin, he carefully upturned the corners of his mouth. "Perhaps."

"Why did I get the feeling you’d say that?"

"Instinct?"

With a silent, friendly pause, Dana hobbled up to stand on the sand. "Come on, fuzzy, we’re wasting valuable honeymoon time. Besides, you need to wash all that sand out of your fur!"

"Alright, alright, I get the picture."

Strolling down the beach, Paul eased his hand around her shoulder and held her tight. She appreciated his warmth and protection from the cold sea breeze, and by now he noticed that she was developing a decent tan, something he hadn’t seen in her before. She stopped, looking at the last trace of sun over the water.

"It’s beautiful, isn’t it?"

"The sunset? Yes, nothing quite like it anywhere else."

"You know, I’ve never seen an ocean sunset before."

"You haven’t been at the beach, even in America?" She nodded. "My God, that’s criminal! How could anyone deprive you of one of the most spectacular scenes conceivable?"

She shyly responded. "I spent most of my life in Canada. Not many good beaches there, and in New York, it’s just not quite the same."

"You’re absolutely right. Nothing quite compares to this, like nobody quite compares to you." She stopped in her tracks, suddenly in deep contemplation. "Dana, is something wrong? Dana?"

As the final sliver of sun set beneath the horizon, she turned to Paul. "Paul, do you think it will last?"

"What do you mean? Our relationship? Of course! I’d never betray you or cheat…"

"That’s not what I meant. This… this beauty… I’ve never seen anything so spectacular or felt so warm and invigorated since I met you. I never knew the world could be beautiful."

Paul’s innocent questioning ceased. He knew what she was thinking. "Dana, you’ve been through a lot of negative experiences, just as I have, but you have to remember that it’s not how you pass time on this world, it’s how you use the time that’s left. I risk life on the job every day, so I take it in as much as I can when I can. The world has it’s own special beauty wherever you go, you just have to look at it differently."

"Is beauty always so ephemeral?"

"Of course not. Haven’t you looked in the mirror lately?"

"Yes." She smiled, almost blushing. "Paul, you flatter me. I’m just a simple Canadian woman earning my keep as a doctor."

"You know what I see? I see a goddess, not just by appearance, but in spirit. I know you enough to see that we’re both the same. Two years ago, I made a commitment to you that I will never forget, and now I enjoy every minute I possibly can with you. I was a fool, had to realize that it wasn’t my job that excited me so much, it was getting to see you. Now that you’re with me, I know you won’t have to make my mistakes to learn from them."

She looked into his eyes in a melancholy manner. "Paul, I know this sounds strange, but I can’t be entirely convinced as long as you’re a wolf."

His ears sunk in disappointment and he soon found that his tail had gone limp. "Is that all you see in me Dana? A freak of human creation, a genetic byproduct?"

"NO! No, that’s not what I meant. You know that I love you no matter what, but we can’t be a family like this, don’t you see? I want kids, I want to be with you, but it’s just that nothing seems to be under my control anymore. I’ve been barred from my friends for being with you, I can’t have children with you, and everywhere I go, I see a world that just can’t hold."

He embraced her. Now was not the time for an argument or a misunderstanding. This was just a dark chapter in the world’s history, one where the only two things that really mattered to people were money and themselves. "Dana, I know what you’re trying to say, but you have to understand that to survive in today’s world, you’ve got to be strong, and the only person who can do it is yourself. You taught me this yourself, Dana. You. Now look me in the eyes and tell me we haven’t had a good honeymoon." She turned, preparing to speak to his face, but suppressed her words.

Paul tried to continue. "Think about it, we’ve had a great time! Look around! We’re in Thailand. This is the stuff of dreams! We saw an entire market on the water, we saw temples and traditions thousands of years old, we strolled the shores of one of the world’s most beautiful beaches… we ate tentacles!"

She smirked at his last words, half trying to cheer up and half remembering the fiasco with the fish sauce. "Have you gotten the smell out of your shirt yet?"

He laughed. "Sorry, you know how that stuff leaves a stink." He pointed at her in a friendly manner as a smile, then a toothy grin formed on her face. "You see, you see! Come on, it’s not that hard."

"Alright, I’ve had a great time, the best in my life. I’m just sad it’s so close to being over."

He pulled her close, her smooth skin mildly tickling his fur, and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Yeah, I know. I know. Try looking at it not as the end of a vacation, but just the beginning of a promising future together."

"It had better be. I’m not going to keep working 14 hour shifts for the rest of my life, I’ll give you that!"

"And I won’t be this way for much longer. As soon as I get back, I’m talking with Verkerke about my return to humanity."

Suddenly, Dana became giddy and excited at the prospect of his change. "You will? What if he doesn’t let you?"

"That’ll be hard. We’re good friends and I’m a convincing speaker. Things will work out. I just have to make a few more sacrifices."

Dana appeared irritated, as though more obstacles had just stepped in her path. "What now?"

"Relax. I’m planning on quitting from UNATCO as well, in a year or so. That way my pension and benefits will include Ambrosia access, if that’s what you were most concerned about."

"Well, that wasn’t my first opinion. Are you quitting just for me?"

"For you and other reasons. UNATCO is efficient, but a guy like me just can’t kill people and act as if nothing has happened. I’ve served my country and many others, but I’m tired of war. I need you, and I need some peace and quiet."

"Where were you planning on going?"

"How does California sound? I hear their electricity system’s still a mess, and that they could use engineers like myself. I don’t suppose you’d be willing to work there, would you?"

"With you, I’d follow you anywhere. Besides, California’s a nice place." She paused, realizing that California was also a large place. "Where did you say you were thinking of working?"

"San Diego, or perhaps Frisco. They need someone to work with superconductors to replace the older systems."

"I’ll look into it. There have to be plenty of medical jobs in such a populated area."

Paul stopped, raising an eyebrow quizzically. "You’ll be okay with this?"

"Paul, I may still look young, but I’m perfectly capable of moving and changing jobs."

His face shone with a jubilant, but wolfish smile. "Then it’s settled. California it is!" All he had to do now was convince his superiors. Quitting can’t have been a new concept, so he was certain they’d let him go.

That evening was much quieter. The expression on Dana’s face, a somewhat stupid, carefree smile, seemed to signal her happiness. Lying in bed, she stroked the fur on his chest while he surfed the channels on the massive television laid inside the wall behind a painting façade. As expected, there were plenty of local channels that he couldn’t understand and probably wouldn’t want to; they seemed pretty trashy. Of course, Star network had some good shows, though they were somewhat dated. One channel had old reruns of "The West Wing", while "Ed" shows aired on another. It was like reliving his childhood. He smiled as he even stumbled across the Japanese version of "The Weakest Link", now a smash hit in Asia. He found it hard to suppress his laughter as the poorly dubbed translation sounded.

"You aa da weekest leenk… Goobye!"

Flipping further, he found HBO and stopped to deduce what movie it was. What automatically signaled him was the fact that it was animated, but in half Japanese, half American style. He also remembered that HBO mainly aired American movies. It had to be new, because American Anime was a pretty new concept. As a curvaceously illustrated Asian heroine blasted at bad guys, who flew back with each shot of her pistols. Doing a double twist in the air while firing her twin pack revolvers, he marveled at the stunning animation and decidedly Hollywood style. After the lightning Sabadai action sequence stopped and she was forced to drop a couple of armed thugs with a massive spin kick, then swing her fist upward to finish off a villain that had risen from behind. He marveled at her cool composure, her strength, and her strange purple hair that was cut to a bob. It seemed to trigger something in Dana’s mind.

"Wow! They’re showing Oni! Have you seen this before?"

"Actually, no. How is it?"

"It’s really good. Not too realistic on the action side, though."

"I know what you mean. She looks like she could blow the left nut off a squirrel at 50 yards with that kind of accuracy. Damn, I wish I could shoot like that."

"It’s just a movie, you of all people shouldn’t take it seriously."

He paused for a moment, remembering the time he trained her with a pistol. He hoped she would never have to encounter danger terrible enough to need one, but one couldn’t be too careful these days. She nuzzled up against his arm and made herself comfortable on the bed, her eyes drooping.

"Tell me about your parents, honey."

"Why?"

"Because you’ve never told me about them, like you’ve got some deep, dark secret about them. Come on Paul, we’re married, for God’s sake. Now’s not the time to hold back secrets. Remember, I told you about my ‘Lady Godiva’ incident."

Paul pondered for a moment, amused at the story of how she had taken a dare at horse camp to ride nude around the counselors’ cabin. Indeed, he did have a secret; he hadn’t lived with them long enough to remember much. "Well, my mother, I remember, was the Italian one. I don’t remember much, but I do remember when she used to tuck me into bed and stroke my hair. She’d use to tell me stories about her homeland, and they all seemed so magical to me. I never got to visit Italy, or get in touch with her parents after the crash."

"Crash?"

"Yes, I don’t remember much. I remember being alone, confused, I remember crying as the Policeman carried me from my home for the last time. They said that it was quick, that their car had incinerated after the crash and that the car was so totaled that there was no way they even survived a second of the crash. And I always thought my dad was a superhero.

"Oh my God. I’m so sorry, Paul."

He sighed, the memories flowing back in an unpleasant wave. "Don’t be. You didn’t know. Anyway, I was strong, and perhaps I was too young to fully understand. My grandparents had passed away, and my uncle was deemed unfit as a parent by the court, so I spent a short time with my aunt in Brooklyn as the paperwork got squared away. My parents had never written a will, so I, as the only child, got the inheritance. Unfortunately, my father must have been the only good apple in his family, ‘cause my aunt soon squandered the money and assets on bad investments, gambling, drinking, and lavish living. The alcohol was the worst. She and Christy, my cousin, would always hole up in my room or hers and we’d find ways to amuse ourselves while our aunt was in a drunken fury.

"What happened next?"

"We were separated after someone reported child abuse in our home. Christy said that it was probably one of her ex-boyfriends, Jeff. I found myself in the hands of the authorities again, and soon social workers took my cousin and I to separate foster homes. At the time, nobody wanted two children, but plenty of people wanted just one."

"How old were you then?"

"About nine. I had spent two years in my aunt’s home until then. My next family was the Calabrese family, in Fairfax, Virginia. It was such a shock to me to see how much some people cared, and how well off people were. They were avid republicans, as well as a military family, and since my foster mother, you know Anna, was an orthodontist, they were pretty rich too. That’s when I met James. He and I were pretty close, just about the same age… we were always competing with skating tricks, and when our parents paid for Tae Kwon Do lessons for self defense, we really got to beating the crap out of each other." He chuckled to himself, remembering all the times the two engaged in intense sibling rivalry. It was strange how he could look back at such terrible occurrences and realize how humorous they were introspectively.

Dana smiled, interested in the story. "So that’s how you and your stepbrother got acquainted."

"You could say that. Anyway, I was really lucky to get into the Calabrese family."

"It seems like they raised you right."

"Maybe they did, and I can’t help but thank the cops and government workers that put me into the right family. That’s part of why I eagerly joined the ROTC, aside from my stepfather. I wanted to give some of that compassion back. When I got in, the Army was not all it was cracked up to be, so I joined UNATCO. That way, I could be a cop and a soldier at the same time. I could have a shot at saving lives while enjoying all the perks of military service. I had no idea it would take this kind of dedication, though." "Most of my real family is gone. My aunt died of ovarian cancer five years ago, my uncle eloped overseas, and any other relatives I have are hidden forever thanks to the fact that all of my parental figures are gone. I do know where Christy went, though. She’s got a steady job managing a Target store in Minneapolis. We keep in touch. Sometimes I wish I could see her more often, though. I just don’t know if she’d accept me as the person I’ve become."

Suddenly, he heard a slight, droning snore, and realized that Dana had just fallen asleep on his arm. Smiling at her tranquil, beautiful appearance, he carefully tried to pull his arm out, but only managed up to his forearm before he realized it was jammed under the pillow her head had subconsciously found.

"Dana… Paul needs his arm back…" Feeling tired himself, he finally managed to extract his arm before rolling on his side, curling up slightly, and lightly holding Dana’s limp arm.

"Lights, off."

The room darkened and took a navy blue, almost black hue. Several dull lights poked through the fabric of the curtains, shedding enough light to bathe the room in a soothing blue. His wolfen eyes soon adjusted to the light, but as his eyelids rolled shut, he sighed in mild relief, drifting to sleep with images of Siamese temples and ornately dressed traditional dancers with thick blue mascara rolling through his head.

He abruptly woke to a heavy rapping at the door. With sore, crystallized eyes and a dry nose, he fumbled for the nearby clock and read its digital face. It read "03:47a". Sliding out of bed, the incessant knocking at the door pounded about his skull as if someone had thrown a bowling ball inside his cranium. In a dreary, aggravated tone, he barked out.

"Ugh, Lights! On!"

Staggering out of bed, he threw a quick tantrum and hobbled to the door. His canine muzzle created problems when trying to peep through a hole, so he simply pulled the door open and let the attached chain become taut. The knocking only ceased when he pulled back the door.

"What the hell are you…" He looked out, seeing two Thai UNATCO reserves on both sides of a slim, almost malnourished looking Thai official with tired eyes and a melancholy frown. He was wearing a brown coat and light gray Micromattique pants that fit loosely over his minute frame. Paul was quick to release the chain and open the door. "Vinh, what the fuck are you doing here? It’s not even Four A.M."

With a strong Thai accent, he spoke in a rather urgent tone. "Paul, we need to talk. Something’s come up."

"What’s wrong with you people? I thought Buddhism was supposed to be the world’s most courteous culture! It’s bad enough that the entire prospect of sex with my wife is missing because of UNATCO. Now you come here at some ungodly hour and wake me up to discuss business ON MY HONEYMOON??"

"Paul! I’m not here to discuss business. It’s your brother."

Paul’s anger suddenly melted into concern and fear. "What’s happened to him? Is something wrong?"

The nearby men removed their helmets and pressed them against their breasts with solemn frowns. Vinh’s head seemed to droop as though he were the reluctant prince of darkness. Paul knew what was coming, but didn’t want to believe it.

"Paul, I’m terribly sorry. Your brother… has died in service."

He keeled to the floor, shedding tears and clutching at locks of fur on his scalp. The shedding hair pulled off easily, though with some pain, but Paul couldn’t feel it. He looked up and snapped in denial, gritting his teeth. "No. No, it’s not possible!" He grabbed Vinh by the collar, surprising him and startling his escort. "You’re fucking lying!!" Before the guards had a chance to restrain him, he pushed Vinh away through the door. "Get away from me!"

As he crumbled onto his knees, the cold marble floor of the doorway seemed to swallow him up whole and envelop him in darkness and despair. The three men didn’t dare touch him in this state; he seemed inconsolable. They just solemnly stood their ground, holding back their compassion as his tears began dropping onto the floor.