The Tao Kai Chronicles: Volume 1

[Tao Kai Tze]

Volume 1: Remnants

Six Years Ago...
"So... does anybody know how to drive a boat?"
The words loosely escaped his mouth. His bloodied figure being held up by a young man, Retloc, their strength drained from the previous twenty four hours of chaos and disarray. As the group made their way onto the jetty Tao Kai Tze sighed, the wreckage, the carnage behind him, all that was left of Facility X. The sky was starting to get light, dawn was breaking. One more day for him, but those who lost their lives in there- they had seen their last sunset. The boat ride was silent except for the gentle murmur of the engine. Heads bowed in the same pose as Tao now stood, six years after that boat journey, outside a facility, rustic and old, vines crept against the wall, memories echoed through the corridors. Tao stepped through the broken glass of the front door, the frosted logo shattered to pieces. He glanced towards the desk, the place where the receptionist once sat, he couldn't even remember her name now. Something caught his eye though, a picture, the frame coated in a heavy layer of dust. His eyes seemed to close for a fraction longer thank a blink as he picked it up and wiped it down. Eleven faces, youthful and smiling, without the taint of age, united. Strong. The picture held tight in one hand the resonant sound of shattered glass smashed the silence. The crunch of the glass underneath his feet did nothing to deter his prompt exit from the facility, leaving nothing behind but an empty frame, the photograph stored safely in his pocket. As his shadow seemed to linger on the building one thing remained in clear view, a plaque on the wall-
"Site B."


Two Years Ago...
"This will be the best thing for all parties concerned. If The Third Power assumes behind the scenes control of both facilities things will run much smoother from now on. You have made the right decision Mr. Von Sant."
Like a fool Vladimir Von Sant, founder of Site B and Sector Zero, believed the stylish and elegantly dressed man. This was his mistake, signing over control of his companies, and effectively loosing control of everything he had known. The Third Power had approached him several weeks ago and after thinking things over and having his lawyer read the contract Vladimir signed up for something more terrible than he ever imagined. The Third Power were more evil than he had ever imagined, the work he had assigned his labtechs was made null and void, his companies torn asunder and the final nail in the coffin, the closure of his facilities. It was at this time that Tao Kai Tze moved to G Corp and began working under their employment. Unfortunately, The Third Power would not let a valuable asset leave that easily and shortly after arriving in G Corp Tao found himself under the constant influence of the Third Power.


Eight Months Ago...
"We're sorry but we think its for the best. There have been so many incidents and your employment here has been something of a marvel, we're honestly surprised you haven't quit yet but its in the best interests of yourself, and G Corp, if you take some well deserved sick leave."
Tao just stared blankly at the wall. He knew what this meant, G Corp was effectively putting him on an undetermined leave from the labs. Nay, from the company altogether. No less, he graciously packed his desk away and left wondering what he would do with his life now he was no longer involved with his life long dream.


Three Weeks Ago...
"So this is all I have to do. This is it. Then I'm out."
The mans voice wavered as he held in his hand a photograph. A group of people. Eleven faces all standing on front of a facility, a piece of the past captured long ago- forever condemned to be imprisoned in that picture.
"Then you're out. It's as easy as that."
A darkly clad figure, a youthful face filled with malice and hatred, a face scarred and ruined before its time that almost hinted at an age long past, an age which the memory had forgotten but the flesh had remembered. Perhaps it remembered it all too well.  

[Tao Kai Tze]

Four Days Ago...
The winds whistled through the palm trees whose leaves drooped and hung low on the small Isle De Gambino. A storm was coming, something big, something bad- something that essentially would irradicate the remnants of the past to pave the way to the future. The storm clouds gathered and the bustling town below hurried around in an inaudiable clutter, voices muted by the gale force breeze and the clatter of debris as it collided with various inanimate objects on the island. A shambling figure rambled through the storm, his messy hair dancing wildly on the wind, his ragged clothes black as the dead night sky, but wet, not from rain, but from blood. The deep crimson penetrated the blackness of the clothes, the mans pale skin tainted by the continuous flow of blood from his body. He stumbled forward, every inch of him trying to push forward, to move onwards, to get inside somewhere, anywhere. To relieve himself from the pain and the agony of his wounds.

Stumbling forward like a shambling mess Tao's breathing became heavier and heavier. The rain lashed and tore at his face, it ached from the wind. and the wound in his stomach was getting continually worse but a safe haven was close at hand. At last a shelter. A banging door to a basement, located just outside a small shop. He wound his way in round the stairs, reaching a restrained arm upwards to close the cellar door behind him. His vision fading he toppled over, his body thundering down the concrete stairwell and landing in a crumpled, confused heap at the bottom.

Crawling across the floor he found an old oil lamp, taking an almost drenched pack of matches from his pocket he opened the glass front of the lamp and light the wick. The light illuminated the room. A store of some description, probably used for the shop above. Tao rummaged softly through the boxes strewn across the room until he came across a fine, and expensive looking shirt. He tore it to shred as best he could and began to bandage himself. Slowly he drifted off into unconsciousness.

He awoke several hours later to the sounds of feet pattering around outside and the gentle trickle of water from the aftermath of the storm. The injury he had sustained ached as he stretched to stand to up. No less, he was here for the final piece of the puzzle. Several weeks previous he had been tasked with a chore, something which would finally get him out and away from his links with The Third Power- an evil, heartless corporation. A task which he never intended to do, but had every intention of faking. The man he had met with had assigned him the chore of eliminating everybody who knew anything about the The Third Power and its dealings with Site B and G Corp. Tao had tracked down all of his former associates and cunningly planned, down to each and every last detail, their demise. Or at least, what would appear to be their demise. He met each member and meticulously faked their deaths and with each name struck off the list he was certain his friends would be safe from the reaches of the Third Power. Those were his intentions all along.