LAND of the FREE (A Dystopian Society in a Post-Apocalyptic America) (Mystical Slayers Book 1) Read online

  The biological wars were next.

  The world was devastated and changed forever. It had become a land of survival. You would do all you could to stay alive, to take care of anyone you called friend or family. Buildings collapsed, food became harder to come by, water ran low, fuel was all but gone unless you were rich, and life, as anyone once knew it, was gone.

  One source of ultimate outright tyranny, the Y-Wood Corporation, through greed and never ending corruption, became a world leader in wealth and power. They would take the never-ending and always evolving amazing technology advances to bigger, astronomical heights. The rich would now be the richest. There would be no middle ground; only the poor, the ones that lived day-to-day, fighting for scraps and pushed to worship this mega conglomerate Corporation.

  And now lastly, some sort of human population decrease was being sought. Birth allotments were lowered. Only those with money were allowed to have a child out in the open. With such decrees, more war erupted and soon the world will be no more.

  It now appears that no one can change the soon-to-be full failure of human existence.

  Yet, even in the world's darkest hour, and with the land on a crescendo of complete annihilation, mankind always seemed to find a way . . . but this time, it's through womankind.

  What started as very small meetings, those representing a resistance that was perhaps more mental than outright, came the idea of a group of freedom fighters that never really stopped growing. For close to two centuries it had lingered more in thought than action.

  The others simply called her "Mother" and even at the age of just nineteen, Metaya Valteese had already started to put a plan into action. It took help, and she stopped at nothing to find it. She sought out the best doctors and scientists from far and wide. She became a wild soul, a gypsy traveler. She was driven by what her adoption agency's caretaker had once said, "This whole robot revolution is a bit mad; the concept of artificial intelligence watching over us, telling us what to do, how to act, how to live . . . it's fucking terrifying. We need to stop altering what we are as human beings, and actually figure out who we are as humans."

  Yes, those last words stuck with Mother. We need to stop altering what we are as human beings, and start actually figuring out who we are as humans. Yet, as the years went by, nothing changed. Oh the resistance grew, people followed her, others joined from different locations all over the country, but nothing really changed.

  So, she had to fight! She reached out to more masters of science, philosophy, technology, combative professors, martial arts masters, and anyone and everyone who could help her create a force of females that could somehow help to change the world.

  Interestingly, she only enlisted girls in the new sisterhood, that which she so named "The Mystical Slayers". It was just easier this way. She made the choice, and hoped the bonds would grow. And they did.

  With technology working and growing at abnormal rates, Mother chose to work with such advancements. The best of her girls would be created by using only the DNA of those who could represent this vision in mind, body, and spirit. They would look for beauty, intelligence, and willpower. Then, as young children, they would be introduced to neural brain enhancements, and to the best physical trainers for fighting and bodily defense. Scientists were enlisted to create a cutting edge drug. This was to be the turning point of the sisterhood.

  Starigen 6280, a top secret formula, was what the best of the best came up with. Its formula was never to be written down, only taught by word of mouth from those truly loyal to the cause. That cause being to thwart the Corporation known as Y-Wood; the new world leader in messing everything up, and turning the country into a survival of the richest.

  The super drug gave its user increased brainpower, triple the adrenaline, thicker, stronger bones, and a much higher tolerance to pain. Its HGH injection offered leaner and stronger muscle mass which, coupled with the added energy and skin strengthening ingredients, made the drug indispensable for the sisterhood to succeed.

  The truth was, not everyone could handle such a drug, or the rigorous training that came with all these enhancing powers. Mother could not build the sisterhood fast enough.

  Patience was a virtue she had to adhere to.

  But time awaits no one, and as the years continued to pass, Mother grew older. She was a beacon of hope, the strongest spirit alive, and her followers loved her dearly.

  She would not live to see the world get better. But all she had accomplished would not go to waste. Like anything in life, there are periods of time when everything goes right and, about thirty years ago, several women were born. These women were not like those that came before them. Oh, they all had great resolve, and worked hard to help people and they fought the tyranny of the rich. But this crop of sisters was special. This is their story!

  Welcome to the Land of the Free.

  Chapter 2

  The young girls all lined up in a single row. "Good morning," spoke a small Asian man with long, dark pony-tailed hair, as he walked about the training hall area. "Today is a bright new day. I want to see smiles, and I want all of you to focus." He knew this was easier said than done with these rascals.

  His name was Massaki Mi Sensei. His job was to teach seven young ladies the physical and mental aspects of the martial arts. He was of Japanese descent, that of the legendary samurai. Massaki Mi Sensei himself was also a modern combative fighter, with a spiritual side that the ladies would need to understand and cultivate as much as the physical parts of their study.

  In the line stood seven young ladies. Raegan, the yellowish-haired, green-eyed whiz kid, who always had an answer to every move she was ever taught. It was like she could see three steps ahead and could not stop asking for more information on the lesson, even before she knew the first step. Then there was Mahira, a dirty-blond haired total tomboy, who was naturally as tough as nails. Sinaye, a long dark-haired wonder girl, who was way too busty for such a small kid, stood next to her. Sinaye was so smart, she would recall every skill even after just one lesson. Next to her was Blu, the wild, colorful one. She was never able to focus like the others, yet she’d try anything and did it with reckless abandon. Jansa, a hazel-eyed blondie fell in beside Blu. The girls all called her a wee bit of a perfectionist, always needing to do everything so right. Man, was she a cute, fluffy-haired kid. Brown-haired Zaey, a slim import from down under and no chicken shit, was next. She would argue every move, trying to make up her own techniques as they went about their sessions. Next was Chaya, now bumping into Zaey on purpose. She was a tiny, adorable, reddish-brown-haired girl with the gift of the gab. Basically, she never stopped talking. This, to say the least, was the teacher's prized class so far.

  Little did he know, it just might be the best class for the future of the entire world.

  The seven peanuts in line, once they found focus, were good little students.

  Each day they learned grace, inner strength, and courage. These three aspects of their efforts would carry them for several years in learning the arts.

  The art's sensei would teach them all types of unarmed combat. Sensei named them by their ancient old tags which were Muay Thai, Jiu-jitsu, and Ninpo. Day after day, week after week, year after year, the girls would learn punching, kicking, striking with the elbows, the knees, and the proper movements that went with each study. Foot work was essential, as was breathing. The Sensei would never let them forget their lessons, and the repetitions were never-ending. The girls struggled on many of the days to stay focused and not get bored. But, outside of such hard training, they formed a wonderful bond as friends.

  Sensei would lay out mats daily, and the kids would wrestle and grapple all about them. Leverage was important on the ground. The ladies learned arm locks, strangulation techniques, leg busters, pressure points, and how to defend against a raging opponent when on the ground. The pain and injuries came and went. None were allowed to quit. Of the seven, none did!

  The mental aspect
s of such lessons were a series of meditations and concentration drills. Each young lady was asked to keep calm in the hardest of situations. Sensei would say, "Your spirit is your true shield." Through it all, the young girls became strong in both body and mind.

  Their sponsor was an older lady, her name was never given. She wrote just a few lines on paper, which all the girls got to read when their initial five years of training ended.

  "This is my gift to you. No one can ever take it from you. Use it for the better of humanity. Be proud of what you know. You are all destined to do great things."

  ***

  Over the years, other young girls would join the sisterhood and each and every one of them was instructed, not only in the martial arts, but in many other areas too.

  First off, they were taught what it was to be a woman in a time of utter chaos. They were all to offer and demand respect from any and all people they encountered. Respect was the first step in getting to realize they were special and worth defending in this mad world. Then they were taught that the hard work put in with both mind and body, makes you feel like you deserve success. All of them had to put the work in, or they would eventually fall out of the sisterhood.

  Neural implants to enhance their visual and auditory perception were placed into those who made it through the tests and training. Their reasoning and interpretation was also juiced up. Medical know-how was also learned in great detail from a very young age.

  The prized students were, in time, told of their creation. Yes, they were all human, but as yet unknown, each of them was enhanced at birth with a special drug. Starigen 6280 was a creation of the sisterhood hundreds of years ago. A top secret formula that could never be mimicked, and could never get into the hands of the Corporation. Taking the drug became a natural part of life for all the teens and older, elite sisters within the sisterhood.

  As noted before, Starigen 6280 gave its user increased brainpower, tons of extra adrenaline, thicker, stronger bones, and a very high pain tolerance. Its HGH injection offered leaner and stronger muscle mass which, coupled with the added energy and skin strengthening ingredients, made the drug the most sought after in the country. Each sister would have to continue to see that its secrets were kept as just that. They would also need to administer it to themselves on a daily basis. Each learned its ingredients, dosages, history, and more, time and time again.

  When it came to political or worldly views, the girls were schooled in that area too. The aspects of freedom, justice, and democracy were well taught lessons. The world was one-sided; there were the rich, and then everyone else. People were suffering and dying at tremendous rates. The view of the sisterhood from centuries before had never changed. The girls were born and raised to try to make a difference, to fight for the citizens; the people of a rumored once great nation. One which was now divided and ruled mostly by the tyrant-led, mega-wealthy, robotic, resource-hogging corporation, Y-Wood. Everyone knew what that name really stood for. YOU WILL OBEY OR DIE!

  Each of these women was birthed to be special. Yet it mattered only a little in the past. The resources in a torn, semi-apocalyptic world were just not there. In time, the sisterhood grew stronger, but so did the technology and immense world-wide power that was Y-Wood and the partnerships they formed.

  You were with them, or against them. Those who resisted their power would barely survive.

  ***

  Years later …

  This year's gathering was not like the others. There would be a training session the night before, which all Q-Jin were required to attend. The location was a secluded retreat zone in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. You would get lost even if you knew the spot, even if you'd attended the year before. Yet a landmark of an old man’s face in the rocks was the one signal that told you to be relieved, that you were close, or at least on the right route. Q-Jin was a robotic term in their language, used to name the secret sisterhood gathered here today. A world of robots was the norm these days and like everything else, they were under the watchful eye of Y-Wood.

  The morning session began with exercises and warm-ups. Mahira had everyone do fifty push-ups, and after this you knew that when you arrived here, you better be in good enough shape to keep up. The well-known and pretty, yet tough-as-hell competitive gladiator was yelling the moment it all began. "Let's go, ladies, if you can't do these with me, you should have stayed home."

  After the push-ups, rolling practice took place. Each woman would roll forward coming back on her feet, then roll forward again, this time landing on her side. Next they would all roll backwards and come up on their feet. Lines were made and a drill called "shrimping" was started. Each Mystical Slayer and trainee had to turn on their sides and worm-style their way up and down the training area. Mahira led the warm-ups and continued on into falling practice. Here the women would fall backwards and sideways, landing safely while tucking in their chins and slapping the floor. "Remember," Mahira insisted, "if you can't fall safely when thrown, the fight will end before you have a chance to get back up. Keep doing it until it feels like muscle memory."

  Raegan, with her lip ring proudly showing, took over once the basics were done. She reviewed the proper stance, punching, kicking, and footwork. She walked about watching the others do these, as she had demonstrated. "The most important part of these strikes is keeping your hands up. The hands or your shoulders are always kept up to protect your chin. If not, you will get knocked out." Each girl did jabs, crosses, hooks, and uppercuts. They executed push kicks, roundhouse kicks, and spin kicks. "Good," cried out Raegan, "I like your form, ladies. Keep breathing, never stop breathing. Now move left, move right, angle left, and angle right. Don't keep the fight confined in a straight line," she added. She was a natural leader, and all the women liked her positive attitude. "You guys are kicking butt today," she commented. "I love the energy in here."

  Chaya, a fit, reddish-brown-haired sister, who always had small, real diamonds on her face as decoration, taught elbows, knees, and how to capture kicks in the final session of the first day. Each woman learned the stabbing elbow, the horizontal elbow, the straight knee, and switching knee strikes. Everyone was getting a great workout. The sweat was pouring down now. "It's just about lunch time, girls," Chaya announced, trying to get everyone to give it one last push. She ran about motivating the room. "Work it, don’t stop, and give it all you got! Yes, that’s it, looking good!"

  After lunch, ground fighting began. The first day of this gathering was always about exercise and training. Sharing with one another, getting to know the new recruits, and seeing old friends. Retired sisters would help with everything from the food to overnight lodgings. The second day would be about the spirit and all the latest updates on the sisterhood.

  Several noticeable women were attending the weekend’s special retreat, besides the teachers of the various sessions. They were Zaey, an Australian born lawyer. She was a very pretty, reddish-brown-haired young woman. Blu, an alternative wildcat, who always colored her hair with, of course, blue hair dye. Sinaye, a beautiful and renowned scientist with long, dark hair. Tyne, a bright, blue-eyed blondie with a knack for computers beyond most others here. And Wynne, another blond, who was more often than not teaching someone the correct use of firearms whenever free time allowed throughout the weekend.

  The bushy-blond-haired, Jansa, was teaching the grappling this afternoon. The reiki and medical specialist was one of the oldest Mystical Slayers, even though she was not yet thirty. She was in good shape and moved with grace, and her knowledge was quite extraordinary.

  Jansa began the lesson. "As a ground fighter, we all must learn the use of leverage. Strength helps, but sooner or later we all are going to come across a situation where we might not be the strongest in a fight. Isolate an opponent’s limb or neck, and use your entire body to take them out. All of you grab a partner." She then went on to show a rear naked choke, using a seat-belt-like entry and grip. She was very precise in her teachings, and everyone
liked it.

  "As a women, it does us right to try and get to our adversary's back." She showed this to the others with her demonstration partner, Tyne, a straight-haired, petite blond. While working on the mats, Tyne was on top of Jansa and Tyne tried to grab Jansa by the neck.

  Jansa held Tyne between her legs and smoothly pushed the choking hand of Tyne across her body and then, while hugging her partner, she slid to one side and slipped herself from beneath Tyne, hooked her leg around her partner, and came up on top of Tyne's back. She put both her legs on the inside of Tyne's thighs and wrapped her arms one over and one under the small blond’s chest and shoulders.

  "Here is where your grips are crucial," she showed. "Both of these leg hooks control my opponent. The seat belt grip here controls her as well. She may even go wild and flip over." Then Tyne flipped over to her stomach to demonstrate. Jansa held on and stayed right on Tyne's back. "She will then try and remove my hand grip, and as she pulls off my under arm seat belt hand, my other hand becomes free to strangle her." The whole move and set up was a good one, even for a smaller framed female. The ladies worked hard on it for twenty minutes, followed by an arm bar, and lastly a neat little butt scoot, stand-up escape drill, which is very important to the smaller females. Jansa made it a point to go around and help each and every person during the training.

  Once all the physical training was over. The women were able to escape for a little rest, and most enjoyed the warm spring’s water pool just outside the New Hampshire compound. It's funny how women together lost all their inhibitions. Each went nude inside the water pools and thought nothing of it. It was a great feeling of freedom. The cool water was very refreshing and all enjoyed washing off the sweat, and each sister eventually mellowed out from their earlier hard work. The evening let them relax and socialize with old and new friends.