(Full disclaimer, this story is based on the realm of the Deus Ex game series, and is a fan fiction of sorts. Full copy right goes to the respective owners. I just really love the game and decided to make an adventure for Tengu.)







Chapter 1







The year is 2029. Physical and mental augmentations are becoming the societal norm. Pro-human groups are now labeled terrorists. Corporate cyborgs, nothing more than assassins in shiny armor, are constantly sent out to suppress these uprisings. Time marches on, controlled evolution in the brink of humanity's grasp, and here we are, killing each other over an ideal, over money. Secrets and lies have blurred the line of who's the good guy, and who's the bad guy. No one knows every detail anymore. Every piece of data, every little bit of information, is spread vastly thin over a line of people and computers, to ensure company safety. Corporations wage war on each other, privately, each in possession of their own armies to storm their labs and headquarters, killing each other, stealing each other's tech. This is our future. This is what we have become. A private war wages across America, completely invisible to the government.



Tengu, currently located in the city of Chicago, is employed by a bio-tech firm known as Neurological Solutions Inc., providing security at the main headquarters. He also manages the tech lab, ensuring all technology that passes through is safe, secure, and ready to be shipped without delay. He was cybernetically enhanced a few years ago, after he was ambushed by a group of rival corporate assassins. His augments range all over his body. He is able to think faster, react faster, is physically more capable, can handle most weaponry with prominent recoil control, has the hacking prowess of a black hat, and can safely breathe in toxic gases and substances without punishment. His skills are duly noted by the head of this firm, and carries out many personal missions for her, and cares a great deal for Tengu's well being, spending millions of company money on him to enhance and save him after the attack. The two share a close bond, similar to brother and sister.



He walked out of his apartment, the heavy rain fell in the cold night. Tengu lit his cigarette, and walked onward. His cochlear implant started chattering. "Hey Tengu, it's me, Sera. Somethings come up, we need you hear at HQ, as soon as you can get here.", his boss said, frantically. "Something happen? What's wrong?", Tengu reacted, puffing his cigarette. "Nothing major, just something that needs to be dealt with. See you when you get here, Sera out.", she shot back. Tengu sighed, walking a bit faster, puffing on his cigarette harder. The rain began to pick up, and it was pissing Tengu off. He didn't care much for the rain, and he was already on edge with the call. Some thing really had Sera spooked if she personally contacted Tengu on a private channel. He finished his cigarette and headed up to her office to find out what the problem was.



When he got there, Sera was waiting for him, along with NSI's head IT Manager, and Tengu's cyber enhancement specialist, Phillip. Phillip was a pompous ass, though under pressure, he had a tendency to crack and withdraw. The wolf had a notorious habit of putting himself above others, constantly shaming Tengu for what had happened to him, despite helping Sera fight for Tengu's life. Tengu removed his long leather trench coat, and took a seat, confused. "What's going on? You both look spooked, and I don't do spooked. What happened?", Tengu demanded. Phillip showed him a flashing screen on his wearable data tracker, and Sera showed Tengu the same screen on her personal computer at her desk. "Cyber attacks. Someone hacked the files. What did they take, and why did they take it?", Tengu asked. "We don't know why, Tengu, but we know they stole all the personnel information. Right down to bio data.", Phillip spoke softly. "We traced the hacker down to a substation not to far from here, Tengu. I need you to go there, find out what he knows, and then deal with him.", Sera commanded. She was shaking, almost unable to contain herself. "Is my katana finished?", Tengu asked. Phillip nodded and handed Tengu this little square chip. On the chip, there was a button, and when pressed, a katana would fold itself out, enhanced to cut through even the toughest of metals and fibers. Also, the blade was given a shock drive for stun capability. "Well, I'll get a move out. I'll secure my pistol and some armor from my office first, then I'll have your answers.", Tengu said calmly, grabbing his jacket and leaving in the private elevator.



As the elevator was going up to his office, Tengu's thoughts began to wander. The night of the attack came rushing to him, the gunshots, the stooges that spoke to him as he lay there, bleeding to death. "You and your company will fall, scum.", this fox spoke, a heavy Slovakian accent in his voice. He pulled out a Desert Eagle, a hammer and sickle etched in platinum under the barrel stared at Tengu hard. Before he could pull the trigger, the police arrive, gunning down the assailants. "Sir, you're gonna be ok. I need an ambulance, now!", the officer shouted. "No!", Tengu yelled aloud. "Tengu, are you ok?", an office employee spoke from behind him. "Oh. Jessica. I..I must have been daydreaming. I'm sorry. Going up?", Tengu sheepishly asked. He was ashamed the attack had left him so broken, but he just couldn't shake it. The feeling of helplessness was too overbearing. "Tengu, it's fine, I'm just worried about you. You should probably talk to someone. You know I live a few doors down, don't be afraid to ask me for help if you need it.", she said shyly. Tengu pondered on it, after all, she was a dashingly beautiful feline. her bright green eyes heavily complimented her black fur. "I'll be sure you remember your offer when I need it.", he replied nervously.



Jessica gave Tengu one last look of love and desperation, then parted ways. The doors shut, and the elevator continued it's ascent. After a short amount of time, the elevator had reached the top floor, Tengu's office. A single pane window showcased the entire city around him. The rain pattered on the glass softly, almost calling out to him. He stood, amazed at the orange glow of the black city. Sirens, gunshots, yelling, and screaming all made a crescendo of noise, reminding Tengu he was home. As he sat in his desk, loading a magazine for his handgun, his terminal awoke with an email. The sender was Anonymous, and clearly knew their way around a security system. "Tengu, we know your orders are to deal with this so-called "hacker" at the substation, but we implore you to reconsider. We will meet you at the back entrance. Come alone. We will know if you betray our secret. Trust us.", the contents baffled Tengu. Curious, he decided he'd pay this mystery group a meeting. After loading up 3 magazines, securing a suppressor and a few flash bangs, he descended the elevator to the ground floor.



He walked casually out of the building, lighting another cigarette. "This rain needs to piss off, yesterday.", Tengu muttered. His jacket's coat tails swayed in the wind graciously, his pace picking up. He went around the back, and there stood 3 hooded figures. The leader extended her paw, and welcomed him. "Tengu, I'm glad you followed our advice. We do not have much time. They, no doubt, are already aware of our presence, and will be on their way shortly.", she whispered. "Who? Who's coming? What do they want with you? Do you know anything about the cyber attack on NSI?", Tengu said, bewildered. "Of course we do", she said. A hiss followed, and her companions pulled out Combat Rifles, scanning the area. "We are under attack from a cipher group. A rogue band of black hats, who have framed us for the attack. Go to your HQ and read what is on this hard-drive. You will understand.", she said in a hurried motion. Then, within a blink, they disappeared. A hard-drive, glowing in the street light, lay where she once stood.



"Tengu, have you solved our problem yet?", Sera chimed in. "No. I received credible intel that whoever is here, was framed. Something about a rogue hacker group. I'm returning to base.", Tengu stated. "Damn it Tengu, we don't have time to chase leads. Someone out there has critical information, and could do serious damage should it be leaked.", Sera responded. "I'll take it under advisement", he replied, switching off his implant. He was annoyed. Always expected to jeopardize his morals for the company. Not today.



When he returned to his office, he found it in a chaotic state. Files flung everywhere, his terminal smashed in. His scanner lenses sot out of his temples, covering his eyes, looking for any clues left behind. No blood, fingerprints, DNA. Nothing. "Sera, my office was raided. Not sure what they were looking for, but I'm going to crack open this hard-drive, you and Phillip get up here, you're oging to need to see this.", Tengu said. "We're on our way.", she shot back.



Tengu plugged the drive into his wearable device, and started reading it's contents. Sera, Phillip, and an unnamed employee hired a hacker group to steal company secrets, including personnel information, and sell them to other companies, making corporate heists easier to pull off. Just then, Tengu felt a cold barrel of a gun press against the back of his head. "You just couldn't leave well enough alone, could you.", Sera spoke. "After all the money we put into you, you couldn't just follow orders. I'm disappointed.", she said, cold and emotionless. Tengu spun around before she could even blink, and hip tossed her down, disarming her in the process. "You. Phillip. How long has this been going on?", Tengu demanded. A gunshot struck Tengu in the side of the chest, sending him across the room. EMP round, causing all his augments to reset to factory zero, and stunning him as well. Phillip came skulking out of the shadows. "You were always so self-righteous. 'Let's do the right thing, let's have some morals, let's do this by the book.' No more, Tengu. NSI will ascend to the top of the food chain, and you will be left behind.", he said, mockingly. The two left in a private jet, leaving Tengu collapsed and twitching on the ground.



Jessica came rushing in, Machine Pistol in hand. "Tengu! Hold on!", she exclaimed. She made a call for back up, then Tengu faded from consciousness. In the darkness, all he could feel was the sting of the bullet, digging into his armor under his jacket. He heard faint sounds of voices, but they were too distant to make out.



After what seemed like a few minutes, Tengu awoke to Jessica by his side, frantically waiting for him to wake up. "Tengu! You're alive! We thought the EMP round had left you permanently comatose.", she shouted, letting out a sigh afterward. "How long was I out for?", Tengu asked, confused. "It's been a week and 4 days. We noticed something on the charts though." "What?" "You're cyber enhancements rejected the EMP blast, and have instead bonded stronger with your body, more so than normal.", she explained. "You're becoming one with the machine.". Tengu sat, almost sick to death from those words. He didn't like the fact he was now dependent on these augments, and now his body was accepting them whole-sale. "I'm an agent of INTERPOL, and was planted in your facility as a sleeper cell, ordered to gather evidence on whether or not your company was guilty of corporate espionage and fraud. We took the hard-drive you were given, and hunted down the ones who gave it to you. We have offered them asylum, and will now offer you the same.", she said firmly. "No. This is my case. Whether or not the company has done anything illegal, it's my call to make. It's my job to find out.", Tengu argued. "If you refuse, you'll be arrested, guilty by association. Tengu, consider the offer.", she said, then left.



Tengu couldn't believe this. He gleamed at the plate of food before him, and slapped it aside. After fighting mass amounts of pain, he sat on the side of his bed, and reconfigured is internal systems. After switching his augments back on, and recalibrated them from his laptop, he unplugged all his i.v.'s, and jumped out the window. A fugitive. That's what he'd be. But he needed answers.



He woke up to a dingy, grey overcast. Thunderclaps could be heard, but no rain. He limped a few blocks, dodging any police through the alleys. It would seem quite suspicious, seeing a physically augmented panda running through the streets in a hospital gown, now wouldn't it? Though, it's hard to be stealthy when there are neon orange streetlights illuminating even the deepest of potholes.



Tengu finally made it back to his apartment, and linked up to his augment intunator, to fine tune and fully restore his augments. As he sit there, he pondered his next move over a glass of honey whiskey. The machine bleeped, and a automatonic female voice spoke to him, "Intunation, complete.", the machine said. He stood, and put on a new pair of BDU's, a clean black shirt, and slung his jacket back over. As he secured his katana chip and pistol, a bang was heard from the door. "Jessica, INTERPOL, open the door, Tengu. We know you're here.", she shouted. Tengu opened the window, ducked behind the wall on the fire escape, and shut the window silently. He sat there, crouched, praying she wouldn't discover him. How the hell did she move so fast anyway? His door was breached, Jessica and several members of SWAT raided the apartment. "He's gone. Damn it. We need him alive. Scan the perimeter and get a patrol on the clock here, now.", she demanded. "Yes ma'am, we'll do what we can.", the SWAT captain responded.



Tengu left immediately, not wanting to make friends with the police. As he walked, he lit a cigarette, a pleasure he'd been dying for since he woke up. He exhaled a sigh of relief and kept walking, puffing away. He made a call on his implant, being sure to use the private channel. "Hey, Brian. Wake up. I need you to do something for me.", Tengu whispered. "Y...Yeah? Kind of waking me up awfully late, boss. What do you need?", Brian responded. "Dig up anything you can on the INTERPOL agent Jessica, stationed here in Chicago.", Tengu said. "Right away.", he shot back. Brian was an ex-security officer at NSI, but quit, due to the lack of morality by such companies. Ironically, became a freelance hacker, but only took on jobs that served some sort of justice.



Tengu went to a private garage, and hid out for a while, still pondering on what to do. His time was limited, but there was nothing he could do, until Brian called him back. Then the garage door began to open, and there stood Jessica and a few SWAT officers, their guns pointed right at him. "Tengu, I will shoot you, if you move. Don't make me. Turn yourself in. It's all you can do now.", she said softly. Tengu stood up, and pulled out the katana chip, looking at the button intently. "I said, don't move.", she repeated. The officers turned their laser sights on, drawing a bead on his head. He activated his scanner lenses, and once again, the lenses came out of his temples, and covered his eyes. "Tengu. This is your final chance. Stand down, or we will fire.", the captain shouted. Tengu clicked the button, the katana folding out, and he activated the shock drive, didn't want any un-needed casualties. "I can't do that, captain. Jessica. You know, more than I, the corruption that's going on. I need my answers, and I need to clean up this mess. If you don't understand, then you better kill me, because I won't stop until I have my answers.", Tengu stated firmly. "FIRE!", Jessica shouted. Time slowed down. The bullets head for Tengu's face. He stepped aside, examining them as they flew into the wall. He walked up to the feline, and stunned her unconscious, then disarmed the SWAT officers, and rendered them unconscious as well.



He left in a hurry, not wanting to make himself known. He'd now be labelled a terrorist, so he had to move quickly. He clicked the button again, the blade folding back into a little square chip, and he tucked it away with his hands in his pockets. "Hey boss, got some info. She's not INTERPOL. She's really a corporate spy with the credentials. She's duping everyone.", he reported. "Anything else?", Tengu asked patiently. "Yes. But you should go see for yourself in the apartment.", he said. Tengu doubled back around, and broke into her apartment. It's the last thing they'd expect. All the patrols were gone, surprisingly. This wasn't making much sense, but Tengu didn't have time. He seen a lot of photographs and security footage of Tengu. She was tracking him for assassination. "Brian, she had eyes on for a while. She's operating an F.O.B., but who does she work for?", Tengu interrogated. "Don't know. This is all I could dig up, boss. I'm going back to sleep. Keep me posted.", Brian answered.



A loud thump was heard from behind Tengu, followed by a kick to the spine. "You were stupid to come back here, Tengu.", a voice echoed. It was Jessica. She de-cloaked and revealed herself. "Now I can complete my mission, and get out of this hellhole.", she spat. She gripped his head, preparing to snap his neck, as he lay there, helpless. When she had a hold on him, he pulled his gun, and fired three shots blindly, one striking her in the head. Her body fell to the ground and began twitching. A robotic voice announced it was to begin a "self-protection" protocol, and her body disintegrated. This was common with corporate cyborgs, as there was no way to retrieve any data from them if they were purged. "Shit. No. Damn it!", Tengu exhaled in anger. He'd never killed a woman. But something just kind of..took over. He lost all trails now. Who knew what he'd do next. He went to a local safehouse, ran by a gang he had some "ties" to, and asked for safety while he figured out what to do. Luckily, they knew someone that liked Tengu, and gave him shelter. For now, all Tengu could do is rest...