It was the Allied force's goal in World War Two to completely eradicate the fascists throughout Europe. The sad fact of the matter was that they were with almost all certainty going to fail. Every piece of technology the Nazis developed was miles ahead of what the Allies had. Rocketry, machining, armored vehicles, weapons and even biological research.

So what gives then? Everything the Nazis had put them ruling the world. Why don't we all speak German now? We may not speak their language but the world is forever different. In their over confidence with the war the Nazis began sinking unimaginable sums into super soldier research.

The gen splicing project aimed at modifying Nazi soldiers with the gens from select animal groups to give their army on the ground an ever growing advantage against their enemies. Toughed skin, heightened senses, borderline super human strength or agility; all were goals of the project.

Early trials only saw the deaths of test subjects. By 1942 it had yet to produce any real results. Hell it was almost decommissioned; almost. The end of '42 saw the first successful splice. What became of the test soldier may not have looked pretty but the interlacing scales that covered his body head to toe made him almost completely bullet proof.

With the Allies code breakers came the discovery of the project. The Nazi government secretly ordered the project destroyed along with all relating materials. For better or worse word of the project spread among the world's intelligence communities. Everyone agreed that it was an abomination against nature. At the 1949 Geneva Convention it was unanimously decided that these genetic augmentation programs be classified as crimes against humanity and nature. Once the conference was concluded, the worlds nations immediately began their programs.

This time around, however, the different splicing programs were kept under a much tighter lock and key. Years passed and every nation developing the technology progressed with the times. By the time the cold war broke out between the United States and the U.S.S.R both nations had hundreds of thousands of augmented subjects.

The US focused on making their soldiers faster on foot while the Russians focused on making their soldiers the perfect winter killing machines. Japan, out of all the world's nations, was an interesting case. When building their program a huge amount of influence came from their ancient history; specifically their mythical dragons. A declassified US Intelligence document covering Japan's “Peacekeeper” program showed the extent of the historical influence.

Subjects ranged from six feet all the way to eight or even nine and weighed upwards of 550 pounds. The original designers were all imprisoned and executed before they could be sent to an international tribunal but it is generally assumed that the “Peacekeepers” were designed for the titular purpose. Tests have shown that they exhibit almost zero aggression unless provoked into violence. The thought, it appears, can't even occur to them unless they're attacked.

The Japanese government planned to pair the peaceful nature with sheer intimidation factor in deployment. Propaganda campaigns would detail the almost indestructibility and the Peacekeepers size would back it up. Japan's problem was the criminal nature of the program. The could never revel the Peacekeepers or their propaganda, by their own volition anyway.

When the programs did come to the public light it was universal outrage. First and foremost all of the most powerful nations on the planet broke the 1949 Geneva Convention ruling. Because all the major international players were breaking the law no punishment could be enforced. All that could happen was the dismantling of the projects. It left the problem of the test subjects, however.

Some demanded the subjects be exterminated. Others wanted them segregated from the public. If their number was small the disturbed masses might have had their way. For better or worse by the turn of the millennium they numbered in the hundreds of millions.

Today they're know as genomorphs. Specific groups have even taken to naming themselves after what they were made from. The gens from North America refer to themselves as felines. Russians refer to themselves as wolves. Humans could deal with one common name but when different names cropped up around the world many turned to racial slurs. “Muties” has reached almost ubiquity today.

One would think after forty or so years of integration humanity would have learned to live with their new brothers. With racism and xenophobia running rampant though the developed world that assumption would prove false. The problem wasn't necessarily humanity's prejudice; the problem came with near race war between different species of genomorphs. Most notably of these was the self named gryphons from the former United Kingdom and Japan's Peacekeepers.

In the 1990s an incident in Kyoto between a group of gryphons and the local gen population almost sparked a race war throughout Japan. Local police tried in vain to contain riots all over the city for the week following the incident. When armed mobs began threatening violence against the city's enforcers the military stepped in. Even now tensions between the two groups runs high.

…

Modern Japan had one major issue facing it; space. No level of population control could stop their ever rising number of citizens, especially the Peacekeeper population. Their solution? Build towers higher and higher. Building reach so high into the sky that they actually are supported by tension balloons high in the atmosphere. It makes nightmares for air traffic but it solved their space problem.

Outside one of the middle floors of a building in the business district glowed a large sign reading “Japan General Energy”. Nuclear energy had actually flourished in spite of the disaster nearly fifty years previous. This particular energy consortium was the brain child of an Japanese born American genomorph.

Japan had never really shaken it's inherent xenophobia. Now with genomorphs prevalent across the world it had only gotten worse. The notion of a Japan born, American descent, feline genomorph running major corporations in mainland Japan was ridiculous and almost insulting to the Japanese. Low and behold, however, some of the most successful businesses in Japan were run by one gen named Jackson Harper.

He's not the focus here, though. Sitting behind the large desk in the even larger room under the “Japan General Energy” sign was a Peacekeeper named Adathus Nexarus. Chief Executive Officer of JGE and Chief Operation Officer of the Harper Consortium. Two titles that may not seem like much, but for a 35 year old Peacekeeper, born and raised in America and of full Japanese descent it was astounding.

Today, however, he stood to loose one of those titles. From across room the double hard oak doors swung open revealing a gryphon in a pressed black suit accompanied by two British men sporting the same suit. His voice was shrill and carried a thick upper class British accent, “Adathus, how are you today?” Gregory Fenrir, businessman from the former UK and general asshole. Though, in this industry being an asshole was worth it's weight in gold.

Adathus always kept a flat and mellow tone, even with the most brash individuals, “Mr. Fenrir, I assume my secretary let you in?”

“Naturally, and she is a gem in this rough city. How did you find such an exquisite specimen?” His voice dripped with sarcasm and even a bit of lust.

Adathus breathed through his nostrils, “My company's hiring policy, and my own for that matter, are of no concern to you. Now if you'd like to take a seat you can tell my why you've graced me with your presence.”

The gryphon strolled over to his sunken desk. Being a few heads taller than pretty much any other person made conversation difficult. One solution? Lower the desk into the floor a few feet. “So Adathus, how is that old cat Jackson doing?” He had the audacity to kick his feet up onto the stained wood desktop.

“Mr. Harper is doing well, though he is currently back in America on business.” Flat and calm as ever.

“It's a shame really, I was hoping to have him sign the release papers in person,” He brought his feet to the floor and leaned into his speech, “Though I'm sure you will suffice.”

What is he talking about with these “Release papers” Adathus thought. “I'm not sure what you're on about Fenrir.”

He laughed, “Haven't you heard? Euro Nuclear is buying out your little start up here. It was a nice run, but I can't really have you stepping on my turf.” One of the British men brought forward a manila folder. “We've organized a buy out. Sure you'll stand to make a pretty penny but our foot hold in Asian energy will be secured. All I need from you is a signature which, mind you as a publicly traded utility company, are required to give me.”

The folder hit the desk with an audible thud. Adathus asked with a raised brow, “Mr. Fenrir, would you induldge me for a moment?”

He laughed, “Why the hell not? One last little story before I give you the boot.”

Imagine if you will, an orphaned Peacekeeper in a box on the streets of Boston. You know the cliché, thunder in the sky and rain falling down. An older couple finds this box on the street. The baby is crying almost louder than the thunder strikes. They take pity on the poor thing and take it home with them.

One kid followed by an adopted Peacekeeper. They've already got some experience raising a child so having another one is no problem right? For twelve years it did go well. Sure the family squabbled but every family does that. So this young Peacekeeper has a home and family that loves him. Life is good, so on and so forth.

Trouble is the couple's older daughter. In high school and pregnant, terrible combination. The couple fights with each other constantly, their sixteen year old daughter keeps the child causing even more strife in the family. All of this leads to our young Peacekeeper running away from home most nights, only returning for food and shelter.

By now the couple has sunk to almost physical violence and the daughter has gone to using drugs and neglecting her child. The Peacekeeper figures holding his own on the street is better than living in his own home. So he runs away, simple and quick as that.

Now we have our seventeen year old running from home in New York city. And cliché as ever on a night with a particularly rough storm our Peacekeeper finds himself in the same position from infancy. And once again as cliché as ever a young couple passing by catches the pour soul out of the corners of their eyes.

This poor kid, living alone in a world where most would like to see him in a grave, stuck out in the rain. The two had always wanted a kid and seeing this young Peacekeeper almost seemed like fate. Once again our character had a roof over his head and two people that actually cared for him.

His new parents worked nine to five jobs and had some trouble sustaining themselves let alone their new son. In order to sustain the family he needed to get a job. Retail seemed easy enough. Our young Peacekeeper had always been good with numbers so he considered it a good fit. It turned out to be even better than a perfect fit.

Always on time, going above and beyond his daily responsibilities, learning new tasks and taking care of duties without being told. Acolytes began to pile up in his file. After not even a year on the job his performance had attracted the attention of corporate.

He tried to not think much of it, the store was pretty small so it wasn't that big of a deal. But when the store's president came to visit and meet with him he couldn't help but be excited. When he found out is was actually a genomorph and not a human he couldn't contain his excitement. When he met the president he wrapped his arms around his torso and wept. “Thank you for the opportunity to work at your company sir!” he shouted through tears. The feline genomorph just laughed and patted our Peacekeeper, “You've got huge potential son. I'd like to move you up the food chain so to speak. How does a management job sound?”

It was the happiest day the Peacekeeper had ever experienced. When he told his parents there was nothing to stop the tears of joy running down his scaled skin. Life was treating him well. The rest is history now.

Mr. Fenrir laughed, “Touching storytelling there Adathus. But I've got other things to do today so if we could hurry this along that would be great.”

Adathus put his finger in the air for a moment, and then brought it down to the intercom on his desk, “Aimi, could you be a darling and bring those papers to my office please.”

Moments later the lanky secretary shuffled into the room, who's ceiling made her look almost like a child, with a binder in her hands. She left it on the desk and left with a bow.

“What a fox.” Fenrir whistled.

“I've actually got some papers for you to sign,” Adathus stated whipping out a clicky pen. “Because if my timing is right the FTSE will have just opened and the majority of your shares will have been acquired by JGE.” Panic washed over the gryphon's face. “Don't believe me? Have one of your lackeys check your stock price. All I need from your is a signature confirming we had this meeting and that JGE would no longer require your services.”

Fenrir swung his head to face one of the men at the back of the room. The man's forehead dripped with sweat as he looked down at his tablet. When he looked up it was almost as if he'd seen a ghost, “He's not lying. JGE just bought the majority control.” The gryphon brought his head back to Adathus. He stood and slammed his fists onto the desk.

It didn't even make the Peacemaker bat an eye, “I'll have my office send you the forms to sign Mr. Fenrir. Now if you'll excuse me I have a flight to catch. Are you going to leave peacefully or do I need to call security?”

He stood for a few long seconds before spinning on his heals and stomping out of the office. A smile slowly crept its way up Adathus' cheeks, “That's what I thought.”

…

“Flight 578 with service to New York City, New York now boarding first class.” Airports had never really improved. At the very least the cell reception had improved.

Adathus felt his phone start vibrating. On the screen was a picture of an older feline gen in a marble gray suit. Jackson, I wonder what he is doing, “Jackson! How are you?”

“Fine, fine, Adathus. How did Mr. Fenrir take the news?” His voice had hardened with age. It's wasn't smooth anymore. Now he sounded gravely.

“He was upset. I didn't expect him to bring papers to buy out JGE though, bit of a blind side tactic. Told him a story to buy time until the European stock market opened.” Adathus ended with a chuckle.

Jackson returned it, “It must have been a good one to keep that bird occupied.”

A small lump grew in his throat, “Actually I told him the story of my upbringing.”

The line was silent for a moment as Adathus took his seat on the jet liner. He could almost hear Jackson breathing out a parental sigh, “Adathus I still remember the day I met you. That bright eyed kid working a 9 to 5 retail job in my store. When I first sat down with you I was not ready for that lunging hug you gave me.” He laughed.

Adathus smiled, “It was the first real glimmer of light for the future. You can't expect a kid with no outlook not to be excited by that. Listen, my flight is about to take off so we can talk when I land in New York.”

The smile audibly left Jackson's voice, “I know, I know. This may seem out of place but you know it was never about the money right? I saw something special in your eyes when I met you. Something that reminded me of an old flame. You know I wouldn't have paid you if prying eyes weren't always watching. It was just a way to avoid suspicion. That's not to say that your prior 'performance' wasn't worth what I paid you.” The smile came back, “Anyway you've got a flight to attend to. I'll send a driver to pick you up when you land. Have a safe flight Adathus.” The line clicked dead.