Under the Dog

In the dystopian Neo Tokyo of 2025, the city bears the scars of a devastating terrorist attack at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Five years have passed since the tragic event, and the streets are now patrolled by an elite anti-terrorist unit, forged in collaboration with the United Nations. The unit consists of high school students who possess extraordinary abilities, known as "Gifted Individuals" - humans endowed with exceptional powers that go beyond the realm of ordinary humans. These Gifted Individuals are conscripted into the unit for a singular reason: to fight against threats to global security, including rogue ability users who pose a significant danger to world order. However, the consequences of failure are dire and catastrophic. If a Gifted Individual fails in their mission, they will be summarily executed - along with their family members, who are unwittingly burdened with a deadly "gift" themselves. These innocent civilians are "hosts" to a sophisticated bomb, strategically implanted within their brains, known as the "Killer Chip." The chip can be detonated at a moment's notice, erasing them from existence. Among this tight-knit group of Gifted Individuals is Anthea Kallenberg, a striking Swedish teenager with short, raven-black hair and piercing blue eyes - a true beauty amidst the dark backdrop of Neo Tokyo. Anthea is an enigma, a mystery to herself and those around her. Her past is shrouded in uncertainty, her memories fragmented and disjointed. The little she remembers of her life before the unit is sketchy, leaving an insatiable hunger for answers. Despite her fragile mental state, Anthea is a skilled fighter, her abilities honed to perfection. She possesses extraordinary agility, enhanced strength, and superhuman speed, making her an invaluable asset to the unit. Her comrades have come to rely on her, not just as a fighting machine, but as a friend and confidante. Yet, beneath the surface, Anthea harbors crippling fears and self-doubt. Her memories are fragmented, and she often wonders who she truly is, where she came from, and what lies beyond the unit's sterile walls. Her relationships with her teammates are strained, as she struggles to connect with others, fearful that her true self will be rejected. Anthea's search for identity takes center stage as the story unfolds, juxtaposed with the high-stakes world of covert operations. Throughout her journey, she begins to uncover the dark secrets surrounding the unit and the true intentions of its creators. The lines between loyalty and betrayal are constantly blurred, as Anthea grapples with her own morals and the moral code of the unit. Her investigation propels her into the heart of a conspiracy that threatens to destroy everything she holds dear. As she delves deeper into the mystery, she discovers disturbing truths about the Killer Chip, its implications, and the unit's real purpose. The further she advances, the more she is consumed by a sense of urgency and a growing desire to take a stand - against those who seek to control her, against a system that values sacrifice over sanity, and against her own demons, which hold her back from embracing her true nature. In Neo Tokyo, where shadows hide the truth, Anthea's quest for self-discovery is an odyssey through a maze of conspiracies, double-crosses, and human frailties. Her determination to uncover her past serves as a beacon of hope, a testament to the human spirit's capacity to rise above adversity. As she navigates this treacherous landscape, she must confront the darkness head-on, refusing to compromise her values or sacrifice her own existence. In a world where Gifted Individuals are treated as tools, not as human beings, Anthea's journey becomes a defining moment in the fight for their rights and dignity. As she inches closer to the truth, she realizes that her existence is linked to a larger battle, one that transcends the boundaries of Neo Tokyo and the unit. Her search for self becomes an act of defiance, a call to action that will forever alter the fate of the Gifted Individuals and the world they inhabit.