Tales from Tama Town
(Story got too big to fit. The current story "arc" will be updated here. Previous arcs will be linked below.)
Summary
Tama Town was a libertarian technocracy on the southern coast of Higanshima. Its lax laws and strong spirit of innovation drew two kinds of people: those with brilliant minds, and those with deep pockets. Immigrants from corners of the world mingled in the de facto nation-state; the exotic scents of international cuisine and eclectic array of garments, both traditional and modern, were a delight for the senses. Even the smallest cafés featured conversations in a dozen languages.
Tama was no utopia, however. Private security forces patrolled their client neighborhoods, as the leaders preferred to stay hands-off. The town featured more laboratories and research centres per capita than anywhere else in the world. As such, it was no surprise when folks suddenly went “missing” from time to time. Gene manipulation, cybernetic augmentation, experimental drugs, -- it was all fair game if the department heads would only repeat the tired mantra: “it’s for the greater good.” Trillions of dollars went into funding weapons research and hiring private armies to maintain the independence that Tama’s residents held sacred.
The average person was safe-ish thanks to the heavy-handed actions of their neighborhood guards; most black-market cartels maintained a veneer of civility to avoid open warfare. However, things still went bump in the night. Rogue experiments roamed the backstreets and sewers. Safety regulations were less “laws,” and more “suggestions.” There was always a market for drugs, guns, and “test subjects.”
Then there were the so-called “Otherside” denizens: paranormal creatures that could not be sensed, considered little more than urban legends. The constant stream of new arrivals and fresh terrors hid the effects of this ever-present danger, as the dead were replaced within hours of their missed work shifts. Being undetectable had its advantages.
Fifth District Arc (Complete)
Chapters 1 through 10 can be found here: https://rentry.org/TamaTown5th
Third District Arc (Complete)
Chapters 11 through 22 can be found here: https://rentry.org/TamaTown3rd
Second District Arc (Complete)
Chapters 23 through 34 can be found here: https://rentry.org/TamaTown2nd
Cross-District Arc (Complete)
Chapters 35 through 48 can be found here: https://rentry.org/TamaTownCross
Final Arc (Complete)
Chapters 49 through 63 can be found here: https://rentry.org/TamaTownFinal
One-Offs
A Tale from Ninth District can be found here: https://rentry.org/TamaTownOmake1