(Hello everyone! I apologize if I'm messing up the timeline here, I just finished D. Man Hallow so hopefully I'm not putting anything from there in. This is set after the battle in Edo (around manga chap. 134).
There's a lot of time skips but this is more of a prologue leading up to the first chapter.
I probably won't update this for a bit. When I finished the prologue I wanted to publish it-when I'm still working on my other fanfics. Hope you enjoy!
Komui stared uneasily at the sedated child in front of him. Lenalee and the others had just arrived safely home from Edo, yet another threat had already shown itself.
The familiar scent of General Cross' cigarettes caused him to look sideways. The man exhaled, his expression was unreadable as of this moment.
Komui turned his gaze back forward and said, "There's no doubt the Earl will come for her. If she's induced in a cryogenic sleep we may be able to slow down the awakening and observe her at the same time."
Cross gestured to the scientists who were standing idly by, awaiting orders. The man then said in an annoyed tone, "You better do it now then. The Noah Clan have a way of locating their new 'family' rather quickly. And it won't be pretty when she wakes up. If I'm right she's the Noah of Wrath."
Komui swallowed hard, the man was right. Already the girl who inherited the 8th Noah's genes had the stigmatas across her forehead. The cross-like marks had been bleeding ever since the Exorcists from the Asian Branch had picked her up. He only assumed they would stop when she had awakened as a Noah.
"Well I'm off. We have that meeting to attend to. Since it's the people from the Vatican I don't think you'd wanna be late." Cross said back to his laid back voice. The General paused at the door to puff out smoke, then exited the room.
A part of him was reluctant to let him go. He was afraid that the man would disappear again, then that wild goose chase would start all over again.
With a sigh Komui pushed his glasses further up his nose. After he flung a hand out and shouted addressing the scientists, "Put the Noah in the cryogenic tube and begin the process! At least two people keep constant observation on her, this situation has never happened before. We don't know how it'll play out. And men, be prepared. It's to expect that the Earl will be looking for the newest addition to the Noah Clan."
He met eyes with the scientists who regarded this information with grim nods. He recognized Johnny and Regory-the one who's in command under Reever. Since Reever's overseeing the Akuma Egg upstairs Regory will be in command down here.
"We got it under control here Chief!" Regory called out noticing him hesitating to leave. "If any problems show up we'll call you right away!" Komui nodded once, a smile growing on his face.
As he turned to leave he said, "Be careful everyone!" Shouts of reassurance reached his ears, Komui glanced over his shoulder to check on how they were doing. The scientists had already gotten the Noah in the tube and were working on starting it up.
He bit his lip and paused in front of the door, his hand lingering above the doorknob. He couldn't help but having a bad feeling about this. And above them the Akuma Egg is out of the Ark and being examined. If the Noah was to awaken...He didn't want to think about it.
Seeing as how he was getting close to being late to the meeting he exited the room and headed to the stairwell.
Johnny adjusted his glasses and stared at the girl inside the cryogenic tube. "Ne Regory, doesn't the girl not seem like a Noah?" At his question Regory paused in writing something on a clipboard to shoot him a questioning look. Seeing this Johnny quickly waved his hands in front of him, becoming slightly flustered. He decided to restate his question. With a hand itching his head he asked again, "I mean, she looks so peaceful. Doesn't she just look like she's taking a nap?"
Regory scoffed lightly as he understood his question. "Don't be fooled by appearances. She has those marks on her forehead, she's a Noah."
Johnny's brows furrowed and he asked, "Even so, didn't the Asian Branch say she came to them begging for help?"
Regory pursed his lips and snapped, "Johnny!" The acting leader jerked a thumb in the Noah's direction. "This, thing if you will, is going to be our enemy. Sure she might've been a helpless girl a few days ago but the sleeping Noah genes are slowly awakening. Once that happens she won't hesitate to kill us."
Johnny's clenched fist relaxed and he hung his head, "Y...Yes. I know that. It's just, if you think about it, these Noah had a life before. So technically, if you disregard their superhuman strength and all the death they've caused, they're human as well!" The scientist now wore a hardened expression as he faced his senior.
Regory was still for a few seconds as he took this in. The man knew there was some truth in Johnny's words but he couldn't disregard all the destruction the Noah will cause in the near future.
Johnny chuckled while rubbing the back of his neck. In a light tone he said, "Well of course I can't ignore all the damage the Noah has caused…"
Regory stared at his coworkers head for a few seconds before muttering, "Yeah yeah, get back to work."
Through his glasses Johnny stared at the man. He had expected a different reaction from his outburst. But he quickly dismissed it, glad that Regory had somehow seen where he was coming from. With a smile, he nodded and then turned around to check the vitals of the soon-to-be-Noah.
The cryogenic tube was cold. You'd be able to see your breath and it'd fog up the glass. Inside lay the awakening Noah. She didn't appear to be in pain but, the awakening process is known to be brutal. Especially for the Noah of Wrath, the one who knows the feelings of hate and betrayal that the Noah Clan possessed in the past. As the scientists worked above her they were oblivious to a few words that escaped her lips, "Never forgive."
"Now that we're done discussing the matter of Allen Walker, we have one last thing to talk about. Inspector Link,"
The subordinate of the intimidating man nodded. Link glanced around before focusing his eyes on Komui. The Chief Officer was still a bit shocked on what the Inspectors revealed. They intended to investigate both General Cross and Allen, and if Allen gave them enough suspicion he'd be tried for hearsay.
"When the members of the Asian Branch arrived they weren't alone." Link began. Komui grimaced, already seeing where this was going. "They brought along a Noah who is currently undergoing the awakening process didn't they?" At his claim gasps echoed throughout the room. However General Cross who already knew of this didn't show any change of facial expression.
General Klaud Nine's eyes widened in surprise. Slowly she asked, "Komui...is that true?"
Komui curled a trembling hand into a fist. Damn! How'd they find out so fast?! He'd hope to keep it a secret. Knowing the Inspectors they'd either want the Noah sent to the Vatican for observation there or they'd want to control the whole operation.
In a low tone he answered General Klaud's question, "Yes. She's the next Noah of Wrath. The previous one was killed by Kanda at Edo. As of now she's in a cryogenic state to help slow down the awakening while some scientists observe her."
Link raised his brows slightly, "And were you thinking of reporting this to us?"
"...No. This is a rare opportunity after all. To observe a Noah before they're fully awoken. I knew inducing her into a cryogenic state wouldn't help that much, at most we have two months, so I made a call to depend on our resources here and not tell you. If I did you'd most likely want the Noah transferred to the Vatican. But I assure you our Science Division is the best you could have."
The Special Inspector Malcolm Lvellie scoffed and glared at Komui. "That's enough Inspector." Lvellie said. Link moved his gaze to the man and nodded, leaning back in his seat. "Chief Officer, I was going to transfer the Noah to Vatican but I think I've changed my mind. I'll stay here and help Inspector Link with observing Allen Walker. Although I'll be keeping an eye on General Cross. Of course I'll make daily checkups on the Noah, make sure nothing's out of the ordinary."
Komui chuckled lightly, trying hard to keep his annoyance in check. "Of course Special Inspector. Anything else you feel the need to talk about?"
Lvellie narrowed his eyes sensing his sarcasm. "No. This meeting's adjourned. Come Inspector Link, I think you'll find Allen Walker in the cafeteria."
One by one, the Head Branch members and Generals left, leaving only Komui sitting at the table. The man gritted his teeth and cast a dark look towards the floor. The man whom traumatized Lenalee had an extended stay…This confirmed it. He definitely had a bad feeling.
Allen, Lenalee, Kanda and Lavi sat in the cafeteria stuffing their faces. All were thankful to be away from the strict Head Nurse. Dishes had already piled up on the table-mostly to due to Allen who showed no signs of stopping. Occasionally Jerí would bring them food fresh off the stove.
Their meal was going pretty well until a stranger approached. Kanda first noticed and paused mid-bite to glance at the man. He could tell the stranger meant business.
The man stopped in front of Allen and cleared his throat drawing attention. Everyone's eyes went to him as he spoke in a loud and determined voice, "Nice to meet you, I'm Howard Link. I'll be supervising you. I made some pumpkin pie, please help yourself."
Allen's eyes widened in delight and without a thought he stabbed his fork into the pie Link was holding. A second later he exclaimed, "I'll gladly have some thanks!"
"Oi wait a minute!" Lavi shouted as he tried to remove the fork.
Allen slowly took the fork out of the pie and put it in his mouth. He gave Lavi a blank stare and asked in a too innocent tone, "Did you want some?"
The young Bookman laughed nervously under the gaze of Allen. "N-No…the pie's all yours…"
Link sat down next to Kanda-who 'ched' and scooted over-while at the same time placing the pie in the center of the table. He then looked up and said, "There's plenty for everyone."
Meanwhile Lenalee had been staring at the table, still stuck on what the newcomer had first said. 'I'll be supervising you.' Shadows darkened her eyes as she abruptly stood.
Lavi looked at the girl with questioning eyes, "Lenalee?..." He asked.
Her body was stiff for a few more seconds. Lenalee drew in a breath, relaxing her shoulders and looked up, offering her friends a weak smile. "I'm not feeling well. I think I'm going to go lay down for a while," The attention was on her as she walked away from the table, her body still stiff.
Lavi narrowed his eyes. He knew something was up, but what?
Lenalee shut the door behind her. He was back. Malcolm C. Lvellie. The man who traumatized her all those years ago. As she attempted to focus on keeping her pace steady her mind wandered back to the previous conversation.
Apparently Allen wasn't the only one being investigated. She herself, and other Exorcists were. During her time in that room, Lvellie disclosed some disturbing information, but as always the man was vague. As she walked a strange feeling told her she was being watched.
With a grimace she put more force into her steps. She'd have to be more careful from now on. There's no telling what the future holds.
Timeskip; Middle of battle-The Black Order
Level 4 looked around curiously. The Earl had placed him in the Black Order's HQ. It was seconds after his birth and he'd already defeated numerous exorcists and the one known as Allen Walker.
As he completed his job, many would die. He'd take great pleasure in slaughtering bearers of Innocence especially. The recently destroyed floor burned brightly, a cold smile grew on his face as he imagined the bodies inside the inferno.
His once elevating feet touched the crumbling floor and began to walk towards the exorcists who stood as a last effort of defense by the exit. He'd already destroyed the lab's barrier. Killing them would be too easy.
He stepped foot outside the room and something similar to an electric current ran through him. He narrowed his eyes at the exorcists who were yet to attack, it wasn't their doing.
Something other than the Akuma Egg was here. He'd report this to the Earl, after he ripped apart these humans and caused destruction within the order.
Timeskip: After Battle-Black Order
The smoking head of the Level 4 rolled to a stop beside him. Cross eyed it and took out one of his pistols ready to finish it off, but stopped when it began to speak.
"It's not over! You may have defeated a weakling like me but something even more powerful awaits! You will be killed by your own stupidity!"
A gunshot echoed through the air as Cross fired, permanently killing the Akuma. The man exhaled smoke, the gray cloud spiraling upwards.
"Too bad, I would've used you as a test subject."
On the lower levels of the Black Order, alarms rang. The lab the cryogenic tube was in had been shook with tremors from the Level 4's attack above. The scientists had managed to stabilize the Noah, but during the thaw the process had progressed. Before they had two months, now at the most a month-weeks even. At that time, the Noah of Wrath would awaken and wreak havoc.