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Threeish years later…after the Russian Convit…
"And I want a three page hand written essay on chapter twenty-six of the book." Nero said as the trumpet bell rang "Class dismissed."
Shelby and Wing grabbed their books and stood up to leave the classroom.
"Oh my gosh, we're wasting away right now." Shelby groaned "All it is is read the book, write me a paper, read the book."
"They have to push us hard. We're nearing our last year." Wing replied with a smile "I would think you'd be happy. You're the star of Ms. Leon's class. She lets you into her first year classes to teach sometimes."
"I know, but I honestly can't wait for our next trip off the island." Shelby said.
###
Nero walked down the hall to his office, having taught his last class of the day. He had a scheduled meeting with Raven to discuss certain things.
Since it was getting close to the half point of the year, he had to prepare the kids for their exams and doing so becoming increasingly hard with what was going on.
Over the past couple of weeks, him, Raven, and Darkdoom had been receiving death threats from a completely anonymous source. Several of them. They were usually sent via email, but Darkdoom had received a few paper written ones.
Nero entered his office and sat down at his desk, clicking on his computer. He wanted to read the first one he had received, just in case he had missed anything. Anything at all.
Maximillian Nero,
Great harm will come upon both you and your operative with the code name Raven if immediate action is not taken. Meet me in Samara, Russia in one week at 9 a.m. If this is ignored, a team of men will be sent to exterminate you. Reply within the day.
Nero, of course, had sent no reply, as doing so may send a signal that could be tracked. The only real consolation was that it was virtually impossible that anyone knew H.I.V.E.'s location and that he and Raven had received nothing handwritten, which proved the point that whoever was sending had no clue of their location.
The chime to his door sounded and Nero pressed the button on his console to open it.
Raven walked into the office, dressed in her regular cat suit and her face serious and expressionless.
"Good afternoon Natalya." he said "I take it, as I asked Hivemind to notify me of any other emails, that you have received none since yesterday?"
Raven nodded, taking a seat "Nothing."
"I contacted Diabolus this morning. He has received two just since last night." Nero said, clicking the page off his screen.
"What makes me worried is that we are being asked to meet at the exact place where we killed the President of the Convit." Raven replied "That seems extremely odd to me."
Nero nodded and was about to continue speaking when Hivemind appeared.
"Sorry to interrupt, Dr. Nero, but Diabolus Darkdoom is approaching in a Shroud. He says he needs to speak with you urgently." Hivemind said.
Nero frowned "Allow him access to the crater."
"Yes sir." with that, Hivemind disappeared.
"Why didn't he just call?" Raven asked, scowling in confusion.
"Perhaps he has something to show us." Nero said with a wry smile.
###
"I need to show you this." Darkdoom said, walking into Nero's office. The Colonel had followed him from the Shroud dock, clearly curious of his sudden arrival.
"I assumed so." Nero said, raising an eyebrow.
Darkdoom went over to the computer. After a moment of typing, he sat back.
"Look what was posted on G.L.O.V.E.'s net."
Nero, Raven, and the Colonel leaned forward.
PIETOR FURAN-FREELANCE ASSASSIN GONE ROGUE- G.L.O.V.E.
ATTACKED NEW YORK G.L.O.V.E. BASE- 27 CASUALITIES
APPROACH WITH CAUTION-KILL ON SIGHT
Nero stared at it, looking shocked. Raven's eyes were wide. The Colonel muttered something inaudible.
"It wasn't signed." Darkdoom said "I have no idea who posted it."
"That can't be right." Nero said, shaking his head "We're at complete peace with them. For God's sake, I would consider them a friend at this point."
"Not now." the Colonel growled "You can't trust them worth a rat's tail. Twenty-seven men."
"Do you think it's him sending the threats?" Darkdoom asked the Colonel challengingly. He seemed to have switched from being the reporter of bad news to the defendant of the accused.
"Did I say that?" the Colonel asked "Look, the evidence is before your eyes that he attacked G.L.O.V.E."
"Max, what do you make of it?" Darkdoom asked, looking back at his friend.
"I don't know Diabolus. The timing is suspicious." Nero said quietly, still staring at the screen. Pietor wouldn't. Would he? Not twenty-seven men. Not against G.L.O.V.E. Not after the peace treaty.
"I agree." Darkdoom said "But I didn't want to jump to conclusions."
Nero stared at the screen, rereading it again and again. It didn't make any sense.
"I tried to contact them, but there wasn't a reply." Darkdoom said, almost reluctantly putting that out there as it was another piece of evidence that Pietor was against them.
"But why would he attack one base?" Raven asked "If Pietor had a problem with us, he would make it known."
"That's not how he did it with the Convit." the Colonel said.
"But that's because he was part of the Convit." Darkdoom said "I agree with Natalya. They wouldn't kill men as a warning."
Nero let out a deep breath through his nose before opening his mouth to speak. He was interrupted by his computer, which beeped and flashed.
INCOMING CALL: N. NERO
Nero's eyes widened and he frowned. Darkdoom frowned at it as well. What the hell was wrong with this day?
"Are you expecting a call from him?" Nero asked his friend, hoping that Darkdoom would just nod and Nero could leave him to it.
Unfortunately, Darkdoom shook his head.
Nero let out a weary sigh, reaching to rub his temples before clicking to accept the call.
After a few seconds, his father appeared on the screen, looking somewhat surprised that the call was answered.
"Greetings Maximillian, Diabolus." he said "This is a very rare occasion indeed."
"We were in the middle discussing something rather important, father." Nero said, raising an eyebrow "Although you know I just love your random, everyday attempts to contact me, can it wait?"
"No, Max, I'm afraid it cannot." Nathaniel replied.
"What is it Nathaniel?" Darkdoom asked, spotting the older man's concern.
The man took a deep breath "Within the past two weeks, I have received several notes of, if you will call it, warning. Or on a more basic level, threats. The-"
"You have as well?" Nero demanded, cutting him off. Nathaniel nodded.
"I take it from your lack of surprise, that they have been coming frequently?"
Nero sighed "Yes, unfortunately."
"But, I am, Max, calling for your welfare. These threats have nothing to do with me." Nathaniel went on, piping Nero's interest once again. He nodded for his father to continue.
"Almost all of them contain your name Max, threatening violence against you and Diabolus. The others have given me places to meet with the so called blackmailer." Nathaniel said.
"Samara, Russia?" Nero asked warily.
Nathaniel nodded "I see it is the same for you."
Nero rubbed his eyes with his hand "This doesn't make any sense. Why are they contacting you?"
"I haven't a clue. Do you have any other information? Did they say anything else to you?" his father asked and Nero shook his head. Darkdoom looked at his friend, head tilted.
"Well." Nathaniel glanced down "Have you thought of anyway to track these or find their source?"
"No." Nero said, once again raising an eyebrow "But I assume you have?"
"I think we should travel to Russia." Nathaniel said "And wait. Perhaps clues will expose themselves."
"Perhaps." Nero said "Or there are men waiting to ambush us."
"I am fairly certain your operative Raven would be more then helpful in that case." Nathaniel said with a smile.
Nero glanced at Raven, who gave a slight shake of her head, indicating it was his decision.
"And if nothing else will get you to come, bring along some students and act like this is work experience." Nathaniel said with an exasperated sigh "Although being blackmailed should be reason enough."
"I couldn't agree more." Darkdoom said "We'll be there Nathaniel. I'll send word to you when we're heading your way and we can pick you up. Until then."
Nathaniel nodded as Nero opened his mouth to protest and cut the connection.
"Diabolus." Nero said, looking at him irritably "I would really appreciate if you wouldn't talk for me. Why would you invite him? He has nothing to do with this."
"Max, he called to check on his son." Darkdoom replied, smiling "I think you owe him the courtesy of letting him see you. He wants to come."
Nero narrowed his eyes.
"And anyway, what he said about bringing students, that's not a half bad idea." Darkdoom went on "There are a few who know their way around Russia, if you know what I mean."
His friend smiled and Nero shot him a look.
###
"Laura, you can write that paper later. You just got it assigned today." Shelby grumbled as her friend settled into her desk.
"I know, but I was really hopping to go to the library tomorrow after classes and I don't want to have to worry about it." Laura said "Come on, Shel, get yours done so we can have the day off homework."
"I have every day off homework. I don't do it." Shelby replied, falling back on her bed.
"But that's not true. You can't-"
Hivemind suddenly appeared on Shelby's Blackbox and she rolled over to see.
"Good evening Student Trinity and Brand." Hivemind said with a smile on his blue hovering face "Dr. Nero would like you both to come to his office right away. He hopes your evening has been well."
"Hey Big Blue." Laura said turning around "Do you know what he wants?"
"No I am afraid I do not. However, Mr. Diabolus Darkdoom is there with him as well as operative Raven."
Shelby and Laura looked at each other, with frowns on their faces.
"To know more, I would suggest reporting to his office." Hivemind said.
"Alright, let's see what they're up to now."
###
"We're going to Russia." Nero began as the three students stared at him from their seats. Wing had also been contacted by Hivemind and sent to the headmasters office for reasons they were about to hear.
"Happy hallelujah!" Shelby said excitedly. Nero raised an eyebrow at her and she fell into an energetic silence.
"Diabolus, Raven, and I need to go to investigate something there. Now." Nero said, looking at Shelby "Diabolus and Nathaniel both thought it would be rather…advantageous for the three of you to come with us, since you've had some past experience there."
"Do we get to go see Iliana and the Furans?" Shelby asked with a gasp "Oh yes!"
Raven noticed and almost flinched involuntarily at the fact that the name David didn't accompany Iliana's anymore. It still hurt. After they had left Russia the first time, everyone had tried to heal from that experience. It was easier for them to be farther away because then they could almost pretend it had never happened and continue as if it hadn't. But talking about it again put a tense note in the air that was felt by everyone.
"Hold on." Nero said, holding up a hand "That's not the reason we're going."
"But we could fit that into the schedule yes?" Shelby asked, clearly not wanting to be disappointed "Iliana told me to call them up if we were ever in Russia and hey by the way, who's the Nathaniel guy you mentioned?"
Nero half-glared at Darkdoom, who smiled and nodded. Nero shook his head slightly.
"A friend." he said "That's all you need to know."
"But you didn't answer my questions. Can we see the Furans and company?" Shelby asked.
"We'll decide that later." Nero replied "For now, we leave in the morning. Go get ready."
###
"You know, not telling them he's your father is going to cause a lot of problems later on." Darkdoom said in amusement the next morning on the Shroud "And by problems I mean much of Shelby's mocking."
"Not if they never find out." Nero said "I don't plan on being away for more than two or three days, Diabolus. Surely we can all keep our mouths shut for that amount of time."
"Talk to Natalya, not me." Darkdoom said, pointing at Raven, who held out her hands indignantly.
"Wasn't worried about her." Nero said, walking over to the panel of controls "Diabolus leave her alone and go and tell the students that we're landing please."
"Right away, sir." Darkdoom said, turning away.
"Do you honestly think that Nathaniel will keep it from them?" Raven asked, walking to stand beside him.
"No, but let's delay the exposure of it as long as possible." Nero said.
They waited a couple minutes as the Shroud landed and as the hatch opened. Suddenly they heard a loud exclamation.
"His father?"
It was Shelby, immediately shushed by Darkdoom.
Nero smacked himself on the forehead and cursed his friend under his breath.
"And he was worried about me." Raven muttered.
"Do me a favor Natalya and kill him." Nero replied with a sigh as he walked out of the Shroud with her.
Darkdoom and the students were already out and waiting. Shelby was smiling, her face just huge altogether. Darkdoom on the other hand looked nervously amused. Nero narrowed his eyes at him.
"So we get to meet your father yes?" Shelby asked.
"We're meeting Nathaniel at the restaurant at the corner." Nero said, ignoring her "Natalya if you would be so kind as to wait here with the students, Diabolus and I will be heading there now."
Raven nodded, shooting Shelby a glare, who shrugged innocently.
Darkdoom turned to follow Nero, who was very obviously ignoring him and trying to keep his pace up and away from his friend.
"Wow!" Shelby said "I can't wait to meet his dad!"
"I can." Raven muttered "Dr. Nero is quite different from his father, believe me."
###
"Are you really going to refuse to speak to me?" Darkdoom asked in amusement as they walked into the restaurant.
Nero didn't even look at him and his friend chuckled.
Waiters and customers bustled about the shop with loud choruses of 'pardon me's' and 'sorry, my fault's'.
Nero looked around for his father, with less than happy eyes. He wasn't looking forward to seeing him again quite yet. Darkdoom scanned the room with him, until they spotted the old man coming up to them.
"Diabolus." he greeted him warmly "As always, a pleasure. It has been such a long time."
"To you as well Nathaniel." Darkdoom said, with a smile and glance at Nero, who narrowed his eyes.
"Hello, Maximilian." Nathaniel said with a slight smile "It would appear that you are rather…perturbed about my joining your mission. How are you?"
"Let's just get on with it shall we?" Nero asked, ignoring him for now "The others are waiting at the Shroud."
"We're doing fine, Nathaniel, how about yourself?" Darkdoom asked.
"Very well, thank you Diabolus." Nathaniel said "Who else is coming with us?"
"Students Wing Fanchu, Shelby Trinity, and Laura Brand." Nero replied.
"And Raven as well I assume." Nathaniel said in amusement "Come on, let's not leave her waiting. Heaven forbid."
Nero didn't say anything, but in the way his jaw clenched you could tell he knew later teasing would commence.
###
They arrived at the safe house in Russia later that evening. It was the same safe house they had stayed at with the Furans about three years previous.
Raven typed in her password to let them in and they followed her. Nathaniel had been rather talkative with Darkdoom on the way there and both her and Nero were getting a little on edge with his voice.
"So your emails never had signatures either, correct?" Nathaniel asked, talking to Nero for the first time since they had picked him up. Nero nodded, eyes closing slightly in annoyance.
"I haven't tried to reply to them either. We'd be able to be tracked if any of us did." Nathaniel said, looking back at Darkdoom. Nero tensed irritably as his father restated what the other three of them had already concluded.
"Hey Raven!" Shelby called, while walking the kitchen.
"What?" Raven asked, sounding rather grouchy.
"Do you have any snacks around here?" she asked.
"There's food in the fridge and pantry if you're hungry." Raven said, scowling.
"I know, I looked, but I was wondering if you had anything like ice cream or like snack like things."
"You expect me to keep ice cream in a place that we only visit every three or so years?" Raven said, her tone sounding more like she was stating something rather than asking.
"Well no…"
"Then I don't need to answer your question."
"Then why don't we go grocery shopping in the morning if we're going to stay here for some time." Nathaniel said, taking off his coat slowly.
"Great idea!" Shelby replied, smiling. Nero shot her a look.
"Well this place is kind of out of the way of towns and stuff, so that might take a while." Raven said, obviously trying to object without sounding too rude.
"Well, I assume we can hire a taxi around here, my dear. It shouldn't be a problem." Nathaniel replied calmly, the tone in which he always spoke to her. The only thing that showed she was irritated was the slight tapping of her foot; however that usually meant she was getting impatient.
"Anyhow we might as well make ourselves comfortable while we're here." Nathaniel said, gesturing at the stairs "Depending on how long you expect to stay." the sentence was clearly left hanging for Nero to answer and give an estimate, but the headmaster of H.I.V.E. simply nodded.
"Welcome back to Russia everyone" Shelby said with a smile.
:D Hi guys! PLEASE review! It like makes my life! 3 And if you wouldn't mind giving me any special scenes you want written, except given the fact this is the first chapter…but awell. I love predictions a well!