Disclaimer: I do not own Devil May Cry or Vandread. Just letting my imagination run wild here. Enjoy the ride!

Edit: Well, gang, looked this oldie but goodie over some time ago, and figured it could use a bit of sprucing up, not to mention better time-line management. I'll most likely look at a couple of other stories for some inspiration, but for now, let's go with just making the story flow that much better. Also, I'll stick with the name interprets that I have for the two main planets; works easier for me that way. Enjoy!


Dreads and Devils - Chapter One:

A New Legacy Begins

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"Over one thousand years have passed since the supernatural warriors of the secretive organization known as DEVIL MAY CRY, made their presence known to humanity at large on the planet Earth. They showed people a better way to exist on their home world, and aided the majority of them in their eventual exodus from Earth to colonize new worlds a millenia later, when the blue-green world could no longer readily sustain the vast population upon its surfaces.

Now, centuries more have passed since the time of the Sons of Sparda and their allies, but they have not been forgotten. I myself have been given the honor of raising a new descendant of their momentous efforts on this harsh planet where the majority of the male populace of the humanrace settled upon their needed separation from their female counterparts, half a milleniaago... which now begs the question: what new darkness has he been called to fight, beyond the threat of the insidious Harvesters that the stubborn governments of our worlds have denied the existence of, here in this new galaxy? I pray that he will be strong enough to face such monstrosities, and that my nephew Hibiki will be ready toface them by his side as well..."

- Personal Journal of Old Man Jin, written three days after the surprise attack over Taraak by the female pirates from Megele, and the disappearance of their ship and the male colony vessel 'Ikazuchi'...

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Date: June 3rd, the year 3009 A.E. on the planet Taraak…*

- over 3000 years after the majority of humanity's exodus from the planet earth… -

As the whipping desert winds scoured the empty deserts of the western quadrant of the capitol city of Taraak, a single figure returned to his home on the outskirts of the city... clutching a very important bundle securely in his arms. Reaching his front door, the cloaked man keyed in his personal access code, opening his home and allowing him to enter his dwelling after a long day. As soon as the door sealed shut, locking out the storm approaching, the man gently pulled the large backpack from his shoulders, laying it nearby.

Then, the man pulled off his protective mask and hood, revealing himself to be Old Man Jin, a member of the First Generation who settled Taraak and its sister world Megele, and an adviser to Lord Gran Pa himself, leader of all Taraak. No one even suspected the Old Man Jin was actually Gran Pa's own brother. Breathing wearily, Jin gently set down the bundle in his arms on the counter before him. Carefully, he unwrapped the bundled item before him, and soon, he was looking at what had been protected at its center: a little boy, barely even a year old, at best guess.

Old Man Jin still could not understand what had possessed him earlier on that day to head down to the naval shipyards, where the old colony ship - the mighty Ikazuchi - had been taken from its resting place, for the beginnings of a large-scale retrofitting of its structure into a powerful battleship capable of repelling the annoying raiding parties of the hated female pirates from Megele, on the opposite side of their own solar orbit in this galaxy. 'Hated... what stupidity.' Jin remarked to himself.

At that moment, Jin recalled how men and women of the human race, so long ago removed from their birth planet, had been involved in an utterly ridiculous argument on how to deal with future threats to their race, and had chosen to split the genders apart from one another in this region of then non-colonized space. The men settled on the harsh planet of Taraak, and the women colonized the lush world of Megele. This, of course, was the popular line used by hardliners in the government of Taraak then, and even now, to prevent the two factions from ever reaching a peaceful resolution to their severed existence. It had also been used to cover up the grim truth that had arisen ever since those who trusted in Gran Pa in all things had found out what happened on Earth long after the departure of the majority from their home world. The reasons behind the split of humanity had been misguided, but had saved them from a fate far worse than death. Since then, fearful propaganda and false information had been spread by those on both sides who wished to destroy all memories of how humanity had lived over six thousand years ago... but Jin would not have it. He knew better.

Returning to the moment, Jin focused on how a strange feeling had drawn him inside the old colony vessel earlier that day, and to the hidden stasis pod that held the boy, holding a pair of silver dog tags in his tiny hands with the name 'Evander Dylan Greystone (Aurelius)' clearly stamped on them. Jin had been shocked, to say the least, upon finding the sleeping child's place in the bowels of the ancient ship. Upon using his First Generation access code on the stasis unit, Jin was further amazed to find several sealed and engraved cylinders secured within the boy's pod, but that was put on hold when the gentle crying of the child reached his ears.

Cradling the boy in the detachable inner seating of the unit, Jin gathered all the cylinders and wrapped items inside of it that he could see, along with the child, and hustled his way back home. Now, here he was, with a young child in his home, and utterly no idea what to do with him. Then, a portion of the 'bassinet' that held Evander hummed out loud, and one of the sealed containers opened before him. Inside of it were several well-preserved documents identifying Evander as a descendant of the Sons of Sparda, and the rightful heir to his ancestor's legacy, the arcane pedigree of the Legendary Dark Knight himself… Sparda.

The documents also contained detailed instructions and guidance on how to raise the boy, and what to be ready for as he grew into his powers and adulthood. Jin could not believe his eyes as he viewed the embossed papers before him: this child would soon wield superhuman powers once thought to be beyond comprehension, and the writers of the documents vehemently refused to let him be used as a tool or weapon against humanity's descendants. So to keep him safe, and to properly guide him, one of the First Generation would raise him properly... and not feed him any propaganda about the sexes or the past. Old Man Jin's jaw dropped open.

'They called me to find this child, and to raise him right.' He smiled at the sleeping child, who seemed to sense his feelings, and smiled as well. 'I am honored, noble Sons of Sparda, that you have chosen me for this task. I accept.'

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3012 A.E., three short years later...

"Uncle Jin!" Four and three-quarter years old Evander Dylan Greystone called out to his adopted uncle, as he stood atop a moderate-sized boulder near Jin's attempt at a garden in the arid desert atmosphere. "Watch this!"

Jin raised his head to look at his adopted charge as he called out, then watched in awe as the youngster executed a series of incredible aerial flips, landing in a perfect Olympic-style 'stuck' position. Jin's mouth fell open, as it often did when the young child showed off some of his unique skills as he became aware of them.

"Where did you learn to do that, Evander?" Jin asked. "Were you watching that old footage of those Olympic acrobats again? We watched those just last month, and you still can't get enough?" The boy smiled, his exuberance matched only by the double back-flip he did from his standing position.

"Yep!" Evander crowed, right as he suddenly looked off in the distance, straining his eyes and ears. Jin looked perplexed at this reaction.

"Evander...?" The boy turned back to look at his adopted uncle as Jin spoke to him, a bit confused himself.

"Sorry, Uncle Jin..." He began, shaking his head. "... but, I would've sworn I heard a Sand Panther (*) calling out, just now..." At Evander's reply, the boy sat down, slowly rubbing his temples. Jin nodded, his own thoughts a blur as he instantly recalled the guidelines of the documents left in his keeping.

'Enhanced physical attributes... agility... awareness of his surrounding,... and now, awakening of his augmented senses.. yes, right on schedule; his birthday isin just a week, of course.' Jin's silent comments were shielded by the smile he gave his charge, while the boy stood up and cartwheeled over to hug him.

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Six months later...

"ARRRRGGGGHH!" The painful scream echoed from down the hallway, startling Jin out of his light slumber, and causing him to throw off his bedding to find out what in Grand Pa's name was going on. "UNCLE JIN! HELP MEEEE!"

"EVANDER!" Jin yelled out as he pulled open the door to his own room, and darted down the hall to his adopted son's room. "EVANDER! What's wrong...!" Jin shouted as he yanked open Evander's door, and rushed in to find him.

"It... it BURNS...!" Evander screamed out as Jin finally entered the boy's room to see him kneeling on the floor, both of his arms held up before himself as his tanned limbs seemed to be steaming like hot plates!

"By Gran Pa...!" Jin cried as Evander gritted his teeth in sheer agony, turning to his parent as he felt his presence.

"Uncle Jin... please... make it stop...!" Jin quickly grabbed his pleading son's shoulders and helped him up to his feet, his mind already racing to remember what needed to be done to alleviate his child's suffering. Then, he remembered what to do, and where the items were at.

"Come with me, Evander..." Jin soothed to his child. "... I think I know how to solve this pain of yours. The answer's in my study." Evander painfully nodded as his uncle led him out of his room, and to Jin's large study.

Steadying Evander at a wall, Jin quickly reached up on top of the bookshelf, and took down a small chest. Opening it, Jin found what he was looking for: two rune-inscribed metal bands, which he had found in Evander's stasis pod during his inspection of it after finding the boy. Carefully, Jin lifted the two bands out of the chest, setting it down, and held them both out to Evander. However, before Evander could say or do anything with them, the two bands leaped right out of Jin's hands, split open, and clapped themselves one each on Evander's biceps!

Evander's mouth dropped open as he instantly passed out, landing on the floor, but all Jin could do at that sight... was to step back in shock. The very moment the twin bands locked onto Evander's skin, the 'steam' coming off his forearms vanished, but that only signaled what was to come next. A blast of bronze-colored arcane energies suddenly enveloped Evander's right forearm, while a second burst of purple-tinged light quickly surrounded his left limb!

The twin bands also began to glow of their own accord, matching those energies now present on each of Evander's arms, but the energies did not abate... they only revealed Evander's newest manifestation of his ancient legacy to Jin's amazed gaze. Both of Evander's arms suddenly burned away the entire layers of skin on them with those unleashed energies, revealing an organic, almost rock-like physical structure beneath, complete with glowing bronze and purple sections that also matched the metal bands now on his upper arms!

Even his fingers changed, growing sharp, demonic claws on their ends that glowed just like his arms. At that moment, though, as Jin stood stock-still in shock at the transformation of his child's limbs, a low tone filled the air - coming from the bands, Jin noted, - which was followed up by a powerful voice, one that came out from Evander's own mouth to boot.

"Devil Bringer Heritage... awakened, and contained." The voice calmly stated, at which the twin runic bands unleashed multiple strips and bandages from seemingly nowhere - not unlike the wrappings of a mummified body - and swallowed up Evander's transformed arms like perfect sheaths! Once surrounded, the boy's altered arms relaxed and resumed a human appearance again, but remained tightly wrapped by the bindings. Evander instantly relaxed, his rapid breathing finally slowing down after all that had happened to him. After a few minutes, Jin slowly approached the now-sleeping Evander, staring at his adopted son's hidden, but now present Devil Bringer arms in sheer wonder.

Taking a few deep, calming breaths, Jin looked Evander over, and seeing that he was indeed asleep, picked him up into his arms and carried him back to his room. Tucking his adopted son into his bed, Jin could only rub his brow as he looked down upon the exhausted child. 'Incredible... simply incredible.' He thought, as he left the room, gently closing the door behind him.

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The following day, Jin gently woke Evander up, and led him to a secluded outdoor area near their home. Once there, Jin slowly explained what had occurred to him last night, and then asked Evander to touch the new additions to his daily outfit: the twin rune-inscribed bands on his arms. Carefully, Evander did so, and then, he watched in utter amazement as his twin Devil Bringer arms were revealed as the mystic bindings peeled away and vanished into the metallic bands, leaving him staring at the twin arcane-altered appendages he now possessed.

Gingerly, Evander touched his transformed limbs to one another, still in awe of them, but no longer afraid of what they represented to him. "Uncle Jin..." He started slowly, steadying his voice. "...does this, have anything to do with the old legend you told me about? Back when I was just turning three?" Jin nodded, and motioned for Evander to sit down next to him on an old rock.

"Yes, Evander." Jin replied. "It's one of the reasons why I've home-schooled you since I adopted you." Evander nodded, fully aware that he had been adopted, but still thinking of Jin as family.

"So, what you said... the Sons of Sparda..." Evander stated. "... Heroes of our ancient birth world... the great things they did back on Earth… where the First Generation themselves came from as well." Jin smiled at his adopted son's intuition, then answered back as he hugged Evan with one arm.

"Yes, Evander." Jin said as he carefully took Evander's left Devil Bringer hand into his, and patted his shoulder for emphasis. "For one reason or another, you are linked to that legacy. Your arms are proof of that. There is much more to come in your future, Evander, that much is quite clear. And if I'm to continue in teaching you the truth about the human race, its past, present, and future - not just what the false words and propaganda here on Taraak say, even though we have proudly forged our own destiny here, - you will need to begin the training your ancestors saved for you so long ago, and wished for you to undergo to fully embrace your destiny as a descendant of the Legendary Dark Knight. Are you ready for that, my boy?"

Evander looked at his Devil Bringer arms, feeling the subtle hum and vibration of their inner power in his very soul, then looked up at Jin, smiled, and nodded. "Yes, Uncle Jin; I am. Let's get started." Jin smiled back.

"Wise answer, Evander." Patting his son's shoulder again, the two stared off into the distance as the sun passed over them, before rising up and heading back home.

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3016 A.E., a year and a half later...

"I'm so sorry about this, Elder Jin..." The nervous plaza grounds-keeper said to Jin, even as Evander stood silently nearby, a large bruise on his cheek. "... but, seeing as the boy assaulted the son of a First Class Citizen in broad daylight... I had to call the local guards in." Jin nodded in calm understanding.

"I understand completely, my good fellow." Jin's reply let the frazzled grounds-keeper take a deep breath of relaxation. "I'm just glad that the plaza's security cameras supported my adopted son's actions and backed up what he told us."

"As am I, Elder Jin." The grounds-keeper responded. "Forgive me for asking, Elder, but where did he learn...?" Jin quickly spoke up.

"I taught my boy how to survive, my good man, as would any and all men of Taraak with their own sons." Jin's reply was smooth, but filled with just the right amount of pride in his charge. "Now, granted, Dylan went a bit overboard, but he's not one to take insults lying down... especially if they're about me." The grounds-keeper nodded, then pointed to the east, showing Jin the approach of a well-dressed First Class citizen, followed by an eleven year-old boy, who sported a bloody nose plugged with gauze, and a pair of black eyes to match.

"Elder Jin?" The First Class citizen asked as he came up to Jin, his face a mixture of both frustration and embarrassment at the situation. Jin nodded.

"Yes, what can I do for you, good sir?" Jin's response prompted the man and his son to awkwardly bow in respect to Jin.

"I would be most grateful, Elder Jin..." The man began, composing his words. "... if you would accept my heartfelt apology for my son's actions today, and for his disrespectful words toward you and your charge." Jin looked at them both before replying.

"Apology accepted." Jin said before nudging 'Dylan' with his elbow, even as he noticed his adopted son's teeth gritting tightly behind his lips. Dylan soon bowed toward the other man and his son, though, speaking slowly to them both.

"I'm sorry, too, sir." The man briefly showed his inner delight that Dylan had apologized, but quickly hid his contentment; insulting one of the First Generation was usually never forgiven.

"Well, we shall be on our way, then. Good day, Elder Jin." The man said, accepting Jin's nod to his words, and quickly left with his own son still scowling at Dylan, but the eyes of the adopted son of Old Man Jin remained as hard as stone. As Jin turned his son around so they could head home, solemn words echoed in Dylan's mind as they left the plaza.

'No one insults my family or me... and leaves without paying for it.'

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Evander immediately headed for his room as soon as he and Jin returned home, only for a stern "Evander..." from Jin to draw him back into the living room to face his uncle. Jin stood there, waiting for an answer, and Evander clasped his hands behind his back before he replied, remaining relaxed under the stern gaze of his guardian.

"Yes, Uncle Jin?" Jin frowned at Evander's neutral answer, appraising his adopted son before him. The large bruise that had been on Evander's cheek when they had left the plaza had already faded into just a reddened cheek.

"Although I am disappointed that you got into a fight with that boy, Evander..." Jin said, before ruffling his son's black and white-streaked hair. "... I am proud that you stood up to someone trying to bully you, and attempting to disparage our family. Such an affront to our honor as men of Taraak is not allowed to go unpunished, no matter one's standing in our society." Evander nodded.

"I understand, Uncle Jin." Evander replied. "I was just about to leave when he started talking down to me... but when that boy insulted you... he also insulted Gran Pa, your own brother,... and, I just saw red." Jin nodded; if it had been him at that age, he, too, would have punched the smug little punk out cold.

"Go on, my boy." Jin said, allowing Evander to continue on.

"The insults he tried to use on me didn't faze me at all, Uncle Jin. He's just lucky that I now know how to control my strength." Evander said, prompting Jin to nod.

"I can see why, my boy. I'm also quite glad that you held back your true strength under such demeaning tactics." At that response from Jin, Evander half-frowned.

"I only wanted to deck him, Uncle Jin..." The seven year-old stated, rubbing his still-covered arms one at a time. "... not put him into the ICU, or worse, a coma. I remember what my full strength can do, Uncle, especially after that training lesson with the punching bag." Looking at his charge, who took a deep breath to calm his nerves as he rubbed the intricately wrapped lengths of his hands and forearms, his usual tactic of taking solace in the feeling of the devil-silks when he was miffed at something. Jin relented at last and nodded at his son's acceptance of his actions.

"Very well, Evander Greystone." Jin said, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "Now, go get washed up. Dinner will be ready soon, and after that, we'll tackle your next lessons for this week."

"Yes, sir." Evander replied before heading off to the washroom. Jin, meanwhile, mentally tallied yet another mark in his private profile about his growing adopted charge's abilities. 'He's become aware of the intensity of his greater power; good for him'. He mused.

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One year later...

"So, Uncle Jin, what's so important about that letter?" Eight year-old Evander asked his adopted parent as he took off and hung up his sand poncho. Jin then showed his charge the embossed seal of Gran Pa on the envelope. It had been hand-delivered to Jin an hour before Evander had returned home from his daily chores in the atrium to celebrate his eighth birthday with his beloved uncle.

"This, my boy, is your certified invitation to attempt the Spirit Trial of Gran Pa... in two years' time." Jin replied, prompting Evander's eyes to widen in surprise. He could hardly believe his ears when Jin had said that. Here was his chance to become a First Class citizen in his own right, with no strings attached or favors owed to anyone in the government or higher classes, and finally able to keep the other ones off his back once and for all now that he was beginning to be acknowledged as Jin's own son and one hell of an apprentice in many things.

"How did you accomplish that, Uncle Jin!?" Evander exclaimed as Jin handed him the letter so that he could read it as well. He kept talking with his uncle even as his eyes scrolled down the announcement. "I know you've told me that you're not part of the Council, and that the Prime Minister - in his wisdom - still doesn't care for your total disregard of his propaganda..." Jin chuckled at his charge's words.

"Not to worry, Evander." Jin replied. "I spoke directly to Gran Pa on this matter, and he approved of this himself. The Council had no influence on this decision in any way, shape or form. After all, I am still his brother." Evander gawked at Jin.

"You... you told him about me, Uncle?" The startled look on Evander's face was quickly put to rest by Jin's reply.

"No, Evander. Only that I knew of a good-natured orphan who had earned my respect some time ago, and had reached out to me to see if he could attempt the Trial so he could become a man worthy of Taraak's honor." Jin said, which Evander nodded to as he caught his breath from being so excited.

"Whew! Okay, then, Uncle Jin..." Evander started, smiling at his uncle. "... when do I really start my training for it?" Again, Jin could only chuckle at Evander's words and his obvious eagerness. With his innate abilities soon to be manifested, and growing stronger every day with him, Evander would have the definite advantage for the Trial in spades.

"We start tomorrow on the Trial's dangers, time frame, and what rules you have to follow while attempting the Trial, Evander." Jin replied. "We will also have to discuss what name you will call yourself when you succeed." Evander scratched his head, then smiled as the answer came to him easily.

"The same name on my original data card, Uncle Jin... AURELIUS." Jin grinned.

"Excellent choice, son." The First Generation descendant said as he hugged his charge while they headed for the kitchen.

End Chapter One

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Evander's younger years have been revealed in part...

The future of his life begins to take shape before him...

The ancient power of his legacy calls out to him with each passing year...

Yep, here is Evander's first sampling of his true power. Next up, a bit of a time skip (once I've worked out the particulars,) smaller though, and our first intros to the regular characters in Vandread and what they all will think when they first meet the newest descendant of the Legendary Dark Knight Sparda. Enjoy, and chat with ya later!

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And now, a couple of new notes for the edit!

* A.E. = Like B.C. and A.D. before it, I figured I'd go with 'After Earth' to keep it simple for us all. (Yeah, Titan A.E.; I got it. :P )

* By my math above, and from the end of chapter two, humanity's exodus from the planet Earth in 'Dreads and Devils' happened around 3531 A.D., actually not far off from the scary prophecies of Nostradamus, who foretold that Earth would meet its end some time around the year 3700 or so (I forget the exact date from the documentary I watched many years ago.) To survive, humanity would have to reach out for the stars, and with the aid of the Sons of Sparda, their allies, resources, and knowledge, it went far better than expected. That still does not mean that some elements of evil would not rear their ugly heads back up in the future. You'll see what I mean come later chapters of this arc, my friends.

* Sand Panthers = I can't exactly remember which Vandread crossover I read where this particular choice of desert beast was used in - maybe either one of the works from our good friend Freedom Guard, may his soul rest in peace - but it just seems right to me. And no, Evan's not going to have a Sand Panther as a pet, companion or familiar in this story. I've think I've got something better than that in mind.