Okay, so I decided to start this story. This one is more of an "original" Trinity Blood Story. In this story, Abel did not join the Vatican. He's roaming around, leading his own little pack of Vampires and Humans that he's helped along the way and want to stay with him. Which of course, means he runs into the AX agents a lot. Eventually, he has to make a choice about what to do with the way the world is. Also in this story, Abel is much more of a Lonely character. He's more serious than he was in the Manga or the Anime. Tres is much more like he is in the Anime, though there are times when he's like what he was in the Manga. I tried to blend the two. I've changed several things in the story. Bear with me please!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy. Welcome to an alternate universe of Trinity Blood. The story is different than the original, but it will kind of start going in the same direction after a while. :P

Chapter One: Heavenly Bodies

Abel sighed, looking over the many people that had now come to call this strange place home. There were Vampires (or Methuselah as they preferred to be called) and Humans (which the Vampires called Terrans). They got along fairly well, considering he had just thrown them all together once they wanted to stay with him. There were thousands of them, growing and growing in number and bringing their friends to him. He just didn't have the heart to turn anyone away. He helped them all as he could, though sometimes even he didn't have the power to make any difference. But they still looked up to him. They loved him even. He knew them all by name, and they were all fighters because there were so few of them, or at least compared to the rest of the world. They were beginning to be noticed by the two world powers: The Vatican of Humans, and The New Human Empire of Vampires. They knew that many of them lived here, and that all of them were fighters. They hadn't threatened anyone yet, but it was only a matter of time before either side tried to establish relations with them. Neither side moved, fearing to provoke all out war with the other side. It was because of this that they had been called The Rouge Nation.

Abel knew that the time would soon arrive. As far as he knew, he was the last Crusnik left, though he had heard that someone had been trying to create crude imitations of them and resurrect the man made race. His brother was hopefully gone and for good. His sister was no where to be found. But, then again, after Armageddon they had all disappeared and tried to fade into the back ground. There were people who were fascinated with them, and many more who feared them. They were still little more than human weapons. If they turned against the world, as they had before, few could hope to stand in their way. That was why they disappeared, so people wouldn't have to fear that anymore. The legends were still whispered of them however, of the deadly Angels that hunted Vampires and killed Humans. It had been a long time since then. Abel hadn't killed anyone in nine hundred years unless he absolutely had to. He had to repent of his many sins, and this was one way he was doing it, by helping all of these people.

They knew who he was. They had all seen his 80% form, though he had never showed them his 100% form. Unlike Cain, his brother, he hadn't been driven mad by this form. He was lucky he supposed. But he still didn't dare use that form. And he never would unless he absolutely had to. He didn't have the heart to hide what he really was from the people of this strange group. Many of them had feared him at first, and they had shied away from him, but they were too fond of him to leave. And eventually, even the Vampires no longer feared him. He was a gentle creature, though he was still wild and did what he wanted when he wanted. There was no was to make him not be that way. None of them had ever seen him truly angry, and they weren't sure they wanted to. But they didn't want to see him become a slave either. He was strangely wise. He was strangely playful. He was strangely gentle and wild. And yet through it all, they sometimes caught the sorrowful creaking of the black wings that were grafted to his back.

They had appointed him as their leader. He was old. He wouldn't die any time soon. So they could trust him to keep the peace among them and to guard them. These people, Vampire and Human alike, had all been hurt greatly by the world, as he had once been. They didn't want to interact with the world if they could help it. The world was a cruel and foreign place. Here at least, they knew they could always be welcome and protected. Here at least, they knew that they would never have to fear what the world had to offer, at least not as much. Still, whenever they looked at Abel, they could tell that their trials were nothing compared to his. He had lived countless ages and he had watched friends and family die. The world passed on, and he was left standing as nothing more than some of the lost technology that they world was so obsessed with obtaining. They pitied him. Their lives, short as they had been, were horrible. How much worse would it be for a creature that -as far as it was known- was practically immortal? And he must have been at one time, full of such pain and anger and aching confusion that he had to have hated the world. So why now was he so calm, so fatherly, so caring, so kind? He was gentle, and that made them wonder how he could be after so much had happened to him. He must have been a kind person before the nanomachines had so altered his life.

It was true that it had hurt Abel. It had hurt physically and mentally. It hurt his body, it hurt as his body was forced to change between Human and Vampire, then to something that was neither. But it had also hurt that he was little more than a test subject. Then that he was little more than a weapon and goods that could be used and tossed away. It hurt that humanity had turned his back on him. That was when he had heeded his brother instead of his "mother" and helped Cain kill thousands. But then, Cain went too far, and caused Armageddon. Abel wanted to make people pay, but he was a naturally kind person, and that was far too much. After that, he and his sister Seth had cast Cain down through the Earth's atmosphere, and then Abel had sworn later to his dying "mother" that he wouldn't kill anyone again unless he had to. He had kept that promise, and he had become kind once again, and helped people whenever they needed it.

There had at one time been many Crusnik. Not as many as there were Humans on Earth or Vampires from another planet, but enough to be considered a race all their own. There were millions of them. But when they became stranded on Earth after Armageddon, they had suddenly had no source to gain their powers from. One by one, they destroyed each other. Many were killed and then had their nanomachines stolen so that they could never return. But some were not. Abel never died, and his "mother" whose name was Lilith Nightroad (all of the original four Crusnik were called Nightroad, after having been created by the same nanomachines) had never had her nanomachines stolen. There was a chance that she could return someday. But now, Abel Nightroad was as alone as he could be. Only two of them had really survived, though others could reappear. Cain was one, because being 100% Crusnik he couldn't really be dead after dropping through the Atmosphere.

But Abel wasn't thinking of any of this right now. His mind was still on the problem of trying to keep all of these people out of a Global War. The Empire wanted their friendship. The Vatican wanted their friendship. Neither side could cooperate and would not tolerate knowing that the Vampires and Humans here would not be separated. They liked each other. This was their home, and without all of these people here it wouldn't be the same. Both sides had been bugging him to make a decision that would benefit them and not piss off the other side. And that was beginning to prove highly impossible. He was neither Human nor Vampire. He was sort of a bridge between the two. And yet he could never be able to keep them from arguing. He hoped that, like in this place, the Humans and Vampires would coexist in peace. But both sides, as far as he could see, were determined to not do so.

Abel Nightroad was a tall man, tall and thin. He was handsome, and at the same time beautiful. He was a roguish creature, and everyone who looked at him could tell it. In his human form, like he was in now, he had long silver hair. It could hang down halfway down his back, but now it was pulled up into a pony tail, though he let the longer strands of his bangs hang over his shoulders. His eyes were a gentle sky blue and kind, though through them someone could glimpse the hidden sorrow and anger of his kind. He wore glasses though he really didn't need them. He always made sure to change his appearance in someway whenever it was thought that he had died. He often had to pretend that to certain people when he needed to disappear. He wore what most young men of his perceived age did. He wore dark black pants, tall black boots and a simple black long sleeved shirt. He didn't want to stand out as much as possible. And that was something that he had learned to be good at over the years. Especially when he walked with someone else.

Abel's mind was still wandering as he felt someone's back bump into his as a young woman sighed. She was a beautiful young woman, and she had traded out her usual clothes -a blue and white sister's uniform for the church- and now wore a small pale yellow dress and matching shoes. She too was trying her best to blend in. Her hair was a bright red color, with the bangs longer in the front and the hair cut shorter in the back. Her eyes were large and innocent and blue, though Abel could also detect another emotion in them, sorrow. She had joined him only recently, a few months ago actually. She was Human, and Abel knew that she had a birthmark in the shape of a star on her left side because she felt important that he know everything about her. She too had seen his 80% form, and unlike most people, she hadn't avoided him. In fact, scared though she was she had insisted on asking him questions about himself. Now she wasn't scared of him anymore. She was quite fond of him and used a gun really well.

"Esther." Abel said. "You startled me. Why are you wearing that? It's very pretty but..."

"Oh come on Abel!" Esther said. "We all know that you're going out again. And I'm coming with you this time!"

"Esther, I'm not doing anything." Abel argued. "I'm checking something, that's it."

"Yeah, but I'm still coming with you." Esther said stubbornly. "You need help. Besides, what if you get into a situation you can't bluff your way out of. I can help you. And you'll look more natural if you're with someone else. Maybe it'll look like you're on a date or something."

"You're not even ten percent of my age." Abel replied, smiling. That comment had immensely amused him. "I doubt that you could ever 'date' me anyway. Besides, you don't have to repay me. I told you before. I helped you against Gyula because you needed the help. I don't expect anything in return. So you don't have to-"

"That's not it at all!" Esther cried. He looked at her. She was shivering now. "It's about Rosenkreuz. They're back. We know they are. They were the enemy of the world a long time ago, and now they're coming back for some reason. I know that you hate them, and so do I! Dietrich...I trusted him! And he betrayed me! I don't want revenge. Not now. Not after what I did. But I want to make sure that no one else suffers the way I did. Don't you understand Abel? I have to go with you! I know that you won't be coming back for some time, and I want to help you! I want to be as kind and caring as you. I want to make a difference! Don't you get it?" Abel paused, watching her a moment.

"I do." Abel sighed. "Alright. Alright. You can come. I know you, you'd come anyway. Just make sure that you do what I say and-" The rest of his sentence was cut off as a very excited Esther turned around and hugged him, her arms around his neck.

"Oh thank you Abel!" She cried. "Thank you! I won't let you down."

"Listen Esther." Abel said. She paused. "You have to do everything I say. If I say run, you run. If I say hide, you hide. If I want your help, then help me."

"I got it." Esther replied. Then she paused as she looked at him. "Oh, and Abel. Do you have enough blood? You can't activate your powers without it. I know you hate it, but you have to drink the blood of Vampires."

"I've got enough." Abel said, sighing. "And besides, there are many Vampires that will attack us because I look Human. If that happens, I can always drink from them. Now, are you ready to go?"

"Yes."

"You've got your weapons?" Abel asked. Esther pulled up the skirt of her dress a little to show him the blades strapped to her thighs and then showed him where she had concealed her gun. He too carried a gun for when he was in his human form. Both guns shot silver bullets and both blades were edged in silver.

"I'm ready."

"You came prepared." Abel noted. "But that's good. You can never be too cautious. Alright then, we'll head out."

"Why are we leaving Abel?" Esther asked.

"The Rosenkreuz are trying to capture contact telepaths." Abel said. "Those people have powers that can cause a person to go crazy and then cause allies to turn on one another. There's one that I've heard about. Her name is Elise. She's a girl who's no older than ten, and she somehow developed the powers. She's murdered people, though perhaps not intentionally. I intend to put a stop to this, and try and help her with her problem. I'll bring her here if I can. People often kill each other when they're around contact telepaths. But I think our group is too close knit for that. We can risk it."

"And the Vatican won't sit by for this either." Esther said. "It'll be possible that we'll come face to face with members of the AX unit. They specialize in foreign affairs don't they?"

"Yes. You do pay attention." Abel said. "Probably. We won't be the only ones moving. It's too dangerous for someone like this to go unchecked, especially someone as young and unstable emotionally as this child. Still, we have to try. It may be that the Vatican beats us to it. But either way, we can't let the Rosenkreuz have this edge over us."

"Right." Esther replied thoughtfully. "Then where are we going?"

"Rome." Abel replied with a chuckle.

"Of course we are." Esther sighed.

Rome was obviously unlike any other city that Esther had ever seen. She was smiling contently at all of the architecture and beautiful scenes as she walked with her arm in Abel's. They really seemed like they could be just another couple out for a walk in the streets of Rome. Abel couldn't help but smile too as he saw her face. He had been into Rome many times. He knew the streets well. But it never got old to see the faces of people who had only just seen Rome for the first time.

"Wow!" Esther said. "This place is amazing!"

"I'm glad to see you're enjoying yourself." Abel said, glancing down at her a moment.

"Of course I am!" Esther gasped. "Are all these buildings really older than Armageddon?"

"Some of them." Abel replied. "Most of them are newer though. Still, we're almost there."

"Where are we going Abel?" Esther asked.

"To the Vatican." Abel replied. "There's someone there I have to see. I hope he recognizes me. I'd hate to be shot today."

"I wouldn't let anyone shoot you!" Esther growled.

"Ah, you might not have a chance to do anything." Abel sighed. "He's not a person actually. He's an android. He's a robot programed with certain systems. If he thinks we're a threat, he wouldn't hesitate. You probably couldn't even pull out your gun before he saw and retaliated. He's one of the 'killing dolls' that were created to be weapons. He's working with the AX unit as one of their agents. He's known as Father Tres. Last time we met he almost shot me. But an old friend of mine who runs the AX stopped him. I'd go see her, but that would involve going inside the Vatican and much more trouble than I can put up with now."

"How are we going to find Tres?" Esther asked.

"It's easy really." Abel replied. "He's put on missions and follows orders to the dot. Because of that, I know exactly where he'd be when he wasn't on orders."

Esther fell silent and followed Abel dutifully, holding onto his arm. The Vatican was right in front of them now. And the crowd was thinning out. The building was tall and foreign, like some sort of space ship, though a giant cross was suspended by cables over the large plaza in the center of the area where priests and sisters were going about on business as usual. In the plaza, a few fathers and sisters in black and white or white and blue respectively paused as they saw the two of them, wondering what they were doing here. But then they turned again and left, carrying out orders as usual.

Abel didn't go to these doors that led straight in. They were heavily guarded by and the guards were watching them suspiciously. Instead, Abel turned as if to leave, walking down the long path that led out towards the street. But then he slipped into a small alley way that Esther would have never noticed without having Abel to guide her. This alley way ended at the edge of the Vatican and no there was no where to go after this point. However, there was a door that led into a building nearby. They paused however, because someone pointed a gun at Abel's head.

Abel and Esther both looked at him. He was tall, though he was shorter than Abel. He had short brown hair that was slightly spiked and he had brown eyes. His eyes were narrowed slightly as he looked at Abel. He seemed to be watching Abel for a moment, his eyes unwavering. Then he removed his gun.

"Hello, Tres." Abel said. "The girl's with me."

"Nightroad." Tres said. "I have orders to let you live if I see you."

"I heard the problems you're having with Rosenkreuz." Abel replied, as if the android's remark had been nothing out of the ordinary. "And about the contact telepath."

"Positive." Tres replied. "We're going to capture the telepath before the Order of Rosenkreuz does."

"Would you mind if we tagged along?" Abel asked. Tres turned, regarding the Crusnik again.

"I have no orders like that." Tres replied.

"I'm sure Caterina wouldn't mind." Abel said.

"Positive."

"Come along then Esther. We'll stay out of Tres' way if we can." Abel replied.

The robotic Father made no reply as he turned and began to walk away. The two of them followed him silently again. Esther gave the Father a glance, but he didn't respond anymore. He walked on, and with him with them they were asked no questions. A few people, AX agents included, paused and looked at them curiously, but they left them alone. Tres was an android that only obeyed a few people's orders and would only allow a few people to the leniency to walk at his side. They looked like normal people to their eyes. Except that the young woman glanced towards them meaningfully, and the young man's eyes weren't quite right. They looked as if they belonged to a man much older than he looked. Tres then reached up and tapped the intercom on his ear.

"Sister Kate." He said. "I am bringing two people with me. They are to join the mission today."

"Who are they?" Kate asked. "It's unusual for you to let anyone come along."

"I have orders," Tres replied. "to create friendly relations with the Rouge Nation. They are from the Rouge Nation. We must be careful to extend them this, without angering the Empire." Esther paused. How did Tres know where they were from? However, Abel hardly seemed surprised at all.

"R-right!" Kate replied. She knew the status of the Rouge Nation as well as anyone. "Does Lady Caterina know about this?"

"Negative."

"You'll have to tell her."

"Positive."

"Alright then. If you're sure." Kate sighed. "I'll bring the Iron Maiden down so that everyone can load up. I hope they know what they're up against."

"They do." Tres replied. "Gunslinger out."

Esther glanced at the android. The name "Gunslinger" certainly seemed to fit him. He used his guns a lot, and she knew that, being an android, his shots would hardly ever miss. That was just they way things were. Still, she couldn't help but think about Abel as they walked along. Now, he was smiling again and there was kindness and patience in his eyes. But she had seen another side of him: loneliness. He tried to hide it, but it was impossible to miss. Especially when he was forced to show his Crusnik form to someone. People were always afraid of him. Now, she was used to the idea. She trusted him. He, unlike Dietrich, had never lied about what he really was. He had not even lied by omission. He had hinted at what he truly was. And for that she loved him dearly. She had lost the person she had thought of as a mother, and now he was like a father to her. But he was also a dear friend. She wanted to protect him, though he hardly needed it. And she also wanted to help him with his impossible quest.

"Abel." Esther said quietly. "Do you think we'll be away from home for a long time?"

"Eh?" Abel asked, distracted. "I don't know. Things often happen when you're out in the world. We may be gone for many years, or only a few days. It's hard to guess. But we'll get home, or not at all. I suppose that's all for God to decide isn't it?"

"Yeah, I suppose." Esther replied. "But Abel. You'll let me fight with you right? Even in your...other form?" Abel watched her for a moment.

"Most living creatures wouldn't want to be near me in that form." Abel said. "But if you can stand it, and you really want to, I can't really stop you can I?"

"Thank you Abel." Esther replied with a smile.

Suddenly Tres stopped in a courtyard. Above them, tethered to the ground, was a large ship. It was in the shape of a giant iron cross. It was painted gold and red. Cannons were fixed to nearly every side of the ship. It was strangely magnificent and yet at the same time strangely menacing. Esther paused a moment, looking at it. Tres turned to Esther.

"Nightroad is registered in my Enemy-Ally Identification List. You however are not." Tres said. "Please speak your name, age, past history, race and place of residence." Esther paused, taken aback by the sudden request. But Abel smiled at her patiently and nodded. So she began.

"Uh..." Esther said. "Esther Blanchett. I'm 16. I don't know my parents. I was raised by a bishop in the church. She was murdered by Gyula, so me and my friend Dietrich planned on getting revenge. Except, Gyula wanted to use the Star of Sorrow to destroy the Vatican. Dietrich betrayed me and set the star to start a war between the Empire and the Vatican...and works for Rosenkreuz..." Tres seemed to pause for a moment at this. "But Abel stopped the star and saved everyone's lives. I saw his true form, but I wasn't scared. Then, having no where to go, since the church I had been at had been burned down, I went with Abel and joined the Rouge Nation. Is that good enough?"

"Positive." Tres replied. "Continue."

"I'm Human." Esther said, slightly uncomfortably. "And I live in the Rouge Nation."

"Classification?"

"She's my second in command. She's the Vice President of the Rouge Nation." Abel said instantly.

"I...what?" Esther gasped, looking at Abel in surprise. "But...that's a huge responsibility! And people would look up to me, follow orders, and then on the other side probably hate me or try and kill me! I can handle myself Abel, but are you sure you can lay that weight on me?"

"You heard me." Abel said, smiling. "You're quite capable. And though most people back home hate people, you don't. You want to help people. I like that very much. So I've made you my second in command."

"But there are plenty of people more experienced than me!" Esther gasped.

"True." Abel replied. "But I think you can handle it. I wouldn't say that if you weren't good enough. I've been thinking about this for a while. And I think you're the only person there that understands what I want to do. Besides, I have a feeling that you were born to lead."

"I'll do my best." Esther said, smiling back and bowing a little to him.

"Very well." Tres replied. "Enemy-Ally Identification: Ally. Name: Sister Esther Blanchett. Age: 16 years. Race: Human. Residence: Rouge Nation. Classification: Vice President of the Rouge Nation. Threat Level: Medium." Then he looked at Abel. "Enemy-Ally Identification: Ally. Name: Abel Nightroad. Age: Approximately 1000 years. Race: Crusnik. Residence: Rouge Nation. Classification: President of the Rouge Nation. Threat Level: High." He turned and stared straight ahead, his robotic mind creating data on both of them. "Required minimum historical data recorded for both. Photographic Identification obtained for both. Friendship with the Vatican: Neutral. Further information required to create reliable information base in the Vatican's confidential computers."

"What more do you need?" Esther asked, surprised.

"Fighting styles of Esther Blachett and Abel Nightroad are still needed. As well as pictures of the Crusnik forms of Abel Nightroad."

"I will let you have what pictures you need." Abel replied, watching Tres carefully. "But not of my full Crusnik form. I haven't used it in 900 years. Your data would probably not need to see that."

"Agreed." Tres replied. "Only the forms which are used most regularly would need to be recorded."

"If everything's all settled then, let's go." Abel said, smiling kindly at the android.

"Positive." Tres replied, turning and walking on towards the ship.

The two of them followed, and Esther let Tres pick him up into one of his arms, holding her so that the skirt of her dress wouldn't lift as he climbed the ladder with one hand. He was strangely strong, and though he felt as though he had skin, she knew that he was all circuits and wires underneath. Esther felt, more than ever, strangely out of place. Not only was she dressed as a normal teenager and following a Father of the Vatican and an AX agent into a huge ship where another waited, but also she was not like the other people around her. She had more power. She had more responsibility. She had more duty to represent the people she'd come to love than they did. She had to make sure, now more than ever, that everything went smoothly. But strangely enough, the thought didn't bother her. In fact, she felt like she was up to the challenge. She knew she could be polite and kind enough to be the kind ruler of a nation. She smiled a little. She had changed in the few months that she'd been with Abel. She wasn't a timid little nun anymore. She wondered how Bishop Laura would react to seeing her where she was now, one of the most powerful people of one of the most powerful nations in the world. They stepped into the ship, where they found a woman waiting.

She was tall and had beautiful long orange hair. Her eyes were a gentle blue color. She smiled at them as they entered. Tres turned his eyes to look at her instantly. Abel and Esther both paused and smiled at her kindly in return. They knew that they were only guests on this mission, and that they had a priority to remain out of the way as much as possible.

"My name is Sister Kate." the woman replied. "I fly the Iron Maiden and work all of it's cannons. It's my job to protect the skies over the Vatican. I hope that this trip will enlighten you about how we in the Vatican work, and show you that we wish no hostilities to you."

"I am Abel Nightroad." Abel said politely. "And I doubt that we have anything to fear from the Vatican. I met Lady Caterina ten years ago. I hope I may still be counted as a good friend of hers."

"I'm Esther Blachett." Esther said too. "I was at one point also a Sister in the church, though now I find that I can't leave the people of the Rouge Nation. We don't actually call ourselves that. We have no name. But we've adopted the name that you and the Methuselah have given us outside of our borders."

"A Human that calls the Vampires by their preferred name." Kate said, surprised a little. "Well, embassies from the Rouge Nation, welcome aboard the Iron Maiden."

"Negative." Tres cut in. "They are not Embassies."

"I am the President -that is the leader- of the Rouge Nation." Abel said with a smile. "And Esther is the Vice President -that is my second in command- of the Rouge Nation."

"I hope our appearance won't cause you any trouble." Esther replied with a slight bow.

"So young and to rule!" Kate gasped. "I am glad to make your acquaintance, both of you. I hope even more so that your trip will prove to be a good one. Our main priority now is to ensure your safety!"

"Don't worry about us." Abel said with a smile. "We can both handle ourselves. We'll join Father Tres on the mission."

"But sir!" Kate gasped. "We need to ensure your safety! It is protocol that we of the AX make sure that no harm befalls the leaders of nations that are sent to us."

"We appreciate your concern." Esther replied. "But we'll be fine. Besides, Tres needs to finish gathering his data on us."

"Positive." Tres repeated. "Further information required to create reliable information base in the Vatican's confidential computers."

"Very well." Kate relented. "If you're sure. However, it'll probably be best if after the mission, you are brought before his Holiness the Pope and Lady Caterina so that they too can give your their thanks and extend a hand of friendship to you and your people."

"Good then. Let's go." Abel said.

Kate nodded and turned, disappearing into the bridge of the ship. Tres watched her go, no emotions passing over his face. He then paused however, and put his hand back to his ear to listen to the intercom. Abel paused as he heard a familiar and beautiful voice come over it. Esther too paused to listen to the woman.

"Tres." She said. "Is he really there? Is it Abel?"

"Positive Lady Caterina." Tres replied.

"And everything you've recorded about him today in the Vatican's computers is correct?" Caterina asked. "About him and the woman with him?"

"Positive."

"I want you to keep them safe, though knowing Abel, neither of them would need it." Caterina said. "Collect the telepath if you can, though if Abel wants her, he can have her, got it? I know him, and I trust him. Don't push them past their limit."

"Positive." Tres replied. "Protection of the Foreign Leaders if they should need it now highest priority. Second Priority, keeping the leaders happy. Third, destroying hostile forces. Fourth, catching Contact Telepath Elise alive."

"Good. I'll leave you to it then." Caterina said. "And also, bring the two of them back with you. I need to speak with the two of them myself."

"Acknowledged."

Tres glanced at the two of them as they sat there a moment, then looked up as the ship groaned slightly as its weight began to tug at the tethers keeping it attached to the ground.

"Brace yourself for lift off." Tres warned them. They did as they were told.

The tethers were one by one untied from the ground by people underneath them. Then the ship lurched a bit forward as they began their ascent. Then the ride became smooth as the ship sailed through the air. Esther felt a little excited. She'd never been on anything like the Iron Maiden before now. Today was full of strange surprises. But then again, any day with Abel was like that. She had grown used to it by now. It was just something that happened. Tres turned to them again.

"The building we are going to is approximately 620 seconds away." Tres said. "It is within the borders of the Vatican. It has been sealed off by AX members. Vampires are within it, as well as the Telepath. So far, no sign has been made that the Rosenkreuz have captured the Contact Telepath. Please be careful within the building. The Vampires are powerful, and do not let the child touch you. It would not be well for you health."

"Tres, may I ask you something?" Esther asked.

"Esther Blanchett," Tres said. "You have security pass level A. You may ask questions that fall below that category. Above level A there are three more levels. Ask your question."

"It's about Rosenkreuz. What are they?" Esther said.

"Question permitted." Tres replied. "The Order of Rosenkreuz is an order that was founded originally before Armageddon. It was created with the slogan 'We shall remake the world with fire'. It is made of Vampires and Humans with special abilities. It was created to remake the world so that they could have the world built as they wanted it. Murder and trickery is a common tactic still employed by their members. Total members, unknown. Leader, unknown."

"Who was their original leader?" Esther asked.

"Unable to verify." Tres replied. "All that is known was that he was a Crusnik bonded up to 100%. Location of this Crusnik is unknown."

"His name was Cain..." Abel said. "Cain Nightroad...my brother. I killed him after he started Armageddon. But he's a Crusnik, and I failed at that time to ensure that he could never return. I don't know where he is now, but he may reappear."

"Noted for the records." Tres said. "Appearance?"

"He looked like me." Abel replied. "He was my twin brother. Except his hair was blonde."

"Noted for the records." Tres said. Then he looked back at Esther. "The Rosenkreuz Order now wants to create a world neither free from Humans or Vampires. They wish to recreate the world so that only those that would follow their own world order is left. Location is unknown. We only know that they are now moving again. Extreme measures are being taken to prevent the damage that they will cause unchecked. Should I repeat my explanation?"

"No I think I understand." Esther said. "Thank you Tres. Now, can you tell me about the Crusnik that are appearing now?"

"Creator unknown." Tres said. "Numbers are few, and they seem to begin no earlier than 05. 01 – 04 is unnamed, because it is believed that those four Crusnik from the original number are still alive. Only the location of the Crusnik 02 is known. They are no where near as powerful as the Original Crusnik. The technology used to create them was long lost. They seem to revere these original four Crusnik almost like gods. Methods to creating them is unknown. Location unknown. Many are free and loose. Some were created from Vampires. Those adapt well to being Crusnik. Humans turned to Crusnik do not fair well. They tend to be taken by the Rage much more."

"The Rage?" Esther asked.

"Rage." Tres replied instantly. "Similar to the Thirst in Vampires. When a Vampire is in a deadly situation, it goes into an uncontrollable state where they loose consciousness and begin to drink blood until the need is satisfied. The Rage is when a Crusnik is over threatened. They loose consciousness and go into an uncontrollable rage that allows them to kill their enemies until there is nothing left and they can escape unharmed. 100% bonded Crusnik enter 'Rage Mode' at their full level. Few can keep their heads and fight on as themselves in this mode. Only the 01, and 02 Crusnik were known to preform this feat. Their forms can change completely at this level. The new Crusnik generally do not pass 50% bondage. They are therefore much weaker than older Crusnik. Little is known about the new Crusnik. More data required."

"The 02 Crusnik..." Esther said. "is Abel. Then who is the 01 Crusnik?"

"Cain." Abel replied. "Each Crusnik has their own special ability. I can use lightning, as you have seen. Cain could create a deadly wind in his human form and uses a lance."

"Noted for records." Tres said. "Is there anything else you wish to ask Lady Esther?"

"N-no..." Esther said quickly, embarrassed at being called a Lady. "Thank you for answering me."

"Positive." the android replied. "It is a top priority that you remain satisfied with your trip with the Vatican. I do not have unlimited information at my disposal. I can only access what has been inputted by me and other data collectors into the Vatican's database. But I still have knowledge that I can offer you from there." Then he looked at Abel. "However, I am interested to learn more about the Crusnik if you would."

"I can tell you a little." Abel said.

"Names?" Tres asked.

"In order by number: 01 Cain Nightroad 100%, 02 Abel Nightroad 100%, 03 Seth Nightroad 80%, 04 Lilith Nightroad 80%." Abel said. "Our powers are: 01 Wind, 02 Lightning, 03 Sound, 04 Fire. Cain and I were twins. Seth was our younger sister and Lilith was our mother. None of us but Cain and I were related. However, we were infused with the same genes, and thus became family. We were only prototypes, but we were very successful. However, after Cain and I, few 100% Crusnik were created. We were all given the names we have now because we were created illegally at first until the military approved our use. We all had different names since we had all been stolen from our homes long ago. Is that enough for you?"

"Positive." Tres replied. "That will do for now. Recorded. Your information will one day prove very valuable for the Vatican and the world."

"I just hope it won't for any time soon." Abel said, sighing. Again, Esther saw that loneliness cross his face. It was a little strange, now that she thought about it. People referred to Crusnik as Angels, and she herself was a Star of Hope. Together, they were still nothing more than a couple of heavenly bodies, lost among the sea of stars overhead and unable to come back down. Fate had chosen different paths for them.

"Now entering airfield over destination." Kate's voice said from somewhere overhead. "Please prepare yourselves for the landing."

So, what do you guys think? I don't really know where the story's going so far, but I hope that you guys will continue to read once I post more. I know I've changed or invented a lot of things that weren't actually there in the original story line, but with this being a sort of "alternate universe" story, it can be different can't it? x3