Chapter 1: Cross Marian Comes and Goes
Cross Marian disliked the Order, in fact it was more than justified to say he hated it. He remained in service because he was an exorcist down to the marrow in his bones but he hated the bureaucracy and the endless requests for reports after reports. He hadn't been ever a good team player, he worked best alone, and the upper echelons in the Vatican didn't like his attitude. But most of all, he despised people like Rouvelier, with the power to get under his skin and crawl around like an insect, the man was a nightmare.
The man also knew too much about the Fourteenth and the Ark. Cross hadn't expected the idiot to know anything at all, but he'd been surprised to learn that he did. It had been his intention to protect Allen, but it wouldn't be easy with a man like Leverrier around. He wanted to return to HQ so that he could keep an eye on the boy, but the meetings he'd been forced to attend as a result of his refusal to file the reports after his missions delayed his return. And as far as he'd been told, Rouvelier was still away from HQ as well, which set his mind somewhat at rest. However, little did he know that the man had returned, and already left as his train raced across the English countryside.
Sitting in a bustling carriage filled with ordinary men, women, and noisy children wasn't his idea of a good time, but the Order had insisted on him cutting expenses and since Allen wasn't there to get money, he couldn't afford to pay for a first class coach. How embarrassing.
It wasn't until he saw Tim struggling to keep up with the train just outside the grubby window that his concern picked up enough for him to take notice of anything. Ignoring the protests from the other passengers he opened the window and grabbed the golem from the air. He could tell immediately that Tim had something he needed to show to his master.
Then he all but ran to the first class carriages and slammed open the first door he came to. "Get out!" Cross yelled, "This is urgent business! Move! Now!" he continued to shout, pushing the expensively dressed man and woman from the small, but elegant room.
"Of all the..." the brunette woman cried.
"I never...I'm going to find the steward!" the man, presumably her husband said, dragging her away by the hand.
"Fools," Cross muttered, slamming the door shut and making sure the curtain were closed. "Tim...what happened?" he said quickly. The golden golem opened wide his mouth and the projection started to play.
The scene was dark, it showed two nights ago, when Allen had been taken from his room - it had taken a whole day days for Tim to frantically search for his master after the speed had worn off. The scene showed the cloaked figures attacking the boy, taking him from his room, and then, one stepped back, and placed a spell on the Golem. Then it vanished and Tim shrugged, indicating that he knew nothing more because of the spell.
"Allen," Cross muttered quietly, "You did good, Tim," he said to the golem, "Show me again."
As he watched the replay he tried to focus on the cloaks of the strange men through the shadows, the darkness made it difficult to see much detail but Cross was certain that he knew just who was responsible for taking his apprentice. And, as frustrating as it was, he could do nothing until he reached Headquarters.
As much as he tried to disguise the fact, Cross couldn't deny he was concerned. He'd heard endless rumours about men with unusual powers, wearing scarlet cloaks and their ruthless methods. Cross knew they worked for the Vatican, and as controversial as it was for a religious organisation to have an Assassination Squad, the world wasn't perfect.
Them men who had taken his apprentice two nights ago went operated under the name 'Crow'; The Crow Assassination Squad. An elite team of powerful magicians who acted as the mindless puppets of the men ruling the Vatican. They were ruthless and cruel, they showed no mercy to women or children, and now they had his apprentice. He could just ignore everything; it would be easier. But he couldn't simply let them destroy Allen. If they did then the Fourteenth would certainly take him over and destroy them in turn, thus marking Allen forever as a traitor...Perhaps that wasn't the only reason, but it was the only one Cross would let himself believe.
On entering the temporary Headquarters Cross marched through the long corridors with a purposeful stride. News of his return spread quickly, and soon he was met by Allen's friends.
"General...Allen-kun...he's gone..." Lenalee said.
"I know," Cross told her.
"You know? How?"
"General Cross," Inspector Rouvelier spoke, walking slowly down the corridor towards them. Reever moved so that he stood in front of Lenalee but she stood tall, showing a look of deep anger, instead of fear.
"Inspector Rouvelier, here to welcome me back are you?" Cross smirked, "I hear you returned before me, had some secret business to conduct, did you?"
"Hmm," Rouvelier chuckled, "You should watch what you say, Cross, you're already in trouble, you shouldn't make it worse."
"Aren't you in trouble? My idiot apprentice vanished when you were supposed to be watching his every move," the General remarked.
"He ran from us," the Inspector said, "It's embarrassing that he evaded my security, but if he had nothing to hide he wouldn't have left. After all, you know what he'll become - if he hasn't already, it's just happened sooner than either of us expected," the man smirked.
"Oh, really," Cross muttered.
"Of course, what else could it have been. The boy was unstable; he was dangerous, an unnecessary risk, this proves that he is no longer Allen Walker."
"Hmm, well if you say so, Inspector," the General shrugged and walked off, closing his eyes and letting out a deep sigh.
"Wait! General!" Lenalee cried, running after him, her friends following. "Where's Allen-kun? Who took him?" she asked quickly.
Cross said nothing, but continued to walk and when he reach the door to Komui's office he turned to them with a stern expression.
"Listen to me," he ordered, "This is none of your concern; you can't do anything..."
"Rouvelier took him didn't he? Didn't he?!" the girl breathed.
"Enough!" Cross yelled, "If you, any of you, get involved in this, you'll condemn both yourselves and my idiot apprentice."
"We have to do something..." Miranda began.
"You'll get yourselves killed."
"But..." Lavi frowned.
"Don't do anything," the General insisted, "Unless you want Allen to die, don't do anything. Don't do anything stupid."
"Then what..." Reever started to ask.
"Leave this to me," Cross said, his visible red eye burning, "And play the parts of good little soldiers who believe what they're told, otherwise you'll get yourselves killed."
"Killed?" Krory repeated in concern.
"Yes, killed," Cross nodded.
"Allen...he's in serious trouble...isn't he?" Lenalee sighed.
"Yeah, and everyone here's probably under surveillance," the General told them, "So don't do anything to make Rouvelier suspicious."
"What...will you do?" Lavi asked.
"Who knows?" Cross shrugged, turning away and opening the doors to Komui's temporary office, "Now scram," the General told them before entering the room and closing the doors behind him.
"I've been expecting you to come," Komui said from his desk.
"Well, here I am, now you can tell me what I don't already know," Cross replied, slouching down on the sofa.
"How did you already know about Allen?"
"Tim saw it," the General answered and the golem flapped his wings, emerging from under Cross's long hair.
"Then...you know who took him?"
"How do you know he didn't just leave?" Cross shrugged.
"I know Allen. He wouldn't run."
"Mmm, I know who it was...The 'Crow' Assassination Squad...it's Rouvelier's meddling," Cross said and Komui paled at the mention of the infamous Assassination Squad.
"After he came back, Rouvelier started pushing for more and more security on Allen. He held another meeting...he wants Allen tried for heresy...he won't let up on it...and you know what that means. I think he kept you out of Headquarters for as long as possible to observe Allen, and when they couldn't keep you away anymore they just took him."
"Mmm," Cross nodded.
"But where would they take him?" Komui furrowed his brow, "If we assume they took him for questioning...they won't have gone far."
"I've heard stories..."
"About?"
"The Tower," Cross said, "There's rumours of an underground complex built to defend against Innocence rather than demons. Rouvelier is afraid of Allen's power. If there's one place they'd take Exorcists for questioning, it's there."
"The Tower...huh..." Komui sighed, "How could they send a child there?" he muttered, his head falling to rest in his hand.
"Easily," the General sighed, "Kid didn't put up much of a fight."
"He's not been eating," Komui explained, "He hardly sleeps...everyone's been worried. I think...everything's really been getting to him."
"Hmm. What about that kid watching him? Link?"
"He's still here...he denies knowing what happened...he wasn't in their shared room at the time...he says he was doing important paperwork that Rouvelier had asked for," Komui sighed. "General, will you tell me...why you took Allen as your apprentice? Leverrier told me certain things...was it really just because you knew about the Fourteenth?"
"Probably," Cross turned away from the Chief Officers' piercing stare.
"What does the Fourteenth have to do with Allen? He's just a child."
"...It's a long story...I probably should've told him...but..."
"...But..." Komui prompted, making Cross fidget restlessly and run a hand through his hair in frustration.
"It's all so messed up," he growled.
"General Cross, if you won't tell me...at least...when you find him...tell him, he deserves to know."
"I never said I was going anywhere."
"Didn't have to; you'll go," Komui smiled, "If it's Allen, you'll go."
"Hmm," Cross scoffed.
"Rouvelier probably knows that too, he'll be ready for you."
"That fool, he can try to be," the General shrugged.
"Don't underestimate him, he knows more than he's letting on. This could be his plan to get both of you tried for heresy!"
"They can't try me for heresy!" Cross snarled.
"Why not? There's nothing stopping him if his bosses want it, and I can only do so much...lately it's seemed as though I can't do anything at all," Komui sighed, leaning back in his chair. "If they catch you going after Allen, they'll lock you up for treason at least whether your a General or not...fact is...they don't like you."
"I don't care," the General said simply, "I don't like them, damn useless bureaucrats."
"They may be, but they don't care about exorcists or Generals or Supervisors...everyone is replaceable to them. Please...be careful, General."
"You're not my mother," Cross muttered, "I can take care of myself."
"And you're capable of disappearing for years at a time...if you have to, you can keep him safe from them. Even if it means going under the radar for years, as long as it keeps him away from them..."
"I know...I know..."
"I'll help you if I can, but..."
"I don't expect you to help me," Cross said sincerely, "Allen is my apprentice. This is my problem."
"He's my friend, it's my problem too," Komui replied, "Friends help each other," he said and Cross scoffed.
"Don't get involved; the Crow Assassins don't differentiate between people with or without Innocence. You'll all just get in the way."
Komui leaned over onto his desk, putting his elbows on the surface and his head in his hands. "When did things get out of control?" he muttered.
"Don't be stupid...they've always been out of control," Cross remarked, and they both fell silent.
The cafeteria of the temporary Headquarters had been in a constant state of upheaval since Allen's disappearance, but with the return of General Cross it got even worse. Though everyone tended to agree that Allen and Cross were no traitors, it was difficult for people to understand that the Order was acting against its own people. Only a select few knew about the Fourteenth, and even fewer understood what his existence in Allen's meant.
Cross knew that one day, his apprentice would be taken over by the will of the Fourteenth, but part of him hoped that somehow Allen would win the battle and, instead of being the one controlled, he could be the controller. The thought that he would one day have to tell the boy the truth about Mana Walker wasn't one that the General wanted to dwell on.
As he entered the busy room, everyone fell silent, the security detail that Leverrier ordered had begun watching him the moment he stepped out of Komui's office, now followed him as he moved, but the General took no notice of the tense atmosphere around him.
Lenalee sat prodding her food with her fork with Lavi, Kroy, and Miranda, and she looked up as Cross neared.
"General," Lenelee said in a strained voice, she knew not to speak about Allen with Cross's security detail around.
"Mmm," Cross nodded without stopping. His 'guards' still refused to buy him expensive wine and it didn't help his foul mood, so all he'd done was shout at them all day. He knew he'd never get a moment alone as long as he remained at HQ, so he'd never be able to tell the exorcists not to antagonise Rouvelier. The whole situation only made him more and more frustrated, and when he was frustrated he tended to act not sit around thinking.
That night Cross's agitation peaked and he could stand it no longer, patience and planning be damned, he was a man of action. Using Magdala Curtain, Cross left his rooms in the guise of one of his own guards, who believed that their charge was one of them, he was able to move through the shadows of the building with ease. He took only the barest essentials so's not to hinder his escape; it would be hard enough with Rouvelier's precautions, since the man knew about his abilities, just not enough to completely counteract them.
He was just leaving the building when he heard a rustle of fabric from behind him.
"You lost your security detail then," Komui said, crossing his arms.
"Not a problem," Cross told him without turning round.
"I brought you some help," the Chief Officer said suddenly.
"What?!" the General frowned, turning to look at the man, "I told you..."
"I don't think she'll get in your way," he said, and a woman stepped out from the shadows. It was General Klaud Nyne dressed head to toe in black, her black trousers visible through the folds in her cloak. It was made of simple black fabric with no gold or silver adornment to be seen. Lau Shimin, the small monkey sat on her right shoulder, and she held a bag over her left.
"You told her?" Cross snapped at Komui.
"I thought it was best not to let you go alone."
"You mean you don't want me to run off again, mother," the General sighed.
"Well, yes," Komui nodded, pushing his glasses up.
"I'm coming with you," Klaud said in a tone that left no room for argument.
"You'll just get in my way, this has nothing to to with you," Cross told her, her tone seemingly having no effect.
"I was told that Allen Walker has enough power to one day become a General, and Generals take care of their own."
"No, Generals don't do that," Cross dead panned.
"Yes, we do," Klaud insisted, "I don't want to see that kid die because of men like Rouvelier; I've seen enough good people die."
"Everyone knows the risks," Cross said, "Allen especially."
"Then why are you going after him?" she asked smugly.
"He pays my debts," the man answered with a smile, "There's no one else stupid enough to do it."
"...I do have a few things you need."
"Not right now, pretty lady," he replied quickly.
"Not that!" she rolled her eyes, "I brought food, money, and some clothes for me, you, and I took some of yours for the kid when we find him as well - there's a security detail on his room so I had to...Men never think the of practical side of things."
"I'm a very practical-thinking man," Cross muttered.
"Really? Did you bring any of that?"
"Well...I..."
"If he's being held at the Tower we both know he's not walking out of there without some help, I've heard about how people are treated there, and I don't like it."
"If Generals care so much why are you the only one here?"
"We didn't tell the others," Komui answered, "Tiedoll has his new pupil to focus on and...well...you know Socalo..."
"You're still not coming," Cross said, pointing his gun, Judgement, at her.
"Your only pupil is being tortured in the Tower as we speak," she said, unafraid, "Do we really have the time for this?"
"Here," Komui walked over to them as Cross growled and lowered his gun. The Supervisor put a hand in his pocket, "Use these, I fixed them up to work long range. You will let me know if...when you find him, wont you?" he all but begged as the two Generals each examined the golden earring transmitters.
"Yeah, yeah," Cross waved him off, securing the device to his ear, "You make sure the kids don't run off on their own," he said sternly.
"I'll try, but if they think nothing's being done, it'll be difficult to keep from looking for Allen," the Supervisor frowned.
"Tell them we're working on it if you have to, just...don't tell them about the Tower," Klaud said and Komui nodded.
"What'll you do when you find him? You can't bring him back here, not for a while," he asked.
Klaud glanced at Cross, at a loss herself she sighed, "Keep him away from Rouvelier," Cross answered simply.
"That'll have to do for now, I guess. You better go before someone sees you," Komui said, "Good luck," he added, before the two Generals walked off into the night.
