Arrrgh! SO SORRY FOR THE DELAY YET AGAIN. I'm such a bad person. (Beats herself).
The reason I was taking so much time to write the last few chapters was because I was making a big decision over whether to hold out the storyline to a long story or not. But now I've made up my mind. Part of the plot will be revealed. No, sorry, it won't involve sex this time.
Narcissistic Riceball – Thanks for the encouragement! Turks don't have easy lives. But they aren't having it as hard as our beloved gunslinger. Don't fear, he will play a relatively big part in this story. He is, after all, the godfather of our heroes' child. (Heh. I just happen to love the name Vincent. It means victory, and I love victories! Although I don't have too many.)
Moonshine's Guide – I don't know about Jack. I'm having murderous thoughts about the model of the character. As you may have noticed, he's an arrogant bastard and I hate him to death. People like that should suffer so much that their ass hurts (oo, sounds dirty). But it might be satisfying to have him die in a painful, ugly, dreadful way. We shall see.
Raspberry Polar Bear – Are you still alive? I missed you during the last chapter. Or did you abandon me? (still having issues) COME BAAACK! The plot's just unfolding. You don't want to miss the third installment of this crazy rollercoaster, now, would you? We also get to see some teary scenes for Tseng and Elena (little spoiler preview).
Echo – Michele is an enigma as of yet. I haven't decided whether she'll be a good person or a bad person. I personally don't believe there are "good assassins", but on the other hand she doesn't seem like an evil person who cackles wildly after each carnage and massacre. So I'll hold you off (she will play a part along with other submitted characters).
Insanity – Thanks! Mono was NOT fun. I screamed at my boyfriend and he shrugged and said, "Too bad". I demanded a box of chocolates from him. He attempted to kiss me instead. (What a dude.) I'm back on track now, I hope, with my final exams finished and a new semester beginning. So I will be able to pick up the pace again with the storyline set.
Crazy Bubbling Blonde – Welcome to the story, and thanks for reading! To answer your questions, the reason why the cousin wanted to get into Arien's pants is because I'm a sick pervert. I thought it'd be fun to have a dude attempt to make Arien a slave. 2, Arien's habits (frowning, tipping head) are based on real people around me and standing while on the phone is mine. Jack knew this and so he told her to sit.
Kinda shortish chapter to get the speed going, and to also get back on track. Sorry...!!!!
Tseng, contrary to other's expectations, did not throw a temper tantrum, or break down, or calmly dismiss the reporter of the news. Instead, he turned his back, and ordered her to leave.
Arien left without a word. She knew better than to say anything. Tseng could be temperamental, and she had a vague idea what he must prepare himself to go through. She left quietly, without a sound, closing the door without even a click.
When he knew she was gone, he collapsed on his knees. Being a Turk always meant this. Always.
But why did the Lords of the Sky have to do it now?
"We have two choices," Arien said to Reno, who was sitting, feet up on the long conference table. "We either amputate her leg or let her crystallize."
"No other choice."
"None at the moment."
"Can't you use your weird gizmo powers…?" Reno made a vague gesture with his hands. She shook her head.
"My stand destroys and rearranges on an atomic level. I can't change the nuclear construction of Elena's leg. Elena's cellular construction is increasing its silicate level by the hour. I can't stop that."
"God!" He shouted. "Fuck!"
Arien leaned on the window. Elena was now comatose, possibly in a sleep that she will never awaken from. She had grown from enemies to good friends over the past years; it gave a twinge of sadness to her. But this, she was reminded, was also the price of being in the elite assassination squad. Anything could happen to you. That was why nobody complained when they lived in decadence (except Tseng, of course); nobody knew who'll be alive to enjoy the moment tomorrow. That was why they drank till they passed out, ate luxuriously, dressed in finest clothes, had sex so often that it was more of a blessing that they were sterile. For the most part.
"Hey."
"What?" Arien was jolted from her reminiscing.
"You know that cyborg the Cybernetic Research Division developed?"
She vaguely remembered the female robot. "Yes? What about it?"
"I have an idea. Let's amputate Elena's leg."
Arien frowned, creating a deep crease on her forehead. "Reno, I don't like where this is going."
"Arie, this is the only way, yo. It's either let Elena die, or amputate her leg and stop the siliconization, and give her a sub-level replacement leg instead. But she'll live. Which one would you rather want?"
Arien thought about her joy in her career. But then she also thought about Reno's agony if she was gone, left with a souvenir from their moments of joy. The very living reminder that she was here, but was gone. The very carrier of DNA who bore her face along with the redhead's. Vince.
Arien found herself nodding to Reno's crazy plan. "Okay."
If Arien thought Reno was crazy, Tseng was seriously considering having Reno get a mental check-up. The plan was insane.
"Reno, it's insane."
"Well then, you can let your beloved blondie die while knowing that you had the chance to save that chick." Reno returned his balance from the leaning form with one hand on the desk, one hand in his pocket, to the walking stance. "Your problem. Ain't mine. My girl's alive and kicking me."
Reno knew it hit home even before he started to walk away. He grinned to himself as he heard Tseng's voice, slightly higher-pitched, reply "Fine."
"Hey."
The small child, who was playing with his friends by the gate, looked up. "Hi."
"Wanna see something cool?"
The child nodded. He came closer. The friends' backs were turned toward the gate. The man was outside the gate.
The friends did not hear anything, because the child had no clue what had just transpired. But when they turned around to see what was going on, the child was gone.
So was the man.
Jack McKinnon had sedated the young infant, and handed him over to the two men. "I've held my part of the bargain," he said.
The man tossed a debit card without a name on it at his feet, with a slight sneer on his face. "The pin number is on the back," he said. "Welcome to the dark business."
After the men left, Jack stood there, wondering if he had sold his soul to the devil.
Arien was not expecting the call. She had stood up, stretched, checked the time. It was 1:30. She wondered what Vince was doing, hoping that he was on his best behavior as usual. He was a good child, but she also was worried that Reno was the father. Even though the disciplines had been normal, maybe Vince carried a gene that caused trouble. Or whispered words in his ear that he wasn't supposed to hear. Either way, she was slightly apprehensive.
Well, an hour and a half and she'll be off to pick him up, hear the day's adventures. They'll go home, she will cook, and then Reno would come home around six. Unlike their previous contract, the couple actually came home at regular hours. It also helped that Ivy was understanding and did not mind if Arien knocked on her door at three in the morning.
Yes. Reno would come home at six, they would have dinner. Around nine Vince will go to bed. The parents would spend a few hours trying to finish work, then they would go to bed. Then the morning. Vince needs to wake up a little earlier, she thought. He's been late to preschool more often now. What time…
A vibrating cell phone disturbed her. Who was it? She thought angrily. Reno did not call her during the hours; his room was a few steps away, all he needed to do was walk over and stick his head in the doorway or just yell her name. Ivy called her office; she knew the Turk's extension. Jack had no reason to call her anymore. Her phone was not listed. Rufus or Tseng would have used the two-way intercom. That left no one.
She picked up after the seventh ring.
"Oh thank god!" said the familiar voice. Vincent's teacher. "I'm terribly sorry, but…"
"What happened? Is Vincent sick?" She asked.
"No. He's gone."
"What?" Arien did not understand the situation.
"He's not on the ground! He was playing by the front gate with his friends – he loves to play under the big tree by the gate – and one moment he was there, the next moment he was gone. Oh, I'm so sorry…"
Arien, for a fleeting moment, froze. Her mind went blank. Then, without caring where she tossed the phone into, she ran out the door, her car keys dangling from her fingers.
"What!"
Arien was in tears. "Oh Reno, what am I going to do?" She wailed. "This is my fault. I should have listened. I shouldn't have placed him in daycare!"
"Shut up for a sec," Reno said sternly. She was annoying him with her pointless sobbing. He pushed a button on his phone, then put on speaker.
"Hello. President Shinra's office. How may I help you?"
"Cut the crap and put Rufus on the line. This is Reno."
"Sir, he's in a meeting with the Director of Defense right now. May I…"
"Oh, Tseng's there? Good. Saved a call. Just connect the godddamn phone!"
The secretary gave a whimper, then blipped off. The next moment, Rufus' very annoyed voice came out from the speaker on the black phone.
"Reno, I'm in a meeting with…"
"Tseng. Just shove it and listen. We have a big-ass problem that will blow Tseng's problem all the way across to the moon. Your royal heir's kidnapped. I need someone to cover my desk."
Rufus was silent for a few seconds; only Arien's gulps were audible. Then, "what?"
"Vince's been kidnapped. No, I'm not joking." Reno said irritably. "I need to be off any assignments, and I need someone to cover my desk. I also need Rude and Arie off any assignments as well. Now you listen to me for a second, because-"
"I'm your president, Reno."
"Yeah, and the future of the company is in danger. He's also my kid, and I'll blow your brains off if you don't do what I say."
It seemed that Rufus understood that Reno meant every word. "Fine. I'll send Tseng down to cover your desk. DeVir and Richardson are off any duties. I want Vincent Miller found. This is top priority."
"I'm glad you see it my way." Reno stood up, kissed the crying woman, then yanked her hand. "Come on. Crying won't save Vince. Let's go."
"I am so glad you pierced Vince's ears," Arien said as Reno drove.
"And you didn't like it."
"Well, I didn't know."
Arien had stopped crying, once she knew that the things weren't completely hopeless. It appeared that Reno had pierced Vincent's ears for a reason; one of his stud earrings, the left emerald, was not just a pretty ornament but a tracer. With Arien's tracing system on her network, it was easy to follow where he was until he disappeared off the radar perimeter. It wasn't much, but it was something.
"I'm so sorry."
"It's not your fault."
"I'm still sorry. I should have taken a better care of him." Arien stared glumly out the window.
"Reconsidering my proposal?"
"Yes."
It took more than a moment for Reno to register her unexpected response. He expected a no. But from the mirror view, it seemed that Arien's eyes were still having tear problems. He moved his left hand, and grasped Arien's.
"When we find Vince…"
"If."
"When." Reno corrected. "When we find Vince, promise me you'll wear my ring. Promise me you'll use my name as your last name. Promise me."
The words came out as a struggle. Arien fought over each word.
"I promise."
"Elena."
Elena opened her eyes. She had a glazed look.
"Elena?"
She giggled.
"Elena!"
It then occurred to Tseng that being subjugated to drugs and sex may have had a bigger impact on the blonde woman than anyone had imagined.
"Elena, can you hear me?"
Elena smiled; it was a child's smile, or a lunatic's, without any comprehension of the sense now or here. Innocent in not knowing.
"Elena!"
Elena seemed to be more amused on the little insect flying a few feet above her head than her lover calling her name.
Then Tseng knew, with the devastating certainty; that bastard, that royal's son who made lives miserable because he was bored, had crossed the wrong person.
Elena had lost her mind. Completely. And someone was going to answer him for that.
