Trinity Blood: Divergent Path

Chapter 8: Civil War, Part 1: Birth

Abel's heart pounded as he tore through the halls. He was heading straight for the exit. As he skidded around a bend, he nearly ran head long into Tabitha. "Sir!" Tabitha leapt back in surprise. Abel only just managed to stop before hitting her. "I thought you were making a request to Earth for reinforcements?" she asked, staring at him with wide eyes.

"I was," Abel growled. "They denied the request." He looked at her, pushing back the rage and shock he still felt towards Earth. "I thought I ordered you to the hospital," he looked passed her at the group still in the main hall. Looking past them, he saw the reason why they hadn't left. There was heavy fighting just outside the capital building. "Just great," he muttered as he stepped around Tabitha and thought on this matter. He wasn't a damned strategist that had always been Lilith's role. "Seth," Seth appeared at once, she was now wearing the case on her back, long leather straps holding it in place. "Tabitha," he looked at her, "Seth and I will punch a hole through the enemy forces. You and the others follow us at a distance; try to stay back unless you see that we're in trouble."

"Wait, what?" Tabitha looked at him shocked. "First you tell me there are no reinforcements coming; now you want me to let our current leader to go into battle with only a child as backup."

"Hey," Seth shouted, "I'm eighteen, you know?" she glared at Tabitha, "And I have more battle experience than half the UNASF!" she snapped. Looking at Abel, Seth asked, "What plan did you have in mind, brother? Most of them call for all four of us, right?"

"Plan delta, with Cain taken out," stated Abel only thinking on this matter for a few seconds. Without communicators they would be limited but this just had to work. Abel touched Cain's sword lightly. He had taken it from Cain's room just before coming here. "It should just be like the maze," he said, hoping he was right.

At this Seth snorted, "Except set to A rank and execution." She smiled at him, crossing her fingers, "Here's to hoping the enemy doesn't have a pterodactyl." Abel looked way from her, suppressing a shudder. "And here's to hoping this is more like one-x-eight and not five-x-thirteen."

"I doubt they have a pterodactyl," stated Abel as he moved forward. He really hoped they didn't, he'd had enough of that freaking machine to last him the rest of his life. "And this isn't a game, Seth," he pulled his sniper rifle off his back and knelt down. He was shocked at how calm he felt even though he was about to take his first life. Not even this thought seemed to disturb him and this alone worried him. Surely taking another's life wasn't a good thing, so why did this feel so natural. "Ready?" he glanced at his sister just in time to see her roll her eyes.

"I know it's not a game. It wasn't like it was a game in the first place," Seth said as she walked up to his side. She gave him their "V" salute and waited for Abel to return it before pulling out her daggers. "I'm ready whenever you are, dear brother."

"What the hell are you two talking about?" demanded Tabitha, staring at them from where she stood beside the rest of the Mars military force. "Sir," she stepped forward, seeming ready to stop them, "no matter what you're talking about, you can't just jump out there guns blazing. You're not even fused with the bacillus! You won't—"

Abel held up his hand, cutting her off. "Whether or not Seth and I are fused with the bacillus, doesn't matter here," he spoke calmly.

"Plus the bacillus won't fuse to us," Seth added in. "Trust me I tried. It rejected both Lilith and I," she shrugged, "must have something to do with the way we were born and so on."

Shooting her glare, Abel continued, "All which matters in battle is experience, which Seth and I have plenty of. I can't go into detail now, perhaps later. Just trust me on this." He waited for Tabitha to nod, which she did only grudgingly, before he turned his attention back to the doors. Slowly he looked through the scope. "I'm ready, Seth." With that he pulled the trigger. The glass shattered seconds before he fired another shot. Seth charged just as the shot struck the first enemy in the head. The former UN officers froze and watched as Seth bolted passed them. She leapt, slicing through the first enemy before landing and charging off once more. Abel fired a few shots with the rifle, taking down every person he aimed at.

As Seth neared the first line of buildings, Abel slung the rifle over his back and took out his hand gun. He tore after her, firing as he raced forward. Within moments he was at his sister's side. Leaping and firing on the enemy. Even those who were fused with bacillus were no match for them. Every time one got close to Seth Abel would fire on them and every time one tried to get at Abel Seth would either throw a knife or kill them with her daggers.

All through the battle, Abel was only vaguely aware of Tabitha and the rest of the small team following them. Most of his concentration was on the enemy around him and his sister. Soon, however, the enemy seemed to be pulling back, shouting, "Retreat, those two a demons, they're damned demons!" By that time they had made it the hospital entrance.

"Well, I don't want to do that again," Seth wasn't smiling, her green eyes hard as she looked back the way they'd come. Slowly Abel followed her gaze, numb to the fact there were many bodies lining the path he and his sister had taken here. His gaze was locked on Tabitha and the rest of the forces which had joined her as they had come through the city.

The forces stayed back, a look of shock and fear on their features, but Tabitha approached them. She seemed almost cautious of them. "Remind me to never tick the two of you off," she said in away of greeting. "Where did you two learn to fight like that?" there was a look of awe in her eyes Abel was unused to. It had never occurred to him people would be shocked over how good a team he and Seth made or that they could pull off something like this. All his life the four of them had never been good enough for the UN. They could never meet the standards the UN had expected from. They'd been nothing more than failed experiments, so to speak.

"This is what happens when you're raised to fight," muttered Abel, looking away from Tabitha and at his sister. He said in a louder voice, "Long story short, the UN." He turned to the men and shouted, "Get over here!" The forces looked nervously at one another before slowly starting towards them. Shish, they couldn't get to Lilith and Cain on their own. This was going to be the hard part. Once all of them were close enough, Abel began, "Our top priority is to get Lilith and Cain out here. We will split into three teams. The first with will come with Seth and I. We will be going in for Lilith and Cain only. The other two will split the rest of the hospital between them. Get as many injured and sick out and back to the capital building as possible. Understood?"

"Sir!" all of the military personal saluted Abel. There was no longer any shock or fear on their features. They were once again the trained personal the UN had sent to Mars.

Abel divided them into teams. Tabitha ended up being with Abel and Seth only because Abel trusted her enough to let her be one of the first to see how Cain was. "Move out," Abel said once the teams were complete. Abel waited for the first two teams to enter the building before gesturing for Tabitha and Seth to follow him. There was little resistance in the hospital itself because of the fact there were former UN military forces at the door. "Where's Lilith?" Abel asked on entering.

"I'm here," Lilith raced towards them, an officer following her. The officer was one Abel recognized from one of the other two teams. "I thought the both of you were injured or worse," Lilith hugged Seth before she turned to Abel and embraced him. Abel stiffened and he wormed out of her grasp quickly.

"Where's Cain?" Abel asked, knowing the retreat which had been ordered wouldn't last forever. Soon they would be over run again. He needed to get to his brother before this happened. "We need to get everyone to the capital building," he explained hurriedly at Lilith's questioning look. "Surely it would be an easier place to defend than the hospital?"

Slowly Lilith nodded. "Cain is still in…" Lilith trailed off with a glance at Tabitha and those around them.

"I'll get him and met you back here." Abel looked at Tabitha, ordering, "Tabitha, if I'm not back in ten minutes leave without me." Abel raced off before anyone could say a word against this. He hoped his brother was still there. There was no telling how much of the hospital might be over taken. For all Abel knew that one entrance was the only place which had been guarded. He was proven correct when he found another group at the end of this hall, guarding the entrance into the rest of the hospital.

"Sir?" the leader stood and saluted Abel, but Abel tore past them. His heart was racing as fear pulsed through his veins. They hadn't pulled Cain back. Had they just not been able to get to him? This had to be it. Abel's grip tightened on his gun as he raced off down the hall, ignoring the man's shouts of it not being safe.

"Abel, wait," Abel skidded to a stop and looked back to see Lilith standing with the rest of the military. "The hospital's ceiling is unstable. It was hit several—" Horror filled her eyes as a loud crack split the air. "Abel, move!" Abel looked skyward just as the ceiling back to split. Quickly he dived for the far side of the hall. Rubble smacked into him, sending him to the floor. Fire shot through his back and legs, but he forced himself to keep going. Dust filled the air, coughing, Abel stood. "Abel," Lilith's voice was muffled, "Abel, answer me!"

"I'm fine!" Abel shouted, dusting off the uniform. His back ached from the beating it had just gone through. The cut on his face had reopened and blood slowly oozed down his cheek. From the stinging on his neck and shoulder he suspected he had sustained several more wounds. "I'll get Cain and met the rest of you back at the capital building!" Before she could agree to this, Abel shouted, "Take care of Seth," before he raced off.

Swinging around a bend Abel raced up the stairs, taking them two at a time until he reached the correct level. He raced off down the next hall and through several doors. It didn't take him long to come to the correct room. Stopping before the door, Abel tried to open it. "Locked!" he cursed under his breath, frustrated. Lifting his gun, he fired on the door before kicking it open. "Cain," Abel entered the room and looked around. His brother was in the corner, a soft smile on his features. Racing over to him, Abel knelt down and began to unbuckle the straitjacket they had put Cain into. "What the hell did they do to you?"

"Tests, lots and lots of test," Cain smiled, rubbing his wrists as the straitjacket fell away. "There's a battle going on, isn't there?" Cain grinned at this, his eyes sparking with some amusement and excitement over this fact. Abel frowned, remembering what Seth had said about it feeling as if they had still lost their brother. It was becoming apparent what she had meant.

"Yeah, a few of the representatives decided they were sick of the UN and that they had a right to own all the nano-machines," Abel quickly updated Cain. "I don't know which ones are attacking, but there sure are a hell of a lot of them." He finished undoing the buckles binding Cain's feet. "Here," he held out the rapier to Cain, "your hand gun was destroyed in the explosion."

Slowly Cain took the sword, stilling smiling as if he didn't have a care in the world. "Fun, fun, fun," Cain laughed as he stood, tying the rapier to his belt. "Ready when you are!" Cain exclaimed, grinning like an idiot as he gave Abel their childhood salute.

Abel stared at his brother for several long moments, mouth slightly open in complete shock. Shaking his head, Abel tried to reassure himself. Cain was still his brother and still a good leader. What did it matter if he was a little insane? It didn't matter, it really didn't matter!

"Come on," Abel turned and started towards the door, "the enemy will be returning shortly. We need to make it out of the hospital before it collapses on us." Abel led his brother out into the hall and paused, thinking on which area would still be clear of rubble. They couldn't head back the way Abel had come which meant the clearest path to the capital building was blocked off at the moment. This wasn't good. This really wasn't good.

"This way!" Cain started off through the hall as he shouted this over his shoulder. Abel suppressed a shudder at the cheer in his brother's voice. God, he really preferred the old Cain. Slowly he followed Cain, hoping Cain knew where they were going and this wasn't going to end up being a dead end.

Abel shot forward as the ground began to crumble underfoot. "We have to move!" Abel forced himself to run faster, grabbing Cain's wrist and pulling his brother after him. Cain stumbled, his eyes wide with shock.

"Ahhhh!" Cain shouted, seeming surprised by Abel's action.

"Cain, shut up!" Abel snapped at his brother in no mood for this. All of his concentration was on keeping his footing as the ground fractured under him. He heard Cain snap his mouth shut. The ground before him began to fall away. His feet slipped on the rubble as he tried to stop, nearly falling into the new chasm created before him. Desperately Abel looked around before throwing Cain into a room and racing in after his brother. This was just great. Now not only were they trapped and the ground here was bound to start fracturing soon enough. "Great," Abel growled under his breath, "What the hell do we do now?"

"We could jump out the window," Abel turned and leapt back shouting in shock when he saw Cain less than and inch from him. "What, was it a bad idea?" Cain tilted his head to one side in confusion. "Oh, that's right you're not fused with the crusnik yet," he smiled kindly and Abel shivered. He didn't like what his brother was implying by the "yet," in that sentence. "Come on then," Cain took hold of Abel's wrist and, with incredible strength, Cain dragged Abel to the window. Slowly Cain lifted his hand, still smiling, the glass shattered without him even touching it. A blast of air hit Abel, whipping strands of silvery hair into his eyes. What the hell had that been? Was it the crusnik?

Before Abel could react, Cain took hold of him and leapt out the window. Abel's eyes widened as his brother landed lightly on the ground, catching Abel and setting him on the ground. "What the…" Abel stared at his brother, not knowing if he should react with horror or just stare at his brother.

Cain continued to smile. "Come, come," he waved his hand at Abel and started off, "we have a long ways to go!"

Snapping out of his shock, Abel said, "Umm, Cain," Cain stopped and looked at Abel as Abel pointed in the opposite direction Cain was going, "the capital building is that way." Seriously, how could Cain have forgotten which way the capital building was? It was the tallest building in the entire colony, not to mention the fact the ship loomed behind it! Cain was now the most powerful person in the colony and at the same time the strangest.

"It is?" Cain rubbed the back of his head, smiling and laughing at the same. "I suppose you're right," Cain started back towards Abel. "Come on, then, what are you waiting for?"

Abel hit his head. This was just plan ridiculous. His twin had officially lost it! Slowly Abel started after Cain, grumbling under his breath. Cain kept talking about nothing in particular as they walked. At this rate he was certain his brother would drive him insane as well or just alert the enemy to where they were. Cain wasn't shutting up!

"If you," Abel growled between clenched teeth, "don't shut up, I swear I'll shot myself." Though he might not have to, already Abel's sharp ears were picking up the sounds of people approaching. Whoever they were, they were trying to keep a low profile and not alert Abel and Cain to their presences. This would have worked on a normal human or even a person who had been fused with the bacillus, but Abel wasn't a normal human. He was a product of science and had enhanced senses. Abel's eyes widened, "Cain, get down!" leaping forward – agony shot through Abel's shoulder as he shoved his brother out of the line of fire. Crying out, Abel collapsed to his knees, gripping his shoulder tightly. Warm blood trickled from between his fingers. Gritting his teeth, Abel forced himself to his feet, carefully placing his gun in the holster before returning his hand to his shoulder. "Run you idiot!" he shouted at Cain.

Cain hesitated only a second before nodding and waiting only for Abel to start forward. Somehow Abel managed to run beside his brother. Years of going through that accursed maze seemed to make the rubble in the street seem like child's play even though Abel's right arm was useless and his left hand clasped his shoulder, trying to stop the bleeding.

Not sure how long they'd been running, Abel only knew he could see the entrance into the capital building coming closer. He staggered, gasping as he tried to stay on his feet. Blood dripped off his fingers to the ground which seemed to sway treacherously under him.

"Abel!" Cain shouted, skidding to a stop as Abel stumbled and hit the wall. The world was blurring around him. Abel saw Cain racing back towards him. "Come on," Cain took Abel's arm and started to pull him forward. Abel staggered. With Cain's help Abel managed to get to the entrance.

"Abel, Cain!" Seth shouted as she and Lilith raced over to them. Seth leapt at Cain, embracing him in a tight hug. "Thank god," Seth held tightly to Cain as if scared of releasing him.

"Abel, your arm," Lilith gasped as she saw the blood which now coated all of Abel's shoulder and most of his arm, chest, and back. She raced up to him as he swayed on unsteady feet.

"Forget about it," he half gasped half growled. "We need to get into the building, now! I can hear them coming. They will be on us at any sec—" he stumbled, only just managing to stay upright. "Move now!" he shouted at them. Lilith seemed ready to argue. Growling in furry and frustration, Abel released his shoulder and grabbed her wrist. He dragged her behind him. The other two followed. Seth was white with fear, but towards what Abel couldn't tell.

The four of them raced into the building. Abel paused, waiting for Seth and Cain to go past him. Lilith had stopped just before the line of former UN officers, her eyes locked on Abel. Slowly he walked over to her and Seth; Cain had been forced behind the line by Tabitha and Kayson.

A sound stopped Abel in his path. He could hear it. His heart skipped a beat as a gun fire went off. The bullets were heading straight for Seth and Lilith! No – Abel leapt forward, placing himself in the line of fire. Sheer, blinding agony slammed into him as one bullet tore into him logging in his lung. The other embedded itself in his heart. Abel barely noticed the ground hitting his back or the blood which started to trickle from him. He was gasping, each breath short and pure agony in and of itself. Everything seemed to be going white. Voices echoed overhead, sounding dim and foggy to him. Someone was over him, another person was stepping over him, but Abel couldn't tell who they were.

Meanwhile:

Seth watched almost in slowly motion as Abel fell back, hitting the ground. Blood seemed to slowly trickle from him. "Abel!" Seth raced forward, the case sliding from her back as she raced towards he beloved brother. Kneeling beside him, she watched in horror as he tried to breathe through the blood filling his mouth. "Abel," hot tears where in her eyes as she took hold of him. "Don't you dare die on me!" Her mind seemed to be frozen, she could think straight.

Someone was walking towards them. Seth looked up. Through her tears, Seth saw Cain step over Abel. "No one," Cain growled in a low dangerous voice as he walked forward, "touches my siblings!" Slowly he raised his hand. A blast of energy shot forth. The ground fractured, sending rubble flying out towards those who had shot Abel. "Die!" shrieked Cain, his eyes wild with rage. Shouts of pain came from those outside several tried to shoot Cain, but he simply lifted his hand and the bullets stopped in midair. With a flick of his fingers he sent another wave of the energy towards the remainder of the forces. They scattered, racing for cover.

As they vanished, Cain slowly turned. Seth could hear the UN forces stumble back as if they feared he would unleash his strange power on them, but he didn't. Instead he walked over to the fallen case and opened it. He took out the container filled with the back liquid which was crusnik 02. Walking over to Abel, Cain knelt by his side, just across from Seth.

"Cain, don't!" fear filled Seth as realization struck to what Cain was about to do. "He'll die from the injection!" she shouted at him. There was a chance they could save Abel without the injection, wasn't there? There had to be!

Cain just ignored her, whispering as he leaned forward, "Now, 02," he stabbed the needle into Abel's heart, "awaken." The nano-machine was injected into Abel. At once Abel's eyes widened. A horrible shriek filled the air as Abel writhed on the ground. Seth fell back, stunned as she watched three bullets slowly leave Abel's body and clatter to the ground. The wounds were raw, but the bleeding had stopped entirely. With a shuddering gasp Abel fell limp.

"Abel?" Seth crawled forward until she was beside her brother once more. Relief filled her at the sight of slow rise and fall of his chest. He was alive! "He's alive," tears flowed down her face as she fell over her bother, gripping his tattered, blood stained uniform tightly. "He's alive!"

Several of the UN officers and the citizens they had brought with them slowly stepped forward. Lilith raced over to them and embraced both Seth and Abel at once. Seth could feel Lilith shaking in fear and shock.

"What just happened?" Tabitha's voice made Seth and Lilith look up. "I thought the crusnik killed those injected with it," Tabitha's eyes were wide as she stared at the four of them, "and what about Cain? He just…" she trailed off, shaking her head as if unable to put words to what Cain had done to the rebel forces.

Seth didn't know what to say, she was just happy all four of them were still alive. Nothing else seemed to matter at the moment. She didn't even care if Abel came back changed like Cain had. Abel wasn't even fused one hundred percent with the crusnik like Cain had been. Even this didn't seem to matter as Seth once again embraced her beloved brother and closed her eyes.

Later:

Darkness pressed down on Abel from all sides. Then slowly the silence began to dissolve. He could just hear two people whispering in the distance, but he couldn't make out what they were saying. Slowly Abel forced his eyes. Blinking, the ceiling of his room slowly came into focus. If this was hell, then hell had a very strange sense of humor. Abel turned his head, his ear now pressing against a pillow. Two fussy shapes were seated close to the bed.

One of the figures moved closer. "Abel?" Abel blinked and Seth's face swam into focus. "You're awake!" she exclaimed, flinging her arms around his shoulders. Abel groaned. "Sorry," Seth released him and quickly returned to her seat.

It was then Abel realized Lilith was there as well. Lilith smiled at him, but there was something off about the smile. "How are you feeling?" she asked in a gentle voice, reaching out to him. She hesitated, her fingers only an inch from him before touching his forehead lightly.

"Confused," Abel admitted, looking around the familiar features of his room. He shook his head and Lilith pulled back. "Shouldn't I be dead?" he asked. Wincing, Abel pushed himself into a sitting position. The blanket fell off his chest, revealing the bandaging, but where there should have been a lot of blood, there barely any. He shook his head again, now highly confused. "I could have sworn that bullet pierced my heart," he looked at Lilith; then at Seth. Seth wasn't looking at him, but at her hands as she wrung them nervously. Lilith had gone pale and her smile faltered. "What happened?" Abel looked from one to the next, his heart hammering as unease filled him.

"You would have died," Lilith slowly began, "if Cain hadn't acted." She looked away from him and Seth. "Abel," her yellow eyes softened, "Cain injected you with crusnik 02." Horror filled Abel. The room felt as if it was spinning around him. "Abel," Lilith placed her hand on his leg as Abel stared at his own hand. Why would Cain do such a thing? Didn't this mean he'd wind up insane or worse?

"For some reason," Seth began, but Abel was too shocked to look at her, "you didn't go insane like Cain did. I think it might have something to do with the fact Cain was fused one hundred percent and you were only fused eighty percent with the crusnik. It will be interesting to see what the abilities will be at this level." Seth sighed, "Though I do wish Cain hadn't done this, in fact I wish none of us had ever been forced to come to this world!"

Abel shook his head and managed to smile at his sister. "At least eight percent doesn't cause insanity," he managed to say. Now that the initial shock was beginning to die down, Abel felt better about this situation. "How long was I out?" he asked, looking from Seth to Lilith and back.

"Oh, not that long," Seth grinned, seeming to return to herself quickly, "only a few days." Abel scowled. Not that long, she said, ha! That was long. "You've missed quite a bit. The colony has elected you and Cain as joint leaders, well the part of the colony which isn't trying to kill us has, and Cain announced the fact the UN has left us here to rot. He didn't say it quite like that though, it was much kinder."

"Wait, what?" Abel shook his head, staring at Seth in shock. "They elected the both of us as leaders. Are they completely insane? I can't lead! Oh, hell," Abel put his head in his hands, not liking this one bit. Why the hell would they want him as joint leader with Cain? Cain was great at leading, Abel sucked at it.

"Well, from what I understand of it, you're more the leader of military affairs and Cain will be handling the diplomatic parts of it," Seth explained. "Lilith and I were elected as your seconds," she shrugged. "I think it really had a lot to do with the fact they discovered the four of us are the only ones who can be fused with the crusnik and don't ask me why that is because I still don't know!" She sighed heavily. "Two days after you were injected, the colony asked Lilith and me why we haven't injected the two remaining crusniks. I think they want us to do so," she looked at Abel worriedly. "It sounds like it hurts though."

"Enough of this," Lilith stood and walked over the desk. She picked up black shirt and pants, throwing them at Abel. "Here," Abel caught the shirt and pants, "since we are no longer apart of the UN, Cain has ordered for no one to wear the uniform of the UN." Lilith sighed, shaking her head. She shot Abel a small, sad smile. "There is also a coat and belt with the rest of this. Cain had them made for the command staff." Abel blinked for the first time realizing Seth and Lilith weren't wearing their normal UN uniforms. Seth had on a white jacket which fell only a little past the belt and there was a line of green rimming it. She also now wore black pants and boots. Lilith wore something similar to Seth except instead of green hers had yellow just like her old UN uniform. "We'll see you in a bit, Abel," Lilith gave him another kind smile before taking Seth's arm and pulling her out of the room.

"Ah, but I wanted to talk more with Abel," Seth complained. The door shut behind Lilith and Seth. Abel smiled at this. It was good to know some matters would never change.

Abel quickly changed into the black shirt and pants. Standing, he crossed the room to where the long white coat lay across the desk. It was rimmed with light blue, much like his old UN clothes had been. Unlike the UN uniform, this had armor reinforcing the cuffs of the sleeves and on the shoulders. The armor was silver. Abel slipped on the coat. It was far longer than his UN uniform had been, falling nearly to the floor. When he put on the boots, he suspected the coat would be only a few inches off the floor. It was also made of a heavier, more durable material than the uniform.

Abel picked up the belt which already had his gun holster on it and placed the belt over the coat. After he had buckled on the shoes, Abel sat down on the edge of his bed and stared at the ground. It has hard to believe only a few days ago his only worry had been the security of this colony and doing his best so the four of them would be able to live past this project. Now, now the entire colony had been abandoned by Earth and it felt as if his life was spinning out of control. What else was to come? Abel wasn't sure. He had a really bad feeling on what the future had in store for the four of them and the people of this colony.