Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade.

A/N: This is the final chapter. Huge thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed.


Rei dragged his fingers up the back of Kai's hand and wrist. "I want to see them."

Kai made a questioning sound deep in his throat, hand resting lightly on his lover's stomach.

Taking a deep breath Rei twisted to look the Russian in the eye. "Kenny and Max. I want to see them before they're sent back home."

Eyes sweeping over his lover's face Kai cupped Rei's face and leaned in to kiss him. "They're in a secure suite on the second floor. You already know the passcode."

Rei nodded and returned the kiss. All thoughts of seeing his friends passed when his partner pressed him back to the bed, a knee nudging his legs apart.

He gasped as Kai settled between his legs, paralyzed by the press of Kai's cock against his inner thigh, the silken hardness broken by the small, slight chill of the ring through the head of his partner's cock.

And then all thought ceased as a strong hand curled around his own hardness and stroked once.


The keypad next to the door was chrome with black buttons and Rei simply stared at it, not sure he really wanted to go in. The code was floating through his mind, a fifteen digit number known only by the ten of them, used to lock files and other information from the main part of Biovolt.

Taking a deep breath Rei, mentally berating himself for being a coward when he never had before, he entered the code, fingers flying easily over the pad. There was a faint click as the lock disengaged and Rei pushed, the door swinging easily on well-oiled hinges.

Kenny and Max seemed oblivious to his presence. Max was staring into space while Kenny was idly flipping through a magazine, though it was obvious he wasn't actually paying attention to the words and pictures moving by in a kaleidoscope of colour.

He took a half step back, intent on escaping, seeing them unharmed enough to quiet the little voices in his mind that had been running rampant since Robert had put the bounty out on them.

Escape was only a step away when Max suddenly snapped out of whatever funk he'd been in, mouth falling open at the sight of Rei hanging uncertainly in a partially open door.

Max vaulted the small table in the middle of the room and was on Rei before he could move, arms wrapping around the neko-jin's waist. "Rei!"

Kenny was only steps behind, forcing the two apart slightly and squeezing between them, arms pulling them closer.

Smiling Rei closed his eyes and rested his forehead on Max's shoulder, the American just a little taller than him.

With Max and Kenny close Rei could finally admit that he had missed them, even through the haze of indoctrination. Kenny's inane nattering about everything technical, that he had mostly learned to tune out but was comforting in its consistency. Max's bright and sunny outlook despite all the hardships they'd had to deal with on their travels

Their mere presence was a reassurance and Rei turned his head slightly, pressing his face into the soft silk of Max's hair. "I've missed you guys."

A sound that sounded suspiciously like a muffled cry came from Kenny. "We missed you too Rei." He pulled back slightly to look at the neko-jin. "Are you okay Rei? They haven't done anything bad to you have they?"

Dredging up a smile, hating how he had to lie to his friends Rei ruffled Kenny's hair. "Nothing permanent Kenny. I'll never forget it, but I'm not going to let it rule my life."

Max's eyes flickered to the door. "Can we see Tyson?"

Rei gently moved back from his friends, not stopping until there was nearly a foot of space between them. "No." He took a deep breath at the crestfallen looks. "It's for the best. He isn't the person you remember."

Kenny stared at Rei. "And are you the same person we traveled with?"

Hand dropping to his chest Rei shook his head. "You know I'm not. Had I been I would have asked Robert to spare Johnny's life. I would have pled with him to not bring you in, saying you had nothing to do with it. Biovolt has changed me, for the better, I think."

Rei took another step back, ignoring the pain caused by the looks of shock on his friends' faces. "I think it would be best if you just forgot about Tyson and I."


"Kai said you would be up here."

Robert turned away from the sweeping vista of his lands to look at Rei who was standing at the top of the stairs, his hesitance visible even in the weak light from the half moon. He gestured for Rei to join him. "I find it odd that you sought me out after our last conversation before your indoctrination. I was under the impression you didn't consort with people you considered monsters."

Rei leaned against the parapet next to him. "I didn't know you smoked."

Tapping the ash from the cigarillo in his hand Robert shrugged. "A vice I rarely indulge in. Now, I doubt you came up here to comment on my personal habits."

"I wanted to thank you."

"Oh?" Taking a drag Robert slanted a look at the neko-jin. "That is certainly a change from calling me names."

With a barely concealed flinch Rei scrubbed a hand over his face. "To be fair you called me a fool but you were the one who was right. Not only was I being a fool, but I was acting like a kid. After losing my parents so young, you'd think I would know that the world isn't fair, that we don't get everything we wanted. But no, I wanted everything to go my way. In my world, we won Worlds and I got Kai, the end."

"I never even thought that anything could go wrong, never counted on running into Biovolt and Bryan. I was acting on instinct the whole time, letting my fear rule me rather than sparing even a moments logical thought to everything. Now, looking back on how I was then, after five years at the peak of Biovolt, I realize that as much as I wanted to be treated as an adult I didn't deserve it."

Rei turned to lean against the wall before continuing. "I'm ashamed of the way I acted then. I should have just sucked it up and accepted that there was nothing I could do. "

Robert joined the neko-jin in facing the inside, releasing a plume of smoke. "It certainly would have been much easier for you in the long run. Biovolt has always been an indomitable force and giving in is much easier than fighting, a lesson Johnny was incapable of learning. How much of this sudden change was actually my fault and how much was caused by my cousin?"

Even knowing that Robert was more than well aware what he and Kai got up to it was still embarrassing to have it mentioned so casually and Rei ducked his head, feeling the blush creep across his cheeks. "Your words but him. Even in my rage after the indoctrination broke all I could think of was the fact I still loved Kai, even if I was mad at him. That was enough to make me realize that Biovolt has done good for the world."

Silence fell between them and Rei relaxed, the comfortable feeling he'd once felt with Robert back in full force.

"Why didn't you indoctrinate me again? Wouldn't that have been easier than waiting for me to come to a decision?"

Snubbing out the end of his cigarillo on the wall Robert tucked the remains in his pocket before looking at the neko-jin. "Indoctrination is a one-time process. None of the test subjects survived a second attempt."

Rei could only gape at Robert as the older man descended the stairs.


It was a warm summer night, the sun slowly sinking below the horizon as shadows danced over the deck. The remains of a vast repast were spread across the big table in the middle of the deck, though most of the plates were entirely empty. When Spencer and Tyson were both around food had a tendency to disappear and there was a restaurant in Moscow that refused to serve them, after they had cleared out the buffet twice.

Ian was on one of the benches around the deck, with Tyson's head in his lap, a hat over his face.

Michael was sitting on the deck between Tala's legs with a beer bottle next to his leg as he tossed a baseball up and down.

Li was curled against Spencer's side as had become his wont and Rei was practically in Kai's lap in much the same way as they had been after reconciling nearly a month earlier.

Robert rolled his eyes when Kai bent his head to kiss Rei. He got an elbow in his side and he glared at Bryan who was smirking. "And what did I do to deserve such treatment?"

Setting his empty beer on the table Bryan slumped back against his partner. "Stop looking at Kai and Rei like you want to kick them out."

"Oh, would that I could. I grow heartily sick of their mooning at each other." Robert settled into the curve of Bryan's body. He was tired of having them around but at the same time couldn't actually bring himself to kick them out. They had grown up together and he would never begrudge his cousin anything, including the odd need to have sex with Rei wherever and whenever the need struck.

Not that there was much peace to be had even if Kai and Rei were in their room. The others had descended on the manse like a plague of locusts after news of Johnny's execution had spread like wildfire across the globe. It'd been two weeks and they still remained, always underfoot and making noise like a pack of puppies.

Stretching to put his glass on the table Robert rolled his shoulders. "I suppose I should make my announcement."

Tala grinned. "You finally knocked Bryan up? Congratulations!"

Bryan threw his beer bottle at the redhead. "You are so fucking funny Ivanov."

Flipping his friend off Tala sank his other hand into Michael's hair and rubbed at his partner's scalp. "Should you be drinking?"

Kai shot a look at Tala. "Your interest in male pregnancy is frightening Tal."

Michael rested his head on his partner's thigh. "Try living with it. I've already refused. I only need one psycho redhead in my life."

Tyson sat up, hat sliding to his chest. "How's that work if you're a redhead too?"

Rolling his eyes Robert stood. If he didn't regain control of the situation it would spiral out until several of them were passed out on the deck. He snapped his fingers and immediately everyone focused on him.

"I'm sure by now you've all become aware that something odd is going on within the Abbey and that my illustrious father has taken over much of the daily running of Biovolt."

His words were greeted with jeers and snide comments and he couldn't help but smile. Besides Voltaire, Boris was the most hated member of Biovolt. The enmity they all bore him had started at a young age and only bloomed into a loathing they couldn't put into words after his vicious attack on Bryan.

It also didn't help Boris that he was prone to moments of ineptitude so severe that Voltaire had threatened to do away with him more than once.

Smiling when Bryan's hand curled around his knee Robert continued. "After some digging Kai and I discovered what exactly has happened. It seems our esteemed grandfather has suffered a rather serious stroke. He is currently in a medical coma as the doctors work to ease the pressure in the hopes of curtailing the damage. They have no idea how long it will take."

Silence greeted his words. It didn't last long before excited voices filled the air and Robert sank back down next to Bryan, sharing a victorious look with Kai. They'd long worked for this moment, years before Worlds had happened.

Spencer was the first to broach the question. "Are we still going with the plan or just wait for him to die. There's no guarantee he'll live."

Kai's gaze swept over them, hot and fierce. "He'll live. He's too stupid and stubborn to die from something like this. We'll wait. Sooner or later he'll summon us all, to prove how strong he is. Then we'll make our move. Not because he's weak, not because we fear him, but to prove to him, that his entire life has been a lie. We've never been under his control, haven't from the moment we were old enough to be our own. Our loyalty lies only to each other and he will know that before he dies."

"The weak must fall, as they always have, while the strong rise. Such is the way of Biovolt."


Voltaire surveyed the people sharing the table with him, trying to ignore the tremor shaking his hands. They hadn't been steady since his stroke six months earlier and he knew better than to show weakness when in the company of his chosen.

He had programmed them to take advantage of weakness when they saw it but had never intended to have them look at him in such a way. Hiding the stroke and subsequent physical infirmities from them had been trying but he'd managed, this being their first meeting since it had happened.

Kai was sitting on his left with Rei next to him, Robert and Bryan opposite them. The other three couples ranged down the long table on either side and Boris sat at the very end from him.

The silence in the room was heavy and everyone seemed statue like, the only sign of life, rising and falling chests.

Voltaire jerked when Robert finally moved and leaned into Bryan, one hand falling to his thigh. He couldn't hear what his grandson was saying, unable to make out the words even in the utter stillness of the room but he didn't like the look Bryan was giving him over Robert's shoulder.

Of all the Demolition Boys, Bryan had always unnerved him the most. Pale and ethereal as a child he'd been a wraith when first brought to the Abbey and had shied away from any adults, staying close to the others and Robert and Spencer in particular. When separated from them he'd become a hellion, lashing out at anyone who came close.

It had become worse as they'd grown and the biologic and genetic changes had taken place, Bryan's instabilities growing. And once Robert had left, no one but the other Demolition Boys had been able, or willing to get close to the violate pale haired teen.

Now, the only time Voltaire ever saw a flicker of warmth from Bryan was when Robert was near and even now that was absent, leaving him pinned in place by feral, cold silver eyes.

Robert settled back into his chair, hand sliding from Bryan's thigh as he nodded to Kai.

An eerie feeling fell over Voltaire as he watched Kai lean into Rei, a mirror of Robert's earlier actions even if Kai's words to his partner took less time.

Forcing his hand steady Voltaire took a drink of his water, peripherally aware of twenty eyes watching him avidly, that Boris seemed to share his unease, the man shifting at the end of the table even as he also took a drink.

He set the glass back down sloshing only a little on the tablecloth as another tremor shook his hand. Taking a deep breath he opened his mouth to ask exactly what was going on when a sudden numbness settled in his throat. It was quickly followed by a heavy, metallic taste in his mouth and burning pain in his feet.

Suddenly all the odd actions of the night made sense and Voltaire settled his gaze on Kai and Robert who both looked smug and the others who were looking on in malicious glee. Only Boris seemed to be free of the plot, obviously confused as he looked from him to Robert and the others.

Robert stood. "Grandfather, I'm sure you have some idea of what is going on, as you did much the same thing to your own father. Your death however, will not be nearly as kind as his was. Tala was feeling rather vindictive when he created this poison, a decision which he really should be applauded for."

Tala smirked and mock bowed from his chair. "Took me nearly six years to get the fucking thing right."

Leaning forward, fingers laced together Kai picked up the story. "Sadly grandfather, while you had the best programmers working on the loyalty codes you had us indoctrinated under; they left some rather large holes in the code. Even at twelve it was easy for Ian to rewrite them so we were no longer under compunction to follow your every order. And you were so blinded by the fact your plan to rule the world was fast approaching that you never noticed that we were never as subservient as we could have been."

Hands folded behind his back Robert took the thread back. "Of course, when you brought the others in, it was entirely too easy for Ian to alter their coding, so their only loyalty lay towards us, as ours is entirely bound up in our group. Biovolt is ours."

Now his entire body was in agony, his skin burning even as his blood felt so cold it ached from the inside. The numbness was still there and words were beyond his reach, leaving him a silent spectator to what was going to happen.

Robert turned to face Boris, one hand curling around the back of Bryan's neck. "You father, however, get a choice as I would rather not upset mother without good cause."

"You've been given the same poison as grandfather, but as you're younger and stronger you have a little more time. But I suppose since there is that minor matter of the single kidney you've lived the last seven years with. I'd make your choice soon. Serve us or suffer a long, painful death as your body and the poison slowly eat it."

Gasping in pain Voltaire couldn't believe it when Boris, his staunch right hand man for going on thirty years slowly stood and bowed, murmuring a promise of service to their creations, the ones who had so neatly turned the tables on them.

The pain was becoming unbearable and Voltaire knew the end was coming. But under the pain and all-consuming rage part of couldn't help but be proud of the duplicity and intelligence of his grandsons.

After all, the foundation of Biovolt was built on betrayal.