2400 AD

Istvan

It was a quiet night in the city known as the Pearl of the Danube, silent except for the sounds of the creatures out there, feeding. Kurai, a small child of a Methuselah family who had yet to go through the Change, whimpered in the small black car, unsure why they would break a two hundred year treaty in such a violent way-but knowing they could smell fear.

The holo-screen in the dashboard turned on automatically, a sign that this was, indeed, an emergency.

"We apologize for the interruption. There seems..."

Puzzled, Kurai poked at the dashboard screen. It flickered back to life, the Vatican reporter looking positively terrified.

"...vampires turning feral. They are known as Red Vampires. Any Vampire who dies will now be subject to what is being called the Curet Bacillus, turning them into mindless killers. We have live footage..."

It flickered again. Feral...as in, losing their minds? That doesn't make sense!

When the picture returned, it was of a normal looking vampire with red markings coloring its face. It was devouring a human being.

"Again, I would like to remind all citizens of Albion that a mass evacuation has been called. Do not come near the Reds. They are no longer sentient beings."

The monitor on the dashboard fizzled again. Dr Iyumi Fortuna, Kurai's father, led the 12-year-old fully Changed Methusalah Ion, Kurai's brother, to the large, bulky 20th Century equivalent car. Following them was Radu Barvon, Ion's tovaras that he had insisted they not leave behind.

Kurai turned the dial on the monitor.

"Stay away from quarantined areas such as Londinium and Carthage. The Reds will-"

The signal died completely and a loud siren sounded. Cries could be heard in the streets as people began to panic. Is this the second apocalypse?

A small, equally ugly black car drove and parked behind them. Dr Toshio Asran and his wife Dr Astharoshe Asran stepped out of the car. Asthe lifted out of the car Reiko Asran, Kurai's best friend.

Kurai moved to leave the car and go out to meet her, but Kurai's mother, Dr Kanawa Fortuna, stopped her.

The Asran family hid in the back of the Fortuna's car as they drove to Father's research facility. Kurai was five. The Earth was filled with nightmares now.

Satellite 475 was their only chance.

2900 AD

Sattilite 475

Kanawa waited in distress for her husband's return. Lately he had been going to the other side of the facility alone for hours, although sometimes he would bring with him Kurai. He often muttered 'Almost time, almost' to himself.

Her blue eyes widened in fear. She faulted herself, of course, for not coming up with a cure herself-it had made Iyumi desperate, a man obsessed. The Enemy capitalized on that. That enemy whose name she was not permitted to speak in front of Asthe, who had lost so much...

In this case, there was too much at stake. If they failed to cure the Curet Bacillus, they would die-no, they would destroy each other.

3050 AD

Island of Beloved Children

Empire

"To thank him for his gift of life to our people, we present the title of Vizier to Dr Iyumi Fortuna!"

Kurai stared up at the green veiled Empress, awarding him for saving the methuselah. Kurai was aware that the Empress did not actually trust him, but the phrase 'know thine enemy' came to mind. She wanted him close so she could keep an eye on him.

The Empress was actually the Head High Priestess of a group of all the High Priestesses in the covens of Methuselah—also called vampyres, by terrans—that made up her Council. She was strong and powerful.

Someday when Kurai went through the Change, she wanted to become a Methuselah like the Empress. Or like Mother or Nii-san. Kurai's older brother Ion was a Tracker. He went forth throughout the Empire and Outside World and Marked future Methuselah. They then retreated to the Empire until they either made the Change or died. If they made the Change, some left the Empire to return to the Outside again. Rarely.

Kurai's blue eyes flicked through her dark bangs, and caught a glimpse of her Father recieving his powerful title and smirking and relishing it.

Yes yes, revel in your 'discovery'. Was it worth what you did? I'm so mad I could-

"Sister?" The innocent eyes of Ion, her elder brother, softened Kurai's features.

"Yes, we apologize for worrying thee, dear brother," Kurai said evenly. "But we cannot forgive him."

"Come now, Kurai, Ion," Mother stood. "Thy father is a good man."

In other words, 'he must remain a good man in the the public eye'. The red virus almost caused another war between the Empire and the Outside. It was contained because we were so quick with our 'cure'. But if we tell them what happened up there—

There was a loud siren like whistle, and something hurt so bad I could feel my bones crying. Then all was still again.

My tovaras, Reiko, interrupted my thoughts. The ceremony was over. "The Empress has asked that thee join us in a confidential mission Outside. Ion shall join at some point, but we cannot reveal anything further. We shall divulge the rest when safely Outside the Empire."

I raised a dark eyebrow. Unlike Ion, I have the dark hair of our mother. My tovaras has blonde hair with red tips, rather like Asthe, her mother.

"The Orden hast made my father a powerful man," I said in a dull voice. "This mission...shall it bring forth vengeance?"

Reiko's lips curled into a smile. "Oh thou hast no idea, Tovaras."

Neferet's long auburn hair was untied and shone the color of blood in the moonlight. She sat at the head of the table.

Two other men and a woman stood next to her. The woman was visibly shaking, and holding something. A red crescent adorned her brow. To most in the world, these people were called 'Rosencrutz Orden.'

"Did you find a reaction from the Curet Bacillus?" asked Neferet. "Well done. I knew it would be among those on the Island. It is fortunate that all of those from the mission on Sattelite 425 are coming here to Istvan."

Dietrich sat idly next to the woman, who insisted she be called 'Goddess'. "The Curet reacted and stopped our transmission."

He showed the 'goddess' his findings of the radioactive reaction in the Empire after their broadcast. Neferet's smile widened.

"This world must follow our direction now," she grinned. "We must control the Curet, and with it, destroy the last vestiges of humankind's false utopia! And once we extinguish those threats, this world will be his once again!"

She spoke, of course, of their true leader, whom she had promised with her plans would be brought back from the Otherworld. She insisted on calling him 'Kalona' but to the others he was known simply as 'Cain' or 'Mein Herr'.

The six raised their glasses in a toast. "Igne natura renovatur integra!"