Chapter 3

Acey1: I'd be glad to beta it, but be warned - I'm a hard beta. It'd make good editing practice for me.

lady snowblossom: Turns out that Adult Fan Fiction had hardware problems, but it's back up. I joined the Yahoo group. And Centrepiece is actually complete, as is its sequel, Insecure. Just a matter of putting it up.

lilmatchgirl007: True stories are an escape, but they tend to make people depressed. I find that I feel better when I read or watch things and see people who are worse off than I am. It uplifts me.

Disengage: Oh come on, I never said I was perfect. You've got to remember I wrote and edited this in a short period of time so I could get it up. Anyway, there are probably more mistakes, but don't you dare go looking for them. :p

Mizuyah: Um... how come your fic got deleted. Don't think I'm prying, it's just that I'm curious.

eyriess: Tal/Bry currently have issues, what more can I say. You'll see why.

Reiven: Dreams are dreams, but I tend to make them real. Not saying if that one will be real or not. And the chapters will keep coming, I promise. That is, of course, unless something happs.

Rei-Is-Mine: It's become a done thing in my fics, Bryan pelting things at Ian's head. I write that they hate each other. And as for Ian and Spencer... you'll see.

phoenix of order: Info on the special project right here. Hope it's not too confusing.

Jay Kamiya: Bryan is stubborn, and he isn't the only one. looks pointedly at a certain redhead

Werewolf of Fire: OO Kill Tyson and Ray? What did they ever do to you?

Blk Dranzer: Eh... I think al the teams are there but the Majestics. I can't really remember.

Bloody Mary: Oh come on, I'm a big fan of Kai/Ray. What do you expect me to do. :p

KuronekoHikage: I take it you're glad to see Kai in this fic. :D

BSG's Ultimate Fan: G-Rev? Um... G-Rev and the second half of V-Force haven't been aired in Australia. Australia hasn't even got the rights to G-Rev. Otherwords, no G-Rev characters. After all, this is set only a couple of weeks after where season one ends.

Ashla: Just hope you get to see the updates. While I enjoy a good review, I know what it's like to be a reader hanging out for the next chapter. Enjoy.

There's a lot about the past in this fic, or at least my version of the past. This chapter will lie the foundations of one of the little side stories. It's a lot to take in, but enjoy.

Disclaimer: See first page

"Dickenson."

He turned, spotting Bryan as the other stepped into the room, a patterned black and silver box under his arm. "Why yes, Bryan. Is there something I can help you with?"

Bryan's lavender eyes flicked to the side, taking in the other occupants of the room, eyes narrowing on one. "Parker: shoo."

Michael blinked. "But-"

"Goodbye, Parker."

Michael growled, looking at Judy who shrugged, before turning to walking from the room. Judy went to follow, but Bryan called her up short.

"Not you, Director. What I have to say is to you as well."

Judy hesitated, then returned to her place. "Very well then."

Mr Dickenson settled into his seat. "What is it you wish to say, Bryan?"

Bryan pulled up a chair, setting the box in his lap. "I've overheard you talking, about Boris's demands. I've heard the word 'ultimate' thrown around. What is it exactly that he's been saying?"

The two adults exchanged a look, Mr Dickenson giving a small nod before Judy turned to the teen. "Mr Balkov claims that when the Demolition Boys left the Abbey, they took the project codenamed 'Ultimate' with them. Mr Balkov has been negotiating to retrieve this project, which we will not allow him to have."

"However," Mr Dickenson continued, "as Mr Balkov owns this experiment, we cannot simply keep it for ourselves, so we have agreed to give him the central or core component to the project, though he must forfeit the rest."

The corners of Bryan's eyes tightened. "You agreed to give him the core, but you do not know what the 'Ultimate' project is? You have not tried to find out?"

Judy frowned. "We assume it has something to do with their bit beast research, as that is their main priority at Balkov Abbey."

Bryan sighed and shook his head. "How naive of you. The bit beast experiments are nothing more then a side project on the path to create the ultimate weapon. The Ultimates themselves are a failed project, and one of the first experiments Boris ever conducted."

Mr Dickenson frowned. "Let me understand this, you know what the 'Ultimate' project is?"

"I have been at the Abbey my entire life. I know almost everything that has gone on in there." Bryan leant back in his seat and crossed his arms. "The 'Ultimate' project in fact is nothing more than a team known as the 'Ultimates', made up of three genetically created and modified beybladers.

"Two of these bladers were created from the beginning. Genetic cousins in life, they were created with the purpose of becoming the best in the world and to blade on this team of three. The third blader, the team's captain, was modified while in his mother's womb. He was the true experiment, the test to see if it were possible to create the genetically perfect being. He was a success, the other two were modelled off him.

"All three were born in the Abbey and raised together as brothers. From the moment they could comprehend the world around them, they have been taught to blade. 'Victory is life; defeat to our enemies'. And it was drilled into them again and again as they learnt to battle as one, reducing their opponents to rubble. They were unstoppable."

Judy frowned. "You said 'were' unstoppable. What happened?"

"An accident." Bryan closed his eyes, remembering. "The Ultimates were raised to be powerful, so it was only natural that they be attracted to power. Biovolt created the ultimate blade, and the hunger for power became too much for one of the creations, so he snuck out during the night to take the blade for a spin.

"He was strong, this blader, but too young to control such power, being only six. Half the Abbey was destroyed, and dozens of students were killed. As a result of the accident, the blader lost his memory, mind shutting out anything to do with the Abbey. He was rendered useless and removed from the program."

Mr Dickenson frowned. "You mean to tell us that one of the genetically created bladers is none other than Kai?"

Bryan nodded. "After Kai was removed, the remaining two Ultimates were put under greater pressure to fulfil their destiny, but it became apparent to Boris that it would not work without the third link. He had to rethink his choices, and it was then that he created the Demolition Boys. Tala, the other genetic creation, was placed in charge of the team, while the former captain of the Ultimates, the genetic modification, the core of the project, would become but a follower."

Bryan smiled faintly, chuckling. "You see, there was one other flaw to the Ultimates, a flaw Boris has never been able to correct: they are able to think for themselves. Tala he was able to brainwash to some degree, and Kai left so long ago that Boris never did have any true control over him.

"But the Ultimates captain…" Bryan smirked, eyes sparkling. "The captain, Boris never could control. No matter what he tried, no matter what he did, the captain continued to countermand Boris's orders and create new ones, even at such an early age. Therefore it was obvious that, when the new team was created, it would be Tala, and not me, placed in charge of the Demolition Boys."

Judy's eyes widened. "You're the Ultimates captain?"

"Is it really that surprising?" Bryan shrugged. "Tala and Kai were created following the genetic pattern Boris perfected when modifying mine. I was a success, so they were created, though made somewhat prettier than myself, but that again is no surprise. For some reason, I was always more advanced than they were, and able to comprehend and learn things faster, so I became the natural choice as captain. And somehow I don't think Boris regretted that choice."

"So in wanting the core," Mr Dickenson said, tapping his fingers on the table. "Mr Balkov in fact wants you."

"Think of me as a template. All the data collected on our genetic patterns was destroyed in the blast created by Black Dranzer all those years ago. If he ever wished to create more bladers, he needs not Tala or Kai but me, the original design. That, and the little known fact that I am in truth the best blader on the Demolition Boys. I mastered my blading style before I even hit puberty."

"Oh dear, oh my." Mr Dickenson shook his head, eyes wide. "We've already promised him the core component of his project."

"If you do not know what the project is, then how can you give it to him?"

Judy looked up, a thoughtful look in her eye. "Yes, that is very true."

"There is more to the 'Ultimate' project." Bryan took the box from his lap, setting it on the table and pressing a hidden catch, the lid popping up. "The perfect bladers are not complete without the perfect blades. I told Boris that they were destroyed in the blast, but I had them in my room. I'd had them for some time."

He pushed the box toward them, revealing the three jet-black blades nestled on midnight blue satin. Judy reached forward, pulling one out, the light catching on it and sending a flash of fiery red and gold over the surface, almost causing her to drop it in surprise.

"Kai's blade," Bryan said. "Tala's has icy blue and silver. My own is a mixture of the two. We are the only ones who can control them, and they were designed to work together. Our own personal blades are based off their design. They were created for us and us alone, configured for our own unique styles and to amplify the power of our bit beasts."

Judy turned the blade over, eyes narrowing. "There is no bit chip."

"Falborg, Wolborg, and Dranzer were and shall always be our beasts. Some things do not change."

"Indeed."

Mr Dickenson closed the lid of the box, fingers playing over the shield etched into the lid. "Is this your logo?"

"Yes sir. The Wolf, the Falcon, and the Phoenix. 'Icy Wind that Burns'."

Judy opened the box and set the blade back in its place. "If the project had not failed, if the Ultimates had actually been able to complete the program, what would it have meant?"

Bryan met her eye. "It would have meant the unchallenged rise of Biovolt. Boris and Voltaire would have won years ago."

Mr Dickenson snapped the lid closed, expression hard. "And they shall never have that opportunity again."

Bryan nodded his agreement, laying a hand protectively on the lid of the box. "I am sure Kai and Tala remember the Ultimates, and, like me, chose to bury those memories. I do not want them to know what is happening."

Mr Dickenson nodded. "Then we promise not to tell them."

Bryan's lip twitched. "However, should something happen to me… show them the box. They'll understand. In the meantime, I wish for you to place this box somewhere secure, for I am sure Tala will find it if I leave it hidden at the bottom of my bag."

Mr Dickenson picked up the box, clutching it tightly as he stood. "I will place it in our securest hidden safe that I only have the key for."

"As for Mr Balkov wanting the core," Judy spoke up. "We will continue to feign ignorance. As you said, we cannot give him something if we do not know what it is."

Bryan nodded, pushing himself up and moving toward the door, Judy calling out after him. He paused, looking back at her.

"Thank you for telling us."

"Don't mention it," he turned away. "To anyone."

As he disappeared out the doorway, Judy spotted Mr Dickenson's shoulders slump, relieved now that Bryan had gone. "Certainly has a presence, doesn't he?"

"Indeed he does."

Judy looked back toward the door, sighing. "I am sure he is simply misunderstood. He has been through so much after all. Give him time."

Anyone else get the impression that Judy and Mr Dickenson are afraid of Bryan? ;)