Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade
"This is talking"
'These are thoughts'
Kai stood up quickly as a clicking sound echoed around the room, eye's darting right and left. He spun around, but he couldn't see anyone.
Suddenly Tyson yelled, "Kai look out!"
Too late. A gunshot sounded and Kai felt a shot of white-hot pain in his left shoulder, tearing through the injury Falborg had pierced there earlier. Yelling in pain and gripping his shoulder, he stumbled back from the force of the blow. The second shot missed him, hitting the concrete ground near Tyson instead, but the third shot hit his right leg just under his knee, causing his leg to give way under him.
Tyson, though it caused a blinding pain to shoot through him, used his new rush of adrenaline to use his burned hands to sit up. Every muscle was aching; ever cut piercing. He felt slightly light-headed from the pain, but once his vision had cleared, he turned to Kai, who was sitting next to him, clutching his shoulder. "Kai are you- ahh!" he had been reaching out to Kai when the pain in his arms became extreme. He could barely move - each move caused his muscles to constrict in pain - which wasn't much of a surprise considering the damage Kai's Dranzer had done to him.
Kai moved his hand away from the injury on his shoulder to check the damage, but cringed in pain. "Tyson, we have to get out of here..." he hissed in pain, pressing his hand back over his shoulder, though the pain in his leg was becoming worse.
"You're not going anywhere."
Kai raised his head and looked up, freezing when his eyes met the barrel of a gun, inches in front of his face pointing right between his eyes. Following up the gun, his eyes met Bryan's, who stood above him, grinning. "You're not going anywhere." he said, pressing the gun against Kai's forehead and forcing him back to sit next to Tyson. Ian stood by his side, gun pointed directly at Tyson. "If either of you make a wrong move, you both die."
Still facing the two Demolition Boys, Tyson and Kai glanced sideways at each other, worry in both their eyes.
Bryan grinned, tapping the trigger playfully with his finger, as if preparing to shoot, "Voltaire would like a word with the two of you. Let's just hope my finger doesn't... slip!" he pulled the trigger and the gun shot, but he had quickly turned the gun to the side, so the bullet only skimmed past Kai's head, causing the 'blader to jump. "Whoops." Bryan smirked.
"Kai are you ok?" Tyson whispered, reaching out to the shaken teen.
"Don't move and don't talk!" Bryan yelled, pointing the gun directly at Tyson, his hand freezing in mid-air. "I won't miss next time..." he warned.
Tyson lowered his hand but looked over at Kai, concern in his eyes. Kai merely nodded to say he was ok, taking a deep breath to calm his nerves.
"Now, sit still until Voltaire arrives."
"If you haven't realised yet, kid, we're in Russia." the guard growled without looking back. "The roads are covered in ice; do you really think we could chance going any faster?"
"Sorry..." Ray mumbled half-heartedly, leaning back again next to Max. "It just feels like we're taking forever to get there..." he mumbled.
"I know how you feel." Max sighed, looking out the window. He was exhausted; both mentally and physically, and right now all he wanted to do was sleep for a week. But if his eyes dared drift closed, the image Kai haunted his thoughts. Their team captain was little more then a robot the last time Max saw him. His eyes, which were once full of confidence, determination and courage, were nothing but dark black pools, devoid of all said qualities. He thought Voltaire was deserving of great respect and that his word was law; whatever Voltaire says, goes.
That was nothing like Kai. He was a very self-confident person who refused to let anyone get the better of him. But that had all been changed. Max narrowed his eyes, a spark of determination igniting inside him. "Don't worry Kai. We saved you from Biovolt and your grandfather before, and we'll do it again." His mind shifted to the fourth team-member, who he hadn't seen since his Beybattle with the boy four days ago, though it felt like a lifetime. "And we won't leave without you Tyson. I'd sooner die then leave you guys at the hands of that madman..."
Ray's gaze moved up from the floor and landed on Max. He could see the look of worry in the boy's eyes, but more then ever the determination. He smiled, placing a hand on Max's shoulder. "Don't worry Max, we'll get them back.."
Max look back at Ray and smiled. "I know."
"These past few days seem to have changed you, you know." Ray commented. "You seem so much stronger now."
"Believe me," Max chuckled, shaking his head, "I've never felt more exhausted in my life." He smiled at Ray knowingly, to show he was joking. "I know what you mean... But I haven't changed Ray." he turned and looked out the window. "I have to be strong now... If I don't I'd never be able to help the others."
Ray blink, surprised. "So you're scared?"
"Petrified..." Max admitted. Then he said something that made Ray smile. "If it wasn't for Tyson and Kai I was doing this, I'd probably still be back in the hospital. But I'd never abandon them; not Tyson. Not Kai." he looked over at Ray. "Or you."
Ray smiled warmly. "Right back at ya," he said, ruffling Max's hair playfully. This entire adventure had brought out a part of each of the Bladebreakers that they never knew existed; a bond that Ray had only thought existed among family. During his lone search through the abbey, he had worried for Max's safety constantly. He had to use all his strength to keep himself from running back to join the other teen, afraid if he was alone he would get hurt. He had, and Ray had felt extreme guilt for a situation he had no power over.
Then, when he and Max had saved Kai from the lab (or so they had thought), Max once again put his life in danger by forcing Ray to leave to find Tyson, while he stayed with an unconscious Kai. He had been captured and Tyson was brought to the hospital. Then he returned. Despite the injuries he had sustained, Ray was determined to get back and help Max and Kai. Now that Tyson was safe he could help the others.
But he wasn't the only one who thought like that. Tyson, who was blind and injured, had put himself in life-threatening danger by merging with his Bitbeast so he could come back to the abbey and help his friends! It almost seemed pointless to have forced him to leave the abbey in the first place.
And now, as if to add salt to the wound, Ray and Max had left the hospital and were, once again, heading back to the abbey. It was insane! "Yet..." Ray thought, smiling, "It just proves how close we all are. We always put each other's safety before our own..." He was suddenly aware there was a hand in front of his face and blinking, looking over at Max. "Ya?"
"You zoned out, are you ok?" Max asked, tilting his head in confusion.
"Ya, I'm fine." Ray nodded, looking forward. "How much further?" he asked the driver.
"Half an hour tops."
Max and Ray glanced at each other. "Good." Max nodded, taking out his Beyblade and clipping it into his launcher.
Ray did likewise, then sighed. "Hang on guys... we're almost there."
Kai narrowed his eyes at Voltaire, his hand twitching and balling to a fist. The guns focussed on him when he did this, though, so he restrained himself.
"I'll take that as a yes," Voltaire grumbled, then glared at Tyson. "I don't know what you did to make him remember, but don't think I'm going to forget it. You won't last long in my world; useful though you may be, I can't stand your annoying interferences."
"You're world? What do you mean you're world?" Tyson found himself unable to contain himself, only realising his mistake when the words had left his mouth. Bryan jumped forward kicked Tyson down, foot pressed on his chest, and pressed the gun against the teen's neck.
"No Bryan." Voltaire ordered, just before the 'blader pulled the trigger. When Bryan had pulled back, confused, Voltaire smirked. "Not just yet... So you want to know what I mean, Tyson?" he asked as Kai pulled himself to Tyson's side, helping the shivering boy to sit up and asking him repeatedly if he was ok. Voltaire's question caught their attention, though. "Because I know that my next plan will work. And Kai, don't think I'm just going to forget you. Once I'm finished disposing of your brother in the slowest and most painful form possible, I'll 'recruit' you back to my team."
"I'd sooner choose death then serve you!" Kai yelled, cringing slightly when fresh pain shot through him.
Voltaire chuckled. "That's the beauty of it; you don't have a choice. You'll spend the remainder of your life serving me, like you were brought up to do." Voltaire turned on his heel and began walking away.
"Wait!"
Annoyed, Voltaire looked back at Tyson and narrowed his eyes. "What?"
"What are you going to do?" he asked. He may as well ask out-right, he couldn't get in any worse danger then he was right now.
Voltaire smiled sinisterly. "Well, let's just say we've learned how to broadcast certain energy waves..." smirking at Tyson's confused expression, he turned and continued on. "Enjoy you last hour or so together, because once my plans underway I'm coming back for you..." he glared back at Tyson, who merely glared back at him with hate-filled eyes.
Bryan and Ian backed away, guns still pointed at Tyson and Kai. When they passed through the doorframe, Ian pressed a few buttons on the side and the door shut tight. Kai groaned and fell back, lying down on the concrete ground, but cringed at the pain in his arm and leg.
"What did he mean by that? Broadcast what?" Tyson said through gritted teeth. Now that Voltaire was gone he let down his strong front, allowing himself to show pain.
"I don't know." Kai mumbled, opening his eyes to stare at the ceiling, then allowed his gaze to travel the room, studying their options. The walls of the room, like most others in the abbey, were covered in steel. The windows high above them were barred and to far up to reach. Had his energy not been drained from his fight with Tyson, he and Dranzer could have, eventually, blown through the walls and made a run for it. Unfortunately, in his present state, he didn't think he would have the energy fight Voltaire's guards after breaking through one wall. He shut his eyes, thinking hard. How could they escape?
Tyson frowned and hugged his arms. "Broadcast... What does he mean by that?"
"Maybe he can transmit something through satellite," Kai suggested, then shivered. "That means whatever he's planning will go international..."
"Energy waves..." Tyson mumbled. Suddenly his eyes snapped open. "Kai..." Kai sat up as quickly as he could, worried by his brother's dead tone. Turning to face him, Tyson swallowed hard. "The energy waves. That's how he got you; Tala told me earlier!"
"Tyson calm down! What do you mean?"
"That's how he turned you against us!" Tyson yelled, slightly frantic.
Kai's eyes widened. "No..."
"Yes..." Tyson whispered. "He's going to brainwash the entire world..."
"It will be ready in just a few minutes, sir." one of the scientists answered as he shut the lid at the back of a machine. "Then it will take a further few minutes to charge."
"And it will only need to broadcast for an hour or so?"
"Yes sir." the scientist nodded. "It will take effect immediately, but for wider control it will take about ninety minutes."
"Very good..." Voltaire nodded, grinning. Walking over to another computer he pressed a few buttons and opened up a number of security cameras. He flicked through then slowly until he came to the one he wanted; the room Tyson and Kai were in. The two were sitting back-to-back, Tyson's head lowered as he spoke. Kai was staring straight-ahead, arm still clutching his shoulder, with a look of shock on his face. Voltaire was curious as to what they were talking about, but there was no sound on the camera, so he was at a loss. No matter, they wouldn't be much of a problem to him once his plan was put into action.
"Pick up the pace!" he yelled, eager from his moment of triumph to arrive.
Tyson nodded slowly. "Yup..."
Kai looked down at the floor in front of him, eye's wide and shining with tears. "She brought me here? She knew what was here?" Again Tyson nodded. "Why? What did I do to deserve this?"
"She... thought she was doing the right thing." Tyson looked up, staring at the wall in front of him. He could tell Kai was waiting for more information. Unlike most, he waited for the full story before jumping to conclusions. "When you took part in that Beyblade tournament when you were little - the one you kept bragging about - Voltaire saw you... Actually, he was the one who organised the tournament. He was looking for young kids with talent he could improve and manipulate for his own purposes. The younger they were, the longer he could train them, so the more useful they were. So he arranged the competition to find the best he could.
"After that, he searched through the entry forms until he found yours. That way he knew where you were living and how to contact our parents. He did, and mom was the one he talked to about it."
Kai shut his eyes and lowered his head. "Couldn't get rid of me fast enough, could she?"
Tyson tensed for a second, then elbowed Kai lightly in the side. "Don't say that..."
"Well it's true isn't it?" Kai muttered, shutting his eyes to hold back the tears. "What did I do to make my family hate me?"
"Mom loved you, and don't you dare think otherwise..." Tyson growled, as if threatening. "You haven't heard the rest of the story, Kai, so don't start making up your own angsty endings. That ending's still to come..."
Kai was confused, but remained silent, eyes still shut tight.
"Mom found out all about the abbey. She wasn't to quick to trust strangers like Voltaire, so she literally followed him and overheard what he was planning." Tyson paused, then continued. "She told dad you were going to Balkov Abbey in Russia; and after rowing for a few weeks she just took you and left. I never understood what they fought about, but now I remember them mentioning something about Russia. Too bad I didn't remember anything sooner, eh?"
Kai was still silent. Tyson smiled slightly. "No Kai, she didn't bring you here." he said, answering Kai's unasked question (or rather his assumption). This caused the teen to jerk slightly, his attention caught once again. "She knew about Balkov abbey, and she wasn't planning on sending you there. She went on the run, to keep you hidden from Voltaire. I guess she didn't tell dad because she didn't want him, or me, to get involved.
"Unfortunately, she wasn't the most stealthy of people. Voltaire found her and actually demanded you join the abbey. He knew that she didn't want you there, though, so he threatened to kill me if she didn't en-roll you in the school." Tyson paused and took a deep, shaky breath. "She agreed once he said she could stay at the abbey with you... then he killed her."
Kai froze at the last line. He had known his mother was dead, but he had learned it was a cancer issue. Then again, people from all over work for Biovolt; maybe a doctor working for him had created that excuse and filed it. Kai suddenly became aware Tyson was shivering and looked back. Tears were streaming down the teenagers face, the salty drops sting his injuries and causing further tears. Kai swallowed hard, his own tears falling, and turned, wrapping his arm around the younger boy. "At least now I know how I ended up here..." Kai muttered, his voice cracked.
Tyson looked up at Kai was tear-filled eyes. "So you're not going to be angry at her? It really wasn't her fault."
Kai nodded. "I know. She thought she was doing the right thing." He looked up at the ceiling, eyes drifting over the metal roof, blurred by his tears. He blinked them away as a thought struck him, then sighed, looking down at Tyson with soft eyes. "And now we must do the same..."
Tyson smiled slightly and nodded. "I know... I'm glad you understand..."
"Can we have a few minutes, though?" Kai asked, and Tyson nodded. Sighing happily, Kai sat himself properly next to Tyson, wincing slightly as his leg flared with pain, then stared up at the ceiling. "What was I like when I was younger, Tyson?"
Tyson chuckled lightly. "Hyper-active, troublesome and vain; and those were you're good qualities!"
Kai rolled his eyes, smiling. "Ha ha."
Half an hour later...
"Is the programme charged?"
"Yes sir." "Good." Voltaire smirked, folding his arms and doing a quick check on everything as he strolled past. When he was satisfied he stopped at one end of the room, glancing over at the computer screen that showed Tyson and Kai. "Get ready boys. The world you know is about to change forever." Turning to the rest of the room he raised his hand. "Start the broadcast!"
"Are you sure?"
"Positive!" he yelled at the guard. "Come on, let's g-" All of a sudden, a loud screeching sound exploded into the air. Ray, along with Max and the rest of the guards who had stopped behind them, covered his ears with his hands. The sound didn't settle. "What's going on?" he yelled, but he couldn't here his own voice. Not only that, but he was becoming so confused, he couldn't make sense of his surroundings.
Voltaire's machines were working.
"Kai..." Tyson whispered. His heightened sense of hearing (thanks to Dragoon) caught a faint sound of the energy waves that were deafening those outside. "It's started..."
Kai took a deep breath and sighed heavily. "Then we better stop it before it does any damage." Leaning on Tyson slightly to substitute for his damaged leg and arm, he pushed himself to his feet, leaning on his left leg, and reached his good hand down to Tyson. The eighteen-year-old had much more of a struggle pulling himself up thanks to his injuries, but he managed. "You ok?"
"Not particularly..." Tyson muttered, standing and strong as he could. "You?"
"I've been better." Kai answered casually.
Tyson smiled slightly at Kai's calm exterior; he knew the other was just as scared as he was. But they couldn't hold it off any longer; they had to stop Voltaire now before it was to late. Clenching his hands onto fists, though painfully, a blue aura surrounded him. Kai did likewise, a red light glowing around his frame. "Ready?" Tyson asked, reaching out his right hand to the boy in front of him. Kai nodded and clashed hands with Tyson, but the energies did not mix.. An image popped to Tyson's mind and he smiled. "'We's a team, and no one can split us up, not really'..."
Kai chuckled; that was one of the few memories that had resurfaced over the passed few days. After his tortures on the third day he had been thrown into a cell with Tyson, who helped his reclaim that one precious memory by reciting lines to a song. Kai had been the one who'd said they were a team, and Tyson had imitated him. It was quite ironic that, years later, it took Tyson months to convince Kai they could work together. "We promised we'd find each other..." he smiled softly, as did Tyson, "and we did."
"And now we can finish Voltaire's reign before it begins." Tyson tightened his grip on Kai hand, focussing more of Dragoon's powers and causing the brightness of the aura to grow. "'We'll show them together', right bro?"
Kai nodded, also focussing his energy. This was it; their last chance to defeat Voltaire. It seemed like a very desperate way to do it, but they had no other option. "Ready?" he asked, though more to himself then Tyson.
Tyson nodded and the red and blue became almost blinding. Tyson looked up from their hands and caught Kai's gaze, smiling. "Love you bro."
"Love you too." Kai smiled, tears streaming down his face. He had no memory of ever hearing those words before; and they gave him happiness he thought he would never feel.
At least his last moments would be his happiest.
"Um, sir, I think you should take a look at this."
Voltaire groaned and marched over to the scientist leaning over one of the computers. "What is it now? If you people have messed up a swear I'll-" he froze in his tracks as he caught sight what the man was looking at. On the screen was images from the room Tyson and Kai were in. Both boys were standing now, facing each other with they're hands clasped together, a glow around them. "What on earth...?" he eyes widened as he realised what was happening. "Stop them!"
Tyson shut his eyes tight as the powers inside him grew to a painful amount, and by the way Kai's grip tightened on his hand he knew Kai was feeling the same. No human was supposed to contain so much power. Inside his head Dragoon ordered him to reconsider, that they could find some other way to defeat Voltaire. "This is the only way!" he yelled in his mind to the Dragoon Bitbeast.
"As you wish..." Dragoon conceded. He would never go against the final decision on his master.
The powers of both 'bladers sent off stray beams of energy, striking deep holes through the iron walls. These struck the electrical wires and broke right through them, cutting off the energy circuit leading around the abbey.
The computer screens went black around the laboratory and the room fell into complete darkness.
"Sir the electricity's been cut off!"
"No!"
Ray creaked one eye open as the screeching faded away. Around him, the sound seemed to have disappeared for everyone else too, as they were all unblocking their ears and looking around, bewildered. "What the...? What happened?"
Kai forced his eyes opened and looked over at Tyson. "This is it."
"Looks like it." Tyson said forcefully, eyes still shut tight. "On three?"
"One."
"Two."
"Three!" both 'bladers yelled in unison, and the room exploded in a red and blue light.
Max jumped out of the car and looked own at the abbey. "What are you all waiting for?" he yelled angrily. When nobody moved straight away, Max turned and darted down the hill towards the abbey, Beyblade in hand.
"Max!" Ray ran down after the younger team-mate, slipping on the snow but managing to tackle the blond down at the same time. Raising his head out of the snow he coughed lightly. "You can't just run head first into trouble!"
"Well it took us long enough to get here in the first place, they might need our help!" Max countered, pushing himself to his feet. Just as he was about to run again though, Ray grabbed him around the shoulders and held him back. "Let me go Ray!"
"We have to think before we act Max!"
"Let go!" Max yelled again.
Suddenly an explosion of red and blue light erupted from every window in the abbey, catching the attention of the boy 'bladers and silencing there argument. For one, single second the group of people wondered what was happening. One single second of blissful cluelessness before, suddenly, the entire abbey exploded in a blast of blue and red. The force of the explosion threw Max and Ray back, landing heavily in the snow. The two rolled over to face the snow and covered there heads as small amounts of flaming debris landed around them.
When all quietened down Max pushing himself to his hands and knees on shaky arms, turning around slowly and sitting to face the abbey. It looked nothing more then an old ruin. No fire; no signs of life; just pure destruction and deathly silence. Shaking his head Max raised to his feet. "Tyson..." he whispered in shock, eye's welling up with tears. "Kai... No!" he tried to run towards the rubble, but Ray held him back. "Let me go! We have to help them! Tyson! Kai!" he called helplessly, trying desperately to break free from Ray's grip.
"Max, stop it!" Ray yelled angrily, but his voice was broken. Looking back, Max saw the tears streaming down the Chinese bladers face. He had never seen Ray look so heartbroken before. "Just... stop it Max! We were too late!"
Max shook his head vigorously. "No! They might still be alive!"
"Max..." Ray closed his eyes and lowered his head. "The police will search for them-"
"But I want to help!" Max tried to protest, but Ray cut him off.
"We can't help them, it's to dangerous." Ray warned, loosening his grip on the younger teen but not releasing him. They remained silent as a number of police officers made their way towards what was left of the abbey, the rest either staying to keep an eye on Max and Ray or to call for help. After a few minutes, when Max and Ray were sitting quietly in the snow, Ray whispered, "That explosion destroyed the entire abbey..."
Max glanced sideways at Ray, but refused to meet his eye. He knew what Ray was doing; he was trying to make sure Max didn't get his hopes up, so he wouldn't be as shocked when they found Tyson and Kai hadn't made it. Well, Max wasn't going to believe his friends were gone unless he had solid proof. "Come on guys..." he thought hopefully, "You're too strong to give in now, and I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to either of you... Please... be ok..."
"T-Tyson?... Tyson wake up..."
Tyson groaned and tried to open his eyes, but couldn't. "Wha...?" he mumbled in response to the voice, his voice slurred so much he words came out as no more then a groan. He had a terrible ringing in his ears, probably from the explosion, and the volume around him keep going up and down. Forcing his eyes open slowly he struggled to keep himself in focus, vision darkening considerable every time he tried to focus.
He was lying on his side on a cold floor, though it was cracked all over with some large parts missing. It took a moment or two for him to remember what had happened, and only when he had did he realise who had been trying to wake him. "Kai?" he croaked, blinking a few times as he tried to see his brother. A hiss of pain answered his question as to which direction Kai was. Rolling onto his stomach he looked up, spotting Kai sitting up nearly two meters away from him, looking dizzy as he swayed slightly from side-to-side. "Kai what's wrong?"
"My leg... it's stuck..." Kai hissed, falling back and lying flat on his back. When the explosion had occured most of the damage was pushed away from the boys, but a large amount of debris that hadn't been blown away had fallen from the ceiling and landed on Kai's right leg. He was trapped under the cement blocks; there was no way he could move it and Tyson wasn't even able to move. With a forced voice he asked, "Can you move?"
"Lifting a feather looks difficult right now..." Tyson answered as he lay his head down on the floor, exhausted. "We knew this would happen..."
"But it looks like it worked..." Kai muttered, glancing around the room, if you could call it that anymore. "Dranzer... did we win...?" The phoenix Bitbeast had remained inside it's master, as had Dragoon, and was doing it's best to try and keep Kai alive. It had managed, though, to use it's powers to find any near-by life; none. "We won..." Kai muttered and he closed his eyes, smiling.
"Really?" Tyson sounded surprised, but relieved. "Heh... so it actually worked..." he raised his head again and looked at Kai. "You really are free now, Kai. I'm... just sorry it mightn't last long..."
"Who cares?" Kai chuckled, lying his left arm on the ground above him. "We won. We finally beat Voltaire, once and for all."
Tyson smiled and reached out one of his hands, taking Kai's in his. "We sure did..."
"Thank you Ty..." Kai muttered, his eyes fading as exhaustion began to take him over.
"You're welcome..." Tyson closed his eyes and lowered his head, unable to stay awake much longer. His grip never loosened, though, when he fell unconscious.
Kai smiled softly, at the sky above him. "Thank you mom... I know you brought him to me..." His eyes drifted closed slowly as a dark shadow consumed his vision, mind falling into a peaceful unconscious state, with one last lingering thought;
"What would have happened if I never went down to get Dranzer that night..."
Edited note: I was really grumpy writing the first one, sorry!
To be honest I was just mad with meself for writing the chappy badly. Hope I didn't offend anyone! And, uh, the epilogues not really that short... but it's less then half the length of this, if thats any better. -sweatdrops- Um... enjoy?
Bay Bay!
Bayleef
