AN: Oh what do you know? I updated XD Honestly, this fic is pissing me off.. and I'm starting to hate it…same with the ha sequel only to a lesser extent. I think it's the Kai/Liika pairing.. or for this fic, its Liika's overwhelming Mary Sueness *dies*
Anyway, here's the next chapter I hope you like it. Some major shit starts to happen ;)
"What the hell was in your head?!" Kai yelled, his fists clenched tightly at his sides, while he paced back and forth in front of a silent Liika.
He had, surprisingly, been silent most of the journey by plane from Moscow to Stockholm, and it wasn't until they were well on their way by cargo ship to the city of Visby that he decided to explode. He had obviously been brooding about it for a very long time. It didn't help either that Robert looked just as pissed as he did, or that she would probably get it from Spencer as well. Normally she would rail against their accusations and screaming, but she just didn't have it in her. Not only was she fighting exhaustion –as they all were- but the loss of the five lives weighted heavily on her conscience. More death, more misery.
The rest of the group sat in various places around her. The Asian team had been forced to come with them until Stockholm where they separated and made arrangements to catch a commercial flight back to China, under false identities of course. Foxy sat on the cold metal floor to her right, with Enrique beside him, both had their heads hung. Mariah sat on the crate beside her on her left, while Robert stood glaring at them behind Kai. The two injured and sick men they had rescued rested in makeshift beds across the hold from the group. Nadya slept fitfully in Liika's arms, both taking comfort from her mother's presence as well as giving it.
"Keep your voice down Kai, you'll wake Nadie." Liika replied quietly, her head bowed over the baby in her arms. She knew from the time she planned the venture that it would come to this.
Kai grit his teeth, grinding them to the point where they made a low grating noise that was audible to the people around him. However, he glanced at the sleeping baby and lowered his volume a touch. His new tone merely conveyed his anger even more. It was quiet and dangerous making it obvious to her and the rest that were involved in the escapade that they were in very serious trouble. "She could have been found. How could you put her in such danger?" He demanded, eyes flashing wildly. "Don't you know what Tala would have done to you and her if they had found her??"
"She wasn't present, you know that. Mariah was blocks away."
"That's not the point." He snapped, glaring at her. "You all could have been killed! Then it would have been more than just five deaths, and Biovolt would have virtually won. We told you not to go near that stadium today, but you ignored us and look what happened!"
Liika flinched, feeling her anger building. He only saw it from his point of view! Why couldn't he see her point of view? Sitting around doing nothing was against her nature! "Yes, look what happened, we saved two of them and no one was hurt. Big failure there Mr. Boss Guy. Stop blaming just Liika, we all did it, not just her." Foxy interjected, lifting his head to stare defiantly at Kai.
Kai paused, allowing his eyes to sweep over the orange haired tech. "You. You are new to this team and I don't trust you. Keep your mouth shut unless I tell you to talk. Ozuma warned me about you, and I should have known you would have gone along with her stupidity." He said, his eyes flashing disgust as well as anger as he turned them towards Enrique and Mariah. "And you two. Enrique I expect this of, but Mariah. I thought you had more intelligence. What would Rei have said if you had been caught? Did any of you think of those you would be leaving behind? I'm not even going to get into the Asian team helping you, I'm not overly surprised there. They are still angry over last year."
Liika felt her patience snap. She could handle him berating her actions, as it was her idea, but when he started on Foxy…he had no right to judge him or the others! They had only done what they felt was right. "Kai that's enough!" She hissed, looking up through narrowed eyes. "Foxy is not to blame for any of this. I don't regret anything we did today."
"That's right." Mariah seconded, lifting her chin defiantly. "We did what we felt was right and I'm sorry if you disagreed with that!"
"Yeah, we were tired of sitting around watching Biovolt do what they please! We needed to move and we did!" Enrique spoke up, his normally cheerful face, dour with seriousness.
"It seems we're being out numbered." Robert spoke quietly to Kai, a deep frown imbedding in his features. He wasn't pleased, but he accepted it. They were partially right after all.
Kai grunted, his eyes drifting close and he ran a hand over his face. God, what a stressful day.
It hadn't taken him and Robert long to figure out that the letter 'Sergei' had sent them was fake. The man himself had called in the early hours of the morning to make sure that Liika hadn't done anything stupid. It was then when all three males realized that they had been had and that an unnumbered amount of resistance members were going to risk their lives trying to save half-dead prisoners.
God, he had never been so terrified in his life. He had had flashes of Bryan laughing as he stripped Liika of her clothing and dignity and raped her right in front of the thousands of onlookers. Of Tala plucking his little Nadie from her mother's arms and either killing her on spot, or of parading her around as the heir to the Biovolt throne. Of her growing up into the same kind of monster his grandfather or her father was. The thought of losing either of his girls made him sick to his stomach, and it was that fear that made him lose his temper so badly and blow up at her. He could have lost her for good.
Sighing, Kai opened his eyes and dropped to one knee in front of Liika. His face was stony, and reflected his frustration, but it was his eyes that betrayed his real emotion. His raw terror at losing her or his little girl. Slowly he raised on hand and ran it over the weary surface of Liika's cheek, while his dark auburn eyes gazed into hers. "Don't do that to me ever again. I thought I had lost you to him." He grumbled roughly. His hand then wrapped around the back of her neck and pulled her towards him, settling her head in the crook of his neck. "I was going to murder him right then and there." Kai shuddered at the memory of Bryan's hands all over her. "Why can't you understand that when I forbid you to do something it's for your own good?"
Liika was silent, willing back the tears that threatened the backs of her eyes. Her lips grazed the material of his t-shirt as the moved in silent apology. She was sorry for worrying him, even if she wasn't sorry for actually going to Moscow.
"I can't protect you if I don't know where you are."
"I know." She spoke finally, clenching her eyes closed. "I never asked you to protect me twenty-four seven Kai. I don't need you to."
Mariah sensed the need for the two to have a private moment, she motioned to Foxy and Enrique to follow her. "We should go see how Brad and AJ are doing." She said softly.
Foxy and Enrique caught the message, as did Robert, and all four of them disappeared to the other end of the cargo hold leaving Kai, Liika and Nadya alone.
Kai sighed, moving away from her to stand up and then sit down on the crate next to her. He leaned forward, cradling his head in his hands. "I promised I would protect you, and fucking hell Liika, I'm going to! However, that takes your cooperation." He mumbled tiredly. He was tired of fighting with her.
"Then make a new promise." Liika replied, looking down at Nadya. "Promise that you'll always be there to protect Nadie. I can protect myself, and whatever happens to me will be of my own doing…but she can't. Promise me that you'll protect her innocence and that she'll never know the cruel childhood we know now."
He lifted his head and looked down at the sleeping bundle that rested against Liika's chest. His eyes softened and one hand reached out to stroke the baby's lilac covered head. "I promise. But Nadie needs both her parents, that includes her mother. She needs you more than she needs me. Swear to me that you wont do anything that stupid again."
"I can't do that Kai. I need to be free to pursue my beliefs."
He sighed again and dropped his hand away from the baby. Raising his eyes he met hers and leaned towards her, until their foreheads touched. A hand slowly began to twirl the hair of her hangs around one of his fingers. "Then promise me this." He whispered, his brow furrowing. "Promise me that you will never confront them alone again."
Her lips tilted in a slight smile. "That I can promise. I never want to be in the same room as him ever again, especially when I'm alone."
"Good." Kai stated, straightening up. "Now rest, it's been a hard day for us all."
Crash.
Tala seethed, sending another breakable, more than likely priceless, object towards the concrete wall, listening for the satisfying smash of shattering glass. Sure it was pointless, and was costing him a shit load of money, but at the moment he didn't care. It helped calm him, as destruction normally did. And he needed calming. Badly.
The chaotic scene from earlier in the day flashed through his head, and incited his rage even more.
Angels. Fuck that.
Ha, they thought they were special because they came with a clever name for themselves, as if having a name made them any more powerful. They were nothing compared to him and Biovolt and he would crush them like the puny insects they were!
As soon as he found them, that is.
Which could prove quite a problem. It seemed that they were extremely good at popping up then disappearing again. No matter how hard they looked in the city and the airports and train stations, they could find neither hide nor hair of the rebels that destroyed Biovolt stadium, and saved two of his prisoners. It pissed him off royally to know that they had once again slipped through his fingers. He had been so close too…
On the plus side he figured out why the hell he had some sick Bryan-esque fascination with the little blue haired twit—key word being had. The moment he had seen the worry, the fear in Kai's eyes when he looked at the wench it had all made sense.
He wanted her because Kai had her.
It was a perverse sort of jealousy. He didn't really like her, hell he didn't even want to touch her, but because Kai obviously cared so much about the little bitch, part of him reveled in the thought taking her. Oh, to take something from the bastard, to fuck her and make her scream his name, would be truly delicious. To watch Kai's face crumble…
Fuck he hated him.
Tala hated Kai with a passion that was surpassed by nothing else. The bastard had cost him everything, and made his childhood hell. His mere presence had made Tala completely useless in the eyes of Boris and Voltaire, as if Tala's higher test scores, better performance levels and charisma made absolutely no difference. It didn't matter that the rest of the Abbey students would have jumped off a cliff if he had told them too, no, it just mattered that Kai was of 'higher blood'. Kai had been pronounced better than him in everything just because he was born to Voltaire, and it was something that haunted Tala his entire life. Well no more. He had shown the world just who was better. It wasn't Kai who had taken over the world, had everyone bowing at his feet. No, it was Tala. It was Tala who had killed the great Voltaire, and it was Tala who made sure Boris knew where his place was.
Now, if he could only wipe Kai off the face of the planet he would be free of his haunting childhood. Just knowing he was alive made Tala's blood boil. And that was why he wanted to take Kai's precious Liika from him, fuck her then hand her off to Bryan. Because he knew it would destroy Kai…well maybe not destroy, but it would piss him off as bad as Kai's mere presence pissed him off.
He let off the steam that thinking about Kai had built up by picking up the last of Voltaire's 'priceless' sculptures and smashing it on the ground. That felt really good.
Ian watched his captain destroy the large chamber hall that had been dubbed the 'Museum' by all the Abbey cadets. It would have been quite humorous to watch the tall red head systematically destroy everything that Voltaire had once cherished if the situation had been so irritating. Also, they had been planning to sell all the artifacts as they would have brought in a lot of money. But alas, apparently Tala's rage needed to be sated more than they needed the money.
He wasn't looking forward to Bryan waking up, as yet another room in the Abbey would be destroyed, of that he had no doubt. Generally, it was only Bryan who had fits of temper and destroyed things, while Tala just had someone killed or brooded about it silently. Tala didn't lose his temper very often—it took a lot to push the red head over the edge. But apparently, this was one of the few times that Tala had lost his temper enough to destroy a whole room.
Ian suspected it had something to do with the fact that Hiwatari had, for all intense purposes, won—the battle that day anyway. Ian knew Tala hated Kai, even more than the other three did. Tala had suffered more at the blue haired teens hand than any of the rest of them. He sighed, not really caring about any of it. Besides the fact that Bryan would be fucking bitchy for weeks because he had missed his chance to capture his little slave, and that Tala was aggravated, things were really not any different than they were before the incident. The resistance was actually worse off as the public had taken Biovolt's side, and had called the attack an act of terrorism. They should be gloating. The loss of two prisoners was a small price to pay for the level of public opinion they achieved. Hm, maybe he should point that out to Tala.
Just as Tala had picked up the very last glass vase and was about throw it either on the floor or against the wall to join the rest of the shattered pieces, Spencer strode in the room, his eyebrows shooting up at the carnage that occupied the room.
"And where the fuck were you?" Tala spat, his heated turquoise gaze centering on the large blond.
Spencer surveyed the room, and then his captain calmly. Tala was obviously really pissed. He hardly ever threw fits, that was more Bryan's style. He couldn't help feeling slightly nervous. An angry Tala was a critical Tala. He would have to be extra careful for the next few weeks or the red haired teen would have his head on a platter in second.
"I was cleaning up the mess. The rebels destroyed the ranks and killed some key commanders." Spencer replied finally, after staring back at Tala impassively for a few moments.
Tala's eyes narrowed to slits. "Really." He murmured, stalking towards Spencer, watching him like prey. "And where were you when the most wanted criminals in the world were walking all over us hm?"
"That's a good question. Where were you anyway, you should have been back." Ian spoke up, frowning.
"They had already dispensed of guard around the gallows, I was about to inform you when they cut the power. Then they attacked. It should be rather obvious what I was doing at that point." Spencer explained patiently. For once he was glad that the Abbey and Boris had turned him into a master liar. It was coming in extremely handy.
In truth he had been battling the resistance, just out of show. However, he had been at the same time trying to locate Liika, before she got into any trouble. It seemed though that that was ill fated as she had already reached the box where the rest of the Demolition Boys were stationed. He had then occupied himself with commanding soldiers, and actually making it look like he was fighting incase Tala had any one watching him, which he didn't doubt he did. It had been him that pulled the lever that sentenced the five to death, though Liika would never be allowed to know. She wouldn't understand that in order to keep his cover, it needed to be done. She also didn't realize that those prisoners were almost already dead anyway. They would have not survived the escape, let alone life on the run. The two that survived were the strongest, and that was why he had made sure that they were released.
Tala stared at his teammate for a few more moments before shrugging, dismissing the thoughts as quickly as they had come. Why he was even drilling Spencer was beyond him, Spencer was as loyal as they came. He attributed it to the fact that he was just all around moody. He probably would have accused Ian of betrayal if the short Demolition Boy hadn't been with him the whole time and been on the end of a gun. "Very well. Has everything been put back in order?"
Spencer jerked a nod. "Yes, only one senior ranked officer was killed—a colonel. I promoted that promising Lieutenant to take the dead officer's place."
"You promoted a lowly Lieutenant to Colonel?" Ian demanded. Tala may have dismissed his suspicion, but Ian wasn't so sure. Something inside him told him that Spencer was hiding something from the rest of them.
"Yes."
"That's a fucking big jump for a lieutenant!"
Tala grunted, shooting an annoyed glare at Ian. "It is his place to make the decision Ian. Besides, if it's the lieutenant I'm thinking of, he's more than justified. I was going to promote the kid myself anyway."
Ian looked put out. "Which lieutenant are we talking about anyway? Sure as hell can't be any of the ones in my or Bryan's units. None of those ass wipes are good enough for a six rank jump." He said grouchily.
"His name is Mystel Kehl, he was transferred here six months ago from the American branch. He's in my unit, and is an excellent officer." Spencer replied, eyeing Ian dryly.
"Lieutenant-or should I say Colonel Kehl will make a valuable edition to our officer corps. If he continues the way he's going, he will make General in no time." Tala added smugly, finally dropping the glass vase in his hand.
Ian flinched as the loud sound of glass smashing on concrete echoed through the now bare room. He just had to do that didn't he? "You would actually make an outsider a General? What makes this kid so great?" Ian questioned, kicking at some glass and porcelain that lay at his feet.
Tala frowned darkly at Ian. "Do you doubt my judgment Ian?"
The navy haired teen was quick to shake his head in denial. Tala was dangerous, and Tala was in power. He didn't doubt him, nor did he want Tala to even think he doubted him. It could mean the end of him. "Of course not." He snapped, frowning back to hide his slight nervousness. "I'm just curious as to what makes this Kehl so great that you would give him a General rank when you wouldn't even look twice at some of the officers of high rank and excellent service record."
"It's all very simple." The red head smirked, strutting around the room, examining the glass littered walls and floor with little interest. "Kehl has something that none of those officers has…a very keen mind. I like how he thinks. He's ruthless, and intelligent and I think he could be the one to bring me what I want." Tala turned around, centering his turquoise gaze on his comrade. "He reminds me of me."
Ian's face became one of astonishment. Tala had just given someone the highest compliment he was capable of. He had compared the boy to himself. This Kehl must be great indeed.
Spencer frowned minutely. When he had promoted Kehl it had not been for any of the reasons Tala had just listed. Mystel Kehl did not remind Spencer of Tala at all, and that was why he had chosen the lieutenant. Kehl was kind, had a fairly gentle, out going and funny personality. He had loads of charisma and people liked following him. He didn't seem ruthless or cruel…
"But the best quality Kehl has, is his ability to hide all that."
Spencer snapped out of his thoughts at Tala's words. The red head was smirking, staring up at the ceiling where a lone painting of Voltaire was hung. Very casually, Tala pulled out his gun and put a bullet through the paintings forehead.
Tala Valkov was an extremely frightening individual.
"So don't worry so much Ian," Tala said, smirking lightly and putting away his gun. "I have every faith that Kehl is the very person we need to gather those fucking Angels and get Black Dranzer back."
Ian shrugged, no longer caring. If Tala trusted the kid, then so would he. Spencer, however, had a distinct sinking feeling that he had just signed the death warrant of a few more people.
Suddenly a very loud crash and bang followed by shouts and screaming, sounded from behind the door Spencer had entered through. Tala and Ian threw each other identical looks of amusement before Tala chuckled darkly and strode towards the door.
"Looks like Bryan is finally awake, and feeling chipper as ever apparently."
Ian snickered as well and followed him. Spencer sighed heavily, readying himself to deal with another of Bryan's temper tantrums. This one would be a doozy.
"He promoted me."
A red-orange eyebrow rose slightly, as its owner stared at the tiny illuminated screen. "Did he?" A soft voice questioned curiously.
The blond on the screen nodded his head, his bangs falling over his blue eyes. "I've reached the rank of Colonel."
"Excellent."
"Valkov favours me, I can see it in the way he treats me compared to the others of my rank, even though I am not in his unit. Zaitsev obviously favours me if he promoted me, however, I think he sees different things in me than Valkov does. I haven't had any interaction with Nikolaev, I don't even think he knows I exist, though he will once my promotion gets out. As for Kyznetsov…it's hard to say. I have met him a few times, but he is fairly quiet. He is surly, and angers easily, and he doesn't hesitate to take his wrath out on those under his command. I've heard many jokes around the Abbey that deal with his infatuation with Liika Tomoda." A snicker followed the report.
"Indeed."
The blond raised his eyebrows. "Is that all?"
"For now. Report back in a week."
"You got it! See ya."
"Oh and Mystel?"
The blond paused, blinking at the screen. "Yeah?"
"Keep an extra close eye on Spencer Zaitsev. I have a feeling he's the one we're looking for."
With one final salute the blond disappeared, leaving the screen blank. Emerald eyes narrowed fractionally and gazed over the small screen towards the wall across the room. They flashed with calculating thoughts as a slight smile twisted their owner's lips.
The fun was about to begin.
"Jade." His quiet voice echoed through the extremely still room, his emerald eyes never leaving the far wall. There was no mistaking the command underlying the single word.
Instantly a female shape materialized out of the darkness, appearing right beside the desk where the lone male figure sat, staring at the wall.
"Yes?" Came the gentle female reply as the young woman watched the male contemplate things.
Emerald eyes darted sideways before moving back to their place on the wall. A hand rose and motioned her closer. "Come here."
The girl called Jade stepped forward until the front of her skirt-covered thighs were pressed against the leather of the armchair he occupied. She didn't move when one of his hands traveled from the arm of the chair down her thigh to rest on the back of her knee.
"I need you to do something for me." He spoke, stroking the skin of the back of her thigh and his hand traveled upwards, under the edge of her skirt.
"Anything."
A smile tilted his lips. "I need you to get close to Tala Valkov. I need to know his weaknesses, his strengths. I want to know everything about him."
The girl nodded her head, her hand coming up and running through his wild orange-red hair. "Of course."
"Good." Suddenly he was on his feet, the chair pushed back and Jade pulled against him. His lips lowered so that they danced across her cheekbone and into her hair. His hands grasped at her hips gently and pulled her flush against him.
"Do anything necessary to get what I want…but don't let him touch you." He murmured into her hair, breathing in her scent.
"I've heard he takes what he wants, and that he is quite…prolific with his bed partners."
"Hm…" He murmured again, skimming his lips back across her jaw line, on a quest to find her lips. "All the more reason to be careful. Kill him if need be, but don't let him touch you."
"I thought you didn't want him dead yet?"
He paused at the corner of her lips, his hooded green eyes opening to stare into her crystal blue ones. "I don't."
The glint in his eyes told her not to question him any further so she settled for nodding slightly. His lips then decided on hers and she arched to meet him, moaning as his tongue slipped into her mouth and massaged her own.
"Brooklyn…"