AN: Bwaha.. I love this fic.. it's just cool.  I have decided the ending for it now, so things should move along quickly XD

Don't own the Beyblade characters which include: Brooklyn, Mystel and Garland nor do I own Anza who belongs to my dear friend Lady*Jane*Grey

SilverWingPhoenix – ESDC is explained a couple chapters ago.. it stands for Earths Sphere Democratic Coalition.  As for BEGA… no one really knows =P BEGA is the company Boris runs in G Revolution =P

If you want to know when things will be updated or whats going on with fics check out my livejournal.. link is on my profile..

This chappy is dedicated to the wonderful Lady*Jade*Grey XD 

Mystel Kehl smiled a benign, unthreatening smile as he pulled the trigger and sent the pleading corporal to hell.  Such was his duty in life.  He had killed far more people that he had left alive.  Oh well.

"Not that I'm questioning you or anything, but just out of curiosity, what exactly did he do?"  Ian snerked as he, Spencer and Tala strolled up.

Mystel snapped to attention, quickly saluting his superiors.  His sapphire eyes ran over the three, lightly shadowed by his blond bangs.  They stopped upon the small creature that was padding softly at Tala's side.  His eyebrows shot up.  So, Jade had been successful in persuading them to ally with BEGA.  He fought back the grin.

Tala narrowed his eyes as the blond Colonel.  He had not missed the gleam in the other teenager's eyes when he looked at the puppy Wolborg that traveled at his side.  The blonde's eyes told Tala he knew something, and Tala was going to find out what…eventually.  "Colonel, you were asked a question." 

The blond blinked, grinning disarmingly.  "My apologies master, I got distracted by the bit beast at your side.  I see the rumors are true," he said cheerfully.  "As for the unfortunate corporal here, I caught him selling information.  To whom, I'm not sure yet, but selling all the same."

"Excellent work Kehl," Tala smirked, nodding at the blond.  "I knew there was a reason I liked you."

Mystel bowed, his grin growing.  "Thank you master."

Ian looked thoughtful.  "Quick and efficient punishment without trial.  Bryan would like you.  Ehn, saves me the effort of going through the effort of trying him."  He shrugged.  He had to admit, the young colonel's actions over the past weeks since his promotion has proved the blonde's worth in Ian's eyes.  He no longer questioned Spencer's judgment.

As for Spencer himself, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly.  Mystel really was no better than Tala; only he at least made an effort to mask his brutality.  It made him even more dangerous in some ways, because you could never tell what he was thinking.  That goofy, arrogant grin was always in place, no matter whether he was killing someone or just having lunch.  Spencer chose to say nothing.

A pensive silence fell over the four young men, and it was only when Wolborg let out a small whine, and nudged Tala's leg with his head.  Tala smirked indulgently and reached down, running his hand over the soft white fur of the arctic wolf bit beast's neck.  "That's right, we were just taking you outside weren't we?  Come on then," He stood up straight again and nodded at Mystel.  "Colonel."

Mystel saluted again, watching the three supreme commanders disappear down the corridor.  His grin fell and he rolled his eyes.  And Jade and Garland thought he was arrogant!  Those three—particularly Tala—were the most arrogant men on the face of the planet.  They didn't even realize that they were being infiltrated on two sides—three if you counted the Angel infiltration.  Fools.

"Ian."

Ian yawned out of sheer boredom, his crimson eyes flickering towards his captain.  "Meh?"

Tala shot the shorter teen an annoyed look.  "I want you to keep an eye on Kehl," he stated shortly, moving his eyes back towards the courtyard where his young bit beast was running around.

A navy eyebrow arched.  "Why?  I thought you said we could trust him."

"Things change.  He knows something, and I'm going to find out what.  Watch him."

"Whatever you say," was Ian's reply before he turned and disappeared into the dark halls of the Abbey.

Tala's lips pursed in thought.  He knew he was being played on more than one side.  He also knew that Biovolt was being infiltrated.  The problem was, he didn't know from where or by whom.  There was rat somewhere in their midst, as well as various spies through out the network of servants, he knew this.  He wouldn't doubt if Kai had some spy in the Abbey feeding him information, it would explain how the little resistance group always seemed to get away from him just before he had them.

It was most irritating.

However, he didn't worry too much.  He would catch all the little rats and traitors sooner or later; it was only a matter of time.  For now, he would have to occupy his time setting traps for the little Angels that so openly opposed him.  It was funny; he never even realized when they had become 'Angels' instead of rebels or the pathetic resistance.  He supposed it was more fun if they had a name, even though it gave them far more credit than they deserved.

Speaking of Angels, he hadn't heard or seen neither hide nor hair of them in almost a month.  It was almost disappointing, because he could honestly say his life was slightly dull without their pathetic attempts to overthrow him.  Yet again he didn't really worry—he didn't really worry about anything—he had plans for them, plans that would come to fruition very soon.

And that brought him to his next train of thought.  That pretty red haired scientist that had brought him his secret weapon.  She was incredibly clever, more so than he ever thought possible for a woman, and thus had been playing hard to get.  She flirted with him, there was no mistaking that, and got him to tell her things about himself over their shared meals, but whenever he got too close she made some clever excuse and escaped before he got a word edge wise. 

Normally this would have annoyed him.  He didn't like to be denied what he wanted, but with her…with her it was different.  It was a game.  A game he intended to win.

He also sensed with her that her shying away was more out of loyalty to someone else than the fact that she didn't actually want him.  Someone was pulling her strings, controlling her so that she did exactly what they wanted.  Tala would bet good money that that person was a man, and that she was sleeping with him.  However, it only made the game more entertaining for him.  Stealing her away from someone would make the victory that much more sweet.

Of course the fact that he fully intended to overthrow BEGA helped as well.

He couldn't have a company with as much technical power as Biovolt, it made them dangerous.  Whoever was pulling Miss Jade Tomei's strings knew this, and Tala had a feeling that this someone, this man, was at the root of more than one of Tala's problems.  He also had a feeling that whoever was the real head of BEGA corporations was attempting to use Biovolt in order to over run them.

It was really too bad he was one step ahead of them.  Nothing escaped his attention, for all that people tried.  And try they did.

Suddenly a loud piercing bird cry broke through Tala's reverie, causing the red haired young man to blink and look up.  Above him a young red, gold and white falcon soared in circles around the courtyard where he sat, playing absent-mindedly with Wolborg.

Falborg says his master is displeased.  What do you think is wrong with him?

Tala rolled his eyes, his lips quirking in the corner as he winked at his bit beast.  Falborg's master is always displeased.

Why is he so?

At the curious question, Tala reached down and ruffled the fur on Wolborg's neck, laughing.  "He just is." He replied out loud.  Not bothering to turn around, Tala leaned back lazily, listening to Bryan's boots thud dully on the grass.  "You're mood is upsetting Falborg and therefore Wolborg.  Get over it."

Bryan snorted, dropping himself beside his red haired friend.  With a mere flick of his wrist he signaled his young bit beast to him.  The falcon landed flawlessly on Bryan's jacketed arm, careful not to tear his masters jacket with his newly budding claws. 

Tala surveyed the lilac haired man disinterestedly.  "Tell me Bryan, what do you think of a masquerade?"

A snort was his only reply, forcing Tala to laugh.  "That's what I thought.  However, it doesn't really matter what you think.  I'm having one."

"Why?"  Bryan demanded sharply, settling Falborg onto his shoulder.  Clearly the thought of a ball displeased Bryan.  Not that many things actually pleased him.  Not these days anyway.

"Because," Tala explained idly, "It's a good way to trap the Angels.  Do you really think they could resist something that could potentially give them the chance to overthrow us?"  His lips were tilting in the corners.  A good trap always excited him.  Maybe it would even allow him to get rid of his constant annoyance once and for all, though he doubted it.  More than likely it would only be a way to get the ball rolling.

Bryan arched an eyebrow.  He really didn't understand the red head sometimes, though he knew not to challenge him.  Tala was a strategic genius, while Bryan himself preferred just to smash, or go about things directly.  Tala was the brains of their team for a reason.  "If you say so," he shrugged, "I don't think they would walk willingly into such an obvious trap."

Tala chuckled.  "Well that's the key.  It's a masquerade for a reason.  Their incentive is the fact that we wont be able to see their faces."

A dark, confused frown flashed over Bryan's face.  "Then what the fuck's the point?  We can't catch them if we can't see them."

"Bryan, Bryan, Bryan, masks can't hide their identity from us.  Thanks to our new friend BEGA we have the technology to decipher people's identity with out actually seeing their faces."  Tala's arms stretched over his lazily.  "Of course they don't know that."

Bryan's eyes widened fractionally as he got what the red head was saying.  Of course!  With their new live bit beasts they would be able to seek their prey with out actually knowing where they were in the massive crowd of people.  Wyborg could get around unnoticed, and also had an incredible sense of smell.  Wolborg was slightly more noticeable, but all the same effective.  Falborg could scout from the sky.  "Hn.  And how do you plan to get around them finding out we have the technology?"

"I don't."

Once again Tala managed to surprise as well as confuse Bryan.  Just what was he getting at letting the enemy know of their secret weapon.

"It makes no difference if they know, in fact it might just scare them a little."

Bryan felt like Tala was making a tactical error.  He knew from past experience that the resistance and her were rarely frightened by anything.  They always found away to get around their traps and advantages, and something told them that this time would no different.  Or would it?

Tala's dark chuckles broke his thoughts and the pale haired teen blinked, scowling.  "Lighten up Bryan.  This plan will work.  Perhaps this little soirée will even reveal the man behind Miss Jade Tomei.  Then we'll both get what we want, and destroy those who oppose us."

Bryan snorted, his hand brushing over the blood red stone on his wrist causing the bird perched on his shoulder to disappear in a flash of bright red light.  "When?"

"Two weeks from today."

She was conflicted.  She had never counted on actually liking Tala Valkov, after all the rumors were that he was a cold blooded, merciless killer that only used people for his own gain.  However, she found, the closer she got to him, that while he was those things, he was also something else.  He had a gentler, far more charming side, and she was starting to fall for him.

It was amazing the power he had.  It was probably the reason he was able to hold such a vast dictatorship together where others before him had failed.  That combined with incredible perceptiveness.  It was scary.  He scared her.

Yet her biggest problem wasn't the fact that she was extremely attracted the charming red head when she was supposed to be—and was—completely faithful to Brooklyn, it was the fact that somehow she was supposed to play them both.

In all honesty, in her opinion, neither male was fit to rule the world, and that a supreme dictatorship was morally wrong.  Her beliefs fell closer to that of the elusive organization known as the Angels, who fought for world freedom.  However, she had long been tied into the game of world domination politics and there was no easy escape for her.  She knew Tala now hunted her, and that made her watched on both sides.  Brooklyn was a jealous sort and no doubt two or three of his agents watching her all the time.  She was a virtual slave to the game and to the war that the two men that all but controlled her played.  Not that that stopped her from playing her own game.  She had every intention of trying to see her plan through, and trying to see the world free from anyone's tyranny.

Sighing, Jade closed the door to the large room she rarely occupied.  Much like any other room in the Abbey, Jade found it dank and dark and far too depressing for her tastes.  Even though she had tried to liven it up with splashes of color, it still looked drab and gloomy.

She wasted no time in throwing her lab jacket onto her queen size bed and sitting down at her cluttered desk, turning on her state of the art laptop computer.  She had work to do…planning to put in place.  But first she had to call someone.

Picking up the phone, Jade quickly punched in the number written on a small slip of paper that clung to the edge of her desk.  The number had no name, but she knew who it was anyway.  "Hello, Anza?"

"Jade!"

Jade smiled, typing her password into her computer while cradling the phone against her ear.  "Calm down, this line is secure, I installed it myself."

"Uh huh, so what's so important that you would risk both our necks to call me?"

"News.  I need your help.  Tala is planning on throwing a masquerade in just under two weeks.  Now I know that Spencer probably informed them already, but I need you to go to them and make sure that they look and smell nothing like they normally do.  The bit beasts will be on the look out for them."  Jade explained calmly.  "I can't have Tala catching them…if you know what I mean."

"Since when did Valkov become Tala hm?"

The red haired woman flushed slightly, scowling.  "That is unimportant Anza."

The young woman on the phone giggled quietly, but left it alone.  "By 'them' I assume you mean the European branch of Angels.  Why only them?"

"Because they are who Tala wants.  He couldn't care less about the other branches.  Tala knows that they are the heart of the Angels and if they are lost then so is the cause.  However, to be on the safe side make it known to all Angels member that they must change their look." 

"Why do you care so much Jade?  If Brooklyn finds out you are moving behind his back he will have your head.  And though you have the strike of being a spy to another against you, if Valkov finds you are helping his arch nemesis he will kill you for sure.  Why take the risk when you don't even support the Angel's cause?"

Jade sighed, removing her esthetic glasses and rubbing the bridge of her nose wearily.  "Do you believe in the right thing Anza?"

"Of course I do."

"Well," she said, staring up at the ceiling, "so do I.  And I believe that the right thing does not include a world dictator.  My reasons are my own, and though I don't support the Angel's cause, I can't sit by at let the men that control the strings of my life, control the strings of others'.  There are children in this world, children that are suffering or that have lost their parents because a couple of foolish teenage boys and arrogant men decided they wanted to rule the world.  I can't in my heart condone that, no matter what I feel for the men involved.  So I try in my own way to stop it."

The phone line was silent for a moment.  "Then why did you give them the bit beasts Jade?  You know very well that that technology made defeating them impossible."

"I had no choice.  What was I supposed to tell Brooklyn 'no'?  You obviously have never seen him when someone disobeys him.  Besides, it's not as bad as you think.  Brooklyn plans to give the rebels the technology too.  All part of his plan to play both sides."

"Then how is your plan any different from Brooklyn's?  Neither of you support the Angels, and are using them, but you're all but going along with his exact plans.  I'll help you stop both Brooklyn and Valkov, but I need to know just what you plan to do.  Two of us are not enough to stop two immensely intelligent, and powerful men."

Once again Jade sighed.  "That's why I must use the Angels."

"Then you are supporting them."

She shrugged, even though Esperanza could not see it.  "Maybe I am, but I am not a member of the Angels, nor am I a spy for them.  I only care what happens to the organization as a whole, not the individual members.  I don't want to see either Tala nor Brooklyn dead because of their actions, I only want to see them dethroned."

"You will have to kill them first, you know that right?"

"I don't see it that way."

A sigh sounded from the other woman.  "Very well, I will do as you asked.  But be careful.  Those men are dangerous."

"I know.  Thank you."

"Goodbye."

Jade hung up the phone, a sudden sense of exhaustion washing over her.  Too many hours in the lab…too many hours of fighting Tala Valkov's affections, too many hours of fighting her own heart.  "I need sleep…" she muttered, shutting down her computer and crawling into her bed.  She ignored the fact that she had work to do.

"Black, Enrique."

Enrique looked heart broken.  He reached up and twirled a few strands of his baby blond hair around his finger, his eyes wide and glossy.  "But black will never come out!  Can't I wear a wig or something??"  He whined, pleased with the brunette girl who stood in front of him, one hand propped up on her hip, the other holding a box of black hair dye.

"No," Esperanza said firmly, "Wigs are too risky, if it gets snagged on something it gets ripped off.  Hair dye is easier.  And safer."

He moaned loudly.  "But it's black!  Can't I dye it turquoise or green or blue or something??  I mean those are common colors!"

Anza rolled her eyes.  "Stop being a baby, everyone else is handling the transformation well.  Black is inconspicuous and it goes with the gothic theme Biovolt has chosen.  Just be thankful you don't have to wear contacts like the rest of them."

"But Kai gets to wear a wig!"

"You're starting to annoy me Enrique Flavian," the brunette bit out, yanking the blond into the large bathroom where many of the others were already transforming themselves.  "Kai is wearing a wig because his hair is unmanageable and can't be styled any other way.  It's the same with Johnny.  Get over it!"

"But black…"

Liika watched out of the corner of her eye as the tall, silver hair haired martial artist bounced her child idly on his hip.  She couldn't help but be suspicious about his motives when it came to her little girl.  He didn't seem the kind to actually like children, yet he had taken a fond interest in her in the month since they had been together.  Nadya, being the shy, but friendly, child she was, had latched on instantly to her new playmate, though no one could rival Kai's popularity with her.  Her whole countenance lit up when he was in the room and she rarely let him get away with out demanding his attention.  Which was surprising considering she was not a demanding child.

Of course even though Kai was her favorite male, Liika was still her mother, and the baby knew that almost instinctively.  If something was wrong, it was Liika she cried for, and Liika was the only one she'd sleep with at night.  It made her happy to know that she was important to her baby's life; she needed to be fundamental to someone's life.

"Ok, you're sure about this now?"

Liika came out of her reverie, blinking and shaking her head.  She swiveled on the stool she was sitting on and looked up at Mariah and smiled.  "Don't really have a choice.  Besides, it will be nice to have short hair, maybe it will be less of a hassle to take care of."

Mariah nodded.  "After I do you, you can do me.  How short do you want it?"  She asked, readying the scissors and the comb.

The blue haired girl shrugged.  "Nape of the neck in the back… layered if you can and leave my bangs alone," she explained.  Her expression then changed into a grin.  "Are you sure you trust me with a pair of scissors?"

"Are you sure you trust me?"  Mariah retorted.  "Don't get your hopes up about those layers, I'm not an expert hair designer you know."

"Meh," was Liika's only reply.  "Do the best you can.  It's not like I have anyone to impress.  You on the other hand, bet ya missed Rei huh?"

Mariah blushed slightly as she began to meticulously snip bits of blue hair from her best friend's head.  "Yeah…it's been a long time.  Well, two months is a long time when you spent almost year never leaving each other's sight," she replied.

The blue haired girl would have nodded except she wanted her hair to at least look decent.  "Tell me Mari, what would you do if you lost Rei…you know…if this war…takes more casualties."  She choked on the words, almost afraid herself to say them.

Mariah's hands stilled, a pensive silent settling over the two.  After a moment or to she whispered, "What would you do if you lost Kai?"

"…I try not to think about it."

"Me either."

They fell silent again.  Mariah worked silently on Liika's hair until she pronounced it done and then switched places, allowing Liika to make quick work of Mariah's hair.  In the end Mariah's hair ended up longer than Liika's, flowing down to just above her shoulders, while Liika's was cut in layers to her neck.

"Man, the gloom around you two is so thick you would think Biovolt had already one!  Which, I will remind you, it hasn't."  Foxy stated, sliding smoothly between the two girls who were running their hands through their newly cropped hair.  He hugged both of them with one arm and grinned at them.  "We're going to a party!  Let's smile hm?"

Liika broke down first, pushing her fears to the back of her mind.  A small smile graced her lips as she shook her head.  Foxy, like Enrique, was comic relief in the most dire of situations.  And when they were feeling their worst, he was always around pick them up and make them smile.  He was good at his job.  "We'll try to forget that we're going to this party to try to displace the government," she commented sarcastically, "A crime punishable by death."

"Foxy's right," Mariah exclaimed, a bright smile over taking her face.  "We shouldn't live in the gloom and the 'what ifs'.  For now we and the ones we love are alive, and we should be happy about it!"

"Thatta girl," Foxy winked, his grin growing.  "Now, moving on to more cheerful things, I love your hair.  Both of you.  You did a fantastic job!"

The two girls threw each other identical looks of dry amusement before both slipping out from Foxy's grasp.  "You can be as bad as Enrique," Liika stated sighing amusedly.

Foxy's face screwed up slightly.  "Would people stop comparing me to him??  I'm not like Enrique!"

Once again the two young women threw each other knowing looks.  "Sure Foxy."  They replied at the same time.

It was followed by a loud sulking moan that slowly disappeared as the orange haired young man left the room.  Kai passed him on his way into the large communal washroom and only raised an eyebrow at the sulking boy.  He had a good idea what the sulking was about.

"You're not done your hair."

Both girls jumped at the new voice, so caught up in their own little world that they hadn't realized that Kai had entered the room.  Liika mock scowled at Kai, sticking out her tongue.  "We just got the courage up to cut it…give us some time…we're mourning here!"  She said sniffing.  Truth was she didn't really care about her hair, but it was fun to harass Kai about it.

He shot her a dry look, reaching into the bag he was carrying and pulling out two boxes then tossing one at each of the girls.  "You're contacts," he said.

"Thanks," Mariah said, turning the box over in her hands.  "I'll go get our hair dye." 

Liika also studied the box.  "Gold?  Don't you think that will be a bit conspicuous with midnight blue hair?"  She asked, looking up at Kai.

Kai shook his head, setting down the bag and seating himself on the vacated stool.  "Come here."  He commanded roughly, reaching forward and grasping her hips gently between his hands.

Liika allowed herself to be led so that she was situated between Kai's knees, staring straight into his darkened auburn eyes. 

Even though the touch of most men made her recoil in disgust, Kai was different.  Though he never forced himself on her, he subtly, little by little, began a campaign to heal her of the fear of human—male—touch.  He also had started to make it very clear—especially after Nadya was born—that he cared in more…romantic way than merely her captain or her friend.  A touch here, a cuddle there, was his way of showing affection.

"We've had the argument about your hair, but since you seen so determined only to darken it I will leave it at that.  I chose gold for you because it suits midnight…and you."  One of his hands moved up from her hips to push back her bangs and run through her newly shorn hair.  "I don't ever want to see you with dark eyes again."

Liika smiled a bit leaning forward so that her forehead rested against his.  "Fine…gold it is.  I've always wondered what I'd look like with eyes like Mariah's."

"Hn."  He grunted, circling arms around her waist and hugging her closer to him.  "Where's Nadya?"

Sighing, Liika entwined the fingers of her left hand in Kai's bangs.  "Garland has her, I'm not sure where they went.  Tell me…don't you think it's odd that he's taken such an interest her?  I mean Garland's doesn't seem the type to like children."  She said fretfully, her brow creasing.

Kai shrugged slightly.  "You know what I told you:  Never judge a person by their outward appearance.  However, if it makes you feel better I'll keep an eye on him."

She smiled a bit.  "Thanks.  I know I worry too much, but I can't help it.  Nadie's all I have in the world…I couldn't bear it if something happened to her."

"You have me," he said almost automatically, his tone hoarse with unusual emotion.  "Never forget that Liika.  You will always have me; you and our daughter both.  I…I love you both."  His eyes darkened even more as all his suppressed emotion boiled to the top.  "…Very much."

Liika's eyes filled with tears, and she flung herself forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and burying her head against his shoulder.  No one had ever told her they loved her—minus her long dead parents of course.  Coming from Kai…the three words were like being handed the world on a golden platter.  With Kai she felt safe, cared for…she knew that her baby would be cared for as well.  "I love you too."

Kai's eyes drifted close as he relished the feel of her small, lithe body against his.  How long had hidden the emotion, hidden his desire?  Far too long.  But she had needed time to heal…and still needed time.  He knew that her comfort level was a teetering balance that he would have to be extra careful with.  He would erase the scares Bryan Kynestov made. 

"Liika, we have to dye our hair now…Robert says we have to leave for Russia in two hours."  Mariah's voice sounded from the doorway of the washroom.

Liika sniffled a bit, pulling back from Kai and wiping her eyes.  Sending a weak and wobbly smile in his direction, she escaped completely and joined Mariah, who was preparing the dye.

Kai watched the two women work, an overwhelming feeling of possessive and protectiveness washing over him.  He would protect what was his…he would protect his friends, his baby and his woman, or he would die trying.

Cheezy ending I know.. but I think its cute.. it's for all of you who wanted to see a little Kai/Liika action XD