Guilty Gear, its characters and settings are property of Sammy Studios, and are being used in this fanfiction without permission. This fic is rated R for violence and sexual content, and it contains yaoi material.

OMG time travel drives me editor sucks so I'm making scene breaks any way it'll let me... >.>

Thunder Falling

Chapter 8

He listened, as he always did, with thin eyes and strict attention as the report was given to him. And though he never doubted the ability of his spies, this particular declaration he asked to be repeated to him more than once before he was satisfied. His servants waited, anxious and silent, until he had turned from the communications mirror to face them.

"So," he murmured heavily, sinking back into his twisted throne. "This day…has finally come. Have a hundred years really passed?"

"What are we going to do?" I-no asked, trying to be patient though her face was bright with anticipation. "It will take them a while to do anything, but before long they'll be crawling out all over, won't they?" Her lip twisted. "We could always—"

"No," the man interrupted firmly, though a moment later he had relaxed again. "No, the situation is not yet that desperate. Though measures will have to be taken." He was silent for a long moment, drawing all sound out of the rest of the chamber with him. Finally, his robes rustled as he leaned forward.

"I-no. I have a task for you," he murmured, his voice as grave as ever she'd heard it. "You will go to Paris. I believe the creature is already there—call on him, if you must. There are two things I need you to acquire for me."

The man's second servant, who stood at his right side, snorted disdainfully. "Paris is heavily fortified. If you need an important job done, you should send me."

But the man shook his head. "No, I will need you here, with me." He slid off of his seat. "You and I will be heading for China."

"So?" I-no cocked a hand on her hip. She wasn't especially looking forward to braving Paris during a holiday, though she had no lack of confidence. "What is it I'm getting?"

"An item," the man related as he started away, the pair following along behind. He made his way down a dark, narrow corridor, which opened into a small chamber of iridescent lights gleaming off polished metal laboratory equipment. "And a man. The item is a mirror, located in the center of Paris beneath the Records and Communications Building, and the man is a convict being held in the maximum security ward of the Global Police Headquarters."

I-no whistled appreciatively. "That's a tall order, Boss, even for me. Sure I can't take the beast here?" She jerked her thumb toward the tall form beside her.

"I will need Raven here," the man repeated. "Between you and the creature you should be able to manage, even without this."

He pulled a blue gem off one of the cluttered tables; it was darker than a sapphire and strung on a thick silver chain. "This will allow you to pass through the different magical barriers the Global Police have set up," he explained. "It collects the lightning magic used in creating the prisons and guard barriers. It may even protect you against Officer Kiske for a time, though if Slayer's warnings were true you shouldn't count on it for too long."

"Right. Kiske." Frowning, I-no accepted the amulet. Though it was clearly meant to have been a necklace she opted to fasten it around her waist. "How will I know the guy when I find him?"

"I think you'll know," the man assured.

I-no smirked a little, and blew the man a kiss. "Well okay, then. I guess I'll be off."

She drew her guitar around in front of her, and the man and his servant each took a wise step back. Her fingers struck a loud chord that echoed in the small space, distorting the air around her so that her figure began to blur. As I-no continued to play the distortion worsened, until her entire body was consumed by it, and then began to fade out along with the guitar's ebbing reverberations.

The man watched the process with grim satisfaction, and when there was nothing left of I-no but a slight ringing in his ear he shook his head and turned to his remaining companion. "Prepare our transportation. We have to leave as well."

((-))

When Venom awoke, he was already wishing he hadn't. Though he could tell that his wounds had been treated, that he was even in a warm, clean bed and maybe even safe, he felt as if his entire body was pressed beneath a heavy, burning weight. His stomach, especially, was aching, and sent a stinging pain through him with every breath. He was nauseous and his head was pounding. All things considered, he was fairly certain he would have been better off dead. Maybe everyone was right—maybe that was what he wanted.

But it was the voice that drew him back, and this time he wasn't surprised to see Axl poking around the room. He couldn't seem to get rid of the man. But accepting it took less effort, so he sighed, letting his eyes fall shut again.

Axl's humming stopped, and his careful footsteps proceeded a quiet inquiry. "Hey. Are you awake?"

Venom groaned, but didn't feel it necessary to open his eyes again. Instead he reached up, tugging at his hair—he couldn't get it to cover his face. "Can you fix it?"

Axl snorted quietly. "You should leave it back," he said, though a moment later fingers were seeping into Venom's hair, loosening the ties so it could be drawn forward. "You might choke on it in your sleep."

"I haven't before." Venom drew the soft locks over his face, and immediately felt a little better, even if it parted awkwardly over his nose and didn't hide him as well as usual. "Where am I?"

"In a hidden basement," Axl replied, far too exuberantly for his tastes. "The Gear told me I could find you here—the doctor patched you up pretty well. He says you'll recover pretty well."

"Doctor…?" Venom frowned slightly. He himself didn't know the physician that worked Rue Beaubourg; when one of his men had reported having found a safe healer, he'd instructed all his men towards it if they happened to be in Paris and needed the treatment. There were dozens of such places all over the world, and though he knew of each one there wasn't much point in being able to identify every individual man and woman doctor. They were easy enough to take care of, if they refused to be of service.

In any case, there were more important things. "So…it really was a Gear," Venom murmured, gingerly probing the edge of the bandages across his chest and stomach. "Gears, doctors, you…why are there so many people trying to keep me alive?"

Axl was quiet for a moment, though Venom knew he hadn't left by the quiet sound of his breath nearby. "Is't so bad?" he asked after the pause, some of his usual humor gone. There was a scrape of wood against carpet as Axl dragged a chair closer to sit in. "Being alive. We went through a lot of trouble for you."

"You shouldn't have bothered," Venom replied bitterly. The memories of his encounter in the restaurant were coming back to him, and it made his voice hoarse with emotion. "Slayer…was right. What's left for me? The Guild is dead—Lord Zato is…." Shivering, Venom turned his head away. "I failed him."

Axl hummed lowly. "I don't know about all that," he admitted. "But you know why I stuck with you this long?" He chuckled. "It's pretty selfish, but you keep asking, I think you deserve to hear it."

Venom kept his head turned stubbornly away; he was not in a mood for any speeches. But it didn't seem that Axl was about to leave him, otherwise. He sighed. "All right. Why?"

"I know it sounds daft," Axl set himself up, his voice light—Venom could hear the smile he wore. "But for some reason, I met you in town the other night. And for whatever reason, time said it was worth something, 'cause it sent me back for a second helping." He chuckled again, quieter than before. "I don't know why I timeslip. But I figure…a loop like that has to mean something. I met you for a reason. So I figure I gotta stick with you for a while, to see what happens."

Venom's eyes opened halfway, staring out across the small room as he considered those words. For a reason…. At last he turned toward Axl, and his hair fell just enough so that he could fix the man with one weary eye. Axl just looked so ridiculous, sitting there with his chin resting the back of his chair. "That is selfish."

The blonde smiled at him. "Yeah. It really is, huh?"

"Yes." Venom stretched a little, turning his face up toward the ceiling. "I suppose you have someone waiting for you," he muttered. "Back in your own time."

"What makes you say that…?"

"Because that's the only reason anyone ever does anything." Venom continued to slide his fingertips over the bandages, tracing the holes cut in him, hoping to make them hurt more but not brave enough to press too harshly into them. "For something you can't have. We're all that selfish…"

Axl heaved a loud sigh, breaking the momentary stillness that had fallen over them. "Listen, pal. I didn't save your life to listen to you talk like that, eh? Geez, you're such a downer." He stood, and pushed the chair back against the wall. "I know you're in a rough spot, but how about focusing on being happy to be alive for a while, okay? I'm gonna go see if Faust has anything for lunch."

Venom started. "Faust?" he echoed weakly, and suddenly he was trying to push himself upright, his arms trembling as he braced his hands against the mattress. "Faust is—" But his stomach muscles wouldn't aid him, adding a quiver of pain to the sudden flash of cold panic sweeping through him.

"H-Hey—cut that out." Axl quickly moved to urge Venom back down. "Faust's the doctor that healed you." He pinned the man's chest down when he refused to lie still. "What's the matter?"

Venom pried weakly at Axl's hands, but he was suddenly out of breath, and the more he gasped after it the worse his injuries burned and made him more breathless. He was so busy trying to regain his composure that he only noticed they weren't alone when a pair of unnaturally large human hands twisted around his wrist. He jumped, and in a panic tried to twist away. His gaze fell on one gleaming eye through a brown paper bag, and then a needle pierced his flesh, filling his veins with an unwanted substance.

"Nn…!" Venom thrashed with the last of his strength and heard a tiny snap, but between Faust's wide hands and Axl aiding him, he couldn't break away from either of them. Even more frightening, whatever had been injected into him was beginning to slow his senses. His muscles relaxed without his command, and the pain in his abdomen began to subside. Though he was grateful for that much, the loss of control made him shiver almost violently. His fingers tightened in the front of Axl's shirt.

"Now, now," Faust muttered, taking a better hold of Venom's wrist so that he could pluck the broken off syringe out of his arm. He produced a small, heart-shaped band-aid out of his coat pocket to cover the small wound. "There's no need to get yourself worked up."

"Dr. Ba…nn…!" Venom gave his hand one last jerk before finally giving in, collapsing weakly against the mattress. He closed his eyes to keep the room from spinning as Axl breathed a sigh of relief. After a moment of allowing the drug to run its course, he was able to speak again. "Why…?"

"Why? You're tearing your stitches, that's why," Faust admonished. He tugged the blankets up over Venom's chest once more, and he was too weak to protest. "I was gonna bring you something to eat, but it looks like you need a nap, first."

"No…" Venom gulped, but it was becoming difficult to even keep his eyes open any longer. As his vision swam he could make out Axl standing over him, looking concerned, and Faust himself watching him from the other side of the bed. "I…don't understand," he whispered, and then he slipped into unconsciousness again.

Axl scratched the back of his neck, glancing between the slumbering Venom and Faust with confusion. "Um…I guess you know each other?" he remarked sheepishly.

Faust didn't respond at first; he was crouched beside Venom's bed, watching him, and though with his face hidden there was no telling his expression, his manner seemed abruptly serious. "His guild once killed a patient of mine," he said, simply, as if no other explanation of their history were necessary.

"Oh…" Axl shifted awkwardly, and then smiled, hoping he wasn't about to say the worst thing he possibly could. "Then…it's really good of you, to take care of him."

Faust stood. It was somewhat impressive to watch the unfolding of such long limbs, how he rose so easily to so great a height—over seven feet at least. Axl held back from speaking further, fearful of having upset the man, but then Faust only nodded, and turned to leave.

"When he wakes up," he said without looking back, "there'll be some soup for him in the kitchen upstairs."

((-))

"Tell me one more time," the creature grumbled irritably, "why I'm helping you?"

I-no smirked, though in truth she was becoming annoyed with having to answer Eddie's questions. "Because," she stated firmly, not for the first time, "if it wasn't for my benefactor and I, you would be long since dead. Don't forget he's the one that used his magic to prevent the Assassin from withering. Where would you be if not for him?"

Eddie muttered something she couldn't make out and moved to the edge of the rooftop they'd taken as a perch—overlooking the Global Police Headquarters. A light snow had begun to fall, and all about beneath them the city folk wandered, returning to their mundane jobs after a week of holiday. "Kiske will be in there," he growled. "He is the head of police, you know."

"The holiday's officially over—he should be on duty somewhere, hunting for your assassin friend."

Eddie's red eyes narrowed on her, but she felt rather than saw them. He growled again. "Venom. I still need to take care of him."

I-no's lip quirked. "Then maybe when we're done here I'll give you a hand with that—to even the score. Shit, it's cold." She tugged her jacket across her breasts, trying to give back some warmth to her exposed torso. She should have thought out her attire before jumping off like she had. Deciding it was time for action, she pushed upright. "Are you ready?"

Zato-1's corpse pushed awkwardly to his feet, and was soon covered in the parasite's dark flesh. "If Kiske is in there," Eddie warned, "I'll leave you behind."

"Don't be so dramatic." I-no rolled her eyes, and patted the dark sapphire against her hip. "I have this, remember? You just keep the police off me long enough to grab our friend, and we'll be home free."

Eddie returned her confidence with a frown. "And what about the mirror? Do you really think we'll be able to cross Paris to the Communication's building with the Global Police on us?"

"We won't have to."

Eddie started to question, but it was then that a high pitched tone vibrated the air behind them, and he turned in alarm. Claws formed from his long fingers as he watched in bewilderment the appearance of a second I-no. She looked identical to the woman standing beside him, except for the addition of a long, thick blue mantle tied around her shoulders; it bulged behind her in the shape of her guitar. She blew the pair a kiss. "Hey there, Darling."

I-no grinned coyly. "Hey yourself, bitch."

"What's going on?" Eddie demanded. He took a step back as his eyes danced back and forth between the women. "Who the hell is this?"

The caped I-no laughed, a sharp, cruel sound on the crisp air. "Don't tell me you forgot me already, Handsome."

"Don't worry about her," the original I-no assured her companion. "I'll explain later." And then she added, to her double, "See you in a bit, Gorgeous."

"He's in a bad mood today—watch out for the side kick."

"Will do—thanks."

"Anytime, Skank."

The caped I-no turned and started off down the roof while whistling a cheerful tune. Eddie, meanwhile, was swiveling to face the remaining woman, his beast-like face a twist of confusion and frustration. "What the hell was that?"

"That was me," I-no explained at last. "At least, me a few minutes from now. Now let's go already." Without waiting for his response she leapt from the building, landing daintily on her high heels on the street below.

Eddie shook his head, still grumbling about having been forced into this "job" while he was still recovering himself. He followed all the same, spreading his leathery shadow wings to glide down to the Headquarter's entrance. People on the ground gasped and pointed but he spared no attention for them, barreling instead into the pair of guards on duty.

I-no sauntered casually up to the commotion—she stood back as Eddie pummeled both men unconscious amidst cries of horror from the streets. "Excitable little things, aren't they?" she purred. She stepped over the bodies and threw the doors open.

The entranceway of the Global Police Headquarters was an immense hall, lined with marble statues and dozens of various offices and alcoves. I-no whistled appreciatively as she moved inside, her heels tapping. Already the officers were gathering, brandishing weapons of blade and magic. A quick scan showed that Kiske was not with them at the moment.

"Hold it!" a man called off to the left. He held with him a particularly nasty looking spear. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"Just paying a friend a visit," I-no replied, shooting him a coy smile. When a pair of women approached cautiously she held up her hands as if in surrender. But as soon as they were in range her fingers snapped around the neck of her guitar; she planted her feet and swung the instrument laterally in front of her, smashing both women in the head and sending them spilling to the ground.

The man with the spear began shouting orders, but I-no didn't pause to hear. She sprinted through the group of advancing officers, and just before closing with them leapt clearly over their heads. By then Eddie had charged into the building as well, and his low roar echoed impressively off the marble columns as he engaged the crowd.

"Thanks, precious." With Eddie keeping them busy I-no continued on, knocking a few brave men and women out of her way in her sprint to a door on the west wall. A burst of her own magic sent the heavy iron spinning off its hinges. Giggling, she hopped down the steps and into the area of prison cells.

Her master had assured her she would be able to tell which of the convicts he had intended for her to retrieve. But faced with the darkened basement of the holding cells, each wall lined with thick doors and twisting in various directions, she uttered a curse under her breath. "I suppose this could have used some better planning," she muttered. Mindful of the situation Eddie was in on the upper floor she picked the hall straight ahead of her and moved down it, her eyes darting among the cells.

A few catcalls and whistles followed her down the line, but with the magic flowing through each cell door none of the prisoners were bold enough to venture too close. I-no smiled to herself as she went—she was not above accepting the lewd praise of a few convicts.

But as she passed one of the cells a chill ran up the length of her spine, and she stopped, having the strange sensation of a woman's eyes on her. She turned, finding herself the object of a cold stare—but a man's. He was a handsome youth despite his vacant expression, with soft brown hair and sculpted muscles. Something about his unusually still posture drew I-no closer.

"What's your name, stranger?" she greeted lightly, a thin smirk on her lips.

The boy continued to stare at her, unblinking. His eyes were dilated in the dim light, his shoulders held stiffly. His pale skin made him look like a corpse. "Let me out of here."

I-no's smirk vanished; the voice that passed through his lips was low and cold, like a sharp wind, and she felt another chill. She shook herself—it wasn't like her to be so weak-willed. "You know I can't just do that, honey. Not unless you're the one I came for."

"You came for me," he assured in that same strange voice, for a moment looking as if a shadow had fallen over his face. "Let me out."

"He knows me pretty well," I-no mused aloud as she stepped forward, tilting her hip so that her jewel was positioned in front of the lock. "He must have known you'd catch my eye. You'd better be right."

The magic flowing through the metal twisted, and just as that man had promised retreated obediently into I-no's bright sapphire. The door clicked and she stood back as it swung slowly open. "There you are, friend. Now if you'd be so kind…"

As soon as the cell was opened Zappa strode haltingly out, legs and arms swinging a bit with a boneless quality. I-no paused a moment to watch his progress towards the stairs. "I hope you can fight," she muttered as she fell into step beside him. It occurred to her then that she didn't know why her master wanted this man anyway—he might not have been strong enough to even defend himself.

Zappa's head lolled sickeningly to the side. "I can fight."