To my reviewers,
Well hey dudes looks like I'm back again with another chapter. Personally I didnt think this one turned out so great but its a kind of important chapter and I wanted to get it out. Also just to let you guys know I already know whats going to happen and lets just say this fic is winding down and im already planning on having a sequel possibly. I dunno I'll see how I feel bout it when I write the last chapter. Well now for my ritual "personals" lol.
Storms-Winter: I'm glad you thought it turned out wella nd as for the being hard on mysefl and all that jazz I think you might be right. Then again I find it safer to think less of myself than more. lol well hey thanks a lot for the review and please keep reviewing.
Kyogue: Hey dude, thanx for answering the poll and of course for updating. im glad you liked it cuz if it was terrible id feel bad...ok maybe I'd just feel like i'd better fix it fast but hey.lol. It seems to have beent he popular opinion that Kai and Ray would win, but as i hope my style seems to show or should...I dont like things being too easy. Once again thanx for the review.
Storm-of-Insanity: Funny thing about your review is I actually was going to do that.lol. But hey I decided that there was something else I had to put my poor character through hence this chapter. But hey thanx loads for the review and Ill try to keep updating. Good luck with your fic as well.
SSOTD: Dude Im glad you liked it! And thanx for remembering my name lol. Man I should get that printed on my drivers license. Well I hope my royal subjects are happy cuz I put this out as soon as I could and you did not just pull the puppy do face...ahhh no wonder I felt so obligated to get this done.But yeah, coem on I cant be nice and easy on poor Angel I gotta ruin her life before I fix it.lol . this is why you should thank God that hes God and Im not. WEll I'm glad you liked what I did with it and I pray u like this next chapter as well. and i hope my royal subjects review this soon. Thanx loads for the review.
Tenshi Hikari: Im glad you liked it, though I dont knwo if it was quite awesome lol, Im really sorry bout the spelling errors, typings def. not my strong suit. I try to normally catch those things but esp, with this chap I'm kinda rushed for time...please forgive me. but hey I'm flattered that yuo thought hwo I wrote the tag team match was brilliant. I just didnt knwo how else I could do what I had planned. I mean if it were based on sheer power and skill the match wouldve been too hard for even me to have guest but If I could find a way to separate them and turn it into two personal mental battles, it was easier for me to decide who would win. So basically it turned into a guilt trip for both Kai and Ray and sadly they both fell for it. And yeah Ray is really OOC with the whole anger problem but next chapter I'll explain a bit about why hes so angry...atleast I plan to. One more thing that i forgot to mention last time...lol yeah i never shut up once I talk it seems but the thing about the names for the characters and stuff. Well pretty much i modeled this after me and my best friend whose name is Jess. I try to keep it close to her character but I can t help but add a lil of me into each character I touch. But Angel's basically a model after me and Jess well you get the picture. But I think the coincidence is pretty cool. Anywayz thanx for the review
Well dudes heres the next chapter and I hate to say it but this fics winding down...the good news is...its not over yet. So hey please keep the reviews coming and I hope this isnt completely terrible.
Chapter 19 : The End of the Beginning
The Boss walked warily through the dark, damp corridors. Somewhere down in this abysmal maze waited his superior. Early this morning he had sent him the data on their new drug along with the "performance tapes" and stats of Angel. Only an hour ago had he been called back to meet with him. So now here he was in this medieval like maze with samples of the drug. Soon the corridor ended before a large metal door and he knocked strongly yet a bit nervously. The door opened to reveal a tall evil looking man with purple hair who nodded to him before stepping aside. The room seemed almost darker than the corridor but in the far back of it he could make out a large desk with two chairs before ti and behind it sat an elderly man with long grey hair and piercing eyes.
"Ah, Mr. Stryker I presume." came a cold voice from the shadows. I nodded before taking a seat in the chair he had motioned to.
I am very interested in the drug your company has seemed to have developed. Especially in the controllability of its host and the performance analysis."
I nodded for him to continue.
"I wonder though, how was your blader able to break through the single dosage?"
"Ah yes, our research has discovered that a single dosage will work unless the host is forced to face an opponent which it has strong feelings for. We have almost completely worked out the system of degrees for each kind of opponent which today shall prove."
"I see and is there a limit to how many dosages one can take?"
"Right now sire our research says no more than 3"
"The gray haried man nodded his head in understanding,
"I see your blader had a match against her former friends today, under what dosage have you put her?"
"A double sir. Her old friends have been wiped away by the trial drugs which proved to give complete control but didn't seem to improve their blading performance in the least. She does not recognize them anymore as who they once were, so we so no point in giving her a triple dosage."
"Well Mr. Stryker I gather that you have brought me some samples of the drug to analyze myself."
"Yes sir I have." with that I pulled the small black case from my gray trench coat pocket and handed it to him. Inside were 3 dosages of the drug, just enough got him to see what it could do, and want more.
"If this drug truly performs the way you say it does, then Genecite shall truly secure a place as one of the 4 elite companies that I am planning to use."
"I would be most honored sir."
"Also, Stryker, I'am very interested in your other blader, Brooklyn isn't it? What kind of drug do you have him under?"
I couldn't help the small grin that played on my face as I answered,
"None sir. Brooklyn is an interesting piece of work. His body is that of one of Angels best friends whom she killed but his mind was created by us. He needs no drug to be evil and ruthless, nor training, he is a programmed natural with unlimited ability."
"Very interesting. I am curious to know then if you have him, why do you need Angel?"
"Because as powerful as he is he doesn't have the defiant nature to make him stronger like she does. Much the same as your own blader I might add."
"You've certainly done your homework." he grinned.
"Wells ir I have to admit our bladers would make and unstoppable force from my research."
He nodded again, amusement sparkling in his cold gray eyes.
"I must excuse myself with your permission. I want to oversee that my orders regarding my teams upcoming match are obeyed."
"Yes I shall contact you afterward. Good day, Mr. Stryker."
"Good day, sir."
As soon as Stryker had left the purple haired man turned to face his boss.
"Sir do you really think this drug could work on him?"
"We shall see, Boris, we shall see. For now I want you to keep a sharp eye on both bladers. Tell me what you discover."
"Yes, most certainly Lord Voltaire."
Kai stared out at the dim darkness around him from his kneeling position on the roof. The air was cold and mist hung about the ground creating a haunted, mystical aura about him. His warm breath hung smokily in the air as his eyes looked piercingly into the fog as if beyond its smoky curtain were the answers to his questions, the antidote to his pain. All night he had paced up here, unable to sleep. For each time he closed his eyes, the same image took over and each time it made him feel worse and worse. 'Why?' he thought desperately beneath his emotionless mask, 'why did I fail? How could I have let her down like that?' Yet what hurt him most was the memory of Brooklyn's voice echoing his own hidden thoughts. How could he have chained Angel back up and left her like that? What had he been thinking! It was all his fault! But the vision that always silenced his thought, haunting him, was the look angel had given him that night. No one had ever looked at him like that before. So many emotions had battled int hose depths but above all he saw trust. She knew what would happen and still she trusted him. There was something different about her that night, but what? There was something else he had seen in her eyes…but what was it? Try as he might it was like the picture was corrupted or faded and he couldn't quite make it out. All night things had been like this. Was it truly hopeless now? Had he truly lost his only chance of getting Angel back? He couldn't expect help from any of the Bladebreakers and he couldn't see how much help Jessica or Tala could be. It all looked so impossible. As he yet gazed the dawn broke before him. Watching in frozen silence he saw how the first small rays of light broke through the fog, piercing its false curtain of mystery. The rays of light increased and brightened with each minute, banishing the darkness. Kai watched as the light raced toward him and closed his eyes as it reached him. He relaxed as he felt its warmth surround him, and the cold fears and despairs of the night melted under the dawns gentle caress. In silence he remained it that feeling, a creature of the shadows caught in the mesmerizing powers of the light. 'Today is the final battle . Its not over yet, I still may be able to find a way to save her. And I will not give up until I do!' With that Kai jumped from the roof landing silently on the Balcony to the Bladebreakers room. Then after a quick glance back to make sure no one saw him, he jumped over the railing and landed only a bit roughly on the sidewalk below. Instantly he turned his feet toward his first definition. It was 6:15 and Angels match wasn't until 4:00 that left him plenty of time for his "visit."
Jess sat next to Tala's bed, waiting for him to wake up. Early this morning she had finally been released but they weren't going to release Tala till tomorrow. So silently, she sat next to him just content to be around him. She didn't have the heart to leave him here all alone and she wasn't too thrilled about going back to the now empty apartment. She had seen the match yesterday and felt terrible for both Ray and Kai, and couldn't help but wonder how Angel'd feel if she came out of it and saw all the damage she'd done. Suddenly a movement caught Jess' eyes as turquoise eyes suddenly opened before looking over surprised at Jess.
"Hey" jess smiled.
"Hey" he returned sitting up.
"How you feel?"
"Alright. They release you?"
"Yeah, this morning."
"they say when they'll release me?" he asked hopefully.
"Tomorrow." Jess laughed as Tala fell back onto his bed pouting childishly.
"So were you hurt too bad?" Tala suddenly questioned.
"No. it was strange, but just after you were hurt I broke through to Angel. She came back Tala and stopped the attack. But before she could do anything else she was hit with some kind of dart and I lost her. The attack then continued and I was knocked backward."
"So you weren't attacked by Angels' bit beast?"
"Ryker? No. He is in tune with Angel and just as Angel wouldn't hurt me, neither would he."
Tala nodded before glancing away.
"Im sorry I failed to protect you." he muttered still not looking at her.
"Tala you didn't fail." Jess said doing her best to convince him when suddenly there was a knock on the door. Glancing at the clock she saw it was only 6:40 in the morning, who would possibly visit that early?
Standing to her feet Jess walked over and opened the door to see Kai standing there.
"Kai!" Jess stated both surprised and confused.
Jess let him in before closing the door behind him.
"Uh what are you.." Jess stopped when she noticed the cuts along his arms and the one across his cheek,
"Man! I didn't know you were hurt that bad!"
"Hn. I came here because eI need your help."
"With what?"
"I need to save angel but I don't know much about her past. I need to know all I can about her and Genecite. I need to know what they're after."
Jess nodded her head slowly, "okay"
Kai simply nodded before both turned to go.
"Hey, wait up. You don't think your leaving me here do you!" Tala yelled jumping out of bed.
Jess quickly turned and pushed him back towards the bed,
"Sorry Tala but you're stuck her till tomorrow."
Tala merely growled as he sat back down on the bed and glared at Kai and Jess' backs as they started walking back to the door.
"Quit being such a baby, I'll be back later." Jess said closing the door behind her leaving Tala to fall back asleep out of boredom.
At 7:00 Jess and Kai entered the lonesome apartment and went over to sit at the small bar in front of the island.
"So what do you want to know?" Jess asked.
"I know how Angel became involved with Genecite but what happened after she escaped it?"
"Well that was back when I first met her. I remember I was walking him one night after hanging with 2 of my best friends when I noticed a group of guys following me. I quickened my pace but couldn't shake them and ended up cornered in an alley. I had nowhere to run and no one to defend me. They started to approach when all the sudden Angel jumped out from the shadows of the roof in front of me. Well things got a bit rough to say the least but Angel saved me that night and I never saw those guys again. After that we became close friends, though it was difficult to break through her walls, and only then did we remember each other from years ago. To make ti short I introduced her to my best friends Curtis and Christian and we started our own blading team with Angel as our captain. Angel and I have been tight ever since."
"You said that those two guys were apart of your team. What happened to them?"
"That is something that's a bit of a mystery even to me. But about a little over a year ago, Genecite came after Angel. She refused to rejoin them so they kidnapped our entire team and tried to use us as leverage against her. They beat us all when I guess Angel still wouldn't rejoin them, but I remember seeing them drag her into the room where they had us chained and to state it simply she was hurt really badly. But still she wouldn't go back to them or do as ordered. They made her watch as they tortured us. I've never seen Angel in such pain before. I soon passed out and awoke later in a strange hotel room. Angel had passed out on the floor but Curtis and Christian weren't there at all. When I asked her about them she merely said they were dead. I don't know what happened, but its one of the deepest scars Angel bears and to this day she doesn't really talk about it."
Kai nodded in understanding as he felt more and more like he could understand what Angel was doing.
"Do you know why Genecite wants her?"
Jess shook her head, " I don't think even Angel really knows. All I know is that she was part of some team which was Genecite's number one project and from what I can gather form Angel…she's the only one who survived."
"Is there anything of her past you can show me?"
Jess thought for a moment before motioning him to follow her. They walked into the room Angel and Jess used to share and Kai waited while Jess rummaged through the closet. Within a few minutes Jess returned with an old cardboard box whish she sat with on Angel's bed, Kai joining her.
"I found this buried in Angel's stuff." Jess explained as she opened the box. Reaching her hand in she pulled out a crinkled photograph which she handed to Kai,
"our old team"
Kai looked at the 4 figures. First at Angel then Jess, and lastly at the two guys behind them smirking.
Jess showed Kai a few other pictures and looked wonderingly at a few objects neither could identify when at the bottom of the stack they found a folder.
Wonderingly Kai pulled it out and looked to Jess for an answer.
"I've never seen that before."
Opening it he found 4 files and a single disc. Each file had a picture and information. He pulled them out carefully when he noticed the pictures.
"Jessica." he stated showing her the pictures.
"That's Tristan and Lance!" she replied shocked.
"Right and here's Angel but this is the confusing one" Kai stated pointing to a ginger haired teens picture.
"Brooklyn!"
"That's the thing, the information says he's William and out of all of these, only Angel's power level is remotely close to what they describe."
"I don't understand this."
Kai picked up the disc then grabbed the personal dvd player from the night stand and put it on. Eagerly both waited when suddenly a screen popped up. Kai could instantly tell from the angle and numbers along the bottom that it was a security camera and wondered why Angel had it. Suddenly the dvd skipped and there were younger versions of Angel, Tristan, Lance, and William standing in a line while some man yelled at them as he paced before them. He suddenly stopped before Angel and struck her hard making her fall to the ground. He went to kick her when the dark haired teen next to her stepped in front of her.
The man yelled at him before punching him in the stomach and throwing him into the wall behind Angel. Again the dvd skipped as if hiding something and then went black. Jess and Kai stared confusedly at it not knowing what to make of it. After awhile Kai looked at his watch and noticed it was now already 2:00 and he still had to get to the stadium. He thanked Jess hurriedly before heading towards the door.
"Good luck Kai.: Jess stated as he simply nodded before closing the door after him and running down to the street corner. Quickly he hailed a cab from the sidewalk and got in settling down as he tried to sort through all he had just learned. Some questioned had been answered but so many more now made an appearance in his mind taking the place of the solved ones. Soon he drifted off into a light, contemplative sleep as he prepared to find a way to save Angel.
Brooklyn and Angel stood waiting to be announced in the dim hallway that led to the arena. Both stared uncaringly before them waiting for their orders. Once again they heard the hollow, empty strides of Coach behind them. They didn't turn around but simply waited for the cold voice to set them free.
"Brooklyn, Angel." the voice whispered behind them, " now's the time to show off your strength. Destroy your opponents blades…and kill them. I do not want either to survive your attacks."
A sick and terrifying grin broke on both Angel and Brooklyn's faces. Their eyes darkening in evil joy. 'Finally' Angel thought as both she and Brooklyn were announced. In silent anticipation the two walked out into the lights of the arena as crimson eyes watched Angel's every move.
Tristan and Lance stood naively opposite of Brooklyn and Angel, if only they knew they might've been able to flee but now it was too late. The call was given and the battle began. Instantly Angel and Brooklyn attacked fiercely as Tristan and Lance ground their blades defiantly against them. Angel and Brooklyn suddenly broke off their attack circled once before changing "victims" and attacking again. Their attacks were mind blowing. Hard and fast. To the amateur Tristan and Lance seemed to be holding up but the trained eye, saw that they were quickly losing before they could even inflict damage. On and on Brooklyn and Angel assailed them as Tristan and Lance were panting heavily, their bodies wanting to give out under the pressure. In sheer anger and frustration they ordered their blades to attack but it they weren't nearly strong enough as they were pushed back easily by Brooklyn and Angel. Tristan looked up at them angrily, wondering what they were planning on doing and then, he saw it in their eyes. His heart skipped a beat and he could no longer breathe for when he looked into their eyes he saw death. They were going to kill him and just as he figured out their plan… it happened. Suddenly Angel and Brooklyn's blades stopped their attacks and spun strongly in place while their owners closed their eyes. The air swirled around them restlessly as it does before a storm and the crowd went silent staring wonderingly while Tristan and Lance stared at their doom, the darkness inside them losing its control over them quickly. Without warning Angel and Brooklyn's eyes flashed open and yelled for their final attack. Tristan stared in terror as the whole building started to shake with a tremendous force and parts of the ceiling above them started falling. Ryker and Zeus rose from their blades and started their attack at their masters bidding.
"Angel!" Tristan and Lance screamed as Ryker and Zeus charged. Angels eyes flashed in sudden pain as her own voice suddenly broke through the now screaming crowd.
"Stop!" she screamed as Ryker stopped in his tracks, but it was too late. Tristan stared at Angel sorrowfully as Zeus finished the attack on both of them.
"No!" Angel screamed as Tristan and Lance were slammed back onto some of the circling rubble by Zeus, their blades shattering into hundreds of pieces. The roof was now falling all around them in huge concrete slabs. Brooklyn recalled his blade and vaguely made out Angel dashing and dodging through the rubble towards Tristan and Lance. With a snort of disgust he disappeared through an emergency exit and was lost in the fleeing crowd.
Angel quickly dodged around the falling concrete ignoring the few pieces that hit her and the raging pain caused by the drug. Finally she was able to make out the two limp forms of if Tristan and Lance. Without regard to her own safety she ran and dropped by their sides. She felt for a pulse on Lance but found none to her despair as blood trickled down his open mouth. In frantic pain she looked at Tristan who was gasping for air. She put her hand gently under his head as his eyes opened wearily looking up at her.
"Angel?" he voiced with difficulty.
"I'm so sorry Tristan, its all my fault." Angel whimpered looking at him sorrowfully.
"Don't be …stupid." he coughed out, " Now get out of her." he said managing all the sternness he could.
"No, I'm getting you out of here." Angel said defiantly.
Distantly she heard someone shouting her name but she ignored it. Suddenly there was a cracking sound above them, Angel looked up to see a huge part of the roof waiting to fall on them at any moment.
"Quit being such…a…hero." Tristan choked out with a weak smirk.
There was more cracking and before Angel could protest or do anything Tristan placed his hand on her shoulder and with all the strength he had left shoved her out of the way as the roof caved in over him.
"No!" Angel screamed once more as rubble crumbled all around her. She couldn't move, all she felt was pain both physically and mentally. Pain and Guilt. She didn't have the strength to fight off the weakness anymore nor the resolve and so with the building crumbling all about her Angel crumpled to the floor exhausted. Distantly she heard a familiar voice calling out to her, but couldn't place it as strong arms picked her up carefully…then she felt and thought no more.
Frantically Kai ran with Angel held tightly in his arms toward the emergency exit as he dodged the falling rubble. He had to get her out of here! As soon as he'd seen the roof start caving in he'd jumped from the crowd and ran searchingly after angel. Just in time he had found her unconscious and now was running for both of their lives. Up ahead he could just make our the doorway as he dodged yet another piece of the falling cement slabs, narrowly escaping it. He heard and immense amount of cracking and looking up he saw a whole wall of the roof about to start falling his path. He gnashed his teeth in defiance and ran with all his worth for the exit, there was no way he was going to fail saving her now. The wall of cement started falling and with all the speed and strength he had left he dove for the door protecting Angel with his own scarred body. Dust shot out around them as Kai landed roughly on the hard cement just outside the building. He groaned in pain as he slammed hard into the cement pavement but instantly looked down at the girl in his arms. Angel was still unconscious and had a few scrapes and bruises herself. He quickly felt for a pulse and could barely contain himself when he felt one. It was slow and bit weak but she was alive! Kai stood up holding her close to him as he hurriedly made his way toward the Bladebreaker's hotel at a run. Genecite would be looking for her so he had to be cautious. Ignoring the pain and tiredness in his own body Kai ran through the shadows and alley ways making sure no one was watching or following. He finally had Angel back and nothing would take her away from him again.
Ray and Mariah sat on the Bladebreakers couch watching tv. It was all over the news how the Celtic Dragons had destroyed the arena building leaving two dead…the two being their own team mates. Over and over they plated the final seconds of the match but none could figure out why Angel had stopped her attack so suddenly. Ray glared at the tv every time it mentioned Angel's name and Mariah couldn't help but feel tense each time. She lazily looked around her, Tyson and Max were playing go fish on the small table over by the window and Kenny was typing away on Dizzy as usual. Lee had dropped her off here earlier saying he had to do something with Kevin and Gary. At first she'd been offended but she was glad now that she could spend time with Ray, even if he was acting strange. She yawned as she looked up at the clock it was already 7:00 and still Kai hadnt returned. She wondered what he could possibly be up to for so long. As if on cue, the door suddenly flew open as Kai strode in quickly a figure held securely in his arms. All stared at him wide eyed as he quickly made his way over to one of the beds and gently lay the figure down.
"Its Angel!" Max stated in shock.
"Kai what's she doing here!" Ray growled but Kai didnt even glance at him.
Worriedly he felt her forehead only to recoil quickly, it was burning hot! She moaned in pain almost inaudibly but he heard it.
"Max get me water and a cloth now! Tyson call Jessica at the hospital and tell her." Kai ordered as Max and Tyson jumped at his tone and instantly ran to do his bidding.
"What do you think you're doing Kai!" Ray growled stalking over to him.
"Stay out of my way." Kai ordered calmly though his eyes blazed.
"Have you forgotten what she's done to us, to you?"
"Have you forgotten what she was like before she left Ray! I never thought of you as one quick to judge but I see now that you are easily blinded by your own emotions. So for the last time, stay out of my way!" Kai growled as Rays tepped back at the tone and fire in his eyes.
Max soon returned with a bowl of cold water and a damp cloth. Kai instantly took the damo cloth and placed it gently on Angel's burning forehead. Keeping a steady watch over her for any sign of pain elsewhere. Soon Tyson came back after hanging up the phone.
"Jessica said she'd be here early tomorrow morning. She has to pick up some stuff to help Angel or something."
Kai simply nodded in responce and knelt down next to Angel his eyes never leaving her unconscious and pained form. He looked over the few scratches on her arms before yelling at Max to get the first aid kit. He soon had allt he visible wounds cleaned and treated though there wasnt much he could do about the bruises. As for any unseen scratches or cuts, those could wait till Jessica got there tomorrow. Sighing to himseld he got as comfortable as he could ignoring the curious glances from his team. All night Kai sat this way watching over her, re-dampening the cloth when needed and silently overjoyed that she was back yet fearful that she might be hurt or worse, other than herself. This time he wasnt letting her go and despite whatever she may say...he wasnt going anywhere.
Well guys Iam pretty tired after writing that. I dont know what possessed me to make that so long but whatever did it is long gone now. Well hey please review and tell me what you think the good the bad, and the not so pretty.lol till my next chapter, later and peace out