Through the fire

by Ajedrez

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.

Summary:

After a tragic loss, the Bladebreakers are finally back on track, only to find themselves and their friends in another of those 'situations'. Secrets and lies, new threats and new hopes. Things aren't always what they seem. A changed outlook on the past might just provide new perspectives for the future. (Set in two timelines after the first season.)

AN:

I knew I should have mentioned that this wasn't a deathfic from the start, but I hate giving away too much of a story... Well, now you know and I hope you will not mind a tiny little touch of fantasy that might come in later, though considering we're talking about Beyblade with its bitbeasts, that should not be a problem, right?

By the way, the next chapter of "Hogwarts AC196" should most probably be up by next weekend or the week after that. So on with this story. If anyone is reading this, just drop a note. I love hearing from the readers.

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II. (in the dark)

Meanwhile in a sleazier part of Moscow, a rough-looking and imposing man with violet hair observed the training of his new team, while thinking back on the performance of their future rivals in their home tournament. Pity, they had gotten their act together again after a less than perfect year – that meant a tougher competition for his own bladers, but this time these fools would not thwart his plans.

Playing with an empty black bitchip in his hand, he thought back to the good old times, that had not quite turned out as good as they could have – and those damned Bladebreakers were to blame. He would have a bone to pick with them during the World Championships that were to take place in Vancouver. Not to forget the former Demolition Boys. He had no doubt that his new team, the Bladebreakers and his previous charges would qualify and then he would get his revenge for the hardships he had to suffer and for which they were responsible - the jail time he had to serve, in particular.

He had been biding his time for two years now, but he was sure it was not in vain as he watched his hand-picked team. Admittedly, they were not the master bladers the Demolition Boys had been, as they lacked the training and maybe even the inherent skills. Yet, where they had to condition a certain ruthlessness into the former Biovolt team, his new bladers were merciless and cold-hearted by nature, real street-hardened thugs. He had made sure of that, before turning them into a reluctant team of non-teamplayers. They all fought rather for themselves than for their team, but that did not really matter to him, as long as they acknowledged his superior position and followed his orders. And since he was the one who gave them the possibility to achieve something great (and would not accept desertion lying down), they would give their best for him. After all, it was the material he provided to them, that would ensure his team's success.

It was a shame that Biovolt's masterpiece had perished. Yet, even though Biovolt had been dismantled and Voltaire had died, the technology and the design plans had survived and remained in the hands of the director of Balkov Abbey. And he had invested into further research, so there was no way those stupid kids would get into the way this time around. True, the resulting equipment was slightly illegal, but those BBA officials were just too trusting. Nothing and no-one would stop him this time...

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After the Russian championships things had been going down rapidly for the director of Balkov Abbey. While Voltaire had managed to escape prosecution thanks to his wealth and his connections, Boris had unfortunately been caught up in the midst of the scandal surrounding the Abbey. For once the public had been in uproar when they learnt the true extent (or what they thought it to be) of systematic child abuse that had occurred in the once holy place. So he was condemned to serve a rather hard prison sentence. Boris did not mind becoming Voltaire's scapegoat, however, since his boss pulled a few strings to shorten his jail time and make the conditions easier – not to mention a few other rewards he received later on. In the end, he only served four months for what should be considered a rather severe crime – nevertheless, he would not forget to whom he owed the dubious pleasure...

It had not been easy to start again, but, luckily and due to Voltaire's intervention, the authorities had not been able to confiscate the Abbey and the most important documents had been stowed away in a safe place just before the police had come knocking. After they restored everything in working order, it had only been a matter of time until they managed to convince their key scientists (through very diverse means) to come back. Things were going slow at the onset, while they were developing a completely new approach to an old concept they had always discarded as impossible before. Then, suddenly, Kai had returned.

It continued to amaze Boris how Voltaire had managed that feat. He knew his boss had been working towards that goal for a while now, still he wondered what kind of lever the old man had used to get his grandson to re-enter what must have been hell for him, with open eyes. Unlike the first time, during the Russian tournament, Kai's memory was intact, so he knew very well what he was getting himself into. Neither Voltaire nor Kai ever told him the reasons and he would not question this stroke of luck.

In accordance with Voltaire's plans, they set out to go through with their unprecedented project. For this purpose, they first needed to weaken their test subject, which was not as easy as they initially thought. When Boris first saw the boy again, he could clearly see a change within him. Always the fighter, Kai remained defiant towards his tormentors. Yet, while he never was submissive, he seemed strangely subdued.

The fire in his eyes seemed to have burnt out. Nevertheless, it took large amounts of time, blood, sweat and tears until they had broken down the boy's defences enough to undertake the risky project. Of course Boris liked to play his very own part in breaking the boy by applying his unique torture methods. Being the sadist he was, Boris thoroughly enjoyed his personal sessions, and he was determined to make good use of the time left, since there was no way to safely predict the outcome of the experiment.

Finally, the great day came and they managed to push an unresisting Kai into the oversized test tube they had prepared. During the initial phase, the boy was barely conscious and therefore hardly able to withstand what was happening to him. The tension among the involved scientists grew, as they entered the following stages.

Wires were connected to their test subject and his body was submitted to electrical shocks and different kinds of radiation, while the test tube was being filled with a bluish liquid. In the end a connection to two smaller test tubes was opened. Suddenly, there was a blinding light. The applications went haywire and imploded, filling the lab with thick smoke. Yet, the thing that mostly had all those present transfixed, was a blood-curdling scream that was followed by deathly silence.

Boris' perverted mind always loved to hear his victims' yells of pain, but none was as cherished as that first scream of Kai's in a very long while - and the last he would ever hear of him. Oh, Kai was hard to kill, or so it seemed. To everyone's surprise, he made it out of this experiment alive and even though it was not a complete success, it was an unparalleled achievement. A once-in-a-lifetime thing that would never be repeated for its obvious risks and the lack of suitable subjects. Their enthusiasm went down the drain, however, when only two months afterwards, that Siberian mansion went up in flames with Voltaire and his grandson in it.

Well, Boris was someone who never lingered in the past and there was no use crying over spilled milk. He had to put it behind him that his greatest scientific success would never lead to his personal triumph, and move on. He assumed he would never learn the truth behind that fire...

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TBC

AN: Any opinions?

03/11/06