Our young hacker, Joshua, had just read some personal files from the Order achieve. Some mind mumbling stuff. Anyways, he is about to confront Azmaria about his discoveries.
Don't own CC
Chrono Crusade: Horns of Time
Chapter Ten: Confrontation
"Worry does not mean fear, but readiness for the confrontation." –Bashar al-Assad
Early the next morning, Joshua got up bright and early and with haste went to Azmaria's office. He did knock because the door was already opened. Sitting there was Azmaria and right next to her was Wolf.
"Wolf?" Joshua asked, "What are you-"
"We know why you come here," Wolf cutted him off from his sentence. "It would be best if we talked in private as this is a delicate matter. Would you mind closing the door?"
Joshua was started by this. He did as he was told and then took a seat.
"This isn't Wolf's behaviour. It's very different."
"Before we begin," Azmaria said. "I think it's right time that you reveal your true motive. Isn't that right, captain?"
"Captain?" Joshua asked. "Captain?"
Wolf posed in a military fashion, "Captain Jonathan Wolf of the High Order Special Corps. I was sent here to keep an eye on any activities that the New York Branch has."
The High Order Special Corps. In the Order, there were two fractions: The usual order, the one that the public and the government knew and the High Order Special Corps (or H.O.S.C for short) which was run by the High Order Council. It is presentably located in the Vatican City, in Rome and is also the place where the branches sent out their best and brightest. A selected few get in and the special corps demand hard training and unwavering belief.
"So you were undercover the whole time? You tricked me?" Joshua yelled.
"Sorry. The High Council wanted to keep me undercover. I'm doing an undercover evaluation on this branch. I'm also following some leads for a very certain case…" He trailed off.
"I'll handle you later, Wolf," Joshua thought to himself.
Azmaria stood up, "I know why you've come here, Joshua. You wanted to question me about the truth. So I made every effort to make you realize that truth. However there are some people who don't want you to uncover the secrets that have been hidden during these last years. The council, for example…"
"The council? The High Order Council? The great grandmothers of Ebony, Caitlyn and Abigail? As with all the other high ranking members?"
"Yes…it seemed that the Seventh Bell Incident plus the further events that happened during the 1920's took a toll on the public. Therefore, the Council has ordered for all records to be kept under lock and key and never be spoken."
"But me…What does it all have to do with me?"
Azmaria paced, "Joshua, you were born 1904, an only child. You developed a deep relationship with the people at the orphanage. One day, however, you grew terribly ill. We speculate cancer."
Wolf grunted in disagreement.
Azmaria continued, "One day you came someone who gave you powers of a demon. You couldn't handle it and thus the power destroyed your home. You then escaped somewhere in San Francisco, making a living stealing. We found you and brought you here and later transferred you to Children's Aid."
"But that doesn't explain the 86-year time gap I have."
"We also speculate that the powers had slowed down your natural metabolism. Therefore, this can explain the 86 year gap you experienced and thus being able to live as a 20 year old."
"Explain to me Chroion, the devil of time. Explain to me the holy war that happened here! Explain to me about the apostles, me and you!"
A long silence was between them, both parties uneasy. Finally Joshua just bolted out of the room. He ran outside and towards his car.
"I don't believe them. Either of them. There's only one place where I can be certain…" He turned the ignition key and sped off.
Back at the office, a conversation took place.
"Azmaria. How could you do such a thing?"
"... ... ..."
"You lied to Joshua. You lied to him. You didn't reveal to him the truth about him. Only the parts that had the least significance."
"That was to protect him."
"To protect? Protect!" Wolf slammed his hands on the desk, "Azmaria, you're making the same mistake that she did. She-"
"I don't want to hear about her. If Joshua found out…"
"This isn't about Joshua, is it!" Wolf continued, "This is about you! Always you! You claim to be protecting him from the truth but you're not! You're just keeping it to yourself so you don't have to relive the horrible memories."
She stood there silent. Dumbfound and confused, she whispered, "I don't want to remember…remember her sacrifice. She was my predecessor…my companion…my…friend."
Wolf ran to the door, "You know what? You can sit here and dawdle on past memories or you can do something. I know where he's going. He's going to the place where it all began. Either you can help out or go to hell."
As Wolf headed out the door, he left Azmaria thinking at her desk. She eyes started to water.
"He's right. He's absolutely right. Am I keeping Joshua's secrets because of my own gain?"
Az is lying again. Will she tell the truth? And where is Joshua going? Please R&R.
