"Only three of bots are toast." Astha said as she carried the box into the room Abel was in. He was standing with his back to the door, fully dressed again and was setting out their meal on a square metal table. Her eyes travelled over his body as her mind interposed the crusnik changes, shaking her head she set the box down near the door.

"They are tougher than I thought."

"Upgrades help a lot." She sat down and grabbed the damp hand towel to clean up her hands and face before eating. He sat as well, handing over her canteen.

"Do you do a lot of training out here?"

"Not as much as I should, but it's a good site."

He nodded, feeling a bit tired after activation. He glanced at Astha several times while they ate, wondering at her thoughts. His own reflected that at full activation Lilith was easily more accessible and seemed to have come out on top against 02. Since coming in, all traces of the crusnik were quite muted within and then when he took the vial it seemed to send the nanomachines into a sleep mode. After several weeks of their simmering presence in his mind, it was almost alarming to be 'alone'.

"We should do a few more things before going back, no crusnik this time, just normal I think." Astha suggested after a while, seeing Abel was looking calm and surprisingly relaxed.

"If you want… I did take my vial once I came in as a precaution. What are you suggesting?"

"What about a simple sparring match? Get a feel for what we both can do?"

He looked her over, thoughtfully since he didn't feel any pull for her blood whatsoever. Maybe it would be worth the test to see if Lilith and 02 were actually as subdued as it felt.

"Ok, I'll just pull back if I have any inkling."

"Weapons or hand to hand?"

"Will the vests pick up the shots?"

"Yes."

"Weapons then and if you get close enough can drop to hand to hand."

"If?" Her right eyebrow raised questionly.

He grinned widely. "If."

"Finish up, let's get back out there. I'll show you If." She stood up and went out to grab her vest and spear.

Abel's cheeks hurt at the grin he couldn't shake at her response. He grabbed his vest and followed suit..

"What's the objective?"

"I don't want to trigger your other side so can't be submission…. try to take my wristband," she raised her arm to show it on her right wrist.

"Hmm ok… my gun belt is light enough and I have my ammunition belt looped in. So the top belt on my waist."

"Bigger target, are you sure?"

He nodded.

"The vests alert to critically placed shots so be aware even if in a real situation you would just keep on… given your abilities that the vest will alert you to the shot."

"Ok. I'll go west and I'll whistle when ready."

She saluted with a jaunty wave and jogged off to the east side, disappearing behind a few crates.

Abel walked over to the west wall, he adjusted his gun belt and checked the laser muzzle on his gun again. He was genuinely curious what her methods would be this time. Waiting a few moments more he let out a short whistle.

Fast and furiously they moved around the yard, both striving for advantage over the other, Abel using his gun could fit in smaller places to shoot, where Astha's spear impeded her so she tended to go up higher on the crates. Several minutes had gone and they travelled a full circle within the yard. Astha had two minor wounds on her vest, showing her to be at 74 percent. Abel had taken one and was still over 85 percent.

He set himself to sprint across the opening to barely stop as a blast from her spear hit just in front of his chest.

"Don't take it easy on me, Abel." Astha scolded from behind him. He changed his stance and bolted in the other direction, using his enhanced speed to dart around several crates to gain some distance.

"Very cheeky Astha!" Once he stopped at the set of three short crates he knelt down and set to shoot at her. She was in pursuit and ready for him, she dropped and rolled behind a set of shelves at his first shot.

Crouched low, she returned fire, not quite able to connect a trackable shot on him as he moved back and forth from his cover.

"I could do this all day, Priest!"

He flashed a quick grin before disappearing from her view. She backed up to scan the area, not quite able to hear him. A crush of gravel to her left was all the warning she had before he was at her side. He reached around her torso, grabbing her spear and pulling it to her chest, immobilizing her. She threw her head backwards, hoping to catch his face, but she was low enough her head just hit his clavicle. He struggled with trying to hold her spear tight against her and free a hand to take her wristband. With the failed headbutt, she tried to free herself by swinging her body side to side.

A few well placed kicks to his legs and feet had him lessen his hold. She bucked her body and pulled away enough to turn to face him. He had her spear but tossed it to the side. Face to face they squared off.

Astha looked over his body, focusing on the buckle that was her target. He had set it over his vest and it sat above above his waist.

"You made your belt too accessible."

He smirked, "I didn't want you pulling at the wrong belt."

She laughed as they circled, waiting to engage. Gold eyes flickered around as blue eyes studied. He noticed her intake of breath a moment before she shifted to kick at his legs. He scooted back and grabbed her ankle to block, she twisted and flipped to kick with the other foot. He let go of her ankle to dodge the incoming foot. A cloud of dust rose as she landed hard from the failed attempt. He stood ready for her next attack, his knees slightly bent and his arms at held protectively in front. Her eyes flickered to his belt again.

He suddenly ducked down and moved forward and grabbed the back of her left knee with his right hand to cause her to stumble. Down they went in a tangle of limbs, him on top. He balanced himself on his knees and elbows as he didn't want to crush her. He managed to get her right hand pinned by her head but that opened his middle to her left hand. He flattened himself on her, his firm weight pressing her into the ground, his legs were pinning hers down.

"You're stuck… do you still want me to take your wristband?" He quirked an eyebrow, his face was close enough his bangs tickled her cheek and she could see the dirt on his lenses.

"You haven't won yet." A mischievous grin spread across her face. She rolled her hips into his, knowing he would shy away from such suggestive contact. He lifted his weight off her instantly, his expression shocked. His pause gave her the opportunity she wanted, she pulled her right hand to his shoulder and dug her fingers into a pressure point at the top of his shoulder at the same time her knee came up to his groin.

"That's a dirty trick, Astha." He growled as he rolled away. She grinned in response, then pushed herself up and away from him.

She stood up in a cloud of dust that coated them both. He was up a moment later, adding to the dust making it hard to see as it puffed off their clothes.

"Can't expect me to always be polite." She shrugged coyly.

"Apparently... they teach things differently in the Empire." His tone was full of indignation.

"I'm starting to think you've always been a priest." She teased.

He saw her flash of teeth before she launched again, this time she drove her shoulder into his midsection, giving her easy access to the buckle.

He let himself fall with her momentum, her rolling with him, her hands still on the belt. He grabbed around her waist and when he landed, he lifted her off the ground and over his shoulder. She landed with her midsection beside his head, quickly he adjusted his arms to grab her hand, his long fingers lacing through hers to hold her right hand and he squished her some with his left arm as he reached to undo the wrist band.

"Ah ha!" He instantly let her go.

She sat up to look down at him. Her eyes travelled lower and she smirked. "I wouldn't celebrate just yet, Bucko."

He furrowed his brow for a moment in confusion as he laid prone.

"I got your belt in that last tumble. You just happen to be laying on it."

He looked up at her, seeing her hair all messed up, the dust sticking to her sweat dampened skin, smears where some was rubbed off, it was probably the most disheveled looking he had ever seen her. He sat up to look at the traitorous belt.

"A tie then?"

"I'll let it go at that." She grinned, white teeth stark against her dusty face. He was just as dirty as she was, silver hair had lost its shine for the sandy coloured grime, his bangs were a mess and his ponytail was halfway down his back. His glasses were askew on his face, lenses murky with dust.

"Let's hope we can leave most of this dirt here and not in my car." She stood up and offered her hand to him. He smiled and let her help him up.

They worked at brushing the dirt off themselves. He plucked off his glasses, tsking at their grubby state. Astha grabbed their canteens from the room, dousing herself with the little that was left and getting the last bit of dirt off her face with the towel. He did the same, surprised at the amount of grime that came off.

"I think we are decent enough now. I'm ready to head back, you?"

"Indeed, I'll grab the bots and meet you at the car."

They had been driving for a short while when Astha finally felt she had mulled over things enough to talk about it.

"So… any issues?" She asked after a while.

He paused, thinking back. "No, it was all me finally, even when we are grappling, thank god."

"That's a relief ...What about earlier when you were in the other form?" Abel handed her a bun while they drove, having grabbed it from the basket in the backseat.

"No. The crusnik actually had no pull for you, and while I did take my vial, I still don't feel like I needed it overall." He had snagged an apple to eat, he tapped the back of his hand to his temple. "It's been all quiet in here, weirdly enough since I deactivated."

"That's good, right? A daily diet seems to be working?"

"Yes, I don't remember the last time I had such clarity while activated above forty percent."

She chewed thoughtfully on her bun, looking over at him occasionally. He seemed pretty chipper, and she was hesitant to ask her next question.

"Given what you're capable of… like flight and lightning bolts… what help can I be with going after Cain except as a walking snack bar?"

He half choked on his apple and looked at her, a bit horrified by the terminology.

"I don't know what will happen…but you now have a good idea of what I can become… I wouldn't blame you if you wished to stay behind. I would never force you, Astha."

"I don't want to be a liability for you… if you were to let that beast loose, the Orden would be obliterated. You are no longer held back by the restraints of the Church, no need to hide your abilities. Why not go full bore and stop him right away?"

He was quiet for a while, long enough she wasn't sure he would answer her.

"If I'm not successful, I need someone to keep him from taking my nanomachines or at least attempt to... You've seen me at full activation, can you imagine what the Orden could do with that? It's only Cain's inability to stay in form that stands in their way." His voice dropped to a deep timbre, soft and low. "And if I am successful, who will keep me from becoming that which I have slain? Who would stop me from delving into chaos, to remind me that I am human still?"

She had taken her foot off the pedal, letting the car coast a little. His glacial blue eyes held such naked honesty that when their eyes met, it brought forth the pinpricks of tears to hers.

"I hadn't thought of that."

"You are fearless, now that you know what I am and to still choose to stand there without flinching, not many could do that."

Her cheeks pinked a little, "Fear was the last thing I felt… I've never seen anything so… so incredible, the huge powerful wings, the lethal grace in your movements. It's so dark yet so beautiful of a predator. I'm in more awe than fear." The car had drifted to a slow speed on the road. Her voice was soft and husky as she spoke.

Abel's jaw was slack as he listened to her, he couldn't believe she was talking of the same creature. Astonishment was stark on his face.

Her eyes darted up to his a moment before looking back at the road, she coughed a little and put her foot back on the pedal.

"S-Sorry about that… I've made that awkward for you. I've always had an appreciation for natural predators, like my tigers, not that you're an animal but… the impressions are similar."

Abel clenched his hands into fists, once the shock wore off he felt furious that she saw anything redeeming about the Crusnik.

"Will you feel that way if I'm covered in gore, bodies hacked and strewn around from my scythe?" His voice rose with outrage. "The awful stench of flesh charred by the electric blasts. It craves your blood… if given the chance I could absorb gallons, it knows no bounds in depravity... I have done horrible things because of what that form is. There is no beauty in it, only horrible ugly violence."

"But you are in there, it's a part of you and perhaps now… now you can truly make conscious use of it. The advantages of a logical mind with that form… it doesn't have to be bad Abel, you're not an evil person." She returned his ire with her own, and in her anger stomped on the brakes and pulled the car over, slamming the stick in park.

"I'm not evil perhaps but I am damned."

"Why?! Did you ask to be this Crusnik? Was it by choice you've done the horrible things you keep mentioning? I bet not. You don't work that way, at least since I've known you."

"You have known me but a blink in my existence." He snapped back.

"So what? I've seen enough to know you're not whatever your past was. Leave the past behind and live now. Not everyday you get a second chance like you did. Doesn't your faith talk all about forgiveness and new beginnings? Read your book and use it."

"The bible has nothing to do with this… I can't forgive myself. I've had over 900 years to dwell on it and it doesn't just go away!"

Her eyes widened in disbelief as his closed, regretting instantly that he had let slip his age. "Damn it." He whispered.

The heavy silence was only a few seconds as Astha digested his outburst. "That's older than the Empire! That would be during the Dark Ages… the wars written in the history books."

Abel's anger melted away into anguish. He looked at her, seeing her connecting what little he had said to her knowledge of history. For a moment he hated that her mind was so quick.

"Nightroad doesn't sound very different from Knightlord… the three leaders of the methuselah armies."

"Astha.." he tried to interrupt her thinking.

"You were there… the terrible past you keep mentioning. You were one of the commanders… they killed millions of people."

He hung his head, defeated, his long bangs hiding his face.

"Seth said you reminded her of someone she knew a long time ago… but she was really meaning you.." she paused looking at his bowed head.

His silence was all the answer she needed. Astha could feel his guilt radiating off him, unbuckling her seat belt she shifted herself over the bench seat and took a deep breath. She wrapped her arms around him, cradling his head on her right shoulder, not giving him a chance to shy or push her away. He put up some resistance initially but then leaned into her warmth. His arms tentatively settled around her. She rubbed her hand along his back in soothing motions, smoothing out his long ponytail.

"I have been the monster...having allowed myself to take the Crusnik in a misguided, deluded need to take back what we felt was owed to us. We, who were forgotten, betrayed and discarded by the world… it was only after he killed her that I finally saw the wrong we were doing."

"Nine hundred years is a long time to hold onto guilt, tovarish. A long time to be so tortured."

"Is it? To those I killed without thought or feeling? The families destroyed. I was one of the

Contra Mundi, a God of Carnage, Destruction and Slaughter I was labelled." He whispered against her skin, each word heavy with self loathing.

"Cain is the other Knightlord." He nodded slightly.

"Your fight with him is about more than just stopping the Orden… it goes back to the start of the wars doesn't it?"

He nodded again, "It does…Cain was my twin in looks but his mind was corroded by the crusnik… we never saw that until it was too late."

"Twin? Oh..oh I am so sorry Abel." She tightened her arms around him in sympathy. "I understand now that you do need me with you ...Thank you for trusting me. I won't let you down." She placed a soft, comforting kiss on his head. If he wouldn't listen to her words of reason, she hoped the healing touch of another would give him the small bit of solace he so needed.

He responded by returning her embrace, shifting back and pulling her up next to his thigh, his hands sliding over her clothes as his arms wrapped around her fully. She was so close she could feel the thud of his heart against her own chest.

Abel relaxed into her warmth as it soaked into his body, making his muscles feel languid. Her soothing scent mixed with the earthy smell of dust saturated his senses, The emotional release he was feeling made him crave more physical connection to her, he felt so unbalanced to have gone from anger to shame to this touch starved state. She knew his awful past, that his blood stained hands forged the beginnings of her country and still did not shy from his presence.

He remembered the breathless way she spoke about his transformation, it was not fear she portrayed at all. Her body was pressing into him, the soft pillow of her breasts absorbing his movements as he breathed against her. Her hands moved along his back and shoulders, her palms sliding over the hard sinewy muscles pressing them to relax, it felt heavenly especially where his wings manifest from. Not thinking, he pressed his lips to where her neck met her shoulder, the skin was so warm and tempting... Longing spiked within him, the change from comfort to something more intense hitting him like a sledgehammer. His mind flashed back the feel of her beneath him in the scuffle earlier, the grind of her hips against his.. it was so shocking at the time but now, it was erotic and set his blood on fire. It had been beyond years since he had felt that want... Bringing his hand up to the back of her neck, his heart was beating quicker as the heady flickers of arousal danced in his veins. Unbidden, he nuzzled and opened his mouth to press a more ardent kiss to her neck... he froze abruptly letting her go and pushing himself away.

"I'm sorry Astha… I d-didn't mean to…I got carried away."

Her golden eyes were startled from the sudden change but then softened with understanding. His face was flushed and he wouldn't hold her gaze... she had pushed his boundaries hard today.

"It's ok Abel. I shouldn't have tempted you like that, just because earlier was ok doesn't mean being that close wouldn't trigger your crusnik… just sometimes a good hug is the best response to such... heavy confessions." She looked at his flushed face and shuttered expression. "We need to get back quickly if you need another vial."

Abel coughed a few times, for once he was fighting himself and not the crusnik for control, he thought ruefully. Thankfully she seemed to have interpreted his actions to wanting blood not anything more, which at the same time didn't sit well with him. Did she think of him more as that monster than as a man now?

To distract himself he cleaned his glasses which had gotten smudged with the bottom edge of his shirt.

"Th-Thank you, Astha... Again, I'm sorry for my actions."

She shrugged before settling back in the driver's seat. "If I minded, you would be sporting a black eye… or whatever you do get from a punch to the head."

"Duly noted." He replied dryly, as he pushed his glasses back on and looked out the window. He knew her casual flirting was her way of trying to loosen him up but now… he would need to be more conscious of his reactions to her if desire was getting into the mix. It had been so long since he dealt with longing and arousal that he almost preferred the ugly cravings of the crusnik.

Putting the car back in motion, she rolled down the window to cool the air as much as make conversation easily avoidable. She had taken the gamble to give him some physical contact for just a brief moment to lighten his burden that he carried. She was relieved when he returned the embrace, he seemed to need it so badly. How long had it been since he found comfort from a friend? She felt a twinge of regret that by holding her he had to fight his crusnik craving for blood. She had felt the soft press of his lips on her neck and was surprised by it, nervous butterflies had flickered inside her, wondering what he was up to. She felt the spike in his heart rate and the change in his breathing moments before she was suddenly let go. The closeness must have triggered his beast, the push was for her safety as much as his revulsion of the crusnik... No wonder he lived around terrans if simple contact with methuselah caused him such inner turmoil. She sighed softly and let her mind reflect on the conversation.

The Empress knew him with such familiarity… and was unfazed by the crusnik. Was she one as well? It made a lot of sense if she was. Methusalah eventually pass away, where she was still vibrant and youthful after nine hundred years of ruling the Empire.

Cain was his twin… he had never mentioned a word of his childhood or family… her heart ached at the thought of him already being 'killed' by his own brother. Family ties were such an important aspect of her culture that fratricide was always extra chilling a crime. As it was, her killing of Süleyman as a distant relative took a long while to cope with.

Astha glanced at Abel, he too seemed lost in thought, gazing out at the scenery. She rolled the window up, feeling that perhaps they could talk about the upcoming days instead of his painful past.

"In two days we should be on our way to just before Vienna, a town called Parndorf. From what I could find it's a fairly simple place, for a larger town anyway… from there we are only a few hours away from Krakow."

"Which also means the Orden could easily be around to sabotage the trade agreement. All it would take is the town to think the vampires are attacking and the Vatican will explode with righteous fury. Francesco is literally frothing at the mouth to send the inquisition in... Caterina has been struggling to keep him at bay as it is."

"It's too bad the Vatican can't see how well we work with the terrans of the empire. Honestly, it's been a great partnership. I feel terrible for the Albion group being held underground like that, at least in the Empire our terrans are treated with respect."

"Humans react funny when fear is involved. It's happened in history many times."

"I guess you would know first hand."

"No, not really. A lot happened while I hid from the world and humanity in general." His tone was neutral, so Astha let her curiosity take over.

"How long were you hiding?"

"Since the truce in 2220 until the attack on young Caterina pulled me out of the catacombs under Rome. That happened in 3050."

She blinked as she calculated the years.

"Wow, you were alone that long?"

"I was… inconsolable at the brutal death of a loved one and unable to cope with all that I had done, so I stayed in the catacombs… The nanomachines wouldn't let me die they just shut me down in long periods of sleep.

When I was awake I would find supplies in the various storerooms within the catacombs as well as their records and various history books."

"How did you end up in Rome? Considering the war…"

"Pope Gregorio was a forgiving man."

"Not much is written about him, other than he facilitated the truce."

"Being the defeated side, I'm not surprised."

"Very true."

Astha pulled the car into the parking spot and shut it off. "Hector will be waiting for us I imagine. Later, when you are ready we can contact Seth." She looked at him with concern, "no rush… I've probably dredged up a lot of stuff. Perhaps you should get some rest?"

"A few, yes, but it was bound to happen eventually… I'll find you once I'm ready." He reached over and patted her shoulder. "Thank you for the training, it was needed like you said."

A quick smile and they exited the car.

"Issack have they found Abel yet? It's been days since I've heard anything."

A tall, slim man sat at a wide wooden table, dressed in a white uniform with red trim. Given the aged look of the room he seemed out of place in pristine white. He had a wine glass held casually in one hand, swirling the contents idly.

"It seems he did make it to 03's with his companions." Issack was standing again at the large window that overlooked the main part of the facility.

"Oh good. Seth will take excellent care of him, you know I was quite worried."

"Of course Mein Herr." he paused to take a quick drag on his smoke. "I was thinking, what if we were to attempt to take 04s body again? Seeing how 02 has done well with the mixture of nanomachines. There might be enough left in her tissues if they stored well."

A contemplative look took over Cain's face, his blue eyes half closing as he mulled the idea over.

"Would you be able to convert the nanomachines to be mine? I don't want that woman in my veins."

"There's a strong possibility I can do some reprogramming if there's anything viable left."

"Fantastic! It would be nice to stick together a touch longer when I see Abel again. We might even get a chance to talk!" Cain waved his glass towards the large glass tank at the end of the room, it was filled with a thick black liquid. "As much as the tank helps I'm spending more and more time in it again."

"Yes, I've noticed. Your ability to hold shape has lessened by a notable degree."

"I'm feeling quite solid now… we could go to Rome anytime. I've had enough of sitting in this old rusty place, I want to go personally."

"Once I get some reports back from a few of the others we can leave for the Vatican. Those that may recognize us are not in Rome currently so it's perfect timing."

A large smile spread across Cain's handsome face and he downed the contents of his glass. "Very good!"

A slight twitch at the corner of Issack's lips was all the response seen before he took a long drag on his cigarillo.