Riki glided to his feet, after materializing out of thin air one particle at a time only seconds ago. He had learn to travel or space jump as he preferred to call it possibly two months ago but he never thought that it could actually manage to pull it off this well. He glanced around at his old apartment. It stood the same as when he had left it. The thought made his heart swell and his eyes burn. If only things could have stayed like this room that belonged to Riki the Dark… but that was only wishful thinking… time couldn't be undone.
Flopping down on the bed, that was as neat as he had left it he imagined that by now chaos had ensued back at Eos by now and they were scaling every corner of Midas searching for him. It would take only seconds before they cleared that area and turned to the slums.
He sighed curling his arms around his stomach protectively. If he wasn't certain that he was very much heavy and ready to burst at a moment's notice the suit he wore would have fooled him into believing that he wasn't pregnant. Raoul really was something else to have devised something that completely concealed the evidence of how badly he had managed to get knocked up was really amazing.
It scared him.
But what else could he have expected. Blondies were beings designed to transcend humanity. They had blood flowing through their veins but that was as close as they got especially now. He thoughts ran an Iason the Blondie who had taken everything he had from him, the Blondie who he had hated to o end and now the very same who was very much willing to lay down his life for him.
Riki stretched out on his back as a gentle thud struck his abdomen. The little bastard had quite a powerful kick. Resting his hand on it he felt the warmth grow before they responded to the touch with a gentle glow. It's funny really how attached he was to them. He had loved them long before he even knew them. This attachment startled him, after gaining so much he was well aware of the fact that he now had something to lose.
Sadly Iason came with that package too. If he closed his eyes he could practically see what Iason was doing, like now for instance as he paced the room enough to leave his tracks in the tiled flooring. And if he cared to focus hard enough he could tell what was going on in that over sized cranium of his. The thought of being the only thing on Iason's mind had him going red up to his ear in embarrassment. Even when they were miles apart he managed to get him all flustered and emotionally undone. But it was like this that he knew that Iason was always nearby especially since he was well aware of the fact that with one sudden rise of his heart rate in panic he would know that Riki needed him (although even now his pride would never allow it).
Iason was right now that they couldn't be sure when they brats would come popping out the oven it was wisest to stay at Eos were they were preparing to deal with him at any time. But he was no fool. With how Jupiter had been acting there was no way he would be allowed so much as an inch near the closest exit. She had found something she was fixated on, a miracle, an unexpected phenomenon that could aid her in her endeavor and even more so she had found a new pawn to use in her grand scheme of things. Like a baby who found a new toy, she had no plans on letting go.
Two days, that was all he wanted. He gripped the fabric of his modified shirt over his stomach. Very soon he was going to be unable to so much as lift a finger and before it came to that he wanted to at least see them, the members of bison, his dearest friends. Even if it was from afar, he longed to see them alive and well and if he was lucky, he could even get to say his final good byes.
But it was stupid to believe that after all that had happened to them because of him, that they would actually want to see him. For all he knew they were glad he was gone and bade him good riddance. He sat up feet dangling over the edge of the bed, yeah at this point they would probable wish that he had died and stayed dead a thousand kilometers from them. And he wouldn't wrong then either. With all that had happened to Guy he wanted nothing short of giving them peace. If only they could have forgotten about him and moved on then it would have made his final actions easier to do.
He couldn't afford for a replay of history right now, he was given a second chance at life the day he woke in Raoul's lab and this time he was hell bent and setting things right.
Heaving out of bed, he decided that time was short, he wanted to stay two days but he had a feeling it wouldn't exactly go as planned.
-…-
-At that moment in a typical apartment in Ceres-
Fate paused in his tracks as a sharp stab of awareness jolted his consciousness. The glass of water he had been carrying fell to the ground shattering into a million shards now scattered across the room in a pool of clear liquid. For a moment he had found it hard to breathe as though a hand had ceased his heart and refused to let go. A void in his chest he had been caring for so long seemed to fill and spill over at the brim. For a brief moment in shear pain that almost shoved him into the brink of unconsciousness he felt a bliss beyond words.
But like a distant memory the pain left him leaving him bracing against the counter a gloved hand griping his chest. His breath came in ragged gasps that for a moment felt painful to perform. He was dragged back to the here and now by the sounds of footsteps creeping with great effort from the other room.
Refusing to be seen in such a shaken state he righted himself before the worrisome young mother entered the room. Rena peeked around the corner with large near dark eyes at the man who now held Ceres in the palm of his hand not sure whether or not it was wise to enter.
Just seeing her filled him with a strange sense of ease. It was on a whim when he had decided to take her in and assume responsibility of her. As far as her memories went she had already been with child when she had woken in the hospital, with no known relative or possible sire. Attaining responsibility gave him a sense of purpose something he had felt as though he was deeply lacking.
When he saw her for the first time he felt as though he had seen her, not as if he had known every intricate outline of her frame in another life. But at this point he wasn't certain of exactly where speculation ended and truth began but one thing was certain he felt as if he knew her, it wasn't as though she was particularly striking in fact she was quite masculine in her appearance and wouldn't draw much lustful eyes in her state of appearance now. Her short coal black hair and near matching brown eyes.
"Is everything alright?" she didn't move from where she was.
Giving himself a mental slap for making her worry he glanced down at the shards of glass on the floor, "everything is fine my hand slipped is all. Now please go back to bed," his expression never showed on his face which left his concern unseen.
She obeyed without complaint.
After watching her go he made a mental note to call the doctor to do her twelfth check up today. Though the doctor said that it was fine up until her last week before labor, Fate wasn't all together sure if with a belly that big she should be on her feet so often. He had spent most of his days watching the growth since Vivani had reported to him that the Golden one she cared was similar to him. The desire he felt of worry and impatience revealed ever so often his desire to be on equal ground with someone, though he was surrounded by so many he could fight the thought of still being alone. Truly he never felt that way when he was around Rena for some particular reason.
But it wasn't enough. He wanted more.
Refusing to be pulled into contemplation on such depressing thoughts he took to reassembling the broken glass with just a thought. He watched the shards mold together in a show of lights before the glass hovered in mid air before him, in all its unmarred perfection.
Deciding it best to call it a night for his supernatural capabilities he drew for a mop to dry away the spill the way he had seen Rena do before plucking the glass out of thin air and resting it in the kitchen sink.
Checking on Rena just in case she needed anything he retired to his room. Her contractions had gotten worse and he was beyond himself with worry but surprisingly she wasn't the only one he was worried about. Glancing at the bed he debated over whether or not he really needed this. He was tired yes but he wasn't sure if he wanted to fall into the world of dreams. Usually when he closed his eyes he simply drifted in the darkness until morning came leaving him refreshed and revitalized but of late his nights rest was filled with a man that resembled him, with flowing golden hair and little golden haired bundles everywhere he looked.
-That night-
Vivani checked his watch for the time once again. It had been over two hours but no one had stepped in. by now they had a majority of the residents in Ceres under registration as only a handful still rejected the new order saying they were content with their present way of life.
He sighed; there were still fools who were stupid enough to believe that this hell was a paradise on earth.
By now he was the only one here along with Roland who decided to stay to keep him company. By now he was ready to call it a night, he would have to report today's progress in the morning when he had a thorough overview of every candidate's file.
"I'm going to grab another round of coffee do you want anything?" Roland enquired with a yawn and a stretch.
"Ah dinner would be nice. Besides I think we can call it a night now," Vivani sated heaving to his feet.
Glancing at the huge open metal doors he waited for a moment. He didn't know why today of all days he felt as though there was something he would miss, something he needed at all costs. And sure enough when he had these episodes he was usually never wrong. But he was at his limit now unlike most who could manage to be wide awake at this hour regardless of having an early shift in the morning he wasn't one of them.
Besides, he glanced at Roland as he gathered the registration sheets of those special few they had found today. In all out of three hundred and odd they had managed to find eight but the trait was next to invisible and obviously on the verge of fading. He had none of two who had lost their gift; their light that set them apart from all the others. It was a pity, but all things happen for a reason, at least that's what Fate had told him.
Gathering his documents tucked tight against his chest he gathered the heap that caught him under the chin for storage. Entering the back room he was struck with the familiar sight of a network of handlers who worked assiduously to file away the information sheet on each member according to profession, name, age and gender. When they weren't busy gathering information for Fate and documented their findings they were down here continuing their labor.
Before he could beacon for a bit of help a young one recognized went by the name Slates took it from him without a word and vanished in the systematic chaos in front of him. Despite his look, the roguish air about him and the fire that lay in his eyes, Slates was a pretty decent guy, a complete genius, him being a hacking mastermind was just bonus. He didn't expect for the youth's attitude to change so easily not after being in a gang for most of his life, no that would take time, although today he seemed to be in a particularly foul mood. The rumor he had heard, about Slates' pairing partner breaking up with him, from one of his friends that worked with him seemed to have some truth to it indeed. However, in only the two months he'd been assigned here he had already gripped the reigns of control and set a pace that they all sought to keep up with. But he didn't expect any less when he had assigned him here; especially knowing he was one of the gifted.
His eyes followed the radiant flow of gold that lingered where ever Slates went. It was sad that only a few like him could see that magnificent light that stuck to everything it touched. In this room felt like an entire different dimension, bent on the betterment of the people where Slates was the ruler. He couldn't manage to conceive all that happened here, and he doubt he would or even wanted to. It was reassuring enough to know that everyone was willing to play their part as best as possible.
After allocating the documents he just took from Vivani he accepted a cup of coffee that was offered to him by a passing coworker who was now playing waiter. In this place where the flow of work never ceased, coffee was like their sacred herb, the very essence of life. He grimaced knowing he couldn't go without food and sleep. Although he had done it once before but that time was different he didn't have a choice, the yearning for meaning would have driven him made when he was already at the edge of his sanity. It was a desperate determination to go to the one who called him, the respond to the only voice he heard, the voice of the one they named Fate.
"Excuse me is Darcy here?" he stopped a petite brunette who was passing by.
"Uh Dar," the girl in the thick glasses puzzled absently with her lips on a cup of coffee and her eyes on the registration sheet in her hand, "yeah I think he's in the back room again," she walked off on that note seeming far too distracted to even have been remotely aware of the fact that she was talking to someone.
Indicating to Roland who had been kind enough to gather their coats that he needed a moment, he bee lined it through the room alive with the commingling noise of paper and mismatched chorusing voices. Slipping into a room that was rarely used he stepped into yet another world, a place foreign to most who passed it by and still unknown to many. This was where the hidden affair took place, where all the mysteries that surrounded the Dana Bahn incident were being unraveled.
Not much to his surprise the seemingly smaller group had a darker atmosphere around them. Outside was mild in comparison to this, order was relative to perspective and the atmosphere of work was every present in the silence. The clearer distinction between the two rooms where the white lab coats they wore here for reasons beyond his comprehension and the matching gloves
Without effort he spotted the person in question a rather dark youth recognizable by his hair that was braided in one that dangled off the table where his head laid. Unlike this bunch of nocturnal beings Darcy Inutoshi was once again fast asleep on a pile of research he was documenting. The existence of oil in Ceres was one of his greatest finds he had quickly dismissed as mere coincidence but everyone who knew him were very much aware that things pertaining to Darcy were never coincidences.
"Darcy," Vivani called pulling the youth just turning twenty one aback in the seat waking him instantly though nothing in his demeanor showed it.
"I f it isn't Fate's loyal blood hound of what do I owe the displeasure. I already handed in the report on the possible route usable for the oil tunneling," Darcy stated as Vivani commenced the ritual of grooming him.
Though this faction only consistent of twenty four persons who spent their days here on the clock and around the clock they prided themselves in keeping themselves well groomed and organized, their fatigue never showing in their eyes or demeanor. The air of superiority they held stumped even Vivani. There was simple something regal about them that made them look like scholars whilst everything else in the other room looked like child's play. Amongst the lot of Professionals Darcy was the only exception sleeping when ever Vivani saw him.
"I see you really don't regard my affection for you in high esteem," Vivani stated after pulling Darcy's hair in a tight French twist pinned in place.
"Well you tossed me in this hell of a ring, don't expect me to thank you fo it unless it's with ma foot up yo ass," He commented the eyes Vivani love every so much still sealed shut.
Regardless of wanting a better world, Darcy was used to the idea of a nine to five job, despite being in this business for relatively eight months he still struggled to cope with the around the clock job. But it was something Vivani could reason with. The others here struggled too he could see it in their aura but they refused to let it show, they were promoted from their position in the room next door to here because they were working above the standards and now they had to fight to maintain that standard and not to fail their leader. It was the common belief in this room that what they did was for Fate a no one else though selfish in the ideology he could live with it, for he too only lived for that one person.
"Are you sure it was wise to break off the partnering pair with Slates?" Vivani asked making reference to one of the many processes in Ceres where you took a partner that was like a lover and a friend, "don't you love him anymore?"
"Thats not the issue here," Darcy responded his voice thick with fatigue as Vivani wiped the last of the shaving cream he had applied to his chin aside.
Resting the razor covered in hair and shaving cream in a small basin that was always there with what he needed as was the norm for every work station here he took a damp cloth to clean away anything he missed even remotely.
"Then what' the problem, I thought a partner like him was death do you part," Vivani enquired pulling a seat next to the man who still had his eyes closed.
"It's best to stop while you're ahead. Its goes unquestioned how we feel for each other but at this rate I'll only manage to drive myself into ruins and sadly I'm not up for taking him with me. He needs someone that'll care for him and at present as you can see I can hardly even care for myself. I'm never there when he needs me and I never will be," his voice was nonchalant but Vivani could sense the pain etched in every word.
From only that Vivani grasped the whole picture. Having to surrender your lover so he could find someone else to pick up where he was falling short was the hardest thing but the smartest thing. But he would have to brace himself for the world of pain of having to watch him take another especially when they worked so close, everyday, all day. But, he was certain that that was an inevitable end that Darcy must have come to terms with years ago. That was simply how his mind worked predicting the results even before the experiment, and surprisingly he was usually never wrong. Which went a damn far way especially since Darcy wasn't amongst one of the gifted.
Everyone in this room had all held similar experiences, having to sacrifice something for the new purpose they served, for Darcy's partner to be the thing he had to surrender it was downright tragic and ridiculously brutal. But it was a blow he had taken without faltering which proved that he had indeed earned his keep.
"Is there any new development that I needed to know of?" Vivani questioned switching to a topic that was a bit less depressing.
"I thought you would have never asked," Darcy muttered pulling on his shades as he searched through his desk for something he must have document, "I was out in the fields where the Dana Bahn incident incurred, yes as risky as it was but the results were worth it. I don't have the answer to the initial question of why this happened to either you or Fate or any of the Gifted. However I think I found the first stepping stone that reveals what happened," he gestured to a coworker before turning back Vivani, "you might want to brace yourself for this."
"What's this about?" Vivani puzzled as his eyes settled on the documents on the table.
Darcy swallowed hard for a moment as he glanced around before setting his eyes on Vivani.
His voice was a hushed whisper as he spoke, "have you ever here about the phenomena based on time and space, the existence of life in death and the coexistence of natural opposing massing like ying and yang. A cycle or a flow that propels life itself,"
Vivani seemed thoughtful not knowing entirely how or why he knew of what Darcy spoke of, "yeah I think I know a bit something about the disruption of that flow causing miracles for better or worse. I'm not all together sure how it works just the basics."
"Fundamentally the flow of energy that enables time and space has been speculated to be many things and in truth there is neither a wrong or right answer. But that's not the issue right now what you're here for is something I found out recently," his voice seemed as hushed as a whisper as he handed a few hand written documentations, "there is something many failed to look at when a phenomena that disrupt the balance of logic when something unexpected happens."
Seeming to get some idea about this is about he furrowed his brows at the frantic had writing, "like the incident in Dana Bahn."
Darcy nodded the shadows under his eyes made him seem more haunted now than ever.
"What's that got to do with us," Vivani questioned referring to those who were affected by the disaster and managed to emerge from the rubble unmarred but broken.
"This for sure I'm not certain but according to an informant. The bodies of two prominent figures we all know and love were pulled from those ruins namely Iason Mink and Riki the Dark," he leaned forward, "think about it what could have happened between them that could have caused them both to be at the exact same place at the exact same time. It seems illogical right especially in this day and age."
"Iason Mink, Riki the Dark?" the words were unfamiliar to his mind, "they died there?"
"If that were the case I guess this would have been a lot simpler. Why is it I wonder that they had been pronounced dead when the like of you, Fate and the Golden ones were just being born?"
"So this is a phenomenon I the cycle of life and death then," Vivani stated not seeming as interested as he was earlier.
"Sorry but no," he bit his lips haunted eyes fixed on the documents in Vivani's hands, "this…no…that is what I discovered in Dana Bahn, what I believe Jupiter is trying to hid not on merely the fundamental phenomenal laws of existence of time and space but also the truth behind what happens when those laws are broken. That which you hold is not about such phenomenon but on the spaces in between."