CHAPTER 3

"Biovolt… why do you think that Chief?" exclaimed Tyson, crossing his arms.

"Well think about it Tyson… new tournament, remember the first world championships and BEGA. I find it hard to believe that Boris and Voltaire have just simply given up. We can't rule them out as a possibility. As far as we know Boris is still at large." Explained Kenny in one long breath.

The whole room was tense with worry. The Bladebreakers instantly felt guilty that they had jumped straight to the conclusion that Kai was one big traitor, well not yet anyway, they had to be certain.

Ray came forward and suggested "M, Guys I think it maybe an idea to give the Blitzkrieg Boys a call, I'm sure Mr. Dickenson would have a contact number and they could tell us if they have seen Kai, they may lie for him but its worth a shot."

"That sounds like a plan Ray, but what if he is with them" frowned Max

"We'll just have to see and hope for the best" answered Hilary trying to lighten the mood a bit once again.

Kenny left the group in the dojo to contact Mr Dickenson. The rest of the team was solemn and not quite sure how to deal with the situation. They just stood staring at the floor, hands in their pockets or playing with hair strands, they all had butterflies and their stomachs were in knots. It was the not knowing whether they were going to be hunting for a traitor or their friend. A war was going on inside their emotional cages; they didn't know whether to be scared for his safety or their friendship. They prized and respected Kai amongst all others, he was their team captain, and he allowed them to have a bond with him that nobody else was allowed to have. To think he may have just simply walked away or he was taken away from them when he was needed the most; stung like a hot pain on their hearts. Kenny was back with their answer. The grim Chief instantly had everyone's attention.

"Guys I rang Mr Dickenson and he gave me Tala's home number." The stumpy brunette just shook his head in disappointment "Sorry guys, nobody picked up. I tried 6 times repeatedly and still nothing."

The usually ever grinning American asked "So what do we do now guys?"

"I wish I had an answer for you Max, I really do but I just don't know" said Kenny

"Well I say we go look for Kai, where ever he is, I don't think were gunna rest till we find him" Tyson sighed heavily. Kai affected him so much. He hated his arrogance and selfishness and stubbornness but then Tyson knew he was exactly the same. When he fought in matches with Kai it was like they were in a zone where nothing else mattered other than their game, doing the thing they loved they were untouchable. Tyson never had that with anybody else in the world. He never told Kai this but he felt like he had known him all his life and Kai was like a brother to him, still a jerk though.

"We'll find him guys, don't you worry. I think Kai's perfectly capable of looking after himself" in an optimistic tone, Hilary wasn't fooling anyone.

"Mr Dickenson is coming round first thing tomorrow morning to discuss what we should do. He has already said he'll pay for anything we need, travel to Russia, accommodation…"

Kenny was cut short with Daichi over speaking.

"What about our training? In case you have forgotten we have a tournament in less than 8 weeks"

Tyson scowled at him and snapped. "Daichi, at the moment all we can think of is Kai right now; right guys?"

Ray, Max, Hilary and Kenny all replied with a nod or a "yep"

Tyson's grandpa appeared from around the corner.

"Righto Peeps I suggest ya hit the hay, you peeps have a hell of a day ahead of ya'll so off to bed now, ya hear?

The teens decided that Grandpa was right. Tomorrow they would probably be travelling to Russia, or hitting the town asking if anyone had seen their missing captain. Either way it was going to be a long and stressful day and they need rest right now. They slunk into their beds without a word of goodnight and prayed that sleep would come quickly. However the Bladebreakers didn't sleep; didn't sleep at all.

The air was thick with a cold embrace that smothered anything with a heartbeat. All Kai could feel was the heavy wrist cuffs that refrained his hands from being more than 10 inches apart. The steel had warmed to his flesh and probably weren't as warm as they were when first put on him. The metallic smells, the hard floor, a nightmare maybe. The misery of his childhood took place here and he knew exactly where he was. Not quite awake enough to see, his other senses were enough to confirm he was back at Balcov abbey, the home of Biovolt. His head lolled from side to side as he tried lifting it, not having much success he just allowed his skull to droop forward. Sitting back up against a wall he wanted to gain some awareness before taking on what ever maybe in the room with him. He was still groggy from the drug and he wondered how long he was out for. Sudden realization hit him that this was very real and that he had been drugged and kidnapped and was now sitting in what he could only presume is a cell, maybe not alone either. He felt sick to the point of vomiting; his head still a whirling mess inside. His toned body was still a little paralysed and he didn't feel like trying to get up would help anything, for now he was a dizzy lump of meat waiting for the butcher.

"Well hello young Kai, long time no see" the dirty husky voice sounded evil of intention yet acted like an old friend.

Boris sat on a low metal chair, dark purple cloak, big boots that clanked with the metal underneath them and dark goggles on his head. His eyes were staring with satisfaction at his favourite pupil.

"Boris" Kai hissed with his head still bowed.

"Don't look too clever do you Kai, what's the matter, not shy are we?" sneered the Russian Neanderthal that was way too big for those boots.

Kai forced his head up to face the bastard whose name he cursed, with mahogany eyes staring back defiantly, a silent rage brewing within them.

"Still here then Boris, I was hoping you would be floating face down in a stream or lying dead in a gutter somewhere" Kai then smirked at his own remark.

Boris lifted his heavy self from the chair allowing it to squeak as it moved. Kai heard footsteps coming closer. Moonlight showered the room with bar shaped silhouettes and although dark outside, the white planet provided him with silver light. He could see Boris creep from the shadows and stop dead in front of him. Metal clanked as Boris drew to a halt and towered above him, vulture like.

"Get up Kai!" Kais last remark had angered Boris, he could tell by the tone of his voice and Kai got an ego kick out of it. Kai loved playing head games especially with Boris, it was so easy.

The blue haired teen got to his feet, although a little wobbly he made sure not to let it show.

"Smirk all you like Kai. But I'm afraid this isn't a joke. You won't be laughing when I'm done with you" snapped Boris.

Kai stopped smirking and stared deeply into his former trainer eyes, hate filled through and through. Boris pulled out a gun from under his cloak and back handed it across Kais face. Kai taught himself to always expect nasty surprises from this man and he needn't remind himself now. The sudden whack to the face had cut his skin just below Kais left eye on his cheek. The red liquid dripped down his face as if the stoic blader was crying blood. Kais head had been cracked to his left and he felt his neck twig as he bought his face back to Boris's. Kais rock hard expression remained the same though his eyes burned embers of pure resent.

"You are a traitor of Biovolt and traitors must be punished Kai. Lets get started shall we. Come in". On Boris's command 3 henchmen entered the room in black and grey abbey dress with their faces covered by black goggles (same dress as in first series) carrying 2 ft long black poles with leather handles. Kais heart pumped adrenaline; thankfully he had regained quite a lot of awareness back and felt like fighting was now an option.

Boris's tone was cold and sarcastic. Kai could smell his breath. He was just the way Kai had remembered him. Nasty and rotten to the core.

"I bet this will bring back a few memories Kai" sadistically smirking he turned away from the teen and smugly sat back in his chair. The 3 subordinates stood in line beside Boris leaving Kai in the moonlit corner by himself. Kai stood strong; eyes burning hatred face expressionless hiding the dread knotting his stomach. Kai didn't know what to do, what to think, theses damn cuffs made him feel vulnerable. If only he could make it to the door and out. He gritted his teeth and waited.

"Teach young Kai a lesson he'll never forget" sneered Boris eager to watch the violence. Blood lust etched on his face. Kai stood paralysed. He murmured to himself "Why can't I move, I can't scream, nowhere to run" His heart pounded as if to burst at any second.

Flashback

Boris stood tall over 6 year old Kai. Little Kai had lost one match out of 20 during elimination training.

"Kai you're failing with your training, how displeasing. Your grandfather will be very disappointed, lets correct you shall we, and no crying this time, remember crying doesn't help, it never will and only the weak do that" he sneered. Like a vampire, Boris's whitish yellow teeth shone in the candlelight. Little Kai was stiff a board trying to fight back tears of fear, trembling with his hair in his face, fists by his side. Boris was very scary and how he longed for his mummy to pick him up and cuddle him. Kai hadn't been at the Abbey long and still sobbed for his parents at night. He was just learning the ropes and getting the grips with beyblading. He felt Dranzer in his palm telling him that although mummy isn't here, she is and she will be with him when the pain comes.

Quietly, young Kai was beaten repeatedly with a smooth black pole. He suffered 3 broken ribs and a fractured cheek bone. Afterwards, he was sent straight back into training.

End of flashback

Kai tried his hardest to fight off the onslaught but the metal restraints were like handles and they used them to pin Kai down. One of the brutes would hold him from behind and the other 2 would lay into his abdomen. Organs were soft and damage was easy. Kai vomited twice thought-out his ordeal with all the stomach blows that winded him. Kai was laid into with the poles; they snapped a couple of ribs, caused linear cuts, bruises, jabbed organs. The men twisted his limbs, punched, and kicked Kai much to Boris's delight. Kai had no idea why Boris hated him so much, but then he was like that with all of the kids at Balcov abbey, sadistic and cruel. Kai struggled and flailed about as much as he could when not restrained, he even bolted for the door only to be grabbed by his shirt and slammed to the damp cell floor. Relentless beating ensued. Kais brain had finally shut off all caring and did what he could to defend himself; regardless of the pain.

The half Russian half Japanese looked a mess; his hair messed up, wrists red raw with the tightly yanking cuffs and blood dripped down a series of cuts and gashes. Kai knew the real damage was internal and he just prayed it was bruising and nothing more.

"That's enough" commanded Boris from the dark.

The 3 goons dropped Kai where they were and stood panting in a line beside Boris.

Kai had a gash on the top right side of his head and the crimson liquid streaked down the right side of his face. He had many small cuts and lesions painting his features but they were of no concern. He was dropped on his side causing Kai to gasp. Using the foetal position he righted himself back to leaning against the wall whilst still on the floor, legs sprawled out in front of him. His lip was bleeding, half his face was red with blood, and his clothes were wet with sweat, dirty with blood and covered in filth from the cell floor. This kind of treatment wasn't new to him. He had nightmares of beatings like this, visions of Boris and Voltaire grinning in the dark and hearing screams in a distance not knowing if they were his. Blood on the snow and dead people with gunshot wounds plagued his dreams. Here in Biovolt very wall he touched, every way he looked was a memory that clawed its way into his conscious mind, bad memories, painful memories, shameful memories.

"What's next Boris, a welcoming committee?" Kai hissed as blood spat out as he coughed.

"I have a purpose for you Kai" Boris said as formally as the monster could.

"You are going to be the leader for our Beyblade army. We also need you to wield Black Dranzer again. That's right Kai we're beginning a war. We will destroy anyone that gets in our way including the Bladebreakers. As soon as we defeat every threat and you take their bit beasts we will be able to rule the world as once planned."

"hahahahaHAHAHAHAH you're kidding right? There's no way you would get away with this, haven't you heard of military tactics, the government have protocols for maniacs like you. Mental institutions and padded cells." Kai joked sadistically in a low blood choked voice. He figured that Boris already has possession of Black Dranzer. Kai took Black Dranzer everywhere with him like he did Dranzer, although he never allowed himself to use it. Kai felt the phoenixes were missing from his back pockets. The black Phoenix and the original sacred beast would have been in those pockets if it weren't for Boris emptying those hours ago.

"Feisty as always. I'm sure Black Dranzer is dying to battle with you; he's every part of you as Dranzer is. I'm surprised you find this all so funny but you won't be laughing when we give you this new drug of ours, it's a serum that will force you to shut off all human emotion, we've tried drugs like these in the past but none are as perfected as this one, you probably wont even remember your friends Kai. One little prick and you'll be Biovolt's perfectly obedient soldier; a weapon to be used at our side as and when we see fit. What's the matter boy…? I don't see you laughing anymore" Boris sneered with glee at his last remark.

Kai death glared dangerously in the shadows, how he would love to rip Boris's guts out in alphabetical order and stuff them down his throat. The thought of needles made him choke on the air he breathed. The sickness and side effects of pain all over again.

"There's no point resisting us Kai this drug will take a hold of you and you will do as we tell you, you and Black Dranzer won't fail us again. And just as an insurance policy we're holding Dranzer for you, don't want her distracting you now do we?"

Kai's head bowed down to the floor beneath him, his bangs hiding his naturally pale torn skin. Heart beating irregularly as if a heart attack was approaching. Kai felt like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, he didn't know what to do. Half of him was saying get up and break every fucking limb Boris had and make him bleed out of every orifice. The other was saying think, be smart and escape when Boris wont expect it, but then what if Boris gets pissed and goes after and hurts Tyson and the rest of his team , Kai knew life wouldn't be worth living with the guilt, he had enough of that already. He suddenly didn't feel so feisty, instead sore and sick. He could still feel Boris's gaze upon him and sneering contently like a cat torturing a mouse. Kai didn't know how to react. His mind was like a stallion caught in barbed wire but still running. Painful and headache ridden his brain couldn't make a decision. He felt so lost. His friends were in danger if he did anything rash. He felt defeated and weak, no control, vulnerable.

After the first world championships Kai had swore a blood oath never to use black Dranzer again. Black Dranzer nearly caused him his death on Lake Baikal and he decided he couldn't be trusted with the pure power that Black Dranzer contained. Perfection would be found with his love, passion and fire that was, his beloved Dranzer. The thought of Boris having control over him and his bit beasts made him physically nauseous, uncomfortable. He asked himself, "Why can't Biovolt just let me have a shred of my own life?"

"Well young Kai, I take it you'll be joining our little enterprise willingly. Remember your friends lives are on the line. If you don't do as you're told, somebody may get hurt." Sniggered the animal that was Boris Balcov.

Kai bowed his head low and closed his crystal mahogany eyes with no emotion painted on the outside. Kai was writhing in physical and mental discomfort but Boris wasn't going to know that.

"Sleep well Kai, you have a busy day tomorrow, right now I have a few more guests that need visiting." With haste Boris and his henchmen left the dungeon without a second glance, slamming and bolting the door behind them. Kai sat in the damp darkness, pondering away in pain, his ribs hurt, his muscles were cramped and aching, his stomach still churning, he gritted his teeth tightly wishing for the numbness of the Russian autumn to set in. His eyes shone like shattered rubies in the blackness. Kai wasn't going to be a puppet, not again, not ever.