Hi again.
Thanks to all of you who are kindly putting this story on alert, I really hope you guys will enjoy reading as much as I do writing. As I said to Rogue Devlin, write this story is a challenge but an extremely pleasant one.
And again, please consider English is not my native language and this version is unbetaed. I am willing to improve of course and I all your comments and reviews are deeply appreciated so…Thank in advance!
Today´s Soundtrack: Behind Blue Eyes by Limp Bizkit.
WARNING: Please note, this Fic Signum-Fate and it is rated M for strong or violent content, strong language, sexual encounters between two females and other possible niceties. If this kind of content offends you in any way, if you are easily upset by explicit violent or sexual scenes or if you don´t have the age for reading M content, please don´t read.
DISCLAIMER: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha´s characters belong to their authors. Plot from Aleksei Volken. I only own my imagination. All the characters and situations described in this fic are fictional. Any similarity with real people or situation is not intentional and is pure coincidental.
-X-
Blue Eyed Demon by Aleksei Volken
-X-
Fifty years after "The End of the World", a new hegemonic order thrived from the ashes, and the global corporations that won with the global crisis…controlled it.
Deprived from basic order, drowned by anarchy; what used to be the countries in Central and South America, integrated together with the North giving birth to the new continental country besides Australia. Officially named as the "United Americas of the World" the new territory was colloquially and practically just called, the "Americas."
But they weren´t the only ones uniting. Globalization, as everything else, got extreme. From the one hundred and sixty-two existing countries at the dawn of the twenty-first century, the number turned into a very global… forty-five.
New countries arisen but also, new ways of "development"; new wars and new conflicts were created to sustain and maintain the system. Or maybe I should say "the same ways"?
Then...Not all people was the same. Not all people had the same rights. Not all people had the same value.
Today…Not all people are the same. Not all people have the same rights. Not all people have the same value.
Today we are basically the same as in the past…with slightest differences.
One century and a half ago people, almost any people, could just twist and turn a tap and have a treasure: Common, clean and natural….Water.
Today, water, a synthetically pure and recycled one thousand times water is, the most expensive and rare resource in the world. Blood in no longer heavier than water.
Back then, breathing…and not dying in the process, was as natural…as breath.
Today, breathing…well, let me clarify, breathing clean air is impossible but let´s just say breathing reasonably breathable not lethally poisonous air is….a very expensive luxury that few people can afford.
Never, such thing as 'equal rights' has ever existed in the history of the humankind, but less than ever in this future world.
Back then it used to be three kinds of people:
There was people who just born to feed the system, to keep the schema in this fragile balance of inequity and unfairness.
There were people who REALLY control such schema.
And there were 'people' who put the blood for that putrid system to become to 'life.' Predators that find the slightest slit in the human soul to ripped it out in its full nakedness and ugliness. People who motor the system with any illegal piece it need. People like me.
Today, we still have the same three kinds of people…and THEM.
The ones that are NOT people but look like one.
The BioDevices.
Not all people are the same. Not all people have the same rights. Not all people have the same value. But everybody dies the same.
Even the BioDevices.
Death has become the only true fairness. Or I should say it always was?
-X-
CHAPTER 2. Blue is more than a color.
.
Earth, Year 2161 A.D. from Old Gregorian Calendar - Year 99 of Modern Perpetual Solar Calendar, City of New Sparta, Main Capital of the Americas (former City of Washington D.C.)
Corporate Building of BLUE Incorporated.
"Did you accept an appointment on MY BEHALF...Without asking ME?"
The tall, pink haired woman was not yelling. She was not even raising her voice higher than her normal speaking. Her face was not moving a muscle that could possible indicated an emotion. Any emotion.
However, Hayate Yagami knew perfectly well that said woman was positively…FURIOUS…at her. With an immutable smile, the little brunette turned her sight towards the slender and elegant blonde woman sitting down in the spacious office with her and their boss in a silent request for help.
"Well, sort of that Signum…Carim," she said sternly, looking at the blonde again, "and I thought this was a really an opportunity we cannot miss."
It was extremely rare that Signum got mad with her, but this could be one of those rare occasions.
Fortunately for Hayate, Carim Gracia, the company General Attorney chose that very moment to intervene.
"The only reason why we are not the top leader BioDevice´s Company in the world is because of our government contracts Signum. That segment represents only twenty percent of our business when it could be easily… significantly higher," Carim said with her cool and immutable lawyer façade.
"And there is a reason why Carim…I don´t want the government dogs sniffing around my business!"
Hayate tensed a bit due the raising in her boss' voice. Carim was not her and Signum could talk her with that tone that she reserved for the rest of the world that were not Hayate…or Zafira.
"You have me and Hayate controlling everything, BLUE is perfectly legal," Carim simply said not taking offense in Signum scolding.
"I mean my other… 'businesses'…" Signum added annoyed.
Carim made an equally annoyed gesture that, for her customary immutability, said a lot.
"As long as you manage enough to control those… impulses… that 'compel' you to blowing out dealer´s heads in sordid alleys at the middle of the night…" Carim glared at Signum bravely, "Your… 'side' businesses are safe."
"That was an unnecessary explanation…but it was required," Signum said as only justification.
"Whatever!" Carim finally exploded, "¡You are the CEO of a Top Combat Biodevices company! ANY of our highly advanced and enhanced combat biodevices can do the job for you!" Same as Signum rarely got mad with Hayate; Carim rarely lost her temple with Signum.
That was a morning of exceptions.
"There are some things that cannot be delegated Carim."
Signum was sitting in her spacious liquid crystal desk, her voice had turned to normal tinge again but her eyes still had that pale, icy blue hue they got when she was under fury.
None of the women speak during several seconds.
Life was hard sometimes for them and definitely not fair.
"Don´t shit the place where you eat…basic hygienic measures," Signum said after a while slightly turning in her comfortable air suspended chair and kept her gaze at the large window with a stunning view of the city at the morning.
New Sparta was one of the big cities on the world that was completely reconstructed and embellished after the Wars.
"Signum," Carim tried again once she calmed down, "It is just an appointment. We don´t have a accept anything we consider dangerous. We, at least, can hear what this is about."
Hayate stood up from her chair and placed a thin device in front of Signum.
"Venturis is the second main administrative capital of the Americas, yes. It is the government, yes. But it is way far enough from here to keep everything safe. We have our other business in Asia and the middle East and…"
"My businesses," Signum clarified with harsh voice and still an icy but sad glare. Despite whatever she said or did, she always kept Hayate and Carim out of her 'side' business.
Hayate nodded slightly and continued a bit ironically, "Ok, Your…Business... In any case, let´s just talk with her." She pointed at the device where a number with more than twelve zeros glittered blatantly. "They want an exclusive production contract with us. Our latest combat model. Exclusively. THIS is the contract we might have been waiting for."
Hayate had a piercing gaze on Signum. They didn´t mention it but it was not a secret that she and Carim wanted Signum to retire from her 'side' business. Signum on her own didn´t want to disappoint them; but she had always thought that a predator was always a predator, not matter how expensive or refined was the designer suit it was wearing.
"Nothing is what we seem to expect Hayate. The brightest promise might turn into your worst nightmare before you even know," Signum said looking at Hayate and then to Carim. Both women smiled widely. Signum didn´t say it explicitly but they knew she had accepted. Or at least, she had given up at the topic.
No one knew Signum better in the world, as they did.
"And when this… 'Person'… comes?" Signum asked.
Hayate steeled herself.
"She should arrive in…" she looked at the watch suspended in the wall, "…an hour or so," she finished with her brightest and best charming smile ever.
Carim could almost swear she heard Signum growl in frustration. Hayate just widen her smile.
They were not blood related but surely they were to each other, the closer to a family than anyone of them will ever have.
Hardness of life forged strange alliances. And love thrived even in the strangest places. Like those little dogged and anemic scrubs that bound themselves to grow in the most unsuitable and horrible possible places.
Their alliance was like one of those strange ones; devastated, muted and lonely, but still alive…Their own personal and undisclosed tragedy.
Hayate loved Carim. Carim loved Signum. And Signum…The person Signum loved…was dead.
-X-
"So…what are you going to do now Precia?"
Lindy Harlaown, Admiral of the Unified Armada of the Americas, let her sixth pill of condensed sweetener fall into her tea cup while asking the question she wished never have to do at her beloved and lifetime best friend.
"You should decrease you consumption of sweetener Lindy," Precia said as if the previous question had never been voiced, even when she knew it was pointless. Lindy had drunk her tea like that for twenty years. Maybe more.
Lindy stared at her and reciprocated Precia treatment by ignoring her comment. She finished removing her tea and sipped it with evident pleasure.
"I sent Arf with her," Precia said at last. "There is nothing more I can do…for now."
Lindy remained silent as if considering her next words carefully.
"I didn´t have any idea Midget was planning something like this Precia. I wouldn´t have recommended Fate if I…"
Precia dismissed her friend´s words and interrupt her.
"I know that! Do be a fool you too. I have more than enough with Fate´s stubbornness."
"Do you think she will suspect?" Lindy asked placing her empty cup at the spotless and genuine wood table that Precia had in her private offices in Massive BioD, the world leader manufacturer of standard biodevices in the world.
"No," Precia answered somberly, "She won´t. And that precisely, will be the problem."
-X-
"…BLUE Incorporated…Biodevices - Lethal and Universally Enhanced"…."Christ sake Fate; Who, in the name of God, use the word 'Lethal' in a company name?" After a short and somehow dramatic pause, the red haired woman continued, "Are you really sure this IS what you want to do?"
"Someone who likes the word 'Blue' and that was looking for a good acronym?" the blonde answered keeping her eyes on the digital device taking notes. "And yes, this is what I want to do."
The woman glared at Fate´s comment. "Well, if those were her intentions, she failed miserably…" As Fate didn´t acknowledge her sarcasm, she used the direct approach. "Don´t be a smart ass with me young lady, I am way too old for that,"
The blonde finally put her device down and looked at the woman sitting with her at the back seat of the car while Lucino drive them to the so expected appointment with BLUE´s President.
"Arf, I am twenty nine years old…certainly I am not as old as you, but I am very far away of being a girl," she said glaring back at her companion, "And I know perfectly what I am getting into."
"I doubt it;" Arf insisted stubbornly, "The good thing is that you won't meet that hell of a woman alone."
Fate sighed. "Arf…I am very sorry but the only reason you are here now is because I didn´t want to prolong the discussion with my mother. You have strictly, strictly forbidden to say A WORD during that meeting. Am I clear?"
"Fate, that woman…ok, ok," she adjusted the argument after getting a new glare from Fate, "That… company… is a fierce competitor of your mother´s company. You are, somehow, personally involved; deeply involved, if you ask my opinion. If that woman gets the slightest idea of who you really are, she might suit Massive BioD for industrial espionage or something even worst! We will get into their corporate building Fate! With fake identities!"
"I am getting in with a fake identity, for which I have government authorization to do…and no, I am not asking your opinion and you are wrong. BLUE and Massive are competitors but not in the way you mention. Massive does not manufacture combat BioDevices as BLUE does."
"No," Arf concealed, "Massive doesn´t call their Biodevices as 'Combat' but has a 'Personal Security' product line and …"
"Arf," Fate cut her companion with fierce eyes, "I am not changing my mind. Not today, not tomorrow, not ever. I took this job and I am going to fulfill it."
For that time, her standard government vehicle parked at the ground level of BLUE Incorporated building. Fate appreciated that parking spots where available at the upper levels but their instructions were to access from the ground.
She suspected that someone wanted them to take some time getting to their final destination.
After the fifth checking point that thought was no longer a mere suspicion. Fate was sure they were checking her and Arf deeply. She prayed that Lucino and Shari were really as good as she thought they were.
The final revision came at the fifteenth floor were they should take the private elevator that would carry them to the penthouse where the BLUE´s CEO had her offices.
Fate crossed the scanning chamber and getting the green light, she assumed was the indication to proceed ahead. She stood up waiting for Arf.
As soon as her red haired companion stepped into the scanner, a red light flashed and an alarm buzzing put everyone around them in alert.
"What the hell is going on?" Arf asked raising her hands in front of her as if saying that she had nothing on them.
"What happened?" Fate asked to the check point operator. "She is unarmed," she promptly added noticing that combat biodevices with black uniforms and heavy plasma guns were approaching faster. What concerned her the most, was that the big plasma guns those guys had and that were fully deployed and ready to shoot.
With a severe look, the operator pointed at a floating signal placed before the scanning chamber indicating 'BioDevices are not allowed beyond this point.´
"She is a Biod," the operator said as it was the most obvious reason in the world. "She can´t not pass beyond this point."
"What?" Fate asked incredulously. She simply could not credit what she was hearing.
"Are you people fucking insane?" Arf yelled on her own, completely angered.
For that moment, five of the combat biodevices had approached and were pointing Arf menacingly while the others were waiting in strategic positions around them.
"Everybody, stand by," a masculine and deep voice said.
A tall brunet, white haired man approached them. He was wearing a one piece elegant suit and moved within confidence and authority.
"Ma'am, please step back," he requested looking at Arf.
"This is illegal," Fate argued, "You can´t…"
"Please," Zafira said interrupting Fate and looking at both women decisively, "Ma'am, we can talk all you want but she HAS to step back…NOW."
Reluctantly, Fate made a gesture to Arf that she obeyed equally reluctantly.
Once Arf was standing before the scanning, two of the combat biodevices scanned her, now with handheld devices.
"Massive BioD, Personal Security, Special Enhanced Model A.R.F.1502 – Advanced Replicant Feature, Limited Edition," one of the Biods scanning Arf recited plainly.
"Wow," Zafira said looking appreciatively at Arf. "This is the first time I see one of your kind; nothing less than a Replicant. You guys are really a Limited Edition."
Fate, who was still waiting on the other side of the scanning chamber felt outraged.
"As I said, this is illegal…The Geneve Treaty of 2067 stablish…"
"Save it," Zafira interrupted Fate again. "This is NOT a public place. We are a defense related company with industrial secrecy protocols and policies. If you want to proceed to you appointment, she stays here."
The big man pointed at the signal. To Fate´s deep discontent, the damn thing had the Regulatory Defense Commission hologram. They were approved to implement whatever security measure they consider appropriated.
"Of course, you can always cancel your appointment if you wish," Zafira made a gesture and diligently, the operator dialed a number and a floating screen materialized in front of him almost immediately. Hayate´s visage appeared seconds after.
"Miss Harlow wishes to…"
"No!" Fate screamed before she could avoid it. All the men looked at her waiting. She looked at Arf saying 'I am sorry' silently and announced herself to Hayate with renewed confidence, "I am here for a meeting with CEO Wolkenritter."
Nothing was going to stop her to have that meeting or to complete her mission. She was planning to attend the meeting alone since the very first time.
"We were waiting for you Miss Harlaown. Please proceed. Zafira will walk you here," Hayate said through the screen with a smile and cut the communication.
With an annoyed look Arf had to let Fate to walk alone with the big guy into the elevator that will carry her up to hell.
Fate made the whole path in the elevator in an angry silence. But at least the long way to the seventieth floor helped her to cool off.
By the time she got out of the elevator in a cool and fancy penthouse, she was wearing again her professional cool face and mundane attitude and was ready for the representation.
She walked out confidently to meet a small brunette and a slender blonde, none of them was taller than her and she was wearing her best high heels with a tight-fitting black dress. A very short one that made her long and toned legs look even longer and breathtaking; her attire was completed with a short and elegant white long sleeves jacket. She knew she looked sexy but professional…or at least she hoped so.
Hayate arched a brow a millesimal at the sight Fate offered. Carim remained immutable. Both women welcomed Fate with a slight head nod and Hayate took the lead.
"It´s very nice to meet you Fate; I am Hayate. I had the conference call with your people last week, she is Carim and…" Hayate made their introductions and paused for the main dish of the day, "Please allow me to introduce you with our corporate CEO, Signum Wolkenritter."
That was the end of Fate´s self-assurance.
By the second she met the deep blue gaze in front of her, she froze. Involuntary, but she ran out speechless.
The woman that was slowly approaching, walking with the confidence and certainty of a big feline, was even taller than her and was wearing a classic straight and elegant dark skirt suite without any adornment. She was all hard lines and sharp angles and controlled movements.
But the feature that had Fate struggling to catch her breath back was her eyes. They were the coldest and most piercing blue Fate had ever seen in her life and ran across her like a sword.
For Fate, meet Signum Wolkenritter was like been stricken by a lightning in a thunder storm; she was totally unaware of it, but to Hayate and Carim, she looked stunned exactly like that; like hit by a lightning. The two friends smiled discreetly, already knowing that Signum had that effect indistinctively in both men and women.
"Signum, this is Miss Fate…" Hayate started and suddenly, made a stop..."…Harlaown…"
What disturbed Hayate and Carim to no end was to turn around finding a similarly speechless Signum.
The words died in Hayate's mouth at Signum´s sight. Her friend was frowning slightly and her eyes had that icy glare that foresaw nothing good.
"….n?"
"..…aown?"
"…Miss Harlaown?"
Fate realized someone was talking to her at Hayate´s third attempt.
"Are you ok, Miss Harlaown?"
Finally, she could hear the whole question and focus on her interlocutor, blushing deeply when she realized that she was frozen like a doll and that it was not the first question the woman addressed to her.
"Yes…" she composed herself to respond. "Goddamit! Think, Goddamit Think! Think something quickly, don´t stay muted like the damn fucking idiot you are!"
Fate was surprised of her own reaction in front of Signum Wolkenritter.
"Yes…sorry," she said a bit clumsily and then with more confidence, "I had to admit, I am still upset after certain incident…downstairs," she finally managed to say, collecting herself and infusing some credible indignation on her voice.
"And you are the one coming in with a Biod and trying to break our rules." Without even saying 'Hello, nice to meet you too,' Signum stated her sentence icily.
Hayate and Carim looked at Signum astonished. Hayate´s glare on her was evident but Signum just ignored her.
Fate was open-mouthed by the woman´s boldness. "What the hell…," was her most coherent thought.
Before anyone could say something else that will turn to be definitely irreparable, Hayate pointed at the meeting area where comfortable cushioned divans waited. "Please, let´s sit down. We will talk a lot more comfortably and calmed there."
After saying that, she approached Fate smiling gently, leading her to the sitting area while offering something to drink. In the meantime, Carim directed a puzzled look at Signum.
"She is a potential BIG customer!" Carim hissed in a whisper when Signum passed by her.
Fate sat down and crossed her legs. Carim and Hayate sat at the side divans but Signum stayed standing up with her eyes roving over Fate from tiptoes to head…and back…unashamedly.
Carim and Hayate could not credit her boss attitude.
"You have a curious way to do business President Wolkenritter," Fate said with stern voice but all blushed under the other woman…visual survey… over her body.
Signum didn´t say a word and fixed her gaze with Fate´s. After a few seconds, just out of the blue she said with cold and harsh voice, "Go with our competitors. I am sure they will be more than willing to do business with you Miss… Harlaown… Now, if you excuse me."
She broke the connection with Fate and left the room leaving the three women perplexed and speechless. By her voice, Fate could say Signum wasn´t sorry to leave like that… at all.
-X-
"May I ask what the fuck was that?" Carim asked to Signum´s back, something that she hated by all means. "And please, look at me when you answer."
After leaving her main office, Signum walked chased by her own overwhelming feelings to the small studio where she really worked. The other office was her public façade but that space was really her place. And very, very few people had allowed entrance.
Zafira had, of course. Hayate had, undoubtedly and unavoidably. And Carim had, sadly.
Signum was now regretting some of those decisions; one, to be precise.
More than sixty minutes had passed since left her office, so Signum assumed that somehow, her girls managed to keep that woman interested and talked about something. She didn´t want to know but unfortunately, Carim seemed to have the intention of telling her.
She was standing up holding her hands in her back looking out the window. She had kept in that position since she got in and she knew Carim was waiting for an answer, a direct, face to face answer.
Signum turned slowly; internally thankful that was not Hayate the one asking.
"We cannot work with her," she said plain and fair.
"Why?" Carim asked the same way, "Hayate and I talked with her, we tried to give her a plausible reason of your reaction…coming in with a Biod by our competition and a Replicant model by the way, helped out a bit. You know, that´s a slap in the face for anyone and you are not exactly famous for your kindness. Aside of the fact that those damn Replicants things should not exist in the world, she bought it. We still have a chance. And now you tell me that we cannot do business with them? Why?"
Signum remained silent. Her rational mind told her it was impossible. It was simple impossible she could be the same person. Or impossible they could be related. But her guts were telling otherwise; screaming otherwise.
"Did you check on her credentials, her background, everything about her?" She asked instead of voicing her confused thoughts. She had to put some order first. Close all the pending ends.
"Yes…" Carim answered tentatively, "As we do with everyone with do business with."
"We need a lot more in this case. Call Hayate and Zafira," Signum ordered, "And check her again, deeply; we SHALL know everything about her. Call our best guy. Do whatever it takes. Check her deep as we have never checked anyone else before."
Carim knew by those instructions that something really serious was bothering Signum.
"Okay, if that´s a requirement to do business with them…"
Signum looked at her angrily, "You don´t get it, right? I never said we will do business with her. We will do as I said for a reason and business is the last one."
"What is the reason then? If you care to tell me."
Signum breathed heavily. "She is identical."
Carim looked at her disconcerted.
"Identical?"
The sight of Signum when she answered with drowned voice produced a shiver in Carim´s back. The strong and feared woman, well known in the dangerous black market as a dark and implacable lord, seemed… haunted by demons.
"She is identical to… Alicia Testarossa."
-X-
The trip back to Fate´s office was done in silence despite Arf´s best attempts.
Fate had an impenetrable barrier building up around her and Arf knew the meeting between her and Precia Testarossa will be a dangerous outburst, from both sides.
"It was no fucking way we could have known they did Biod scanning Fate," Arf tried again.
That finally produced a reaction in Fate.
"Arf… they are a bloody Biodevices company! A damn good one!…I shouldn´t had never consent my mother´s crazy idea to take you, among all people, with me!"
Fate regretted her words as soon as she saw Arf hurt expression.
"I don´t qualify that high Fate….I am not 'people' for them."
Fate kicked herself internally. She really appreciated Arf, had a lot of memories of her original anima and precious memories with Arf herself.
"Look Arf, I am sorry. I don´t know what they are thinking but you know I don't think like that," Fate said touching Arf´s shoulder for the first time that day. She made Arf pay for her anger with her mother and that was not fair.
"They took it bad that you were let´s say, from a competitor, that´s not your fault. Aside that, a lot have been happening and I am…in a bad mood. I shouldn´t have said that."
And her recent breakdown with BLUE CEO was not helping her mood either but she took good care of mention that small detail.
Arf grinned at Fate and punched her shoulder.
"Damn you haven´t!"
The Biod never got mad at Fate for too long. It was the same with her anima when Fate was a child.
Fate smiled at the memory and pretended to hear Arf ranting against BLUE but the truth was that her mind was far beyond the car.
Just by recalling in her memory those bright and stunning blue eyes; she felt uneasy, feverish. No one had ever caused such impression on her.
Despite all the explanations those two women gave her, she was sure something more was happening behind those deep blue eyes.
She played her role perfectly after Signum left. She convinced those women that they convinced her to still consider do business with them; nothing betrayed that she was actually desperate to keep in contact with them and more important, to know the real motivations for Signum´s reaction towards her.
She had to know more about that woman.
Well aside of her contract with the Armada, Fate was intrigued by her; she was captivated like a prey under the sight of a predator, caught in a dangerous and unknown web but willing to stay just to see those eyes again; to have those eyes over her... again.
Signum Wolkenritter was a lot more than she seemed to be.
-X-
No one knows what it's like
To be the bad man
To be the sad man
Behind blue eyes
And no one knows
What it's like to be hated
To be fated to telling only lies
-X-
Thanks for your comments and reviews.