(AN) AUTHOR'S NOTES: A belated happy new year to all, I trust everyone had a good holiday season and time off?
After many long two to three months and bad cold to keep us help back I present to you everyone chapter 33, this part one since the word size in much lager then the last few chapters since chapter 10 and 27 I am splitting this chapter again. It's gonna be a three to four part chapter .As far as I know my editor is still recovering from her cold but I believe she is much better or halfway from being cured from being sock for a time. Thanks for leaving your warm felt wishes and get wells to her. Have fun reading and laving anything feedback you wanna leave.
(*) As always many special thanks to my editor and co-partner in helping finally get this story off the ground and back burner dragonwriter24cmf. So far we have been getting by with this fan fiction by bit by bit with story and with you guy the fans that love reading each new chapter that comes out. Thanks to everyone, I appreciate your support through this 100% everyone. Keep the constructive criticisms, outgoing comments and reviews coming in?
DISCLAIMER: All rights to Trinity Blood was created and © by late Yoshida Sunao, the anime directed by Tomohiro Hirata and produced by the studio GONZO, as well as a manga drawn by Yoshida Sunao's friend Kiyo Kyoujou. All © rights revered by their respective owners. I own nothing except © to this story, it's plot and it's OC's that will eventually show within later chapters.
Warning:This fan fiction is rated (M) AKA Lemon. This story is ABSOULTLY NOT suitable for children or teens below the age of 16 [So if you're under the age limit turn back now, come back when you old enough to read this. I'd rather not get flamed nor sued by parents whom are just looking for trouble in places their underage children should not be looking nor reading for that matter.
This story contains strong explicit adult themes and sexual ones such slight foreplay - as in hand sex, one-sided love, Attempted Rape, Explicit Sex or anything else mild to hard core kinky for that matter!, references to violence, and strong coarse language. If this disturbs you, do not read any further.
Notice: Trinity Blood War Continuum takes place one month after the events from the anime's finale episode 24 along with some elements, characters and things that will be used and taken from both manga's Rage against the Moons (RAM), Reborn on the Mars (ROM). In addition to some spoilers from stories untold notes left by Yoshida Sunao which he intended to finish off the manga series supposedly. Basically 50/50 will be used on both the anime and manga to those whom are more familiar with manga then others will see this implants as the story develops. Trinity Blood is set in a post-apocalyptic world where the Roman Catholic Church/the Vatican is portrayed as a military and spiritual power. The series also strongly implies major and controversial changes in the Church of present reality, such as women being bishops, cardinals as well as romantic relationships and marriages between members of the clergy. If this disturbs you of form or shape of or on imagination then do not read this story.
Trinity Blood: War Continuum - Chapter Thirty-Three: Part one – Children of the Past
Abel stared at the empty cylinder. "Esther..." There was no trace of the young woman behind the glass, no trace of the blinding light that had flowed around her. "Esther...no..."
A scream of pure anguish and fury ripped from his throat. There were no words in it, just emotion. Lightning and blue edged plasma rippled through the room, causing several panels to spark and darken.
The scream died away, and Abel sank to his knees, the darkness that covered him vanishing into a silver-haired man with tortured blue eyes. He collapsed, his hands on the deck, tears dripping down his cheeks. "Esther...Esther..."
Cain watched him, his own weapons and transformation dying away. The cool, empty gaze went to the cylinder. "Really, Abel, that's the second time you've let go of an interesting woman. Still...I did warn you there were consequences." His eyes surveyed the command deck, the broken panels from their fight, and Abel's brief storm of fury. Then he looked back outside. "Ah, it seems as if nothing else can be done here today. So then, 02..." He stepped forward, toward the distraught figure on the floor, one hand outstretched.
Cain's hand on his shoulder caused Abel to jerk away, coming to his feet. His eyes were wild; tear streaks of both blood and water marking his face. Cain smiled. "Come now, Abel."
"You..." The word was a broken whisper, pain and gathering fury in it.
Cain extended one hand. "Really, Abel. You should be happy. I've removed the negative elements. And once you and I become one, you won't have to worry about all this." He tilted his head. "It is a pity about Esther, but..."
"YOU!" Abel lunged forward suddenly, striking his hand aside, catching his shirt with both fists."MONSTER!"
"Well, I did warn you." Cain smiled. "So then, Abel, what will you do? 03 isn't here to destroy me this time for you. So then...what will you do?"
A raw, knife-edged scream ripped from Abel's throat. He hurled the other man through the door, and the bulkhead beyond it. The force of the throw collapsed the already weakened supports, bringing down a shower of metal, and separating the brothers with a wall of rubble.
"Monster..." The word was half curse, half moan. Abel shuddered, his knees giving way and dropping him to the deck as tears streamed once more from his eyes. He couldn't see the deck in front of him anymore, only Esther's terrified face as she disappeared into the light. "Esther..."
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The rest of the assault team found him an hour and a half later. Tres and Astha were the first to enter the room, shoving the wreckage aside enough for their companions to get through. Astha spotted him, threw a piece of sheet metal to the side, then called back over her shoulder. "Hey. He's in here."
"Positive." Tres entered the room. "Biological signature: Father Abel Nightroad. Condition: Operational."
"Which means he's alive, I guess." Leon shoved at the steel debris in his path. "Any sign of Red?"
"Negative. No sign of Lady Esther Blanchett's biological signature." Tres pushed away another large chunk of metal leaving a relatively clear corridor. "I will continue to search."
"You do that." Leon studied the man kneeling on the floor, shaking with sobs, and sighed. "Crap." He raked a hand through his hair, then moved forward so he could crouch in front of the other priest. "Yo, Four Eyes. Can you tell us what happened?"
Abel swallowed, his eyes haunted. "Leon..." The utter bleakness of his tone made all of them flinch.
Havel came to stand beside them, then lowered himself to kneel on the deck and place a careful hand on the silver-haired man's shoulder. "Abel...I can tell something happened, and I understand you're very upset. But I need you to tell us what was going on."
"No kidding." Leon raked his hand through his hair again. "One minute, we were trading punches with those Rosenkreuz bastards. Then there was an explosion from somewhere around here, and a few minutes later that guy in white just comes out and heads for the ship. Next thing I know, there isn't a trace of any of them."
William snorted, though there was no humor in his tone. "Isaac is very good at making things disappear." His gaze flitted about the room. "But Abel...I'm still puzzled. It looks as if there was a battle here as well, but what happened to Esther? Did you see her?"
Abel flinched again, sagging in Havel's grasp as tears dripped down his face. "Esther..."
"What happened, tovarish?" Astha knelt on his other side, to take his shoulders. "Talk to me." She held his eyes.
"He...trapped her...in the cylinder." Abel's eyes went to the apparatus, making it very clear which one he meant. "We...I fought him...the power...it hit the charging panel. And then...light...and Esther...Esther was gone." He shuddered again, the agony of the words reflecting in his eyes. "She's gone."
"What? You can't mean..." Leon swallowed. His head jerked up. "Professor..."
"I'm on it." William moved over to the cylinder, inspecting it and the adjoining panels. One of the computer screens, near the charging panel, was still flickering weakly. William frowned, then reached into the lower part of the console to fiddle with a few wires. The image steadied. "Quantum temporal and spatial dislocation?"
"What the hell?" Leon frowned. "I can't even pronounce half of what you just said."
"Well, I can't quite believe I'm saying it either. I've heard rumors about an experiment similar to this, but...I've never heard of it working." William frowned at the panel, then moved to the cylinder and began to inspect it, frowning as he looked it over. He ran his hands over the sides, studying the fingertips of his glove. He even knocked some ash out of his pipe onto the floor. Then he glanced up. "Miss Astha...if you could bring that spear of yours over here for a moment, please?"
Astha nodded and joined him, spear at the ready. William nodded. "Excellent. Now, if you could activate the blade and hold it close to the glass." Astha did as he said. William watched the glass for several moments, then nodded. "That's enough, thank you."
"What on earth are you doing, William?" Havel blinked.
"I was testing a theory. And now that it's been proven correct, I believe I know what happened to Esther. The only problem is, I'm not entirely sure how to go about reversing it. Offhand, I'm not even sure it's possible."
Abel flinched. William saw him wince and fold in on himself, and immediately moved to his friend's side. "I'm sorry Abel. Please, rest assured, I'll do everything in my power to help with this. But I'm going to need your assistance, my friend."
"What...?" Abel's voice rasped over the word, grief, hope and anguish raging in the blue eyes.
"Yeah. Maybe you could tell the rest of us what the hell is going on." Leon scowled.
William nodded. "Quite right. My initial concern was, of course, that Esther might have been incinerated. Abel mentioned a bright light, after all, and one usually associates that with an explosion of some kind."
"You're saying Red is dead?" Leon's voice was filled with disbelief.
"I'm saying that the possibility crossed my mind. However, that at least has been disproved. There are no traces of ash or other residue within the cylinder. And, as my experiment with Lady Astha's spear has confirmed, anything hot enough to have completely destroyed an human body and Esther's jewelry would have melted or shattered the glass. But there isn't even much residual heat."
"So, she's alive. Great. What happened?"
"It's my belief that Esther was somehow...transported somewhere." William frowned thoughtfully.
"Transported? William, how is that possible?" Vaclav was staring at his friend as if he thought he'd gone insane.
"I'm not sure. There's no technology I'm familiar with that could have produced such an effect." William frowned, and his gaze slipped to Virgil, standing in the doorway. "Lord Walsh?"
"I've not heard of any, nor produced such technology within the Underground." Virgil frowned. "However...our oldest records speak of many projects that never came to completion, before Armageddon. There may be some mention of a transportation device in one of those records."
"Indeed. In the meantime, this isn't our technology, so I'm not terribly familiar with its operation. I'll have to study it." he turned back to the silver-haired man. "Abel...we're going to need to do two things, and possibly three, and I fear we're going to need your help." He bent down, looking his fellow priest in the eyes. "First of all, I need to know anything you can remember about this device."
Abel shook his head, eyes haunted. "I...don't. This was...this was Seth's project...She...was the scientist. She was...working on something...but I...I can't recall..." Pain twisted once more across his face.
"Unfortunate. It would help to have assistance of someone who actually used this technology..."
"Then we will simply have to wait for Her Majesty to recover." Baibars came through the door, bearing a small, limp form in his arms. He stepped to Abel's side, then knelt and bowed as low as he could around his burden. "Father Nightroad...you have my eternal gratitude."
Abel's eyes widened. "Seth..."
"She has awakened, though only briefly." Baibars colored, and it was then that Astha noticed the new blood streaking the side of his neck. "She was...very strong...but she recognized me and spoke to me by name. I believe she will live, and continue as our Loving Mother."
"Thank God." Vaclav's statement was heartfelt, and echoed by everyone in the room. Abel's eyes were wide with a sort of shocked, almost painful, relief in them.
"Well, that does make it easier. I'll simply consult with her once she's well enough for it. In the meantime, we'll need to look for Esther. While I know it isn't certain, I think it's best we assume that she's somewhere on the planet below us, and that the surge has simply caused her tracking devices to malfunction. That means an on-foot search. And somehow, I suspect our enemies aren't through with us, so we'll have to be rather cautious."
Abel stared at him a moment. Then, slowly, determination mixed with madness, settling his eyes into a steely, winter-blue mirror of resolve. He rose to his feet, eyes glittering. Without a word, he brushed Havel and Astha's hands away, and moved toward the door.
Leon moved to block him. "Hey, what do you think you're doing?"
"I'm going to search for Esther." The voice was cold, hard, dangerous. "And if I must, I will take the Order apart, one man at a time. Including him. If it takes me till the end of time, I will find her, and I will destroy him."
Leon's eyebrow rose. "You really think you can do it alone, Four Eyes?"
"I don't care. Help me if you must, but get out of my way, Leon." There was something about the edge of anger and pain in that voice that cut like a knife. Leon moved aside. Abel vanished out the door.
"Well, that's an improvement." William sighed. "At least he didn't say he was going on his own, and I think he'll let us help him this time. Still...he's rather dangerous in that mood. It might be a good idea to give him some space."
"What if he goes after them?" Leon scowled.
"I doubt it. Even Abel couldn't go through atmosphere unprotected. Not well, at any rate. I suspect he's gone to look and see if Esther is anywhere on this ship, after which he'll make his way back to our vessel. My concern is if he reaches it before we do, and decides to leave without us."
"In that case, we should get back." Leon sighed.
"We should, but I'd like to get a copy of this data." William frowned thoughtfully. "Why don't you and Havel check on Petros and Paula, and take the Methuselah back, so we can set Her Majesty up in comfort. In the meantime, Lord Walsh and I will see what we can do here. It shouldn't take more than an hour."
"An excellent plan. I'll notify Tres. He can monitor Abel for us." Havel nodded. "We should hurry." He, Astha and Baibars exchanged looks, then headed for the door, with Leon and Ion close behind.
William watched them go, then turned back to the console. At least the one he wanted looked to be relatively intact. The others had taken the full force of the fury erupting in that room. He sighed and put the thought aside, staring at the screen he had operating. "So then, where did you go?"
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Esther woke slowly, feeling disoriented. Her first awareness was that there was something relatively soft under her head, and she was lying on something firm, but yielding. She felt exhausted, and confused. She took a few deep breaths, trying to stabilize her mental state, then opened her eyes.
Clean, smooth metal looked back at her. She blinked. The ceiling above her looked to be some sort of metal frame. She thought it might be steel, but the color was different from that of the ships she'd been on, or the rooms of the Albion Underground. It also looked newer, brighter than anything she knew of. When she glanced around, the room seemed slightly rounded, and what corners she saw were also rounded, with gentle, sloping curves to the walls. The lights were dimmed, but when she sat up experimentally, they brightened. She blinked. She couldn't think of a single place she knew of that had lights that functioned like that.
She looked around. The walls were much the same as the ceiling. She appeared to be lying on a low bunk or bed of some sort, with white sheets. There was a door on the far side of the room, but no hinges, so she guessed it was a sliding door of some kind. The temperature was comfortable. As she shifted she felt fabric brush across her upper arms and looked down.
Someone had changed her out of her clothing. She was wearing a simple white shirt, which fastened with hooks to the side, and one across the collar. A quick glance beneath the sheet confirmed the presence of leggings as well. The garments were comfortable enough, but there was something about the design that sparked an uneasy memory, though she couldn't quite remember why.
She sat up slowly, frowning as she tried to remember. Images flashed in her head. Seth falling. Cain locking her into the glass prison. Abel and Cain fighting. Bright light. And then...nothing. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't bring up an image after that. Only blinding light that seemed to obliterate everything.
She was jarred from her thoughts as the door slid open, and a young woman entered. She stopped on the threshold, and a gentle smile washed across her features. "You're awake. That's excellent."
Esther studied her. She felt as though the young woman was familiar, but she couldn't figure out where she'd seen her.
She had deep red hair, hanging past her waist. The front and sides had been confined to pigtails on each side of her face, the back still hung loose. Her skin was dark brown, an elegant contrast to the red hair and her wide golden eyes. The expression on her youthful countenance was concerned, and remarkably gentle and open. Esther swallowed. She knew she recognized that face. Then she realized she was staring at the young woman. "Oh. I'm sorry. It's just I...I feel like I ought to know you, but..."
"It's fine." The young woman smiled. "Actually, I was just checking to see if you were awake yet. You've been asleep for several hours, you know."
"Several...hours? I see." Esther swallowed.
"Miss, if you don't mind, I was wondering if you could answer some questions for me." The red-haired girl reached out a reassuring hand. "You appeared so suddenly in that flash of light on the upper deck, and we didn't find any identification on you. So I'd like it if I could at least get your name, and where you're from."
"Oh. Of course. My name is Esther Blanchett." She wasn't sure why she didn't give her title, but then...she'd been trained as an agent, and she knew very well there were circumstances where it was unwise to have her identity known. The young woman seemed friendly enough, but she still wasn't sure what was going on. "I'm from Albion."
Puzzlement entered the girl's eyes. "Albion? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the name."
Esther's stomach twisted roughly. "I see. Well, I can promise I'm not misleading you. I...well, I worked in Buckingham Palace, but I'm very new there, and I spent a lot of time working with several different people. Before that, I was living with the Church." Vague, but mostly truthful, and it left her room to elaborate if she needed to.
"Buckingham Palace?" The young woman's expression cleared abruptly. "So, you're from London?" She frowned thoughtfully, then her eyes brightened. "Ah. I understand. You were using the old name for the United Kingdoms, weren't you? I haven't heard it called Albion except in history books. But I've heard that with the United Nations becoming such a power, they were thinking of returning to the older name. Albion, or England."
Esther's stomach lurched again, ice creeping into her veins. Something felt terribly wrong. England. The United Nations. Those terms...I've never heard them. And why...why does she look so familiar to me?
She swallowed hard, to ease the dryness in her throat. "I'm sorry, but...if it isn't too much trouble, could you please answer some questions for me? I'm afraid I don't remember much of what happened to me, and...I'm a little confused."
"I understand. The scientists that brought you here said that surge was extremely intense. They were wondering if it was an odd solar wind fluctuation." The girl smiled again, reassuringly. "Well, I've been assigned to look out for you. So...what is is you need to know?"
"Well, I'd like to know where I am, and who you are, please." Her gut felt heavy, weighted with ice. She felt the pieces beginning to come together, and the picture they formed was far too impossible for her mind to accept. Please...I have to be wrong about this. This isn't possible.
"Of course. You would be confused. This is the United Nations Red Mars Project Phase One Mission Control Center. We're on a station, orbiting above Earth."
It took a physical effort to remember to breathe. The Red Mars Project? But that...that's the project Abel was involved with...before Armageddon. Her head was pounding and she felt dangerously close to fainting. But then...if this station is the one he was raised on before that, then this girl...it can't be... "I see. And your name?"
"Ah. I'm Lilith. Lilith Sahl, Medical Department, in-training. Also a member of the Genetic Manipulations Special Project Team." She held out a hand, warmth in her eyes. "It's very nice to meet you."
The world seemed to slip sideways. Esther felt as if she couldn't get enough air. Lilith? But then...this is...and I...How? How did this happen?
Grey blurred her vision. Her mind simply couldn't encompass what she was hearing, what she was seeing. "Father...Abel..."
Two hands touched her arm, and she found herself blinking up into Lilith's concerned gaze. "Are you all right?"
"I...no. No...you...you were...I saw you...in that place...the underground. Father Nightroad...he was...you...and Abel...and I...I don't understand...I..." Esther swallowed, feeling dizzy, sick. She couldn't think what she was saying, knew it made no sense. Images and memories and thoughts tumbled over one another in her head. "I..." She pulled away, trying to find her balance. "I...this can't be happening. I don't understand. How could you...how could I...be...here...?" The world went black once more.
Esther woke feeling calmer. The lights around her had been dimmed, but not shut off. She lay in the bed, thinking. Somehow...this place, this time...this is the place Abel spoke of. The place he grew up. Somehow...is it really possible that I've gone back in time? She'd heard old stories, of course, and fairy tales. But this wasn't a story, and it felt all too real. A delusion, or a dream maybe?
She wanted to believe that, to believe that she could wake up and discover Abel, in his familiar form, bending over her, those blue eyes glittering with concern before he hugged her close. She wanted to believe she'd wake up to the Professor's long-winded explanation about how exposure to unknown technology had caused this or that mental condition, which he'd managed to right after a little bit of experimentation and the invention of some device or another. But...as much as she wanted to believe she was dreaming...there were too many details out of place.
The material of the walls, and the layout of the room, for one. Kate's rooms were larger, better appointed. The metal was darker on all the ships she'd ever been in. And the self-adjusting lights, that even Virgil didn't use. And...Lilith.
Her mind went back over her encounter with the other woman. She'd seen Lilith's body behind the glass, but... the woman she'd met was younger. There was no doubt it was the same person, but she knew Abel had never described what Lilith had looked or sounded like as a young woman. Not to the level of detail she'd observed, with the pigtails, and the long hair, or the golden eyes. There was also the uniform. Similar to the one the Contra Mundi wore, but Lilith's uniform was much simpler. A knee-length white shift, buttoned up one side with leggings beneath. Completely plain, except for a band of yellow at the collar and the buttons, and the insignia stitched in plain black thread to the shoulders.
The insignia she remembered, intricately stitched into the sleeve, was what convinced her she wasn't hallucinating the entire thing. She might have pieced together an image of Lilith as a younger adult from things Abel and Seth had reminisced about, but...Abel had only spoken of the bare essentials when he'd told her of his past. And while Cain wore his old uniform still, there was no reason for the yellow, and there was no insignia on his clothing, not even one for Rosenkreutz. There was no reason for her to imagine one. She swallowed hard.
She was, somehow, in Abel's past. She had no idea what it meant, nor how it had happened. No idea what could happen. Her fists clenched, helplessly.
Lying in bed isn't going to help anything. She sighed, then pushed herself upright.
The door hissed open, and Lilith stepped into the room. "Awake again?"
"Yes." Esther felt herself blushing. "I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier. I was just...well, I'm not sure what came over me. But that was very rude of me."
"It's all right. It looked like you had a pretty hard time before you showed up here, and it probably was a shock, finding yourself in strange surroundings. Not to mention..." The young woman's voice trailed off.
Esther nodded. "That's true. To be honest, I'm still a little confused. If you don't mind...could you tell me again, where I am? And...what date is it?"
Lilith nodded. "Of course. This is the Red Mars Project Mission Control. It's a space station orbiting above Earth. As for the date...it's February 12, 2105."
Esther shivered. February 12. The last date she remembered was February 10, but that was in 3066. She forced her mind back to the present. "I see. It seems I might have slept for a couple days then."
Lilith nodded. "You were unconscious for about 24 hours." She shrugged. "Not that I blame you. The medical department ran a basic exam on you to make sure you were all right, and honestly, it looked like you've had a rough time."
Esther swallowed. "Yes. I...well, a lot happened, recently." She swallowed again. "You wouldn't know what happened to my clothes, by chance?"
"We took them for cleaning. They were a little bit dirty. They'll probably be ready by now." Lilith frowned. "I can get you your dress back, but it isn't really practical for the station."
"No." Esther shook her head vehemently. "I'm fine. It's just...I was wondering who undressed me, and what had happened to my belongings."
"Ah. Well, I hope you won't consider it too forward of me, but I undressed you." Lilith gave her a shy grin. "As for your belongings...you didn't have much on you. But...I guess you'll want this back." She held up a familiar silver chain and locket.
Esther reached out and took it, her hands trembling. "Thank you." She'd missed the pendant at her throat, and it was comforting to have it near.
"May I ask you something?" Lilith was studying her, her gaze intent.
Esther swallowed back a feeling of uneasiness. "Of course."
"What year...did you expect it to be?" Lilith's eyes met hers.
Esther felt her shoulders tighten. "I'm afraid...I don't understand." She wasn't sure why she was evading the question, only that she was scrambling to get her thoughts in order.
Lilith held her gaze. "When you woke, you said you'd seen me. But...I have a very good memory, and I never met you. You said you were from Albion, but that name hasn't been used for a long time. And...you spoke of a Father Nightroad."
"Yes. He's someone I've known for quite some time."
Lilith shook her head. "It isn't possible. There's no one with that name. Or rather, I should say that the two people who could possibly have that name certainly couldn't have been 'Father' to you. Not at this time." Lilith's eyes went to the locket Esther still clutched. "That necklace..."
Esther swallowed hard. She knew what was in there. Her picture, and Abel's. Abel...as an adult, and a priest. "You...looked inside?"
"I did." Lilith gave her another small half-grin. "I didn't mean to pry. I was just wondering if it might contain some information, someone we could contact for you. But that face..."
"That man...he's someone I've worked very closely with...for a very long time." Esther swallowed again, trying to get the dry feeling out of her throat. There was nothing she could think of to do except tell the truth, and hope it worked out. "The truth is...this isn't the year I was expecting at all. The last year I remember is...well, it's 3066."
"So...you're from the future." Lilith didn't look or sound surprised.
Esther nodded, just slightly. "Yes."
Lilith held her gaze. "You're from...our future?"
"Yes. I am." Esther clenched her hand around the locket.
"I see." Lilith studied her a moment, then reached out to take her hand. "I'll tell the scientists a little but...I really don't think you should tell anyone else." She squeezed lightly, offering Esther a small smile. "You don't need to worry, your secret is safe with me."
Esther released the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "Thank you." She frowned. "Why...why is it so important though, to keep it a secret?"
"Because we don't want to mess up your future, whatever it is." Lilith sighed. "I'll have to tell the science department, so they can take that into their calculations, and we'll try to get you back home if we can." Lilith smiled again, and patted her hand. "Don't worry. It will be all right."
Esther nodded. She knew she should be worried sick, but whether it was the lingering effects of exhaustion, or simply Lilith's soothing manner, she felt better. "So then...what should I do now?"
Lilith tilted her head. "Well, it's going to be a while before anyone has any idea of how to take care of you, and in any case, we won't have a shuttle to or from Earth for a few weeks yet. So...I hope you don't mind, but I asked if you could room with us in the Gene manipulations department. It's got the most space available, and the least amount of hassle I think."
Esther nodded. "That sounds just fine, really."
Lilith smiled. "In that case, would you like to come with me?" She glanced at the room. "You can stay in the medical wing a little longer if you like, but I've already got permission to be your escort whenever you feel up to moving."
"Actually, I think now would be a fine time." Esther smiled and swung her legs out of bed. "To be honest, I was just thinking that lying around in bed wasn't going to help me any."
Lilith nodded. "In that case, please come with me."
Esther rose, and Lilith handed her a pair of low boots to slip on her feet. "The metal floors are usually rather cool, especially around here. These should keep you comfortable. Speaking of which, is your uniform all right? I'm afraid we didn't have anything exactly your size."
Esther shrugged in the white shift. It was a little loose, but not uncomfortably so. "It's quite all right. I'm sure it would be difficult, considering I wasn't expected."
Lilith smiled. "It's not a problem." She gestured gracefully. "This way."
The corridors the young woman led her through were all gleaming silver-steel, smooth curves, and neutral paint schemes. Esther heard her footsteps echoing in the hallways and shivered, remembering the sound of her footsteps on the ARK. After a few minutes, she noticed that each intersection was marked with low doorways, as well as numbers and letters. She blinked. "Umm...excuse me?"
"Yes?" Lilith stopped and turned.
"I was just wondering, these letters and numbers..." She brushed her hand along one of the designs. "Could you tell me what they're for?"
"Oh, of course. These are navigational numbers." Lilith tapped the designs. "The number tells you what deck you're on. The letter tells you what department controls this particular section. If you want to go anywhere without me, just make sure you bring up a map and check your destination marker. I'll show you how."
"Thank you." Esther studied it. "So...this is Deck 3...and we're in..."
"We just crossed over into the housing sector. H. We need to go up two decks, and then across to the GeM sector. That's where we room." Lilith gestured again. "There's an elevator just down the hall."
"You don't room in general housing?" Esther felt slightly surprised.
"No. I'm part of the Gene manipulation Department. Those of us that work there are on special schedules and training programs, so we're kept in separate living spaces as well.
She already knew the answer, but she still had to ask. "Ummm...you said, 'those of you'. How many people...are there?"
"There are two scientists who monitor us, one military, one civilian. They have their own rooms. You'll be rooming with me, and the other three. Two boys, one more girl." Lilith looked at her. "I hope that's all right."
"It should be fine." Esther swallowed back a thin chill of fear. She remembered Abel's stories, about his childhood. Remembered how he'd spoken of himself. Not to mention...she would be rooming with Cain as well. Her head knew that these were children, younger at this point even than she was, but her stomach was still knotting up inside.
Lilith nodded, then led her around the corner to an elevator. The ride up was short and smooth, and they emerged into another corridor, exactly the same. Lilith gestured. "This way."
The walked for a while, then turned down a hallway. It was a short corridor, with a door at the end of the hall. As they turned the corner, Lilith stopped. "Oh dear."
Esther paused. "What..." Then she heard it. Muffled voices, shouting from the other side of the door. Instinctively, she moved closer to hear.
"...it's not like that at all! What do you know about it?" The voice was a teenage tenor from the sound of it. "You..." The next words were muffled by the distance and the door. Then a very clear: "Why should you care? It's not like anyone ever says anything to you." The last word was sharp, the venom in it clear even through the closed doors.
Lilith stepped forward quickly and put a hand on a sensor panel. There was a hiss, and the door slid open, and the red-haired young woman stepped quickly inside. "Abel!"
Esther stepped to the door and stopped uncertainly, taking in the scene inside.
The room just inside the door was clearly set up as a general living area. It was a wide, circular area, with several branching doors. There were four different desk-like spaces, a large main screen, and various tables and chairs scattered in the room. The walls were neutrally colored, like the rest of the station, and each door appeared to have a name-plate next to it, though she couldn't read it. And in the middle of the room...
A small girl detached herself from under a desk and came flying over to Lilith as the door opened, grabbing her skirt. "Lilith!" She was clearly upset, and the reason was obvious.
Two young men stood in the center of the room, the nearer one's posture marking him as clearly angry. As Esther stepped into the doorway he spun around, rage stamped across his features. "What do you want?"
"Abel!" Lilith's voice was sharp, admonitory, but also clearly concerned. Her eyes drifted over the two boys. "Have you two boys been fighting again?"
"It's not a fight." The nearer of the two snapped the words out sullenly.
The other boy shrugged, his posture one of unconcern. "Abel's right. It really isn't a fight. He's just a little upset about something our training instructor said to him today. I was just trying to calm him down."
"Oh, be quiet. It's not like you even care." The other boy, Abel, jerked his head around, eying his companion with undisguised anger and veiled contempt.
"Really. If I didn't care, I wouldn't bother trying to talk you out of your temper."
"You just want to protect your precious reputation as a peacemaker." Abel snarled the words, then spun on his heel toward one of the doors. "I'm going to my room."
"Abel, wait." Lilith's voice was soft, commanding, and the youth stopped where he stood. "I realize you may be angry, but you need to be courteous. We have a guest."
"A guest? Another one of those scientists? Or is it another civilian, trying to curry favor?" Abel's eyes came back to Lilith, then past her, and Esther found herself staring straight into an angry blue gaze. "You and Cain can handle that. I don't care." He started to turn away.
"Wait." Esther stepped forward quickly. "It isn't like that. I arrived here by accident, and I'm rooming here until they figure out how to send me home. Ummm...my name is Esther Blanchett, from Albion." She held out a hand.
"Albion?" Dark anger twisted through the already furious blue eyes. "So...you're another one of the 'citizens'?"
Esther blinked. "I'm sorry...I don't know what you mean..."
"Never mind. Just leave me alone. And tell whoever sent you, I don't want any more 'minders' or observers, or whatever you're supposed to be." He held her gaze for a moment, then turned abruptly away and stalked into a room, slamming the door behind him.
"Oh dear. I'm sorry." Lilith shook her head. "Really, Abel..."
"They were just trying to get to him! It's not Abel's fault!" The young girl piped up, her eyes shimmering with a mix of anger and fear and tears. "Why doesn't he just ignore them?"
The other youth remaining in the room shook his head. "Well, that's just not the way Abel is. I suppose he'll calm down sooner or later, though. I'm sure he'll be more polite then." The young man turned to Esther, a gentle smile on his face. "Sorry about Abel's rudeness." He held out a polite hand. "I'm Cain. Cain Nightroad."
Esther swallowed, feeling her throat drying out. The boy in front of her barely looked twelve, though she knew from Abel's story that he had to be at least sixteen. He had a generous easy smile, a young echo of the smile she knew so well. The hair was cut short, barely chin length, and light gold, accenting sea-blue eyes and a kind expression. He was dressed in a white tunic, high collared with red trim, a black undershirt and black leggings, and low boots similar to the ones the others wore.
She realized she was staring, and quickly moved to take his hand. She felt her stomach clench, and had to force herself to remember this wasn't the man who had nearly killed her so many times. This was a young man who hadn't done anything wrong yet. "Sorry. I'm Esther. Esther Blanchett."
"Ah, yes. As I said, sorry about Abel's temper. He'll probably calm down later, but you shouldn't let his anger upset you too much. He's just a little tense." He smiled again. "I'm sure he'll be better later."
"Of course." Esther swallowed again. Even knowing the truth, she was having trouble reconciling the violent individual who'd slammed a door in her face with the man she knew so well. And reconciling the gentle, polite individual she was meeting with the madman who had destroyed part of her home. To distract herself, she turned to the youngster hiding behind Lilith's skirt. "Good evening. I'm Esther Blanchett. May I have your name?"
The girl hung back. Lilith smiled affectionately. "You'll have to excuse her. She's a little shy, and I think she was upset by all the shouting. This is Seth. Seth Nightroad. She's our youngest. And that..." Her gaze slipped to the closed door. "That was Abel Nightroad."
"Ah. You're all siblings?" She knew the answer, but...she'd promised Lilith she would keep the truth a secret.
Cain smiled again. "Well, biologically, Abel and I are twins. Unfortunately, we weren't raised in the same place, and we're really not much alike. Seth is our younger sister."
"I see. It sounds rather stressful." Esther smiled, then turned her attention back to the little girl still hovering behind Lilith. "Seth. It's very nice to meet you."
Lilith chuckled and stroked the young girl's head. "Why don't you say hello to Esther, while I go change, okay?"
Seth nodded hesitantly, then stepped away. The older woman patted her head once more, then disappeared through a different door.
Esther knelt so she could be on eye level with the child. It was hard to reconcile such a shy little girl with the hyper teen who'd once accosted her in the street, posing as a tea seller. But the green eyes and dark hair were unmistakable. She felt a sense of amusement, seeing the two miniature ponytails tied into the black hair, clear imitations of the hairstyle Lilith wore. "It's very nice to meet you."
"Are you another scientist?" Seth's eyes were wary.
"No. I'm afraid I'm simply here by accident. It's rather hard to explain, but I'm really not involved. At least, I don't think so." Esther swallowed.
"Hmmm. I suppose it has something to do with the explosion in the particle lab yesterday. They said there was a civilian injured." Cain's voice was thoughtful.
"I suppose so. I'm afraid I don't remember much." Esther shook her head. "Regardless, since we're going to room together, I thought perhaps we should try to be friends." She held out her hand to the child in front of her.
Green eyes studied her. Then... "Abel is...he's not a bad person. It isn't his fault!" Defiant sparks danced in those eyes, angry and challenging.
"I'm sure it isn't. We all have bad days sometimes. Back at home, I was raised in a church for a while. And sometimes, some of the other children would make fun of me. Or I would be sad and feel lonely." She felt the sadness tinging her expression. "I know what it's like to be angry, or have a bad day. I'm sure I'll get to meet your brother on better terms tomorrow, right? And I'm sure I'll be friends with him."
The wary anger faded out of the green eyes, and then then little girl moved forward to take her hand. "It's not fair. Why can't he just ignore them?" She was sniffling quietly, and Esther stroked her hair gently.
"Well, I'm glad to see you're willing to give Abel the benefit of the doubt." Cain smiled, and moved to settle himself in a desk chair. "But I suppose I should warn you, Abel's a little temperamental. He probably won't warm up to you tomorrow, or even next week."
"That's not fair!" Seth glared at the older boy. "You don't have to talk about Abel like that!"
"I'm just being polite. It isn't fair for him to bite our guests head off either, you know. I don't want Esther to get hurt, if Abel's in a bad mood tomorrow morning." Cain shook his head. "I'm sorry if I'm being impolite, but..."
"I think it's best if we stop discussing this." Lilith emerged, wearing a sleeveless blouse, close fit, over which she'd wrapped a long length of cloth. Esther recognized the style of clothing she'd seen on the body in her sarcophagus. It looked comfortable, and the younger woman wore it with an ease that said she was used to the design. She was also wearing two armbands, one on either arm. Lilith shook her head again. "There's no point in trying to predict Abel's behavior. And really Cain, Seth's right. You shouldn't speak of Abel like that. I'm sure he's trying very hard."
"Hmmm. Well, he almost got in real trouble today. I think they were about ready to call security on him this time. But...you're right. He is my brother. And he does have his good points. He did start that fight because he was worried, after all." Cain shrugged, then turned to Esther with a gentle smile. "Abel is a bit temperamental, and he's rather anti-social, but he is a good person, if he lets you get to know him. Despite his temper, he's really a better person than he seems. I hope you won't hold this outburst against him."
"No. Of course not." Esther shook her head. "I won't hold it against him at all."
"That's very kind of you." Cain smiled, then turned back to his desk.
Lilith sighed. "Esther, there's a spare bed that we can put together for you, in the closet. I was just wondering, would you prefer to stay here?" She gestured to the living area. "It's not very private, but...if that's what you'd prefer, we can do that. Or you can room with me, or with Seth."
"Umm, well, if it's all right, I think I should room with you." Esther looked the older woman in the eyes. "After all, it might make Seth uncomfortable, sharing a room with a stranger."
"I can handle it!" The girl stiffened.
"I'm sure you can." Lilith chuckled, but the sound was soft and somehow soothing. "I think Esther is just trying to be polite."
"That's right." Esther smiled at the youngster. "If you'd really like, I'd be happy to room with you. I just thought you might like to have a room all to yourself."
Cain turned again. "You know...Abel's less likely to visit you if you have a guest sleeping with you."
"Abel...I'm sure he won't mind!" Seth's tone was defensive, but her eyes were uncertain.
"Does your brother help you sleep?" Esther kept her smile friendly. "In that case, why don't I stay with Lilith? I'm sure your brother wouldn't mind, but I bet he's shy, like most teenage boys. I'm sure Lilith and I will get along just fine."
"Okay..." Seth looked up at the older woman.
Lilith nodded, a serene smile on her face. "I'm sure Esther and I will get along well." She moved forward to stroke Seth's hair, then moved to another door, opening it to reveal what was clearly a storage closet. "Esther, why don't we get your bed set up? This way, we can have you moved in before dinner."
"That sounds wonderful." Esther moved forward, helping the other woman extract a pile of carefully folded equipment and a metal frame from the closet. Once all the pieces were removed, the two of them carried them across the living area, and into Lilith's room.