You're my backbone, You're my cornerstone; You're my crutch when my legs stop moving
You're my headstart, You're my rugged heart; You're the pulse that I've always needed...
You'll never sleep alone, I'll love you long after you're gone
And long after you're gone, gone gone
-Lyrics to 'Gone Gone Gone' performed by Phillip Phillips
Crimson Bonds Part 22
To the mob of civilians and reporters alike that surrounded the steps of the Capital, Zechs Merquise opened his arms out to his sides to silence the angrily shouting public at large to bring them to a low roar enough for him to speak. Signs raised in the air from the onlookers with messages both for and against the registration law changes were lit by the streetlamps with night falling quickly in Washington.
On a most momentous evening, the Khushrenada Clan and their fellow board Infected stood together behind their Speaker as the noise began to calm. Somber in their postures and expressions, the immortals kept on tight smiles that were meant to be an encouraging as they were covers for their disappointment over the recent vote that had adjusted their place in the world.
But they were the ones that the other Vampires in existence would be looking to in this moment. To be anything but accepting and cooperative now would only cause an already serious case of animosity over the situation to reach new heights.
Camera flashing to take his image and video recorders focused on him, the Vampire Council's Speaker announced, "Congress has spoken, friends. We know that most of you are not happy about this decision, but we must move on with the understanding that this is for the best as we do not wish any ill-will with our fellow man in the livings."
When there were boos, hisses and cried out arguments from the crowd, Zechs raised his hand to stop them as he yelled over them, "Clearly, there is a great enough concern regarding how we Vampires are monitored or the decisive vote would have swayed differently. We will take on these desired requirements to retain the integrity of the Human-Vampire Treaty."
In hearing that, there was a considerable drop in the volume from the protesters.
Frowning deeply, even the most avid of Infected supporters could not argue against the importance of keeping face for the sake of what rights were still intact. More than ever, everyone in play would have to be on their best behavior and they had just received that reminder from the ones leading by example.
"This is a minute adjustment compared to what we could have been dealt," Merquise smiled. "And in the end, we Vampires will have an outward sign of commitment to our Companions with these new armbands that we will take on. It is a guarantee that we will not be monitored through them like lab rats, but checked in on yearly through their tracking devices to verify our promise to not populate the world with our own."
Shaking his head of long hair, the Speaker's grin widened as he suggested, "Everything in life and existence is based on what we make of it. Considering how much worse this could have gone by having a much more demeaning consequence, we should be grateful. Let us not look at this as a loss, but as a victory..."
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In the living room of the Barton Yuy Clan...
"A victory," Wufei murmured bitterly as he stared at the television screen in his brother's living room. Hunched forward on the couch that the shared opposite sides of with his brother, he folded his scaly hands propped by his knees into one tight fist as he watched his friends have to play nice despite their loss in the Senate.
The anger that he had held in until then getting the better of him, Chang sighed, "I get that they're trying to spin this in as positive a light as they can, but this still..." Unable to control the growl in his voice, he shook his head and held his tongue.
Midi surprised everyone when she finished for him with a quiet but sharp, "Sucks." To the wide, gold-rimmed eyes that fell on her, the 'little mother' smiled sheepishly and shrugged, "Well, we're all thinking it. I'm allowed to lower my proper, ladylike self when I'm irritated, too."
Lowering herself to sit on the armrest beside her Chinese cousin, she reached out a hand to rest it on his shoulder, soothing, "All things considered, we actually are lucky. From the sounds of things, what you are doing to manipulate the registration history will fall in line with these tracking devices fairly easily." There was no dispute that Wufei could come up with to that. Bowing his head, he nodded shallowly and patted the hand on him in appreciation.
Trowa returned to the lone recliner after turning the television off and folded his arms across his chest with an unusually open look of resentment. "Insult to injury," he grumbled. "That Senator McAdams suggested that we wear silver bands for her own amusement by hinting to the old days when livings thought that silver would harm our kind."
"I had picked up on that as well," Heero commented. His cobalt-and-gold eyes narrowed on the black screen ahead of him, he huffed, "That woman and her supporters are likely having a good laugh over that." Biting his lip, he peered over to the two empty cushions between himself and Chang.
Bad enough that the Original was already missing his lover and sister. Not having them home for this existence-changing news made their absence much harder to take in. Like Midi, they would have found some light outlook into the matter... either by laughing it off and or making some comment that would take the weight of it all from the rest of the family.
When he raised his gaze, Yuy noticed Chang staring just as longingly at the vacant place beside him. No doubt he had especially been feeling the loss of his wife in that moment. What was more, he had a son to worry about in the mix as well.
Even gone, Duo and Anna were loved. Not that anyone in that room would have ever doubted it. They were just missed and adored while they were away that much more.
"I better get back to work," Wufei declared as he rose to his feet. "I'm coming up on what should be the last phases of my coding now, so we'll be ready to go by the time our family is together again." Besides, it was a good distraction from the upsetting reports coming in. Facing his Latin cousin, he asked, "Would you mind another day of getting the kids ready for school when they wake up in a few hours?"
Her warm smiling returning, Midi reassured, "I never mind doing that. It'd be my pleasure."
The scaly Infected gave her an appreciative grin in return. As his brother walked past him, Heero exchanged a firm handshake meant to wordlessly voice their camaraderie through yet another test for their kind and their acceptance to do whatever they had to do for their own survival.
Under his breath, the Original muttered, "This too shall pass... right?"
"Right," Chang replied in kind. That said, he slipped from the room without a sound so that he and his loved ones could wrap their heads around that message for the challenges that lay in store for them.
* * * * * *
An hour later...
"Of course the Vampires are going to claim that what happened here tonight is a victory for them," a proud, smiling Nancy McAdams smirked into the cameras reordering her from the steps of the Capital.
Snickering, she shrugged, "But let's be honest and say that we all know better. The people have spoken and the livings will once again reclaim what is rightfully theirs by inheriting the earth and the rights that come it, just as God has always wanted-"
From the counter of a bar hidden in another corner of the world, Mark Barnett raised his nearly empty bottle of beer to the flat screen television overhead as cheered out a slurred, "'ere, 'ere, lady! You giv'em hell and we'll take it fro' 'her!!"
Along with his fellow Hunters that had packed the space to celebrate their long--awaited reprieve to their search, he knelt atop his stool and wobbled before straightening himself. Raising his drink higher, he called over the noise, toasting, "Ta Senators Mcsomethi'... yer one 'ell of a dame!"
Cheers, applause and shouted affirmations rose from the hoard as glasses and bottles were thrown back. From her place by the entrance of the bar, Lucie watched as the youngest Hunter was assisted by the men flanking him to return to his unsteady feet. "Idiot," she snored to herself, still harboring her animosity over the break that the little brat had stumbled upon.
Of the dozens working for Septum, Aisley was the only one to not find any joy in the world news from the Senate. Yes, the Yuy-Chang Clan would be forced to reveal themselves, but that meant any one of the brood could snatch up the Hybrid that they were harboring now.
All of the work and sacrifice that she had put into her hunt would be for nothing... unless she did something to guarantee that she was still the one to snatch up the grand prize that everyone coveted.
Those thoughts and all others came to a grinding halt when something else that the beautiful young woman had sought after came into her sights.
Broderick Dawson.
Rugged, tall, broad and attractive in every way, the young man that had captured Lucie's attention from their time they had been brought into Septum's fold together made his way through the crowd to leave the scene. Her eyes settling on his back when he passed by her without so much as a glance, the blonde temptress hurried out into the hallway behind him.
"Good to see such a welcoming face after so many months in the field," Aisley called. As Dawson's deep brown eyes set onto her when he turned around, she smiled alluringly, "I do hope that you were on your way to find me so that we could catch up, handsome."
The compliment earned no reaction from the other Hunter as he replied nonchalantly, "I was actually off to my quarters to catch up on some sleep. Just stopped in the bar to enjoy a little bit of the celebration."
Aisley walked towards him, smiling, "How unlike Mister Business All The Time. In all the time we have known each other, you were never one to let your hair down." And what she wouldn't have given to be running her hands through that crop-cut, silver-highlighted dark hair of his.
With a snort, Broderick stated, "Until we actually have that Hybrid, I fail to see the good in distractions from our work."
"Then why did you bother traveling to China?" the beautiful young woman pressed. "It had been determined early on that there were no ties the to the Barton-Yuy Clan being there for decades, save for a few visits."
Her counterpart smiled, "Not that I need to explain myself, but I prefer to know who and what I am up against. Chang Wufei's history was the last that I needed to have the whole family's background. Now I have a clearer picture of all of them."
Drawing a deep breath, Dawson frowned in warning, "Just because we will likely manage to capture our prey does not mean that our job in securing him is done. They have a whole band of Vampires surrounding them, remember. If they went out of their way to protect him the way they have, I don't see them as ones to easily give him up."
Nodding, Lucie admitted, "Logical strategy. I am just surprised that you never bothered to devote your time into doing any real... hunting. You surprised me since that is what we are all here for, after all."
The corner of his mouth curling up, the handsome investigator responded, "Now why would I bother wasting my time when you are clearly going to beat me and everyone on Septum's team to the punch? You don't realize that I know you better than you know. You'll have the Clan's location before the official confirmation comes through once all of the red tape is cut around the registration changes."
It was a very rare thing for Lucie to receive such a flattering sentiment from Dawson. Up until then, the flirting had seemed a bit one-sided on her part. But she had never given up that he must have wanted her. Every man wanted her. So her patience and trust in his buried feelings had been validated with that simple, warming remark.
After all, Aisley was well aware that she was the best Hunter. However, it was nice to hear that her striking teammate knew it, too.
Giggling, the blonde bowed her head as she said, "Well, thank you for that. In the end, I cannot fault you for focusing time on your research which would be put to far better use. One of these days we will have to sit down so I can pick your brain on what you learned about the rest of the Hybrid's family. " She winked and grinned, "I won't keep you from catching up on your rest after your long trip home another minute. Have a good night, dear."
"Thanks, Lucie," Broderick told her. "You, too." Turning on his heels, he waited until there was not a way she could see the rolling of his eyes as he moved for his room. Mentally thankful to have escaped the smug little Hunter, he was already envisioning the bed he was about to fall into for a much-needed sleep.
Still feeling as though she was floating on clouds, Aisley took the opposite fork in the catwalk to move her own quarters. No point in staying behind to celebrate when their were morons like Mark Barnett acting as though the war was over.
Instead, she would have to get her beauty rest for the evening to put on an even more ravishing display for Dawson than the one she was currently pulling off in a pair of slacks and a simple, white blouse.
On her way, the young woman made her way through the channel of medical and researching facilities when the sound of the primary laboratory's door swishing open filled her ears. Freezing in place with wide eyes, Lucie gasped.
Quickly ducking behind the railing to conceal herself, she had the perfect vantage point to peer inside the room directly across from her and two floors below when the sound of a cheerfully whistled tune echoed through the empty corridors.
Stepping through the entrance, Doctor Berg turned on his heels to peek back inside as he smiled, "Now, you behave while I'm away to join in the festivities. And do try to cheer up. You're going to have company in your misery very soon." He resumed his merry tune and closed the double doors behind him as he made his way for the closest watering hole.
'He thinks he's alone,' Aisley noted. And he would have been correct, had he taken the time to look up before he spoke up to who... or whatever had his current interest. With everyone filling the bars throughout the base, no one would have been any the wiser of this little moment.
Never before had the old man been as bold as to have the door to his lab open for so long as to have anyone spy what he had inside. And what was inside had her eyes growing all the wider.
There were tables covered with silver trays bearing all sorts of medical equipment... and several other pieces that she knew were meant to elicit pain. The sharp tips of a handful of those assortments were red with fresh blood dripping onto the flat surfaces below.
But that alone was not what had startled Lucie so much...
...it was the thick, long chain that was hanging from the wall behind the tables.
* * * * * *
The Yuy-Chang children were spread out in their living room with their homework, laptops and other means of entertainment for late afternoon. Just as they had promised their parents before their mother left on her mission and their father buried himself into his work, they remained on their best behavior for their uncles and aunt.
Even if it had not been a direct request before, the band of youngsters could sense the tension in the air surrounding their guardians. Completely onto what was happening in the world and what it all meant for their kind, they understood that the news to come from the Capital must not have been the best. And so they would remain good for their Uncle Heero, Uncle Trowa and Aunt Midi since they had enough to worry about.
"How bad is it?" Isabel asked across the small, round table where the black back of a monitor was staring back at her. Peering over to Cai just beside her, she took a moment to smirk over the top of the Battleship board game wall, "B15."
A wide smile spreading across his face, the boy beamed, "Miss." Exaggerating her frustration with a loud sigh, the brunette grinned and placed another white peg into her checkered map while her miniature ships were either 'sunk' or in very real danger of being 'hit'. "You're killing me, kid," she giggled to her little challenger's amused snickers.
Lowering the screen of his laptop to reveal himself and his twin's faces as they leaned back from their close huddle, John sighed, "From what we just read in the headline articles, there are going to be tracking devices hooked to every Vampire. The vote was only won for that by a narrow margin like the original ballot that got the ball rolling."
Carol shook her head, frowning, "It's going to be weeks before anything is actually carried out since there needs to be a common ground between the Infected and the livings too keep everyone happy on both sides." She glanced over to her smaller siblings just in time to catch their heads raised and turned in their direction before they snapped back to what they had been in the middle of.
Isabel smiled sadly in reassurance to the brood, "It's going to be alright, everyone. There's already a plan at play, so we're going to be safe." Slowly craning their heads back around, there was a notable relief in the gold-ringed irises of the youngest members of the Clan.
Winking, their oldest sister commented, "Remember when we were all-" She cut herself mid-sentence when her eyes grew wide at the sensation coursing through her, the same that had all of her brothers and sisters around turning to stone.
"They're back," Cai whispered, becoming a blur of himself in the next second as he led the charge to the front porch. Staring out to the open field that dipped down in the distance at the start of the decline of their secluded hill, the lot was soon joined by Heero, Trowa and Midi. And to serve as the final confirmation to their feeling, Wufei materialized amongst the welcomers, his gold-and-onyx eyes locked onto the same point of interest as the rest of his family.
At the sight of three distinct streams of movement coming towards them, the children raised their arms with loud cheers as they descended to the ground at the same time that their eldest brother appeared to take on the brunt of them. Falling onto his back, Charles laughed loudly up at the smiling faces greeting him, "I missed you too, brats." Happily returning the embraces and kisses he received, he was helped to his feet by his giggling twin.
Latching onto him when she finally had the chance, Isabel sighed, "Glad you didn't get yourself killed out there, brother. I was starting to worry." Her redheaded other half bit his lip against the new wave of emotions taking over in his being reunited with his loved ones, not the least of which being his dear sister with whom he had shared so much over the course of their existences. Burying his face in her shoulder, he hung onto her tightly.
Content to look on with warm smiles, Duo and Anna gave the youngsters their time to catch up with each other as the smaller of the group went to ask their barrage of question of his first hunt.
Unable to hold back the wide smile from his face when he and his Companion locked gazes, Heero closed the distance between them in a blink and they all but fell over at the collision of their twining themselves around each other as much as they could. Completely oblivious to anyone else around, their lips locked in a scorching kiss.
Chuckling to herself at their sweet coming together, Anna shook her head on her way past them. Dressed in a lilac kimono with her red hair pulled up high in a haphazard bun, the Irish Vampire glowed as she and her husband walked towards one another.
When he met her at the top step of the porch, Wufei let out an audible sigh as he pulled her close and rested his head in the crook of her shoulder. His eyes closing, he reveled in just sensing their bodies pressed together for a that breath of time to finally bring an end to his days and nights of worrying about his wife and their son.
Biting her lip, Midi giggled quietly as she leaned heavily against Trowa as the content Original wrapped her up in his arms. "Maybe some day," the little mother murmured to her husband. To his questioning expression, she gestured to the children who were moving in to swoop upon their mother as she laughed and scooped them all up as fiercely as she could manage.
Emerald-and-gold eyes blinking widely, Barton recovered from his surprise and smiled. "I'd really like that with you, too," he replied, nodding firmly before he sealed their pact with a kiss.
Only when she'd had the opportunity to see to each of her babies did Anna finally rise to her feet again. By then, Heero and Duo had finally separated so that her brother could throw his arms around her as they exchanged a quick peck. Snickering as she was spun around by him, the redhead hung onto his neck while Duo was mobbed by his nieces and nephews as Trowa and Midi took their turns with the agents.
Smiling to appraise the whole group at the end of their initial reconnecting, Maxwell grinned, "So... did we miss anything exciting while we were gone?"
* * * * * *
"Congratulations, Septum," the digitally scrambled voice on the other end of Miller's secured line chirped.
Arms folded behind his head as he reclined back in his plush chair, the researcher smirked, "Oh, the congratulations go to you, Senator. We are partners in this, after all. Now that you have lived up to your end of the bargain in helping my team locate our Hybrid, you can sit back and allow me to take it from here."
The caller's scratchy, electronic representation of a tone responded, "Well, things are not quite that easy at the moment as the fine lines of our new legislation need to be mapped out. I imagine that the registration laws will be implemented not long after the holiday season. I'll be sure to move the process along as quickly as I can. However, at least we know that this is going to happen. I will keep you posted as details keep rolling in." There was a sharp click through the speaker announcing the end of their conversation.
Smiling to himself, Septum closed his eyes. Yes, his ultimate goal was about to come to fruition. What he wouldn't have given to be able to share in the moment with his late Uncle, Instructor H. It was his studies that made all of this possible in the grand scheme of things...
... that and the glaring creature sitting in the far corner of the dark office.
Beneath his desk, Millers' right foot ran along the thick chain beside it.
TBC...
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