I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence and
So the days float through my eyes
-Lyrics to 'Changes' performed by David Bowie
Crimson Bonds Part 25
Time rolled on by for humans and Vampires alike. Before long, weeks turned into months. Snow that had coated much of the Virginian landscape for the winter season had all but completely melted come the start of a new spring. Holidays came and went in their usual fashion.
All of these usual transformations were matched by other turns in the way that the world worked for those living and existing in it. New lines had been drawn in the sand. But even this came to be accepted as complacency set in with the passage of days. Eventually, those standing on opposing sides had dealt with compromise to make everyone as happy as possible.
But with all of these alterations, some things remained the same... namely the patch of textured ceiling tiles that a certain Infected was more than used to seeing for a couple of months by that particularly warm day in late May.
"Here's hoping fifth time's the charm," Anna sighed deeply with her whole body leaning back in the elevated chair that she had also become accustomed to. Tilting her head in thought, she mused, "Maybe I'm just infertile. Wore my uterus out with all of those babies it had to make over the years. That has to explain why I'm not conceiving when before it seemed like all Wufei would have to do was sneeze whenever I ovulated and I was pregnant."
Sally walked over to her friend as she reassured, "My dear, that is just not possible. Everything is perfectly fine with your reproductive system. This is just a new situation with your body feeling like the swimmers in there are foreign. And there are other contributors that could be hurting your chances." Stopping before the face watching her, she smirked, "Like stress, for one example that I just pulled out of the air."
The doctor reached over to gently massage the top of her patient's head as she said, "You've been putting a lot of pressure on yourself to make this happen. I'm still convinced that it will eventually come to pass, but you need to ease up on yourself." She made her way towards the Vampire's mid-section to pull back on the robe covering her abdomen as she commented, "I know for a fact that Heero and Duo are not the types to cause you anxie-"
Cutting herself short at the appearance of the tiny dots freckling the Irish immortal's flat stomach, Po breathed, "Anna. How many shots have you been giving yourself? There are too many marks here for you to have stuck to your weekly treatment..." Quickly counting the spread out dots, she announced, "Twelve more than what I expected, to be exact."
"Oh, yea," the redhead giggled nervously. Clearing her throat, she raised her head enough to better meet her caregiver's gaze she stammered, "That... well, uh... about that..."
When the Companion sent a glare her way, she informed in a rush, "I kinda took it on myself to double and sometimes triple the dosage the last couple of months when I could handle it. You know... just to hopefully help the odds. It was no big deal, really."
Well onto the fact that her long-time friend would never admit to the agony that she had been putting herself through, Sally also knew better than to try and stop her when it came to doing this for her brothers. Carefully lowering the medical gown again, she sighed and frowned deeply, "Anna, I wish that I had a dozen sisters like you."
The bright, single bell ring from the timer on her counter proclaimed the end of their session. "Alright," the doctor conceded, "I'll let it go this time."
Pressing the chair's remote, she brought her patient back down and upright as she warned, "But so help me, the second I get the feeling that you are putting yourself through too much, I'll go to Wufei and make my concerns known. You may be my friend, but right now you are also my patient who I have to look out for."
Anna swallowed roughly and ducked her head. That was by no means an idle threat as she had seen for herself what Po was willing to go through for her charges.
"Yes, ma'am," she agreed with a shallow nod before becoming a blur of herself to change into her normal clothes before rematerializing. Her arms exposed thanks to the green T-shirt she wore, the silver armband high up on her right bicep was in plain view while she smiled and extended a hand. "Until our date next month, then," she smiled cheerfully.
Unable to hold onto her frustration, Sally shook the cold hand offered to her as she laughed, "Here's hoping it won't be needed. Although, considering how most people date with the hopes of getting lucky, I'd say I've been successful in how familiar I've become with your sex organs."
Her shoulders drooping and a horrified expression crossing her face, the Vampire murmured, "Yea. Really didn't need that to make this any more awkward than it already is, thanks."
Po's head fell back with her resounding laughter before collecting herself enough to snicker, "Oh, I think you had it coming after you went and took medical measures into your own hands without consulting me." Folding her arms across her chest, she grinned, "But I'll make up for showing up empty handed for our get together and bring flowers next time."
Were she able to blush, Anna could perfectly imagine her face turning as red as her hair. Snorting, she muttered, "Flowers? Crossbow arrows would be more my speed, if you're going to." The corner of her mouth curling up, she giggled, "Thanks, Sal. Looking forward to having you, Victor and your Clan over for board games this weekend."
"Everyone in my family's anticipating it, too," the Companion beamed. "It'll be good practice for you to start relaxing and enjoying your existence again." Lightly slapping her former nurse's rump, she winked, "Get on out of here, now."
Snickering, Anna shook her head in amusement and stepped out into the hallway of her friend's new private practice stationed in the Virginian suburbs not far from her family's cluster of mansions. When she headed inside of the visitor waiting room, she smiled at her husband and brothers as they rose to their feet at her arrival. "All set," she announced.
Their own silver bands catching the room's florescent lights, Wufei and Heero grinned back and led the way to the parking lot. Draping an arm around his sister's shoulders, Duo asked, "What do you say to a stroll around town to get out and about for a while?" At the classic phrase, he emphasized it by tapping a finger on her arm band.
Normally not one to enjoy shopping in the squares, the Irish Infected brightened at the thought of a change in pace. "I'd actually like that," she smiled. Gesturing to her arm band, she commented, "Since it won't be long before Big Brother starts watching us, it'll be nice to enjoy a little freedom while we have it."
As some of the first Vampires to be given their trackers, the Barton-Yuy Clan family also had the longest time to adjust to their new 'accessories' prior to the final uploading of the registration to come in about a month's time.
By then, the locations and names of every Infected would be uploaded into a secured database for the powers-that-be eyes only. A stipulation that worked to their benefit since it was agreed by the Senate that such information should not be available to the public at large as it had been in the past.
There would be quarterly uploads from that point on every year for the moderators to keep tabs. This would allow them to notice anything that seemed suspicious such as a lot of moving about or if any of the Infected suddenly dropped off of the original list.
Still, that did nothing to stop Rogues from acting out as they would every now and then. Any immortal with the intent of behaving badly could simply fall through the cracks by evading being set up with a tracker.
And as every Vampire knew- if any of their own kind wanted to make themselves scarce, no living would be able to do anything to stop them. What never existed on the registry before would only continue on in the shadows of where they had made their home.
There would be thousands upon thousands of those cases to keep the Preventers busy over their existences.
Taking to the wheel of his car with his Companion sliding into the passenger seat, Heero peered over his shoulder to meet his sister's gaze. "So, where would you like to go first?" he smirked.
* * * * * *
Nancy McAdams pulled into the driveway of her house to find her front lawn and porch empty. Sighing to herself as she brought her vehicle to park, she stared out at her yard that was now growing green grass and flowers instead of being covered by the feet of cameramen and reporters.
One day you're the center of the whole world's attention and the next you're forgotten. Now that the registration laws that she had been the driving force behind her were established and implemented, the Senator was no longer a focus.
Gone were the death threats, the few who had warned her likely realizing that it was futile... not to mention a good way to immortalize her as a martyr for her cause. And so were the well-wishers and fans who flooded her email and snail mail boxes with letters of appreciation.
Pity. Just as soon as she had made a name for herself life was moving on and taking the limelight somewhere else.
Though Nancy had always known that she was but one voice who happened to be in a position to stand up for those who had to remain silent, she had grown to enjoy the attention. "Don't be so vain," she murmured to herself when she caught herself missing her glimmer of fame. "Your name will always be tied with the addendum to the Human-Vampire Peace Treaty."
In the grand scheme of things, that was what she had truly wanted from the start. It had been something that she was cautious to not get her hopes up in seeing it come to fruition. But it had and so her place in history was solidified.
That was more than enough, the politician finally decided.
She took hold of her briefcase and slipped from the car to made her way inside her home, where she was welcomed with a pleasant aroma of a fine meal cooking. Rounding the doorway of the kitchen to meet her half-way in the corridor, David smiled, "Hey, Ma. Dinner's going to be up in about ten minutes."
"Can't wait," McAdams replied sincerely. Kissing her son's cheek, she complimented, "It smells wonderful."
Of all the changes to have transpired over the last few weeks, she was the most pleased with this time of year being the start of her kids' spring and summer breaks from their classes. Having them home was always a joy as they were the only ones who always made her feel like a hero in their eyes. Even if the rest of the world forgot her, theirs were the opinions of her that mattered the most.
So, as of that moment on, Nancy would be perfectly content to have the rest of her life fall back into some semblance of normalcy once again.
* * * * * *
"Not even a little hint?"
Some things never changed. Like the endless needling that Broderick had to get used to from Lucie every time they crossed paths.
Containing himself to not roll his eyes as she leaned forward from her end of the long cafeteria table that they were occupying, he sighed, "No. My research is still a work in progress and so I'm not sharing anything that I already have until I'm sure I have a solid idea to who everyone in the Barton-Yuy Clan really are."
The lovely blonde pouted, "Aww." Resting her elbows on the table surface, she propped her head atop her hands as she grinned seductively, "One of these days you'll give into me. You can't hold out forever." Oh, he would give up on this little game in every way besides sharing the information he'd spent years gathering.
'Don't hold your breath,' Dawson thought to himself, well aware of what more was being hinted to. Out of respect for his fellow Hunter, he simply did not care to let her down hard. Her flirtations were innocent enough.
Eventually, she would move on to another prospect to keep her busy. One wealthier and more powerful as that tended to be her taste. And it was the measures that she was willing to sink to in obtaining whatever she wanted that had completely spoiled his opinion of her.
He finished off his tall glass of water and shrugged, "Sorry, but the data stays with me until we have to worry about the rest of the Clan coming after us once we have that Hybrid. When it's needed, I'll hand off that information so that I receive the credit I'm due." There would be no suggestion to the other part that Aisley was referring to in her evident attraction.
Lucie half-hummed-half-whined in disappointment that was meant to be cute. Another failed tactic on her part that Broderick saw right through and it nearly caused him to cringe.
"Oh well," she grinned. "The day is coming soon enough for when we do have that Hybrid, so you'll get every reward coming to you when you present your research to Septum. I know that I look forward to seeing what's kept you away from me for so many years. We could have made a great team out in the field if you had taken up my offer to join forces in my hunt."
No bloody chance in hell would Dawson have considered working alongside her. The moment she had asked him when they were about to be sent out into the world on their own devices, he picked up on how especially vicious the beauty was beneath her attractive surface.
Dawson had no doubt that Aisley would have gladly taken everything of his, putting her name on his efforts to win the whims of Septum... even when she already was their boss's clear favorite amongst the Hunters.
But again, the handsome Hunter kept all of that to himself and kept up his airs.
"I'd better head back to my quarters and see what else I can pull up in my resources," Broderick announced as he rose to his feet. He'd had about all he could stomach of the company that had been thrust upon him anyway.
Keeping the frown from her face that she felt coming on, Lucie nodded, "Okay." With a wink, she smirked, "Just let me know if you change your mind and need a hand with that."
Fat chance of that. Dawson took what enjoyment he could from that personal thought. Nodding deeply just to keep her happy, he took up his tray to set it at the collecting station by the doorway. He stuffed his hands into his jean pockets and took to the labyrinth of catwalks.
Once he was beyond her sight, Aisley's own hands lowered from her face in tight fists as her eyes narrowed with a low growl of annoyance. How the object of her desires could remain so blind to her attempts to snare him for so long was beyond her.
It wasn't possible that Broderick wasn't attracted to her. Everyone wanted her. He simply had to be that unaware of her advances. There was no other explanation to why she continued to fail to lure him in as easily as she lured in every man targeted.
More and more, it was becoming clear to Lucie that she was going to have to step up her efforts. But for now... she needed to take out the frustration building up in her. Cleaning up her part of the table, she stormed out of the cafeteria to purposely make her way through the base for a very specific destination.
Careful to make sure that she had not been followed, the striking blonde wove herself through the last stretch of twisting and turning walkways until she reached the main lab. Pressing her hand to the scanner by the entrance so that the doors slid open to her, she hurried inside, smirking to herself.
Wasn't she sitting pretty now?
Being the only Hunter who Septum had no only trusted his secret with, but who he gladly gave access to his holding cells, was a definite perk. At moments like this, it was nice to have something that she could use as her personal punching bag to let off some steam.
As fate would have it, her little Toy was already out of his prison for another battery of experiments and tests.
Sitting up on the edge of a metal table, the chain hooked to the collar of his neck secured to the wall behind him, Solo was shirtless so that a series of taped pads measuring his body's reactions could be secured to his abdomen, sides and back. His long hair crowned by a sensor shaped as a simple, silver band, the Hybrid regarded his new guest with that dark glare he always greeted her with.
"Ah, Lucie," Doctor Berg smiled as he came to his feet and left his hub of computer monitors tracking his patient's progress. ""To what do I owe the honor of this visit, my dear?"
Eyeing the trays of pliers, varying scalpels and other tools that were currently so clean that they shimmered under the bright lights, Aisley answered quietly, "I was hoping that I might be able to make a request to brighten my mood."
Well accustomed to such a suggestion from her by now, the old man grinned in eagerness. It was a welcomed change for him to have another person who was every bit the sadist that he was. "Anything for such a good friend of mine. What request would that be?"
Focused back on the Hybrid, Lucie narrowed her own eyes as she said flatly, "I want to watch you make him bleed. Make him scream so that I can hear it." She had become quite fond of this power... this being able to control the fate of another creature and to have her wishes carried out.
Bowing deeply at the waist, Berg smirked, "Very well. I won't hold back, then." He crossed the room to his splayed out equipment and took up a long hammer fitted with a long spike on its head. There was a most delighted expression on his face when he turned to stalk towards his captive.
Never losing the heated glare in his silver-and--violet eyes, Solo remained trained on the Hunter's gaze even knowing what was coming. Oh, he would lose that ire after a bit of breaking, Aisley knew all too well.
He would bleed. He would scream. And he would come to accept that she was as much his master as Septum.
The corner of her mouth sneering up into a venomous smile, Lucie patiently waited for the rapture she would have at the expense of his agony that she had commanded.
* * * * * *
"You knooowww," Anna drew out to her husband as they headed up their front porch, each carrying in a bag of goodies for themselves and the children at their sides and holding each other's free hand between them.
Raising an eyebrow, Wufei snickered, "Oh oh. Nothing good ever comes when you start off whatever you're about to say like that. What's on your mind, love?"
The redhead shrugged, "I've just been thinking... with any luck, I am going to be expecting Heero and Duo's baby here." Humming, the scaly Infected pushed her on with what she was getting at. Biting her lip, his Chosen grinned, "And Solo is going to turn thirteen in a couple of months... sooo..."
Instantly, without the need to read her mind, Chang could follow along her train of thought and shuddered. "Ugh. The Big Talk," he half-groaned. Sighing, he looked back to his bride and admitted, "I suppose that it would only be right for me to sit down with him to have that discussion now. He's certainly of the right age to hear it. I'll pull him aside once we've settled back in."
Such had been their agreement from the time that Anna had first fallen pregnant- the boys would learn about the birds and the bees from their father and the girls their mother. Prepared and practiced as they were in giving their children The Big Talk, it still carried with it a sense of dread for the parents.
Another step towards adulthood for their younglings. Just another in a long line of changes born out of the passage of time.
Grinning widely, the Siren leaned in to kiss her Other's scaly cheek. "Thank you, my heart," she replied as they entered their mansion. Welcomed back by their brood, the couple laughed amidst the storm of hugs and kisses that they were given as well as the immediate interest in what they had brought back from their outing.
While the whole of their family was distracted by the toys and games that they were showered with a few minutes later, Wufei rested a hand on his middle child's shoulder. "Come along, Solo," he urged. "We need to have a chat."
The redheaded teenager blinked in curiosity up at his father, nodding, "Ok, Dad." He kept close to his guardian, the hand on him staying where it was, as they stepped from the living room. Watching them leave, Anna sighed deeply to herself, shaking her head with a wistful smile on her face and muttering, "They grow up so fast."
No doubt she was going to be more than ready for more of her own once her trying for a niece or nephew was behind her. And she doubted that she would need to work hard convince her husband of the same....
...only at that time, she had no idea that the opportunity would be upon them sooner than later with the beginning of the new existence that was just starting to form inside of her.
TBC...
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