Chapter 7
Omi had never expected to be able to locate Schwartz as easily as he had, but if they wanted to put themselves right in his path, then who was he to refuse them? It just made his job all the easier. It had been his purpose to determine where they were and what they were up to, but he had never planned on finding out so much about them. Schwartz, in many ways - excluding, of course, their supernatural powers and the somewhat more questionable organization they were backing - were like Weiss. Having learned that, Omi decided that maybe a change in tactics would be more logical and Kritiker could always use another ally on their side, especially ones with direct connections to Rosenkreuz and ultimately Esset.
He remained hidden, crouched low, wondering why it was that none of them had noticed his presence yet. They must truly be focused on something else to have gotten so sloppy in such a short amount of time.
"You know I was born in Germany," Schuldig was saying in a softer voice than before so that Omi had to strain to hear his words. "What you don't know was that I was born rather close to here, under the shadow of Esset. My abilities kicked in rather early on and I was rather uncontrollable at the time because, well, I was confused. Basically, Esset snatched me up and in a way I should thank them because everyone else thought I was mad and maybe if I had been left alone I would have gone crazy because I heard everyone's thoughts in my head and I couldn't stop them, I couldn't block them out like I can now."
The young man in Schuldig's arms leaned his head against his shoulder, his eyes far away. "They wanted you because of your power, just like they wanted all of us."
"No." He pulled back quickly. "Don't say that. They didn't want you, we did, Nagi. It doesn't matter what they want anymore, because you were ours to find and we wanted you. They never - never really had you and I am glad that one of us, especially you, were spared that fate."
His dark eyes glanced back at Brad, who was watching them silently. "Farfello, too?" he asked, when what he really wanted to ask was, "Even Brad?" But in a glance both his questions - spoken and unspoken - was answered and the answer to both was a resounding "yes".
"What did they do to you? They hurt you, didn't they?" Nagi felt himself being pressed backwards and then he was looking up into soulful green eyes that were unnaturally serious for once with no hint of humor lingering in their depths. Those eyes frightened him more than he could say and that, for someone long practiced at hiding his emotions, was a truly terrifying prospect.
"Of course they did. That is how Esset works, through fear and manipulation. That is why we as Schwartz have been distancing ourselves from them all these years, why we have never brought you here, and why I was so reluctant to come. They are, as always, up to no good." The redhead's hand lightly traced a pattern across his face and Nagi stood still, allowing it.
Finally, when a faint smile appeared on Schuldig's face, lightening his appearance into a more natural expression, he said, "You didn't answer my first question."
He laughed and ruffled his hair affectionately. "We can't fool our boy, can we?" Nagi continued to stare at him with unblinking eyes, until he finally sighed and gave in. "No, we can't. Other than the general fact that they locked me up in a cage like an animal, there isn't a whole lot to tell, but since you are so determined to find out, I suppose I must. Well, for starters, they put me on those machines in there, similar to the ones that you saw today, to test my abilities. I didn't know how to control them, though, so they made me learn."
"Torture," Brad interrupted, for the first time. "They used some of the cruelest methods possible to force him to adapt and control his abilities and no matter what he did, there was no escaping it."
Schuldig snorted. "The same could be said for you." At his nod he became serious once more.
"Brad cannot control his foresight."
Green eyes widened marginally. "No," he agreed, "He can't. They eventually found that out - or, rather, assumed that since no amount of torment would bring his visions more often. I think that was worse than what I suffered, since there was actually something I could do about it, to lessen the pain they inflicted upon me."
He was silent for a time, his mind recalling being a young child who had been picked up off the streets, taken from the life of an unwilling prostitute and into the comforting arms of a telepath. Nagi, who had hated to be touched for obvious reasons, allowed this odd man to handle him like a doll and was for some reason not disturbed by that. When others spoke allowed, Schuldig had spoken to his mind, explaining things in a soft voice that constantly reminded him that he was loved and adored. He did not believe the voice, per se, but he grew to care for it and rely on it for comfort.
Before, he had not understood the strange power that he possessed, but through the telepath's gentle guidance he had begun to explore his potential. Everything was precise and controlled, but more than that, Schuldig was not afraid of him as so many others were. He did not want him to be afraid, either, when before that had been the only purpose for using his powers - to make them, to make everyone go away. So he worked diligently in control his powers, not for himself, but so he would never, even accidentally, hurt this one person who cared for him.
At the time Brad had not meant a great deal to him, as the man mostly ignored him and allowed Schuldig to fawn over him. Still, there had been something about him that had been intriguing to Nagi, something that drew him instinctively to him. Brad was an even more silent and reclusive figure in those days, but he had understood and related to his silences and had often went to him to just sit in quiet contemplation, at his feet. It had surprised him somewhat the first time Brad had shown any affection towards him at all and it was such a simple gesture yet had meant the world to him.
He had been sitting at his feet, levitating five metal balls in the air, weaving them in intricate patterns (as Schuldig had told him it would help to refine his powers), when a hand had lifted from the armrest and dropped down onto the top of his head. He was shocked, but the metal balls remained in mid-air, the pattern automatic in his mind, as he slowly turned and gazed up at the solemn man. Brad wasn't paying attention to him, or at least seemingly not, his eyes wandering over some sort of document, a schedule, or the latest mission, or anything else along those lines. Still, the faintest of smiles had crossed his face and he went back to his task, beginning an entirely new and unusual pattern before him.
Even Farfello and his sometimes sane, sometimes not, ramblings had made him feel welcome in his own way. In fact, he had been the first human he had tested his new and mostly in control powers on. In his more stable moments Farfello was an interesting conversationalist, but eventually he would always reach the point where he no longer made sense. Still, he was loyal to them and would defend them against all odds if necessary.
To have been raised in such an environment, barely harassed and if so in a kind manner, had been complex enough for his young mind to handle. His thoughts had always been wandering, not quite stable, trying to control himself, his powers, and deal with day to day life. What must it have been for them, for these almost parental figures of his to have had to deal with all those things and to have been locked into a cell and tortured by those cold, unfamiliar people?
He doubted very much that he could have kept his sanity throughout that and perhaps that was the real reason Farfello was not quite right in the head. Whereas none of the others could have caused much destruction, he sincerely doubted anything would have been felt of the compound and Esset gotten hold of him in his rampaging youth. Many buildings and people had fallen victim to his budding power, when his mind had torn free from itself in his pain and hurt.
Part of him wished they had tried it then Esset would have been destroyed ages ago.
"What are we going to do now?" he finally had to ask, having considered what reasons he now had to hate Esset and Rosenkreuz.
"We still don't know what they are planning or even the real purpose of why we are here, which is why I think we should wait until we have that information. After that, we can plan a way around it." That might have been a logical plan, were Schuldig not ready to tear him apart, piece by piece.
Nagi shook his head faintly. "Not a good idea. By the time we figure out what they are doing, it could already be too late."
"Maybe it already is too late," Schuldig murmured, asking once more for Brad to finally concede that he was right and that they should simply leave now, while they had the chance.
That's when they heard it - a distinct SNAP of a branch that made them all turn abruptly in the direction of nearby trees. They were ready to fight, to kill this intruder who had probably heard too much of what they had said already, but the stopped cold, not from fear, from surprise.
Schuldig struck a typically haughty pose as he observed the young man that had stepped out from the shadows, not even bothering to hide himself. "Well, if it isn't the youngest member of Weiss. What are you doing so far from home, boy?"
"This has nothing to do with Weiss and everything to do with Esset," the blond returned. (1)
"No Weiss?" Nagi wondered allowed, curious despite himself. The last time he had seen him, he had been tossing him into walls, though he had never really intended to kill him - had he wanted to, he would not be standing before him at the moment - but he doubted he felt very kindly toward him after the array of bruises he most likely received from that.
He shook his head. "I'm here with Kritiker because of the strange activities surrounding Esset and this Rosenkreuz group. In a way, it seems as if we were on the same side. You don't like them anymore than I do, so perhaps we could help each other."
"Help? Why would you help us?" Brad stepped forward, taking control of the conversation away from the other two.
Omi smiled thinly. "I have no love for them and neither do you. It is ridiculous for us to work separately when we can be more formidable together, don't you think? I have all of Kritiker backing me and we have always been a decent match for Esset, even in the worst of situations."
"Why should we trust you?"
The young man shrugged; something about him seemed different, more cynical than he had appeared before, yet there was still a determined gleam in his eyes, determination to win against all odds. "Why shouldn't you? I'd say have your telepath read my mind, but that doesn't seem to be an option right now, does it?" At Schuldig hiss and darkened gaze, he smirked thinly, having gotten part of his point cross: "What choice do you really have? You can't trust Esset or Rosenkreuz and as long as we both have the same enemies, why not be allies, at least temporarily?"
Nagi felt the hesitation in his friends' eyes as clearly as he knew his were unreadable. There was something almost disturbingly reassuring about this Weiss member - or perhaps ex-Weiss member, since the rest were not around? - presence and he was almost certain they could trust him. But, whatever Brad decided was the final word and if he said no, that was it.
"Well, what do you say? A truce?" Omi stepped forward, toward Brad and held out his hand in a show of trust and waited for Schwartz's verdict.
~~~~~~~~~~(1) Yeah, it's more of a blondish reddish brownish color, but "blond" is so much easier to say. Oh, and I am so not going with the OAV hair colors. YUCK!!!