Author's note: Sorry this took so long. I've been dealing with a bad case of writer's block. Even now, I'm not really satisfied, but I didn't want to keep people waiting forever. I know I glossed over the fight scene, but I don't write those very well. I don't know if a warning is required, but there are a few strong words somewhere. Just thought I should let you know.
~~~~~
False Bloodlines
By: LN Tora
Chapter 5
"BURNING KNUCKLE!!"
The force of Terry's punch blew a hole through the wall the size of a horse. Unfortunately, it still missed its target.
"Now is that the best you can do?"
Andy and Terry had been fighting nonstop for over an hour. Under normal circumstances, either one of them should have been able to take down Kane. Obviously, the situation was far from normal.
"When did ~he~ get so fast?" Andy gasped.
"I don't know, but we can't let him go."
Terry leaped into the air and jumped over Kane's head. His landing left little doubt of his intentions.
"POWER WAVE!"
Billy turned and jumped up to avoid Terry's wave. Sensing the opening before he saw it, Andy attack was swift and ferocious.
ZANEIKEN!
The attack should have it. It should have left nothing but a corpse where Kane was standing. But when Andy looked up, the shock he felt as he stared into Kane's eyes threatened to overwhelm him.
"Nice one there mate. I think I'll actually have a bruise from that one."
Terry launched a Power Geyser. Time stood still for Andy as Billy somehow used his bo and reversed the attack. Terry was caught completely off guard, and was thrown hard against the wall. He slid to the ground hanging on to consciousness by a thread.
Shock gave way to all consuming rage. Though anger tended to make Andy lose his focus and throw his techniques to hell, it now had the opposite affect. A strange red aura surrounded him, flowing both around and through his body. Blue eyes grew hard, and cold sapphires glared at Kane with an intensity that surpassed mortal hate.
"Ooh, angry lover. Come on then, surely you can do better than that?"
The fight that followed left no doubt to Andy's skill. Terry came to fully to see his lover involved in a dance of death that even Shiva would be scared of. He knew the best thing at that point would be to stay out of the way and let Andy handle it. So he watched, admiring and fearing the raw power Andy kept hidden away in the recesses of his soul.
*Now I get it Andy. I understand why you held back so much when you fought. I'd be scared too, knowing I had this much power and barely any control. Why didn't you ever tell me?*
The dance continued, with Kane clearly losing the advantage. Terry marveled as one movement flowed smoothly to the next. Andy was no longer concerned about hitting certain spots or adjusting his strength. It was clear that he wanted one thing and one thing only. Kane had to feel pain, and he had to feel it bad.
*Don't kill him Andy, you're not a killer…*
As though he heard him Andy gradually slowed down. The attacks stopped, allowing Kane to slump to the ground. To Terry's utter amazement, the jerk was still conscious.
*What is going on here?*
Andy stood over him. His face was blank, but Terry knew he would feel no qualms about attacking Kane again if necessary. They both watched silently as Kane somehow managed to get back on his feet.
"Pretty good mate. I always knew you had it in you. Amazing the stuff a body can do when it wants to."
Terry found his voice somewhere and spoke. "It's over Kane, you're in no condition to take on anybody right now. Give it up."
Kane laughed. Terry could see Andy flinch and prayed he could keep himself together.
"What do you want Kane, why are you here? And who sent you?"
"Wouldn't you like to know?"
That did it. Terry leapt up and grabbed Andy, pinning his arms to his side. He barely kept Andy from killing Kane right then and there. Terry spoke hurriedly, whispering in Andy's ear.
"No Andy. Stop. You're not a killer. Listen to me, you're not a killer. Let it go, please…"
It took forever, but Terry felt Andy relax in his arms, albeit only slightly. Terry pulled Andy down to the floor and held him tightly as Andy continued to glare at Kane. Only when he felt it was safe did Terry turn his attention back to the bloody mess swaying before them.
"I'll only ask you one more time. What are you doing here, and who sent you?"
Kane leered at the two. "I know I don't look like much right now, but don't let that fool you none." The bo in Kane's hand started glowing. "Either of you idiots wondered yet how I was able to fight the both of you and still stay standin'?" The bo grew brighter, heat radiating from it in waves. "Well, as it stands, Geese's been training something fierce. Then one day, he just blew up." The light from the bo shifted and swirled around Kane. The intensity began to hurt Terry's eyes, but he kept looking. "Not literally, mind you. But he blew the whole bloody place to hell. Quite a sight actually." Still brighter, the strange light began to slither and coil about the room. "He figured out what happened. Seein' as how I'm his first mate and all that, he shared a little of the technique with yours truly. Not all of it, of course, but enough to do me a world of good. Would you like to see?"
A flash appeared. The last thing Terry remembered was Andy shoving him bodily out the way of the blast. His head hit something, and Terry slipped into unconsciousness.
~~~~~
When Terry woke up, the first thing he realized was that his head was killing him.
*I don't remember what I drank, but I ain't drinking it again.*
The second thing he noticed was the gaping hole in the wall.
*Damn.*
Terry got up. The world spun, but he ignored it. His only thought was finding Andy and making sure he was alright. He staggered back into house, looking around frantically.
"Andy...Andy? Andy can you hear me?"
"He's not here."
Terry spun around. Joe stood at the entrance to the hole. His body language was tense. His eyes hard as stone.
"Joe? Where's Andy? And what are you doing here?"
Terry tried to walk towards Joe, but the room spun once again. He faultered, and felt Joe catching him before he hit the ground.
"Easy Terry. Not even you can walk away from a blast like that and not get hurt."
Joe led Terry over to a chair that had escaped damaged during the fight. Terry fell into the chair and looked up at Joe. His eyes carried confusion, failure, and worry in their depths. His voice shook with fear for the other half of his soul.
"Andy...?"
Joe shook his head. "Gone when I got here. I was on my way over to check on you two. I was nearly run over on my way here. I got a look at the driver." Joe's lips curled into a sneer. "It was Kane. I saw someone in the other seat, but I couldn't make out who it was. When I figured that he was coming from this way, I just had a real bad feeling about it and got here as fast as I could. I saw the blast and knew I was too late. I already looked for Andy. He's not here. I guess that's who was in the car with Kane. I'm sorry Terry."
Terry sat still for a minute. His mind whirled with images of all the people he's ever loved. *Dad, Lily, Sulia... I lost them all. Now Andy's gone...* Terry stood up and headed for the door. Joe grabbed his arm to stop him. Terry turned around slowly, rage etched deeply on his normally serene face.
"Let me go."
"And do what? Think about it Terry. You don't know where he is. You go out now and they'll get you just like they got Andy."
"Not if I get them first."
Joe looked into Terry's eyes carefully. He knew there Terry would be concerned about Andy, blood relation or no. But there was something else there as well. Something that Joe didn't know what to make of. Whatever it was, it was making Terry into a very angry, and very dangerous person.
"Let's say you do find them. What are you gonna do, kill them?"
"Yes."
Joe didn't hesitate, "And what if killing them gets Andy killed in the process? He's my friend, I won't have you risking his life just because you're too mad to think straight."
Terry glared at Joe. He yanked his arm away and leaned against the doorframe. His expression was both grim and heart wrenching.
"I've lost so many Joe. If I lose him too... I don't think I could stand it. I... I can't... not Andy."
Joe placed a sympathetic hand on Terry's shoulder. Terry turned back around, and Joe was shocked to see tears standing in the American's eyes. He sighed deeply. "You won't lose him Terry. I swear it. We'll get him back."
Terry bowed his head. "Sorry."
"You have nothing to be sorry for. I'd probably feel the same way if I was in your place." Joe looked around the room and went to the phone.
"What are you doing?" Terry questioned as he trailed over.
"Calling some contacts. Since that was Kane, it's a pretty safe bet that Geese is behind this."
A look resembling hate crossed Terry's features. "Yeah, he mentioned Geese. He said Geese had been training and came up with some new technique. Then he shared it with Kane. Now the bastard has Andy, and it's my fault."
Joe looked at Terry calmly for a full minute before decking him to the ground. "That attitude is ~not~ going to get Andy back. I heard some stories about Geese, and if any of them are true, then there was no way you would have been able to take on Kane if Geese did share the technique."
Terry sat up and rubbed his jaw. "Damn it Joe, do you always have to hit me to make a point?"
"It seemed like a good idea at the time. Now get your gear. I'm pretty sure I know where they're heading. It's kinda obvious really."
Blue eyes grew cold. "Yeah, Southtown."
~~~~~
Andy's eyes fluttered open, and immediatley snapped shut. He didn't know where he was, but he knew it was way too bright. He tried to move, and found himself restrained. His eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the light. Looking around, Andy saw he was in a plain white room. Only a door kept it from being a box. Andy glanced down, seeing the chains binding him to a nondescript chair. He tested the bonds; they held. Cursing, Andy recalled what happened before he blacked out.
*Kane, he was emitting some sort of weird energy. I could see it coming from him, though it looked like it was coming from his staff. He threw it at us, aiming for Terry...Terry?*
Suddenly Andy struggled violently against the chains. He couldn't remember what happened to Terry, and that scared and angered him beyond reason.
*Bastard! If anything has happened to Terry...* Andy let the train of thought go. Thinking about it would only tear him up inside. Right now he had to focus on finding a way out of here.
He jumped when the door in front of him opened. In walked a battered looking Kane. *Keep smilling asshole, you won't wear it long...* He was followed in by to muscle suits... and Geese.
Andy's blood ran cold. He never expected to see Geese again. Looking at him now, Andy knew what was going on. *Somehow they found out about me and Terry. That means... shit, I'm bait. Or worse... I'm payback.* The last thought almost made Andy lose his nerve, but he refused to let Geese have anything, including fear. He looked up at Geese with all the hate he could muster, which was considerable. Geese smiled, his grin speaking volumes before any words were spoken.
"So you're awake now."
"Bastard. I don't know what you're up to, but it won't work." The minute the words left his mouth, Andy knew it was both corny and a lie. He knew exactly what Geese was doing, and in truth was afraid that it ~would~ work. He glared at Geese, swallowing back the bile rising in his throat. "When I get my hands on you..."
Geese threwhis head back and laughed. "Always a fighter, eh Andy? That's what I like about you. Even when you couldn't possible win, you never showed defeat. I admire that."
"What's to admire?" Kane asked. "Just shows the bloke ain't gifted with brains anymore than he got skill."
Andy turned an evil grin in Kane. "Your good to talk. Last time I checked, you were wearing more bruises than I am. And I don't steal other people's moves to win a fight."
Kane twirled his bo idly before slapping it across Andy's face. "Best to watch your mouth mate. You're the one tied up, remember?"
Blood trickled from the side of his mouth. For one moment Andy considered spitting the copper fluid at Kane, but change his mind. *Best to sit tight for now. They'll mess up. Just wait for an opening.* Andy watched as Geese turned around and backhanded Kane across the room. *So he doesn't want me hurt. I wish I could feel that's a good thing, but I doubt it.*
"I told you I did not want him injured. And consider your lucky that I don't kill you for that little stunt you pulled in acquiring him."
Through no small effort, Kane stumbled back on his feet. He leaned heavily on his staff and stared daggers at Geese. "It wasn't like he was just gonna jump in the car on his own, now was it? You said get him, I got him. What's the bloody fuckin' problem?"
"The problem is you could have ruin everything. Next time, when I tell you to do something, I expect you to do it...period. Now all of you, leave me. I want to speak with Mr. Bogard alone."
Kane and the suits shuffled out slowly. They didn't know what was going on, but knew better than to question Geese when he was in a 'mood'. Geese waited until the door closed behind him. He turned his attention back on Andy, who somehow managed not to cringe at the look Geese directed at him. Blue eyes stared back harshly as Andy wondered, *Now what?*
"Wondering what's going to happen now Andy?"
"No," Andy lied again. If he didn't know better, he'd swear Geese was reading his mind. Geese shrugged.
"Of course you weren't." Geese walked over to Andy. Shock and disgust ran through Andy's system as Geese caressed Andy's cheek. He turned his head sharply, breaking the contact. Geese leaned in close and whispered in Andy's ear.
"You know, I always believed that you were the stronger one. I think that if you hadn't been so scared of your own power, you would have been the one to defeat me instead of Terry. More than likely, I wouldn't be here if you had used your full potential."
Andy's eyes widened. *How... how did he know?* Then he felt extremely nauseous as a hand traveled down his thigh. *Oh god, he's not... he can't be thinking...*
"You have great power Andy Bogard, but you hide it behind your fear. You don't want to hurt people, so you keep it locked inside. The old man was a fool. He believed that your emotions were your weak spot. I know better. You and I are alike Andy. Our emotions are not our weakness, but our strength. I know this now, and I would gladly share it with you."
Andy tried unsuccessfully to jerk away from him. "And what's in this for you?!" he spat out. "I don't believe you'd do this out the kindness of your heart." Fury, nausea, and fear churned in Andy's gut. He didn't like the feel of Geese, and he knew he wouldn't like whatever Geese had in mind.
"Oh, I do get something out of this. I get the satisfaction of taking you from Terry..."
Andy looked at Geese, and swallowed repeatedly. Geese's expression left no doubt about what he wanted, and the thought made Andy want to throw up.
"I'd rather die first!"
Geese laughed again. Andy felt another hand touching him intimately, and resumed his frantic struggles.
"I'm afraid you don't get to choose, dear boy. After your display with Billy I see now how much power you truly weild. I was pleasantly surprised, and felt you would make a fine addition to my ranks. I hoped you would come to me on your own accord. Though I truly didn't expect you would, at least not at first."
Geese came and stood in the front of Andy. This time, Andy couldn't help cringing as Geese's face came within mere centimeters of Andy's. His leer and the look in his eyes were enough to finally cause Andy to loose the last of his bravado.
"But don't think for one minute that you won't belong to me Andy. You will be mine, and there is nothing that you nor Terry can do about it."
The kiss that assaulted Andy was nothing like those he shared with Terry. Where before it was a bonding, a sharing of souls, here Andy felt only the cruel dominance Geese planned to overwhelm him with. The shirt Andy wore was ripped open, and hands roamed over his shuddering skin. Andy's thought flew to one person as he attempted to block out the sensations Geese forced on him.