Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction / Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ Saiyan Foster Father ❯ Four Years Ago ( Chapter 1 )

OnlyYou

Kiss Next Generation

Takes place between Killers and Children of the
Stars

***

Before the darkness Atomique stood. Thick and tangible it pressed on her from all sides at once. Even seeping into her heart and soul with a slowly gnawing bite. She burned as if frostbitten, feeling the pressure crushing her. Fear and anger surged within her and
she felt her knees knocking together as she saw the darkness form into a definitive
shape.

"Blackwell, you ARE afraid," Atomique taunted.

"Foolish little girl. You merely reflect what is your OWN weakness. Even now you’re trying to move the darkness with a mere spark!"

"Then try and put it out, Blackwell. If you're so mighty why do you need a HUMAN host to focus your energies through? You're not ALL powerful, otherwise you'd have already WON," Atomique shouted back. Bone dry wind blasted her face, and the image took on a reddish glow.

"You are a fool to ask to face me, chemist," Blackwell answered. "You think your precious religion will save you, is that it?"

"Yes," Atomique said grimly. "Maybe you think I'm a backward superstitious FOOL, but you could be wrong.  You're evil incarnate, and I'm going to stand up to you.”

"Arrogant fool," Blackwell laughed. "You have no idea."

"I do, and I am terrified," Atomique said calmly. "I'd be a liar if I denied it. But SOMEONE has to stand up to you and if I AM the only one left, than it looks like it's you and me."

"Even if it endangers your children?"

"Even if it does," Atomique answered. There came a hard kick up into her ribs as she felt both babies squirming. They were not trying to hurt HER, but whatever threatened her.

"I'll add their live to yours when I drain your spirit dry!"

"Go ahead and try," Atomique said shakily.

"You're no longer in the physical world, chemist, you're in the spirit realm and here I am the one who makes the rules."

"Then shut up and do whatever it is you're going to do. Or are you so bored that you're keeping me half alive to amuse you?" Atomique snorted.

"Try and stop me from draining you taking you for my own. Join me and your children live become one with my darkness."

"No," Atomique answered.

"You're already close to death. Those babies are killing you."

"Not Fermi and Bohr," Atomique gasped, and felt a squirming within.

Sweat poured down her head as Atomique blinked to consciousness. She curled up on the floor, hugging her body as her abdomen twanged with fire. Now in the shelter alone she was unable to hold back the two babies that were moving quickly. Blackwell was struggling to trap her in that living death.

"I am not your slave. I am Atomique and I protect my family!"

“You’re not strong enough to fight me,” Blackwell laughed.  “And he who was your husband is already fallen… you’re beaten… give up!”

“NO!” she screamed.

“It’s true.  See the emptiness in your mind.  Star Child is no more.  And the other Four are defeated.  You and the other three females are hopeless to stand against me!”

“Never… someday we’ll destroy you… even if you defeat us now, we’ll grow strong enough to kill you!”

“You’ll never use your power to kill,” Blackwell taunted.

"Mother help us," came a cry that was pure and clear. Atomique was yanked rudely into consciousness with blinding pain.

***

"Oh god," she cried, laying on her back and shaking. Several of the ladies in waiting rushed in and pushed her up to squat. Shea, Leeta, and a few others of the concubines were surrounding her, holding her as she screamed out her pain. "I can't hold it back!"

"Don't. It looks like those babies are coming ready or not," muttered Shea. She was one of the few nurses they had found in the Fortress Gene had constructed.  Out there Paul and the others were fighting for their lives. While she had been left in the shelter where other babies wailed and cried, and where the women were huddled.

"Not now," Atomique pleaded.

"Get her into the back with the other children," said Shea. "Stay with her, Mary."

Mary Freespirit nodded, waving to the other women who were being herded with the smallest children. Atomique groaned as a frightened girl held out her hands and she grabbed as a teenaged girl held her up. Clustered with children of various ages she was half dragged along as they pushed her into darkness.

"Should they see this?" Atomique gasped as Mary laid her down, and shouted to her girls.

"You're the only one who can protect us. But you've got to let THEM protect us," Mary breathed. Blankets were rolled up and put under her head, and Angel called to the other mothers who were trying to shush their children.

Long hours had passed, and Atomique had struggled to hold on. Now in the innermost folds she lay there, paining and groaning as contractions surged through her body. Kicks and squirms and flutters from inside, and she felt something wet gushing between her legs. "Oh god!"

"Get me a towel, her water broke," Marianne called. Mary moved over, and shouted to her son. Screams of other babies sounded in Atomique's ears as she held onto the hand of the woman whose lap she rested on.

"Get ready! Is she dilated?" asked Christy.

"10 cm," Marianne said, leaning as she somehow look down.

Who was minding the other children?  Perhaps the other mothers who were there in the hotel. Paul had brought her here to help teach the others, and her brother was alive, out and fighting. They had lived together for the last seven months trying to find the other children. Atomique had only been able to keep her lab work going through a telepathic link. Relegated to the mothers and children under twelve she was, as her pregnancy dragged out.

***

Hours of pain seemed forever as the ground shook and explosions rocked them. She grunted and pushed, praying that they wouldn't die just as they were coming into the world. Pain had brought her back to reality, and Blackwell's link was broken momentarily.

"Push, don't push! Wait," gasped Angel.

"I see the head!"

"Twins," Atomique moaned, as Marianne sponged her head.

"Easy, now get ready! I see the head," Angel whispered. She reached between the legs, and Atomique saw the improvised sheet speckled with blood and something else. They had pulled up her long smock and removed the undergarments to see a clear view of what was to come. From deep inside she pushed again, and something thrust through, painfully taking ages to twist around and emerge.

"One baby. It's a boy," Angel gasped. She lay something warm and moving on Atomique's chest, and then Atomique felt that awful pain wringing her abdomen again. Whimpering she struggled hard once more, while holding whatever moved on her chest.

Inches from her face a scrunchy red face opened its mouth and yowled in protest. Its breath hit her face and she felt tears blurring her vision. Her hand held the baby in place that had only hours before kicked her ribs in its urge to get out. Before long there were shouts of joy and screams of fear as another baby was place in her arms and Atomique sobbed in fear and joy.

"Two boys, healthy and strong. You did good girl.  Let's get you cleaned up," Angel said.

"They're coming! Not much time," warned Shea's voice.

"God, she just gave birth! How long?" asked Angel.

"An hour or two. It doesn't look good, they're defeating us," said Marianne softly.

Atomique glanced at several young faces looking at her in wonder, having seen a birth for the first time. Hands were helping her wrap each baby in her robe and improvise a sling so they were right near either breast. Fermi and Bohr both squirmed and whimpered against her bare skin.

"Give me a barrette," Atomique gritted. "Get these cords cut first! And save the afterbirth, we might need it!"

"She's right. Wrap it in this here. I've got a scissors," said Angel.

Both babies were bundled up, and she rocked them, swallowing a lump in her throat. Two pairs of dark eyes blinked up into hers, looking at her with that same depth as Shandi had. The eyes were dark as the starless night, and held nothing but love, and the desire to live. Young minds were reaching out to hers, and she held them fast.

"Where's Paul?" Atomique asked. "I can't hear him in my mind!"

"Tryn, we've got to move you," said Mary. "Christine says that they're being slaughtered. Gene's ordered us to pull back."

"I'll try, but the others," Atomique gasped, as they tried to put her back together. She staggered under the weight of two medium sized babies, her sons who were whimpering and crying.

"Don't try to move," Mary urged.

"All right," Angel nodded. "Everyone this way! Follow Atomique and Christine!"

"Let me help you," urged Christine as she slid her arm around Atomique's shoulder. The Black Widow, streaked with blood and gore helped Atomique limp along. Blood stained Atomique's hands, as either baby had not been properly cleaned. She grabbed the mess of rags that she yelled to Marianne to wrap the placenta in so she could take it. Nothing could be left behind that could be used later.

Umbilical cords residuals would fall off in a few days. She limped along, and felt other children and mothers pushing her in a living column. They all stumbled together, crying and shaking from fear as they prayed that this day wouldn't be their last.

"Fermi and Bohr, huh?" Christine asked. "Names of scientists?"

"You saw BLACKWELL?" Christine shouted.

"Yes but Fermi and Bohr brought me back," Atomique groaned. Fermi yawned, while Bohr whimpered and squirmed, pushing a tiny fist out and brushing her tendrils of dark hair with his miniature fingers.

"This way!" Shea cried. Leader of the Ladies in Waiting, it was her task to protect all the wives, and children. Atomique was among them, among all the children and spouses while the men and young boys over twelve fought. Sexist, but the only alternative.

Long tunnels twisted deeper into the mountainside as Shea led them on. Christine knew that from the aching in the abdomens of several of Gene’s girlfriends that they were also harboring children.  He had impregnated her and the other ladies in waiting. It would be a bumper crop of dragon eggs. And Jeannie had said that female dragons laid eggs. But she was the Black Widow. Would she lay any at all?

Finally they reached the rear chamber, and poured through the doors. In the vast open space of a sixties bomb shelter they all gathered and the doors slid shut. Great bolts were drawn, locking them in the depths of a huge cavernous space that reminded Atomique of what it must feel like to be inside a womb. Ironic because of the two babies only hours old in her arms.

"You're covered in blood," Mary said as she guided Atomique to sit on a nearby mat. Other mattresses were thrown down, and supplies were checked.

"Relax, we're out of danger. We just have to wait," Christine yelled.

"Medicine and rations?" Atomique asked.

"Shh, let us make the decisions. You rest," Shea silenced her. "Just look after your babies."

***

"You okay?" Atomique mumbled to several of the children that were lying on mats around her. They all huddled for warmth.

"I'm scared, I want my daddy," the little one said. She was one of the ones who had no mother, but a father. She was passed among all the mothers and young women, including Atomique.

"Come here, it's all right," Atomique urged.

"But you have your babies," she whispered.

"Come here," Atomique urged. "Keep us warm. I won't leave you alone. I need you here."

Whimpering, the six-year-old cuddled up, and lay against Atomique's stomach. She nestled one of the babies in the arms of the girl, while she nursed the other. Distracted by Fermi, the girl stared into the dark eyes looking up at hers.

"They're little for babies," Emily whispered.

"They're premature,” Atomique explained.

"Fermi and Bohr are only three weeks premature," said Atomique. "They can breathe on their own. Most twins are born early."

That strange sadness filled her. What could she do for all these frightened people? Except try and make sure Fermi and Bohr lived to see the next day. She realized she was not alone, and that other children were huddling up to their mothers. "I'm not ready for this," Atomique whispered. "But I love you both, and I know I've got to take care of you."

"I'll watch them for you," Emily sleepily muttered. Atomique swallowed hard and hugged both her babies to her, letting her tears fall. Paul was dead; it had to be the explanation, for she could feel the emptiness poignantly.

***

With one baby slung over her hip, she passed the other, Bohr to Christine to hold. Awkwardly Christine held Bohr, while Atomique nursed Fermi. Two of Mary's daughters bounced in, oohing about the babies. Gratefully Christine handed Bohr off to his adoptive sisters. Luckily for them, most of the larger families had young girls who were more than eager to share child watching.

Atomique sat down, and sighed as a few of the other kids wandered in, and sat in a circle to watch her nursing her baby. Three days had passed quickly in the shelter. The Ladies in Waiting had gone on scouting patrols while Atomique and the other mothers busied the children with various lessons. Naturally Atomique had taken the science lessons, while others focused on the subjects in the books that were stockpiled there.

"They look like they're growing fast," Christine mumbled.

"Yes. I noticed they're doubling weight. As if their growth is twice that of normal babies," Atomique murmured. "I wonder what it means?"

"Maybe it's an evolution thing?" Christine shrugged. "But they're healthy."

"I feel their minds constantly. Sucking in knowledge like they're drinking milk," Atomique said as she reached for Bohr. Fermi was handed off, protesting till he was burped with knowledgeable hands.

"Damn where ARE they?" Christine mumbled.

"I wish I knew," said Atomique. Christine kicked the wall, and snorted as she growled under her breath. Several of the children glanced up in fear, and she sighed.

"I'm sorry. I just…"

"You're on patrol," Shea said as she walked in, battle weary. She passed off her child to one of the teenaged girls and glanced in their direction.

"What about Jeannie’s egg," Christine muttered.

"Let me sit on it," Atomique said.

Lying on her side, she put the egg between both her babies. Several of the smaller children curled up on the mats with her, and fell fast asleep.  Little did she know those minutes ago, Blackwell had slain her husband?  Her own destruction was close at hand.  Reality shifted and moved around everyone one moment, and then she felt herself being torn apart.

“What’s happening?” Christine yelled.

“Destroyer dimension shifting!” cried Atomique.  “I can’t…”

A huge explosion rocked the building.  Sizzling gold energies slammed into the place, disintegrating the wall.  Silver suited scientists burst in, pushing back their hoods to reveal their scaly reptilian faces.

“NO!” Atomique screamed.  Angrily she raised her hands, and surrounded the children and herself with a barrier.  Christine flared her powers, throwing bolts of scarlet energies. 

“Get away!” she screamed.  Atomique grabbed her babies, and hustled the children, forming a dome of solid diamond around them.  Mothers and children scattered, each with a Destroyer after them.  Each lady in waiting fought valiantly, as Atomique struggled to hold the barrier firm against them.  Children huddled against her, screaming and crying.  She struggled to hold them all as their emotion powers flooded her.

“Surrender!” laughed Third, rushing up and raising weapons filled with tranquilizer darts.  All around them was the sign of battle.  Christine and Jeannie hurled bolts of sheer power towards their enemies; while Atomique’s barrier opened in places to let their energies soar.

“Get AWAY!” Christine yelled to Atomique.  “Take the children and GO!”

“I can’t let them have you!”

“Go, damn you!” Jeannie yelled.  Clutching the egg to her chest, Atomique struggled with her babies slung across her back.  She grabbed the hands of the nearest children around her, removing her dome from around her friends.  Wings spread, and both Dragon Womyn and Black Widow soared up into the night.  Fire blazed down, separating her and the destroyers to give them precious time.

***

Gasping, Atomique hurled bolts of chikara and magnesium flares after those few destroyers who had blundered through the fire.  A huge blast of power exploded, and she barely threw up a barrier in time to protect the twenty or so children remaining around her. 

“Get close to me!” she screamed.  All around her they clustered, and she held them fast.  Shea and Marianne stood fast, holding up their rifles to fire point blank.

“Surrender now!” called a hissing voice.  “You’re all dead unless you surrender!  We’ve one…”

“Never!” Atomique cried, holding her barrier of blazing plasma up, to encompass the twenty five children, and her two remaining friends.  The distant sounds of battle echoed around her, masonry falling all around her.  Red scaly beings raised their weapons to cover her.

“It’s useless to resist.  We only want the children.  They will be unharmed.  If you continue to resist, you’ll be killed…”

“What do you want?” asked Atomique.

“Give us your Talisman.  And the Children go free…”

“Marianne, Shea, take the children.  I’m going to give them what they deserve,” said Atomique quietly.  Holding Fermi and Bohr close, she handed the egg to them.  They nodded, knowing what she was going to do as she spoke into their minds.  Lowering her barrier she stepped forwards.  Both her babies she slung to her breast, and quieted.  There was only one chance in a million, and they would survive, protected by her atomic chikara.

“Sensible,” said the squad leader.

“Who do I speak to?” asked Atomique.

“I am Third. Scientific controller.  You are Atomic Girl?” asked Third, glancing her over.  He lifted his visor, showing bright yellow eyes that were slit with vertical pupils.

“Yes.  Do I have your word you’ll let them go?”

“Yes.  They’ll be perfect specimens in the new order.  You should have surrendered to Leader before… but they will not suffer your fate…”

“Which is…?”

“Blackwell is anxious to meet you. After you are properly disciplined he may have a use for you. And your children will be his agents,” Third laughed.

“Never,” Atomique said quietly.  Raising her hand she hurled a plasma blast in their midst. 

Third screamed in anger as she then transmuted the air behind her to diamond, sealing off the remaining parts of the bunker in an indestructible field.  Shea and Marianne retreated, taking the children deeper into the bunker to safety.  Now she alone staggered, holding up her hand against the choking gas.  Unfortunately it was hard to transmute anything save carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen. 

Third grabbed her, while Tenth and Twelfth smacked her back.  She lay forwards, landing on her back to protect her babies tucked into her lab smock.  “That was foolish…” Third snarled. 

“I don’t care. You’ll not take me alive…” Atomique promised.

Grabbing Tenth and Twelfth she reached for their faces.  Channeling her anger and hatred she surged it forwards.  Instantly they became petrified hunks of carbon dust, screaming in agony.  Third’s eyes widened when she saw Atomic Girl use her power to kill. 

A flare of nitroglycerine slammed into Third’s face, drowning him in a blazing fireball.  Just in the nick of time he activated his transport belt.  More Destroyers surrounded her, and Atomique’s hands reached to touch and give them the kiss of death to reduce them to constituent elements. 

When at long last she staggered to the surface, she saw Christine and Black Widow standing in a circle of bodies.  Blood covered their hands.  She staggered up, feeling nausea overcome her.  “Tryn!” cried Christine.

“They got away…” she stammered.

“But the Destroyers…”

“Are gone,” Atomique said grimly.

“You… killed them?” Jeannie asked quietly.

“Yes,” Atomique nodded, feeling her stomach turn.  Dropping to her knees she threw up.  To her chest she clutched the babies Fermi and Bohr.  Christine gently helped her to stand.

“Where’s my egg?” asked Jeannie.

“With the others… William will live…” gasped Atomique.  “What about…”

“They’re all dead, or captured by the Destroyers.  We’re the only three left,” Jeannie growled.  “Except for those that you covered for…”

“Then we’ve lost?” Atomique asked, wiping away her face.

Ace had scattered them across space time, and there seemed no way of getting back.  Emptiness filled her mind where the bond had once existed between her husband and she.  Only silence remained.  Blackness came over her like a mantle, searing her bones and spreading her atoms only to have them reform and slam into a solid surface once again.  Reality reconstructed itself around her while she landed out of the special rip drifting above a field in a parallel dimension far from Blackwell and the Destroyers.

“Star Child…” she gasped, sobbing in her sleep.  “Why did you die?”

When she opened her eyes, she lay on a grassy green field.  Her two babies cried, making tiny fists as their mother lay there.  Tears rolled down her eyes.  She lifted her face to see bright sunlight shining down on her.  Sweet fresh air filled her nostrils, but she was too tired to move. 

“Help me,” she whispered, struggling to stand.  She staggered over to what looked like a dirt road.  Distant footsteps sounded as two figures came into view, steadily growing bigger.  She staggered towards them, holding her two squalling babies to her chest.  All her strength ebbed out.

A tall shining form blinded her, flanked by a youth with golden hair.  Seeing her, they quickly rushed up.  Atomique sank to the road, dropping hard on her knees.  She pitched to her side, groaning.  “Hey… are you all right?” asked a small child’s voice, echoing in metal.

“Hey miss, you okay?” asked another voice.  She blinked up into a pair of aquamarine eyes.  Golden hair cascaded down his back in a single braid.  His young body was clothed in a high collared black jacket, while the armored figure gently steadied her.

“Help me… they’re all dead,” she gasped.  “My babies… I can’t…”

“Hang on… we’ll help you… Al, carry her to the house… I’ll go call for help!” the other said.  He reached down and pressed his hands together, slowly gathering energies.  From out of nowhere a cup of water was formed, and placed to her lips seconds later.  The armored knight picked her up in his arms, and cradled her.

“Don’t be scared miss we’re here to help,” said the little boy’s voice.  “What’s your name?”

“Atomique…” she whispered. 

“I’m Al, and that’s my brother Ed.  Don’t be scared… we’ll get you some help…” the knight in shining armor said.  Mercifully she fainted. 

By the time Edward Elric reappeared with more water, he heard the two babies screaming for their mother.  Flustered he managed to reach a phone and call for the only people who he knew could help.  Within the hour, both mother and babies were picked up by the Military, and they were yet again heroes.  But her troubles had only just begun…

***