Trinity Blood Fan Fiction / Weiss Kreuz Fan Fiction ❯ Darker Angels ❯ What's YOUR Major Malfunction? ( Chapter 6 )

 

“Abel Nightroad! Put yourself back in that bed this instant!”

 

Abel jumped and let out a squeak of terror as his wings suddenly flared out with no warning. “Crusnik 02, stand down.” He shot her a worried look when his wings refused to fold back into his body. “Crusnik 02, STAND DOWN!” he repeated. His wings slowly sank back into his flesh. “What was that all about?”

 

“Abel, we need to talk,” Blaze said, looking at him worriedly.

 

“What is it, Blaze?”

 

“Look, Abel, you know I would never lie to you about anything, right,” she said, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

 

“I know that. But I also know that look you're giving me.”

 

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “It seems that some of the nano machines that run your Crusnik form were damaged in that fight with Cain.”

 

“How badly were they damaged and which ones?”

 

“Nothing is critically damaged, just enough to make things . . . interesting. It seems to only be the ones connected with the fight or flight adrenaline rushes since you only do it when you're startled or feel threatened. Mind you this was all given to me in rambling geek speak from my husband so I have no idea other than the main gist of the conversation.”

 

“Which husband?”

 

“The pretty one.”

 

“I repeat; which husband? They're both pretty enough to be female,” he said, ducking as she swatted at him playfully.

 

“I think the suit would take offense to that.”

 

“What else is new? Please tell me you haven't set his office on fire again.”

 

“That was a hundred and fifty years ago. Everyone needs to get over it.”

 

He gave her a dubious look. “So, about this little problem of mine. What exactly has been happening to me? And why can't I remember it?”

 

“I'm not sure why you aren't remembering it but it's been clear you had no idea you were popping in and out of Crusnik form. It really hasn't been that bad all things considered and it's only been partial shifts. However, I don't think it would be wise for you go back just now.”

 

“You're probably right about that. Can't go scaring members of the Vatican by suddenly becoming a monster,” he said, sounding dejected.

 

“Abel, you are the least monster like individual I know.”

 

“Yeah, but look who you hang out with.”

 

“Don't make me set you on fire.”

 

“See what I mean.”

 

She sighed. “Brat. As for scaring members of the Vatican, well, I doubt AX members would be scared by it. Aside from Esther that is and she's too busy being afraid of my daughter to pay attention to anything else.”

 

“Why would Esther be afraid of Takara?”

 

“I'm fairly certain that Taka encouraged it. Considering she said and I quote: If you do not cease and desist your incessant whining I will gut you and hang you with your own entrails. Unquote.”

 

“Yes. That could quite probably be considered encouragement of that particular inclination.”

 

 

 

 

William looked up from the diagrams spread across his desk when he heard three sharp raps on the door to his office.

 

“Come in.”

 

William's eyebrows rose slightly when Tres marched into the room and stopped at his desk.

 

“What can I do for you, Tres?”

 

“Run a diagnostic of my operating system.”

 

“Why? We just ran one last week and everything checked out fine.”

 

“It is necessary to have all hard drives and data systems examined for viruses in that case.”

 

“Tres, what's happening for you to think you need to be worked on?”

 

“I believe myself to be malfunctioning.”

 

“That much is obvious. Care to be a bit more specific?”

 

“There have been random power surges and overheating of my circuitry. Also unusual inclinations toward certain behaviors alien to any usual patterns.”

 

“Are these unusual inclinations directed at any person or persons in particular?” William asked, thinking that he had a very good idea as to what Tres' problem was and it had nothing to do with his circuitry but everything to do with a certain adorable little brunette who had invaded the Vatican on wings made of shadows.

 

“Affirmative. Tatsumi, Takara.”

 

William puffed on his pipe and grinned. “I don't think that has anything to do with a malfunction or virus. But I do think it's time to upgrade you.”

 

 

 

Dietrich stopped in mid-stride down the corridor as he heard his name called softly. He turned around and found himself alone in the hallway. Shaking his head he continued on, thinking he had just imagined it.

 

“Dietrich.”

 

He turned around again and saw nothing. He quickened his pace, glancing over his shoulder as he rounded a corner. He paused and looked back into the hallway he had just left. Nothing. He suddenly felt two strong hands descend onto either shoulder.

 

“Gotcha now, Pretty,” a woman's voice said in his ear.

 

The sudden scream that rose in him was silenced by shadows.