Ozer stared at the broken glass tubes and turned tables of one of the older labs of the underground hideout. There were many labs around all connected through numerous tunnels, many of which Ozer could venture through, but this one was special to him. It was dark and had not been used for a very long time. It was one of the first labs that Vernas had built when he started his illegal underground research that none of the authorities knew about. Which was why both Vernas and Ozer used this place as their hideout. No one knew about its location and Vernas was able to continue his work. But was this particular lab special to Ozer?
Memories are very priceless things.
He traced his fingers along the edges of the broken glass drawing blood, but he didn't care. Pain meant very little to him. The room itself had no power so Ozer walked in utter darkness, but that didn't matter for he could see in the dark. One of his little 'presents' since 'birth'.
"A little longer and I'll have my revenge. Will you be ready for the carnage?" Ozer laughed darkly to himself.
Blitz shuddered despite of STF's regulated temperature controls.
"Dad? Are you alright?" Luna glanced at her father quizzically. They were both in the observation deck watching their new 'special' orange agents as their prepared for their first physical exams. Even though it had only been a few days since Zelgadis, Gourry, Martina and Zangulus had signed in as orange agents they were already taking their performance exams. The government and the STF high officials wanted them to at least get to a level two red agent rank as soon as possible.
"Yes Luna I'm okay, I just got this sudden chill run down my spine."
"Hmm." Luna returned her attention to the window watching her sister help the LPD preparations. Like usually Luna's face bore very little emotion.
"Luna what are you thinking about?" Blitz in the past had asked that question to her many times and every time she would give the same answer...
"..." Luna just wouldn't say anything.
Blitz just sighed returned and looked back at Lina. She was smiling chatting noisily to Martina and Leviathan. What a difference between them. Lina is always full of joy and emotion while Luna seemed to be like a robot and the only emotion she ever shows is anger. Lina's like her mother, but who do you take after Luna?
Lina gave Martina a pat on the back and went with Lev to go sit down. Both of them had been with the LPD officers throughout all their STF training, observing and helping in any way they could. And even though they were being rushed through the system Zelgadis, Zangulus, Martina and even Gourry were catching on very easily.
"Well how do you think they will do? Do you think they will pass?"
"All four them are in good shape and in combination with their pervious LPD training I doubt they will have any problems. It's the knowledge exams I'm worried about." Lina glanced over to Gourry.
"Don't worry about Gourry, Lina. I have been having Zangulus keep Gourry on track. He shouldn't have any troubles."
"I suppose you are right." Lina still frowned but then adverted her gaze to Zelgadis and her frown was replaced by a grin. He looked a bit nervous, probably from his upcoming physical exam, but he did seem contented. Must like the challenge. Lina's eyes followed him around the room and didn't break her stare even when she made eye contact with him.
Leviathan watched his sister with great interest. Gavin had already relayed what he had been told by Amelia about Lina's behavior. True she did like to flirt, but she would always do it in a playful manor but she'd never show initial interest. She liked to play mind games with those who were interested in her but she'd never let them get too far. Lev doubted that she had ever even let anyone even kiss her. But there did seem to be something about Zelgadis that made her act differently. She was a lot more open and more carefree and she smiled more. Not that she didn't smile before; it's just that now she was smiling genuine smiles.
Lina narrowed her eyes a bit. She knew that she was being stared at, she could feel Leviathan's eyes on her. "What?"
"How far have you gone with him?" Lina snapped her head back at Leviathan in a bit of shock.
"And who's 'him'?"
"Why the LPD turned orange agent that seems to have caught your attention these past few days." Leviathan grinned at her mischievously. Hmm this is fun getting the chance at being the teaser instead of the victim. I finally get the chance to get my revenge for all the times you've bugged me.
Lina only rolled her eyes. She was expecting this sooner or later. "As hard as it might be to believe, Zelgadis and I are just friends."
"Just friends?"
"Yeah...for now." She matched his grin and grinned larger. In fact her facial expression had one of those hidden 'I've got something evil planned and if you keep bugging me I'll put it into action' messages in it.
"Oh well it's time for their tests, we'd better go with them." Leviathan concluded with relief breaking eye contact with Lina. He did steal a quick glance only to find her still grinning at him.
Physical examination's went well or so they hoped, and the four of them were entitled to leave early, only staying till lunchtime. Zangulus left to go eat in the cafeteria mumbling something about not have much money, Martina curious followed Zangulus, Zelgadis left with Lina and Lev to go have lunch at a new restaurant that opened up, and Gourry was just left to fend for his own. Now he could have joined Zangulus but after the mean looks he got from the cafeteria lady last time he ate there he figured maybe he should go somewhere else.
Gourry headed out towards the parking lot after going through the many hallways and security checks and hopped on his jet bike. They still hadn't been issued any STF standard ones to any of them so he was still stuck using his own. Not that he minded much; Gourry liked his jet bike. When he was younger him and his older brother Aaron had bought the bike used and broken and worked many months on fixing it up. Gourry had so fun spending time with his brother working on their little project. He had no idea that Aaron had no intention of keeping the bike and gave it to Gourry for one of his birthdays. Gourry was confused by Aaron's actions, he had always thought that Aaron was working on the bike for himself, but in reality he was just doing it to spend time with his little brother.
Gourry revved up the engine and sped out on to the streets. He didn't really have a location in mind, he was just enjoying the ride but before he knew he was right in front of the LPD station. Gourry smiled and drove up to the familiar form walking up the street.
"Hey Sylphiel!" Gourry yelled over the engine and stop right next to the longhaired woman.
"Oh Gourry! My what a surprise! How are you?"
"I'm great. A little hungry though. I was going to head out for some lunch, you wanna join me?"
"Um, well..."
"Come on just hop on behind me. I've got an extra helmet." Sylphiel looked nervously at Gourry. Should I go with him? Well why not?! "Okay I will."
"Good." Gourry flashed her a large smile that just made Sylphiel melt. She put on the helmet and timidly got on the bike behind him. She was blushing like crazy and she was turning redder by the moment. "You'd better hold on tight." Gourry started up the engine and zoomed forward. Sylphiel had to grab on Gourry tight just to keep from falling off. Well if she thought she was blushing hard before that was nothing compared what her face was like now. And not just her face, she was blushing from head to toe. Gourry on the other hand didn't seem to notice this all that was on his mind was food and how he was going to eat it.
They ended up at a little restaurant a few blocks away from the station. Since Gourry had been at this place many times before they didn't even give him any odd looks when he ordered what he wanted to eat. With their waiter gone and coffee in hand Sylphiel and Gourry just glanced at each other not saying anything.
"So what's it like at the STF?" Sylphiel fingered the rim of her coffee cup.
"Oh it's okay I guess. You get free food and they have tones of stuff there. There is only one thing I don't like going there."
"What's that?"
"It's so big so I get lost all the time."
Sylphiel chuckled. That's Gourry for you, but at least he's a nice guy.
"Well it's a good thing that the food is free there given your large appetite."
"Yeah but I think I've got the cafeteria lady mad at me. But how are things back at the station?"
"Things are going well I suppose. Zolf has been throwing fits left and right. He's not too pleased about the four of you guys becoming STF agents even if it's temporary. But it's odd though, the crime rate for once seems to be going down for once."
"Really? Maybe things are starting to get better."
"Or about to get worse. I have this funny feeling that something big is going to happen, and soon."
"Maybe."
Vernas was carefully adding chemicals together but this time he wasn't making coffee. He was conducting a few tests to make sure that his plan would succeed with no fail. But that was proving to be harder than he anticipated. Since Lina's little interruption he hadn't been able to get the location of where his supplies were going to be delivered. Though Vernas had paid for the goods he had no idea where they were. And what made matters worse was that he really needed some of those things and they were pretty rare. He had very little means to find another supplier that would have his special request items or where his original ones went. So Vernas was left to improvise to see if could substitute some of those items with other ones. So far each little test he conducted failed.
"This isn't going to work!" Vernas smacked his head on the table in frustration.
"Oh but Dr. Vernas, there still might be a way..." Ozer once again emerged from the shadows like a dark spirit.
"How?"
"I'll just need to get you those items. I can order some more, I do know of a supplier that might help us. Only it will take longer. Much, much longer. I'll go and arrange things." Ozer didn't care how long it took, just as long as their plans went through without a problem. He'd rather take a long time and not have things screw up rather than get things done quick a risk failure. He posed quite a bit of patience.
Vernas on the other hand was very annoyed. And why the hell isn't he bothered by the whole situation?! That damned 'thing' is messed up in the head! He grumbled and worked on other things.
Blitz walked the halls of STF headquarters heading down to see Rezo about the current situation. Though he loved his job, Blitz was finding himself very anxious lately. Every moment of every day that passed was a reminder that the STF was running out of time. He didn't know how time they had left till Ozer and Vernas were going to put their plan into action, whatever it was, but he knew it wasn't much. Blitz almost laughed when he thought back to Lina and how she complained that no one told her anything. He himself had no idea what Vernas and Ozer were going to do, and he was starting to wonder who did.
Inside the main labs were of course busy as usual with lots of work going on. Blitz walked towards Rezo's section to find the purple haired yellow agent talking with a tall individual.
"Hello Rezo."
"Ah yes Blitz come over here. This is my son-in-law." Blitz came closer to the two and his eyes widened.
"Your son-in-law is Senator D - ?!"
"Yes does seem a bit strange. But no matter, we must concentrate on the matter at hand shall we?" Rezo interrupted Blitz.
"Um yeah. Do you have any idea what Vernas new experiment is and what it has to do with Ozer?" Blitz said very quietly. He was still a bit surprised on who Rezo's son-in-law is. If he's Rezo's son-in-law then that means he's Zelgadis' grandfather. Must be one of the reasons why he was chosen for this mission.
"I wish I did. I'm still a bit boggled to what exactly Ozer happens to be. He's not like any human I've seen. But in any case son have you gotten any word on those samples of Ozer's DNA?"
"I'm sorry to say this, but after Ozer escaped him and Vernas destroyed all the samples and the written and electronic analysis files. Not a clue was left by them."
"But what of the scientist that analyzed the samples? Couldn't they tell us anything? I'm sure they could remember something."
"They could if Ozer hadn't already killed them. One thing is for sure whatever those two are up to it involves Ozer's physical being." The three men were at a stalemate with the two most wanted criminals of their time.