Ghost Hunt (Part 1)

Ghost Hunt

"Ooh... there, see that?" Esther excitedly pointed at the screen. "That's a spirit floating down the corridor! The man said it was the spirit of his deceased mother coming to protect her grandchild!"

Abel shivered. "Ano... why ARE we watching this, anyway...?"

"Becuase it's fun!" Esther said happily. "Come on, Father! We rarely ever get a holiday, and this is the best oppurtunity to have some fun!"

"It really doesn't seem fun..." William chuckled softly to himself. It was night and raining heavily outside while on the inside, a group of Vatican agents watched tapes of ghost documentaries Esther had pulled out of nowhere. It seemed that the red-haired nun loved getting a good scare. Poor Abel was terrified, and Solene was hugging Leon tightly, and was hiding her face in either his arm or chest while whimpering, "Don't let me see it... Don't let me see it... Oh, please don't let me see it...", but the Hispanic wasn't complaning, and had a smug grin etched on his face instead. "But these documentaries really are intriguing," William continued. "Real ghosts of Albion... Interesting... How long have they been there, I wonder? They're all around us, yet we never notice."

At that, Abel whimpered and hid while Solene let out a wail and hid her face in Leon's shoulder, trembling. Leon laughed and patted her back. "Oh, don't worry, sweetheart... They won't disturb you since we're children of God." Esther clapped her hands gaily. "Ah! I wish I could meet ghosts one day!"

"No, please stop, Esther..."Abel moaned. "That would be terrifying..."

"Father!" Esther coecred. "There's nothing to be scared of! It's just-"

There was a sudden clap of thunder and lightning lit up the darknened room, illuminating a dark figure with glowing red eyes that wasn't there a minute before. "AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Everyone freaked out and screamed, including William and Leon.
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"Why me? Why, why me?" Solene moaned as she trudged beside Tres to the railway station. "Of all people, why me?"

(Flashback)

"AHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" Everyone screamed to high heavens, Abel dropping to his knees and praying loudly.

"....... Status report?"

"........" Silence for a few seconds. "Huh.... what?"

"Status report. Why are you screaming?" The figure moved forwards, and there stood, Gunslinger, frowning slightly at their actions.

"Oh, Tres!" Esther laughed sheepishly, her heart hammering in her ribcage. "You... You scared us!"

"Yeah, tin-can," Leon growled, trying to keep himself from shaking. "What do you want?" He was holding a trembling Solene to his chest, whispering comforting words in Spanish to her. Tres's gaze landed on him and the android said icily, "Lady Catherina has ordered me to bring Sister D'Cruz to her office right now. She has assigned us a mission."

Solene raised her head. "A mission?" Her voice was small and weak.

"Positive." Tres nooded and looked at her expectantly.

Solene let out a sigh and released Leon whose shoulders drooped. "Alright, I'm coming."
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Catherina looked calm and serious, but she just laughed her holy butt off on the inside as she saw the look on Solene's face when she gave them the mission briefing.

(End of Flashback)

Tres boarded the train and held out a hand to Solene. The Priestess's grip was shaky and slightly weak, very unlike her. "You will have to hasten your speed, Sister D'Cruz," he stated. "The storm will be likely to return in approximately 2 minutes."

"Solene... just call me Solene...." Queen of Heart hauled herself up with his help. "Why do we have to leave now, anyway? It's night, and it's raining... we could have waited until tomorrow..."

"Negative. It's takes at least twelve hours to reach Altoona ((OOC: Alright, let's just say Penslyvania is close.... It's a damn, freaking story, people! Use your imaginations!!!)), and we need to rest and recuperate before we commence on our mission." Tres took her hand and led her to their cabin. They had barely gotten inside before there was a flash of lightning and Solene gave a startled scream as the thunder boomed into her ears. "Solene? Status report?"

"G-Gomen ne.... Gomen nasai, Tres-kun...." Solene dropped to her knees, her hands pressed over her head. "B-But I really don't feel good now... I'm scared.... I only said yes because I... I didn't want to look like a coward in front of Catherina-sama....."

Tres watched her for a second before he closed the door silently, then coaxed her up and made her sit on the cushions. "There's nothing to be afraid of, Solene. Thunder is merely a sound, nothing more than that." He sat on her left so she was between the wall and him. "And if you ever feel afraid, I am always here."

Solene shook her head and pressed against him, leaning her head on his shoulder and curling up. "When I was only eight... I had my first brush with the unexplainable. My drawer pulled open by itself in my room one night, and something shook my bed. I was alone at that time, and I was utterly terrified.... a paralysing fear I've grew up with and carried till now."

The rain came down hard as the train started moving. Solene continued her story while Tres listened, silent as ever, but comforting. "I've always been afraid of ghosts, more then vampires, and more than dying. I cried on that night, curled up in a little ball under the covers, but no one came to help me. I never knew what caused those paranormal activities, but I only knew one thing; it was a ghost, and I didn't like it." The gentle rocking of the train and hypnotizing beat of the rain began lulling her to sleep. "I was afraid... so afraid, but I had no one..." Solene's voice was growing fainter. "I was so.... alone......."

"No, you're not." Tres recalled the words that Abel so often had said to those he helped, pulling them out of his database to comfort the now sleeping girl. "You're not alone. I am your friend. I will always be there for you," He whispered into her ear.
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It was later during the night that Solene gave a violent shudder, bringing Tres out of his standby mode. Looking at her, the android gently brushed the hair away from her pale face. She looked like she was having a nightmare, but he couldn't tell as she buried her face into his robes. Frowning a bit, he wondered if Solene was alright. She had definitely expressed fear and a bit of terror eversince she left the Vatican on the mission, and it was starting to worry him. Even now, her hands were trembling. Was it out of fright? Or was it because she was cold? Tres didn't know and couldn't analyse it without waking her, but the sight of her sleeping was heavenly to him. Her expressionless, serene face with hair falling partially on it.....

His farthest hand reached out to close over hers. Once they made contact, her hands stopped their trembling. Curiously and lovingly, he looked over her delicate fingers and ran a gloved hand over hers, not allowing any exposed skin to escape his gentle roaming. Solene gave a soft moan in her sleep, and her hand moved on it's own, her fingers doing the same as his, brushing across fabric and synthetic skin. It made his shiver slightly, though he knew not why, and he watched their fingers do a dance uncontrolled by their minds. She gave a little sigh, and her fingers found it's way up his sleeve, burying itself in warmth. Yes, she was cold. Cold from the air and the after-effects of fright, Tres could tell. It wasn't as if he had never felt Solene's bare skin before, but every touch made him feel almost... no.... positively human. Her hand searched for the perfect, comfortable, warm spot, brushing against his skin, and he trembled slightly. She was so beautiful... and she was his...

Removing his hand from hers, Tres reached behind her habit and ran his hand through the dark waterfall of her hair, revelling in it's softness and the sweet aroma of shampoo wafting up to his senses before smiling a genuine smile and returning to standby mode.
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Solene woke as warmth heated her cheeks, grumbling a bit before opening her eyes. She had a nightmare during the night, and was just happy to wake up, safe in her room with Tres nearby.... Wait... This wasn't her room... This was...

"Good morning, Solene. Status report?" Tres breathed into her ear.

Solene flushed red to find that her hand was buried warmly up his sleeve, and that during the night she had practically curled up all over his lap. "This isn't a dream, isn't it?" She asked by way of answer as she distangled herself from him. "We're on a mission to go.... ghost hunting."

"Negative." Tres caught her hands, stilling her actions. "Not a ghost hunting mission, but an investigation of an old prison where rumours of a vampire or more were seen in the site, and where people has gone in but never come out." He tilted her face up to face him. "Do not think about it any longer, Solene. What one must be afraid of is fear itself."

Solene relaxed again in his lap, expression thoughtful. "Maybe...Maybe you're right. How long more till we reach Altoona?"

"Three hours, forty minutes and twenty-one seconds."

A fast expression of fear flitted across her face, but it disappeared as soon as it came. "And it's still raining eventhough it's morning? Wonderful.. this has got to be my most enjoyable mission ever. Let's get breakfast, Tres. At least it'll cheer me somewhat and get the ghosts off my mind."
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The trip passed in considerable boredom, and the pair was somewhat relieved to get off the train. Solene gave a weary grumble as she stretched on the platform. "Couldn't we have gotten Sister Kate to transport us in the Iron Maiden instead? She's done it beofre, and we're AX agents, after all."

"Negative. I do not think Sister Kate would consent to that," Tres said. "The Iron Maiden is a battleship, and it isn't made for transportation or travel. Futhermore, it's grounded due to monthly repairs." The android paused to get his bearings, then headed off in the direction of their hotel, his laser eye flashing slightly. "We have approximately two hours and ten minutes left before our mission. It's best that we get some rest and freshen up before commencing."

Solene glanced at the slightly pinkish sky and shuddred slightly, a look of apprehension dawning on her face. "God be with us tonight.... especially me...."
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Back at the Vatican, Leon and Abel were having a row with Catherina. "Catherina-san! This isn't right! Solene has a terror of the unexplained!" Abel swung an arm about. "She may be one of your trusted bodyguards, but even she has some kind of fear in her!"

"Abel," Catherina said slowly. "There is no such things as ghosts. Solene will have to realise that and face her fears."

"Your Eminence, this isn't a laughing matter," Leon suddenly said, causing her to raise her eybrows in surprise. "I've witnessed Solene's terror first hand, felt the shaking that wracked her body, heard her helpless whimpering. She's really terrified. It's not a joke."

Catherina sipped her tea thoughtfully. How the hell did Leon know about me laughing? Did he... no, it must've been his damn intuition at work again... "I understand both of your concern, but it's too late. Tres and Solene would've arrived in Altoona by now, and the next train leaves only tonight. There's no way for the both of you to join them in their mission, except by plane, which I think the both of you won't be able to rent with your limited pay. The Vatican will not fund you for a craft."

Abel looked at Leon. "What are we going to do?"

Leon srcatched his chin for a while, then gave him a feral grin. "Don't you worry, Father Four-Eyes. I think I know what..."
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"Absolutely not!" The hologram of Sister Kate was furious. "You are not using my beloved battleship as a trasport to Altoona!"

"But Kate!" Abel whined. "It's an emergency! Solene and Tres need our help!"

"I hardly think they do." Kate said icily. "Besides, I just got a report from Tres. They've begun the mission and has entered the prison."

"Damn!" Leon swore and ran a hand through his hair. If Solene were next to him, she would frown a little and remind him to mind his language.... though he had heard her swearing and cussing at Gunslinger for waking her up too early before. The thought almost brought a grin to her face, but he sobered immedieately again when he remembered where she was. Real worry swept through him. Strangely, he was getting worked up over her............ "Alright Kate, how about this. You give us both a lift in the Iron Maiden, I persuade the Professor to remove his Christmas Jingles from it's databases. Deal?"

Kate eyes him. "I won't have to listen to "Deck The Halls" a thousand times a day?"

Leon did his best to look innocent. "No."

Kate leaned back, contemplating. "For this one time, I agree... But if I ever hear another "Jingle Bell" before Christmas again... you're dead."

Leon grinned. "You got it, baby."
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((OOC: This is getting too long, so I'm splitting it into parts.))

Some Random Idea.....

((OOC: I'm bored, really... nothing much to do.... *yawns*))
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Solene was down. She knew that this time.... she would die and nothing could save her. Dietrich bent over the shivering Priestess and lifted a hand, twitching his fingers to raise her head. Solene's head lifted up against her will and she was forced to look at him. "Solene.... You really are a beautiful girl, you know... Too bad it had to come to this....."

"Oh, come now, Marionettenspieler," Issak chuckled behind him, calmly smoking a cigar. "You can always wait untill she's dead and bring her back to to the Orden as your personal puppet."

"But it wouldn't be the same, Panzer Maiger." Dietrich smiled over his shoulder at the long black haired man. "I want her alive. It won't be fun if she's dead." He looked knowingly at his master. "Besides, I know you want her for yourself."

Issak's eyes narrowed, and he stared long and hard at his protege. "Don't push it too far, Dietrich." He threw the rest of his cigar away and nudged Solene's body over with a foot. Blood bubbled around a bullet lodged in her abdomen, staining the white robes she wore a rich crimson. "She won't die yet. The bullet didn't go deep."

"But she'll suffer." Dietrich smirked and made a sisscors-like, cutting motion over his raised fingers, and Solene fell forwards again, landing with a hard thump as he released her. "Goodbye, Solene D'Cruz... I hope you'll be able to live.... so we can meet again." He kissed her, leaving a trail up to her ear, and whispered, "Remember this, my dear.... Igne Natura Renovatur Integra..."

With that, the two Rosenkruez members vanished into the shadows, leaving her to bleed to death.
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"Solene! Solene!" Faintly, a rough Spanish-accented voice brought Solene out of the dark haze that enveloped her. Who is it....? she wondered dimly. How long had she lain there? Was she dead and gone to Paradise yet? "Solene!" she heard the voice again. "Wake up! You can't close your eyes! Stay with me!"

Grimacing against a sudden wave of pain, Solene struggled to open her eyes, and was rewarded by blurry outlines of faces. "Oh, thank God! Try to keep awake now! We don't want to lose you!" Leon? Water was poured into her mouth and she swallowed, returning to awareness of more searing pain that made her scream.

"Stop!!"

"Negative, Sister Solene," Came Tres's voice. Was it her deliriously pain filled mind, or was the android's voice shaking slightly? "The silver bullet has to be removed and your wound sealed, or you'll die of blood loss and poision from the silver in the bullet."

Tres's words penetrated the hazy fog in Solene's brain and her eyes widened. "You're.... digging...."

"Tres has to do it now and here to save you," Leon explained, relieved that she was awake and consious. "Just bear the pain, alright? It'll be over in no time, and......" He couldn't continue. Leon was holding her down, cushioning her head in his lap, trying to make her as confortable as possible. "Get on with it, tin-can," he growled. "I'm not going to let her die."

Tres shot him a freezing look, but continued heating a pair of tweezers untill it was red hot. His eyes met Solene's, who was still subconsious, her glazed eyes trying to focus on what he held. Something in him twisted, and for a moment, he wondered if one of his mechanisms had come loose, but he then realized..... he felt apprehensive and a bit of fear. His hand shook slightly as he reached towards the wound, and as he placed one palm against her side to brace himself, she weakly lifted a hand and closed it over his in a trembling grip.

Tres froze and lifted his head to look at her. Solene managed a little but brave nod, sending a message to him. I trust you... Go on.

It was settled, then. Tres returned his attention to the wound where the flow of blood had slowed to a small bubbling. Tearing away the fabric around it, Gunslinger inserted the hot tweezers with amazing accuracy, not touching the tender flesh of the small open wound. It was then that he began the probing and prying to get the bullet dislodged.

Leon winced as Solene threw her head back and let out a scream. Tears welled up and ran down her face, fresh rivulets that added to the dried tracks on her cheeks. Another scream tore from her throat, causing even the hardened Hispaniac to tremble. "Solene, we're almost there. Just hold on, alright?" He gripped her hand tightly, willing himself not to wonder what it would be like if his lover or his daughter was in her place. Solene held on to him, and belatedly, he realized that she wasn't asking Tres to stop eventhough she was in pain.

Tres finally managed to get around the bullet, and gripping it tightly with the tweezers, slowly pulling it out of her flesh. It tore the muscles and ligaments that had stuck to it during it's time there, earning another scream from Solene, who went limp the moment he was done, blood spurting again.

It was as if she was being stabbed by ten thousand silver daggers. Solene lay shivering in Leon's arms, glad Tres had got the bullet out. The pain, screaming and blood loss had left her physically exhausted, and the blackness that hovered at the edge of her consiousness now began to claim her........
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((OOC: Alright.... I'm too tired and my back aches.... Going off to hear Cupid's Chokehold since it's the song Leon dedicated to me.... Badadada Badadada...... Take a look at my girlfriend... She's the only one I got....))