Alternatives

Baiting the Trap


Crawford’s vision showed him Diemeiller heading towards his room and he quickly assumed the position and demeanour of a broken man. He knew he was going to be made to send a message through the Schwarz link and smiled to himself, knowing the important one had already been sent.

He quickly wiped the smile from his face as the door opened. He let a low groan escape from his lips, prepared to bear the humiliation for a while longer if it meant his freedom in the end.

Dietmeiller strode into the room and stood over him, obviously gloating. \"I have a little job for you, Crawford. You are going to send a message to Schuldig and Naoe letting them know where you are and begging them to help you.\"

He couldn’t believe the arrogance of the man. Yes, Dietmeiller was an excellent suppresser of talents, but due to his supreme belief in himself, he had failed to check Kudoh’s memory or will and had stupidly overlooked the need to leash his talent once more, after he’d last released his hold. \"What’s the message?\"

\"You will tell them that you are in danger and that they are to join you here.\"

\"You’ll need to release my talent and then let me rest for a minute or two.\" He knew he was going to be in a world of white noise again after he sent the message, but it was worth it. He had sent the important message and could only trust that the visions that led from Schuldig and Aya coming here would come to pass.

\"Of course.\"

He arched up as if in agony and Dietmeiller smiled and waited for him to calm again.

He came to rest once more, panting slightly. Perhaps he should have been an actor.

\"Are you ready to send the message, now?\"

He nodded, knowing that the Brain Butcher wouldn’t expect him to be able to talk yet.

\"Well get on with it then.\"

* * * * * * *

*Schu, Nagi, you have to listen to me. I am in great danger. You need to come to Germany to help me.*

Schuldig’s eyes narrowed. Brad had used the old Schwarz code for ignore this. *No change of plan?*

*No.*

*Still Aya and me then?*

*Yes. Plus one extra later.*

* * * * * * *

*Schu, Nagi, you have to listen to me. I am in great danger. You need to come to Germany to help me.*

The one-eyed man stopped in his tracks. *What about me? I could help.* He felt amazement and then joy come through the Schwarz link and it made him smile.

*Where the hell are you, Farf?* Schuldig.

*Farfie?* Nagi.

*Talk to Schu.* The boss man he’d happily die for.

He felt Crawford leave the link but Schuldig and Nagi remained with him. He was surprised at how much he’d missed them.

*Got bored with the woman?* Schuldig asked.

*News later. What’s wrong with Crawford?*

*Rosenkreuz have him. Where are you?*

*In Liverpool, looking for work. Do I go to Germany?*

*Can you afford to?* Nagi was always so practical.

*I still have money from Schwarz.*

*Excellent. Get a plane to Germany tomorrow. Nagi will meet you at Munich airport. And he will have two of Weiss with him.*

*Weiss? Why?*

*Because they’re on our side now. Try to remember that.*

*I’m a killer, not a half-wit.*

*I know, I know. There will be plenty of Rosenkreuz agents for you to play with.*

Farfarello smiled to himself. He would enjoy making them suffer. He was tired of being their victim. *I’ll be on the plane for Munich tomorrow.*

*Look forward to seeing you again. Don’t kill anyone in the meantime.*

*I can control myself, Schuldig. You take care of yourself.*

* * * * * * *

Aya closed Yohji’s suitcase, borrowed as it was large enough to carry his katana. He wondered if his lover had managed to keep hold of his watch and the wire hidden within it. With any luck, Rosenkreuz would consider it a normal watch as the man supposedly had no memory of what he had once been.

He had also packed a couple of changes of clothes for Yohji as well as for himself. There was no telling how long this would take.

A knock on his door broke into his thoughts and he bade whoever it was to enter. Schuldig poked his head round the door and asked if he was ready to go. He nodded abruptly.

\"There’s been a slight change of plan.\"

Schuldig sounded uncomfortable and he wondered why. \"Oh?\"

\"Farfarello will be meeting Nagi and the others at Munich tomorrow.\"

He glared at the telepath. \"I warn you now, Schuldig, if you are trying to double-cross us…\"

\"Yeah, yeah, I know. You’ll hunt me down and kill me. I’ve already had the whole lecture from Takatori.\"

\"Just as long as you’re clear on the subject.\"

\"Perfectly. Shall we go?\"

He found himself actually smiling slightly at the German. There was no denying that Farfarello would be a great asset in a fight. \"Yeah, let’s go.\"

They got downstairs and he had to listen to last minute well wishes and admonitions to be careful from Ken, Takatori and Nagi when all he really wanted was to be out of the door and on his way. He sighed and said what they wanted to hear and then made for the door.

\"Aya-kun?\"

He sighed but turned back. \"What?\"

\"This probably isn’t the time or the place, but I’d like you to know. It’s okay to call me Omi.\"

He smiled. \"I’ll tell Yohji. I think he’ll be as glad as I am.\"

It was worth the slight delay to see his old smile once more transform Omi’s face.

* * * * * * *

Two hours later Schuldig was sitting next to an unresponsive Aya on a plane bound for Munich. He had always admired the mission focus that turned a stoic but perceptive young man into the cold, hard and unforgiving Abyssinian but some conversation would be nice.

A quick glance at Aya’s profile convinced him that he would be better off reading the in-flight magazine. He reached forward for the booklet and started flipping through it. He nearly dropped it in shock when Aya spoke.

\"Why is Farfarello coming to Germany?\"

\"He picked up a message from Brad. He has always idolised the man.\"

\"What message from Brad?\" Aya turned to look at him, his purple eyes as hard as amethysts.

\"One that he was forced to send. You should be aware that we are probably walking into a trap. However, it has to be you and me according to Brad’s vision. It might be something to do with Yohji’s intact memory, but that’s all I know.\"

\"Hn. Will Farfarello harm Ken or Omi?\"

\"No. I’ve told him we’re all on the same side now. Even if he did get…frisky, Nagi can control him.\"

\"I’m not used to working with visions.\"

\"It’s very useful, especially against Rosenkreuz. Believe me, you and I going to Germany before the others is essential to us regaining Yohji and Crawford and keeping our freedom.\"

He was relieved when Aya nodded once and resumed staring out of the window. It didn’t help that he was praying that Crawford hadn’t got it wrong.