• ((I have a really good explination for the occurence of Lucian's lineage- angel and vampire. It's too long to say now, but if your really want to know send me a PM and I'll give you my explination))

    Two months, 12 days and 3 hours. Lucian had been among the first to be ushered in, and he couldn’t wait to get out of this gloomy place. It was a bit ironic coming from him. He had lived in the dark and gloom for over two millennia, and it had never bothered him until now. Perhaps it was the blatant disregard for human life shown by the authority of the camp. Or, perhaps it was curling up in his small bunk watching, as day after day, the other occupants filed out of the building only to return exhausted from a day of forced labour. Everyone was expected to work here, even Lucian, though he never did. As a result he was subject to numerous beatings and threats. The most common threat was that he would not be given any rations for the day. It was an ineffective deterrence as Lucian neither needed human food nor drink for sustenance. Everyday was the same. The guards would drag him out into the crowded courtyard and thrown onto him onto the ground. Despite the thick smoke that often filled the skies, Lucian was blinded by the brightness of the day. He never saw his assailants coming. The officers would kick his ribs and pull on his hair, trying to force him to his feet. Lucian would then stumble blindly to ground again. The process kept repeating.

    On this particular morning, Lucian was left to lie still on the ground.

    “I’ve have enough of this laziness,” he heard in a deep, raspy voice.

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    He surveyed the camp, taking in the sight of it. Not only that, but the smells as well. Gordon however, was unbothered by this. In the many places that he’d been throughout the centuries, this was by far not the worst. Still, the conditions were deplorable, he’d give it that. He smirked to himself. Terrans, or as many called them, humans, had certainly become stupid. Centuries ago, he’d have to work harder to disguise himself so that he could go unnoticed. Now, all he needed was an ID, a uniform, and a command of the Italian language.

    He looked around, making sure that no one was paying attention to him before he checked his gauntlet. It assured him that this was the place that he would find Lucian. And he trusted it. Well, at least ninety five percent of the time. When it was incorrect, there were generally dire consequences. Other than that, it was a useful tool for travelling through time/space and had a nifty little disguise feature.

    He searched the camp diligently. He needed Lucian. If he didn’t find him, then it would be disastrous. After a few moments, he heard the sound of a commotion. Looking over, he nearly cried out in joy. There was his angelic friend and occasional companion, currently engaging in an argument with an Italian officer. From what Gordon heard, it sounded quite serious. Walking over, he quickly formed a plan in his head as to how he could help Lucian escape.

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    Lucian felt himself being dragged up to his feet. There was one guard on either side, clutching to his underarms.

    “Let this be a warning to all of you,” he heard being barked past his left ear. “This is what happens when you don’t do as we tell you. Behave, or you’ll end up like this sorry bag of bones.”

    Lucian cautious opened his eyes to a squint and found a large group of other captives watching fearfully. The guards set Lucian steadily on his feet and marched off across the yard. He closed his eyes once again, knowing the full extent of what was to happen. He would be shot in front of the frightened bystanders, and forced to feign his own death- again. He would then be dragged away to be cremated or unceremoniously dropped into a newly dug pit. Either way, Lucian would profit. If they buried him, he would be given the opportunity to escape this terrible place. If he were cremated, it would mean the end of his unnatural existence.

    Had he bothered to focus his ultra- sensitive auditory skills, he would have recognized the excited tone of an old friend. This term is used quite liberally, as Lucian neither considered the man to be old, nor to be a friend.

    With in a few moments, Lucian heard a soft whisper in his ear. The whisper was familiar but unrecognizable. The bullet however was acknowledged the moment it hit his body, sending a sharp pain through his abdomen. This was his cue to “lie down and play dead;” a common occurrence in his life. He fell down rigid, apparently deceased, awaiting an officer to take him away.

    * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    Lucian’s body was heavier than Gordon had expected. However, he was also playing dead, so he wasn’t helping Gordon to carry him. The strain in the time traveler’s arms almost made him want to drop the other man, however it would get him no where if he did.

    Gordon sighed; relieved when he saw the tent he was assigned. Glancing around to make sure that no one was watching him, he dragged Lucian into the tent. After getting safely inside, he gently laid Lucian on the ground. After about a minute of looking at his unmoving body, Gordon got fed up with waiting for him to crack. Apparently Lucian hadn’t recognized his voice when he had whispered in his ear. So, winding up as much as he could, he kicked Lucian hard in the side and was rewarded with a rather telling grunt.

    Yet, Lucian still pretended to be dead. Gordon huffed, now a touch annoyed.
    “You can cut out the whole “I’m dead so don’t bother me” act. I know that a little bullet like that wouldn’t off ya.”

    “Perhaps one should consider that I am pretending to be lifeless to avoid any confrontation with anyone undesirable,” Lucian responded with his smooth muddle of accents. A testimony to his many, many years in constant travel. He carefully climbed to his feet and opened his eyes. The tent’s walls provided a much needed protection from the sun’s rays, helping Lucian feel more at ease. “Why are you here,” he inquired warily.

    “What? No ‘thanks for savin’ my life,’” the time traveller countered. “Ya do know ya owe me now-”

    “I owe you nothing,” Lucian interrupted in protest. “You know that I could have contended with that situation by myself as I have done on hundreds of former occasions. Now, I’ll ask you again. Why are you here? I am no fool, so do not assume I am unaware of any pretence. I know that everything you do coincides with an ulterior motive. So, what is it?”

    “Ya done yet,” Gordon mocked the older man. Lucian certainly didn’t look his age though. The time traveller noted that Lucian appeared to be barely eighteen, maybe younger. It made the boy look much less intimidating and easier to tease. “I haven’t been able to get in edgewise with all yer blabbin’,” he continued in a brash manner.

    “You know, if this were a tragedy, your hubris would be your ostentation.”

    “It’s a good thing this is real life then, innit,” Gordon challenged. He paused when he heard a knock at the tent’s door.

    “Who are you talking to,” a gruff voice asked through the wooden door.

    “Quick, Lucian. Play dead,” Gordon frantically hissed before answering the unseen officer. “No one, sir.”

    Lucian grimaced at being spoken to like a pet, but fell backwards all the same. He landed square into Gordon’s arms, the same moment the Italian officer barged into the tent. Gordon’s face contorted into one of nervousness as the tall, burly man stared at him.

    “What is going on in here,” the man growled in Italian.

    “Uh, nothing,” Gordon replied, quickly trying to come up with a logical excuse as to why there was a dead man in his tent. Necrophilia probably wasn’t the best way to answer, though he was tempted to say it- if only for the surprise it would give the officer. “I was just- just trying out a ventriloquist act. Ya wanna see?”

    “You’re a very sick man,” the officer uttered in disgust. He shook his head and left the tent, mumbling some obscene comments as he walked away.

    Gordon lifted his arms theatrically and Lucian fell to the floor. “It’s safe to wake up now.”

    “Was that really necessary,” the boy fussed, stumbling to his feet.

    “Well, ya gained weight since the last time I saw ya. Yer fat now, an’ my arms ain’t that strong.”

    “Please, save your compliments for someone more deserving,” Lucian responded sarcastically. Sometimes Gordon got on the boy’s nerves, and by “sometimes” he meant “all the time.”

    “Just, sayin’ it wouldn’t kill ya ta go for a run.”

    “Enough of your games,” Lucian demanded. “Tell me why you are here!”

    Gordon sighed. “Well, as much as I hate to admit it, I need yer help again.”

    “There is no way that I am helping you again,” Lucian vented. “Every time I do, you promise me deliverance and then you take it away in one cruel, swift motion. If you need my help as you say you do, then you know what I want in return.”

    “We’ve played this game long enough to know that I can’t do that,” Gordon replied as his demeanour became serious. This wasn’t a joking matter anymore. By giving into Lucian’s request, Gordon could put the fate of the entire world in jeopardy- several times.

    “Then find someone else to play your side-kick. My disinclination to help you is entirely your fault.”

    An evil grin made its way across the time traveller’s face. “Either yull help me of yer own free will, or I’ll make ya.”

    “You know that you could not make me do anything against my will, even if you tried,” Lucian remarked in a condescending tone. “You know how simple it would be for me to kill you right now? It would be nothing- like breaking a toothpick. And, I’ve had thousands of years to practice. I would steal your uniform and walk out of here without any repercussions while you lie there, drowning in a puddle of your own blood.”

    Gordon giggled. “Too bad when ya kill me, the gauntlet will turn off and there won’t be a uniform anyways.”

    “You really think me that much of a fool? I’ve already taken that into account. You humans are weak and any other officer would be just as easy- if not more so- to kill. It just wouldn’t be as entertaining.”

    Ignoring the last few lines of the boy’s statement, Gordon found the opportunity to criticize. “Well, you did let yerself get caught. I’m no genius- well, actually I am- but that seems like a pretty foolish thing to do in my opinion.”

    Lucian blushed. A rare occurrence; something only Gordon could do, usually in bed. This was one of few Spartan traditions Lucian had actually kept from his childhood. And yet, he still couldn’t stand the guy.

    “Violence only begets more violence. Had I retaliated I could expect more hostility towards me and my identity could be blown. I did not want to harm any of the humans. I have evolved past that.”

    Gordon cocked his eyebrow. “This comin’ from the man who just threatened to drown me in my own blood? That a bit hypocritical don’t ya think? Even for a half- dead thing.”

    “There are special circumstances,” Lucian retorted, recomposing his calm façade. “Namely you.”

    “Well then,” Gordon replied saucily, “I guess there are a lot of ‘special circumstances’ when it comes to me.” He gave his companion a grin and an obvious wink, making Lucian wince.

    “I’m glad you’re so capable of indiscretion. And yet, you’re always in need of help. Ironic don’t you think? You’ve always needed me.”

    “I’ll always need you for something,” Gordon teased, winking two more times. “Yer a fine replacement for a woman. Now, go make me a sammich!”

    “Just because I look younger than you doesn’t give you the liberty to treat me like your inferior.” Lucian was greatly annoyed by Gordon’s demeaning behaviour. “Besides that, you been avoiding the real reason that you’re here. What do you require my services for exactly?”

    “That’s for me to know, and ya to find out,” Gordon whooped excitedly. “Now come on, we’ve got a lotta work to get done.” He forcefully took hold of Lucian’s arm and began playing with the settings on his gauntlet. In a few minutes they would be sent to their desired destination, sometime in the near future.

    Lucian tried to shake the deranged time traveller off of him. “I already told you, I’m not going,” the boy protested. “Go find someone else to do it.”

    “Hey Lucy, what time is it,” Gordon quickly asked as a distraction.

    Lucian instinctively lifted his arm to glance at his wrist. He wanted to look at his watch- the one that had been confiscated when he was first sent to the camp. Taking advantage of the opportunity, Gordon grasped onto Lucian’s raised arm and in a flash of blinding light they had gone.