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Prize of Victory 1.5
By : NovaAlexandria
Category: Bleach > General
Views: 14934 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach nor profit from my works.
Chapter List
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The Eighth

If he didn�t hurry�

His disappointment at being robbed of the opportunity to Claim something as rare as a Quincy only added to his resolve to move as quickly as possible. Szayel had won, Kurotsuchi had lost and that was all there was to it; he would lay Claim to the spoils Aizen had promised him as of this moment. He already had Nemu, and thanks to the vow he�d made to a dying human youth, he�d need to find a use for the redheaded dimwit too.

Abarai Renji was certainly not the one he would have chosen, if given his druthers, but there was a silver lining of sorts. The ape possessed a Bankai, which was fortunate, since it appeared that obtaining another Taichou-level Shinigami of specimen quality would be impossible. Higher-ranking Arrancar had already taken them and Szayel wasn�t interested in the dregs.

�It�s a pity, but perhaps I can work out a trade and borrow one of them at some point in the future.�

Better to let it go and focus on what was truly important. While the other Hollows hunted down Shinigami, he would pursue bigger, better plans. He wanted the treasure he�d won when he�d torn that pathetic excuse for a scientist to ribbons and Szayel swore nothing would deter him from making it his own. With that in mind, he brushed a few lingering grains of sand from the cuff of his sleeve and snapped his fingers.

�Come, Nemu. Let�s retire to your late father�s domain. I want to secure it before some unwitting buffoon destroys it. Oh, and speaking of such, bring him with us,� Szayel ordered, using his chin to point at the groaning form sprawled on the 1st Division�s meeting hall floor. He was pleased with himself for keeping his voice cool and professional. The thought of all those laboratories and dedicated facilities waiting for him made him want to squeal like a teenaged girl.

�Hai, Szayel-sama.�

Nemu bowed low enough for him to see the back of her head, presenting a picture of perfect subservience. A second later, she materialized next to the tattooed lout who tried to resist, but the needle she retrieved from Kami-only-knew-where put an end to his struggles. She then tossed the limp idiot over her shoulder and returned to her new master�s side, all without any discernible effort on her part. Szayel smile widened; he hadn�t ordered her to administer a sedative, but he heartily approved of her action.

�Excellent! A very efficient solution to an otherwise loud problem! Good show!�

Her expression did not change but inwardly, the praise took her off-guard, making her falter. That was an interesting, if unexpected response, one he would have to explore later, but for now, time was limited and he had a takeover to orchestrate. He had studied the maps Aizen had provided with great care, so he knew exactly where to go. Nemu trailed behind him with her unconscious burden, showing no signs of strain. He wanted to physically examine her as well, when he got the chance, but that too would have to wait.

Thankfully, it didn�t take long to get to the 12th Division and Nemu entered the access codes into the keypad set into the wall surrounding the place. Szayel could have hacked his way in but this was much faster. He was eager to see the riches Kurotsuchi had kept under such close guard.

The reveal turned out to be something of a letdown.

In fact, the place was, compared to his old fortress in Hueco Mundo, a dump.

The further Nemu led him into the main building, the more he felt as if he had entered a tomb� a dismal, dark, dank, joyless crypt. What light existed served purely utilitarian purposes and his first impression was one of deep and abiding malaise. The sheer amount of gray was overwhelming. The longer he looked at it, the more Kurotsuchi�s madness made sense.

�Nemu, be a dear and place Abarai in the most secure cell we have. Then gather the staff in the closest, largest meeting room. I wish to address them immediately. See to it that those who are not present know that they don�t have a lot of time to return here before Aizen unleashes the Arrancar on the city,� he instructed. Her green eyes never left his as he gave her marching orders and when he finished, she bowed again, though the movement was awkward given the dead weight she carried.

Nemu strode away to carry out his will, leaving him to tap his foot impatiently. It was exceedingly tempting to follow her; Kurotsuchi had bragged about the volumes of research he had completed on the Quincy during their tussle and he wanted to find out if, hidden somewhere in all of the madman�s scribblings, there was a way to obtain a replacement for the specimen-slash-pet he�d lost out on with Uryuu�s death. It was probably a long shot, but it wouldn�t hurt to read those if only to confirm his suspicions. He had a hunch the young man was a rare find, if not one of the last of his sort. It was probably for the best that he�d kept the body, though the information he could have extracted from it and the weapons he�d carried was limited.

He was still pondering the odds of finding other Quincies when Nemu returned, sans Renji.

�Sir, I�ve done as you asked as far as Abarai-Fukutaichou is concerned, but regarding the Division members��

Her hesitancy spoke volumes and he indicated she could elaborate without fear of punishment.

�What it�s the problem?�

�You�d best see for yourself, Szayel-sama.�

�Show me!�

She quickly led him down several more dreary, look-alike corridors, to what was clearly a control centre, manned by several pasty-faced Shinigami who turned to face him and his new pet. He ignored their gasps of shock and awe in favor of inspecting the drama playing out on the monitor bank. The screens showed a multitude of different spots within the Seireitei proper. The majority of them also depicted hundreds of Shinigami staring upward with nearly-identical expressions of horror. Coupled with the ear-splitting sound of alarms, it took Szayel all of three seconds to figure out what had the Soul Society gawking at the sky and reaching for their weapons.

He felt the rending of reality as multiple Garganta formed overhead and wanted to curse loudly. Aizen had summoned the troops sooner than Szayel had anticipated.

�Where is 3rd Seat Akon?� Nemu quickly asked one of the men stationed below a screen, not waiting for him to formulate a plan. From her lack of fear, he could tell she was following some pre-planned disaster protocol, running down an unseen digital checklist per her programming.

�He took several units out to the remains of Karakura town. We�re tracking them now.�

�I see. Please issue a recall order for all Division members and tell Akon-san to pull his squad back. Tell them to return via the emergency entrance routes as fast as they can. Make certain our dedicated passages and any Senkaimon already in use are diverted to the lowest training chamber, rather than their original point of exit.�

�Yes, Kurotsuchi-Fukutaichou!�

The Shinigami at the controls, a petite girl with glasses and braids over her ears that included a length of chain saluted and attacked the console. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as her superior pointed to another of her colleagues. Nemu�s tone grew firmer and Szayel immediately noticed the man stand straighter at his station.

�Fumiji-san, please activate this Division�s primary and secondary defence systems. Once we confirm the arrival of all inbound teams, carry out the following directive: every member of the 12th Division must assemble in Conference Room A in fifteen minutes. No exceptions. As of now, we�re on lockdown.�

�On it Ma�am!�

Szayel was beginning to enjoy the brisk way his pet handled underlings. None of his manufactured fraccion had possessed her intelligence, her foresight or her poise. He personally found her calm, reserved delivery soothing, and the perfect complement to her pleasing exterior. The monitor crew scampered to do her bidding and he was satisfied that the respect they held for her would negate the possibility of insurrection.

Things were definitely looking up, even if his surroundings needed work. No one in their right mind used olive green and muddy gray as a primary color scheme.

The conference room was indistinguishable from the rest of the building as far as its drabness and lighting guaranteed to result in eyestrain. The rudimentary seating consisted of an inadequate number of metal folding chairs whose tedious hue was interrupted only by a large chalk board above a raised platform. Szayel presumed it was a rudimentary stage of sorts.

The Espada sighed and briefly closed his eyes, wishing for a plusher venue for what needed to be a good performance. The goal was to get through this without exertion, and he wanted to avoid bloodshed if possible.

�Patience, patience� he told himself. �Let�s convey our mission statement and then we can start tearing up the carpet.�

When the last strangler stumbled through the door, he climbed the five steps leading up to the stage. No one made a sound as he spread his arms wide and smiled brightly at the crowd, though he noted a few of them kept looking nervously at the exits. None of them seemed like much of a threat, having appearances that suggested they spent more time indoors than out, but one never knew. It was best to let them know where they stood as far the changing of the guard.

�Good evening,� he intoned, after clearing his throat. �I am here to inform you that, as you probably already know, Aizen-kami has won the war and has ascended to the Throne of the Soul King. I am Szayel Aporro Grantz, currently the Octavo Espada. You may address me as Szayel-sama. I am pleased to announce that I defeated and killed your former leader, the deplorable Kurotsuchi Mayuri, earlier today. As such, everything that was formerly his now belongs to me. If you don�t believe me, your Fukutaichou witnessed his death and can provide confirmation.� He swept a hand towards the spot where Nemu stood silently with her fingers laced together. �If, for some reason, you require further proof, you may ask the former Fukutaichou, Abarai Renji, or you can view the footage, both audio and visual, taken by my security system in Hueco Mundo, once I have the necessary time to retrieve them.�

�I should probably take the time to edit those too. Just in case.�

Only he and the lovely construct he�d Claimed knew everything on those recordings. With luck, it would remain so. If Aizen found out about the bargain he�d struck with Uryuu, there could be trouble. Low murmurs worked their way through the crowd at this revelation and the mood grew a shade darker. However, he still had their full attention and to his surprise, no one immediately jumped up to �avenge� the late Kurotsuchi.

�What does this mean for us?� a young-looking boy standing near the front of the crowd asked, shyly raising his hand as he did so. Szayel, in turn, cocked an eyebrow at his pet.

�Tsubokura Rin,� Nemu said, supplying the youth�s name without having to look at him. Szayel added �pinpoint audible recognition� to the pile of her positive qualities.

�An excellent question, Rin-kun,� he said and smiled warmly at the lad. �First, we will all stay safely inside these walls while the Numeros sate their bloodlust on the outside world. I refuse to allow those ruffians to subjugate this Division�s brilliant minds. From this moment forward, you are under my protection as my fraccion.�

He clasped his hands behind his back and made a show of walking back and forth across the stage. Then he paused dramatically and let the fact he was the only thing standing between them and a pack of slavering Numeros sink in, before resuming his speech.

�That should take about a day or two. As your Fukutaichou says, we are locked down and I want a full inventory of our comestible supplies within half-an-hour of this meeting�s end. Once the chaos dies down, we�ll see about replenishing our stockpile of food and water.�

This resulted in absolute silence, during which his new flunkies stared at one another in disbelief.

�You mean� you�re not going to kill us?� another voice called out, sounding hopeful. This one sounded like a woman. Szayel responded by waving one hand dismissively.

�Only if you prove to be useless, or incapable of following simple instructions. Nor do I intend to disarm you. I will be blunt � none of you are capable of opposing me, but let�s not waste time on useless quibbling. I�ve no reason to eliminate you� unless, of course, you can�t bear the thought of following me.� He added his best �sad face� to the last.

The rumbling from the audience increased and he allowed it, wanting to get it out of the way. When he decided that they�d had long enough to discuss the change in management, he crooked a finger at Nemu and used the Claim to urge her to join him. Some of the higher-ranking, bolder Shinigami began to pepper her with questions. Chief among these were what she thought of the situation.

�Aizen-kami has won,� she stated flatly, effectively shutting down any resistance before it could begin. �Szayel-sama is entitled to the possessions once owned by Kurotsuchi-Taichou, having defeated him in combat. This includes his rank, his titles and this Division.�

�He can�t be any worse than Kurotsuchi was,� someone grumbled in a voice just loud enough for him to hear, and several more murmured in agreement. It was, Szayel supposed, the very worst of backhanded compliments, but he�d take it for now. They�d find out soon enough what it meant to serve a real scientific genius, rather than a painted madman with questionable fashion sense.

�Does this mean you have collectively decided to remain in my employ?�

There was some foot shuffling, but a chorus of �Hai�s eventually filled the room. Happy that he wouldn�t have to put anyone out of his or her misery, Szayel rubbed his gloved hands together and turned up the voltage on his thousand-watt grin.

�Marvelous! Now, our first order of business is to design a new building, because this heap,� and here rolled his eyes in disdain, �is the very definition of �dreadful�. I have no idea how any of you function in this mausoleum! This is a scientific institution, not a grave or a sewage treatment plant! It should reflect the glory that is science itself! I want something grander, more inspiring! I want a den that will induce mind-blowing ideas, brilliant breakthroughs and heart-stopping revelations about the workings of the universe! Gifted minds should not have to muck about in such squalor! I want glass and light, mirrors and clean surfaces! I want a jewel that will announce to the rest of the Seireitei that work of Great Importance happens within...�

Szayel was brought up short when he glanced at the crowd and found them gaping at him. One or two mouths were actually open, though no sound issued forth. Then, the one called Rin raised his hand once more and posed a question in his quavering, boyish voice.

�What about a vending machine in the main lobby? There are all sorts of vending machines in the Living World. They give out candy and coffee and� and cake��

The Espada thought he saw a little drool at the corner of the small researcher�s mouth. He also �tsk-ed� at the utter mundanity of what he�d just heard. Snacks? He shook his head in disbelief. They wanted snacks. How downtrodden were these poor sods?

�Vending machines? That�s a fine idea, though I think they�d be best located in the cafeteria,� he replied, tapping his chin thoughtfully with one finger. Stunned silence prevailed for a few more minutes, and then someone else, a goggle-eyed individual that resembled a peeled, pudgy potato, spoke up. He sounded as gobsmacked as Rin.

�You mean� we can have a cafeteria now? Really? Or maybe a break room?�

He had both hands clenched below his chin and Szayel had to fight the urge to bang his head against the nearest wall.

�Oh, Kami� it�s worse than I dreamed.�

�Of course!� he snorted and put his hands on his hips. �No researcher worth his or her credentials should allow food or drink to contaminate a working laboratory. The very idea! I expect the best for my hard-working fraccion and that includes a proper commissary!�

His proclamation was all it took to crack the dam holding back long-buried resentments and frustrations. Over the next few hours, Szayelapporo Grantz discovered how deeply the 12th Division�s morale had sunk, thanks to his predecessor�s neglect. A tidal wave of barely-disguised pleas threatened to swamp him, until Nemu stepped over to the chalkboard to write down the flurry of requests with a speed that astonished him.

Thirty minutes into what turned out to be the mother of all brainstorming sessions, Szayel picked three of the most competent-seeming Shinigami from the crowd and told them to bring back food and blankets from the barracks and the requested supply inventory. He dismissed others with orders to return to monitor duty, telling them he wanted to assist any of their brethren who might still be at large. In truth, he wanted extra eyes to make sure the 12th Division�s defences held, but with his reiatsu permeating the air, most of the Numeros wisely stayed away. Some of the Shinigami from other Divisions noticed that their hunters actively avoided the general vicinity, much as most sane folk had when Kurotsuchi had presided over it and took refuge nearby, even if his power made them tremble.

By morning, the remaining stragglers had joined the rest of their number in Conference Room A. The returning Shinigami were pale, their faces grim and they relayed what Szayel expected: tales of widespread anarchy and predation on the part of the invaders. Thanks to Nemu�s initiative and this Division�s control over the Senkaimon, the casualties were few. The only officer of note to have died was one �Akon�, who had bravely covered his squad�s escape and had died as a result.

The sharp twinge of pain that hit him at that announcement wasn�t his and Szayel immediately looked to Nemu. Her back was still turned, but the hand holding the chalk froze at the announcement. The Espada�s golden eyes narrowed behind his mask and he wondered what the other Shinigami had meant to her. The lapse was short. His pet resumed writing without further ado and over her shoulder, told the late arrivals to put aside any thought of defying their new master. There wasn�t much defiance to begin with; none of those who had seen what was going on in the streets wanted to take their chances. With few options but to accept Szayel, they retired to the back of the room to lick their wounds and join in the redecorating discussions.

Night dragged on and by morning the chalkboard held a plethora of new ideas and �must haves� for upgrades to the current facilities. The room�s occupants, on the other hand, were on their last legs and he dismissed them with a warning not to lower the Division�s defence systems. He assumed that they would be sensible and return to their quarters. Those still awake were yawning and debating the merits of investing in Living World technology, as well as options for getting some of the trickier modern devices to work in a world built of energy, rather than matter. Yet again, Szayel was reminded that, had the Quincy lived, he would have possessed a possible key to such feats and ground his molars together until he was sure the enamel on them cracked.

He was the focus of a few conversations as well, and other than the word �Hollow� coming up from time to time, he detected little outright animosity for his person. They were understandably frightened, but it was always good, in his opinion, to keep one�s fraccion on their toes. As long as they displayed the proper reverence for the scientific method and proved adept at their assigned tasks, he�d refrain from eating them.

Eventually fatigue took its toll and Szayel raised one hand to stifle a yawn. Nemu immediately materialized next to his elbow.

�Szayel-sama,� she softly entreated, �It�s late and you should rest.�

The neat writing on the board was growing blurry and he realized she was right. He had been expending energy in marking his new territory and prior to that, he�d fought not one, not two, but three battles. The reiatsu he�d used to Claim Nemu was an additional loss, since he�d had to saturate her with the same reiatsu he�d taken from her with Fornicaras� Gabriel.

�Ah, yes, you�re correct. Retiring now would be wise.�

Once more, he felt how surprised she was, which he didn�t quite understand. Was she unaccustomed to acknowledgement of her good advice? Had her father routinely ignored sound counsel? That, to him, seemed the height of foolishness, but if he took the staff�s joy at being able to freely express their opinions, Kurotsuchi Mayuri listened to no one but himself. His daughter had proved a remarkably valuable acquisition. A tiny part of him was irked that his initial impulse had been to kill her along with her father. It was another thing for which he could posthumously thank Ishida Uryuu and that thought brought him right back around to his inability to save such a prize. An unbidden image of not one, but two dark-haired, lithe-bodied pets, limbs spread out on silk sheets, waiting for him felt like lemon juice rubbed into a scrape.

�There�s no use lamenting what�s beyond my grasp and she�s definitely worth what I expended in reiatsu. Perhaps I�ll feel better about things after some sleep.�

He rubbed his face and this time his yawn was unstoppable.

�Is there an acceptable room nearby?� he inquired �Not that I don�t trust my new fraccion, but I�d like to avoid an assassination attempt while I slumber. Temptation removed and all that.�

Nemu nodded towards the door. �This way. Please follow me.�

She led him down yet another hall, this one with a few turns that left his head spinning and his sense of direction askew. Arriving at a nondescript door, she pushed it open to reveal a bed and a table. Like everything else in this place, it was basic, but a quick whiff told him the linens had been freshly laundered.

�I ordered Yamada-san to set this up on his way back from the barracks. It was nothing to get him to bring new bedding from the quartermaster�s stores, along with the blankets. Do you wish me to stand guard, Szayel-sama?�

It had all of the elegance of a broom closet, but it was better than nothing and it would do until he could construct a real suite for himself.

�You aren�t tired, Nemu?�

She lowered her lashes in reply. Her bangs and the two thin tendrils of hair that covered her temples swayed back and forth as she shook her head

�My systems are such that I do not require an eight-hour period of downtime every twenty-four hours. I am capable of staying awake for several days at a time, if necessary. There are three days left before my programming reminds me that I need a systems back-up and a recharge.�

�She truly is extraordinary,� he thought as he looked her up and down. If he wasn�t so ragged, he might have tugged her into the makeshift boudoir with him. His hands remembered her skin�s softness as he�d brought her back from the brink with the Claim and he itched to find out if he�d only been imagining it. It was on the tip of his tongue to order her to show him her circuitry when a message infiltrated his mind, bearing an unexpected and in his case, unwanted demand.

�Damn it all to the deepest Hells��

�Szayel-sama?�

The concern in her voice and which tinted her thoughts was real. He wondered briefly why she would bother worrying about an entity with his power and pushed that aside to figure out what he was going to do about this latest wrinkle.

�My apologies, but Aizen-kami just sent a message. While I cannot argue with the value of his order, I confess that I did not intend to Claim Abarai. Unfortunately, he is Taichou-class and Aizen is aware of his ham-handed capabilities, so there is no getting around this.�

Szayel pinched the bridge of his nose and looked wearily at the bed before indicating that Nemu should close the door. It would be here when he returned.

�He�s more useful to me as a living research subject than a corpse,� he sighed, running his fingers though his pink hair. �Take me to where you�ve stashed him. If I am fortunate, he may still be unconscious. It will make what I have to do less onerous.�

�Someone like Abarai-san may prefer death to a Claim,� she pointed out as she led him away. He wanted to scuff his boot against the floor tiles as he trailed behind her, but doing so wouldn�t solve anything. Neither would petulance.

�Perhaps, but it�s not his decision, and again, I need him alive in order to conduct a thorough investigation of his Bankai. I will not allow something as idiotic and illogical as homophobia to derail it.�

�Do you prefer women then, Szayel-sama?�

There was an edge to her emotions he couldn�t quite define. He had no reason to elaborate on his reluctance, but he did so anyway.

�As a general rule, I have a� type, but yes, I find the female form the more satisfying of the two. I�m aware that most Shinigami view sex quite differently than Hollows do. To most of us, the majority of Claims are not sexual in nature. Claims ensure obedience in otherwise unwilling subordinates. That being said, I find little appeal in males of Abarai�s ilk. If there were a way to Claim him without touching him, I would do so. Sadly, such a method eludes me.�

She stopped before a large set of double doors that he recognized as an elevator and entered yet another series of numbers into the keypad that controlled it. After a trip down three floors and yet another trot down a dim corridor, they entered the security block housing the cells. To Szayel�s disappointment, the redhead was on his feet, hands gripping the bars and teeth bared.

�Let me out of here, you fucker!!� Abarai howled, though he was nowhere near as recovered as his stance suggested. Szayel foresaw a great deal of unavoidable kicking and screaming in his immediate future and hoped that Kurotsuchi�s trove of riches and his delightfully helpful daughter were worth the upcoming unpleasantness.
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Prize of Victory 1.5	By : NovaAlexandria Category: Bleach > General Views: 14934 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach nor profit from my works.

Prize of Victory 1.5