Chapter Text
The world was ending. Hell, it had practically already ended. Much as humanity was trying to stay alive, the invaders’ technology was far beyond them, besting every defense they had. Most major cities were gone, the world’s most major militaries were only just stumbling along with what few resources they had left. Over half of the world’s population was decimated, countless others were enslaved, and those remaining were fleeing from warzone to warzone, desperate for any semblance of peace.
The world was ending, and no one was doing anything about it.
It’s not that there weren’t people trying. Plenty of people were. Hayes wasn’t the only person working on secret weapons, experimenting and torturing his way to a solution. He wasn’t even the only military leader to suggest using a successful bioweapon against their enemy. He’d seen enough communications and complaints to know that people all over the world were having the same ideas as him.
But none of them were able to move forward in any real way. Because the higher levels of command were so concerned about “ethics” and “potential future side effects” that they were blocking any real effort.
Hayes had managed to set off one bioweapon bomb at the last stronghold. It had killed a few thousand Grays. Not bad for an untested weapon.
But it wasn’t enough. One bomb at one fort wasn’t enough to even make a dent in a worldwide force. And if his intel was right, more reinforcements were coming from across the galaxy.
He needed funding to make more bombs. He needed distribution to get those bombs on more planes. He needed more pilots that weren’t so pathetic to fly those planes into the heat of battle.
To get all that, he needed approval. But every time he pushed for it, he was denied.
He growled and crumpled up his latest rejection. At this point, he was certain the only reason he hadn’t been fired was because they literally couldn’t afford to lose him. That didn’t make the stupidity any easier to swallow.
He lit a cigarette and took a long drag of it.
His wife’s voice started up in his head, rambling on about cancer studies and lung disease and dental hygiene and every other reason he should dump the habit. But it meant little without her soft hands to pry the pack out of his and her disapproving glare to make him drop the lighter.
Besides, at this rate, he’d be dead long before the cancer could kill him.
“Good evening.”
Hayes controlled his reaction. He didn’t flinch, he didn’t jump, he didn’t even reach for his gun. He kept his grip on his cigarette and slowly turned his chair toward the unexpected voice.
A man stood just inside the entrance to his office. He wore a suit and strode toward Hayes desk as if he owned the place, as if he had a right to be here. “You’ll have to pardon me; I would have send word ahead but the most reliable communication system broke down last week, and I had a feeling you would prefer to speak in person about this particular matter.
Hayes narrowed his eyes at the intruder and straightened his shoulders. “Who are you?”
“I am Elijah. And I think we can make a deal.”
“A deal, huh?” He took another drag of his cigarette. “Is that name supposed to mean something?”
“To you? Probably not.” Elijah took a seat across from him. “But it will mean something to your superiors, and that’s who’s been giving you trouble, isn’t it?”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Now that he was closer, in the light, Hayes could see him better. He could see the expertly tailored cut of his suit (expensive), and the slight outline of concealed muscles underneath all that fabric.
He could also see the man’s face. And it looked far too familiar for Hayes’ liking. He subtly reached for the gun he kept strapped to the underside of his desk.
“There’s no need for that,” Elijah said. “I have no intention of harming you. I simply wish to talk.”
Hayes withdrew his hand and set it on the desk. “Alright. Talk, then. What do you want?”
Elijah smirked and leaned back in his chair, as if there weren’t a war going on outside these walls, as if they had all the time in the world. “I want you to succeed. My family and I are aware of the efforts you’ve been making to eradicate the invaders and lead humanity to a successful future. We’re also aware of the arbitrary roadblocks that have been put in your way. All the whining about legality and ethics and other such nonsense, stopping you from ending this...extinction. We know. And we want to help.”
“Help how?”
“Funding. Equipment. Distribution. Handling the legal read tape, silencing the detractors, hiring companions for stress relief around the lab – whatever you may require, we can provide.”
Hayes narrowed his eyes. “And in exchange?”
“Would you believe me if I told you my family and I have a vested interest in the continued existence of the human race?”
“Don’t we all?”
Elijah chuckled. “Fair enough I suppose. I will admit it is a bit more… involved than that.” He stood up, and then he was gone. And then he was standing right behind Hayes’ chair.
Hayes’ tensed, nearly crushing his cigarette, and the inhuman creature parading around in human skin continued. “My family and I are vampires. Very old vampires. Naturally, we rely on human blood to sustain ourselves. We’ve been making do with what we have, but your population dwindles by the day.” Elijah began to pace around Hayes’ desk. “So, naturally, we would like for your species to continue. Animal blood is such….” he shuddered, “Well, let me say that our common enemy doesn’t taste much better than the rats. So, we want you to succeed. We want these invaders gone and we want humanity to repopulate so that we may continue living.”
Hayes stubbed his cigarette into his ashtray. “Sounds like a good deal to me. You give me everything I need to eradicate the fuckers, and you get to keep preying on us the old fashioned way. Sounds like a win-win.”
Elijah chuckled and turned those intense, hauntingly familiar eyes back on him. “Oh, no, I’m not done. There’s something else we require from you if you want our help.”
Hayes grit his teeth. Of course it couldn’t be that simple. “That so? What else could you possibly want?”
“Your blood.”
Hayes huffed and wished he still had his cigarette. “Isn’t that why you want to fund my little project? More blood for all?”
“Oh, I’m not referring to all humans. We want your blood, specifically.” He stood directly in front of the desk and played with his cuff links. “You see, I came to you for a reason. You are something of an anomaly In this world. You, are a doppleganger. My doppleganger, specifically. And that is a very strange thing, considering I shouldn’t have any. I want to know more about you. I want your blood, and I want license to run some...tests on you.”
Hayes stared at him, then laughed. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me! No, no way.”
“I assure you I’m not.”
He stood up, leaning forward on his desk to get in Elijah’s face. “Listen, mate, you’ve just admitted to me that you literally need humanity to survive, and you know I’m your best shot at it. I don’t think you get to make extra demands, especially not for me to become your fucking guinea pig. I’ll give you all the bioweapon you want, but you’re not getting any extra favors.”
Elijah hummed. “You seem to have mistaken my preference for your methods for a reliance on them. You have to know that you aren’t the only rogue agent creating weapons that could actually win this war. You aren’t even the only one to successfully create an effective bioweapon. You may be my, as you put it, best shot, but you are far from my only option. But on the other end of things….” He made a sweeping gesture with both hands, “I don’t see people lining up to offer you funding and infrastructure. Quite the opposite, in fact. So, yes, I do believe I am in a position to made additional demands.”
Hayes bit back a growl. “You think I’m just gonna let you-”
Elijah was suddenly in front of him, pushing him backward until he was boxed against the wall. “Do you want to win this war, Wing Commander?”
Hayes grit his teeth and tried not to slouch under his intense gaze.
“If you do, I suggest cooperating. If you want my help, you will agree to this deal. Are you really going to let your pride get in the way of defending your planet, your people?” He leaned in so their noses were almost touching. “Will you let your beloved Katherine be forgotten so easily?”
Hayes growled and pushed him back – or he tried to. Elijah didn’t budge; it was like punching a brick wall.
“Yes or no, Wing Commander?”
Hayes fists clenched at his sides and he nodded. “Fine.”
Elijah smirked. “Excellent.” He stepped back and Hayes could breathe suddenly. “You’ll be getting a call tomorrow. All the arrangements are currently being made. I will return in two days for your first...donation.”
He was gone without another word, as if he’d never been there to begin with.
Hayes grit his teeth and lit another cigarette with a shaking hand.
He didn’t know what Elijah was, or what his endgame was. But he knew he wasn’t human, and that was a dangerous thing.
Elijah would have his blood and his “tests”. But Hayes would get his bioweapon, and he would get his planet back. After that….
Well. There would be time to make plans for that.