BJBB: VV [Overcard]

BOOK ONE : Once Upon a Time

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◂ PROLOGUE: ALICE AND THE WHITE RABBIT

Winter of year 2296, Case LC-5, Defendant Peter White was charged guilty of murder and sentenced to death. White was the prime suspect of the death of one of the regime’s high-ranking officers, a respectable man who he was serving for over 20 years. Defense Attorney Alicia Viscer was left scarred for not being able to prove her client innocent. She believed in him even until the end, and she learned that rabbit hybrids do not deserve justice in the court’s eyes . . .

Alicia is the youngest of five, born into a loving and wealthy family in New London. Her two elder brothers were successful lawyers just like their father, while her two sisters took after their mother as fashion designers. Being daddy’s little girl, Alicia developed a deep interest in law especially because she grew up believing her father is a superhero who saves the oppressed from injustice. Unfortunately, her father didn’t live to see her graduate law school at the age of 23. He was said to die in an unfortunate “accident” in a place called Pearson City, but the Viscers suspect that it was murder… by the hand of the complainant from his last winning case as a defense attorney. A few months later, a similar fate befell her two brothers when they left to investigate.

The consecutive funerals within the year heavily disheartened the Viscer family, unable to fill the house with the abundant laughter it once had. Though she missed it most, the youngest daughter couldn’t stand to mourn forever. Despite the pleas and fears of her remaining family, Alicia went to Pearson City to expose the truth and bring justice to the criminal who ruined her family.

After months of working as a junior defense attorney while pursuing her investigation, she finally received a case where she encounters the same complainant her father won against. Though she received her first loss in the LC-5 case, she was able to raise several cases against the complainant who happens to be the vice governor of Pearson, the man having very questionable accounts and affiliations. Even if the vice governor stepped down months later, Alicia didn’t feel her work merited enough for two reasons: the criminal isn’t behind bars and it won’t bring her client or her family back.

With all the political scandals she brought to light, she thought it was time for her to go back to London and get away from all the publicity and enemies she made. It was getting too much, the thought of having to always look over her shoulder and the fear of meeting the same end as her father. Unfortunately, her fears aren’t just paranoia. Returning to her lodging, she soon finds that the lights were not working. The first thing that came to her mind was to get out. Before she could reach for the door, a strong tug on her hair was felt and a hand was placed on her mouth before she could scream. Loud shuffling sounded even after she broke free, with a flashlight in hand and a gun on another, she finds a white rabbit before her with a bloody knife and a lying dead body in front of him. When he calmly raised his hands in surrender, he told her his name was Peter White, and he came just in time to rid of her assailant. After staring in confusion, Alicia soon noticed he looked a lot like her client…except he was much, much younger. And when she looked into his eyes that had unusual red pupils, she knew it wasn’t just some uncanny resemblance.

Looking Glass is a special combat and intelligence unit that once served the family of one of the high-ranking officials of the regime until the passing of its last heir; though because of refusing to disband, they were declared an illegal organization. No longer bound by contract, they work independently and dedicated themselves to erasing any corrupt politician and their fellow conspirators. After the LC-5 case, Peter’s son took over the unit as well as his father’s name; and took upon himself to exact revenge. He approached Alicia in hopes of drawing out their common enemy as well as protecting her for what she did for his father.

A year passed, and the death of the ex-vice governor of Pearson spread throughout the world news. With her usefulness spent, Alicia went back home to London after a night of merriment. With that, the farewell party and all the thrilling events which transpired in Pearson City felt nothing more but a dream… even Looking Glass. Though she missed her family, part of her wished she didn’t have to wake up and remember the feelings she had left behind with the white rabbit.

Two months later she filed for an indefinite leave of absence when she realized something was growing inside her.

CHAPTER 0: LITTLE COTTONTAIL

Born in the West End of New London was a small lop eared white rabbit named Calixte. He grew up with his mother, Alicia, who was a well-known defense attorney who had a winning streak of seven years. He was raised to be a sophisticated and clever boy, brought up with a luxurious yet restricted lifestyle. He always believed that his mother always did what was best for him, yet he didn’t understand why he was kept hidden and confined at home. Was it because he had a different set of ears or a fluffy tail that no one else had? His mother never answered whenever he asked. With not a single proof of his birth, no one except the people in the large household knew he existed.

It wasn’t jealousy… but a curious thought, why do other children have a complete set of parents? That was what the small rabbit boy wondered time to time whenever he peeked out from the glass window. What’s a father? Calixte felt that the presence of a man called ‘father’ wasn’t really needed, since he grew up happy and contented without him all these years; and yet he couldn’t help but wonder who or what he is. He was nothing but a stranger who shared the same blood, but it was that very blood that may be the reason why he was born differently from everyone else.

“Why do I have furry, long ears and a tail when no one else does?”

“Where is father?”

“Who am I?”

Because Alicia could feel the unconscious longing in her son’s numerous questions, they took a clandestine cruise to Pearson City.

BOOK TWO: Return to Wonderland

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◂ CHAPTER 1: DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

The seven-year-old boy marveled as he saw with his very own eyes the ocean; it was the happiest smile he ever had after so many years, and Alicia couldn’t help but smile as well when she saw how happy he was. Mixed amongst the passengers were people with rabbit ears, though not entirely similar, they were still furry ears just like his. The thought somehow comforted the youth. As the pair arrived in the private port of Volkov, there Alicia saw a familiar figure waiting as though he had expected them. Noticing his mother’s heavy gaze, Calixte immediately noticed the stranger as well.

“Mother, who’s he?”

“A wonderful man,” his mother could only mutter as she tightly held his tiny hand.

Alicia had a long private talk with the stranger as they entered a large estate which belonged to the sole resident nearest to the port, Volkov, a renowned Russian Shipping Enterprise. As Calixte waited for them to finish, a boy who seemed to be a few years older approached him. The boy introduced himself as Sven Mikhailov, and told him they would stay with them for a while as their esteemed guests. Several days pass as he spent most of his time reading books and talking with Sven; though they mostly stayed indoors, he enjoyed their time together. It was only at the end of the day when he would be able to see his mother, whether at dinner or in their room. Still, she spoke nothing of his father.

Until one day, she promised Calixte that they’ll have dinner with his father that night. And there he saw him, sitting across the table, the man he met back at the port. It was only later that the boy was told he had to live with him, but he didn’t ask why because he remembered the long conversation he had before they had set sail for the city. Even though he was really young, he understood it was dangerous to be seen together with his mother while she worked in Pearsons because of ‘complicated things’ that will be explained when he’s older. And so, Calixte lived with this man named Peter White.

Seven years passed as he resided in Pearson City. Calixte’s life was peaceful and comfortable because he was under the protection and care of Looking Glass, living with them in a large manor provided by their present employer, Volkov. It was located in district A so that they could oversee Volkov’s public port in district S. Though their line of work was a bloodstained one, they were family in the boy’s eyes. There he gained his new uncles and aunts, and grew an endearment particularly with the ‘Mad Hatter’ and ‘White Queen’. The queen was a sweet old lady who fed him with her strange looking yet delicious cakes, and taught him how to wield a gun whenever his father was too preoccupied. Meanwhile, the hatter was a lax man who was not fond of tea parties, constantly questioning the boy’s love for tea and his preference for guns over knives. Though Calixte mostly lived with Looking Glass, he still got to spend a healthy amount of time with his mother whenever she wasn’t handling a case. Aside from occasionally missing each other, they were happy. The only thing they ever disagreed with is the boy’s growing interest with guns.

Things changed suddenly when Volkov went through a devastating attack from an unknown enemy. As their hired guards, Looking Glass went on high alert and worked double time to identify the threat, and eventually terminate it. Because Calixte was never given a chance to help with dangerous tasks, he wasn't allowed to be involved with the investigation and was made to simply assist Sven in whatever he may need in BJBB. Calixte, though glad to be of use, was uncomfortable with the arrangement because he knew BJBB was another extralegal organization with a notorious reputation with humans, which he knew Sven won't ever willingly associate with—unless there was a really good reason. Even if he knew that BJBB’s goals were similar with that of Looking Glass, he never appreciated their crude methods. Despite his trepidations, he continued to assist Sven as a part-time ‘messenger’ of the brigade.

For several months, Calixte persevered with his internship until he received a brief call not to return home. By rushing back to the manor the moment the line was cut, he for the first time went against his father’s wishes. Before he could even reach the outer gates, he was stopped by the Mad Hatter. They had to leave before explanations could be given; the manor was bathed in flames that night.

When they were safe, the hatter told him that Looking Glass was no more. The man could only tell that they were attacked just when Peter was getting close to identifying who the attacker of Volkov was.  A few members were confirmed dead, while the rest are considered missing, including Peter himself. The boy kept silent despite the shocking news, unable to utter a sound from the grief and anger that was building inside of him. When he finally spoke to ask the whereabouts of the White Queen, the hatter merely gave a sad smile. He gave a strong pat to the boy who he knew was crying even if there was not a single sob or tear to be seen. The only comfort that the hatter gave was a promise that he’ll search for his father, and occasionally invite the boy for tea. 

Left with a gilded pocket watch his father gave long ago, Calixte returned to BJBB to accept Sven’s offer on that vacant position in the Brigade Postal Services.