The G-Effect
Quatre was the second to greet the American pilot, with better manners than Heero. "Duo, what a surprise! How is it going?"
Duo settled himself into one of the living room chairs, waiting until all the pilots had gathered to relate his story. The other four listened in shocked silence as he described the G system, gesturing occasionally to the black suit beneath his jacket. There was a touch of guilt in his voice as he told of the accident inside the hangar.
"The whole system...I think we can win the war with this thing."
His statement was followed by more silence as the other pilots sought to fight the hope his words promised. Right now, the G system was just another gimmick, another edge. A trial by fire was the only way any of them would put their faith in it.
Heero was leaning carefully against the wall, his tall frame ever alert. "We've been assigned a mission. A field experiment for the Deathscythe G."
The tension was nearly tangible. They were being ordered to put their lives on the line for something that they had never seen in action, something that Duo himself had said that was hard to control.
Wufei spoke, his words soft. "We must know. We must know if this is what we have been waiting for. The chance to end the killing."
The others nodded their silent assent. Their trial by fire had come.
-----
Heero crouched in the underbrush, studying the layout before him. A field had been filled with inactive mobile dolls, rows of hundreds of soulless killers silvered in the moonlight. The factory was still busy just next them, furnaces heating the alloys to make the near Gundanium skin.
There was a short rustle and Duo appeared from the shadows to join him. The boy was nearly invisible in his black suit; the material seemed to absorb the meager light. Heero didn't even glance at him as the American knelt next to him.
"So, what's the plan?"
"We need a distraction. Problem is, we need it to start from inside the base, in the middle of the dolls."
Duo sat down, crossing his legs. "Why is that a problem?"
"The dolls are programed to shoot anything that moves within them. Human or no."
"Well, then...Let me go."
Heero fixed his companion with a stern glare. "Did you not hear me, Maxwell?"
Duo returned the glare with a vicious smile that surprised Heero. "They will not sense the Deathscythe, Heero. You have my word."
The vehement words convinced the Wing pilot. He nodded quickly, watching as the other pilot dashed off through the trees. A few minutes later he heard the great crashing of the Deathscythe as it moved through the forest towards its destination.
"C'mon, Yuy. Here's your chance."
Heero followed the path Duo had taken and met his fellow pilots in the clearing. Quatre was staring after the long gone Deathscythe, puzzlement pulling his features into a frown. Duo obviously chose not to inform his friends of his escapade but no matter.
"Let's go. Duo is giving us the time we need. The mission is on."
-----
Duo took the Deathscythe up to the edge of the dolls, holographic scythe at his side. This was it. His chance to prove himself and his Gundam.
He looked up into the projection of the night sky, tensing to jump. He launched the Gundam upward and out over the lines of mobile suits, using his jets to land himself gently in the center. With his EM cloaking, the dolls hadn't stirred in the least. Well, until now.
With a push of his thumb, he activated the scythe, bringing it in a deep arc across the dolls in front of him. The thermal scythe slagged the metal armor, fusing circuitry and igniting the fuel. Three dolls exploded, each taking out a couple more with flaming wreckage.
The field burst into a flurry of artificial life, mobile dolls turning on the threat in their midst. Duo's holos filled with a hundred green lights, each another doll. He whooped as he cut and sliced his way across the field, his grin broadening with each light that was extinguished.
The cockpit lurched as a lucky shot hit the Gundam, sending Duo and the Deathscythe to their knees. Duo groaned in pain and turned quickly, Vulcans making short work of the mobile suit. His shoulders burning, he fought until he lost sense of himself, letting the machine take over.
There was no fear as the Gundam dove left and right, inhumanly quick. Duo's movements were precise and fluid, never missing a stroke as he destroyed every one of the mobile dolls, leaving nothing that even resembled a once working machine in his wake.
Something began to pull at Duo, to bring him out of the zone he had found within the dark abyss of the G system. Fear. He was afraid. He could feel himself longing to be one with the Deathscythe, to never return to the real world ever again, but somewhere deep in his soul, he knew that it was wrong for him to do so.
He was afraid of losing himself to the machine.
With a savage cry, he pulled himself to full consciousness, throwing the scythe from his hand, the silver staff disappearing into the darkness beyond his sphere. The world outside was still, with nothing but the sounds of fire drifting through his speakers. He had reduced the entire fleet of dolls to nothing but scrap...and he couldn't remember doing it.
He turned as a blue light appeared on a corner screen. The Wing.
"Heero!"
A small display formed to Duo's left, showing the interior of Heero's cockpit. Heero was staring at his American companion curiously, his blue eyes meeting violet. "Ninmu kanryou, Maxwell. Let's go home."
Duo sighed in relief, glad that the fighting was over. He wouldn't have to use the Deathscythe again.
Yet, some part of him craved the G system, was hooked on the adrenaline it sent rushing through his body and the power it gave him. He wanted to use the system...
With a shake of his head, Duo pushed away the thoughts. He didn't want to think about what the G system may be doing to him...to his body and mind. But if this is what it took to win the war then he would do it...to save a few more innocents from his fate.
-----
Quatre was concerned with Duo's behavior since returning from the mission. The usually energetic boy was subdued and, of all things, almost thoughtful. He retired to his room immediately, almost fleeing from the hangar.
As the American had pushed past him, Quatre felt the passing edges of uncontrollable terror. The impression was so brief that he was almost sure he had imagined it. Still...
Duo sighed with relief as he locked the door to his bedroom. He slid down the wood, landing hard on the floor. He couldn't really feel the pain as his butt connected.
What is happening to me?
The American had been fighting a panic attack, fighting the urge to throw himself from the Deathscythe cockpit and never go back. He also felt like continuing the fight, even if it meant attacking his own friends. Anything to bring back the freedom...the rush...
"Christ! You sound like a fucking junky looking for a fix!" He got up and crossed to his dresser, gripping the edges like they were his only anchor to sanity. A glance into the mirror was all it took to send him over the edge.
The suit...that damned black shroud that was his link to his own little private hell. It covered every inch of his body excluding his face but he looked almost cadaverous with his pale complexion. He wanted to get rid of it...now.
He reached up to the earpiece he had forgotten to remove. With some gentle manipulation, he tuned into the frequency that got him a direct line to Dr. G.
"G here."
"Yeah, nice to hear ya, Doc. I want it off. Now."
The line was silent for a second but Duo was sure that he could hear G whispering to someone in the background. "Well, this is sooner than expected but still...leave the Gundam where it is. Bring just the bike and yourself. We'll see what we can do. G out."
Sudden rage built within Duo as the line went dead. Sooner than expected? What the fuck did that mean? What was G hiding?
Duo fought to keep his emotions in check. A quiet part of his mind began chanting worriedly, this isn't right...just isn't right...
After a few moments of forcing himself to breath slowly, Duo opened the door to find a concerned Quatre standing in the hall.
Can't let them know anything is wrong...least of all Quatre...
Duo gave a dazzling smile, pushing himself to return to some semblance of normal. "Wassup, Q-man?"
The pretense seemed to work as Quatre smiled back and the worry disappeared from the pale blue eyes. "Daijoubu ka, Duo?"
"Hai, just a little worn out I guess. Not used to the system yet. I'm going to get a check up with G right now in fact."
"That'll have to wait. We have another mission."
Duo groaned as Heero stopped next to Quatre. The Japanese soldier was serious as ever, his face frozen in what Duo had come to know as "ninmu ryoukai" mode. Must be important to assign a new mission without any down time. One of the other doctors must have been unwilling to pass up a chance to strike at OZ.
Sighing dramatically, Duo bowed, indicating for Heero to lead the way. "No rest for the wicked. Let's go."
-----
End Part Four
On to Part Five
**Bwahahaha!! Another part bites the dust! As usual, arigatou to Chibi Shinigami and her death by exclamation point!! And thanks to Turkey Day for giving me the chance to get this crap written!**
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