Children of War
By: Ghost of the Dawn

Chapter Ten: Hail to the Thief

The lighting voiced its fury all over the darkened countryside. It cracked and screamed and threatened to break the sky in half and spill its contents all over, drenching the planet. But there was no rain as of yet, just continued lightning. It shot across the sky again, momentarily lighting up the shadowed figure as it skulked around outside a large mansion stationed far from the city.

Felicia cursed the weather of this place again as another bolt of lightning revealed her. She always did have to pick the worst nights to go out. She just hoped that whatever the stranger from the other night had sent her for, it was worth it. He had described the entire mansion to her in intricate detail. So much so that it almost seemed like he had lived in that place himself.

She came across the large window behind a group of thick bushes and crawled under the foliage to get to it. Felicia then pulled out a small flashlight and checked the window frame. There was an alarm system all right. But nothing she couldn't handle. Pulling out a simple pocket knife, Felicia fingered the group of wires snaking down to the ground and cut the correct one. The window then slid open with out a sound.

"Piece of cake."

Felicia climbed inside and quietly shut the window behind her. She appeared to be in some spacious study room--the very room she was sent to. She went directly to the large oak desk and studied it. Everything on and around it was in perfect order but something didn't look right. She touched the desk with a gloved hand and inspected the layer of dust that had clung to her fingers.

The whole place looked so nice and well kept but this room appeared to not have been used for years. Why would she be sent to get something from a room no one ever goes in? Whatever the reason, Felicia was more interested in the results of her return than what she was sent to get. She moved her hand beneath the desk and felt for some sort of lever as she had been instructed. There was a click as a small slot beneath the desk suddenly opened, dropping an object onto the floor. Felicia quickly replaced the trap door and picked up the small, black book from the carpet.

She eyed the thing skeptically, wondering what was possibly in this book that was so important. It looked like a diary of some kind with a black leather binding. It too looked like it hadn't been touched in years. Nevertheless, she tucked it into her jacket and was about to leave the way she had come when a sound caught her ear.

It was classical music--the very same kind she had heard in that underground room. Who was playing it? Felicia opened the study door and peeked her head out into the hall. The whole mansion seemed to be finely furnished with red carpet and elegant chandeliers. The hallway looked clean and fresh and used; unlike the study room she was in. Even more curious, Felicia eased her way into the hall and snuck down it, following the sound of the music.

She hadn't gone very far when she happened upon a large portrait hanging on the wall. She couldn't believe who it was a picture of. It was the exact same man she been with the night before. In her surprise, she stumbled backwards and knocked into a small table. The vase on top toppled over and landed with a thud on the soft carpet. Felicia cursed her clumsiness as she hurried to replace it.

"Who's out there?" called a woman's voice.

Felicia spun around to see that she had already been spotted. A tall woman with long brown hair, wearing what looked like a Preventers uniform walked in. Felicia immediately pulled her gun on the witness. The woman froze when she saw the weapon, but didn't look too frightened by it.

"Who are you?" she bravely asked the trespasser. "What is it you want here?"

Felicia was taken a bit off guard by the woman's casualness but kept her wits about her. She took a quick glance up at the painting on the wall.

"Tell me who that is," she demanded of the woman. "Who is that a picture of?"

The woman looked at the portrait on the wall and her expression seemed to soften.

"His name was Trieze Kushrenada. He was a leader of the former OZ and also Romefeller."

"What do you mean 'was'?" Felicia demanded.

Commander Une swallowed a lump in her throat. "He died four years ago in battle."

She was a bit surprised when her little trespasser looked like she was about to have a panic attack at that revelation. What did she want here anyway?

"Well, that's a shame," the young intruder said after she finally found her voice. She didn't sound too remorseful though. "Good night."

Lady Une's eyes went wide when the young girl pulled the trigger of the gun. Her beautiful brown hair shimmered as her body fell lifelessly to the floor. Several hours later, Lady Une woke up and pulled the dart from her arm where it had hit her. The painting was gone.

"Is something bothering you, Quatre?"

Quatre looked up and blinked when he had been addressed. He shook himself from his thoughts, remembering where he was. The blonde young woman sitting across the small table gazed at him with concern.

"You look a bit worried," Relena continued softly. "Is there anything you'd like to talk about?"

Quatre swallowed. He looked down at his full tea cup which hadn't been touched. He looked into Relena's face again. She had a warm, comforting smile for him. An open invitation that he could tell her what was bothering him.

"Well, I--I've got this date in a little while..."

Duo is missing.

Relena's face brightened. "Oh really? Anyone I know?"

Quatre shifted in his chair. "I don't think so. She doesn't live here on Earth. She's just visiting for a while."

I don't know what happened to him.

Relena intertwined her fingers and rested her chin on the back of her hands. She smiled reflectively as she looked at the young man across from her.

"You must really like this girl. I've never seen you so nervous for a date before."

"Um, yeah. I guess," Quatre replied with a shrug and a weak smile.

I never should have let him go by himself.

"What time is this date of yours?" Relena continued to ask.

"I was going to pick her up around noon. We're going out to lunch."

What am I going to tell Candy?

Relena glanced at her watch. "Wow, you should probably get going then. Thank you for stopping by to visit me Quatre."

The taller young man stood. "My pleasure. We must do this again soon."

She's going to be crushed when she finds out Duo might not be coming back for her.

The two said their good-byes and Quatre tromped out of the lavish building to where his car waited. He got into the driver's side and started the engine. Most members of his family used a chauffeur, but Quatre found he rather enjoyed driving himself around. It was a good way to clear one's head. Though this time, a drive through the city would do little to calm the uneasiness in his stomach.

The whereabouts of one Duo Maxwell had been unknown for three days now. After finding Heero, Duo had contacted Quatre, telling him it was a no go for the return of the Wing Gundam pilot. Heero wasn't coming back. But Duo had assured him that he was just about to head to the shuttle that would start a chain of flights eventually leading back to Quatre's colony. That was the last anyone ever heard or seen of the braided young man. He never made it to the next check point and no one knew what had happened to him.

Quatre bit his lip as he neared the address that had been given to him previously. He had a feeling something was wrong. Even Duo knew better than to just disappear like that. He sounded eager and willing to return. The only explanation for his failure to arrive had to be that someone or something had prevented him from doing so.

This left Quatre in a horrible situation. Not only was he wracked with worry for the loss of his friend, but it was now his duty to let Duo's girlfriend know of his disappearance. He wanted to keep the news from her, but Candy did have a right to know.

Quatre pulled up in front of a large house with big, white pillars in the front. He bit his lip as he stepped out of the car and shoved his hands deep in his pockets as he trudged up the sidewalk. One last deep breath was allowed before he rang the doorbell.

"Yes? Can I help you?"

The door swung open and Quatre blinked in surprise at the unfamiliar woman in uniform who had answered the door.

"I--I'm sorry," Quatre stuttered. "Do I have the right house?"

The woman smiled. "You must be Mr. Winner. Please come in. The little Mistress has been expecting you."

Quatre gave the woman--obviously a maid of some sorts--an odd look before stepping into the house. The interior was extremely extravagant. It was almost like a fancy museum. Much different than Quatre had expected.

"Please, come with me," the maid smiled sweetly and led the way through the house.

The tile on the floor was so shiny, Quatre could see his reflection. Piano music wafted up to his ears. The musician sounded out of practice. Many notes were missed and the music sounded half hearted. This was not the way Quatre had been told how one should play music.

The maid opened a sliding door and the music became much clearer. Quatre looked in and saw Candy in the middle of a white carpeted room. She was sitting at a black grand piano and plunking away with a bored expression on her face. The maid was about to announce his arrival but Quatre stopped her and merely walked in unnoticed.

"Very nice," he commented, causing Candy to turn around. "That must be the most interesting version of "Ode to Joy" I've ever heard."

The young redhead laughed. "It was that bad, huh?"

"I take it you don't enjoy playing the piano much."

"Not really," Candy admitted. "My mother always makes me practice when ever I come over. My dad doesn't though. He believes it isn't worth forcing yourself on something you're not passionate about."

Quatre nodded, agreeing with the logic. "Shall we go now?"

"Yeah, but let me serenade you first with the most wonderful, romantic song you've ever heard. You'll be so impressed."

Quatre laughed when Candy played him a nice little version of "Chopsticks". He was about to offer to play something for her when Candy jumped up as if suddenly remembering something important.

"Oh! It's past noon! We should probably go before my mom--"

"CANDY HONEY, I'M HOOOME!"

Candy groaned. "Too late."

"Your mother?" Quatre asked.

Candy nodded with an almost pained expression as a elegantly dressed woman with bright make up and honey colored hair whisked into the room.

"Oh wonderful, I made it just in time to see you off," Candy's mother grinned as she removed her expensive sun glasses.

"Yes, how lovely," Candy lied through her teeth. "How was shopping?"

"It was a trip, darling, I must say. I have to show you all the things I bought. But first, please introduce me. You never told me who this handsome young man is."

Quatre blushed a little under the older woman's approving gaze. At the same time, he idly wondered why Candy hadn't told her mother his name before.

"Mother," Candy was still faking a smile. "This is Quatre Winner. Quatre, my mom; Ms. Van Rensselaer."

"It's a pleasure," Quatre greeted politely.

"THE Quatre Winner?" Candy could almost see her mother's eyes light up with dollar signs as she reached for Quatre's hand. "Please, call me June."

Quatre shook it hesitantly while Candy hid her face with her hands.

"Candy," her mother said, "Why didn't you tell me you were going out with such a handsome young man?"

"Sorry Mom, I didn't think it was a big deal," Candy fumbled. "But we should probably go now. Don't want to be late you know."

Candy's mother let go of Quatre's hand almost reluctantly.

"Alright then, I'll talk to you when you get home tonight."

I'm sure you will, Candy thought to herself. She could already imagine the grueling run down she was going to get when she got home that night. Her mother would be relentless about her relationship with the rich young man from now on.

"Bye Mom," Candy called as she grabbed Quatre's arm and practically dragged him out the door.

She even cut off her own mother's farewell as she shut the door behind them in her haste. She relaxed only slightly after that as they continued together to the car. Quatre was still bewildered with it all. Why was Candy suddenly acting so tense? They got in the car and Candy heaved a big sigh.

"Oh Quatre," she breathed as she covered her face with her hands. "When you go back home, take me with you."

"Why?" Quatre wondered.

She let out a deep breath. "It's my mom. I know, she's my mother and everything. But I just can't stand that woman sometimes. She and I just don't get along much."

Quatre nodded. "I know how that is. My father and I were always disagreeing with everything. But your mother still loves you no matter the differences."

"Quatre, that's not what I meant," Candy argued in an exasperated tone. "I can't stand the way she treats people. It doesn't matter what kind of person you are on the outside, all she and those like her see is how much is in their bank accounts. That's why I didn't tell her your name before. Because I knew as soon as she knew who you were she would start treating you like she did. I'm sorry Quatre. If you want to back out of this right now you can. I wouldn't want to get involved with someone from my family either."

Quatre smiled gently and touched her shoulder, causing Candy to look up at him. "Never," he said quietly. "I'm not interested in anybody else. Where you come from doesn't matter to me; just you."

He was rewarded by a faint, but grateful smile from Candy before he started the car and they drove away.

Sally poked her head into the control room to see Wufei working fervently on the surveillance systems. He had been so quiet for the past few days. Sally worried about him. Ever since that girl Felicia that was staying with her suddenly ran off he had been like this. And it wasn't like him.

At first, Wufei just sat around and brooded. Sally expected that from him. He always had a brooding period before the other shoe dropped--so to speak. Sally half expected Felicia to appear out of the blue and come back to them like she had the first time. But it never happened. So Sally then prepared for the aftermath. Every day, she would sit at her desk, waiting for Wufei to suddenly come barging into her office and rant about all the world's injustices. He would carry on about how he said they never should have trusted Felicia and, in general, complain about every little thing until it was all off his chest.

But that never happened either. And that was what made Sally worried.

Normally, she would have gotten on his case about keeping his anger in when it wasn't heathy until he would explode in her face. Then all would be good afterwards; at least after all the shrapnel had been cleared away. But when Sally looked at Wufei, she couldn't sense any bottled up anger like he usually had. He had become calmer some how. Sally didn't know how else to describe it. The normally uptight young man just let the world pass him by. Nothing got under his skin any more.

A miracle in disguise? Sally wasn't so sure.

She had tried testing him once, just to see if maybe he had become a better actor than before.

"What do you think about Felicia just up and leaving us like that?" she had asked him once.

Wufei's expression didn't even change at the question. "She did what she wanted to do," he had replied, not skipping a beat. And that was the end of that.

The subject was never mentioned again and Sally often wondered why. Wufei was never one to keep a secret of what was bothering him. Usually the whole base was aware of the day's injustice done to him. But not this time.

Sally stepped into the room and took the chair next to the Chinese pilot. She wasn't through prodding him yet and still had one more trick up her sleeve.

"So, how's it going?" she started casually.

"Everything looks clear," Wufei replied, not looking away from his instruments. "Just another uneventful day."

Sally smiled slightly from that.

"You know, Commander Une told me she was robbed last night. But it was the strangest thing."

Wufei finally looked at her and even managed to raise an eyebrow. "Really. What was taken?"

"That's the weird part," Sally continued. "Only one painting was taken. It wasn't even an expensive one. But as far as the Commander knows, nothing else was touched."

"Did she see who did it?"

That was the question Sally had been waiting for. She already had the answer well rehearsed in her head.

She said it was a young woman about your age. Tanned skin, dark hair. Quite possibly goes by the name of Felicia unless she's changed her alias by now.

But when Sally looked into Wufei's dark eyes to reply, the answer never made it to her mouth.

"No, she didn't," she lied.

Wufei gave out a noncommunicable sound and returned his attention back to the control panel. Sally looked down at her hands and wondered just what happened.

"Huh?"

Sally looked up at the sound.

"What is it?"

Wufei was checking the different sensors and scanners rapidly. "For a second I thought I saw something appear on radar." When nothing else showed up he leaned back in his seat. "Probably just a glitch."

Sally merely nodded and stayed quiet.

Quatre gazed over at his companion as she dabbed the side of her mouth with a napkin. They were eating lunch in an outside cafe and the food was wonderful. Quatre found he was enjoying himself very much in Candy's company. Whenever she smiled at him it was always genuine. That was such a rarity these days. Even Quatre's smile that day was not completely heart felt. He still had an issue weighing heavily on his conscience.

"Candy," he said, putting his hand on hers from across the table. That and the seriousness in his eyes caught her attention right away. "There's something I need to tell you."

"What is it?" she asked, looking into his face. She could tell right away that whatever it was, it worried him greatly. And that worried her.

Quatre let out a deep sigh. "I don't know how to tell you this, but Duo is missing. It's my fault. I--"

"Duo?" Candy interrupted, looking a bit confused.

"Yes, from my party? Remember?"

"Oh yes! Duo!" Candy exclaimed as realization suddenly hit her. "The guy with the braid, right." Her expression instantly softened as she patted Quatre's hand. "I'm sorry Quatre. It must be hard for you."

Quatre blinked in surprise that the sudden turn of events. "Hard for me? But--"

He was interrupted as an earth-shattering explosion ripped through the entire block. Quatre instinctly grabbed Candy and threw her to the ground and covered her with his own body. Above them food, tables, even bodies flew around them as the explosion instantly devastated the block. The two teens looked up at the hulking form towering above the buildings. Candy gasped.

"Quatre, what is that?"

The young man's mouth fell open as he recognized the unbelievable sight instantly.

"Come in," Relena called when she heard a knock at her door. She was sitting at her desk, going through the reports over the colony attacks for the umpteenth time when her door opened and a figure stepped in.

"Miss Dorothy," Relena said, a bit surprised.

"Hello again Miss Relena," Dorothy smiled. "I was just in the neighborhood and I thought I'd stop by."

Relena just nodded and said nothing.

"Looking over the colony reports?" the blonde guessed as she glanced at the papers in Relena's hands. "That is so like you. Always working for the benefit of all mankind. But, as always, nothing you do will matter in the end. One woman cannot stop these attacks from continuing. Times are changing Miss Relena, and if you don't change with them, then you'll get left behind."

Relena clenched the papers in her fist but otherwise held her tongue. "Then what do you think I should be doing, Dorothy?" she said evenly.

The taller woman smiled and seated herself on the corner of Relena's desk. "Why, to focus on the big picture, not to concern yourself with these little events you cannot do anything about. It's time to prepare for when the real war breaks out; to be ready to lead the people into a new and brighter age when the war is over. After the people are finally allowed to fight for what they've been hungering for, then you will finally attain your peace, Miss Relena."

"And who told you that?" Relena wanted to know. "You're visionary boyfriend?"

Dorothy shot her a look. "Jason is the only one with any sense out of all you people. If we make it through this war to a brighter future it will only be because of his leadership."

"And where is our great general now then?" Relena asked.

"He," Dorothy sneered. "Is out making a difference--unlike others."

That was it. Relena stood and was about to give Dorothy a piece of her mind when the ground beneath her shook, causing her to instantly forget her retort.

What now? Relena's mind wondered tiredly.

"What on Earth?" Dorothy asked out loud as she wandered towards the large picture window behind Relena.

The ground shook again. Relena turned and joined Dorothy at the window. Outside amongst all the city buildings stood a great hulking shadow whose mere presence caused Relena's blood to run ice cold.

Dorothy gasped and her face went pale.

"No," Relena breathed. "It can't be..."

Wufei jumped to complete attention when the control panel in front of him started going crazy, releasing all sorts of alarms. He immediately started checking into what was going on. Sally was instantly behind him as he brought up the radar.

"What is it?" Sally asked urgently.

"Something just...suddenly appeared inside the city," Wufei fumbled for an explanation. He gazed at the large blip on radar. "Something big."

Sally squinted at the large dot on screen. "Looks almost like a mobile suit. But it's too big to be to be any regular model I know of. What's it doing in the city?"

"Attacking it would be my guess," Wufei replied as he typed furiously at the controls. "I'm going to try and get a satellite image of it."

"And I'm going to get Preventers down there ASAP!" Sally exclaimed as she got on the base com and started ordering her troops.

"Sally, I got it on screen," Wufei announced.

The Major glanced over and the speaker dropped from her hand in surprise. Both of them stared numbly at the site that met them.

"I don't believe it..." Wufei managed to rasp.

Sally shook her head, eyes wide in disbelief.

"...it's..."

"The Deathscythe?" Quatre cried in horror.

Candy clutched his sleeve tighter as the dark, hulking figure moved among the buildings above them. Shrapnel and debris rained over them as the massive mobile suit passed through the city, destroying everything in its wake. Buildings crumbled, almost without effort on the monster's part. It shot off missiles, devastating an even larger part of the city.

From her high story office, Relena watched in frozen terror as the terribly familiar form of the Deathscythe Gundam tromped through the city block, destroying everything in its wake. At its feet, civilians fled for their lives as the metal giant watched them scurry with undead optics.

The dreaded figure turned to the large building at its side. Relena froze in fear as the horrid thing seemed to be looking right in at her.

"Relena! Run!" Dorothy shouted as she grabbed her hand and pulled her to the door.

Relena felt numb and light-headed all at the same time as she blindly let Dorothy yank her down the hall to the stairs. The building rocked under her feet as if it were a giant Jinga tower ready to topple over. But Dorothy stubbornly pushed on until both of them were safely down in the bomb shelter where many of the other building's inhabitants had fled.

Quatre stood tall amidst the panicked crowd and watched with a steeled gaze as the Deathscythe effortlessly totaled another building. That used to be his comrade. He used to fight alongside that machine. Deathscythe's original pilot was his friend. Quatre's eyes widened as a question hit him like a bolt of lightning. What if Deathscythe was still being used by the original pilot?

"Quatre," Candy called before he could start formulating a plan to go after the gundam. "We've got to get out of here!"

The blonde young man gazed up at the familiar mobile suit and then into Candy's terrified eyes. He knew he had to get her to safety before he took any other kind of action. He put his arm around her as another explosion shook the ground.

"Come on," he called above the noise as he pulled her away.

His car was back the other way. He wasn't going to chance going to fetch it. But by some stroke of luck, a taxi drove by just then. Quatre was quick to hail it down.

"Where to?" The driver, a young man with neat brown hair, asked as if it were a regular day.

"Anywhere," Quatre announced as they both practically jumped into the back seat. "Just get us out of here quick!"

"You bet I will," replied the driver as he stepped on the gas.

Quatre gave the back of the driver's head an odd look as they rode away. He didn't look or act like a taxi driver. And the way he had responded, it was almost like he had a plan on where he was going to take them.

But Quatre didn't have time to speculate for long. A thin smoke flowed into the back seat and the two passengers slumped against each other, unconscious. The driver gazed at their lifeless bodies through his rear view mirror and smiled to himself. The plan worked perfectly.

Deathscythe was showing little signs of letting up his attack as Preventers forces flew in with what spare mobile suits they had on hand. The gundanium monster turned when they came up on its radar and it looked as though it would attack. But instead, it did something quite unexpected. With a large burst of smoke, the great war machine vanished, leaving all it had terrorized in chaos and confusion.

After her ordeal with the woman in the mansion, Felicia was perplexed to say the least. It didn't make sense. But then again, Felicia could barely recall the last time her life made sense. There were only two ways to explain what was going on. Either that woman didn't know what she was talking about or, two nights ago, Felicia had played a game of pool with a dead man. Either way didn't sit too well with her. There was only one way to find out for sure.

After stashing her stolen goods, Felicia had returned to the secret hideaway only to find it empty. The small hallway was dank and dusty--not at all like she had remembered it. When she had tried to turn on the lights, most of them didn't work. The other few sputtered to life as if they had been long out of use. Felicia was half expecting this, but it was the sight that was laid out before her that really chilled her to the bone.

The couch, the pool table, the radio--everything was exactly where she remembered it. But it was all covered in several years of dust and cobwebs. She went to the pool rack on the wall to find it in the same condition. But she had held those pool sticks and played at that table. It was as if she had never been there. Her game with the strange man, was it just another dream? By this time, Felicia could never be sure. She left the lonely, dusty room feeling lost and even a bit scared and never planned to return.

Felicia didn't return to the scientists in their great grey building after that. Instead, she headed back to her stolen treasures. She had happened upon a condemned building a few days previous and found one of the rooms there to be perfect as a hideaway of her own. Inside the room were a few pieces of broken furniture she had salvaged from one place or another. Even a desk that was mostly in tact.

That was where Felicia sat as she eyed the black book in front of her warily. Even after she had found out the man she had been working for was a potential ghost, she still hadn't opened it. She hadn't even touched it since she placed it there. Felicia hated to admit it, but she was afraid of it. Afraid to touch it; afraid to find out what was written inside it. What kind of message did this solider want to tell her from beyond the grave?

Her gaze then turned to the portrait of the man she had also swiped from the mansion. She had hung it on a crooked nail sticking out of the wall until she could figure out what to do with it. She had not been told to steal the painting, just the book. Felicia was not a thief by nature--at least not one of gaudy portraits. But some unforseen impulse had insisted she take it and Felicia always obeyed her instincts. Maybe she could make a couple of bucks selling it on the black market.

But as she studied the picture of the supposedly deceased Trieze, Felicia wondered why she had been impressed to take this out of all the other expensive things in the house she could have stolen. And after what she had found out earlier, this portrait was really starting to creep her out. Those eyes. Those piercing blue eyes. They seemed almost alive and constantly looking straight at her.

No, not at her. Lower. Felicia subconsciously followed the gazed downward. It was staring at the book.

"Read it," the painting seemed to tell her. "Read it and find out."

Felicia bit her lip as she looked from the picture to the book and then back at the picture again. She had to admit, her curious side was starting to get the best of her and her fingers were just itching to open it.

Felicia let out a heavy sigh in defeat and slowly reached for the black leather book.

"Okay, Mr. Kushrenada. Let's see what you have to say."