NOTES: Ok, let the action slowly begin: WeiB and the three Gundam Pilots start making plans, while Schulrig gets revenge, and Quatre uses some of his powers with dire consequences…(pg-13 for violence and blood) some OOC on Quatre and Heero (though Heero not that much).
THE
TARGETS
PART
X
"You
are absolutely not leaving me behind!"
That
was the angry wail of Duo once Aya, Trowa, and Wufei had announced that he
wasn't going to accompany them on their rescuing mission.
"You
are injured." Ken told the wounded boy, trying his best to calm the braided
pilot.
"I
have had worse injuries and still gone on to fight! You have no right!" Yelled Duo, yanking his arm away from Omi who had tried to restrain him.
Wufei
glared at the American. "Maxwell, you
will only be jeopardizing the mission." He said bluntly.
Duo
focused all his frustration and anger on the Chinese boy. "Since when have I ever jeopardized a
mission, Chang?!" He spat. "I always came through no matter what the
injuries. No matter how many times OZ
beat the shit out of me, I still came through! I came through for you, I came through for the Colonies, I came through
for Earth, and dammit all I will come through for Heero and Quatre!"
Yoji
scratched his head, commenting to a concerned Ken, "Sheesh. These kids need a smoke more than Aya!" The tall blond shut his mouth when he
received twin violet glares. One from a
certain red head, the other from an enraged God of Death.
Omi,
seeing the determination in Duo's eyes, looked to Trowa and Aya. "What if he accompanies me? I'm not going to be going near any close
range action."
Trowa
seemed to consider this, but Aya said, "No."
Duo
surged forward, causing both Ken and Omi to gasp and pull the boy down before
he opened more of his wounds. "Listen
you red-haired Heero 'I am the boss of everything and everyone' wanna-be, you
have no right to order me around! I'll
go with the kid if it makes you all feel better," He ignored Omi's heated look at being called 'kid'. "But like it or not, Red, I'm coming."
"Calm
down, Duo." Said Trowa. "Its true, we had no right to make the
decision. You are capable injured or
not like the rest of us."
Duo
relaxed.
"But you have to stay away from the fighting. You are no use to us dead, and I for one do not want to return home to tell Hilde that you threw away your life."
Duo
hissed, "If it's trying to save my friends then its not throwing away my
life." He looked at Wufei who was still
scowling, unconvinced. "Hell, Wufei,
you'd be putting more of a fight than me if you were the one hurt! And you know
I'm telling you the truth."
Yoji,
dropped his cigarette into a cup and looked at Aya. "Well, Aya. He's got me
convinced. What about you?"
Aya
looked away, his silent agreement to the majority.
Duo
smiled smugly, Icy bastard. Can't wait to see Heero and him enter a
glaring contest.
There was a knock on the door, and everyone tensed, prepared for attack. Aya nodded to Omi who went to the door and cracked it open.
"Manx!"
It
was the red haired Kritiker agent. "Omi." She smiled in greeting
and entered, her sharp green eyes immediately assessing the scene. After a moment she nodded her head and held
out a folder to Aya who took it.
Aya
looked at it, with Trowa at his side. "Its Swartz current hideout." He
said.
Manx
nodded and smiled. "I believe all…seven
of you are in?"
"Eight,
Lady." Said Duo. "I'm going."
Manx
nodded accepting Duo's words immediately, as if it was expected. "I would advise you all do your homework now
and get ready as soon as possible. The
longer those two are with Swartz, the more chance Swartz will get what they
want."
"Woman," Said Wufei suddenly. He wasn't looking at Manx, when he said,
"Why do these men want Quatre. We
understand that they want Heero because Quatre has these…powers that won't
allow them to get the information they want on the Zero System. But what do they want with Quatre's
powers?"
Manx
smirked and went up to the Chinese boy, coming to stand right before him,
something twinkling in her emerald eyes. "Swartz is a terrorist organization that intends to send the whole world
into chaos. Each member has special
powers that they were born with." Aya
handed her the folder, and from it Manx pulled out four photos. "Brad Crawford is the leader. He can see the future."
Wufei
met her gaze in for the first time in shock. "A seer?"
She
nodded. "Schulrig is a telepath, and
mind reader and manipulator. He can
sometimes, depending on a persons will, control their minds for a short time."
Trowa's
one visible eye narrowed. "That was how
he was able to dodge our attacks. He
read our minds."
Wufei's
face darkened. "That is dishonorable."
Manx
seemed amused by the comment and continued, "Farefello…he is an expert in
fighting, and is immune to pain yet a master in causing pain." She glanced at Duo who was pale and looking
down at his hands, his violet eyes haunted. "He has a thing for going after anyone affiliated to a church in
anyway."
"Psychotic
bastard." Hissed Duo.
Ken
and Omi nodded, both having seen Farefello's handiwork close and personal.
"Finally,
Nagi Naoe. He is the youngest but the
one with most of the power. He is almost untouchable unless he is caught
completely off guard and knocked out immediately. He is a telekinetic." She
looked at Trowa. "I believe that you
felt his power?"
Trowa
nodded, green eye glittering dangerously, his thin lips in a straight pale
line.
Manx
turned back to Wufei, leaning close and smirking at the immediate blush that
came to Wufei's cheeks. "Beside the
mission, I heard that you believe woman are inferior…"
Wufei
let out a small cry and she moved even closer and scrambled away from the lady
in red. "W…woman! I am engaged!" He shouted.
This
caught all of the occupant's attention.
"Engaged?"
"But…he's
just a…"
"Wu-man
you lucky dog!"
"…"
"Congratulations
Wufei. Give Sally Poe my good wishes
when we get back."
"Are
you crazy!!!"
Wufei,
completely red stared wide-eyed at Yoji, the tall blond man almost livid. "You…you're a kid! When are you going to enjoy yourself? How many women have you been with? Do even know what commitment is?!"
Wufei
stiffened and said coldly, "She will be my second wife."
If
it were humanly possible, Yoji's jaw would have touched the ground. Omi covered his mouth to hold in a chuckle,
Ken blushed and stared in awe at Wufei, Manx continued to smirk, Trowa watched
with a small smile on his face, and Aya remained impassive.
Yoji
blinked and drew back. "Okaaaaay. So…what happened to your first wife. Did she divorce you?"
Wufei
turned away and stalked, stiff back toward the door of the trailer. "I refuse to be subjected to
this…this…babble! I will go outside and
meditate on the oncoming mission." When
he slammed the door, all the windows shook with the force of it.
"Touchy." Said Yoji.
Trowa
sighed. "He has every right."
"Oh?"
"His
wife was killed in the war."
The
silence was deafening, the light mood gone leaving every single person with
thoughts of lost ones and those who had been hurt.
Aya then spoke, his voice seeming to echo in the silence. "Let's get ready."
Schulrig
looked down with hooded eyelids, cleaning his hands with a white cloth then
throwing it over his shoulder carelessly.
The
cloth was smeared with blood.
"Stoppit! Enough!"
Schulrig
didn't even look back as he went to his knees, looming over his captive. "You hear that? Your little friend wants me to stop." He reached down and dug his hand into the dark thatch of brown
hair, yanking the bloodied face up. "So, little shit, should I stop?"
Cobalt
eyes opened to a slit, still glittering with murderous fury.
Schulrig
laughed. "I believe that is
impossible. You can't kill me three
times. You'll have to be content with
choosing one method of murder, brat."
"Schulrig…"
The
orange haired German looked back at Crawford's annoyed face. "Stop playing and get the information. I want him gone."
Schulrig's
grin was absolutely without mirth when he said, "Oh…we've only just
begun…" He looked back at Heero and
yanked harder at the boy's hair. "We're
far from over…"
Quatre,
who had remained tied to the chair the whole time yanked harshly at the ropes
that held him, his wrists were already raw, torn and bleeding. When Schulrig had awoken after only two
hours of rest, the man wasted no time in launching himself on Heero. He beat Heero while he was still chained,
and when sure that Heero was too disoriented to fight back, unchained him and
kicked the boy, unfazed at the sickening sounds of boned cracking and breaking.
Nagi
suddenly said coldly, "Your fun will only end once he's dead."
Schulrig
smashed Heero's head on the floor, and Quatre looked away as more blood stained
the floor. "I don't have to stop having
fun once he's dead, Nagi." Schulrig
stood and with a snigger he pushed Heero over onto his back and placed his
shoed foot onto Heero's throat pressing down. Heero's eyes flew open and his scrapped and bruised hand raised and
clutched at the foot, weakly trying to remove it. Schulrig smirked as he read the pain and anger that came from
Heero's mind. "Yes…even dead I can
still continue my fun. Do you think
Farefello will consider cannibalism?"
"NO!" Shouted Quatre in panic. He knew that Schulrig actually meant every
word.
Nagi
made a face. "You're sick!"
Crawford
snapped irritable. "Just get the
information before you knock him so
hard that he forgets it!"
Schulrig
shrugged and removed his foot and leaned down, and grabbed Heero's face
roughly. He frowned in concentration as
he started the delicate process of getting through Heero's mental guards,
taking getting ready to take pleasure as he contaminated every hope and dream…
Peace…
Relena…
Family…
Friends…
Home…
Every
fear and nightmare….
War…
Death…
Gundams…
Zero System…
Blood…
Schulrig
was jittery in excitement. Heero's
emotions were just as delicious as Omi's had been…this was going to be
exhilarating…
Quatre
gasped as he sensed Schulrig start intensifying his powers. Heero's eyes had immediately snapped wide,
his pupils dilated till hardly any blue showed, his mouth open wide as if to
scream yet nothing coming out.
Quatre
knew…
He
knew all too well what Schulrig was doing…
Schulrig
was raping Heero's mind.
Quatre
shut his eyes and focused all his thoughts on Schulrig, nearly recoiling at the
maddening anger and hatred that he felt when he did so. He had to stop this from continuing…
Nagi
noticed Quatre first, not enjoying the sight of a boy he had considered quite
strong for a normal boy being pounded into nothingness. "Wha…"
He
never got a chance to voice his curiosity as he was nearly knocked over by a
wave of pain. He gasped and stumbled,
bringing up his barriers to block out the immense power that was coming out of
Quatre like a hurricane.
Schulrig
screamed and staggered to the ground rolling around and clawing at his chest,
as if trying to pull something off him.
Heero
crumbled to the floor unconscious, his features relaxed and free of pain.
From
within the punishment room, Farefello's maniacal laughter could be heard.
Then
it was gone.
Schulrig
lay on the ground, a trembling mass of agony that was gone but still throbbed
in its memory.
Nagi
clutched his head, a headache forming.
Crawford,
whose shields and barriers had been impenetrable the whole time, strode over to
a gasping and slightly shivering Quatre, and struck him.
When
he hit him again, his hand was bloody.
Schulrig
let out a hoarse moan.
Crawford grabbed Quatre's bloody chin and
raised it, looking down coldly at the youth. "You've just earned yourself some punishment, Quatre. You should have let Schulrig do his job and
spared yourself the pain."
And
Quatre did something he never expected he'd ever do to anyone.
He
spat in Crawford's face. "Go to
Hell." He whispered.
Crawford
calmly drew back, removing his glasses and cleaning them with a cloth he pulled
out of his pocket, then wiping the bloody spittle from his face. His features still calm and cold as marble,
he took hold of the back of Quatre's neck with one hand and untied him with the
other. He pulled Quatre off the chair
and threw him to the ground.
When
Quatre started to get up, Crawford brought his foot down on Quatre's back
savagely. Quatre cried out in spite of
himself.
"Crawford…" Started Nagi, afraid that like Schulrig,
Crawford had lost his temper and was going to kill the boy.
Crawford
said, "Nagi, go untie Farefello and hold the door open."
Nagi
immediately obeyed, knowing well that even if Crawford didn't show it, the man
was deadly mad and wanting someone to suffer.
Quatre
heard this and gasped, "No…"
Crawford
kicked him in the ribs, not hard enough to break something but hard enough to
make Quatre bite his tongue. Once Nagi
reappeared holding the door open, Crawford reached down and hauled Quatre by
the blouse he wore.
Quatre
fought back, trying to elbow the man but was blocked. Then he aimed a back kick at the kneecap but was also
blocked. Crawford pushed Quatre forward
again and let go, sending the boy sprawling in front of the punishment room.
"You
could make this easier for both you and
your friend, Quatre." Crawford suddenly
said, his voice almost gentle and sympathetic.
Quatre
shuddered and looked up at his tormentor.
"Save
your friend, Quatre. He's already gone
through so much pain already. Save
yourself from what awaits you in that room with Farefello. Simply tell us about the Zero System. Don't hold back anything and we will let
Heero go free."
Something
flashed in Quatre's teal colored eyes. Those eyes that were usually gentle and filled with emotion turned hard
and just as cold as Crawford's. Cut
lips stretched into a cold malicious smile, and Quatre spoke, his voice hard
yet tired at the same time, "You would have me betray the world to save my
friend…"
Those
eyes closed and his thin shoulders began to shake in silent laughter. "Crawford…you are a fool."
Nagi
shivered, remembering Crawford telling him that once, Quatre had gone crazy due
to the Zero System and had gone out and killed. Could this be what remained of the boy who had done that
deed…could that person still exist…?
Crawford
also looked shocked at this reaction, but then composed himself. "He will die."
Quatre's
eyes opened, now back to normal, his eyes sorrowful as they strayed over to his
fallen comrade. "He'd never forgive me
if I did." He paused, "I'd never
forgive myself."
Crawford
snagged Quatre's arm and yanked him viciously to his feet then sent him
stumbling into the punishment room, only to be caught by Farefello's pale arms.
"The
little Dark Angel hasn't been behaving," Chanted the madman in a sing song
voice. "Perhaps the Dark Angel needs to
scream a bit…"
Crawford
grabbed Nagi and slammed the door, shutting away the scene.
Nagi
looked up at the man and asked, "What…"
Crawford
frowned. "I don't know."
"Could
it be the Zero System?" Asked the boy.
Crawford's
frown deepened, then he looked at the broken body of Heero Yuy. "It seems the system is more complicated
than anyone imagined."
Nagi
fell silent, he too looked at Heero then at the still moaning Schulrig who had
been completely ignored. A thought
suddenly accrued to him. "What did he
do to Schulrig? It was so strong that
it nearly knocked me down and it wasn't even aimed at me!"
Crawford
pushed his glasses up with a finger and said stiffly, "He channeled all the pain
that his friend had ever felt, combined it with his own and I believe pain from
your past, since your shields were down, and shoved them into Schulrig's body."
Nagi's
eyes widened. "You mean…"
"Every
pain that you, him, and his friend had ever felt was directed onto Schulrig."
"But…
"It
was real. Schulrig would have died in
less than a minute had the boy not pulled it back completely when he did."
There
was a silence, and Nagi went over to Schulrig with Crawford. Both started to lift the traumatized man
when they paused to listen…
Quatre
was screaming.
TO
BE CONTINUED…I am evil!
