Children of War
By: Ghost of the Dawn
Chapter Fourteen: Prisons Without Walls
Relena sat still in the back of her limo as she watched trees and buildings rush by her. It had taken her a while to recover from her previous ordeal. The scene still haunted her at times. Gazing at the dreaded Deathscythe right in the optics. To see something she once thought of as good--only to feel fear like she had never known in its presence now. It had frightened and confused her--threw her into a state of emotional unbalance. But she was done crying now. And she was done being afraid. She was done feeling sorry for herself and her loneliness.
Now wasn't the time to curl up in the corner and wilt. Now was the time to be strong. There were stronger people in her life which Relena wished could be with her, but she couldn't count on them. No, the people needed her now. They needed someone strong who cared about them. Not someone who had to wait for help from others. For her people, Relena was now ready to be what they needed and she was prepared to do everything in her power for them until her dying breath.
The limo stopped outside a large mansion and Pagan, Relena's trusted servant and advisor stepped out of the front seat and opened the door for her. Relena stepped out and gazed at the large estate. It had once been the home of Trieze Kushrenada--now deceased and now owned by Commander Une as was left to her upon his death. Relena slowly walked up the stone pathway to the door and rang the bell. This was the first time she had ever been on the property of the former leader of OZ--let alone inside.
"Ah, Miss Relena." The gentle, gracious form of Lady Une--now commander of the Preventers-- appeared in the doorway. "You're right on time. Please, come in."
"Commander Une," Relena greeted. "It's good to see you again."
She nodded and lead the way through the house. The place was nicely furnished with red carpet on the floors, silk draperies at the windows, and precious and expensive paintings hanging tastefully here and there. Truly the dwelling of one who had an appreciation and a taste of fine art.
Relena was led into a smaller meeting room where she was offered a seat and a cup of tea.
"Now," Commander Une started as she herself took a seat. "Let us discuss this plan a bit more. I think we may just be able to pull this off."
Relena nodded. She would give everything in her power to prevent this war from breaking out. And the two of them had conceived an idea which just might work.
Wufei sat up in bed when he noticed the curvaceous silhouette standing in the bedroom doorway. The light was coming from behind the figure, and yet, it seemed to shine on her deep, sensual eyes as well.
"Wufei..." the figure breathed his name in such a way that it aroused emotions inside him he never thought he even had.
"...Felicia?" he wondered to the figure.
She was seductively attired in the black, silk teddy whose length hardy reached down to the beginning of her long, taunt thighs. One of the straps slipped off her shoulder as she tossed her hair and sensually strolled over to his bed.
Wufei could hardly move at this point as the exotic apparition wasted no time in climbing over him and straddling his waist. Felicia's mouth was instantly attacking his as she pressed her body needfully against him. Wufei's blood was on fire as his body automatically responded to her lustful actions while her fevered hands hurried to removed his shirt...
Wufei sat up in bed. It was light outside and he was alone in his room. Or...wait, this wasn't his room. Where was he? Oh yes. This was Sally's house. Now was the second day since Felicia had magically appeared on Sally's doorstep. Even more amazing, with the missing Duo Maxwell in her stead. Both had been in terrible condition when they arrived and neither had yet been well enough for full questioning of either Preventers.
Duo, who was still trying to recover his voice, did not sleep as much as Sally's other guest. Supposedly, he had done enough sleeping where ever he had come from. The day after he arrived, Duo merely ate and rested, ate and rested. He wasn't tired, but lacked strength and a voice and so wasn't at his best for giving out information yet.
As for Felicia, she had only been up once or twice that day before retiring back to her room to sleep some more. Wufei hadn't even seen her since that first night when Sally had called him over. He hadn't stayed over that night, but did the next, knowing this for sure would be the day both Sally's patients would be well enough to give comment on what had happened to them as of lately.
And speaking of Felicia, what the hell was she doing in his dreams? Of all the things to dream about, why THAT? Ugh, disgusting! Didn't his stupid subconscious know that he had better things to think about than merely succumbing to frivolous teenage hormones? Stupid body! Stupid dreams!
Wufei was not a happy camper as he got out of bed.
Sally was found in the kitchen diligently cooking pancakes for all her guests when Wufei's sulking countenance slunk in.
"Morning Wufei," Sally greeted calm and pleasant. "Did you sleep well?"
On that question, the young man just gave her a sour look, causing Sally to almost regret ever inviting him over in the first place. But at the same time, she could hardly blame him. Wufei seemed to always have a tough time when it came to issues that started to become personal in any way. She wasn't sure why or how he had come to be this way. It was almost as if his ability to act human had been programed out of him. In the few years she had gotten to know the angry young man, Sally had tried to help him rediscover what he seemed to be missing. But the going was slow and Wufei obviously hadn't progressed that much.
Without a word, Wufei took a seat at the table merely to wait until the food was ready. Sally poured another pancake onto the hot pan before removing the pitcher from the coffee maker to offer Wufei some. She was halfway to him when none other than Felicia came stumbling into the room. Both of the kitchen's occupants stopped and stared as she entered.
The dark haired young woman was quite a site to behold. She approached in almost a zombie-like fashion and looked startlingly similar to the part. Dark bags stubbornly clung beneath red, bloodshot eyes. Her clothes were dirty and rumpled, her face colorless and pasty, and her hair looked like it had been chewed on and slept in. To put it plainly, she looked like hell warmed over.
Wufei blinked at her, subconsciously comparing this site to the vision of his dream. What was his twisted, traitorous mind thinking?! What kind of unspeakable creation had just walked into Sally's kitchen?
"Felicia," Sally greeted kindly. "It's nice to see you up and around."
Felicia did not reply, nor acknowledge Wufei's presence in any way as she trudged right up to the preventer's major and glared at her with half dead eyes.
"Just give me the damn coffee," her grating voice demanded flatly.
If Sally had been in one of those silly Japanese animated shows, Wufei thought, she would have had one of those big sweat drops hanging off the side of her head right now. But of course she wasn't; so she didn't. But she did manage to bite back any retort as she fetched the younger woman a mug and poured her some of the hot liquid. She quietly hoped Felicia would be more civil after she had her damn coffee.
Having other plans than Sally, Felicia didn't even bother to stay at the table and opted to take her mug with her back to bed. She almost made it out of the kitchen, when she was met with a larger body frame suddenly blocking her way. Not being awake enough to have the right sense to avoid the collision, Felicia ran right into none other than Duo Maxwell. Thus resulting in a coffee mug falling on the floor.
The mug was plastic, so it didn't break. It merely bounced twice and then clattered to a stop near Felicia's bare foot. So that wasn't the big tragedy. No, the worst part of the situation was that all that wonderful caffeine had been wasted on the floor who couldn't even enjoy it properly.
"Sorry," Duo croaked. His voice, for the most part was back now; but just a little bit scratchy still.
It was hard to tell if Felicia even heard the quiet apology. She was too busy staring forlornly at the blackish brown puddle on the floor. She gave a small whimper. Duo blinked at her. For a moment she almost looked like she was going to fall to her knees and drink it up off the floor. Or she at least looked like she was considering it.
"It's okay, I can make more," Sally assured them all as if it were some kind of group crisis. "Here." She placed a wet rag in Felicia's hand and the bedraggled girl automatically dropped to her knees and started cleaning.
Wufei rolled his eyes away from the pathetic sight. She looked like some homeless little urchin cleaning a taskmaster's floor or something. Didn't she have more pride than that? Surely, HE would never be caught dead doing something so degrading. He sipped his coffee slowly as Duo left the young woman mopping on the floor to get himself a mug of coffee. It seemed even Maxwell had a limit to the lows he would sink.
But Wufei, it soon seemed, may have thought wrong. Felicia looked up when Duo approached her again and knelt down beside her. The coffee soaked rag was taken from her hand and replaced with a warm mug. Felicia blinked at him. The actions of this stranger had been so unexpected, she didn't know what to do. Duo just smiled. From what he understood, she was the one responsible for his rescue. The redeeming angel that had swooped down out of nowhere and pulled him from that hell of a laboratory. What he was doing now was hardly payment for what had been given him.
The corner of Felicia's mouth curved a bit. His smile made him look so young. It was almost charming; even though he still looked a bit sickly. His voice was still probably gone as well which was why he was offering no verbal explanation for his actions. Slowly, Felicia rose to her feet with her precious coffee in hand. She glanced back at the braided pilot in confusion as she retreated back to her room.
Wufei looked on at the whole thing with distaste. What did that stupid Maxwell think he was doing? Wufei was taken even more aback when, after finishing his mopping, Duo stood up and then stuck out his tongue at the Chinese pilot. As if he had just one-upped Wufei on something. The young Preventer merely looked away, indignant as ever; unaware at the amused look Sally had behind his back. Wufei better enjoy the quiet taunting while he could. As soon as Duo had his voice back, she knew, he would be merciless.
The sky was so blue today. Of course, it was always more blue than the sky on Quatre's colony. At least what passed as a sky. Still, even for the beautiful Earth, the sky was brilliant that day. And the breeze; it felt so nice. So fresh and consoling. It made his blonde hair dance and his spirits lift. Quatre felt like he could just lay there among the wild, tall grass forever and just feel all of life dancing with the gentle wind.
He sure needed time like this to himself after what he had recently been through. The thought of the capture made Quatre's eyebrows furrow as several issues about it nagged at him. Just what was that place anyway? Who was behind it and why had he been kidnaped and brought there? What did they want from him? He was never interrogated. Never asked for information or about his past. It was as if...as if they already knew it all. So did they just abduct him so they could watch him be tortured by the things he still could not forgive himself of? What would they gain from wasting all the time and effort for that? It just didn't make sense.
"Hi!"
A smiling face loomed over him, blocking Quatre's view of the sky and marring his thoughts.
"I finally found you, Quatre," Candy smiled, sitting beside where he lay. "I guess that means you're feeling better, huh?"
At the mention of getting better, Quatre felt a prick in his heart. Three years didn't make it better. Nothing ever really would. Nevertheless, he forced a smile as he sat up.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Candy was quick to apologize when she noticed his change in expression. "Did you want to be alone? I didn't mean to bother you."
"No, it's fine," Quatre assured her. "I don't mind your company at all."
This time, he was sincere. Though he may have automatically replied at first simply not to hurt her feelings, Quatre realized it was true. She radiated a presence that was calm and light and comforting. Simply by her being near him, Quatre couldn't help but feel better for some reason. That, somehow, it all may turn out all right.
"Candy," Quatre then suddenly asked. "What are you wearing?"
The young woman's cheeks suddenly grew red.
"Um, they're Cathrine's," she explained self-consciously. "They were the only things of hers that fit."
Candy couldn't stop the pink hue blooming on her cheeks. She wasn't used to wearing like what she was wearing now. Her blue shirt only had spaghetti straps holding them up and the shorts were almost too short for her comfort and she tugged at the hem self-consciously.
Luckily for her, Quatre just nodded and accepted the answer. She was glad he didn't sit and stare or start to act funny like she would have expected most boys to do. In fact, she felt very comfortable as he turned away to gaze back up at the sky and the light, long clouds that migrated slowly through it. There were a vew dark ones near the mountains. He idly wondered if they were heading his way.
Candy silently watched him and his blonde bangs still blowing softly.
"Were you thinking of what happened the other night?" she then asked.
Quatre looked down at the waving grass.
"Yes," he replied truthfully.
"Are you worried?"
"No." And he wasn't. "Just...confused, I guess."
He didn't look at her when he answered and Candy smiled sadly at the side of his face. She had a suspicion--one that had been growing for a while-- that there was something she did not know about. Perhaps even several things. Secrets that Quatre held; secrets known by that young man named Trowa. Perhaps his sister Cathrine as well. The secrets that connected them; which granted common ground to two people so different. Something she, mostly likely, would never be able to understand. A something that may just keep her and Quatre apart no matter how close she tried to be in order to help him.
Next to her, Quatre could almost hear the wheels in her head spinning. He knew she was trying to figure this out. He knew she had questions. And he knew that she knew he knew things she knew he was never going to tell her. That thought alone made his head start to spin. Then...it made his heart ache.
He didn't want to tell her. He couldn't bear to tell her. Not the whole truth. Not any of it. Right now, she thought all that had happened to them was because of money. Or perhaps because of his political or business positions. But the truth was...the truth was something he could hardly stand himself any more.
Quatre turned his head slightly to watch Candy out of the corner of his eye. She had her knees pulled up to her chest with her arms wrapped around her as she looked up at the brilliance of the sky and enjoyed the pleasant breeze. Had she any idea who was next to her? Did she know what he was? Could she still trust him if she found out what he had done? Would she even want to see him again if she knew she was sitting next to a murderer? Someone who had taken the lives of countless numbers? People she may have known; talked to, cared about? A part of Quatre wanted to keep that secret so deeply hidden she would never see it. The other part of him was breaking to think she might never know.
"Quatre?"
He turned his head her way. The voice had been so small, he hardly heard it in the first place.
"Quatre, I want to go home," Candy said softly with pleading eyes. She looked so sad all of a sudden. "And I don't mean anywhere here, I mean my real home."
Quatre sat up. What was he thinking? It was his fault she had been dragged into all this in the first place. Yet, he had been so busy worried about himself, he hadn't even given a thought to how scared or homesick Candy might be. What kind of friend was he anyway?
"No," a voice answered before Quatre could. "I'm afraid that is not possible."
The two turned their heads and looked up. Behind them stood Trowa.
Lucretia Noin, in her lonely, familiar prison, sat against the wall, hunched down as if asleep. It had been a day, maybe two since Millardo had been taken away to God knows where by the one who had betrayed them. When a few hours had passed and her love still hadn't been returned to her, Noin started to get worried. After a day, she was frantic. What had they done to him? Was he still even on this planet, Mars? Was he alive? All she knew was that he was missing and she needed to find him.
The first thing on her mind was that there was a camera in her room somewhere, watching her. There had to be. And with that thought, Noin had stripped everything from top to bottom looking for it. Now, her quarters were a mess and she still wasn't a step closer to anything. Not knowing whether or not she was still being watched, Noin let herself drop near the door and stayed there. It may have looked from a camera that she was crying, and in reality, she was close to it.
She stayed that way for hours, feigning to be asleep. But she wasn't. In reality, Noin was stiff and ready. She would stay like that for days if she had to. Her stubborn side was taking over and she was not going to move until that door next to her did.
Finally, her waiting paid off and a guard delivering the usual daily rations activated the door from the outside. That familiar hiss was all Noin needed to jump into action. In a blink she was on her feet and the guard was down after a swift kick to the head. Knowing she didn't have much time, Noin quickly checked the guard for weapons. He had a small stunner on his belt and that was it. Not much to work with, but it was better than nothing.
In a flash, Noin was racing down the halls of the Mars base. Having lived there for almost two years, she knew the place well. And she knew exactly where she was going. If Millardo was still prisoner on this base, he would have been taken to the only other place where the locks on the doors actually worked. The storage area.
She was almost there when two more guards appeared around the next corner. Obviously not as ready as she was, Noin easily stunned them both before they could pull their own weapons on her. Noin was pleased to see that they were carrying a bit heavier artillery than the first guard. After taking both of their rifles, she was off again. In the background, she could hear the sound of an alarm. They knew she was gone now, but it hardly mattered. The storage area was right in front of her. She had no idea how they were going to get out once she found Millardo, but that hardly mattered. As long as they were together, they would be okay. She was sure of it. With Millardo by her side she was unstoppable. All she had to do was free him.
Noin punched her access code into the control panel and then punched the door when it was denied. Of course it wasn't going to take her code. She was being too hopeful in thinking those who held her captive would still leave all their prisoners' passwords active. Plan B was to turn her rifle on the control pannel which most certainly alerted any and all that were on the other side.
Millardo sat up as the sound of bullets resonated through his tiny metal cell.
"What the hell?" he wondered out loud to himself.
The sound of metal banging on metal met his ears next, almost to the point of making him deaf. And with his hands still cuffed together, it was hard to cover his ears. But above all the noise, he thought he heard a voice that sounded very familiar and it was shouting his name.
"Lucretia?" he called as he scrambled to his feet and over to the door.
The banging stopped.
"Millardo, are you in there?" Noin's heart was on fire. Had she heard his voice?
"Yeah, it's me," came a muffled call.
The relief flooding over Noin was almost too much to bear. He was still alive. He was so close to her.
"Hang on, I'm going to get you out."
"Oh, I don't think so," said another man's voice from behind her.
Noin spun around, rifle at ready. Before her was a group of armed men with none other than Benson Hues, the man who claimed to be their friend at the lead.
"Hues," she growled at him.
"Ah, Lucretia, always a pleasure," Benson Hues replied. "I was wondering when you'd make your move. I knew you wouldn't stand to be held alone for too long."
Noin stared him down with venom in her glare.
"Lucretia," Millardo's muffled voice came from the door behind her. "What's going on? Are you alright?"
Noin didn't reply. This was just perfect. She was his only hope and she was badly outnumbered. How did the tables turn so quickly? What was she to do now?
A sharp prick in her thigh was the answer. She looked down to see a dart embedded there and almost instantly, her world began to sway.
"Honestly now, such a pathetic attempt," a woman's voice entered her senses.
Noin's vision blurred as she fell to one knee. Not again. She wasn't going to allow herself to black out again. A woman approached her. One with blinding red hair. Where did she come from?
In the background, there was pounding on the door behind her. Millardo was probably worried. Noin hoped he could forgive her. She had done her best and it wasn't good enough.
Dr. Karen watched without emotion as Noin finally passed out on the floor.
"Alright, get her back to her quarters," she ordered. "And watch her better this time. We don't want anything to happen to her--yet."
As a few guards moved to return Noin's body to her prison, Dr. Karen turned her attention to the damaged storage door. Behind it she could hear a man's voice calling out Lucrecia Noin's name and ramming himself into the door. Still, Dr. Karren was not impressed.
"What do you want us to do?" Benson Hues asked as she approached her.
Dr. Karren looked at the door for a second longer before turning to him. "This one needs some time to settle down. I want some help sent up to assist me in preparing a laboratory. Then I'll be ready to deal with the pilot."
Hues nodded and set off to gather a crew. The woman scientist looked thoughtful. This pilot had spirit. This would indeed be an interesting challenge. She was suddenly glad she had been sent to Mars.
"What do you mean, Trowa?" Quatre wondered, blinking up at his friend.
"I meant just what I said," Trowa insisted with a serious face. "We cannot send her home. No one is going home."
Candy started to become alarmed at that news. They were going to keep her here? They didn't have the right! Was she going to be this Trowa's prisoner after all?
Quatre could easily see the worry on her face. He stood up between Candy and Trowa protectively. Though in reality, he didn't feel threatened by Trowa's statement. Nothing Trowa did ever worried him at all. It was merely for Candy's sake, he had to find the reason for this.
"Why? What happened?"
"Are you sure you want me to explain here?" Trowa then asked, looking at Candy.
She knew that look. This conversation wasn't meant for her. But Quatre didn't quite seem to catch on.
"Candy is a part of this, too," Quatre insisted. "She can hear this."
"About your kidnaping," Trowa explained. "I don't think it had anything to do with your political position or your wealth."
Candy blinked at the taller man. If they didn't want Quatre to hold as a ransom for money or political favors, what did they want?
"Duo went missing only a few days before you were captured, am I right?" Trowa went on. "I don't think it was a coincidence."
Quatre's eyes went wide as he finally realized what his friend was getting at.
"You mean they're specifically after US?"
Trowa nodded. "Yes, that's my theory. Someone has information on us. They know who we are and where to find us. Or at least those who made it easy to be found."
Quatre hung his head. Yes, that was his fault. Though the fact that he was a Gundam pilot was a secret known by only a few, his name and whereabouts were known to many across the colonies and earth.
"I think it would be best for you to stay with us," Trowa continued. "And to let no one know you are here until we find out who is behind this and why."
Quatre nodded in agreement. "Yes, we'll stay here and keep quiet."
Behind him, Candy was not so convinced. In fact, she was on the verge of panic. What were they talking about? Who was us'? Who where we'? What were they apart of? What secret did they belong to that caused her life to be in danger? What was Quatre doing with this circus performer and why was she not able to leave because of it?
"No!" she cried at the both of them as she jumped to her feet. "I am not staying here! I want to go home!"
It was then that Quatre realized his conversation with Trowa just may have better been spent without Candy.
"Candy, please," Quatre tried to sooth her. "We must do this. We have no choice."
"No choice?" Candy exclaimed. "No choice? Quatre, what's going on? What are you involved in? Tell me!"
She grabbed his sleeve and she pleaded for the truth, but Quatre could hardly bear to look down at her. He wanted to tell her. Down to the very depths of his soul he wanted to confess. But he couldn't. He couldn't stand to have her know what he had done. For her to find out what a horrible person he was; of all the blood he had spilt. Blood from colony citizens. Maybe even of people she had once known and cared for. No, he couldn't do that.
"Quatre," Candy continued to beg, her eyes starting to water. "I need to talk to my father. I have to tell him I'm okay. He must be going mad wondering what's happened to me. I need to at least tell him I'm alive."
With his heart breaking, Quatre looked up at Trowa who was far more qualified to make a better judgement call than he at this point. The stoic young man only shook his head. He would not permit even that.
Candy couldn't believe this. Quatre was doing what this...this...CLOWN said? He obviously didn't care about her, not at all. She was just a prisoner, an inconvenience in this horrible, colorful prison. She could hardly take it any more.
"You're awful!" she cried, pushing Quatre away. "I hate you!"
Before Quatre could stop her, Candy has already fled the scene, tears streaming from her eyes. He wanted to go after her, but Trowa put a hand on his shoulder.
"Give her a while to think about it," he counseled. "But we need to make her understand that she's not a prisoner here. We're doing this to save her life as well. And to do that, we may have to tell her who we really are. Do you understand, Quatre?"
The blonde young man stared into his friend's face and then sighed heavily. "I do Trowa. But to tell is the one thing I've been fearing the most."
Felicia sighed as she put on a fresh pair of clothes after her shower. It felt so good to be clean and refreshed again. She had needed those extra days to recover. Though admittedly, it had taken longer than she thought. She wondered to herself if those old farts over at the warehouse even cared that she had been gone so long on a mission that should have only taken one night. Even the Gundam took less time than this did. And speaking of which, tonight was now the night to finish up the job and get back there with what she was sent to retrieve. Felicia sighed again. She knew this wouldn't be easy and even partly wished she didn't have to leave.
But it was something that had to be done and she would just have to suck it up and deal with it. All other personal qualms she had with it would have to wait and settled at a later date. Right now, she needed to finally sit down with that Gundam pilot and tell him what was going on.
"It's about time you came out," a voice said as Felicia exited her room. "I've been waiting for you to show yourself for a while."
She looked over to see a thin, tall figure leaning against the wall outside her door with his arms crossed over his chest. Felicia smirked. It looked like she wouldn't have to bother with the task of finding him after all. This Gundam pilot seemed just as eager to talk as she was
"Where's the Commander?" Felicia wondered.
"On duty. Same with Mr. Ray Of Sunshine."
Another smirk from Felicia at the name.
"Well then Duo Maxwell, come in and let's have a chat."
"Oh, trying to trick me into your room while we're alone, huh? I don't know about that," Duo flirted though he had already stepped into Felicia's bedroom and plopped onto her bed without further invitation. Felicia opted to sit in the wicker chair across from him.
"So, where would you like to start?" she asked.
Duo didn't even need to think about it.
"You're the one who broke me out of that laboratory from Hell. Why did you do it and how did you know I was there?"
"I was sent there to get you out and bring you back."
"By whom," Duo asked as he narrowed his eyes. That playful look on his face was gone. This was some serious shit he was getting into.
"I'm not at liberty to say," Felicia instantly replied. "But I will say this: I know that you're a Gundam pilot, as do those who sent me. They requested I find you and bring you to them so they may show you something which they insist will be of interest to you."
Duo looked unconvinced. "So, I'm a sort of prisoner then? Do I have to do what you and these other guys say?"
"No," Felicia insisted. "I will not force you to go with me; but if you do, I will promise you that once you see their offer, you will be able to accept it, or walk away a free man and do whatever you like. I will personally see to it."
Once said, the dark haired woman looked up to see if she was convincing. She wasn't quite sure what to think when she saw Duo's reaction. He no longer looked serious as he folded his arms behind his head and looked whimsically at the ceiling. Felicia was begining to wonder if maybe this young man had suffered a bit of brain trauma in that lab.
"I never really thanked you for saving me, did I?" Duo suddenly spoke. "Who knows where I would be now if it wasn't for you. Probably dead." Then he smiled. "Sure. To thank you for your effort, I'll go see what you've got in store for me, my mysterious and beautiful savior."
Felicia shook her head at the title. This guy was more of a card than a fighter. Did the Professor really need him?
"So, Ms. Felicia with no last name," the pilot then asked as he rubbed his palms together. "When do we go?"
Felicia smiled. "Is now good for you?"
Oh well, it looked as though he would be getting his pilot whether he was needed or not.
It started to rain over the circus grounds. Trowa and Cathrine had moved off to help the rest of the company pull out tarps and get things under tents. Quatre had been wandering the place almost an hour, umbrella in hand and searching for Candy. He finally found her not too far off. She was crouched under a tree with her knees pulled up to her chest and soaking wet. He slowly walked up to her and stood over her silently, not sure what to do.
"Quatre," Candy was the first to speak. "I'm sorry."
"No," Quatre instantly insisted, squatting down next to her. "I am. This is all my fault, I didn't mean for you to get caught up in this. I should have--"
Candy put her hand over Quatre's mouth to silence him. The rest of the explination came out as muffled muttering.
"Hold on," she ordered. "I'm not done."
But Quatre didn't seem to be listening.
"Oh! You're soaking wet! Here!" he instantly yanked off his jacket and put it around her shoulders.
"Thanks," Candy sighed. He was so funny that way. And again she wondered how a guy like him ended up hiding for his life at a circus camp. "Quatre, I've been thinking. And I'm sorry about what I said. I don't hate you and I know this isn't your fault. I always say things before I think about them. It's horrible of me, I know. I feel so bad."
"No, it's okay," Quatre insisted as he sat down next to her in the damp grass. He suddenly didn't care if the rain got him, too. "I understand. I would have done the same thing in your place. I would have wanted...answers." A tremor shot through him at that last word. He was going to have to tell her.
"Yeah, but I've been thinking a lot about it," Candy replied. "There's a lot of things I don't know, but what I do know is that I know you. I know you're a good person and you wouldn't do anything to hurt me. Even if there are things you can't tell me, I trust you Quatre. I'll do whatever you need me to do."
Quatre stared at her, dumbfounded. This certainly wasn't the conversation he was preparing for.
"I..I...Okay..." was all his befuddled mind could manage at the moment.
"Quatre?" Candy asked.
"Yes?"
She again surprised him as she looped her arm through his and rested her cheek on his shoulder. "Can you stay out here with me just a little longer? I don't want to go in yet."
Quatre looked down at her and a pain rose up in his chest that was more profound than he had ever felt before.
"Yeah," he replied in a whisper. "I can do that."
A Preventer's jeep drove up to Commander Sally Po's house as it had done many times before. The driver, this time, was a bit surprised when he saw no lights on at the house upon his arrival. Still, he turned off the engine and walked up to the house. Yes, even close up it was still dark.
"Hey," came a calm greeting in the darkness.
Wufei looked to either side of him for the source. Then he looked up. A small figure was crouched on top of the roof like she had done often the last time she had lived there. Wufei half smiled to himself in the darkness before climbing up to join her.
The night remained quiet for several more moments as Wufei took a seat next to Felicia on the roof. She, for her part, didn't even look at him as he approached. Finally, Wufei couldn't take the silence any more and had to ask.
"Where's Duo?"
"He's gone," was Felicia's simple reply.
"And so will you with him, I'm sure," Wufei surmised.
"You know me too well, you little bastard."
"Devil Onna," Wufei shot back; but there was no bite in the retort this time. It just seemed normal. He gave an ironic smile to the darkness. When did he get so comfortable with this stranger? One that refused to stay in his life long enough to be anything but.
"So, where are you going now? What will you do?" Wufei then asked, looking at the sky and not at her.
"I don't know," Felicia admitted. "It's hard to ever know. I don't even know if I'll see you or Sally again after this."
That comment caused Wufei to finally look her way. He knew what that was like; to not know what your future brought. He could hardly say he was envious. But for some reason, a knot formed in his stomach at the thought of her leaving for good.
"Is that so?" was all he managed to say.
"Wufei," Felicia started, taking her turn to look at the sky. "Things are starting to get messy in this galaxy. No one knows what might happen. I just want to let you know that where ever we end up, I won't allow us to become enemies in all of this. I will always be on your side."
Wufei looked at her with wide eyes. He certainly wasn't expecting any kind of comment like that from her. What brought that on? He turned his head to the sky and laughed right out at the thought.
"You crazy woman! What an odd thing for you to say. What makes you think that we would ever--"
He turned to look at her, but she had already disappeared into the night.
"Felicia?"
That was probably the first time he had ever used her name. Wufei jumped to his feet, still reeling from the fact that he was suddenly alone with his thoughts and his spinning emotions. She was gone. That was it. This may have been the last time and all he did was laugh. Why was he so stupid? Why did he have to blow his last minutes like that? Why could he never say the things he wanted to when it really mattered?
"FELICIA!"
The laboratory door slammed open as two guards came in with a struggling, handcuffed man between them. Dr. Karen calmly looked at the angry, blonde pilot as he was strapped down onto a table.
"You may go now," she told the guards after Millardo had been secured.
They left, leaving the ex-pilot alone with this gorgeous woman with unfeeling eyes. As she stepped closer, he could see her eyes were cold like the deepest ice.
"So, you are the infamous Zechs Marquis," Dr. Karen started. "I've studied your work. It's quite brilliant. You know years back it was theorized that the best mobile suit pilots could only be genetically altered and specifically created for that soul purpose. Who would have thought the most legendary pilot of our age came without the aid of science or grew up with training from the gundams." She leaned closer, giving Millardo a smile that didn't settle him none too well. "I never would have dreamed such a pilot was so handsome, either."
Millardo scowled at her.
"Where is Ms. Noin?" he demanded. "What have you done with her?"
"Ah, your lover," Dr. Karen smirked as she pulled away. "She's fine for now. What happens to her will be determined by how well you behave. As long as you accept my treatment without any fuss, no harm will come to her."
"Treatment?" Millardo wondered. He watched Dr. Karen fiddle with her instruments. "I see. You're going to try and brainwash me. You're foolish if you think that will get me to fight on your side."
Dr. Karen didn't look too worried at the statement. She smiled again; this time making Millardo's stomach churn. He didn't have a good feeling about this.
"We'll see," she purred. "Please fight against it if you want. I do so love a challenge."