Bite Me
Chapter 20: A Motivating Transgression
AC 201. 23. June
1800 hours [6:00 pm]
Earth - Sanc Kingdom- Peacecraft Estate
Duo opened his eyes to darkness. He could feel Heero's form beside him; he had finally been able to fall asleep, though of course nighttime was now fast approaching.
Slowly, trying his hardest not to disturb the vampire, Duo climbed out of bed, pulling on undergarments, his navy blue slacks and fishing around the dark floor for his Preventer jacket. He stuck his hand in the coat's pocket, his fingers coming across a small piece of folded paper.
Duo unfurled the paper, smoothing out the creases across his knee and placed it on the bedside table. He'd written the note explaining his mission to L5-A0207 in hopes that Heero would have time to cool down and reconcile his inevitable anger before ever seeing him again in person. It seemed slightly old fashioned, maybe a bit cowardly, but it also seemed appropriate in some way.
With a sigh, the shifter slipped out of the room and headed down the hallway with a rapid gate. He skirted around a corner, jogging slightly as his nerves began to pick up. If Heero or even Quatre awoke too soon both shifters would be in deep trouble.
Swiping his keycard to a door he rarely used, Duo entered the shuttle hanger that had been built at the back of the grand mansion, obscured by the ornate pillars and royal design of the old fashioned building.
"You're late," came a low voice from within the hanger. For the second time that day he was being reprimanded for his tardiness.
Duo rolled his eyes at Trowa as he walked towards the nondescript space shuttle they had previously planned on borrowing for their excursion. "Save your attitude for Ray," the braided man joked, looking over Trowa's partially civilian clothing, a grey shirt and Preventer slacks not hiding any inch of his muscular frame. The matching jacket was slung over his shoulder casually.
Trowa acknowledged his words with a grunt of frustration in remembrance of the vampire that seemed to easily get under his skin. He then pulled open the shuttle's door and, without bothering to lower the cockpit steps, hoisted himself upwards with strong arms.
Duo followed him, quickly leaping into the spacecraft with a grin. "You know, this could be a suicide mission. Still up for it?"
Trowa stared in his direction as the man sat down in the copilot chair, strapping in as the engine began to rumble through the floor beneath them. "Wufei and I may have our differences, but he's an ex-pilot and a damn good Preventer. It's our responsibility to go."
Duo squinted. "You always know what to say, eh?" Trowa looked up through a haze of memories, nodded towards the man and plugged in the coordinates to Colony L3-B0309, their first leg in a journey he had no choice but to complete.
AC 201. 23. June
2000 hours [8:00 pm]
Space - Colony L3-B0309
On Earth the sun would be just dipping behind the horizon and all vampires would be rising soon, including their roguish guide. But the rundown Colony had already gone dark, probably trying to save on energy costs, as Duo and Trowa sat in their shuttle, waiting.
"Open up!" The voice startled both shifters, Duo giving Trowa a tense look. It was definitely too late to go back now.
Standing, Duo hit a button next to the shuttle's door and with a blast of unlocking air it began to open, but a flash of black flew past his eyes before the door was even halfway open.
"It's about time you showed up." Raymond Noin smiled from his seat within the passenger compartment of the shuttle. His fingertips drummed on the arms of the leather chair he resided in, staring at Duo with dark eyes through his plastic framed glasses. Similar to the last time they had seen the vampire he was wearing all black, this time including his sneakers, but the color seemed to suit the reclusive and mysterious man. Duo eyed a large duffel bag that sat on the floor next to him, wondering just what the vampire had up his sleeve.
Duo grabbed the door to close it, uncharacteristically concerned at the man's lackadaisical attitude. He turned to Trowa for strength, but the tall shifter just stared forward with a brazen intensity; though Duo was unsure whether it was due to the man's distaste for the vampire or his determination to complete their mission.
Duo patted the man's stiff shoulder and turned to join Ray in the other compartment. "Tro's piloting," he informed the vampire, taking the seat across from him as the engine began to rev up.
Ray tilted his head into the aisle to stare at the back of Trowa's head. "He's an interesting one, isn't he?" the man asked with a slight grin. He sat back and waited for a reply from Duo that never came. The usually loquacious shifter had seemed to suddenly meet his match and the nerves bubbling within him did not seem to help.
Swallowing, Duo ignored the comment and leaned forward so that his forearms were resting on his knees, his telltale braid coming to fall over his shoulder. "We've got some time to kill. Care to share your brilliant plan to get us into the Colony?"
"Someone's eager," Ray simpered, his eyes glowing. Duo sat back and crossed his arms, not wanting to play any of the vampire's games this time around. He might have enjoyed the man's devil-may-care personality if not for the circumstances under which they were meeting. Duo's attitude caused Ray's smile to fade and a frown to replace it; he sat back and mimicked the other man's posture.
"It's simple actually," Ray began. "All you need to get in is some form of identification, i.e. proof that you're an L5-C carrier, and a viable reason for your visit. Then, boom, you're in." Ray paused and then popped his pointer finger in the air as if he'd nearly forgotten the most important detail of all. "Oh and they generally prefer it if you're not associated with Preventer, the ESUN, or are a fucking L5-B shape-shifting vigilante." He gave a deadpan smile that made Duo swallow hard.
"So, it's really that easy?" the shifter asked nervously, referring to the first half of Ray's explanation.
"Kushrenada doesn't like to discriminate against his own kind," Ray answered with a condescending raise of his dark eyebrows.
Duo sighed, gnawing on his thumbnail anxiously. "I really hope there's more to this plan," he muttered roughly. He, himself, was notorious for half-baked plans, but this? This seemed like more of a death-trap than a plan.
"What? I thought all you wanted was to get into the Colony?" Ray responded with a sly tone. He laughed at Duo's blank stare. "Geeze, you Preventers can be so uptight sometimes."
It was such a role reversal for Duo to be the "uptight" one that he attempted to soften his cold gaze. After a moment, Ray went on. "I've brought everything we need, don't you worry," he said, gesturing to the curious duffle bag below them.
Duo stared at the bag, trying not to, but worrying just the same.
AC 201. 23. June
2100 hours [9:00 pm]
Earth - Sanc Kingdom - Peacecraft Estate
Quatre Winner clinked the edge of his spoon against the delicate tea cup in front of him. He watched as the warm, dark red liquid swirled mesmerizingly within the stark, white porcelain, the sight making his appetite grow ever so slightly.
With a sigh he brought the cup to his lips and drank the nourishing liquid, trying his best to enjoy it like his instincts told him to. Though he was still grasping at the idea of being infected with L5-C, it was beginning to feel more natural with each passing day.
Vaguely he wondered where Trowa might be, but considering the hour and position as a shifter and a Preventer he was probably off with Duo or else sleeping until his charge needed him once more. There had been an uncomfortable air between the two since his "moment in the sun," and as much as the two men tried they couldn't seem to remedy it.
"Quatre?" The startling, feminine voice might have made him flinch in his human life, but instead the steal nerved vampire turned to face Hilde Schbeiker with a curious smile.
"You know, most people might be afraid to share a room with a newborn vampire like myself," he said, his mouth still smiling, but his words filled with the cynical truth.
Hilde stood in the kitchen's doorway, hesitant, but still courageous enough to have made her way that far. She gazed upon the blond man with kind, blue eyes. "Trowa explained to me his reasoning behind your unusual behavior-that is unusual for a vampire I suppose."
Quatre set his cup of Syn down and then returned his eyes to her. "My optimism. Yes he did mention that, but kindness and compassion are not traits within a vampire's true nature." He paused, downtrodden by his own words. "They are a sign of weakness."
Hilde, still slightly unsure of the newborn, held her ground, but the gravitas of her words were all the comfort that Quatre needed. "Having compassion in a world like this is not weakness, Quatre. It's bravery."
His eyes flicked upwards towards the dark haired woman. "Thank you, Hilde."
She nodded, though he could tell there was something more to her visit than just reassuring words. With her thumb she gestured backwards over her shoulder in the direction of the Preventer security room. "There was a transmission sent here a few moments ago," she explained quietly. "It's from Colony L5-A0207."
Quatre's eyes grew slightly larger as the information seeped into his mind. With an anxious hand he pushed himself from the chair he was seated in and flew past the Preventer towards the security room.
When he arrived, Heero was already pacing in front of the interface, his features dark with worry and concern. Upon seeing Quatre his expression brightened slightly, but the younger vampire could still see that stress was resting powerfully on the other man's shoulders.
"What is it, Heero?" Quatre asked, stepping in front of him to stop his incessant strides.
He looked at him through sunken, dark blue eyes. "I haven't viewed the transmission just yet," Heero said, resting for a beat before going on. "But I have something else I need to tell you. Duo and Trowa have gone to '207.'"
Never since knowing his Preventer bodyguard had Quatre ever felt so much anger towards the man. He clenched his teeth, his mind reeling from the sudden news. "When?" was the only thing he could manage to get out.
"I'm not sure." Heero's eyes fell to the floor as he thought about his last moments with Duo, chastising himself for not seeing this coming. "But not too long ago, sometime before sunset."
"We have to go after them!" Quatre turned in a rush of impulsive vengeance, but Heero grabbed his thin wrist and held steady.
His thick brows furrowed. "I thought that too at first, but it will only make things worse, Quatre."
Quatre's petite frame and shoulders began to slacken as the reality of the situation began to filter through what was left of his rational mind. "You're right. For the time being." Heero was just glad that he was thinking level headed for the moment.
Walking towards the flat screen communicator Quatre tapped the monitor to bring up the already loaded transmission. "We need to deal with Treize first."
And so with a heavy heart, the young vampire pressed play.
AC 201. 23. June
2115 hours [9:15 pm]
Space - Somewhere Between Colony L3-B0309 & L5-A0207
For the past hour Duo's eyes had not been able to leave the duffel bag that seemed to tease his mind as to what their vampire guide had planned for the two shifters.
Duo was often told he had an unsettlingly personality, like he was perpetually sitting back to back with death, and yet Ray's own dark personality still somehow made Duo's skin crawl. He had tried his best to keep an air of positivity, but as the man across from him downed an entire bottle of Syn in just under ten seconds, Duo couldn't hide his emotions any longer.
Gulping in a deep breath of air, he asked nervously. "So what's your 'viable reason' for getting into the Colony?"
"Viable reason?" Ray asked, as if he'd already forgotten his earlier spiel.
Duo pursed his lips in slight annoyance. "You said it was easy to get into the Colony as long as you have a viable reason. So what's yours?"
Ray's eyes brightened behind his glasses. "Right. I almost forgot," he answered, bending over to finally unzip one of the duffel bag's many compartments. "Wait till you see this."
Duo's gaze was glued to the man's movements, though their quickness hindered him from discerning any items from within the bag other than the compact, blue device resembling that of a microchip that he pulled out. Ray set the piece of technology on the small table between their seats.
"Once upon a time," he began as if it was a truly great story from long ago. "I was contracted by an Oz big wig during the war: Zechs Merquise. You might have heard of him." Duo's brows raised in surprise at the man's sarcasm filled words, but did not interrupt.
"Anyways, it was before he jumped on the pacifism bandwagon." Duo watched as Ray hit a button on the side of the blue chip and a holographic design spewed from within it's center. "This is a blueprint for a weapon. It never ended up getting financed during the war, but still it's damn pretty to look at, don't you think?"
The shifter's eyes wondered over the multilayered holographic picture before him. He had never seen such a blueprint and didn't quite know what to make of it, but one thing was for certain: he was damn impressed...with whatever it was he might be looking at. Licking his lips, he spoke. "What is it exactly?"
Ray laughed as though Duo had said something hilarious. But just as quickly as he had grown amused his mouth dropped into a grim line and he leaned forward. "You know, Zechs Merquise, or should I say Milliardo Peacecraft, and I have a lot more in common than you might think," he whispered, a mischievous glint in his brown eyes. "We both like things that go boom."
He said it in such a way that Duo's fists clenched, but his interest piqued to a whole new level. "You designed a bomb?"
"Not just any bomb. The bomb to end all bombs!" Ray cackled as if suddenly he were no more than a mad scientist. The vampire smiled, amused by his own antics. "But I digress. This, Duo Maxwell, is how I plan on getting into '207.'"
Duo admired the blue print once more with a new appreciation. He then looked the slightly off kilter man in the eyes with total seriousness. "The blueprints you mean?"
Ray eyed him with an impish grin. "Of course the blueprints! What, you think I'm gonna blow up '207?'" He let out a single laugh. "I've set up a meeting with one of Kushrenada's scientists he keeps lying around for his own pleasure. You know, the ones that created the viruses you and I both carry?"
Duo stared at the man, suddenly realizing just how brilliant he actually was. Though he wondered briefly if insane and brilliant could really be used so interchangeably. "You're going to pitch this weapon to them?" He gestured towards the still glowing hologram.
"That's the plan. Do you approve, Preventer?" he asked in a condescending tone.
Duo sighed. Back to square one for this partnership. Though he had to admit he held a lot more respect for the vampire than he had earlier. That bomb was scarily impressive.
Before they could continue their conversation, Ray's eyes flicked to the window next to them, studying the dark and deep space they were traveling rapidly through. He checked his watch. "Halfway there," he muttered to himself, then looked back up at Duo. "Now's as good a time as any."
The shifter's brows wrinkled in confusion as Ray stood up and walked steadily towards the open cockpit door. "Park it here, slim."
Trowa, who's ear's pricked at the man's exasperating voice and infuriating disposition, grit his teeth and kept his eyes forward. "I do not know who 'slim' is," he growled. "But if you are speaking to me, then we are not stopping in the middle of outer space."
"You know, with that attitude, it's almost like you've forgotten that I'm doing you a favor," Ray spat out.
"Favor? I don't think you and I are using the same dictionary," Trowa shot back quickly, still not bothering to stop the shuttle or look at the person he was addressing.
Duo joined them, the tension rising within the small shuttle palpable. "Let's try not to kill each other just yet, okay?" he asked with exasperation in his voice. Usually Trowa was the one stopping him from saying things he might regret.
Stiffly, Trowa pushed several buttons and pulled the shuttle's safety brake, before spinning around in his chair to meet both men standing behind him.
There was an uncomfortably long silence, but now that Ray had both shifter's attention, he finally spoke. "I may be able to smuggle you through '207's' gate, but once inside the Colony it's a different story," he explained. "No offense boys, but vampire's will be able to smell you before you even get close to their turf. And you don't really resemble an L5-C carrier either, but we'll have to try and work around that."
Trowa crossed his arms over his chest, tensing his muscles. "So what do you propose, Noin?"
With a smile the vampire held up his pointer finger, turned and within seconds was back in the cockpit holding his seemingly bottomless duffle bag. He opened it's main compartment and this time Duo was able to see several glistening automatic weapons inside that made his heart beat faster than normal.
Ray pulled out two clear, square boxes that fit into the palm of his hand, as well as two leather duster style cloaks. He tossed one of the boxes to each shifter with a Cheshire like grin.
Duo studied the clear case in his hands; inside on a bed of black rested two white teeth that resembled the sharp fangs he knew so well. "What's this for?" he asked looking upwards at the vampire with inquisitive eyes.
"You've got to at least try and look the part, don't you?" Ray responded with delight.
Swallowing, Duo looked to Trowa who's eyes were still examining the fangs, a sickened look on his usually emotionless features. "And the coats?" Duo pointed towards the garments still hanging from Ray's hand.
The vampire handed one to Duo and threw the other onto Trowa's lap with little precision. "They're of my own design. Pretty ingenious if I do say so myself."
A pungent aroma filled both shifter's noses as they stared at the black cloaks. Duo sniffed his and pulled away with a gasping grimace. "They smell like bleach!" he choked out.
Ray, still pleased with his invention, answered with a dark chuckle. "You'd rather smell like that to a vamp than reek of wet dog, trust me."
"Do you think it will work?" It was the first thing Trowa had said since this new plan's introduction. He looked at Ray with serious eyes.
"Of course it will work. I designed them didn't I?" The vampire retorted, though both shifter's could sense a slight insecurity behind his arrogant tone. But seeing as how this was their only option, they tried their best to have faith in the man's abilities.
Duo shrugged. "Hell, I don't think fangs really go with the braid, but it's worth a try," he said with an amused glint in his eyes.
Ray smirked at that and then said, "Now, is there anything else either of you think I should know before we get to '207?'" He looked to both shifters as though he could tell they were holding something back since he'd boarded the shuttle.
Trowa stared blankly at the vampire, but Duo knew he was not the one with something to hide. Words that Duo had been holding in since his conversation with Milliardo Peacecraft came bubbling to the edge of his tongue.
"There might be one thing," he said softly. Trowa's eyes narrowed, unsure of what Duo was about to say next. The man's impulses were sometimes dangerous and he often spoke before thinking it through.
But this time Duo had thought it through, he'd thought it through so well that when the words came pouring from his mouth they didn't even sound that foreign anymore. "Milliardo Peacecraft has reason to believe that Kushrenada is planning to initiate another war."
Both Ray and Trowa stared at him in disbelief, for once their emotions on the same side as one another. Duo gazed back, realizing that even though he found the notion credible, he'd had a lot more time to reflect upon it than they had.
Duo was about to explain more about his earlier meeting with Milliardo when the shuttle's small interface lit up with static until the face of Hilde Schbeiker appeared on the screen.
Without waiting for a response, she spoke rapidly towards all three men. "Heero knew you wouldn't listen to any of his calls, so that's why he asked me to contact you." She had an emotion in her voice that Duo had never heard before. It was almost as if she were holding back tears.
The shifter moved closer to the screen and gazed down upon his friend. "Hild, what's wrong? What's going on?"
Her blue eyes rimmed with red, Hilde cleared her throat to speak again, this time with slightly more fortitude. "We received a transmission from Treize Kushrenada. It's something you need to see."
Without another word, Hilde's sorrowful face was replaced by a black screen, but upon closer look it was a previously recorded video.
The film panned across a dark room until it hit a dimly lit body of a man strapped to a medieval looking table. A large, silver stake was raised several feet from the body's chest, its pointed end glimmering demonically. The stake was attached to a device that held it in place like a large bit in the chuck of a drill. As if on cue, the torturous looking machine hummed to life and it slowly began its twisting decent towards the man beneath it.
In horror, the three watched as the camera moved closer to the body, it's features becoming more readable until the camera was focussed on the silent face of the doomed man. It was Wufei Chang.
A/N: Thank you to my continued readers and followers. If you are so inclined, please leave a review to let me know what you think so far! And yay for quick updates these past several days! I'm so glad to be able to share this story with this community.