Disclaimer- see Ch. 1

Warnings – shounen-ai, war themes, language, slightly OOCness, AU, movie quotes (yes I'm serious, that requires a warning…), Relena's not exactly a pacifist anymore.

Fight or Flight

Chapter Twenty-One – Inside Job

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"Alright lad, I'm going to need a vehicle."

A small smile spread across Duo's face. "You know, sir? I think I have just the thing."

General Noventa stared dubiously at the sleek black Hummer in front of him. "What is it?"

"It's a Hummer. The army uses them." An odd look flashed over Duo's face and he choked out, "I thought you were in the army, sir?"

"Eh, in my day we didn't drive fancy vehicles into combat. This thing looks like it'll cry if I go over a bump too fast."

Duo sighed dramatically and held out his hand for the keys. "Well, you could always stay here and tell stories to kids or something…"

Skyfire glared at the braided boy and pulled the keys out of his reach. "Boy, the day that happens is the day I retire to a rocking chair to read obituaries. Out of my way."

Duo smirked as Skyfire got in the vehicle and everyone else followed suit.

Quatre stood in the front door of the old abandoned factory, his eyes dark as he watched Kushrenada's Humvee wind its way down the path followed by the rest of the cadets,

No one could believe that he had willingly agreed to stay at the base while the others left for Barge. Duo had actually started to argue before realizing that Quatre had agreed, and had promptly shut his mouth and given Quatre a suspicious look. There was nothing anyone could say though, since Quatre had simply nodded and told them that he had no intention of leaving with them.

Turning around to walk back inside the building he paused as he saw Catherine standing a few feet away and giving him an odd look.

"What?"

She shook her head slowly. "I have a very hard time believing that you're planning to stay here."

He quirked an eyebrow. "I never said I was planning on staying here. I just said I wasn't going with them." He paused briefly then allowed a small smile to play across his face. "Mostly since I don't think they would have let me go with them."

She stared at him a moment longer then rolled her eyes. "You're worse than Duo sometimes."

"I know," and he gave her a cheeky grin and headed into the other room to begin packing his supplies while she and Meiran looked on in amusement. It was a half an hour later when he finally grabbed the keys from the table and headed toward the already-laden vehicle. As he was getting in, the passenger door opened and Meiran slid in, arranging herself on the seat as he stared at her. Finally, having straightened her dress and set her bag on the floor, she looked up and gave him a small smile.

"Yes?"

"What are you doing?"

"Going with you, obviously." The tone of her voice left no room for argument, even if Quatre had felt up to it.

"Don't think I'll take the blame when Wufei flips out."

"He'll survive."

Quatre shrugged and started the engine, waving briefly at Catherine as she closed the front door behind them.

"Let me pack everything, then try and hitch a ride…"

o0o0o0o0o0o

Duo hummed the Mission Impossible theme song silently in his head as he once again prowled across the outer wall and practically waltzed into Barge.

Impenetrable fortress, my ass…

Then, grinning at his last thought, he slid through the shadowed hallway to let Heero in. He opened the door, bowing Heero in with a flourish and causing the Asian boy to glare at him fiercely as he unhooked his thermal sword. Duo ignored it, smacking Heero lightly on the butt before continuing along his designated route, knocking one guard unconscious and leaving him tied up in a deserted office before raising one of the loading dock doors to reveal a patiently waiting Dorothy. The blonde waggled her fingers in a mocking goodbye and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Duo alone. Just as he was about to unhook his scythe and move further into the building his hip vibrated gently. Frowning, he looked around before ducking into another deserted room and pulling out his phone. On the screen flashed a message from Relena, one that caused his frown to deepen.

03 MIA.Still outside.

He sent her a quick message telling her that he would be right there then pocketed his phone and hurried to the other side of the compound, dodging Romafellars' scattered guard. Opening the air vent, he slid out into the cold night and pulled his face mask up as Relena snuck over toward him.

"Where is he?"

Relena shrugged and looked around worriedly. "I don't know. He was supposed to let me in first, then head south to let Wufei in. He should have been here a long time ago."

Duo took a deep breath, trying to think of what could have happened to Trowa. "I don't know, but I need to go get Wufei." He paused and his voice was strained as he continued. "We have to continue without him."

Relena nodded, though she didn't look happy about it. "After you."

He pulled his face mask back on and wiggled through the opening, followed shortly by Relena. As they landed silently on the ground below she nodded goodbye and ran off into the dark. Duo watched her leave, wishing that Trowa would sneak up and have some great explanation for why he was late.

When the green eyed boy failed to appear Duo turned, moving further along the halls and disabling an alarm before opening the door for Wufei, who gave him a startled look. Duo shrugged to let him know that he had no idea where Trowa was and the Chinese boy gripped his shoulder in a silent good luck before grabbing his staff and twirling it experimentally as he ran down the hall in the opposite direction. Duo squared his shoulders and turned toward the inside of Barge, drawing his scythe and gripping it tightly, his eyes adjusting to the suddenly darkness around him.

Showtime.

o0o0o0o0o

Quatre and Meiran were crouched behind a small retainer wall watching as another Romafellar patrol swept through the city streets. Quatre's eyes followed each man as he scanned the area, his eyes reflecting his uncertainty.

Turning to the silent Chinese girl at his side he whispered, "I really shouldn't leave them all out here, but there's not a whole lot I can do."

Before she could respond there was the sound of gunfire and both ducked, crouching and preparing for the oncoming assault. When none came Quatre raised his head, peering over the wall once more. In front of him gunfire flew through the air, aimed, not at him and Meiran, but at Romafellar's soldiers. He looked around, finally locating the shadowed men crouched in the surrounding buildings opening fire on Romafellar. He ran around one of the side buildings and up the hollowed out stairs, searching desperately for the source of the shooter. Breaking into an open observation floor Quatre spotted the large man huddled over a semi automatic and whistled twice, loudly. The figure turned and looked directly at him, his face breaking into a huge smile as he spotted the blonde boy.

"Master Quatre!"

Quatre ran toward the man, sliding to a stop in front of him and throwing his arms around the huge figure.

"Rashid!"

"We came as soon as we could, Master Quatre."

Quatre watched the streets as the Maguanacs rounded up the remaining Romafellar soldiers and began to tie them up.

"As always, you have perfect timing."

"Yeah, me and the boys rolled into town about an hour ago. Spotted these gentlemen poking around in the rubble and figured we'd see what they were up to." The big man grinned as he watched his men complete their tasks and smile at each other. "I figured it wouldn't hurt if they were delayed a bit."

Quatre clapped him on the shoulder in thanks. "I'm on my way to help the others at Barge. You want to help storm the grounds?"

Rashid nodded and grabbed a radio from inside his side pocket. After conferring with his second-in-command, he led Quatre out into the streets where the other men greeted them boisterously. The men's cheers had finally quieted when Abdul pulled Quatre aside.

"You may want to hear what one of them has to say."

Quatre gave him a wary look. "Why? What's he saying?"

He followed Abdul to one of the captives and watched as the big man nudged the soldier. "Go on."

The man gulped, then mustered a defiant look. "Why should I?"

Quatre opened his mouth to reason with him when Abdul nudged him again, this time with the barrel of his gun. "Tell the kid what you told your friend over there." He motioned to an unconscious soldier to their right and the man gulped.

"Right before we left base…" The man swallowed hard, then looked up at Abdul and rushed on. "There was talk that one of the rebels had been captured."

Quatre looked the man over and, deciding that he appeared to be telling the truth, motioned for him to continue. When the man said nothing, he raised his eyebrows. "Well, did they say who it was?"

The man shook his head. "No, but first they said it was a girl, then... then the man said, 'Holy shit boys, it's a boy." The man sounded confused, like he wasn't sure that the information he was spouting was useful, but was hoping it was enough to keep him alive.

Quatre sighed inwardly and exchanged a look with Rashid, who had followed them just after Abdul pulled him aside.

Duo.

"Change of plans, Rashid. When we get to Barge, Abdul, you'll take half the men and keep some of the soldiers busy outside. Rashid, you and I will lead the rest and go find Duo."

Both men nodded and Quatre sighed once more. "Let's roll."

They began the short journey up to Barge, nearing the base just as the sun rose over the distant hills.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Wufei readjusted his mask and attempted to cool down briefly. He had been inside Barge for at least an hour and a half and his suit and mask were getting hot. Just as he was beginning to cool, he heard shuffling noises from outside. Readjusting his gear, he grabbed his staff and snuck out of the room, suddenly appearing behind the two men. Sending up a silent apology for sneaking up on them, he brought the staff down hard on one of their heads. He dropped as the other turned in surprise, reaching for his gun. Wufei turned his staff, ramming it into the second man's stomach as more running sounded behind him. As the second soldier doubled over in pain Wufei spun, hitting the third man in the head before turning once more, activating the thermal trident as he thrust the weapon forward. The first soldier dropped as Wufei withdrew the glowing blade and moved smoothly to slash at the final soldier rushing toward him. He hit the button once more and the blade disappeared as he beat the fourth soldier soundly in the stomach, knees and head, then reactivated it to slit his throat. He bowed once before dragging them into a nearby storage closet. He couldn't do much for the blood on the ground but at least no one would trip over the bodies… He gave them one final apology for the unceremonious dumping of their bodies then continued down the hall, combing it for anyone else he could fight.

He crept around a turn and froze as a shadow moved across the hall and vanished. After readjusting his grip on his staff and checking his mask, he moved forward once more. He listened for another moment and, hearing nothing, lunged around the corner, swinging his staff swiftly through the air. His assailant ducked and swung back at him and they traded a few quick blows before pausing mid-attack.

"Dorothy?"

"Chang."

They stared at each other for a moment then, before Dorothy could make some biting comment at the expense of his manhood, Wufei offered her his arm in a move Kushrenada would have been proud of.

"Shall we?"

She smirked and laid one hand mockingly on his extended arm.

"Certainly."

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A/N:: So, while I did get quite a bit done on this story, I have been slacking a bit. Well not entirely. I've been writing, but mostly a new fic that I swore I wouldn't start until FoF is done, yet still I work on it. Inspirations a bitch when you have previous commitments.

And just in case anyone cares, I'm a bit stuck on the Driver. I am trying, but it is not flowing like I want it to. There for, I am still trying.