Hey-o, and welcome to my Lil' World of Weirdness!!
I state for the record that I don't own Gundam Wing, or the wonderful characters that will be gracing this story. . . I do however lay claim to Ensign Saratone *again*, and I use him here purely as a replacement for your average Nameless OZ Minion. Other Characters I lay claim to are Faye Bloom, the wizened old man, Chang Xiao Fao Lan, and the Angels.
Let's just say . . . when my writer's block breaks, it's like a dam breaking . . . [shakes head slowly and winces]
Parings: 1x2x1, 3x4x3, 5xM, 6X9, 13xUne, OdinxHelen and hints of DxR and JxG – I know, I know, nobody wants to imagine it, but I kinda think it's fairly cute . . .
Okay, that's the legal stuff out the way!!
Please ENJOY AND PLEASE R&R!!! THANK YOU!!
Also, thanks to my beloved Bluegoo for her ever wonderful betareading, I thank her for the many hours that she has put in with me on this one, be it correcting my terrible grammar and spelling, or listening to me mumbling large chunks of it down the phone to her . . . You're great, Blue!! Even if you are Commander and Chief of the Apostrophe Gestapo . . .
Thank you to Two-Mix for the lyrics, I don't own Just Communication!!
//Thinking//
"Speaking"
*Stress/Emphasis*
Writing/Dream sequence
Telepathic thoughts
:: Lyrics ::
~*~
For The Grace Of Knights And Angels
By Doctor Megalomania
Chapter Twenty-Four: Danse Macabre, Movement One.
[grins] can you tell I watched Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and X-1999 recently?!
Chapter Twenty-Four: Danse Macabre, Movement One.
"You know . . . I saw that in a movie once . . ."
Duo glanced up, as Quatre gingerly walked along the thin bamboo branches. He chuckled, as he continued to walk under the trees that his friends walked in. In total, they had been there a sum of four months and three weeks. Duo's hair had grown in that time, now swinging in its braided form a little below his hips. It was one of many aesthetic things about the former pilots that had changed. Wufei's hair too had grown – to the boy's astonishment, as his hair only grew an inch a year – and now was hanging well past his shoulder blades. It wasn't too bothersome, thankfully, as he often tied it back.
Quatre bit his lip hard as he reached the middle of the branch, and stared over at the next branch, "You know . . . I hate this bit . . ." he sighed, and looked down at his braided friend, "In the movie, did they worry if the branch would break?"
"Not really . . ." Duo called back. Duo was still Earthbound; the angels weren't concerned about the fact that he wasn't advancing with his friends. He simply lacked the belief that he was capable, Jikan explained, therefore he couldn't advance. Quatre was concerned about it, worried that Duo would be left behind, but Jikan tried to assure him that there was no passing or failing grade, there was only the battlefield. The braided knight of death folded his arms behind his head and called up, "They were fighting at the time . . . it was a Chinese pre-colony film, You would have liked it Wu. . ."
Wufei jumped easily from branch to branch like a glider monkey, "Teally?" He yelled, panting slightly from his exertions, "Why's that?"
"It was all about honour and justice and stuff. . ." Duo jogged so he could catch up with the group, quickly darting between the thin trees and nimbly over roots. He looked up as Heero stumbled slightly, "Watch out Heero!"
Heero threw his arms wide and held still as the whip thin branch he perched on swayed. He glanced down at Duo, "why don't you try this?"
Duo grinned, "I would if I could . . ." he put a hand behind his head, "what is it? If I could believe and imagine I could do it?"
"Yeah!" Quatre landed on the ground with a soft thud nearby, and panted slightly as he walked over. He smiled and motioned upwards, "it's very hard work . . ." he linked his arm with Duo's and smiled slightly, "I think I'll walk with you for now."
Duo sighed, "there's no need to."
Quatre smiled but kept silent.
Above them, Trowa used his wings more than the others; he hovered for a few moments, picking out his landing spot with ease. Heero was still in the mode of thinking that his weight had to be calculated, and his balance kept before he landed or took off so he moved with motions that implied that he wasn't using his wings. Wings that they had yet to see, Heero couldn't make them visible and he said he couldn't even begin to imagine what they looked like. It didn't seem to be a concern to the pilot, as he simply believed that, even if he couldn't see them, they were there. Wufei was a cross between the two, apparently enjoying the ability to hover, but also preferring the challenge of tree walking.
Quatre sighed as he looked at Duo's profile. Duo simply didn't believe at all, and all attempts to teach him were beginning to bring out Shinigami more and more. Duo, in his own words couldn't get his head around the idea that he could fly. The best pilot out of them, refused to believe at all that he could fly without the aid of machines. Quatre was at a loss, he wanted to help his friend and see what his wings looked like. Were they the same as Ogama's celestial form? Huge, feathered black crow's wings?
Duo huffed a lock of hair from his brow, and squinted at Quatre out of the corner of his eye. The small blonde was planning again. The way his smile would dampen, his wide eyes would close half way all pointed to him thinking. All he was lacking was him sucking the tip of his thumb.
Quatre brought his hand up, subconsciously, and began to suck on the very tip of his thumb. What could he do to make Duo believe?
Duo rolled his eyes, Quatre was thinking, and thinking deep. No doubt wondering why he was refusing to believe that he could fly. He looked up as Heero's lithe body swung from side to side. Duo supposed it was a more severe form of Heero's thinking; he wasn't quite ready to believe that something so mythical could truly help him disobey gravity. Tipping his head back, he stared at the sky. It was a light blue, almost fathomless. It was an early morning, and the sun had yet to warm everything. Duo blinked slowly, frowning as his senses suddenly turned sluggish.
//. . . make Duo believe--what could I do--maybe I should do what I did with--Trowa, love him so--had a nice time last night--didn't know his hands were so--Quatre! Think about Duo!--wonder if Duo and Heero could maybe teach each other-Heero better watch out he's. . .//
. . .death?
//distance from this branch to the next is approximately three metres—Trowa's behind me—it would be advisable to move now to avoid—what are Duo and Quatre talking abo—Quatre's thinking again—what's Duo staring at—Trowa's//
. . . are you there? . . .
//--Heero's just in front of me—best if I move to the left—Heero's right handed, he'll choose that direction—Wufei looks like he's having fun—I wonder what Quatre—must be attempting to help—he's so considerate like that—reminds me of Medic—loved him—wish I'd saved him—but I have—love Quatre—helpful, and kind, he'd--Duo would be very good at this—his piloting skills would be--//
. . .can you hear me?. . .
//--what movie--what is he staring at—this is fun—read a story about this—Meirin would love this—love her—visit her again tonight—watch out Yuy—wonder what we'll learn next—it will be beneficial if Maxwell could join in--//
come to me . . . Death, I crave you . . . come to me . . .
. . . the desert sands were stinging his cheek. . .
. . . death . . . come . . .
Quatre raised his hand, his magic gathering before his hand powerfully.
. . . come to me. . .
The enchanted white hawk flew to Trowa's beckoning, landing on his falconer's glove with practice ease.
. . . death, I crave . . .
He turned his head; his long bangs swinging in and out of his vision.
. . . Death, be not Mercy's . . .
Heero stared at him, his strong blue gaze steady.
. . . be mine . . .
He turned his head again.
. . . come to me . . .
Wufei stood beyond Trowa, his expression grim.
. . . can you hear me? . . .
He looked forward again, five cloaked figures ambled toward them. He could see them clearly now. Their cloaks weren't black . . .
. . . I think you can. . .
. . . they were darker, almost black versions of the knights for the most part. His own counterpart, however, was dressed completely in black.
. . . I know you can . . .
Suddenly he was staring at ice. A room filled with ice, it was blinding in its purity. He looked up; the ceiling was miles above them. Footsteps echoed slightly as two figures walked toward each other. Heero's white cloak with its blue and gold trim, his counterpart dressed in black with blood red and silver as its trim. They drew swords. Both their hoods were up, and their gloved hands reached up slowly, as if in perfect mirror, as they lowered them. Heero was unconcerned that he was apparently he was staring at himself.
. . . Death, I crave you more than he . . .
The two Heeros stared at each other with the same indifferent expression. Duo stepped back, his hair swirling around him as he moved in incomprehensible slowness. "Heero . . .?"
Heero in white blinked. Heero in black parted his lips.
"Am I supposed to choose?"
. . . are you there?. . .
The hot desert sand blew around furiously as the winds picked up. Trowa dipped his head in a single nod, as he petted his bird. Duo's mouth fell open, and he turned his head again, Heero still stared at him. . .
"Heero?"
Behind him, Quatre's magic began to make the air throb, the ground began to tremble. Trowa's magic made the wind relentless; heat filled the air as Wufei's magic called upon the very fires of Earth. Duo winced as he felt water begin to bubble up in his mouth, and choke him. He stared at the sky, wanting to cry out as the sun's light began to blind him.
. . . death . . .
"What . . .?"
Dark blue eyes opened slowly, "What was that?"
Confusion reigned in those deep blue eyes, as their owner sluggishly awoke from the experience. Urami stared at the ceiling for a while before slowly pushing up from the floor. Steadying on legs that seemed unsure and tremblingly, Urami grasped the railing tightly. "What happened?"
. . . death is finally awakening . . .
The reply was offhand; as if the Other thought that it was an obvious fact.
"What does it mean?"
. . . The knight will be susceptible to your influences . . . the Other paused, thinking. Urami took the chance to yawn, exhaustion setting in as the euphoric feelings brought in by the vision faded. . . . You must . . . *push* him to choose the right choice . . .
"Of course . . ." Urami's eyes narrowed, the star field as yet unchanging. "But first we must meet them . . . can we not advance any faster?"
. . . patience. . . Urami, patience . . . The Other chuckled with age old patronising, . . . we have all of eternity, if we so desire . . .
"What. . .?"
Deep violet eyes opened slowly, "what was that?" A hand brushed repetitively over his brow, smoothing the hair back. A gentle humming slowly arose his sense. "What's happened?"
"You've flexed another one of your talents . . ." A smooth female voice observed softly. Duo opened his eyes, and stared up. The same ice room, and its fathomless ceiling was the sight that greeted him. A beautiful woman, both young and old looking smiled down at him, as she cradled his head in her lap. Her long, pale fingers laced in his hair, as she hummed a tuneless song. Duo closed his eyes and let his body rest, as she slowly stroked his hair and forehead. "Who are you?"
"Don't you know?"
"Ogama?"
". . . yes."
"What happened?"
He opened his eyes as she continued to hum, and stared at her. Her eyes were a beautiful deep purple, and her pale white face was framed by curling black hair. Her lips were full, and blood red, shocking against such pale skin. A normal face for one so feared. A small smile tugged at her lips, as she tilted her head. "You had a vision . . . it's not unusual."
"Every knight of death has one?"
"Not really . . . It seems to change every time . . . last time the Knight of the Beasts was the telepath . . . this time it is you."
Duo snorted, "just before I fell into . . . the vision thingy I heard everyone talking . . ." he snickered with some amusement, "was that their minds?"
Death smiled, "that was indeed their thoughts, wild and overlapping . . . Beast told me, no human seems able to complete a thought."
"Beast? You mean Armbrust?"
"Yes, we usually don't call each other by the name that you call us . . . it is confusing when you change names every time a new generation of Knight arrives . . ."
Duo reached up, and touched her cheek. "You're incredibly beautiful . . ."
Death smiled softly. "It's the curse of death . . . you'll only ever know its true beauty in the last moments of life . . ."
"Where are we?"
"We are in purgatory."
Duo snapped up, and looked around. His head swam, and the room fell out of focus for a moment. There was a rustle of clothing behind him as Death stood. She paced around him, to a small pool of clear water. Duo stared at her, this figure swathed in black, as she knelt and dipped her hand into the water. She returned to his side, cupped hand dripping water, as she bid him to drink. He sipped the icy cool water gingerly, realising that his throat had been dry. He nodded his thanks as she straightened, a massive angel towering over him.
"Death . . ."
"You are not dead, Shinigami, you cannot be killed . . . if you believe your powers." She turned, "how do you feel?"
Duo nodded slowly, as he looked around, scared. He admitted quietly, "purgatory is somewhere I'd always imagined I lived anyway . . . to actually be here . . ." he shuddered, and got to his feet. "I thought there would be thousands of people here?"
"Limbo is a strange place; everyone goes here . . . yet it is rarely filled . . ." Death's voice echoed off the walls. Duo turned as he looked around, the ice was deceptive in that it seemed like a fun house filled with mirrors. At first glance he would see a wall of ice, but if he chose to look closer he would see that there was a doorway, probably leading to another passage. Death sat slowly on an outcropping that was placed above the water, and dipped her hand into the clear liquid. "Explore if you like . . . This is one realm where even Time dares not control."
Duo shuddered at the thought; eternity lay frozen in the walls of this place. He turned around again, in full circle, taking in the frosty beauty of the place. Its sheer coolness, the frozen silence reminded him of a morgue, even his breath sounding too loud in this place. He turned back to Death, and blinked as he saw a little girl sitting now in her lap. Death gently stroked a silver handled brush through the girl's hair, as the little girl arranged yellow flowers in her lap. She was a small girl, her nose was upturned, her hair was cornflower blonde, and her eyes were a summer sky blue.
Duo raised an eyebrow, the girl reminded him absurdly of Relena Peacecraft.
She radiated innocence as she hummed gently, arranging the bright yellow flowers on her white dress. At her feet were a wide, white summer hat and a sleeping golden retriever puppy. Duo smiled at the puppy, he had always wanted a pet of his own. He stepped over, slowly so not to disturb the little girl. "Hello?"
The little girl blinked and looked up. Death paused in her brushing.
"Hello Duo."
Duo blinked, "you know who I am?"
The little girl smiled, "You are that boy's friend . . ." she dipped her eyes to the yellow flowers again, the boy in the park. Duo knelt by her as she continued, "I've been in purgatory for a very long time I think . . ." she reached over, "I've seen you here a few times, you always seem a little older . . . Your friend, the boy in the park . . . he's been here a few times recently, very close but somehow he always gets called back to life."
"I . . ." Duo sighed and petted the dog, "I don't know who you mean."
"No, I don't suppose you do . . ." The little girl smiled, "but that's okay, Duo. I think you'll know when you go back . . ."
"I can go back then?" Duo blinked as she chuckled, "what?"
"Of course you can, you are Shinigami . . . Shinigami is the only one who can travel to the Afterworld without having to be dead." She looked down as the puppy yawned, and stretched. "The boy in the park was very gentle, very kind . . . he got into a lot of trouble for taking care of us after he killed us."
"What do you mean?"
"He gave us a burial . . ." the girl scrunched up her nose and amended, "well he buried Mary . . . he never found me. . ." reaching forward, the little girl tucked a lock of hair behind his ear, "will you tell him that it's really not his fault? That I'm very thankful that he took care of us afterward?" She plucked a flower from her bunch, and put it in his hair. "I've waited a very long time, and every time he comes here he never stays long enough for me to say it." Duo nodded, and she smiled brilliantly, "thank you!"
The girl slid out of Death's lap, and picked up her summer hat. She rocked the puppy a little, waking it up.
"Wait . . ." Duo said as she walked away from them, "what's your name?"
The girl smiled, as she reached another hidden doorway. She placed her hand on the icy wall, and turned to smile at him again, "my name is Mercy Hope." She smiled at him for a moment more before turning away, "tell him that. Tell him . . ." her voice began to fade as she walked away. Flowers held behind her back, and her head up, Mary the puppy walking dutifully by her side. "Tell him. . ."
Duo blinked as the room began to shift out of his focus, Mercy Hope's voice beginning to echo as it faded.
"That I forgive him . . ."
//--Duo?! Where are you—Allah, what happened?!—He was right here—I was holding his hand—Allah, please protect—Duo--//
". . . and that he . . ."
//--MAXWELL?!—He was right there!!—What the hell—where is he—Maxwell?!--//
". . . should forgive . . ."
//--He's not hiding is he?—what was that flash?!—Duo, where are you?!—You're scaring Quatre—I'm scared, where did he—//
". . . himself . . ."
//--Duo where are you--please don't—You said you'd be—please don't leave—come back—where are you—I'm worried—why isn't--//
. . .Death, come to me . . .
"SHINIGAMI!! SHIIIIIIII-NIEEEEE—GAAAAAA-MIIIIII!!"
There was a thunderous crack as lightning stormed across the sky.
"I still can't find him!" Wufei panted as he ran back with Heero. The four had been searching the woodland since Duo had disappeared an hour ago, and the thunderstorm was unrelenting as it quickly swept up. Heero clenched his fists, as he stared at the other three. "We will keep looking, no matter what, I must find him!!" Heero had to yell over the rain, the noise was almost deafening as it poured down, the sky was black with angry looking clouds, and the pilots could barely see each other. Quatre and Trowa ran back from the south and the east, Quatre panted, "I can't see him anywhere . . ." The blonde's hair was pasted to his head, and fell into his eyes. He dragged his hand through his fringe to pull it back. "What happened?! He was right there, and then he wasn't!!"
Trowa drew deep gasps of air, as he called over the storm, "I've tried listening to the wildlife but they are too scared to talk!"
"What do you mean?!" Wufei yelled, he kept looking around him, as if Duo would appear as suddenly as he'd disappeared, "What are they scared of?!"
"Death!" Trowa raked his hair back, "they are scared to pry into Death's business!"
Heero threw up his hands in frustration, and turned around, "DUO?! WHERE ARE YOU?!" He yelled into the darkness, struggling to hear himself over the howling gale force winds. "SHINIGAMI!! SHIIIIIIII-NIEEEEE—GAAAAAA-MIIIIII!!"
The lightning cracked above them all, and the heaven truly opened up. Rain, hail teemed down on them, actually beating their skin, stinging at their faces spitefully. Heero clenched his fists, as the others began to yell out around him. He dragged air into his lungs, until it hurt and screamed out, "SHIIIIIIII-NIEEEEE—GAAAAAA-MIIIIII!! SHINIGAMI!!"
"DUUUUUUUU-OOOOOOOHHHHHHH!!" Quatre's lungs burned as he screamed out into the darkness, it was if it was nighttime even though it had been the middle of the morning. "ANSWER US PLEASE!! DUO, WHERE ARE YOU?!" He panted, and wiped the rain from his face, his scalp beginning to hurt where the tiny pelts of frozen rain bounced off. He cupped his hands again, and kept calling, ignoring the tears that welled up in his eyes.
Trowa closed his eyes and blocked out his friends, as he tried again to listen to the wilderness around them, //please tell me what happened!// he entreated, but the same message returned, they dared not speak of Death for fear of retribution. Trowa shook his head violently; his cloak was beginning to feel so heavy as it soaked up the rainwater. "Damnit!" He swore aloud, and resumed yelling out.
"MAXWELL!!" Wufei heaved for air as he shook his head, his hair heavy with water. "MAAAAXWEEEEELLLLL!!" He blinked as a shadow moved amongst the branches. It was too short for Duo and Armbrust, yet too tall for the other angels. The shadow ambled closer, as Wufei motioned everyone else to be quiet. Trowa pulled his bow and arrow out, as the others armed themselves with their own weapons. Duo's scythe glittered in the lightning as the dark figure walked closer.
"Lay down your weapons, I am not your foe!"
Heero frowned with confusion as Duo's voice rang out. "Who are you?!"
The figure walked out of the shadows, the fifteen-year-old version of Duo stared at them. "I am Ogama, Angel of Death." The Angel moved closer as they lowered their weapons. "Duo has achieved the next level of magic. Conviction." Ogama turned away, and started to run down the mountain path toward the village, "Follow me!!" He called over his shoulder, as he jumped into the trees, spreading his dark crow's wings, "I will take you to him!!"
The knights glanced at each other before stowing their weapons, and running as fast as they could after the angel.
Odin and Zechs stood by the gate as Duo's angel had instructed them.
They had torches with them, keeping the gateway lit for the return of the Angel with the other knights. Meirin ran over to them, baring a third torch, she was as soaked as the rest of them as the sudden and violent storm continued. "Everything's been locked down!!" She yelled to the two, "Everyone's gathering at the First House!!"
The gale howled around them and Zechs winced as locks of his long hair whipped about his face, "you'd better get inside!"! He yelled at the girl, "it's getting worse!!"
Meirin shook her head, "I don't care, I want to meet Wufei here!!"
Odin glanced through the gate, "I can't see them yet!" He nodded to her, as he continued to yell, "I'm sure he wouldn't want you to catch your death of cold out here!! Get in!!"
Meirin bit her lip, as she dragged her long fringe out of her eyes. She lifted her electric lantern again, the slightly bluish white light casting her face deathly pale, before nodding again. "All right!! I'll make sure there's plenty of blankets and towels prepared for you!!"
"Thanks!!" Yelled Zechs as the girl handed him her lantern, and took his smaller torch. He looked at Odin worriedly, as she ran back to the main house.
Noin held the door open as Meirin ran back from the gate, her feet splashing through deep puddles. Her head was bowed as she tried to cover her face from the stinging hailstorm. "Get inside, quickly!" Noin yelled, she threw a blanket around the shivering girl and looked out to Zechs and Odin. "What's happening out there?!"
"I don't know!" Meirin's voice was muffled as she ran the blanket over her face and body, "I don't understand what happened at all!"
Sister Helen quickly walked over and handed her a cup of soup, "here, drink this quickly." She took the damp blanket, and handed her a towel, "and dry yourself." She motioned the fire they had going in the fireplace, "I'll hang this up and fetch you new clothes, keep warm."
Noin continued to stare out, going over the last hour in her mind. They had been tending the grounds as usual, Rashid and his men taking care of the grazing animals when suddenly there was a sonic boom. Everyone was thrown to the ground, it had been so loud. It sounded like a giant Gundam blowing sky high. Then there was all silence. Not even the cattle sounded, or the birds singing. The sky had rapidly darkened, and lightning cracked. The rain had started then, first a drizzle, then in the space of a few seconds became as hard as nails. Quatrine had come running from the hot pool where she and Faye had been gathering water, screaming something about one of the boys appearing there suddenly. When everyone had arrived, Faye was giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to Duo, while a mirror image of himself sat calmly on the rocks above the pool. The boy and his angel had simple appeared in the water, Duo wasn't breathing and Ogama was calmly observing him, glowing purple eyes demonic as the darkness stole in.
Duo was alive, of course, and spat up a lungful of water. Noin couldn't believe he'd survived. When Helen Maxwell went to question Ogama what had happened, the angel simply turned away, and bid Odin and Zechs to wait by the gate with lights.
Heero looked at the small village as they bounded over the treetops.
The lights in the First house burned brightly, and there were two people waiting by the gateway with lit lanterns. He glared at the back of Ogama, the smaller version of Duo was extremely quiet normally, but this deathly calm was unnerving. They ran through the air, with ease. The situation focused them to a point where flying through the air like this was easy. Ogama dipped out of sight, as he reached the gate, and the knights followed. Odin Lowe and Zechs were waiting for them, and gaped as the four boys dropped from the trees and ran through the gate. Heero ran to his father, and grabbed his arm, "where is he?!"
"Duo's in the first House—"
Odin sprinted after his son and his friends as they took off, without even pausing to catch their grating breath. The first house swept into view under a curtain of rain. Noin held the door for them, as they stormed in. Lightning crack above them once more, and the deep rumble of thunder shaking the glass in its panes. Duo was lying on a futon bed, while Helen fussed over him. Heero staggered over to his best friend, as the others sank to the ground with relief. Heero fell to his knees as Helen murmured assurances that Duo was fine, that he'd appeared so suddenly. The dark haired boy panted, his head swimming as his body tried to make oxygen and blood flow to all the places it was needed. The adrenaline of the past hour kept him alert enough to notice with some horror that Duo had a familiar but pretty . . . yellow . . . flower . . .
Night came . . . even if you couldn't tell.
The maelstrom had subsided into a normal rainstorm; Zechs drank quietly as he stared out, the warm soup warming him inside out as he shook off the chills. The five former Gundam pilots were fast asleep, each sleeping as near as they could to Duo. Heero was curled around his best friend, while Quatre and Trowa lay beside them, clutching each other. Wufei lay on the other side, his head in his wife's lap, as she dried his hair for him and re-plaited it into the thin braid he'd been wearing it in. there was quiet chatter, as everyone discussed what they thought had happened.
The bell by the gate began to toll, urgently as the wind blasted at it.
Ogama had disappeared as soon as he'd landed by the gate. Leaving no chance of them questioning the mysterious angel. There was a wide yawn from the other side of the window seat, and Zechs looked up to see Noin covering her mouth. She was wrapped up warmly in a blanket like he was, and stared out thoughtfully as the rain continued to fall. "A penny for them?" She blinked as Zechs quietly spoke. Zechs smiled weakly, "what are you thinking?"
Noin stretched, "I wonder what really happened? Why did Duo appear in the water? Where did this storm come from, and why couldn't Ogama stop it like he did last time?"
Zechs shook his head, "I don't know . . ." The bell started to ring wildly, causing him to glance over again, "I just . . ." he trailed over as a movement in the trees caught his attention. The quiet chatter behind him died out, and a low moan issued from Quatrine.
"What . . ." he frowned as twelve, no; fourteen figures shambled out of the shadows. "Not again . . ." Zechs growled, he threw off his blanket, "We've got more of those things heading our way!!"
The former dead in the room were pale and scared looking. Quatrine clapped her hands over her ears, "why won't they just leave us alone?!" She demanded, as Rashid rushed to her side. He motioned his men to retrieve their weapons. Odin threw a shotgun to Noin, as Zechs picked up clips of ammunition. He glanced up at Master Fao as the old man stared out the window grimly, "They know that all the knights are unable to fight . . . they know that conventional weapons will not kill them . . ." the old man staggered back, "We are all lost . . ."
Meirin shook her head angrily, "No! Do not listen to them, ignore them Master!" She motioned her husband, "Wufei and his friends are the future of this planet, we must fight! We must protect them now!" She picked up her ceremonial sword that Fao kept for her, and the Chang's Dragon Claw. "I will give my life for him once more!" She stood, and ran to the doorway, "We must protect them with our lives!!"
Zechs jammed two clips into his belt, and threw an extra gun to Noin, "she's right, we can't allow the knights to die yet!" He pressed his back against one side of the doorway, and looked up at Auda as the Arabian loaded his rifle. The man was pale, but grim. He was prepared to protect Quatre, as all the Maganac Corps had sworn to. He glanced over at Rashid as the captain brushed his hand over Quatre's pale cheek, and pulled a blanket over him. He glanced at Quatrine, "keep down . . . I will not allow you or Master Quatre to be hurt."
Quatrine nodded, and pulled the blanket tighter around her son. "Quatre . . ." she whispered urgently, wake up, "please . . . we need you . . ." Quatre winced, deep within his sleep. He seemed to try to wake but he was too exhausted. Sister Helen dipped to her knees, and started to shake each boy in succession.
Noin threw open a window and took aim, she growled and screamed out into the night, "Get back or we'll open fire!!" The figures showed no sign of slowing down as they shambled toward them, "this is your final warning!!" Noin screamed again, next to her Meirin growled angrily. Noin shook her head as a creature, formally known as an OZ mobile suit pilot, lurched forward into a run. "Foolish!!"
She squeezed off a shot, and the creature was thrown back. The creature flopped in the puddles like a fish out of water, a sickening gurgling issuing from its throat. "GET BACK!!" Yelled Odin from his position, "NOW!!" He took aim, and shot three on the left. They too fell to the ground, and lurched there for a moment. The dark blonde father of Heero growled as more lurched out of the undergrowth, "We're outnumbered . . ." he glanced at Rashid, "How many?"
The dead soldiers paused for a moment, considering their position, some even staring down at their thrashing comrades. Rashid glanced around, "thirty, maybe more . . ."
Zechs swallowed, "we can't let them take this house . . ."
"Give us the knights."
Noin let out a cry as one of the dead soldiers ambled forward. She dragged a breath in, trying to quell her sickness. "We can't do that, Bradbury."
The creature formally know as Cadet Bradbury moved forward again, "Give us the knights."
"Bradbury, get back!!" Noin screamed, "You're dead, you don't understand!"
"Give us the knights."
"Noin!" Zechs yelled from his position, "That isn't Bradbury anymore . . ." He raised his gun and took aim, "Bradbury is dead, this creature is not him."
The creature took a step closer, and stared at Noin with dead eyes, one eyeball was rolled up, the other swollen and bloodshot, "Instructor Noin . . ." he murmured, "I want to see space . . ."
Noin choked a cry back, "You're not Bradbury . . ."
"I want to see space, why won't you let me?"
Noin turned away from the window, and pressed her back to the wall, crying out, "God Damnit!" She breathed deeply, "I won't let you have the knights!!"
"How could you betray all of us?! We were so young!!"
"Noin!!" Zechs reached out to her, keeping his eyes on the other creatures. "Don't listen!!"
"Give me the knights!"
The blue haired woman swallowed, her gaze fell on the slumbering knights, and Helen's wide eyes. The strawberry blonde woman shook her head, "please . . . no . . ." she reached out and covered Duo's features as if to hide him, "not my son! Not again!"
"Never . . ." Noin shook her head, she swallowed and reloaded her shotgun, "Never!" Spinning, Noin quickly took aim, and shot the creature. "We'll never give you them."
The creatures stared at each other, then glared at the house.
"Can you handle a shotgun?" Meirin blinked as Noin handed her gun, and pulled out the spare that Zechs gave her. The Chinese girl nodded, and quickly levelled the gun on the nearest creature. Noin checked her gun, and flicked off the safety. "Remember to brace yourself for the recoil," She instructed tautly. She glanced back at Helen and Quatrine, "Can either of you handle a gun?"
Both women shook their heads in the negative, Fao hobbled forward, "Then we will be the final blockade . . ." he dropped his walking stick, and bent over to grab Wufei's feet, "We move them to the back of the house . . . come now, pull!"
There was at least three to each person in the house; they were seriously outnumbered. Meirin glanced at her husband, and bit her lip. "Wufei . . ." She whispered as she turned back to her aim, "I love you . . ."
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And Now It's Time For LEAVE IT TO DOCTOR MEGALOMANIA!!!
DrM: [grins] now things begin to hot up! Thank you for sticking with me so long!! Please R&R!!