Family
Chapter 42: Fear Gas Part Three
Author's note: Previously on Family, interrogating their main suspect revealed that the gas attack at Blue Marine Pub is just the tip of the iceberg to come. It is a race against time to prevent more gas attacks. Meanwhile our characters' nightmares continued. Heero woke up from his nightmare and managed to save Fate from the brink of death. He is asked to join the task force to stop more gas attacks from occurring.
This chapter will not be broken down into shorter chapters, but it will be a long chapter instead.
Take Note: I will be switching around to different person's point of view as well as the current situation, hence it can be confusing for the reader. Please do take note of this as it will allow me to focus more on different characters and find out how they are really feeling.
Warning: Mature, Violence, Very Dark and Depressing Themes throughout the entire Fear Gas Story Arc! You are warned!
Thank you for reading this story and I hope that you continue to support it. Please read and review, NO FLAMERS! Pairing: HeeroXOC
After Colony 203, 8th August,
VLA, Preventer Headquarters, Basement Laboratory
Late Night, 10pm
The Preventers and the army were working hard to track people through the website that Edmund had mentioned. They went down to the warehouse and discovered that there were still seventy gas tanks left, hence they must find the remaining thirty gas tanks. They did a heat sensor scan as well as a camera footage scan throughout the entire VLA, hoping to find the tanks. They then deployed teams be it from the army or the Preventers to arrest the participating culprits and retrieve the gas tanks. It was a major operation, to arrest and retrieve so many gas tanks at the same time. Duo, Federick and Lionel were busy with the co-ordination. Meanwhile the staff were all busy at the laboratory, trying desperately to come up with an antidote to the fear gas. They have a staff keeping a close watch on the death rates and conditions of the victims in the hospital. This staff will update them constantly what was happening on the ground. People have resisted arrest and Lady Une had authorised them to use force, and sometimes it was an ugly sight, but it had to be done. For the damage that was going to be caused by one gas tank alone was catastrophic. All of them were too busy with the recovery mission that all of them were stunned when all their computer screens were interrupted by a video call.
"Who the heck is that?" Federick asked.
He was angry that the call was disrupting them from monitoring the recovery missions. The video call was activated on the large main screen and everyone was stunned to see Heero's face on it. He was now dressed in his military uniform.
"Heero, you are awake!" Duo exclaimed in relief.
"Indeed I am, you have done well Duo." Heero said.
Duo merely smiled before Heero got down to business.
"I am Lieutenant Colonel Heero Wingate, I hereby return to duty and appoint myself the commanding officer for the investigation of the gas attack at Blue Marine Pub. The Preventers will follow my lead during this investigation as well." Heero announced.
Lionel merely sighed, as if in relief as well.
"Welcome back, boss." Lionel said.
"You have done well, Lionel." Heero said in return.
"Where are you?" Duo asked while Federick rolled his eyes.
"I am on a helicopter, flying to the Preventers Headquarters. I have brought Belmont de Camden with me, he will be an asset to the research team. I require a status update, Lionel?" Heero commanded.
Lionel summarized everything in a few sentences while Federick resumed command of the on-going recovery missions. Heero was brought up to speed of the situation at hand. Heero's eyes narrowed, he didn't like what was going on but it was indeed a race against time. Yet the antidote was Heero's current concern, it had taken far too long. Heero ended the video call and turned to Belmont.
"Is the research ready yet?" Heero asked.
"What? You want to use it now?" Belmont asked in shock.
"We may not have a choice." Heero said.
"But it's not stable yet, we don't even know if it will work!" Belmont exclaimed.
"That may be the least of our concerns." Heero said.
An hour later,
Late Night, 11pm
The helicopter finally landed on the helipad on the rooftop of the Preventers' Building. They took the lift down to the basement laboratory whereby Heero created quite a storm when he entered the place.
"I want those available to work faster on the antidote, this is not a research thesis and we do not have time. Speed up!" He yelled almost immediately.
"Yes sir!" Everyone answered as the lab staff continued to work.
Belmont immediately got cracking as well, working with what they have so far. Heero pulled out a software that he had made and set it to run on its own, hoping that it will be able to make the antidote as well. Then he went to visit Edmund with Lionel. Edmund was still under influence from the truth serum hence he was still in zombie mode.
"Why did you want to see him?" Lionel asked.
Heero didn't answer and merely walked towards the man. Lionel was stunned when Heero punched Edmund so hard in the stomach that the man coughed out blood.
"Sir…"
Lionel shuts up almost immediately when Heero landed the next punch, it was such a hard punch that Lionel felt sorry for Edmund to be on the receiving end of it.
"Sir, you will kill him." Lionel said softly.
"He should have thought of that when his experiment almost killed my girlfriend." Heero said through clenched teeth as he picked Edmund up by the collar and glared down at him.
"Please show some restraint." Lionel suggested.
"As him what was the original antidote's formula?" Heero said.
Lionel repeated the question to Edmund, he started talking and Heero threw him down on the chair as he recorded everything down on paper. That's when Duo came running over and knocked on the door, Lionel lets Duo in.
"We got a problem." Duo said and winced at the sight of some blood in the room.
"What has happened?" Lionel asked.
"All of the gas tanks that we have retrieved has a self-timer installed, one that will open the valve of the gas tank at a specific time." Duo said.
"And?" Lionel probed.
"They are all set to open at 7am tomorrow! Means that if by 7am, any of the gas tanks that we are unable to retrieve will simply disperse the fear gas. And that could mean trouble for anyone nearby." Duo said.
Heero looked at the clock on the wall and knew that they only have seven hours and forty five minutes left.
"How many more tanks to go?" Heero asked.
"We still have fifteen tanks left to collect." Duo said.
They had no clues as to where they will be for anyone from the forum could have taken them and already set them up to open at 7am. They could be anywhere…
"Did we search for them in the places Edmund had recommended?" Heero asked.
"Still in the midst of searching." Duo said.
Heero was wrecking his brain as he thought of what to do to retrieve the remaining fifteen gas tanks in the remaining hours.
"The timers, we trace back the signals." Heero said.
"Right, I'm on it." Duo said as he rushed off.
Meanwhile Heero eyed Edmund who was still in zombie state. He turned and left instead before he will pummel the man to death in order to vent his anger. Lionel followed after him and signalled for some of their men to guard Edmund again. As they were walking back towards the laboratory,
"Was our findings of the fear gas accurate?" Lionel asked Heero since he had experienced it.
"Yes." He answered.
"According to calculations, you are supposed to sleep for thirty days. Yet you are the only one who have woken up despite us not having any antidote at all. The question is how did you do it?" Lionel asked.
Heero was silent and stopped in his tracks while Lionel followed suit. He thought about the nightmare that he had. How his worst fear was coming alive right before his eyes. But he remembered what happened after that. He looked down at his right hand in silence. That was when it hit him, he had woken up because he had conquered his worst fear. He was no longer afraid of the killer side in him anymore. After all he had decided to co-exist with the other him.
"Heero?" Lionel asked softly.
"I managed to conquer my worst fear." Heero said softly.
"Could that be the answer to waking everyone up?" Lionel asked.
"It won't work, for not everyone has the will power to conquer their fears. As humans we all have our own fears and we all choose to run from them instead of facing them head on." Heero said.
"Was that why people are dying? For their fears had driven them to a heart attack." Lionel said.
Heero knew that it was the only actual explanation. That was when he received a call from Isabelle, telling him that Fate's condition had improved slightly. He ended the call with a heavy heart as he stared down at the list he had written, consisting of the ingredients of the past antidote that no longer worked. They could start with it as a basis, after all the fear gas had evolved way beyond the antidote now. They made their way back and Heero handled the information he got to the research team. Then he spoke to Belmont who had been analysing the fear gas' molecule compound for a while now.
"I have not seen a gas so forcefully made and so unstable." Belmont said.
"Yet lethal." Heero said.
Lionel was helping Duo with backtracking the timer's signal, in hopes to pinpoint all the remaining gas tanks. Federick was still busy with overseeing all the remaining retrieval missions that were still ongoing. Heero looked at his own software and saw that the system was unable to come up with a match yet. Was his cellular regeneration research the only way out? But it was used to regrow cells, not force poisonous gas particles out. Maybe it won't work at all. He thought about his own experience and wondered if he could find a way to wake everyone up.
Everyone was stuck in a thirty day long nightmare which they cannot wake up from. It was the most torturous experience to go through. While the pain experienced was very real, it was the mental and emotional strain that could have killed the victims as well. Heero suspects that even if they do come up with an antidote, the victims may experience reality distortion trauma. Whereby they could not differentiate reality and the nightmares that they have experienced. Heero hated this race against time as he knew that the victims depended on them to find an antidote. Included in those head count is his girlfriend and his best friends. He couldn't let them down, not like this.
Fate's nightmare
Fate woke up and knew immediately that she hadn't died. Because death should be cold and dark, yet she found herself staring at a white ceiling, one belonging to hospitals. Someone had gotten to her and brought her to a hospital? But how? No one was around in the flower shop except her. She lifted her hands to her face and saw the bandage around the wrist she had slit.
"You are still very much alive."
This voice, could it be? She turned and saw Heero seated on the sofa some distance away from the bed. Why was he here? They were not even related hence there was no way the hospital will contact him.
"I went back to the shop to order another bouquet to find you bleeding on the floor. I immediately brought you here to get treatment." Heero explained.
So the voice was him. Their eyes met before Fate looked away from him.
"Why did you do it?" He said softly.
"Why do you care?" She asked instead.
"I just saved your life."
"I never asked you to." Fate whispered.
"You could have died." Heero said.
"That was the plan."
There was a short moment of silence between them before Heero stood up and approached her, stopping at the side of the hospital bed. He looked down at her and Fate looked to her side, unable to bring herself to look at him.
"I went back to the shop because I knew that something was amiss." He admits softly.
Fate closed her eyes instead, hoping that he will leave her alone if he thinks that she is sleeping. Yet there was a question that bugged her.
"Why did you save me?" She asked him softly.
He didn't answer her and for a short moment there was nothing but silence.
"I have lost a lot of people and things over the years, it reached a point where I can no longer sit back and watch someone die in front of my eyes anymore." He said so softly, but his words surprised her.
He had saved her out of kindness of his own heart, kindness which she knew he always had, but it was something he rarely shows to anyone. Yet he showed it to her, a random stranger.
"I don't know what happened to make you want to end your own life, but dying is never the answer to anything." Heero told her.
"You won't understand." She whispered.
He didn't say anything instead he took out a card, it seemed to be his name card. And then he placed it on the bed next to where her hand was.
"Live Miss Jayson, don't give up living." He told her.
His words touched her and she struggled not to cry. But when she opened her eyes, he was already gone from the room.
"Heero." She whispered to no one as she broke down and cried.
After being discharged from the hospital, Fate went back to the apartment and realised that she couldn't be in here. Not when she was facing the same four walls, the same lonely and quiet apartment. She turned and left the apartment. She started walking, not sure where she was heading to. But she knew that she just couldn't go back there again, with only negative and lonely thoughts to overwhelm her. Looking down at her still bandaged wrist she looked down sadly and forced herself to pick up the pace. She couldn't believe that she had fallen so badly that she had tried to commit suicide. Was this what Heero felt like when he was near the edge too? All they needed was a single push and she would have gone over the edge and there will be no turning back. For it would be far too late for anything else to be done.
Was there no one she could turn to? Did Gabriella know no one at all? Does she have no close friends at all? Coming to a stop, she saw that there was a pub that was still open. Sadly she wasn't rich enough to drink until she was drunk. Besides, she was all on her own now, it would be dangerous to get drunk and risk being taken advantage of. She took out her handphone and looked through the list of contacts on the phone, no one was someone she knew. They were merely names of people she had never met. She could pick one at random or… With a sigh she dialled the number to De Camden Mansion, hoping that maybe Federick was around. Conner picked up the phone and Fate hesitated. If Fate de Camden doesn't exist in this universe then Federick wouldn't know her at all. She hung up the call without saying a single word.
Fate tightened her grip around Gabriella's handphone as she looked up at the night sky. She fought hard not to break down and cry, painfully aware that she was truly alone in this world. She was about to place her handphone back into the side pocket of her dress when she felt something. She pulled it out and realised that it was the name card that Heero had given her. She stared at the number in silence before she bucked up the courage to call him. She was uncertain if he will even remember her after all he doesn't know her at all here. He had left three numbers on his name card which was rare as Heero rarely gives his private number and even his emergency number to people. She chose to call his private number, not wanting to abuse the emergency line. She managed to find an empty bench along the shopping street the flower shop was located, she sat down and called Heero. She took in a deep breath and tried to come up with the right words to say. What if he doesn't pick up? She waited anxiously, hoping that she doesn't sound too distressed. He picked up the call the second time she called him.
"Wingate." Was his usual monotone voice.
She wanted to call him by his first name but decided against it, she has to be polite since she is a stranger to him.
"Hello, Mr. Wingate." She whispered.
"Who is this?" Heero asked.
"I am… Gabriella Jayson." She nearly said she was Fate, but she didn't know how to introduce herself as Gab.
I am the girl who tried to commit suicide, but you managed to save me. Was that even the normal thing to say when introducing oneself?
"Yes, Miss Jayson." He said, at least he remembered her.
"I…" Fate had a lot of things to say to him, yet she knew that she couldn't say them since she is Gabriella now, not Fate.
Emotions welled up and she suddenly didn't know what to say anymore. Tears fell from her eyes and she didn't know how to tell him that she was miserable, lonely and in so much pain. Both physically and mentally.
"Miss Jayson?" Heero asked, as if not sure if she was there.
"I… just… want to say thank you. And I'm so sorry… that I was rude to you." Fate lied, wiping her tears away.
"I see." Was his short reply.
"Well… goodbye." She whispered before she hung up.
The tears kept on falling and Fate didn't bother to wipe them away anymore. She stared up at the night sky and wished that maybe somehow she could be with him again. Live Heero had told her, but did he know how hard it was to continue living without him? And so Fate sat there as she continued crying, aware that she had no place to go, that she had no one to support her. She was left all alone and forced to be independent. It sure was depressing to know that she used to have it all and now she had nothing left. Nothing except the fact that she is still living. She didn't know how long she had stayed like that, there was no longer anyone on the streets hence no one saw her. Eventually after she had managed to calm down, she stood up and continued walking. She had no destination in mind and very little cash in her wallet. She didn't know where she could go, she only wanted to get as far away from here as possible. This wasn't her life, this isn't her… This is not real… It shouldn't be this way.
Trowa's Nightmare
Trowa's mind is emotionally unstable, he had gone back in time almost twelve times. Each time he tried different methods to save Heero, yet it was as if fate itself was against him. Each time Heero still died right before his eyes and he is falling into a state of depression. He now finds himself seated on a sofa and he recognised the location as Arabella's apartment. He looked around anxiously, no he needs to go back to save Heero again. Take him back to that location again! He has to save Heero, he hasn't given up yet!
"Trowa?"
He saw Arabella and she seemed surprised to see him in such a state. He barely got her name out before she came over to hug him.
"It's okay Trowa, everything will be alright." Arabella said, her voice soothing him.
Still he was shaking badly and trying to calm down as well. No Heero is still out there, he needs to save him.
"You are safe now, Trowa." Arabella said.
Trowa doesn't really believe her but appreciates her being here with him, after he had finally grasped the fact that this is probably in the future now. Heero is still alive hence he can finally breathe normally again. That's when something on the coffee table caught his eye. What is this? He broke the hug and opened the file, there were scattered documents but there were photos of his best friends and him. And there were also photos of Gundam and mobile suits. What are all of these? Why are they here in Arabella's house? He looked at his girlfriend for an explanation.
"These are nothing…" Arabella said, trying to hide the documents.
"What is going on, Arabella?" Trowa asked.
Arabella was packing the documents away from his sight.
"Tell me, please." He said softly.
"I know who you were. You were a Gundam pilot…. And to think your best friends are the same."
Trowa's eyes widened in shock, how did she find out?
"How did you…"
"From a testimony from an old retired soldier, he remembered you as the man who killed his best friend. I thought he was mistaken but he recognised you through a photo of you. And he said you are a Gundam Pilot. How could you keep something like this from me?" Arabella asked.
"I… Arabella, such information is dangerous. It can bring more harm than good."
"Of course, it's dangerous! Can you imagine how I feel? To find out that my boyfriend is a murderer, someone who piloted a Gundam and caused mass destruction in the Colonies and Earth. And to think all your best friends are involved too. How can you hide and pretend everything is alright? That your life can go on as usual when so many people have died by your hands!" Arabella said.
"Arabella, listen to me…"
"No, I will not listen to you anymore. I will hand these documents in and all of you will pay for what you have done!"
Trowa reached out to grab the documents from her, they started fighting over the documents. She asked him to let go but he won't, he's not going to let her ruin their lives like this. He can't, he must destroy these documents. He will deal with Arabella later. He got hold of the documents and started to tear them apart, pushing Arabella away when she tried to stop him.
"Fine you can destroy it, but I have the soft copy and I will hand them in as well."
"Stop this Arabella, you will ruin our lives." Trowa said.
"Stop? You deserved it for what you did to the people. All of you deserve to be facing death sentence in prison as past Gundam pilots."
"Do not say that!"
"I cannot believe you touched me with the same murdering hands, Trowa!" Arabella exclaimed.
"It's not like that. Calm down, things are different now."
"Different? How can it be different when you are still a murderer? How do you explain to the people who have lost their loved ones at your hands?" Arabella asked.
Stop, all of this is far too much to take. He needs to calm her down and convince her not to go to anyone with this information.
"I am going to the authorities right now." Arabella declared, standing up.
"No, don't do this Arabella." Trowa said.
"You disgust me! You have been lying to me about who you were! I can't trust you anymore Trowa, you murderer!" Arabella exclaimed.
She then started to go towards the door.
"Don't go Arabella, just come back we will talk this out." Trowa said.
"No, I am leaving right now. There's no way we can ever talk this out for you cannot change who you once were!" Arabella said.
She is about to unlock the door. Trowa knew that if Arabella leaves, she will cause a lot of trouble to all his best friends, no he cannot allow it to happen. In desperation he took out his gun, took aim and fired at the door. Arabella is shocked, it did stop her from leaving temporarily. She stared back at him.
"Get back from the door, please. I don't want to hurt you." Trowa said with his gun pointed at her.
"So, you have finally shown your true colours." Arabella said with a sad look on her face.
"Let's just talk this over calmly, I will tell you everything." Trowa said.
"It's too late Trowa, we are over talking." She unlocked the door, while Trowa closed his eyes and fired.
She hits the floor shocked that Trowa shot her but is still very much alive.
"You…"
Trowa steps forward towards her, he must do this. For everyone else, for his best friends too.
"Are you going to kill me, Trowa?" Arabella asked, with disbelief in her eyes.
"I'm sorry." Trowa said as tears fell from his eyes.
He fired three shots aiming at her vital areas. Arabella stopped moving entirely and as blood stained the floor, Trowa threw his gun away and sank down to the floor too. No this wasn't supposed to happen! He killed Arabella to stop their secret from getting out, he had to do it. He had no choice… Heero would have done the same… Why did she turn on him like that? Why? He yelled out in anguish as Trowa fell into a state of despair.
Fate's Nightmare
Fate knew that she had nowhere to go, hence she returned to the house. It was saddening to feel so lonely and have no one to turn to for help in such desperate times. Or maybe everything was just in her own head. She couldn't go find her friends nor family for she doesn't exist to them; she was merely a normal person like everyone else. Plain, unknown and alone…
Mundane, quiet and slow days passed by quickly. Then she remembered looking up from the flowers that she was arranging to see Heero enter her flower shop one night. He was here to collect the bouquet for Relena. The one where he will be using for his proposal. Fate went to the flower fridge to retrieve his bouquet. Their eyes met but no one said a single word, as if there wasn't anything to be said. Fate knew that he was merely being kind to her yet she didn't want it. After all they were merely connected by coincidence and soon he will disappear from her current life forever. He doesn't even know her and maybe he won't remember her as time passed on. Was there even anyone who remembered her as Fate? Or has Fate de Camden completely been erased from existence in this world?
"Your bouquet, Mr. Wingate." She said softly, breaking the silence between them.
There was no need to pretend otherwise for even Fate could not force herself to smile anymore. Heero merely looked down at the bouquet and proceeded to take out his wallet. He paid the rest of the money for the bouquet and Fate printed the receipt in silence. She could feel his familiar eyes watching her closely.
"Thank you." She said.
Their eyes met again and Fate felt that she should say something else. Yet she was aware of his gaze on her wrist, the skin had healed but the scar still remained. One that clearly marked her as it was obvious with her fair skin. It was ironic to feel this way again, for him to be standing right here in front of her yet for her to constantly feel that they are worlds apart. He was so far away that she knew that even if she tried to reach out and grasp hold of him, she would only be grasping air. Can he hear her desperate plea for help? Guess not…
"I hope that she accepts your proposal." Fate said softly and forced a smile at him.
He gave a nod of acknowledgement before he turned and left the shop with the bouquet in hand. Fate watched him leave, wanting to remember everything about this moment. For she was certain that she will never see him again after this. And so he was gone and all Fate remembered was him walking away from her and possibly out of her life. She painted it all down on a canvas so that she could always look back at it, after all she had a lot of time. The tears came like it always did and she was tired of crying her eyes too. But there was nothing else she could do; she can only accept it as her new reality now.
Present time,
9th August, 3am
VLA, Preventer Headquarters
They managed to trace the timers' signal back and managed to locate all remaining fifteen gas tanks. But some of them seemed to have already been installed in places with high crowd flow. Heero gave the order to retrieve all gas tanks immediately but they also realised that some of the tanks were on the move. Which could only mean that there were people moving them and trying to install them. Heero ordered everyone involved in moving the tanks to be arrested and hauled in for questioning. The Preventers and the army sent teams down to chase all the tanks. While Heero asked for a status report on the antidote.
No one was able to come up with anything solid even when they tried to use the formula that they have obtained from Edmund. Indeed it was a useless method for the antidote then was not able to neutralise the evolving fear gas. Heero wasn't pleased with the results and asked them to try everything for all the genius bio medical researchers were in the laboratory with them. No antidote was not an answer or an option.
"Get it done!" Heero shouted.
"We have tried every method we know of and we still can't come up with anything!" A man exclaimed.
Tension in the laboratory was high and everyone knew that many lives were at stake. Forces were already on the ground in pursuit of the fifteen remaining gas tanks. But without the antidote, the victims will only continue their nightmare sleep until one fear drives them over the edge. But no one will want to continue sleeping for thirty days. All eyes were on Heero, waiting for his response to that. He was silent but even he knew that they have to work at it until they have something that they can be of use.
"Go beyond everything you know of. Throw out everything that you have learnt in the textbooks. Anything that you think will work, try it." Heero said.
"You can't mean…"
"We are dealing with something that is ever evolving. We need an antidote that can do the same." Heero said.
Shocked and surprised looks were on everyone's faces. There was always a double edge sword to everything, especially for bio medical research. One surprise finding can lead to a cure but it can also lead to a bio weapon. It was a thin line and Heero was asking them to cross it.
"That's crazy, you want us to make a bio gas weapon to fight it?" Another man asked.
"If it's the antidote that we seek, then do it." Heero said.
"You are nuts!"
Unease and more tension was spreading fast among the researchers.
"You can think me crazy and walk out of here. But how will you explain to the families of the victims who are still waiting for them to wake up?" Heero asked.
There was silence that followed after his question.
"How will you explain to them that you let them die because you refused to cross the line? Refused to do what was ethically wrong?" Heero asked.
Everyone was silent, but his words were sinking in.
"Throw away the pride that you have and focus on why you are here in the first place. To save lives, then start by saving every victim in the hospital." Heero said.
They all left to go back to their places but Federick shook his head.
"You shouldn't have said that." Federick said.
"I care more about people's lives than what others think of me." Heero stated.
He then went over to where Belmont was.
"How is it going?" He asked softly.
"I have looked at some of the victims' blood test and indeed the fear gas has gotten into the victims' blood stream. But I was surprised by the findings in Preventer Maxwell and your blood test. That somehow after waking up the toxin caused by the gas was completely gone." Belmont said.
Heero and Duo have given their own blood as requested by Belmont a few hours ago and the test results were already out. Still it seemed almost impossible for such toxin to be removed from the bloodstream that easily. It wasn't even passed out, but where could it have gone to?
"I ran a simulation based on whatever all of you have discovered. While the cellular regeneration will immediately start generating new cells, it is still losing to the toxin that is constantly circling around in the bloodstream. Eventually it will overpower the new cells created, making it useless." Belmont explained.
"It means it's not regenerating fast enough." Heero said.
"But at any faster rate, the person might die from the internal chemicals fighting deep inside of them." Belmont said.
Heero was displeased, to think that one trump card that he had on his sleeve was not going to be useful in this situation.
"It's not going to work." Belmont said softly.
"I am aware of that." Heero said.
Belmont sighed, feeling upset that this important theory that they have worked hard on wasn't going to be of any use.
"Try anything that you can think of." Heero said.
He left and returned to his temporary position as the head of the operation. Duo went out to collect one of the tanks, Federick and Lionel were commanding the forces on the ground. Heero knew that the mission will still be incomplete after the safe retrieval of the fifteen gas tanks. He still has to save everyone… including Fate. Her situation wasn't looking very promising. She is still very weak but is still alive at this moment. His best friends weren't doing so well either, but Wufei was the strongest among the three of them. He stared at the computer screen before him. He was running a lot of software programs that he had created to try to come up with an antidote for the fear gas. Some were still in matching state, but many have already failed, coming up with no answers at all. He was running out of time and he knew that he needed to save everyone.
Damn it! He had left the Preventers, started his own army. He had trained his men well, built new facilities, came up with new weaponry and obtained power. All in hopes of dealing with emergencies such as this. His men have responded well to the crisis so far and Lionel has stepped up to lead them when he was done. But all of that will mean nothing if they still couldn't save the victims. He didn't do so much only to feel as helpless as he does now. To feel that he couldn't save the people who mattered to him, especially Fate. Another software showed no results and he shut that program down. But he was angry, at himself for not seeing this sooner. Why was no one monitoring the forums and watching these people who were out to create chaos and terror? Because he had neglected them too, thought that they were just keyboard warriors who will only complain on the internet and are not courageous enough to try anything. But look what have happened? He will need to monitor the internet and social media much more closely after this.
As he watched the ticking clock, he knew that time was not something they have but was this all they could do? Was there truly nothing that can be done? No he refused to give up or sulk in a self-pity party. Failure was not an option for too much was at stake. He will prevail, like the many times he did before this. That's when an emergency alarm sounded. Everyone looked up in surprise and wondered what was going on. They looked around at each other in confusion and Heero was alerted by the red words appearing over everyone's computer. Endless coding were running across the screens and Heero immediately got to work.
"What's going on?" Belmont asked.
"Someone is hacking into the servers from the outside." Heero said.
He was typing fast on the keyboard to try to stop the hacker. Now was not the time to deal with this, but he cannot allow sensitive information to be leaked outside of the servers. He wrote the security program for the Preventers' servers, it was almost impenetrable from the outside unless one knows where to attack from. The hacker was advancing, getting past the traps that he had set up in place. Heero was countering as fast as he could but the hacker was faster. This person knew exactly where to attack and how to avoid all the counter measures that Heero was using to stop him or her. Soon all computers cannot be used and only Heero was busy typing away.
"I am cutting everything down to protect the information. We will lose connection with the forces!" Heero shouted out.
Federick and Lionel immediately informed their forces before Heero shut everything down. He broke all internet and communication channels, causing the live feed to be cut off. But the hacker was still diving deeper into their servers and Heero worked hard to counter it. All eyes were on the large screen showing how the hacker was moving into their servers while Heero was trying to block the hacker's progress. It was like a chasing game in a maze. Heero knew that the hacker was good but it was time to stop whoever it was in their tracks. He had managed to save all data on the server while distracting the hacker with the chase. Then he cuts all power to the server off, it should force the hacker out as without a running server, the hacker will be stuck as well. But even Heero was surprised to see that it was still moving.
"Wingate." Federick warned, rushing to a nearby computer to help out as well.
Heero ignored him and continued to work. But the hacker was still advancing through their servers even though it had already been shut down. The hacker slipped past the last security measure and Heero didn't react when all power in the Preventer Headquarters was shut down. Gasps of surprise was heard. Heero knew that the computer that he was using was forcefully shut down, making him unable to stop the hacker now.
"Backup power status?" Heero barked out.
"Can't check as everything is shut down." Federick muttered.
Flash lights were turned on and Heero stared at the black room in front of them. The hacker was up to something but whoever it was, it snuck past the most confidential files. Where was the hacker targeting? What was the person up to? The lights and power suddenly came back on and Heero knew that the hacker has exited their servers after getting whatever they came for. As every computer was turned back on, Heero immediately checked the servers' status first.
"Sir." Lionel whispered.
Heero was too busy trying to find out what was taken that he wasn't looking up. But he noticed that everyone was staring ahead. He looked up at the main screen ahead and was surprised to see a large image in front of them. It was an image of a molecular structure of something that Heero had never seen before. It was complex with many layers and many elements were included in it. But more than anything else, there were two words on the image. "Use this." It was written. Everyone stared at the image in surprise while Heero wondered why the hacker will hack into their servers to leave them this image. Was it from a friend or foe? Can this information be trusted?
"What is on the image?" Heero asked the researchers.
"I have never seen anything like this."
"Can it be used?" Heero asked.
"Wingate." Federick warned.
"Sir?" Lionel asked.
But Heero ignored them while the researchers continued staring at the image before them while he started communication channels again. That when Belmont started laughing out loud, gaining everyone's attention instead.
"This person is a genius!" Belmont exclaimed.
"Are you sure?" Heero asked.
"Yes I am sure, we have been looking at it in the wrong angle. Why haven't I discovered it from the start?" Belmont asked.
"Explain what you mean." Heero said.
Belmont went over and pulled out the image of the fear gas' molecular structure on the screen. He highlighted a small area and even Heero was stunned for he recognised what it was.
"The base was initially a VX virus compound." Belmont said.
A VX virus was discovered centuries ago and was often stored for military use should there ever be the need for it. Sadly the virus itself while very toxic and venomous, it has become outdated. Armies and Militaries stock up on more advanced bio gases but they are seldom used for ethics sake. Even Heero can state all the different types of bio gases he has in his army's warehouse but none of them were VX virus. But why hadn't anyone noticed this?
"VX was outdated, hence it was no longer produced. But Kevin Vladimir used it as a base to start his fear gas research. For VX is known as a nerve agent and it had some of the effects that Vladimir wanted to cause. But he added a lot of other gases and elements into it to be what we see as the fear gas now. Sadly as it is forcefully made, it's very unstable." Belmont explained.
Federick and Lionel were distracted as the communication channels were back on and they were getting live status updates regarding the forces on the ground.
"So we need an antidote that can fight VX?" Heero asked.
"No, for Vladimir's past antidote formula was that. I didn't recognise it at the start as its structure was too mixed up but indeed the base for that was initially an antidote for VX. But now that the fear gas has evolved too much, the antidote then is indeed useless now. However whoever gave us this…."
Belmont went back to the message that the hacker had left for them. He highlighted a few areas in the chemical compound with a laser pointer.
"This is the original antidote for VX, but when we do this…"
He crossed over the molecular structure of Vladimir's antidote with the message's molecular structure. Indeed they overlap in some areas, especially where Belmont had highlighted. But many parts were different as well.
"This person knew what the base of the fear gas was and worked using the antidote of the VX to create this. This was what we missed out. If we worked using the same angle here, we should be able to create the antidote that we need." Belmont said.
"Why did no one discover this?" Heero questioned all of the researchers.
"Can't blame them, the V series of nerve gas were removed from the textbooks decades ago as it has become outdated." Belmont said.
"Work with what we have now. Find out if what they give us can be used as an antidote or not." Heero said.
"Sir…" Lionel said in doubt.
"We can deal with the source of the message later, I will use everything and anything I can to save the victims. Work on it." Heero ordered.
Everyone scrambled to work while Heero checked all the servers to see that everything was untouched and only the message was left behind. But then he received a notification on his emergency phone and he left to go somewhere private to check on it. He saw that it was a notification of activity in the secret location where he has hidden Wing Zero. No it couldn't be… that area was practically a wasteland that no one will travel near it anymore. But the timing of everything was too coincidental and even Heero knew that there was no such things as coincidence. Then the idea came to him, but it wasn't possible. All power sources and communication reception and channels were cut from that location there was no way the Gundam could move on its own without his input.
Unless… Heero felt like smacking himself for he had forgotten that at the brain of everything that he had created lies the thing that started it all. His old friend, the system that could have overpowered him and killed him. But Heero had turned it all around and put it to good use instead. Records of its existence was also destroyed in Operation Wipe Out but no one knew that it was the brain of every security system that Heero had written. That it had a mind of its own and was constantly analysing data everywhere, and highlighting threats to Heero. Heero hadn't thought of consulting it for an answer as it has evolved to become an encyclopedia now. But it would explain how it knew where to go in the Preventers' server for it was the brain behind it all. And where to leave that information so that everyone could see it.
Heero sighed, he was outsmarted by the Zero System, but it was a necessary move. Maybe his old friend knew that he was in need of help. Heero pocketed his emergency phone after deleting the message. He made a mental note to visit the brain after all of this was over.
Sometime later after more research and testing by the scientists, it had proved that indeed Zero had given them the answer to the antidote that they seek. And in a simulation, it was able to cancel out the toxin in the victim's blood stream. But the antidote was not chemically made to be airborne, it was a liquid compound which needed to be injected into the victims. Heero ordered the antidote to be mass produced immediately.
"We do not have time to test it, what about the side effects?" Hilde asked him.
"We have to take that risk." Heero said.
"But…"
"Monitor everything. That is the only answer I can give regarding the matter." Heero said.
Some scientists left to go to the bio medical factories that they have to disperse the information and get mass production going. The mass production process will take time but they were trying to come up with as many antidotes as they can, in case another gas tank was released.
Heero knew that they were one step closer to completing the mission the only problem was can the antidote actually work like it can in the simulation? There were risks involved but it was better than having nothing to work with at all. Lionel reported that all teams on his side have managed to retrieve the gas tanks safely. All self-timer on the gas tanks were disarmed as well. They were on the way back with the tanks and a few arrested people.
"We have a problem, Wingate." Federick said.
Heero refrained himself from sighing, when was this ever going to be over?
"What is it?" Heero asked.
"Our side is almost done except for two gas tanks." Federick said.
"Where are they?" Heero asked.
"They have not been moving for a rather long time but our forces were not allowed into their locations." Federick explained.
"How so?" Heero asked.
"Both are in the high speed train's terminals. Our forces are not allowed inside until we have a permit." Federick said.
Heero was angered this was a matter of national security and they are stopping them due to the lack of a permit?
"Both gas tanks are at different train terminals. Lady Une is working on the permit and it has been signed by the President of the Colonies. They are on the way to dispatch the official document to the teams there." Federick reported.
"They are moving!" Came Duo's voice in Federick's ear piece.
"What do you mean?" Federick asked.
"The trains are moving and so are the tanks!" Duo shouted.
Heero looked at his watch, damn the first trains have already started. The permits took too long.
"I want all hands on deck for this." Heero said and they pulled everything they have onto the main screen.
Image from Duo's helmet camera showed that trains were starting to leave the terminal, so were the train on the other end of the line's train terminal.
"Track which train the tank is on, follow it and remove it from the train before it reaches anywhere." Heero said.
"Got it." Duo said and his team was on the move, tracking the train one gas tank was on.
"Can't we ask their command centres to stop them?" Lionel asked.
Heero decided that at such times, maybe approval wasn't needed. He immediately started hacking away.
"Sir?" Lionel asked.
"I will stop them by force." Heero said.
"But that's illegal and beyond what the permit allows." Lionel said.
Heero said nothing as he tried to hack into the control centres.
"We will delay every train that is running, the general public will question why their trains are late. And we are not supposed to let anyone know more about the fear gas situation as it will only cause more panic." Federick said.
"Sir, please stop." Lionel said.
Heero did stop hacking which made everyone relieved. That was until he took out his phone and called his father instead. His eyes were on the map, watching where the two teams were and how they were very far apart from each other. But Heero knew the train lines' map well and knew that there was a train line connecting one terminal to the other. And right in the center of the line was City Hall. Someone had chosen to heed Edmund's advice after all. He can only assume that both gas tanks were timed to be released when they reach City Hall at the same time. But it wasn't even near rush hour yet, where the maximum crowd will be. But it would make sense if the trains were to reach City Hall again on its second trip as it would have been 7am by then, where the rush hour will have already started. But L'espoir was also there in City Hall. Heero knew what he had to do to stop them now, he can't let the trains reach L'espoir for the President of the Colonies is still there, dealing with this emergency crisis.
"Yes?" Carlton asked as he answered the call.
"There will be a black out to the east side and west side of VLA." Heero said.
His words earned shocked looks from Lionel and Federick.
"Heero, don't do anything too rash." Carlton said.
"Consider yourself warned." Heero said.
Heero was about to create a blackout when Federick stopped him from accessing the computer in front of him.
"You can't do this." Federick said.
"Move!" Heero ordered.
"You are not my commanding officer and I will not allow you to do something so rash!" Federick said.
"It's the only way that allows an easier cover up without alarming more people." Heero said.
"That doesn't mean it's right." Federick said.
Both men glared at each other.
"I am not above doing everything I can to save more lives." Heero said.
"Even if it means doing something illegal?" Federick asked.
"Or will you rather more people end up like Fate?" Heero questioned instead.
Federick sucked in a deep breath and knew that it was a low blow from Heero. Heero was right but that doesn't mean they have to achieve their goals like this.
"The antidote is still in production we will not have enough to save everyone if both gas tanks are released. The President is in L'espoir which is their target after all." Heero said.
"I still won't allow…"
"It's been set up."
Both men were too busy arguing with each other that they hadn't realised that Lionel had set everything up in another computer.
"Lionel…"
"No, stop!" Federick shouted, trying to rush over to stop Lionel as well.
But Lionel pressed a few buttons and immediately all power was cut off in the east and west side of VLA. All electric appliances, security systems, servers and the trains were stopped immediately.
"There's a sudden black out here!" Came Duo's report on the ground.
"Retrieve the gas tanks while you can." Heero ordered both teams.
Federick looked at Lionel in anger before he turned to leave the room. Heero turned to Lionel.
"Why did you…"
"Isn't it obvious? I cannot possibly let you take the fall for something like this." Lionel said.
"Why would you do this for me?" Heero asked.
"Because as much as I hate to admit it, the army and the Colonies still needs you. And a blackout is much easier to cover up compared to having the minister of transport hounding after us for breaking into their territory by force." Lionel said.
"How did you know where to access it?" Heero asked.
"You are not the only one who caused a blackout in order to stop something." Lionel said softly.
Heero knew that Lionel was referring to the time when Lionel was still leading the Waverly Company in Colony L6.
"But we will still damage the trains." Heero said, watching how Duo's team cutting through the fences to access the train tracks.
"A minor issue compared to what is at stake." Lionel said.
"Do not destroy the tracks or the trains." Heero ordered.
Heero sighed, looks like at least everything was going to be over soon. Dealing with the aftermath was going to be troublesome but at least it will be worth it. Soon both gas tanks were retrieved and their self-timer were disarmed. Everyone was coming back to the Preventer Headquarters. Meanwhile Heero received news from Belmont that the first batch of antidote was done in one of SilverWings' medical factory.
"We should test it first." Belmont suggested from the video call.
"I know just the candidate." Heero said.
Lionel raised an eyebrow at him in surprise just as all power to the east and west side of VLA was restored after their teams have exited the area with the last two gas tanks.
Federick had left Preventer Headquarters and had gone to the hospital, probably to see Fate. Meanwhile production of the antidote is still ongoing. Belmont had sent some of the antidote over to Preventers' Headquarters. Now Lionel and Heero were back in the interrogation room where Edmund was held. Heero ordered Lionel to release Edmund from the effects of the truth serum. Edmund was surprised to see both of them seated across him, but he looked shocked when he realised who Heero is.
"Officers, what can I do for both of you? None of you wants to release me when I told you I am innocent." Edmund said.
Lionel came forward and pinned Edmund's head down on the table.
"What the… I have…"
"Rights? You lost them the minute you thought of this plan." Heero said.
"I don't know what you are talking about…"
Heero snapped his fingers loudly taking Edmund by surprise. Then both he and Lionel moved to exit the room. That's when Edmund saw the same red gas tank behind where Lionel and Heero sat. There was also a self-timer on the gas tank.
"Hey what is going on?"
"A taste of your own medicine, Edmund. After all you claim that you are innocent, then you shouldn't be afraid of it." Heero said as he closed the door.
"No, what are you doing?" He jerked in his seat but as he was still hand cuffed to the metal bar on the table, he couldn't escape.
Heero and Lionel put on a gas mask just as the self-timer on the gas tank beeped, turning the valve on the tank, releasing the fear gas into the room. Edmund's reaction was a dead giveaway for he stood up and tried to free himself but it was useless. He was struggling crazily, trying to free himself from being hand cuffed to the metal bar. But the gas spread fast and it didn't take long before he had collapsed onto the floor. Heero signalled to Lionel who remote controlled the valve by closing it and Heero vacuumed out the entire interrogation room before going in quickly. Edmund was jerking like crazy due to the fear gas and Heero didn't move for a few minutes, watching the man as he suffered.
"Sir, we need to get started." Lionel said.
"A few more minutes." Heero said.
"He might die from it." Lionel said, watching how violently Edmund's body was shaking.
Heero sighed before he went over and injected the antidote into Edmund's major artery in the neck instead of through the elbow as time was not on their side. He continued jerking violently for some time before he slowly calmed down. Then it appears as if he was sleeping instead.
"He's sleeping." Lionel observed.
Heero wondered if the antidote was not working as it should. Just then Edmund's eyes opened slowly and he stared up at the ceiling. Heero removed his gas mask.
"It worked!" Lionel exclaimed in surprise.
"Keep an eye on him and manage things here for me." Heero said.
Lionel nodded just as Heero left the room and informed Belmont and the antidote transportation team that the antidote worked. It can be distributed to the hospital to be used on the victims. He was on his way out when he saw Duo returning with his Preventer Team. They were exhausted from hunting after the gas tanks but Duo looked happy to see him.
"Heero, where are you going?" Duo asked.
"They will tell you where to put the gas tanks. I am heading to the hospital, the antidote works." Heero said.
"That means Trowa, Wufei and Quatre…"
"Yes, they should be able to wake up soon." Heero said.
"That's great news." Duo said as if in relief.
Just then Heero reached out and gave him a pat on his shoulder.
"You did well, Duo." Heero said.
Duo grinned brightly instead.
"Of course, I'm Duo after all." He joked.
Heero gave a small smile as well.
"Close up everything with Lionel and come to the hospital." Heero said.
"You are not doing it?" Duo asked.
"There's somewhere I need to be." Heero said.
Duo nodded and knew that he was talking about Fate.
"Go, we will handle it. I can finally be the boss around here." Duo exclaimed.
Heero shook his head before he left as well. He drove fast to the hospital, hoping to see Fate when she wakes up.
The first batch of antidote was distributed and injected into patients who were a victim of the fear gas. Sadly they did not wake up instantly, but at least everyone had calmed down and their condition had finally stabilized after it. Heero went into the ICU and was relieved to hear that Fare has finally calmed down as well. She had almost died again while he was busy dealing with the situation but her heart rate had remained really weak until the antidote was given. It was back to normal now, but it appears that some victims are still soundly asleep. Heero wondered why and discussed it with Belmont. Belmont claimed that it could have something to do with how long they were exposed to the gas. For Edmund's exposure was less than a minute while the rest were exposed longer hence they haven't woken up yet.
Heero then listened to the statement that Duo and Lionel made to everyone who helped out. The statement was also made to Lady Une, General Weller as well as Carlton Wingate. They will have to cover up the black outs in the East and West part of VLAs, but everyone was relieved that it was all over. Some of them were tired for they hadn't slept or ate anything since the fear gas broke out at Blue Marine Pub almost three days ago. They also have to interrogate everyone involved and hand them over to the correct authorities. Heero's army was tasked to dispose all the one hundred tanks of gas tanks. Naturally they will have to beat more answers out of Edmund if there were more than the hundred tanks that he claimed he had. More antidote was being produced to meet the demand of victims. More urgent cases were all given the antidote first but it won't take long until everyone has been provided with an antidote.
Heero stayed at the hospital to wait for Fate to wake up but she didn't seem to be waking up anytime soon. So he went to find his best friends. Along the way he heard happy and relieved voices as some of the victims were slowly waking up. He wasn't surprised to see that Wufei was already awake. He seemed ready to tear off all needles on him and get ready to work.
"Wufei." Heero said.
He looked stunned to see him but then he shook his head and sighed. Wufei turned and saw that Trowa and Quatre were still unconscious. Jace decided to leave to give them space while Heero thanked Jace for his help.
"It's settled?" Jace asked.
Heero nodded. Jace then left the room after giving him a smile. Heero asked Wufei to remain in bed first. A series of tests still need to be done to determine if the antidote has any side effects or if the fear toxin had any as well.
"What happened after that?" Wufei asked.
"It's a very long story." Heero said.
"But it's over?" Wufei asked.
"Yes."
Wufei sighed as he looked up at the ceiling.
"To think that we have always been stopping conflicts and cases like this that we ended up getting caught in it instead." Wufei said.
Heero didn't say anything.
"Why are you are awake before us?" Wufei asked.
Heero was about to answer when Trowa woke up slowly.
"What… where?" Trowa asked sounding distraught.
"You are in a hospital." Heero said.
Trowa was surprised to see Heero and he took a deep breath before letting it out. Then he closed his eyes again in silence.
"Get some rest, I will fill all of you in once Quatre is awake as well." Heero said.
"We can be discharged soon?" Wufei asked.
"Not so soon, blood tests and scans need to be done." Heero said.
"Heero…" Wufei muttered.
"Don't worry, everything is being handled. Just rest, for now." Heero said.
Trowa was silent while Wufei sighed.
"I am going to see Fate, she should wake up soon." Heero said.
"Okay, we will wait for Quatre to wake up." Trowa said softly.
Heero nodded and left the room. It didn't take long before Duo came to visit the three of them, hugging those who have already woken up.
Fate's eyes opened slowly and she realised that she was no longer in her art room anymore. Instead she seemed to be lying down. She looked up at the white ceiling and realised that she had no idea where she was. Her vision was slightly blur and she wasn't sure what was going on. Was she still in the same place or somewhere else?
Then someone came into her view, it seemed to be a man who was standing over her. Her vision finally focused and she saw the familiar eyes that she had always looked at. Heero… he's here? Was he real or was he just her imagination? Was he her Heero or was he… Relena's Heero? The Heero who didn't know her at all?
She had to find out… She slowly raised her hand to reach out to touch him, but her body felt heavy and so weak. She struggled to reach for him, but it took too much effort and her hand started to drop instead. But he caught her hand and gave it a tight squeeze. He's real… for she felt his familiar touch again. She looked up at him in silence and was relieved when she saw the raw concern in his eyes. His face was still as emotionless as ever but it was first time he was showing emotions in his eyes for longer periods of time. She was glad that she managed to catch that moment.
"Heero…" She whispered.
There was a flash of emotion in his Prussian blue eyes before it disappeared in a second. Then he surprised her by reaching out to gently lift her into a sitting position as he hugged her. His arms tightened around her body and she merely closed her eyes and took in the warmth of his embrace. He seemed upset, no it wasn't it…. She seemed to feel him tremble a little and wondered if it was because he was afraid of something? But she was relieved for she knew that this was real, it was no longer the horrible nightmare she had experienced. She is back in her real world now, she's no longer Gabriella, she is Fate de Camden and Heero Wingate is her boyfriend. It appears that he needed the hug as much as she did. She wasn't sure if he spoke as she couldn't hear it. But she felt so sleepy again. But then Heero broke the hug and he shook her instead.
"Don't sleep, stay awake." Yes she heard him loud and clear this time.
She struggled to stay awake, but she can't, her body is still weak, and she is losing the struggle to stay awake.
"Fate!"
"Can't…must sleep." She whispered.
Heero shook her rather violently instead, trying to wake her up.
She gasped in shock and then said "Okay, stop. I'm awake."
He released her and stood up instead, his eyes were back to their same emotionless ones.
"Stay awake Fate, I will be back soon." Heero told her.
Fate merely watched as Heero headed towards the door. The door slides open and Heero walked through just as a doctor and a lot of nurses were rushing into the room. She remembered seeing Heero turning back to look at her before the door slides closed after the nurses. Fate didn't remember what happened after that as the nurses and doctor were busy attending to her. She is relieved that at least she's herself again and she's finally back in her reality again.
Everyone waited outside as the doctors and nurses tended to Fate. She still seemed sleepy which really worried Heero. Soon the doctors came out and claimed that she is awake but still weak. Hence, she will be staying in the hospital for a few days to do some tests and she will only be discharged after she is much better. Her family went in to see her first while Heero was relieved too that at least Fate was out of danger. They came out after some time and Heero's siblings went in to see Fate instead. Belmont thanked Heero for his help in all of this who in turn thanked Belmont for his help as well. Heero looked at Federick who still seemed displeased with him. But then they had a private chat away from everyone else.
"I'm not sorry I tried to stop you." Federick said.
"I know." Heero said.
"But at least Fate is safe now." Federick said.
Heero knew that they will always have their differences but even they can join forces and work together in order to save Fate. Today was an example of that.
"You did well too, Federick." Heero said.
"The whole world doesn't stop just because you aren't around." Federick pointed out.
Heero looked back at the closed door to the room Fate was in.
"That is true, but it doesn't change the fact that we both care a lot about Fate. And I will do whatever I can to keep her safe and out of harm's way." Heero said.
"Including crossing lines you shouldn't?" Federick said.
"Yes." Heero said.
Their eyes met but no one said anything else. Their methods may be different but they all want the same end result.
"We should go and rest, everyone is tired." Helen said.
Federick nodded and volunteered to take everyone back to Moonstone Mansion to rest. Just then his siblings came out and Jace said he will drive them back. Heero nodded and was finally able to see her again.
Fate's eyes were still opened when he went in but she still looked really pale. It was so unlike how he saw her before all of this started. He sat down on the chair next to her bed and took her hand in his. At last they were alone again.
"Fate." He whispered softly, giving her hand a squeeze.
"Can I sleep now?" She asked softly.
Heero nodded.
"Will you… be here when I wake up?" Fate asked softly as if afraid that she wouldn't wake to find him.
"I will be here." Heero promised.
Fate gave a very weak smile before she fell asleep again. Heero gave her hand a gentle kiss, he knew that going through this fear gas ordeal has changed him. It has also highlighted how important Fate is to him and how he still hates losing her. Being so close to losing her was a horrible feeling too. But at least they are all safe now and he too can finally rest for a few hours. Before he has to return and deal with the administration and clean up matters. He pushed the chair back and leaned forward to rest his head on the side of the bed. He closed his eyes as he held onto Fate's hand hoping to get a few minutes of rest.
"Heero…" Fate whispered as tears fell from her eyes.
To Be Continued…
Author's Note: This is the end of the Fear Gas Arc, but the next story arc is still based on this Fear Gas Arc. Heero got help from ZERO system when he needed to come up with an antidote to save everyone who was still down due to the fear gas. The VX gas does exist, but since the Colonies' timeline is far away in our current day's future timeline, it's only appropriate for such gases to already be out of date by then. This arc also allowed Duo, Federick and Lionel to take on a slightly bigger role. We are aware of what our characters' true fears are, but how does this change them? Do stay tuned for the next chapter! Please read & review, but NO FLAMERS!