I do not own Gundam Wing. However, I get the feeling that Gundam Wing owns me.
To anyone following this series (*waves to all 2 of you*), I'm sorry I took so long to write this, but I didn't get many responses, so I spent some time doing other things. But I didn't mean to take this long. It's just when I started to write, I just kept going, and couldn't stop myself. And I ended up finishing the series... anyway...
a quick legend for everyone:
"..."-talking
~...~-thinking
{{...}}-telepathic communication
Hope that doesn't confuse you too much ^_^ And just because telepathic communication is in the legend, doesn't necessarily mean it'll be used. This is just my cut 'n' paste legend I use for most serious fics o mine.
Same warnings apply to this fic as the others. These warnings include: Death, torture, shonen ai, some OCCness, AU, ect. ect. If you haven't read the other parts, this fic won't make any sense.
Now, finally, the fic....
++++++++++
The Pain of Life or the Quiet of Death
(Part 3 - Resolution)
by Shinigamis"I am really sooo sorry about the wait"Angel
Chapter 1
"Come on, we've got to go." Wufei said, sounding mildly annoyed, leaning against that doorframe of Trowa's office, arms crossed.
Trowa got up from his desk, and headed out the door, Wufei turning and matching him step for step. "So, tell me about the incident."
"L2 Colony, around 0500 hours, a series of explosions occured from a group of buildings thought to have been abandoned. By the time local authorities responded, most of the people seen escaping from the hidden complex that was found later, had already dispersed. The complex belonged to a group calling themselves 'Apocalypse', and they appearently make a business of creating and selling biological and chemical weapons to terrorist groups. What we were able to pull from what was left of their computer systems suggests that they are the same group resposible for the stealing fo the smallpox virus..." Wufei explained as they made their way to the shuttle.
"... and Duo's death..." Trowa concluded aloud as they passed some vending machines a private was kicking. Wufei nodded, and Trowa continued, "So, we only got one prisoner..?"
"Not exactly. Just one who might know what is going on. The others are mainly the ones too stupid and confused to have gotten away before getting caught. They know nothing." Wufei said with no small amount of contempt in his voice.
"So, does this prisoner have a name?"
"Sure. Heero Yuy."
Chapter 2
Heero felt the restraints on his wrists and the things stuck into him before he opened his eyes. He tensed.. recaptured? How?
Slowly he opened his eyes, not hearing or sensing anyone else in the room. The room was bright, and through a window light poured into the room. Quite a contrast to the rooms they'd kept him in so far. Why a window?
He realized the pain in his arms was not the same harrowing pain that he'd been suffering eariler. It was quite dull, actually. His head was not strapped down, and he was in a cheap cloth shift, his body covered with a blanket... this couldn't be the same place.
Then it clicked in. Hospital. He was in a hospital. He noticed a small window in the door, and saw through it a guard in UAF uniform.
Restrained and under guard? They must have connected him with his recent activities, but how...? That could make things more difficult, it could slow things down.. and time was not something he had alot of...
He stared at the ceiling, trying to force himself to relax. It was beginning to get to him. He told himself that he was not with those people anymore, but with conditions that were so simular to recent events, his mind started to play back those nightmarish memories. He tried to push them away, like he'd pushed his emotions away, like he'd pushed memories of Duo's death away. But it was all in vain. The events were too recent, too much for him to handle alone.
And so, he started to relive his recent torture.
Chapter 3
Trowa stopped dead in his tracks, repeating the name. Wufei walked a few steps ahead, before turning on on foot and looking back at Trowa, nodding.
Trowa stared at Wufei, unbelieveing. "Why didn't you tell me?" Trowa demanded, becoming angry with Wufei. "You withheld important information from me."
Wufei did not look away. He stood there, calm and composed, "I did so with good reason. Had I told you, you would have gone running to Quatre with the news. Quatre would convince you to go easy with him, despite evidence of his treason. He would convince you to give him a second chance, to accept whatever he said as truth. I can't allow that to happen before we find out what exactly his involvement is, and what is to be done with him."
"There is no excuse for not telling me! Both Quatre and I have the right to know!" Trowa nearly shouted at the Chinese boy, becoming more enrared by the second.
"But, do you deny that what I said is true?" Wufei said, arching an eyebrow, "I do not despute the fact that you and Quatre should know, which is why I am telling you now, and Quatre will know as soon as the initial interogattion is finished. Otherwise I would conduct the investigation myself."
Trowa did not have anything to say to that. He hated to admit it, but Wufei was right. Quatre brought out his gentelness, which was -not- a good thing when he had to deal with criminals. So he brushed by Wufei, continuing on his way. The sooner he got answers, the better. Wufei silently followed him.
Chapter 4
Heero could not take being tied down any longer. He had to get away. His -need- to get away overrode his reason. Once again, he snapped the restraint binding one of his hands, but this time it was easier, whaever painkiller they gave him still working wonders. After freeing himself from the bed, he looked back up at the status of the guard. He was zoned out. ~Idiot.~ Heero thought, as he used one of the IV stands near him to help him to beside the door, his right leg in a cast and still useless. He made sure that none of the things stuck into him that were ment to monitor his condition were removed. Then he picked up his chart. When he was ready, he threw it at the window.
The guard heard the window shatter, and rushed inside, where Heero delivered a sharp blow to the base of his skull, knocking him out cold. Closing the door, Heero managed to kneel down. ~Time for another swtiching of garments... ~ he thought as took the guards uniform. Then, Heero started to remove the things monitoring his condition. Before any of the machines could sound an alarm, he shoved the devices into the guard. Then, dragging the guard behind him, he managed to get back to the bed, where he tried the guard down with strips of cloth he ripped from the sheets. He paused, completely exhausted. He began to cough again, but there was no blood, a small comfort.
Already, the painkiller was losing it's potency. He needed to find something other than an IV stand to aid his walking. He checked the window that looked out into the hall. The corridor was empty, so he carefully made his way into the hall, the throbbing pain in his arms awakening, along with the agony in his leg. He searched the two rooms closest to his own. He found what he was looking for in the third. Opperating the wheelchair with his arms still in terrible condition would be difficult and painful, he would be able to get around faster, and would be less suspicious.
Finally, Heero stopped to think about what he was doing. He was running away from the very people he needed to talk to. But, he wouldn't be able to stand to be restrained like that. And the fact that they'd restrained him showed they didn't trust him and wouldn't listen, anyway. Of course, if they knew what he'd done, they had no reason to trust him... so what was he to do? He couldn't stop it all by himself. He needed someone who would believe him. ~Quatre....~
A plan started to formulate in his mind. He needed to get to Quatre's home on L4, it was his best chance. The security around the Colonial Assembly station was too high for him to slip through in his condition, once they realized he was missing and started to look for him.
So, he had to find a flight to L4.. well, he could hack a ticket once he found a suitible computer terminal... And a UAF soldier in a wheelchair wasn't unheard of.. no one would give him a second look, especially since the uniform itself covered up all of his bandages. Of course, he wasn't going to get very far unless he got something to keep his pain managable.
He was in a hospital, wasn't he? He'd just swipe some morphine on the way out....
Chapter 5
Wufei let out a long string of Chinese curses when he saw the guard tied down and unconscious on the bed that was supposed to contain Heero. He ran out the door to order the hospital searched, and report Heero's disappearence, while Trowa untied the guard. Nurses came for the guard, and awhile after that, Wufei came back, his anger evident in his eyes.
"They don't call him the perfect soldier for nothing." Trowa said simply.
Wufei scowled, "He shouldn't have been able to get that far in his condition, especially since he was restrained, and there was that guard. Damn it! " Wufei's hands closed into fists, and he looked like he was ready to punch the wall.. or whomever got too close to him. "We need to find him. Within five days."
Trowa narrowed his eyes, "What haven't you told me now?"
Wufei glared at him, "Heero is sick. Apocolpyse was using him as a test subject, although we're not quite sure why. He's been infected by a virus that damages the respriatory system. First going for small blood vessels in the lungs, and progressivly getting worse. They were able to reverse the effects when Heero was here, but hadn't immunitized him against the virus. So, he is going to become sick again. After 5 days the effects will be irreversable, and he will die. I doubt he knows about any of it. Not to mention there is a possiblilty of him infecting someone."
"So, Heero is going to die within a week unless we find him in time, and he may have important information regarding impending terrorist attacks. Am I completely up to speed now, Wufei?"
"Yea. Come on... we have a search to orgainize..." Wufei said, turning and exiting the room. Trowa glaced out the broken window for a moment thinking ~Why are you running, Heero?~, before following the other boy.
Chapter 6
Heero was at the public library, using a computer to get himself on the next flight to L4. The morphine worked it's small miracles, freeing him from most of his pain. Everything was going as well as he could have hoped until he felt a light touch on his shoulder.
He looked up into the eyes of Schneider, second to only to Westlin himself. She smiled, and Heero soundlessly put his hand over his gun, loosening it from it's holster. If nothing else, he could take at least one of the bastards out.
"Apocolpsye lost you, huh, Janus? Or should I call you Heero, now?" she sneered.
"Call me whatever you wish. Both names are not real."
She laughed, "Not even giving your real name to the UAF, hmmm? And don't think I don't notice your gun. If you shoot me, I'll blow some civilian building to bits.." She pulled out a hand that was in her pocket out part ways to reveal a detonator. "Never leave home without some insurance. Guess we have a stalemate for now, right?" She shoved her hand back into her pocket.
"Hn." Heero did not thing that detonator was actually hooked up to something, but he couldn't risk it.
Grinning, she glanced over him, "Daaaamn, I would never have figured any 'rat' could escape from Apoc, much less be running around a few days afterwards. A stolen UAF uniform, too.... " She pointed to the insignia on the arm of his uniform, "Either that, or you got demoted to corporal, since you were a colonel...
"UFA's looking for you now. Devoting alot of time and effort to the search. Must want you bad. Apocalypse is after you, too. And you're not exactly on Westlin's good side anymore, are you?" She crossed her arms and looked down at him.
~So Apoc must be the people who captured me....~Heero thought to himself as he looked up at her, becoming annoyed. What the hell was she doing? "Why are you telling me what I already know? Stop wasting my time."
She looked over the computer screen, "Running to L4, huh...?" He continued to stare at her, and another smile crept up on her face.
"Alright, I'll get to the point. You're talented, which everone should know by now.. you were a UAF colonel at very young age, and have managed to survive against all odds, without outside help. An ex-UAF colonel could be useful to me. I'm willing to pay more than that cheap bastard Westlin, and with me you don't have to worry about the UAF or Apoc. Westlin will be taken care of shortly after the date."
Hah.. so that's what she was trying to get at. ~She must think my loyality goes to the highest bidder.. and she would have been correct before... ~. She didn't have to explain what 'the date' was. It was the date he needed to warn the others about.. the day they would attack Relena and Sanq. The proposition was not all that appealing to him. If he were to agree to join, and to become protected by her group, it would be too late by the time he'd be able to alert Trowa, Wufei, and Quatre about the impending attack. But, what would she do if he refused? "I have business to attend to on L4."
"I need your assisstance -now-. L4 can wait." she said, becoming slightly agitated. Schneider thought a merc like Heero would jump on her offer.
Heero looked back at the computer, and began to log off. He paused, coughing into his hand several times before looking up. "No, it can't. If you want my services, it will wait until after L4."
She half growled at him, "I really must -insist-." Her future orginization needed his hacking skills, and the keys to breaking UAF encoding, which he should know, having been a colonel. His assassination and soldiering skills would also come in handy.
"Insist all you like. My answer is either wait until I'm finished, or leave me alone."
She drew herself up, and looked down at him, and smiled slightly "Alright. I'll be seeing you, Heero Yuy." Then she turned on her heel and left without further confrontation. But that smile made Heero wary of her. Once she was out of sight, he carefully wheeled himself out of the library, and to where his shuttle awaited him.
Chapter 7
Heero's trip to L4 wasn't exactly pleasant. He was seized by fits of coughing, and their frequency had been increasing. His lungs began to discomfort him, and halfway though the flight, he noticed blood in the hand he was coughing into.
Finally, he made it to the colony. It was late, and he was compleltely exhausted. His arms shook uncontrollably, and breathing was becoming a chore. It would not do him any good if he passed out in the middle of the street, so he was forced into checking into a hotel for the night. At 3 AM, he was able to let himself sleep.
***
His night was not undistrubed. He awoke coughing up many little droplets of blood several times during the night. He entered a deep sleep right when the colony was becoming lighted for day. He awoke again at 4 PM, not feeling very rested, but his arms did not shake as they had before, so he get back into his wheelchair and stared out again.
Quatre's ... and Trowa's... home was not that far away. But, since none of the buses or taxis around were built to accommodate wheelchairs, he had to get himself there the hard way. Luckly, his morphine supply had not run out, and his wounds did not bother him very much.
He was within 20 minutes from his goal when a child of about 9 years of age passed close by him, and he felt his skin get pricked by something. Before he could cry out for help, his body began going limp on him, and he lost consciousness.
***
"I told you I'd be seeing you. I also insisted you help me, but you wouldn't listen...."
Schnieder. That bitch. Heero was hanging in the center of the dark and cold cell by his hands, which were tied together. His uniform had been removed, and he was clothed only in a pair of boxers, his bandaged removed. His feet barely touched the concrete floor beneath him. He opened his eys to find her smiling face.
"I see that Apoc really -did- do a number on you." Her smile broaded as she held up a bottle of morphine, "And I see how you've been able to get around with those impressive wounds. How long you been taking this? How much? Think you're addicted, yet? Heh..." She threw the bottle straight to the ground by his feet, the glass shattering, and some of the shards imbedding themselves into his unprotected skin.
"Ooops.." she said mockingly. "It would have been so much easier if you'd just joined willingly. I don't like to coerce people into joing me.. espcially when I have to use pain as an insentive. Really, I don't. But in yor case, I don't think I have to do much more than leave you here. You'll feel every one of your injuries shortly, and after that will come withdrawl... but, we can always provide more morphine, if you're willing to work for it...."
Heero simply glowered at her, and she sighed, "I hate waiting. James, David, see if you can convince him a little faster.." she said, waving two large men toward Heero. As they began to hammer Heero's defenseless self with punches and kicks, Schneider turned and said over her shoulder, "I'll be leaving, since like I said, I don't like having to do this. So, I'll see you when you've decided to be helpful...", and then she was gone.
Heero stayed silent during the beating. He didn't want them to know how much pain they were causing him. The only reason he could take their blows sliently was because the morphine hadn't completely worn off... but Heero know that it did, his pain would be doubled, at least. He felt as bones were broken or displaced, as wounds reopened, as small rivulets of blood began to run down his body. Thankfully, he blacked out soon after Schneider's disappearance.
***
When Heero woke, his body was again screaming with pain. He was laid out on the floor, his hands still bound, a chain leading up from them, to a pulley on the ceiling, the chain ending in a crank on the left wall.
Heero started coughing again, the very act causing him to know a new level of pain. His broken ribs cried out in protest to the movement, his lungs feeling like they'd been shredded. His head pounded with a headache unlike anything he'd ever felt before. He couldn't move from the position he'd been left in, his body not responding to his commands. The act of drawing air into and out of his lungs took up all his strength and energy. All he was able to do was lie there, suffering.
The world blurred in and out. He lost the concept of time, but now and then someone would come in and ask if he'd like to help them now. He never answered, he wasn't quite sure if he was able to.
How'd he end up in a place like this, again? It seemed like it was impossible to escape from the underground world of terrorism... If he agreed to help them, they wouldn't let him out of their sight, and find other ways time make him do as they wanted until there was no use for him anymore. If he continued to refuse, they'd eventually kill him.
He'd only been lucky to escape before... there was no way he could do it again, was there? Heero closed his eyes. What else could he do? He didn't bother to open his eyes when he heard someone enter the room. It probably just another one of his tormentors.
"Allah... what have they done?" Heero reconzied that voice. It was Rashid... how could he be here? Heero kept his eyes closed, thinking it was just a hallucination. It had to be. No one would save him now. No one would want to.
He felt someone unlocking the chains that bound his hands. He felt a hand brush up against his forehead, and Rashid's voice say, "He's burning up... Abdul, hurry up with that strecher." Heero finally dared to open his eyes. They met Rashid's. He said weakly, before the other man could react, "Quatre.. I have to.. tell him..."
Rashid looked at him, eyes filled with worry, "You will. Just hang on...". Then Heero's vision blurred as he lost the battle to stay conscious.
Chapter 8
Quatre sat beside Heero's hospital bed. It was sickening to see what had been done to Heero. Quatre wouldn't leave the side of the bed until Heero awoke. He hadn't told Trowa that Heero was here, or anyone else. He wasn't planning to let anyone know, either. The hospital, having been financed by his company, didn't have a problem with keeping the secret.
Quatre's empathic abilities had been working overtime lately. He had felt Heero's fear when he was trapped in that hospital room. When later Trowa explained to him what had happened, Quatre couldn't believe that they'd tied Heero up like that, after what he'd been through. Trowa also told him that Heero had about five days to live after his escape because of something that those terrorists had done to him. They'd cut it close to that deadline.
He had known he would have to find Heero first. Trowa and Wufei would just put Heero through more than he'd already gone through, even if they really did not mean to hurt him like that. Quatre also felt Heero's intense desire to tell someone something... Usually, he wouldn't get a detail like that through the link he shared with the other pilots, but he'd become more attunded to Heero these last few days. He was determined to be here for Heero when he awoke. Heero had no one left but him.
Rashid and the others had been searching the colony for any leads to Heero's whereabouts. They had tried infiltrating the underground in desperation. To their surprize, they learned of a terrorist safehouse not to far from Quatre's home. Working alone, in case Heero was found there, they'd stormed the small facility. There were few staying at the safehouse, and those that were caputed were found dead within hours of being put into custody. Cyanide had been the cause. Heero was found in the basement. They'd been very fortunate, not only in finding him, but finding him before it was too late to save him... physically, at least.
Just then, Heero's eyes snapped open, muscles tensing, and Quatre felt his surge of panic, although that feeling never made it to Heero's facial expression. He lifted up a hand, and examined his bandaged wrist. No restraint... none, and that surprized him. Then he looked over at Quatre, and he relaxed somewhat.
"Quatre," Heero started... it still hurt to breathe, making it more difficult for him to talk, "... what is the day? .. Are the others here?"
Quatre shook his head, "No, it's just me. And it's the 14th of July, around 9 pm."
Heero tried to sit up, but gave up on that when pain forced him to quit. He fell silently back against the pillow, and Quatre looked somewhat apologetic, "The doctors didn't want to give you a strong painkiller, since you were suffering from withdrawl, and they didn't want to make you become dependant again."
"Nevermind that. Tomarrow terroists plan on releasing a biological weapon that will affect everyone inside the old borders of the Sanq kingdom, and attempting to assasssinate Relena." His tone was devoid of emotion, but the look in his eyes was urgent. Quatre looked at solemnly. With Heero's alleged activities, he'd been expecting something like that.
"Alright, I believe you." Quatre pulled out a tape recorder, and hit the record button. "Please, tell me everything you know."
Heero began to pour out all the details as fast as his battered body would allow him to go. He told Quatre about the five different places there had been discussions about hiding the bomb, and how three of those places would be used. He spoke of Westlin, of Schneider, and any other names that he could recall, and their descriptions. It was 10:30 when Heero had finished with absolutely everything he knew about the conspiracy. Quatre stood up so he could go and find Trowa. But Heero had one more thing to say, "Quatre, let me be in Relena's escort."
Quatre looked down at Heero, surprized, "But.. your condition... and then there's the UAF's charges against you..."
Heero looked straight into Quatre's eyes, "I made mistakes. I need to start to redeem myself."
Quatre could see in Heero's eyes, and feel it in his own heart, that Heero was telling the truth. And Quatre understood him perfectly. He sighed softly, "I'll see what I can do." He then turned and rushed off to find Trowa. They didn't have much time.
Chapter 9
"I warned you! He's convinced you to believe that traitor!" Wufei yelled at Trowa. Trowa didn't have time for this.
"Are you accusing Quatre of manipulating me? I do not believe there will be any harm in it, and there will be no harm in increasing Relena's security. Also, there is no concrete evdience proving treason." Trowa told Wufei, his tone acidic.
Wufei nearly growled, "You know I'm not accusing Quatre of that. What if the places he claimed the bomb is, if there really even is a bomb, are just traps?"
"What if they aren't? There's half an hour to midnight, and Heero wasn't able to specifiy a time of day, so we don't have the time to be arguing."
Wufei grumbled, but did not continue the dispute. Trowa began speaking again. "I'm going with Heero to protect Relena. We can be at the Colonial Assembly station in an hour. Are you coming?"
Col. Wufei gave a short nod, and they left in silence for the launch bay.
***
Heero was able to stand and walk around thanks to new medical techonoligies developed by the doctors Quatre had been giving grants to. It was combination of using a new technique to get his bones to fuse together faster, and braces he had to wear on each leg. He couldn't exactly move very well, but he could manage a quick paced walk if need be. If all else failed, he would be able to get out of the way of the healthier guards.
He'd also taken the liberty of stealing morphine again, so his pain was dulled enough he could pretty much move the rest of his body without difficulty. Quatre would be upset when he found out, and he'd have to suffer the symptoms of withdrawl once again, but it was a small price to pay if it ment they could save Relena's life.
Quatre, Trowa, Wufei, and he arrived on the station, along with other UAF personnel who would search the premises. Trowa, Wufei, and Heero would work with Relena's exisiting bodyguards to protect her. Quatre was there simply because he worked there as a representative for his colony, although, unlike usual, he was armed in case he was needed to defend Relena as well... or even himself.
All four of them went to check on Relena's room, but found it empty. A servant told them that she'd gone into the reception room to speak with the newly elected representatives from the L3 Colony who had just arrived. The four of them arrived at the reception area without any trouble, and without noticing any suspicious activity. They spied Relena in the north east corner of the crowded room. Heero noticed that were balconies that looked over the room. ~Shit~ he thought, as he knew they'd make a good perch for the assassin.
"We'll have to get her out of this room" Trowa said, noticing the same thing Heero did, as they pushed their way toward Relena. Then as some people moved past them, Heero got a good look at who Relena was talking to.
He watched in horror as Westlin, in a suit with the insignia of the L3 colony embroidered on it, revealed his gun and shot Relena point blank range straight into the center of her chest.
And time slowed down.
Relena fell back soundlessly as those around her screamed, and Westlin turned his head, reconition in his eyes as they settled on Heero. In that same instant someone behind him shoved him aside, and Westlin made to shoot Heero. Heero pulled his gun as he fell to the side, and as Westlin shot the area where Heero had been, he heard a cry of pain. Heero had no time to worry about whomever it was, because the two people closest to Westlin had started to pull guns, as well. Heero freed his own gun from it's holster, and before he'd hit the floor, Heero had shot Westlin in the head. He saw Trowa shot one of the men beside Westlin, whom fell to the ground screaming and then lay still. There was another shot from somewhere near Trowa a fraction of a second after Trowa had fired, and the remaining gunner shot at that same instant. By this time, so many people were screaming it was impossible to tell by sound alone if the bullets hit their targets, but Heero saw the the last conspirator fall to the ground in an expanding pool of blood.
He made a quick glance around the room for anyone else who might be a threat, but he could identify none. UAF officers were flooding the area, and people cleared out the area where the shoot out occured. He saw Trowa by Quatre's side, the blonde pushing him gently away, blood staining his left arm, though it appeared to be only a nick and wasn't bleeding badly. Relena, who'd fallen only five feet from him, was still alive, her eyes still open, but not appearing to see anything. Noin held her, and when her tear's fell onto Relena's face, she did not even flinch. She didn't have long.
Then Heero twisted around, to see Wufei behind him, the upper left portion of his chest gushing blood from his bullet wound. Wufei had been the one to push him out of the way... Heero never would have thought Wufei would do such a thing, especially since Wufei had been making his disgust with Heero well known. He stumbled over to Wufei, applying pressure to the injury, trying to stop all the bleeding. Wufei struggled for breath, his eyes squeezed shut.
Then Wufei's eyes opened, and settled on something above where the bodies of the three assassins lay. Heero followed his gaze, and saw Duo hovering above them, wings spread, scythe in hand. Another look around the room made it obvious only he, Relena, and Wufei could see Duo.
Then from the bodies of the terrorists stood transulent versions of themselves. Their gaze was instantly drawn to Duo overhead. Duo looked down at them, eyes cold, mouth set in a frown alien to Duo's face. The... well, the 'souls' of Westlin's two comrades trembled in fear, and even Westlin seemed intimidated. He heard Westlin's shakey voice say, "Who are you?"
{{Shinigami, here to deliver you to your judgement... You are lucky it is not my place to judge. But, it is unlucky for you, that I get to choose the method in which you get to your destination.}}, Duo's mental voice echoed in Heero's mind. Duo held up the scythe in one hand above his head, and twirled it effortlessly, like his Deathscythe used to, and dove down, slicing through each of the three. As Duo's scythe passed through them, they cried out in agony as their 'bodies' were drawn into the blade, making it shine too brightly to look at directly. The light faded from the scythe, and Duo sighed. He turned and looked over at Wufei and Relena.
"No.... go away... you're finished here.....", Heero found himself whispering. Never would he had ever thought he would wish the man he adored away with such fervor. Duo looked at him mournfully.
"A soul I am sent to collect that is not taken is damned to wander restlessly for all eternity. I must." Duo said softly, switching back to speaking aloud. Heero looked away, back down at Wufei, whose eyes had closed but heart still beat, and who still breathed, if unsteadily. Duo continued, voice pleading, "Please, understand, Heero, I do not choose when their time is. I just guide them."
"I do understand, Duo, but why you?" he murmered softly, looking into back Duo's violet eyes. Into the eyes of Death.
"It was what I was choosen to do, while I waited. I will not be a messanger of death for all eternity. You will be the last I have to take... then.." Duo let himself trail off... He added, before Heero could speak again, predicting what his love would say ,"And I can't take you in their place. As I explained, if I take you early..."
"... we will be separated..." Heero finished for Duo, under his breath.
Duo nodded solemnly, and walked over to Relena, Heero's eyes following him as he knelt down beside her. He said quietly, "Relena, can you hear me...? Open your eyes, if you can...." Heero watched as her eyes barely opened, and she looked directly at Duo. He was the only person she could see, the sound of his voice the only thing she could hear. She couldn't hear Noin telling her to hold on, that the EM crews were only minutes away.
Duo held his hand directly above Relena's, "Take my hand." Relena found a strength she hadn't had moments before, and grasped Duo's hand. Heero saw as he gently pulled Relena's soul up from her body. Then Relena's body gave a final shutter, and died. Noin's pierceing cry was heard over the all the chaos caused by the attack, and the room fell silent.
Heero looked down at Wufei, not wanting to see him go. How many more people did he have to lose? How many out of his very, very small pool of friends? Wufei's eyes opened, just as Duo looked at him, and their eyes met. After holding the gaze for a few seconds, Duo smiled.
"Not your time, yet, buddy. You're too stubborn.... although, that alone isn't what saved you... Bye, Wufei." Duo finished just as Wufei lost consciousness. Heero gave a small sigh of relief, although he was still worried for Wufei... and Relena. Duo turned his attention to her, who was just getting her bearings. She couldn't see anyone in the room except for Duo, and it was finially clicking into place in her mind; the scythe, the wings, the fact that Duo was dead...
"Am I dead?" she asked him, afraid of the answer. Duo sighed and walked up to her side. There was no easy way to tell someone that they had died.
"Yes...", was all he managed to say, and Relena's eyes began to tear. Duo 'shh'ed her, trying to give her some small bit of comfort "Cheer up, it isn't as bad as you might think..." He offered her his arm, "Now, if you'd please come with me, I'll show you.", then he smiled softly at her.
She took his arm, and said somewhat nervously, "Where are we going?"
"You've got _nothing_ to worry about, Relena." Duo looked back over his shoulder, and smiled at Heero.
{{You don't have to worry about her, either, Heero. Until I see you again......}} Then there was a flash of blinding light, Heero could no longer see either of them.
"Duo..." he whispered somberly, wanting so badly to go with him, if only for a few more moments... even if his final destination would be Hell. He had never before believed in a Hell, but recent events had made him unsure about that.
Someone tugging on his arm interrupted his thoughts, and he looked up at the EMs all around. He stood up and let them take over, and Trowa, who had first tugged on his arm, started to lead him away from the bloody scene.
Chapter 10
The release of the virus was prevented, thanks to the information Heero had provided the UAF. He'd been readmitted to the hospital after the assassination of Relena Darlian, still in poor health, and suffering from withdrawl.
Wufei, Heero, and Quatre had all made full recoveries. Wufei never talked to Heero about seeing Duo, but Heero never figured he would. Wufei did, however, help clear him of all the charges that had been brought against him. Soon afterwards, he was reinstated as a Colonel of the UAF.
Once he was a member of the UAF again, he began to track and hunt down the Apocalypse organization. He'd destroyed it completely within the first year, and for his work, he recieved many commendations. Not that Heero cared.
After he had avenged Duo's death, and his own torture at their hands, the other pilots had noticed Heero had been spending alot of time at hospitals, around the ER. Only Wufei knew why.
Heero had wanted to see Duo again, and the only way he could think of to do that was to be where Duo was going to be. What he was doing was pretty morbid, but he didn't care, he just wanted so despritely to look into those beautiful eyes. In short, he was impatient.
Heero never saw Duo in those ERs, but he could have sworn he saw some of the dying reach out for a hand that wasn't there. He finally quit when he realized that this was not what Duo would want him to do.
Trowa retired, and he and Quatre adopted children. Wufei and Heero had gone on to became generals in the UAF.
Thirty-four years had passed since that bloody day he'd last seen his love, and Heero lay in the hospital bed, in pain. His vital organs were beginning to fail him, and he was only 50 years old. All his body had been subjected to when he was younger had taken it's toll.
Quatre was asleep by his bed. The doctors had told him that Heero might pass on at any time, and there was nothing more they could do to help him, except to try to keep him comfortable. But, since Heero had bad reactions to most painkillers now, they couldn't even do that very well. Quatre watched over him because he didn't want Heero to have to die alone.
Heero lay there, his chest hurting, and the pain in his abdomen becoming unbearable. It was as sun was setting, and the room was filled with orange light, that suddenly, Heero no longer felt the pain. He didn't feel the exhaustion. In fact, he felt pretty good. And he heard someone outside the door.
A familar demon-winged figured stepped into the room. Duo looked down at him, grinning, having not aged a day since Heero saw him last. "You ready yet?" he said cheerfully.
A smile crept up onto Heero's face. He couldn't remember that last time he had smiled, or even if he had ever smiled. It surprized Heero, and from the look on Duo's face, it surprized him, too. "What took you?" Heero asked.
"Well, well, well, aren't we in a hurry? Hmph, maybe I should just let you wait some more, see how you like that!" Duo crossed his arms, eyes looking up at the ceiling, pretending to think about it, his face taking on a thoughtful expression. In reality was just as anxious as Heero, but he couldn't help but tease Heero a little.
"Duo!" Heero whipered harshly, remembering Quatre was still there. But he knew Duo was just screwing around. There really was no changing Duo, and Heero wouldn't have it any other way.
"Don't rush me! It'll just take me longer! ...." Duo put his hands on his hips, and looked back down at Heero, smiling playfully, "What was I thinking about, again?"
Heero narrowed his eyes, "Sometime this year would be nice, Duo."
"Tsch. Fine. Be that way." Duo said, chuckling as he walked over beside Heero, and held out his hand, "Come on, then." As Heero took the offered hand, he felt a warm wave wash over him, and he was free.
***
Quatre was in a grassy flied when he heard two people's laughter. Once was familiar to him, the other was forgein to his ears, and yet familair as well. Then he realized, it was Duo... and Heero! Heero... laughing? He felt someone tap his back, and Quatre whipped around. It was Heero, as he looked when he was 18, angelic wings of pure white spread behind him. Heero was smiling, something that shocked Quatre entirely. "Heero..?"
"Don't be upset, Quatre, when you wake up. I remember how torn up you were after Duo's death, and again after Relena's. I don't want you to go through that again, especially over me."
Then above him, Quatre heard Duo's voice, "Hey! Up here!" Quatre looked up to see Duo, looking as old as he was when he died, a pair of midnight black feathered wings streching from his back. He grinned down at Quatre, a purely Duo-esqe grin. "Don't worry about him Quatre, I'll take good care of him. And you don't have to worry about me either, if you still do, 'cause I'm sure Heero'll do the same for me. Right, Hee-chan?"
"But of course, my black winged tenshi!" Heero called to his love, jumping into the air to fly to him. Just as Heero tackled Duo mid-air, Duo shouted back down to the blonde, "Have a nice life, Quatre! We'll be seeing you... eventually!!"
Then the loud and steady beep of the heartmonitor woke Quatre up. He started to panic, but then he looked down in his lap and saw two feathers. One black, and one white. Remembering the dream, he smiled, and a few tears slid down his cheeks. He knew his friends had finally found happiness.
++++++++++The End++++++++++
It's finally over! I hope you liked, and again, sorry for the wait, I hope it was worth it.
I'm sorry if the paragraph about the shoot out was kind confusing, but if you got confused, here's what basically what happened:
1. Westling shots Relena
2.Westlin sees Heero and turns to shoot him.
3. Wufei pushes Heero aside, taking the bullet in the left portion of his chest.
4. Before hitting the ground, Heero shots Westlin in the head. Two people working for Westlin draw their guns.
5. Trowa shoots one of them dead before they get off a shot.
6. Quatre and the remaining gunner fire at eachother at the same time, Quatre's left arm is nicked by the bullet, and the last gunner dies from his wound.
Please, please, please review. I need to know if I should do more things like this, or if you readers what comedy, or whatever. But, I should warn you, a really bad way to make me stop writing things like this is to flame me.
Thanks for reading!
-ShinigamisAngel
shinigamisangel@yahoo.com
To anyone following this series (*waves to all 2 of you*), I'm sorry I took so long to write this, but I didn't get many responses, so I spent some time doing other things. But I didn't mean to take this long. It's just when I started to write, I just kept going, and couldn't stop myself. And I ended up finishing the series... anyway...
a quick legend for everyone:
"..."-talking
~...~-thinking
{{...}}-telepathic communication
Hope that doesn't confuse you too much ^_^ And just because telepathic communication is in the legend, doesn't necessarily mean it'll be used. This is just my cut 'n' paste legend I use for most serious fics o mine.
Same warnings apply to this fic as the others. These warnings include: Death, torture, shonen ai, some OCCness, AU, ect. ect. If you haven't read the other parts, this fic won't make any sense.
Now, finally, the fic....
++++++++++
The Pain of Life or the Quiet of Death
(Part 3 - Resolution)
by Shinigamis"I am really sooo sorry about the wait"Angel
Chapter 1
"Come on, we've got to go." Wufei said, sounding mildly annoyed, leaning against that doorframe of Trowa's office, arms crossed.
Trowa got up from his desk, and headed out the door, Wufei turning and matching him step for step. "So, tell me about the incident."
"L2 Colony, around 0500 hours, a series of explosions occured from a group of buildings thought to have been abandoned. By the time local authorities responded, most of the people seen escaping from the hidden complex that was found later, had already dispersed. The complex belonged to a group calling themselves 'Apocalypse', and they appearently make a business of creating and selling biological and chemical weapons to terrorist groups. What we were able to pull from what was left of their computer systems suggests that they are the same group resposible for the stealing fo the smallpox virus..." Wufei explained as they made their way to the shuttle.
"... and Duo's death..." Trowa concluded aloud as they passed some vending machines a private was kicking. Wufei nodded, and Trowa continued, "So, we only got one prisoner..?"
"Not exactly. Just one who might know what is going on. The others are mainly the ones too stupid and confused to have gotten away before getting caught. They know nothing." Wufei said with no small amount of contempt in his voice.
"So, does this prisoner have a name?"
"Sure. Heero Yuy."
Chapter 2
Heero felt the restraints on his wrists and the things stuck into him before he opened his eyes. He tensed.. recaptured? How?
Slowly he opened his eyes, not hearing or sensing anyone else in the room. The room was bright, and through a window light poured into the room. Quite a contrast to the rooms they'd kept him in so far. Why a window?
He realized the pain in his arms was not the same harrowing pain that he'd been suffering eariler. It was quite dull, actually. His head was not strapped down, and he was in a cheap cloth shift, his body covered with a blanket... this couldn't be the same place.
Then it clicked in. Hospital. He was in a hospital. He noticed a small window in the door, and saw through it a guard in UAF uniform.
Restrained and under guard? They must have connected him with his recent activities, but how...? That could make things more difficult, it could slow things down.. and time was not something he had alot of...
He stared at the ceiling, trying to force himself to relax. It was beginning to get to him. He told himself that he was not with those people anymore, but with conditions that were so simular to recent events, his mind started to play back those nightmarish memories. He tried to push them away, like he'd pushed his emotions away, like he'd pushed memories of Duo's death away. But it was all in vain. The events were too recent, too much for him to handle alone.
And so, he started to relive his recent torture.
Chapter 3
Trowa stopped dead in his tracks, repeating the name. Wufei walked a few steps ahead, before turning on on foot and looking back at Trowa, nodding.
Trowa stared at Wufei, unbelieveing. "Why didn't you tell me?" Trowa demanded, becoming angry with Wufei. "You withheld important information from me."
Wufei did not look away. He stood there, calm and composed, "I did so with good reason. Had I told you, you would have gone running to Quatre with the news. Quatre would convince you to go easy with him, despite evidence of his treason. He would convince you to give him a second chance, to accept whatever he said as truth. I can't allow that to happen before we find out what exactly his involvement is, and what is to be done with him."
"There is no excuse for not telling me! Both Quatre and I have the right to know!" Trowa nearly shouted at the Chinese boy, becoming more enrared by the second.
"But, do you deny that what I said is true?" Wufei said, arching an eyebrow, "I do not despute the fact that you and Quatre should know, which is why I am telling you now, and Quatre will know as soon as the initial interogattion is finished. Otherwise I would conduct the investigation myself."
Trowa did not have anything to say to that. He hated to admit it, but Wufei was right. Quatre brought out his gentelness, which was -not- a good thing when he had to deal with criminals. So he brushed by Wufei, continuing on his way. The sooner he got answers, the better. Wufei silently followed him.
Chapter 4
Heero could not take being tied down any longer. He had to get away. His -need- to get away overrode his reason. Once again, he snapped the restraint binding one of his hands, but this time it was easier, whaever painkiller they gave him still working wonders. After freeing himself from the bed, he looked back up at the status of the guard. He was zoned out. ~Idiot.~ Heero thought, as he used one of the IV stands near him to help him to beside the door, his right leg in a cast and still useless. He made sure that none of the things stuck into him that were ment to monitor his condition were removed. Then he picked up his chart. When he was ready, he threw it at the window.
The guard heard the window shatter, and rushed inside, where Heero delivered a sharp blow to the base of his skull, knocking him out cold. Closing the door, Heero managed to kneel down. ~Time for another swtiching of garments... ~ he thought as took the guards uniform. Then, Heero started to remove the things monitoring his condition. Before any of the machines could sound an alarm, he shoved the devices into the guard. Then, dragging the guard behind him, he managed to get back to the bed, where he tried the guard down with strips of cloth he ripped from the sheets. He paused, completely exhausted. He began to cough again, but there was no blood, a small comfort.
Already, the painkiller was losing it's potency. He needed to find something other than an IV stand to aid his walking. He checked the window that looked out into the hall. The corridor was empty, so he carefully made his way into the hall, the throbbing pain in his arms awakening, along with the agony in his leg. He searched the two rooms closest to his own. He found what he was looking for in the third. Opperating the wheelchair with his arms still in terrible condition would be difficult and painful, he would be able to get around faster, and would be less suspicious.
Finally, Heero stopped to think about what he was doing. He was running away from the very people he needed to talk to. But, he wouldn't be able to stand to be restrained like that. And the fact that they'd restrained him showed they didn't trust him and wouldn't listen, anyway. Of course, if they knew what he'd done, they had no reason to trust him... so what was he to do? He couldn't stop it all by himself. He needed someone who would believe him. ~Quatre....~
A plan started to formulate in his mind. He needed to get to Quatre's home on L4, it was his best chance. The security around the Colonial Assembly station was too high for him to slip through in his condition, once they realized he was missing and started to look for him.
So, he had to find a flight to L4.. well, he could hack a ticket once he found a suitible computer terminal... And a UAF soldier in a wheelchair wasn't unheard of.. no one would give him a second look, especially since the uniform itself covered up all of his bandages. Of course, he wasn't going to get very far unless he got something to keep his pain managable.
He was in a hospital, wasn't he? He'd just swipe some morphine on the way out....
Chapter 5
Wufei let out a long string of Chinese curses when he saw the guard tied down and unconscious on the bed that was supposed to contain Heero. He ran out the door to order the hospital searched, and report Heero's disappearence, while Trowa untied the guard. Nurses came for the guard, and awhile after that, Wufei came back, his anger evident in his eyes.
"They don't call him the perfect soldier for nothing." Trowa said simply.
Wufei scowled, "He shouldn't have been able to get that far in his condition, especially since he was restrained, and there was that guard. Damn it! " Wufei's hands closed into fists, and he looked like he was ready to punch the wall.. or whomever got too close to him. "We need to find him. Within five days."
Trowa narrowed his eyes, "What haven't you told me now?"
Wufei glared at him, "Heero is sick. Apocolpyse was using him as a test subject, although we're not quite sure why. He's been infected by a virus that damages the respriatory system. First going for small blood vessels in the lungs, and progressivly getting worse. They were able to reverse the effects when Heero was here, but hadn't immunitized him against the virus. So, he is going to become sick again. After 5 days the effects will be irreversable, and he will die. I doubt he knows about any of it. Not to mention there is a possiblilty of him infecting someone."
"So, Heero is going to die within a week unless we find him in time, and he may have important information regarding impending terrorist attacks. Am I completely up to speed now, Wufei?"
"Yea. Come on... we have a search to orgainize..." Wufei said, turning and exiting the room. Trowa glaced out the broken window for a moment thinking ~Why are you running, Heero?~, before following the other boy.
Chapter 6
Heero was at the public library, using a computer to get himself on the next flight to L4. The morphine worked it's small miracles, freeing him from most of his pain. Everything was going as well as he could have hoped until he felt a light touch on his shoulder.
He looked up into the eyes of Schneider, second to only to Westlin himself. She smiled, and Heero soundlessly put his hand over his gun, loosening it from it's holster. If nothing else, he could take at least one of the bastards out.
"Apocolpsye lost you, huh, Janus? Or should I call you Heero, now?" she sneered.
"Call me whatever you wish. Both names are not real."
She laughed, "Not even giving your real name to the UAF, hmmm? And don't think I don't notice your gun. If you shoot me, I'll blow some civilian building to bits.." She pulled out a hand that was in her pocket out part ways to reveal a detonator. "Never leave home without some insurance. Guess we have a stalemate for now, right?" She shoved her hand back into her pocket.
"Hn." Heero did not thing that detonator was actually hooked up to something, but he couldn't risk it.
Grinning, she glanced over him, "Daaaamn, I would never have figured any 'rat' could escape from Apoc, much less be running around a few days afterwards. A stolen UAF uniform, too.... " She pointed to the insignia on the arm of his uniform, "Either that, or you got demoted to corporal, since you were a colonel...
"UFA's looking for you now. Devoting alot of time and effort to the search. Must want you bad. Apocalypse is after you, too. And you're not exactly on Westlin's good side anymore, are you?" She crossed her arms and looked down at him.
~So Apoc must be the people who captured me....~Heero thought to himself as he looked up at her, becoming annoyed. What the hell was she doing? "Why are you telling me what I already know? Stop wasting my time."
She looked over the computer screen, "Running to L4, huh...?" He continued to stare at her, and another smile crept up on her face.
"Alright, I'll get to the point. You're talented, which everone should know by now.. you were a UAF colonel at very young age, and have managed to survive against all odds, without outside help. An ex-UAF colonel could be useful to me. I'm willing to pay more than that cheap bastard Westlin, and with me you don't have to worry about the UAF or Apoc. Westlin will be taken care of shortly after the date."
Hah.. so that's what she was trying to get at. ~She must think my loyality goes to the highest bidder.. and she would have been correct before... ~. She didn't have to explain what 'the date' was. It was the date he needed to warn the others about.. the day they would attack Relena and Sanq. The proposition was not all that appealing to him. If he were to agree to join, and to become protected by her group, it would be too late by the time he'd be able to alert Trowa, Wufei, and Quatre about the impending attack. But, what would she do if he refused? "I have business to attend to on L4."
"I need your assisstance -now-. L4 can wait." she said, becoming slightly agitated. Schneider thought a merc like Heero would jump on her offer.
Heero looked back at the computer, and began to log off. He paused, coughing into his hand several times before looking up. "No, it can't. If you want my services, it will wait until after L4."
She half growled at him, "I really must -insist-." Her future orginization needed his hacking skills, and the keys to breaking UAF encoding, which he should know, having been a colonel. His assassination and soldiering skills would also come in handy.
"Insist all you like. My answer is either wait until I'm finished, or leave me alone."
She drew herself up, and looked down at him, and smiled slightly "Alright. I'll be seeing you, Heero Yuy." Then she turned on her heel and left without further confrontation. But that smile made Heero wary of her. Once she was out of sight, he carefully wheeled himself out of the library, and to where his shuttle awaited him.
Chapter 7
Heero's trip to L4 wasn't exactly pleasant. He was seized by fits of coughing, and their frequency had been increasing. His lungs began to discomfort him, and halfway though the flight, he noticed blood in the hand he was coughing into.
Finally, he made it to the colony. It was late, and he was compleltely exhausted. His arms shook uncontrollably, and breathing was becoming a chore. It would not do him any good if he passed out in the middle of the street, so he was forced into checking into a hotel for the night. At 3 AM, he was able to let himself sleep.
***
His night was not undistrubed. He awoke coughing up many little droplets of blood several times during the night. He entered a deep sleep right when the colony was becoming lighted for day. He awoke again at 4 PM, not feeling very rested, but his arms did not shake as they had before, so he get back into his wheelchair and stared out again.
Quatre's ... and Trowa's... home was not that far away. But, since none of the buses or taxis around were built to accommodate wheelchairs, he had to get himself there the hard way. Luckly, his morphine supply had not run out, and his wounds did not bother him very much.
He was within 20 minutes from his goal when a child of about 9 years of age passed close by him, and he felt his skin get pricked by something. Before he could cry out for help, his body began going limp on him, and he lost consciousness.
***
"I told you I'd be seeing you. I also insisted you help me, but you wouldn't listen...."
Schnieder. That bitch. Heero was hanging in the center of the dark and cold cell by his hands, which were tied together. His uniform had been removed, and he was clothed only in a pair of boxers, his bandaged removed. His feet barely touched the concrete floor beneath him. He opened his eys to find her smiling face.
"I see that Apoc really -did- do a number on you." Her smile broaded as she held up a bottle of morphine, "And I see how you've been able to get around with those impressive wounds. How long you been taking this? How much? Think you're addicted, yet? Heh..." She threw the bottle straight to the ground by his feet, the glass shattering, and some of the shards imbedding themselves into his unprotected skin.
"Ooops.." she said mockingly. "It would have been so much easier if you'd just joined willingly. I don't like to coerce people into joing me.. espcially when I have to use pain as an insentive. Really, I don't. But in yor case, I don't think I have to do much more than leave you here. You'll feel every one of your injuries shortly, and after that will come withdrawl... but, we can always provide more morphine, if you're willing to work for it...."
Heero simply glowered at her, and she sighed, "I hate waiting. James, David, see if you can convince him a little faster.." she said, waving two large men toward Heero. As they began to hammer Heero's defenseless self with punches and kicks, Schneider turned and said over her shoulder, "I'll be leaving, since like I said, I don't like having to do this. So, I'll see you when you've decided to be helpful...", and then she was gone.
Heero stayed silent during the beating. He didn't want them to know how much pain they were causing him. The only reason he could take their blows sliently was because the morphine hadn't completely worn off... but Heero know that it did, his pain would be doubled, at least. He felt as bones were broken or displaced, as wounds reopened, as small rivulets of blood began to run down his body. Thankfully, he blacked out soon after Schneider's disappearance.
***
When Heero woke, his body was again screaming with pain. He was laid out on the floor, his hands still bound, a chain leading up from them, to a pulley on the ceiling, the chain ending in a crank on the left wall.
Heero started coughing again, the very act causing him to know a new level of pain. His broken ribs cried out in protest to the movement, his lungs feeling like they'd been shredded. His head pounded with a headache unlike anything he'd ever felt before. He couldn't move from the position he'd been left in, his body not responding to his commands. The act of drawing air into and out of his lungs took up all his strength and energy. All he was able to do was lie there, suffering.
The world blurred in and out. He lost the concept of time, but now and then someone would come in and ask if he'd like to help them now. He never answered, he wasn't quite sure if he was able to.
How'd he end up in a place like this, again? It seemed like it was impossible to escape from the underground world of terrorism... If he agreed to help them, they wouldn't let him out of their sight, and find other ways time make him do as they wanted until there was no use for him anymore. If he continued to refuse, they'd eventually kill him.
He'd only been lucky to escape before... there was no way he could do it again, was there? Heero closed his eyes. What else could he do? He didn't bother to open his eyes when he heard someone enter the room. It probably just another one of his tormentors.
"Allah... what have they done?" Heero reconzied that voice. It was Rashid... how could he be here? Heero kept his eyes closed, thinking it was just a hallucination. It had to be. No one would save him now. No one would want to.
He felt someone unlocking the chains that bound his hands. He felt a hand brush up against his forehead, and Rashid's voice say, "He's burning up... Abdul, hurry up with that strecher." Heero finally dared to open his eyes. They met Rashid's. He said weakly, before the other man could react, "Quatre.. I have to.. tell him..."
Rashid looked at him, eyes filled with worry, "You will. Just hang on...". Then Heero's vision blurred as he lost the battle to stay conscious.
Chapter 8
Quatre sat beside Heero's hospital bed. It was sickening to see what had been done to Heero. Quatre wouldn't leave the side of the bed until Heero awoke. He hadn't told Trowa that Heero was here, or anyone else. He wasn't planning to let anyone know, either. The hospital, having been financed by his company, didn't have a problem with keeping the secret.
Quatre's empathic abilities had been working overtime lately. He had felt Heero's fear when he was trapped in that hospital room. When later Trowa explained to him what had happened, Quatre couldn't believe that they'd tied Heero up like that, after what he'd been through. Trowa also told him that Heero had about five days to live after his escape because of something that those terrorists had done to him. They'd cut it close to that deadline.
He had known he would have to find Heero first. Trowa and Wufei would just put Heero through more than he'd already gone through, even if they really did not mean to hurt him like that. Quatre also felt Heero's intense desire to tell someone something... Usually, he wouldn't get a detail like that through the link he shared with the other pilots, but he'd become more attunded to Heero these last few days. He was determined to be here for Heero when he awoke. Heero had no one left but him.
Rashid and the others had been searching the colony for any leads to Heero's whereabouts. They had tried infiltrating the underground in desperation. To their surprize, they learned of a terrorist safehouse not to far from Quatre's home. Working alone, in case Heero was found there, they'd stormed the small facility. There were few staying at the safehouse, and those that were caputed were found dead within hours of being put into custody. Cyanide had been the cause. Heero was found in the basement. They'd been very fortunate, not only in finding him, but finding him before it was too late to save him... physically, at least.
Just then, Heero's eyes snapped open, muscles tensing, and Quatre felt his surge of panic, although that feeling never made it to Heero's facial expression. He lifted up a hand, and examined his bandaged wrist. No restraint... none, and that surprized him. Then he looked over at Quatre, and he relaxed somewhat.
"Quatre," Heero started... it still hurt to breathe, making it more difficult for him to talk, "... what is the day? .. Are the others here?"
Quatre shook his head, "No, it's just me. And it's the 14th of July, around 9 pm."
Heero tried to sit up, but gave up on that when pain forced him to quit. He fell silently back against the pillow, and Quatre looked somewhat apologetic, "The doctors didn't want to give you a strong painkiller, since you were suffering from withdrawl, and they didn't want to make you become dependant again."
"Nevermind that. Tomarrow terroists plan on releasing a biological weapon that will affect everyone inside the old borders of the Sanq kingdom, and attempting to assasssinate Relena." His tone was devoid of emotion, but the look in his eyes was urgent. Quatre looked at solemnly. With Heero's alleged activities, he'd been expecting something like that.
"Alright, I believe you." Quatre pulled out a tape recorder, and hit the record button. "Please, tell me everything you know."
Heero began to pour out all the details as fast as his battered body would allow him to go. He told Quatre about the five different places there had been discussions about hiding the bomb, and how three of those places would be used. He spoke of Westlin, of Schneider, and any other names that he could recall, and their descriptions. It was 10:30 when Heero had finished with absolutely everything he knew about the conspiracy. Quatre stood up so he could go and find Trowa. But Heero had one more thing to say, "Quatre, let me be in Relena's escort."
Quatre looked down at Heero, surprized, "But.. your condition... and then there's the UAF's charges against you..."
Heero looked straight into Quatre's eyes, "I made mistakes. I need to start to redeem myself."
Quatre could see in Heero's eyes, and feel it in his own heart, that Heero was telling the truth. And Quatre understood him perfectly. He sighed softly, "I'll see what I can do." He then turned and rushed off to find Trowa. They didn't have much time.
Chapter 9
"I warned you! He's convinced you to believe that traitor!" Wufei yelled at Trowa. Trowa didn't have time for this.
"Are you accusing Quatre of manipulating me? I do not believe there will be any harm in it, and there will be no harm in increasing Relena's security. Also, there is no concrete evdience proving treason." Trowa told Wufei, his tone acidic.
Wufei nearly growled, "You know I'm not accusing Quatre of that. What if the places he claimed the bomb is, if there really even is a bomb, are just traps?"
"What if they aren't? There's half an hour to midnight, and Heero wasn't able to specifiy a time of day, so we don't have the time to be arguing."
Wufei grumbled, but did not continue the dispute. Trowa began speaking again. "I'm going with Heero to protect Relena. We can be at the Colonial Assembly station in an hour. Are you coming?"
Col. Wufei gave a short nod, and they left in silence for the launch bay.
***
Heero was able to stand and walk around thanks to new medical techonoligies developed by the doctors Quatre had been giving grants to. It was combination of using a new technique to get his bones to fuse together faster, and braces he had to wear on each leg. He couldn't exactly move very well, but he could manage a quick paced walk if need be. If all else failed, he would be able to get out of the way of the healthier guards.
He'd also taken the liberty of stealing morphine again, so his pain was dulled enough he could pretty much move the rest of his body without difficulty. Quatre would be upset when he found out, and he'd have to suffer the symptoms of withdrawl once again, but it was a small price to pay if it ment they could save Relena's life.
Quatre, Trowa, Wufei, and he arrived on the station, along with other UAF personnel who would search the premises. Trowa, Wufei, and Heero would work with Relena's exisiting bodyguards to protect her. Quatre was there simply because he worked there as a representative for his colony, although, unlike usual, he was armed in case he was needed to defend Relena as well... or even himself.
All four of them went to check on Relena's room, but found it empty. A servant told them that she'd gone into the reception room to speak with the newly elected representatives from the L3 Colony who had just arrived. The four of them arrived at the reception area without any trouble, and without noticing any suspicious activity. They spied Relena in the north east corner of the crowded room. Heero noticed that were balconies that looked over the room. ~Shit~ he thought, as he knew they'd make a good perch for the assassin.
"We'll have to get her out of this room" Trowa said, noticing the same thing Heero did, as they pushed their way toward Relena. Then as some people moved past them, Heero got a good look at who Relena was talking to.
He watched in horror as Westlin, in a suit with the insignia of the L3 colony embroidered on it, revealed his gun and shot Relena point blank range straight into the center of her chest.
And time slowed down.
Relena fell back soundlessly as those around her screamed, and Westlin turned his head, reconition in his eyes as they settled on Heero. In that same instant someone behind him shoved him aside, and Westlin made to shoot Heero. Heero pulled his gun as he fell to the side, and as Westlin shot the area where Heero had been, he heard a cry of pain. Heero had no time to worry about whomever it was, because the two people closest to Westlin had started to pull guns, as well. Heero freed his own gun from it's holster, and before he'd hit the floor, Heero had shot Westlin in the head. He saw Trowa shot one of the men beside Westlin, whom fell to the ground screaming and then lay still. There was another shot from somewhere near Trowa a fraction of a second after Trowa had fired, and the remaining gunner shot at that same instant. By this time, so many people were screaming it was impossible to tell by sound alone if the bullets hit their targets, but Heero saw the the last conspirator fall to the ground in an expanding pool of blood.
He made a quick glance around the room for anyone else who might be a threat, but he could identify none. UAF officers were flooding the area, and people cleared out the area where the shoot out occured. He saw Trowa by Quatre's side, the blonde pushing him gently away, blood staining his left arm, though it appeared to be only a nick and wasn't bleeding badly. Relena, who'd fallen only five feet from him, was still alive, her eyes still open, but not appearing to see anything. Noin held her, and when her tear's fell onto Relena's face, she did not even flinch. She didn't have long.
Then Heero twisted around, to see Wufei behind him, the upper left portion of his chest gushing blood from his bullet wound. Wufei had been the one to push him out of the way... Heero never would have thought Wufei would do such a thing, especially since Wufei had been making his disgust with Heero well known. He stumbled over to Wufei, applying pressure to the injury, trying to stop all the bleeding. Wufei struggled for breath, his eyes squeezed shut.
Then Wufei's eyes opened, and settled on something above where the bodies of the three assassins lay. Heero followed his gaze, and saw Duo hovering above them, wings spread, scythe in hand. Another look around the room made it obvious only he, Relena, and Wufei could see Duo.
Then from the bodies of the terrorists stood transulent versions of themselves. Their gaze was instantly drawn to Duo overhead. Duo looked down at them, eyes cold, mouth set in a frown alien to Duo's face. The... well, the 'souls' of Westlin's two comrades trembled in fear, and even Westlin seemed intimidated. He heard Westlin's shakey voice say, "Who are you?"
{{Shinigami, here to deliver you to your judgement... You are lucky it is not my place to judge. But, it is unlucky for you, that I get to choose the method in which you get to your destination.}}, Duo's mental voice echoed in Heero's mind. Duo held up the scythe in one hand above his head, and twirled it effortlessly, like his Deathscythe used to, and dove down, slicing through each of the three. As Duo's scythe passed through them, they cried out in agony as their 'bodies' were drawn into the blade, making it shine too brightly to look at directly. The light faded from the scythe, and Duo sighed. He turned and looked over at Wufei and Relena.
"No.... go away... you're finished here.....", Heero found himself whispering. Never would he had ever thought he would wish the man he adored away with such fervor. Duo looked at him mournfully.
"A soul I am sent to collect that is not taken is damned to wander restlessly for all eternity. I must." Duo said softly, switching back to speaking aloud. Heero looked away, back down at Wufei, whose eyes had closed but heart still beat, and who still breathed, if unsteadily. Duo continued, voice pleading, "Please, understand, Heero, I do not choose when their time is. I just guide them."
"I do understand, Duo, but why you?" he murmered softly, looking into back Duo's violet eyes. Into the eyes of Death.
"It was what I was choosen to do, while I waited. I will not be a messanger of death for all eternity. You will be the last I have to take... then.." Duo let himself trail off... He added, before Heero could speak again, predicting what his love would say ,"And I can't take you in their place. As I explained, if I take you early..."
"... we will be separated..." Heero finished for Duo, under his breath.
Duo nodded solemnly, and walked over to Relena, Heero's eyes following him as he knelt down beside her. He said quietly, "Relena, can you hear me...? Open your eyes, if you can...." Heero watched as her eyes barely opened, and she looked directly at Duo. He was the only person she could see, the sound of his voice the only thing she could hear. She couldn't hear Noin telling her to hold on, that the EM crews were only minutes away.
Duo held his hand directly above Relena's, "Take my hand." Relena found a strength she hadn't had moments before, and grasped Duo's hand. Heero saw as he gently pulled Relena's soul up from her body. Then Relena's body gave a final shutter, and died. Noin's pierceing cry was heard over the all the chaos caused by the attack, and the room fell silent.
Heero looked down at Wufei, not wanting to see him go. How many more people did he have to lose? How many out of his very, very small pool of friends? Wufei's eyes opened, just as Duo looked at him, and their eyes met. After holding the gaze for a few seconds, Duo smiled.
"Not your time, yet, buddy. You're too stubborn.... although, that alone isn't what saved you... Bye, Wufei." Duo finished just as Wufei lost consciousness. Heero gave a small sigh of relief, although he was still worried for Wufei... and Relena. Duo turned his attention to her, who was just getting her bearings. She couldn't see anyone in the room except for Duo, and it was finially clicking into place in her mind; the scythe, the wings, the fact that Duo was dead...
"Am I dead?" she asked him, afraid of the answer. Duo sighed and walked up to her side. There was no easy way to tell someone that they had died.
"Yes...", was all he managed to say, and Relena's eyes began to tear. Duo 'shh'ed her, trying to give her some small bit of comfort "Cheer up, it isn't as bad as you might think..." He offered her his arm, "Now, if you'd please come with me, I'll show you.", then he smiled softly at her.
She took his arm, and said somewhat nervously, "Where are we going?"
"You've got _nothing_ to worry about, Relena." Duo looked back over his shoulder, and smiled at Heero.
{{You don't have to worry about her, either, Heero. Until I see you again......}} Then there was a flash of blinding light, Heero could no longer see either of them.
"Duo..." he whispered somberly, wanting so badly to go with him, if only for a few more moments... even if his final destination would be Hell. He had never before believed in a Hell, but recent events had made him unsure about that.
Someone tugging on his arm interrupted his thoughts, and he looked up at the EMs all around. He stood up and let them take over, and Trowa, who had first tugged on his arm, started to lead him away from the bloody scene.
Chapter 10
The release of the virus was prevented, thanks to the information Heero had provided the UAF. He'd been readmitted to the hospital after the assassination of Relena Darlian, still in poor health, and suffering from withdrawl.
Wufei, Heero, and Quatre had all made full recoveries. Wufei never talked to Heero about seeing Duo, but Heero never figured he would. Wufei did, however, help clear him of all the charges that had been brought against him. Soon afterwards, he was reinstated as a Colonel of the UAF.
Once he was a member of the UAF again, he began to track and hunt down the Apocalypse organization. He'd destroyed it completely within the first year, and for his work, he recieved many commendations. Not that Heero cared.
After he had avenged Duo's death, and his own torture at their hands, the other pilots had noticed Heero had been spending alot of time at hospitals, around the ER. Only Wufei knew why.
Heero had wanted to see Duo again, and the only way he could think of to do that was to be where Duo was going to be. What he was doing was pretty morbid, but he didn't care, he just wanted so despritely to look into those beautiful eyes. In short, he was impatient.
Heero never saw Duo in those ERs, but he could have sworn he saw some of the dying reach out for a hand that wasn't there. He finally quit when he realized that this was not what Duo would want him to do.
Trowa retired, and he and Quatre adopted children. Wufei and Heero had gone on to became generals in the UAF.
Thirty-four years had passed since that bloody day he'd last seen his love, and Heero lay in the hospital bed, in pain. His vital organs were beginning to fail him, and he was only 50 years old. All his body had been subjected to when he was younger had taken it's toll.
Quatre was asleep by his bed. The doctors had told him that Heero might pass on at any time, and there was nothing more they could do to help him, except to try to keep him comfortable. But, since Heero had bad reactions to most painkillers now, they couldn't even do that very well. Quatre watched over him because he didn't want Heero to have to die alone.
Heero lay there, his chest hurting, and the pain in his abdomen becoming unbearable. It was as sun was setting, and the room was filled with orange light, that suddenly, Heero no longer felt the pain. He didn't feel the exhaustion. In fact, he felt pretty good. And he heard someone outside the door.
A familar demon-winged figured stepped into the room. Duo looked down at him, grinning, having not aged a day since Heero saw him last. "You ready yet?" he said cheerfully.
A smile crept up onto Heero's face. He couldn't remember that last time he had smiled, or even if he had ever smiled. It surprized Heero, and from the look on Duo's face, it surprized him, too. "What took you?" Heero asked.
"Well, well, well, aren't we in a hurry? Hmph, maybe I should just let you wait some more, see how you like that!" Duo crossed his arms, eyes looking up at the ceiling, pretending to think about it, his face taking on a thoughtful expression. In reality was just as anxious as Heero, but he couldn't help but tease Heero a little.
"Duo!" Heero whipered harshly, remembering Quatre was still there. But he knew Duo was just screwing around. There really was no changing Duo, and Heero wouldn't have it any other way.
"Don't rush me! It'll just take me longer! ...." Duo put his hands on his hips, and looked back down at Heero, smiling playfully, "What was I thinking about, again?"
Heero narrowed his eyes, "Sometime this year would be nice, Duo."
"Tsch. Fine. Be that way." Duo said, chuckling as he walked over beside Heero, and held out his hand, "Come on, then." As Heero took the offered hand, he felt a warm wave wash over him, and he was free.
***
Quatre was in a grassy flied when he heard two people's laughter. Once was familiar to him, the other was forgein to his ears, and yet familair as well. Then he realized, it was Duo... and Heero! Heero... laughing? He felt someone tap his back, and Quatre whipped around. It was Heero, as he looked when he was 18, angelic wings of pure white spread behind him. Heero was smiling, something that shocked Quatre entirely. "Heero..?"
"Don't be upset, Quatre, when you wake up. I remember how torn up you were after Duo's death, and again after Relena's. I don't want you to go through that again, especially over me."
Then above him, Quatre heard Duo's voice, "Hey! Up here!" Quatre looked up to see Duo, looking as old as he was when he died, a pair of midnight black feathered wings streching from his back. He grinned down at Quatre, a purely Duo-esqe grin. "Don't worry about him Quatre, I'll take good care of him. And you don't have to worry about me either, if you still do, 'cause I'm sure Heero'll do the same for me. Right, Hee-chan?"
"But of course, my black winged tenshi!" Heero called to his love, jumping into the air to fly to him. Just as Heero tackled Duo mid-air, Duo shouted back down to the blonde, "Have a nice life, Quatre! We'll be seeing you... eventually!!"
Then the loud and steady beep of the heartmonitor woke Quatre up. He started to panic, but then he looked down in his lap and saw two feathers. One black, and one white. Remembering the dream, he smiled, and a few tears slid down his cheeks. He knew his friends had finally found happiness.
++++++++++The End++++++++++
It's finally over! I hope you liked, and again, sorry for the wait, I hope it was worth it.
I'm sorry if the paragraph about the shoot out was kind confusing, but if you got confused, here's what basically what happened:
1. Westling shots Relena
2.Westlin sees Heero and turns to shoot him.
3. Wufei pushes Heero aside, taking the bullet in the left portion of his chest.
4. Before hitting the ground, Heero shots Westlin in the head. Two people working for Westlin draw their guns.
5. Trowa shoots one of them dead before they get off a shot.
6. Quatre and the remaining gunner fire at eachother at the same time, Quatre's left arm is nicked by the bullet, and the last gunner dies from his wound.
Please, please, please review. I need to know if I should do more things like this, or if you readers what comedy, or whatever. But, I should warn you, a really bad way to make me stop writing things like this is to flame me.
Thanks for reading!
-ShinigamisAngel
shinigamisangel@yahoo.com