Disclaimer: Much as I try, I can't seem to convince Mixx that they should sell Gundam to me. So I don't own it. Too bad. ;O
The Lost Girl
Part 8
When I woke up it was still dark out - I hadn't slept for that long, then? The ceiling had an orange glow cast onto it, flickering softly - I turned my head to see a fire burning cheerfully in the fireplace at the end of the room. Relena was sitting in front of it, reading a book.
My wrist still hurt, throbbing rhythmically with my heartbeat, and there was a heavy, dull pain in my chest. I felt a little lightheaded but it wasn't too bad, although every limb ached harshly.
I did, however, manage to prop myself up on my elbows with somewhat less effort.
"Relena?" My voice was scratchy, as if it hadn't been used in weeks.
Her head snapped up; she set the book down quickly and sprinted over to the couch I was on, sitting down in the chair, her hair falling about her shoulders.
"Alison! How are you feeling?" she asked, her hand immediately on my forehead. "You're fever's nearly gone."
"I can't have been asleep more than a couple of hours "
Her face darkened a bit. "You were out for two days."
*Two days*?!
"What?" I asked, not believing her.
She nodded. "I called a doctor - you have two broken ribs and some nasty bruises, but he says you'll be able to walk in a few days just fine."
Broken ribs? A few days? I didn't have that much time - I had to get out of here, had to get Heero to take me to find the other pilots -
"Heero?"
She sighed. "He left the night he brought you here. I don't know where he went - he must have gone after the others. That baka"
I struggled to sit up fully. I had to get out of here. I had to get to Heero, to the others. To Duo.
"Hey, hey!" she protested, her hands on my chest, pushing me back down with very little effort. "You're not going anywhere. You've got to stay here and rest."
"I have to get to the others"
"No, you don't." She shook her head, hair whipping wildly about her face. "No. You're going to stay right here, Alison. Besides - I contacted Sally. She and her group are out there looking for them now. There's nothing more you can do."
Didn't she see that it didn't matter who else got involved - *I* had to help, *I* had to go look for them.
"It doesn't matter. I still have to -"
"You're just as bad as Heero!" she exclaimed, eyes beginning to show her exasperation. "No!"
I sighed, resigned to the fact that I would at least have to stay here until she left, or fell asleep.
In that case "Can I have something to eat, then, please?"
Her eyes softened, and so did the rest of her expression. "Of course! Here!" She turned and pulled over a tray, stocked with some toast, water, and an apple. I gingerly picked up a piece of toast, taking a small bite.
Toast.
Quatre had made me toast, that morning I'd woken up so confused, sick, lost
I squeezed my eyes shut. I was going to take care of this. I was going to get them out of this mess.
I was sick of being hurt, sick of being confused, sick of being taken care of. The pilots needed me - or at least for me to get someone who was capable - to take care of them, to get them out of the danger that I had placed them in. Maybe Heero helped the situation, but somehow I knew that I had to do something myself, to make this right.
Something.
I sat and ate the toast and half of the apple. Relena watched me fiercely, as if she knew how badly I wanted to leave.
Finally, she yawned and glanced at the clock on the mantelpiece.
"It's nearly midnight," she observed. "I'm going to go to bed, now that I know you're all right." Suddenly she pinned me with an fierce gaze," Promise me you're not going to leave, Alison."
I sighed. I could at least make it sound convincing. "No," I answered. "I won't. Sorry I just want to help so badly"
She smiled a bit. "I know you do. But it's not your fault. And Heero's out there looking for them, even if he is a baka. And he'll find them. You just rest, all right? I don't want to know what Duo would do to me if he came back and you were half-dead"
Duo. I didn't want to think about Duo. About where he was, if he was still alive
"Sorry," she apologized softly, seeing the look on my face and stopping. "Anyway, you get some sleep. They'll be fine."
"G'night," I said, and she stood and left, closing the heavy door behind her.
I waited about ten minutes, not daring to move. Then I pulled the blanket off, and stood up. Well, tried to stand up - it did finally work, but it took me nearly a minute. What was?
I pulled the bottom of my shirt up a bit, and saw that my middle had been tightly bound. Broken ribs. That must be the dull force I had felt before. It was constricting, but I was probably better off leaving the bandages on. I strode over to the window, knowing that since Heero hadn't gone up any stairs when he'd brought me here, I was probably still on the first floor.
I pulled the curtain aside on the huge window, and smiled. I was on the first floor. Searching for the latch, I slowly, quietly pulled the window open, and hopped out into the night.
I had to get to Chile. I had to get to Trowa. Only it was going to be harder, this time. I had no extra food, no gun. I had only my wallet, with my IDs and credit card. But at least that would get me a flight. Unless
Unless what? my mind asked. For a second, there had been something - a name, perhaps, hanging on the edge of remembrance. A face, almost. Features. Two braids, twisted and falling just over her shoulders. A stern but friendly, willing face. A green uniform.
Who was it? And why was I remembering this? I walked down the streets, Relena's mansion growing steadily smaller in the distance. I didn't really know where I was headed, but this place was fairly populated and I thought I saw city lights not too far away.
I continued on towards the bright patch in the distance, eventually coming upon a city. Scanning the skyline, I saw the Tokyo tower.
So we were still in Tokyo.
That meant I could get to the airport, and get a ticket out of here. I smiled, and headed just a bit faster towards the city.
* * *
When I arrived in Chile, I still had no clue how to find the base, or how to get Trowa out. I was running on autopilot, running on empty. I hadn't slept in a day, and my side was beginning to bother me more and more with each passing hour. I was hungry, but at least it was warm here.
But how was I going to get to Trowa? I still had no idea - had no idea if he was still here, even. Maybe Heero had already gotten him out. What a waste of time this would've been, I thought with a grim smile. And my side was really beginning to hurt -
I wasn't paying attention when I ran head-on into the stranger on the street corner, nor was I even fully aware when they grabbed my arms, as if they knew me.
The first thing that shocked me out of my trace-like state was my name, and her voice.
"Alison! You *are* here!"
I knew that voice, from somewhere didn't I?
I looked up to see a woman - one very much like the one that I'd almost remembered, a day ago. Hair in two twists coming down over her shoulders. Green uniform. Concerned look.
"You were expecting me?" I asked in a small voice, not sure what to make of this. She obviously knew, me, and I was obviously supposed to know her. She didn't seem like she worked for OZ
"Relena told me you'd run off. Wufei had given me the locations of the bases they were sent to - I guess he didn't completely trust Duo. I was here looking for Heero, actually."
So she was on our side. I sighed a bit with relief.
"Are you all right?" she asked, peering into my face, eyes colored with concern. I was really getting sick of people looking at me that way.
"I'm fine," I assured her, shrugging out of her grip. "Is Heero here, then?"
She shook her head. "If he is, we haven't spotted him out. We're going to go in after Trowa tonight if nothing happens at the base."
"Oh." Maybe I would have some help, after all.
"You don't look so well - why don't you come with me to our camp? I'll get you some food, a change of clothes. And then we'll see what the breakout situation is."
I saw no reason not to go with her. Of course, the dull buzzing that had begun in the back of my head might have been overriding any real coherent thoughts I was having, but I nonetheless followed her stiffly down the unfamiliar streets. She turned off one and stepped into the brush; I followed, and after about half a mile through the jungle we came upon a full-blown military camp, equipped with jeeps, tents, guns, and even a tank.
"Wow," I muttered softly, taking it all in.
I saw her glance down at me, concern once again filling her eyes. "Are you really all right? Relena said you'd been captured - that you'd been through a lot"
"I'm fine," I replied, not really having the will or the coherence to recount it all to her now. She remained silent after that, although the looks she was periodically casting me told me she still didn't believe me.
I was beginning not to believe me, actually. And I was very sure Relena hadn't believed me.
We came to a large tent, and she lifted the flap and slipped inside. I followed her in, and she rummaged through a cooler until she produced a bit of bread and a canteen.
"Here, eat this for now. Let me find you some fresh clothes."
She disappeared into the shadows of the tent as I took a few tentative bites, then quickly downed half the water in the canteen. This was a large tent, and looked like it was probably the center of operations. There was a folding table in the corner, a laptop perched on top of it and a folding chair nearby. There were coolers, and boxes that looked like they probably contained other supplies of some sort.
She returned a few minutes later with some military fatigues: camouflage pants, a white shirt, and olive jacket.
"Here, these'll have to do. I'm going to go see if there's been any word from the base; I'll be back in a minute."
She left, and I quickly set about the painful task of getting changed, knowing it was going to take me a while. And it did. My side was on fire now, and my head was aching with throbbing pains that only seemed amplified in my wrist. Heero was definitely no surgeon, I thought almost amusedly, pulling the jacket on as the woman returned.
"No word yet. We'll be going in for Trowa in an hour, then."
I nodded. "I'll come with you."
She shook her head sternly. "No, you won't. Relena told me about your injuries. I want you to stay right here. When's the last time you slept?"
I shrugged, silently thanking Relena bitterly for ruining my chance at redemption.
She sighed. "You've been hanging out with Gundam pilots too long," she chided. "You're beginning to act like Heero. Usually you remind me more of Duo."
I was acting like Heero? She was the second person to tell me that. And she had to go and mention Duo, didn't she? I felt my stomach twist tightly, and tried not to let it affect my voice as I spoke.
"I'm sorry," I apologized stiffly. "It's just my friends are in danger, and it's all my fault. And I cant even remember them all that well in the first place I'm sorry - I don't even know your name."
She blinked, looking at me for a moment.
"Relena said you seemed a little confused What happened?"
I shrugged. "I don't know. A coupla days before this all happened, I woke up and I was just there. I don't remember anything before that. At all. Quatre kind of filled me in said I was their mechanic"
"You don't remember" she murmured to herself. "I'm so sorry - my name is Sally. Sally Po."
So this must be who Relena had been speaking about. It made a little more sense now. I hadn't thought much about what she'd said at the time, not with my need to get out and look for the people whose lives I'd helped to put in danger.
I nodded, and she continued.
"You don't remember that's terrible. You were - are - a great mechanic. One of the best I've ever seen."
I looked down, ashamed that I couldn't remember. It was really getting to me by now - not being able to remember the past, my knowledge even just the things my friends and I used to do Everyone seemed to know all about me. Everyone but me.
She glanced at her watch. "I'd better get going. There's some coffee in the pot over there," she said, pointing, "and I want you to stay in here until we get back. No leaving. I'm posting a guard outside the flap - I know how you people can be."
I sighed. This time I really wasn't going anywhere, and I knew it. But as long as someone was out there, getting Trowa out, I didn't need to be on the first attack squad in.
"Good luck," I told her softly. "Please bring him back safely."
She nodded and left.
* * *
The two following hours felt like an eternity to me. I didn't want to sleep - couldn't sleep - and so I'd been drinking a steady supply of the offered coffee, mug after mug, just staring into the dirt, as if I could create a window out into the rest of the world and find my friends that way. I just felt so ashamed at being so helpless, especially now.
And I didn't think Heero had really trusted me by the time he left - what would Trowa say?
Would he still be alive?
I couldn't remember much about Trowa at all. I'd only seen him the once, when Duo had loudly woken everyone up to tell them I'd lost my memory. I remembered a tall boy, face set in a determined yet almost soft look. Hair falling over his eyes. Soft voice. Green eyes.
There was shuffling outside, and voices. I sprang to my feet - ouch, that had not been a good idea - and made my way to the tent flap, only to be practically run over by Trowa as he and Sally entered.
"Alison," he said, looking down at me.
He didn't seem to be ready to kill
"Trowa," I said, my voice very small. I still wasn't sure what he was thinking - what I was thinking. What I would do if I came face to face with someone that could be a traitor
"Are you all right?" I asked him.
"I've been better," he admitted, but there was no real humor in his voice; he didn't say it like Duo would have.
"I'm sorry."
"Hey - you came after me. And Sally said you didn't look good -"
"I'm not the one who's been in captivity for the last couple of days," I muttered, looking down at my feet, unable to look him in the face even now, even when he was safe again and didn't seem all that angry to see me.
I would've been angry to see me, that was for sure. I thought Heero had gotten it right, actually.
"Listen - I know it's not your fault," he said softly, and I felt his hands on my shoulders. I looked up at him, at that hair falling into his face, and saw that he really wasn't angry.
"Sally told me what Relena said. I think I believe her. I know you're no traitor, and Duo sure as hell isn't one either. He's not *that* smart," he said, cracking a small smile.
It was contagious - I felt myself smiling too.
"Thanks. I I can't believe I'm just glad you're okay," I said. "I'm sorry."
"It's over now. We just have to keep our heads and go after the others," he said resolutely, and I believed him.
I believed we could do it, because we had to. We *had* to.
"I think you both need some sleep," Sally said loudly. "We'll head out in the morning for Sydney. I've already got a party there, keeping an eye on the OZ operation down there."
"What about Heero?" Trowa asked, turning to face her. "Any word?"
"No information so far, like I said," Sally replied.
"I understand. We'll just have to continue as if he's not going to be of any help, then."
"I'm sure he went after someone, and we'll meet in between somewhere," Sally put in. "Now - there's some extra sleeping bags in the corner. I'm going back to my own tent; you two can sleep in here. We'll wake you up in the morning."
"Thank you," Trowa said, and Sally nodded and left.
He went over to the corner, grabbing the sleeping bags she'd mentioned and tossing one to me.
I caught it, rather painfully, and began unrolling it onto the ground.
"They're not going to get away with it," he said, and I looked up.
"I know," I said softly.
"We'll get them back. OZ isn't getting the Gundams, or their pilots."
I nodded, and there was a moment of silence as he unrolled his own bag.
"Are you all right?"
"I'm all right," I said softly. It was beginning to sound like a tag line. No matter what was happening, good or bad. 'I'm all right. I'm fine.'
"You're not," he said, resolutely. "But you're like Duo. You won't tell anyone. You're always fine. I know I can't get it out of you." He cracked a small smile again. "I'll bet you Quatre can."
He was probably right. Somehow I knew I'd talk to Quatre, if he asked. He just had something about him, something kind. Something that made it okay to talk.
"Probably."
"I want to get them back," he said. "I wasn't too happy with my situation, and I'm sure as hell not happy with those OZ bastards who set this whole thing up. But like I said, we're going to get them back. OZ is not going to win."
He slid into his sleeping bag, and I did the same.
"They won't win," he said, finally, resolutely, and turned over to sleep.
I lay there, hearing his words echo over and over in my head.
He was right. No matter what it took, OZ wasn't going to win. They weren't going to get the Gundam pilots.
One by one, they were fighting back.
AN: Going away for the weekend; if I'm a *very* good girl I'll get up early and post on Saturday, otherwise the next post should be on Sunday night. Thanks for all the praise ::blushes:: and don't worry I *think* there's an end (and a Duo!) in sight! ;)