Warnings: Language and violence.
AN: veGie was very sleepy when veGie wrote this so
please bear with me people; some parts might not seem to make sense. However,
at the time veGie wrote this, it made absolutely perfect sense.
Chapter 2: Ruby Tears
Pain. An acute pain. An acute throbbing pain. It pierced through her consciousness like a well-sharpened knife and the girl woke up gasping for air. Blood. Her world was nothing but a deep crimson color and she was its sole occupant, a lone figure that offset the bleeding sea. Her eyes darted left and right, searching for another human soul yet discovered there was no one else. //This has happened before.// The scene was curiously familiar to her, something that just wouldn't go away. //Why must it always be the same?//
A flash of lightening rippled through the scarlet space and the area resonated with loud, deafening screams. It was a haunting chorus; like a thousand voices heralding the coming of a new God.... or a new destroyer. Terrifying, yet beautiful at the same time, it shattered whatever thoughts tried to create an existence in her mind. It was the song of death, spewing forth from the mouths of the dead and the dying. Endless. Like the ocean, it seemed as if the dreadful song would continue on forever. //Go away!// She screamed covering her ears with soft, delicate hands, desperate to drown out the noise that stalked her every waking hour and chased her in her nightmares.
The girl's knees buckled and she fell to the floor, her hands still fighting to suppress the torturous cries. Through the agony, the young woman knew what to expect next; it had been the same way for the past few nights. A bright light exploded nearby. Like a gentle breeze, it left as quickly as it came, leaving behind a slender form before its departure. //Go away!!// The girl cried again but this time it was directed at the approaching figure. It walked towards her regardless; the pace slow, steady... predatory. Escape was futile, this the girl knew very well. //Someone... please help me...//
"AAAHHHHH!!!!" Relena woke up with a start, her breathing short and rapid. "The same damn dream... always the same..." she whispered to the confining walls of the prisoner's cell.
It had been three days already since she had awakened in that strange room strapped to an examination table. After the men in the white lab coats had collected all the data they'd needed, she was taken back to her cell... and that was when the nightmares began. Every time she tried to sleep, the visions of that red-eyed girl would come, along with the death cries of the people. Even when she just bordered on the edge of sleep, the cold OZ soldier would appear. Over the past three days, the visions had become so increasingly frequent the young girl soon feared even closing her eyes.
She had already checked the tiny room twice over and discovered that escape was next to impossible. In addition to that was the light, or lack-there-of, that OZ seemed to provide her. Already she was weary of the darkness yet had adjusted to it enough so she no longer stumbled over her own feet when she walked. In her dim surroundings, Relena was able to make out the bed in which she slept in. Looking to the floor, she spied the food tray and its half-eaten provisions. They were kind enough to give her regular meals yet her suspicion about the food being drugged prevented her from eating all that was on there. Her brother, Noin, and the Preventers had drilled it into her head to never trust food offered by the enemy.
Although her eyes still rested on the tray, her mind and stomach were far from the subject of food. Truth be told she had no appetite left, the bloody scenes in her nightmare causing her to teeter on the edge of vomiting. Her body was also aching and sore from the lack of exercise denied to her. //Why don't they just kill me already? I'd rather die than go through anymore of this....// She drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them, laying on her side on the semi-soft mattress. Despair was creeping onto her once more and all the things in the world were soon forgotten.
Everything ceased to exist; the coldness of the cell, the slight humming of the vents, the fact that she had not had a change of clothing since her capture, even her own heartbeat was no longer audible to her. Seeming to fade away, she detached herself from the world. It was the only thing she could do to block out the pain and loneliness.... by blocking out everything else. Sweet oblivion. Painless and numbing.
Her stay in that blissful emptiness was brief though; soon her paradise was shattered with the sounds of footsteps on metal floors.
*tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap* *tap*
They halted directly outside her door and it was silent again. The familiar beeping of pressed button keys made their way through the metal barrier and *whoosh*, the door slid open. Silhouetted by the light, three figures stood in the entrance. Relena was jolted to her senses with the unwanted intrusion and once again she placed on her stern, diplomatic mask. She hated wearing the thing, but without it, everyone would see her weaknesses; they would see that she was scared. Fear had no place in the world of politics and while she was unable to completely destroy it, she had learned to hide it well.
The tall shadow in the middle stepped forward and immediately Relena was on the offensive. "What do you want?!" she asked firmly, her eyes making contact with ice blue.
"You're awake," Whitenburg stated with an amused tone. Not wasting time, he motioned for the two other soldiers with a wave of his right hand.
The girl tried to evade their advances but they were quicker, despite their size. One of the soldiers intercepted her, took hold of her thin shoulders while the other came from behind, and blindfolded her. This seemed rather odd to Relena but she had no time to idle in such trivial details. She was in trouble and if she didn't do anything, it could all be over for her. //I can't let it end this way!// After struggling for about a minute she had slipped through her captor's grasp. The fact that she was still blindfolded hadn't even occurred to her, the girl just ran straight ahead. For a moment, hope formed inside her heart, but, like anything that always seemed too good to be true, it was blown away. A large hand came out of nowhere and roughly pushed her back into the custody of the two soldiers.
"You see, gentlemen," she heard Whitenburg say; "it pays to remember to bring the tranquilizer." Relena felt him move closer to her but he stopped when he was about a foot away. "Too weak to escape?" he mused almost mockingly. "Well, once we're done with you, getting out of a cell will be nothing more than child's play." The young diplomat mentally cringed at those words, not knowing what they meant yet knowing that it was not something to look forward to. "Come," the general began, "it's time to formally introduce you to our special soldier."
"Huff huff huff huff..." the young man breathed in a steady tone as he continued to do pushups from the floor of his dormitory. He was clad only in his uniform pants, his top completely absent. His lean body glistened with a light sheen of sweat and many strands of reddish-blond hair clung to his moistened forehead. With every push of his strong arms, the muscles in both his limbs and back rippled with fluid poetry.
One could tell that he had been at it for quite some time already and one glance at his unwavering brown eyes told that he wasn't about to stop anytime soon. His handsome face strained a bit as he brought himself down then up again. A drop of sweat fell from his cheek and into the small pool that had formed within the last hour. Every inch of his body ached and screamed for the masochistic captain to stop his self-torture but his mind was elsewhere. //Jene arroganten Bastarde!// A dark scowl crossed his face as he thought about the evening's 'special' event. //I can't believe they're still going through with this! Am I the only voice of reason left in this place!? Am I the only one who can see the repercussions involved with letting an outsider inside of OZ!?// His brows knitted together as his mind went aflame with anger, remembering the conversation with Whitenburg earlier that morning.
*FLASHBACK*
Sounds of pounding metal and welding torches were heard from every corner of the large, warehouse type section of the base. Dozens of engineers and mechanics ran back and forth across the entire expanse of the floor, scrambling with great earnest. Everyone held either tools, blueprints or clipboards in his or her hand and a few of them had donuts in his or her mouth. Along with those on the floor, numerous other soldiers were on the metal walkway that hung at least fifteen feet off the ground.
The object of their worries was the strange, large, metallic beast that lay on its back in the center of the underground hangar. By the looks of it, the machine was nearly finished in its production; the only parts still missing were its right hand, parts of its face and half of its chest. For now one could say it still lay in slumber waiting to rise and deliver upon the world untold havoc and chaos. Its color spoke of its purpose, its existence in this world. Red was for all the blood that it would shed onto the Earth. It was a killing machine and nothing more and nothing less. Soon this terrifying monster would awaken to the call of its master, its one and only master; a girl that abhorred the death and killing that was to be its christening.
Amongst the hustle and bustle of the crowd below them, two men walked side by side atop a walkway directly above the sleeping beast. The one with cold blues eyes had a superior grin on his face as he oversaw the construction. //This is more than I could have hoped for. Everything is right on schedule; in about two weeks, the New Epyon will be fully functional and once we equip Miss Darlian with the Tamashii units, we can install the ZERO system in it as well. Then the Earth and colonies will finally be able to see OZ's glorious resurrection... I'll be able to keep my promise to-//
"Brechen Sie das Projekt ab," his brown-eyed companion remarked unexpectedly.
Hearing that, the older man turned around to meet the other's gaze. There was somewhat of a confused look on his face but it set into a stern mask. "Wie bitte?" he queried dryly. //Is he still complaining about this? Give it up Samuel, I won't go back now, I've come too far to just abandon this project.//
"You're putting all our lives in danger by making her a part of OZ," his tone was of controlled anger.
Whitenburg chuckled softly, "Are you that afraid of a little girl?" He couldn't hold back the amusement he felt at the thought.
Apparently, the younger man didn't find that comment in the least bit humorous and glared. "It's not the girl," he seethed under his breath, "it is all those people who'll come looking for her. If you haven't noticed, she's the Vice Foreign Minister of the E.S.U.N. Don't you think they'll try everything in their powers to track her down and reclaim her?" Dereks took a deep breath then continued, "If they do that, they'll eventually find us. Do you think they will be kind to us after what we did? Think about it! We'll be risking the lives of all the soldiers here! I don't know about you, especially after the last two years, but I don't want that to happen! I care about my men and I will not have them throw away their lives over such a dangerous plan!"
Again, the older man chuckled, "You worry
too much, Samuel. Try to have a little more faith in OZ's capabilities, will
you? We've made sure to account for almost any and all eventualities that might
hinder us."
"Aber-"
"Ich lehne ab, Unbotmassigkeit zuzulassen!" he briskly remarked. "Now,
let's continue onwards, shall we? I wonder how they're progressing with the
heat sword?..." He resumed his walk leaving behind a frustrated and glowering
man to stare at his retreating form.
*END FLASHBACK*
Pushing up one last time, the captain suddenly stopped, his face dripping with sweat. As the drops rolled down his cheeks and forehead, the exhausted officer stared absentmindedly at the ground and the small pool of wetness. //I have to stop doing this to myself...// Before he knew it, his arms wobbled and gave way and he fell onto the floor with a loud thud. The cold surface, combined with his drying sweat, made his body shiver yet he did not attempt to escape it. Through the stillness, he became aware of his raging heart, pounding at an incredible pace. //Sie storrischer Dummkopf... you'll get us all killed.... Anna... tell me what I'm supposed to do... helfen Sie mir...// The exhaustion was too much and the darkness instantly engulfed him.
The metal door slid shut and the four figures walked in; one was more hesitant than the other three. Relena kept on struggling with all her might, even though her strength was no match against that of the larger men. She could sense many other presences in the room and mentally took note to be weary of them and what they could do to her. Thoughts of her first experience in that lab came back to her and the young diplomat had to suppress a shudder that went down her spine. //I have to stay strong. I can't show them that I'm scared... Heero would do the same thing... I have to be like him if I'm going to survive this... Heero... where are you? Why haven't you found me yet?// "Ah-" A sharp pain pierced her left arm and suddenly her veins were filled with liquid fire. It coursed through her entire system until the pain became too unbearable and she fell unconscious.
"Strap her onto the table face down and then leave," Whitenburg commanded firmly. The two soldiers gave a quick nod and salute then moved to place the sedated girl onto the examination table. Out of the corner of both their eyes, they saw their commanding officer motion his right hand and so the two proceeded to fasten the straps on Relena's wrists and ankles and the strap meant for her neck. Should the 'patient' ever wake up accidentally during the operation, mishaps will be prevented. Without a second glance, the soldiers exited the lab, leaving the young girl to the mercy of the doctors and the general.
"Are we ready to being, gentlemen?"
As if on cue, the four doctors took up their posts beside the table, the one with graying brown hair stood near the diplomat's head, he was going to do the actual operation while the dark-skinned younger man assisted. The younger man began by placing an oxygen mask over her mouth and sticking an IV into her left arm. The one with black hair and beard monitored her vital signs, taking care to look for any fluctuations or anything out of the ordinary. Foreseeing the entire procedure was the eldest doctor who stood near the machinery.
"Will we be needing to shave off all her hair like the others, sir?" the brown-haired doctor inquired.
Unsure of the answer, the aged man turned towards the General for orders. "Just shave off the areas where the units will be implanted. Her hair can be used to mask the unit's presence to our enemies should she lose her helmet," he stated with furrowed brows. "Besides," his voice lightened up in humor, "she has such lovely hair. It would be a shame if we were to cut it all off... Yes, such a shame..." Gathering up all his thoughts, he nodded to the doctors and they began once again.
Taking hold of an electric shaver, the dark-skinned man started to remove the hair at the base of her skull, shifting her honey blonde locks to the side to make sure the rest was out of harm's way. He continued with his work with small sections of hair just above each ear taking care not to knick the girl's sensitive skin. With a signal from his colleague, he reached over to the tray near him to retrieve a bottle of antiseptic and a cotton swab. After dipping the small object inside the bottle, he rubbed the chemical over the shaven areas, making sure not to miss a spot.
"Are you done?" his companion asked, receiving a nod as his reply. "Okay, scalpel," he ordered extending his right hand, ready to take hold of the instrument.
A little girl sat silently on the ground, surrounded by a pool of blood. Her head buried in her little palms as she wept; her face was smeared with dirt and her clothes were none the better. She looked like such a feeble and pathetic figure in that crimson sea, but she paid it no mind she just kept on crying. The child's sobs soon became louder and before long, that sound echoed throughout the entire landscape. A few crystalline tears escaped through her little fingers, followed by another tear and then another, causing small little ripples as it hit the red water. With every drop, they gradually took on a deeper color until they matched the same hue as the dampness below them.
The young captain woke with start and he slowly scanned his surroundings, feeling a bit foolish since he already knew that nothing was amiss with his room. His perspiration had dried long ago, leaving behind a cool sensation that made his body tingle. Brushing aside his still damp hair, he gazed at the florescent light through his slightly obscured bangs. He moaned as he moved sore muscles, struggling to get into a simple sitting position. Glancing at the wall clock, he was struck with a sudden urge to leave and see something for himself. Shaking off the cold, he quickly scrambled for his discarded shirt lying on his dresser and rushed out the door before it was even on.
//I might already be too late too stop them... but... I have to see this for myself... I have to see if this is real or just some damned dream of mine.// Running down the corridor, Dereks clumsily tried to insert the correct arm into the correct sleeve, nearly tripping over himself when he turned the corner in order to make it to the elevator. As he ran, many of the soldiers who were idly walking by stared at him with startled eyes. All of them always saw the Captain as a calm and collected individual who could keep a straight face through any situation. Imagine their surprise when they saw the man bolt out of his room without any warning, nearly taking down three other officers who happened to pass by his quarters. He was like a human bulldozer, running over bodies with little care or a word of apology.
Once he managed to put the right sleeves on, he dove into the pockets of his pants, not even bothering with his shirt's buttons. Within seconds, he pulled out a small key card then redoubled his efforts to reach the elevator before it took off. Luckily for him, no one had any use for its services and he literally jumped in when its doors opened. His haste was clouding his mind and he nearly fumbled with the key card when he made to insert it into the slot. //Why the hell am I so worried about this? It's not like I care about what happens to the girl. Nein, it's OZ that I care about and there is no way I'm letting her presence taint this organization!//
His descent into the lab below allowed him time to cool down, reorganize his thoughts, and button up his shirt. What good would he be to OZ if he kept on worrying like that? He released a soft sigh and leaned against the elevator walls to ease the pressures on his feet; the trip seemed to be taking a bit longer than it used to but that was probably due to his anxiety. Before he knew it, he had reached his destination and rushed out the small compartment once its doors were open.
The brown-haired doctor slowly placed a small, triangular object over the tiny slit that he had made moments earlier. He was careful in his movements; he had to make sure the device was positioned in the correct location or the signals they would send to the girl's body would be misdirected. If that was the case, then she would be useless and they would have to try again at a later time. As the objects made contact with her scalp, he pressed on it so that the unit's three sharp tips would embed themselves into her skin. It was deep enough to allow the signals easy transmission without causing irritation or discomfort to her body.
Pressing on the device with mild force, a drop of blood seeped out and hit the cold, metal floor just as Captain Dereks made his way to the table. "Dammit," he cursed under his breath, staring with horrified eyes at the still body. His eye sought out those of his commander and he found him right across the room. "You really did it, didn't you?" he asked, unable to accept the scene in front of him. The man opposite of him just smiled with his cold blue eyes and the younger one discovered that he was unable to hold his gaze.
"If you were planning on stopping this, then you should have gotten here earlier," Whitenburg replied nonchalantly as if the subject matter were a daily event.
For a few seconds the captain was silent before he made his response, "I wasn't planning on interfering; I just wanted to see if this was real or not. I had hoped that this joke was nothing more than a nightmare brought about by too much work, yet I see that I was mistaken." Shifting his sight to the unconscious body of the young diplomat and his eyes hardened. "She's an abomination!" he seethed with barely subdued fury.
"That's your opinion, Samuel," the general retorted as he strode towards the head of the table and lovingly patted the girl's golden tresses, ignoring the fuming officer who glared daggers at him. To the subordinate captain this was betrayal in one of its highest forms; Whitenburg had openly slapped him in the face and spat on their friendship by that act of tenderness towards their enemy. The younger man just wasn't able to fathom the reasons or motives for doing this to the Vice Foreign Minister, a girl that did nothing but preach peach and unity. Of course, OZ was about unity as well, just a different kind that held different methods. Things between them were never going to be the same from that point on; there would always be a chasm in their relationship.
The man looked up in time to catch the general staring at him for a moment before directing his attention back to the girl's prone form. "It'll be some time before she wakes up," he began with a commanding tone, "but when she does, I expect you to welcome her. Ist das frei, Kapitan?"
Defeated, the other nodded in consent. If he disobeyed, it would be an open act of treachery, holding severe consequences and retributions. He did not want to think of the punishment for such an act; they were too horrid to think about. Left with no other options, the younger officer did an about-face and headed for the elevator with a pained expression etched on his face. On the table, the young girl's head stirred and a tear escaped her closed lids, falling and landing on the floor just inches from the speck of blood that had yet to dry.
-to be continued-
I thought that I'd never get this chapter out, but I guess I was wrong. Well, I hope that you're enjoying it so far and I'm sorry if it's moving a bit slowly. After some thinking I've decided to put this story on hold for a while until I complete My Ojousan first. So don't expect another chapter for quite a few more months, okay?
German Words:
Aber: but
Brechen Sie das Projekt ab: terminate the project
Wie bitte?: pardon?
Jene arroganten Bastarde: those arrogant bastards
Helfen Sie mir: help me
Ich lehne ab, Unbotmassigkeit zuzulassen: I refuse to tolerate insubordination
Ist das frei, Kapitan?: is that clear, captain?
Nein: no
Sie storrischer Dummkopf: you stubborn fool