Chapter 3
After the initial shock wore off, Quatre's face turned a tomato red. Duo's face turned red as well but not as much. She was not wearing anything. Not a single thread was covering her body. Besides that, she was a pitiful sight. She was very dirty and bruises littered her body. The two Gundam pilots saw a small girl with long jet-black hair that fell over her face and very pale skin. Her eyes were yellow and at the moment filled with fear.
"Duo," Quatre said with his voice filled with sympathy, "This is horrible. She looks so helpless."
Duo took a step towards the girl. She cowered a little and shook in fear. "Hey, we aren't gonna hurt ya. Do you have a name?"
She listened to him speak. It was soft and something she never heard in a voice before. He asked a question. She cocked her head. Then for the first time, she opened her mouth and spoke the only words she knew. "Pro-ject Fe-line?" She said quietly.
They blinked. "Could you repeat that please?" Quatre asked.
She blinked, "Pro-ject Fe-line?"
Duo and Quatre thought back to the briefing Heero gave them. It's called Project Feline. Their eyes widened and they looked at each other.
"Does that mean we have to kill her?" Quatre asked.
Duo shook his head, "I suppose so, she's part of it after all. Although I don't know how, she looks so weak."
"But look at her. She must have suffered so much. She probably had no say in the matter. Besides, she's probably hungry and cold right now." Quatre protested.
"Yeah, you're probably right. I mean what harm can come from her?" He took off his jacket and draped it over the girl.
At first she flinched when he made a sudden movement. But then blinked when something warm was draped over her. She liked it and pulled it closer to her.
Duo and Quatre smiled. Quatre hopped into the driver seat while Duo gently placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. She cowered under his touch and he blinked.
"Don't worry, koneko. I won't hurt you." He slowly wrapped his arms around her and slowly picked her up.
She blinked as she was lifted off the ground. This was strange. What was this strange person doing? Everything that was happening was strange. She felt herself move and she looked down. He was carrying her to the vehicle. She looked at him with curious eyes and blinked in confusion.
Duo looked down at her a smiled, "It looks like you've never been carried around like this, koneko." She just blinked.
Soon he had her safely in the truck and they drove to Quatre's house.
Quatre turned to Duo. "Do you think we should tell the others about this? Or rather that she's from the place?"
Duo shook his head. "I don't want any bloodshed and I know that Heero and Wufei will kill her just mentioning that she came from there."
"But what if they find out?"
Duo shrugged, "Then I guess we have to figure something out."
They arrived at the mansion and Duo carried her down again. Quatre opened the door and Duo carried her in. The other three pilots were in the living room and turned when they heard the door open. They all got up and stopped when they saw what was in Duo's arms.
Duo smiled, "I caught a stray!"
Heero stood up. "Who are you?" He asked her.
She started at the voice and her eyes quivered. That voice was similar to the Doctor's. Different but same at the same time. She knew she was in trouble.
Trowa went over to Quatre, "Where is she from?"
Quatre shrugged, "We really don't know. We found her in an alley while Duo went to the store."
Wufei crossed his arms, "Why did you bring in a weak onna, Maxwell?"
She shivered more and Duo felt her trembling. He looked at her with startled eyes. "Ok, you guys are scaring the poor girl. Look at her, she's shaking!"
Quatre quickly went over to her and stroked her hair, at the same time trying not to get his hands too dirty. She looked up and his eyes quivered. What has she been through to have eyes that are always full of fear? Something must have happened. Duo felt her relax a little and smiled at the blond pilot. Trowa walked to next to the two and quietly asked the girl, "What is your name?"
She blinked. It was the same question the other two asked her and they didn't do anything when she spoke, so she decided to say it again. "Pro-ject Fe-line?"
Heero's hand immediately went to his gun and aimed it at her. Trowa quickly took a step back. Wufei brandished his sword. Duo and Quatre sweatdropped at how the situation took a turn for the worst.
"Duo. Put her down, now." Heero said, his gun still aimed at her.
Duo felt the poor girl tremble and his violet eyes flashed with sympathy. "No. She isn't doing anything. And does it even look like she's dangerous?"
"It doesn't matter," Heero said in the same tone of voice. "We are to destroy all."
Quatre felt her tremble as well and glared at the others. "Look at her! She's frightened!"
She knew she was in trouble but didn't know what to do. Then she felt it. It was emerging. She slowly lowered her legs, blanket still around her and sat on the floor. Everyone looked at her in bewilderment. She quivered and felt her feet and hands meld together.
The others watched as she sat huddled on the floor. What was going on? Then they all blinked. They couldn't be seeing what they were seeing. She was... growing. And she kept on growing.
"Um, what exactly is going on?" Duo asked.
They all looked on and saw that she was getting darker as well. Not only that but she was changing entirely.
Heero glared at her, "She's the result of that genetic engineering! She's the animal that killed the soldiers at the base."
She then finished her change and growled. Then looked around her.
Heero shot the gun, but she was too quick and jumped out of the way. Wufei attacked her but she dodged again. Over and over again, the two Gundam pilots attacked the huge cat.
Quatre went over to Trowa. "Trowa! You have to do something!"
Trowa looked down at Quatre, "But she's the enemy."
Quatre shook his head, "I'm sure that there was a reason that she attacked those men. She doesn't seem like the type to kill for no reason. Look at her. She's not retaliating. All she's doing is defending herself."
Duo looked at Quatre and the scene in front of him. He would stop it, but how was he supposed to stop both the Shenlong and Wing pilots? He stood there helplessly, hoping she would stay alive for a couple more minutes.
Trowa looked at the distressed face of Quatre. He looked at Heero and Wufei who was still pursuing the midnight cat. Then he looked back at Quatre. He didn't want to see his angel so sad and distressed, but orders were orders. Yet, on the other hand, she really wasn't doing anything. And she didn't seem like the fighting type. He sighed and wiped the forming tears in Quatre's eyes. "Don't worry." He walked over to the others and put and hand on Wufei and Heero's shoulder. "I'll take it from here." Heero slightly lowered his gun and Wufei glared at Trowa.
"What do you think you're doing?" He asked.
"Putting an end to this." Trowa looked carefully and jumped up landing on her back.
She was completely frightened when the two started shooting and attacking her. But she was even more frightened that someone was sitting on her back. She was frightened beyond imagination and all she could do was run.
Trowa held on tightly but not enough to hurt her and stroked her fur. He leaned over close to her ear and in his low voice, "It's okay. No one will hurt you anymore. Calm down. There's no need to be frightened."
Hearing soothing words, she slowed her pace. Trowa kept whispering comforting words into her ear and she continued to slow. Eventually, she stopped and Trowa jumped off her back. He turned to Heero and Wufei, "As you can see, she is no harm. If she was to fight, she probably would have retaliated."
"That's because she's a weak onna!" Wufei exclaimed.
"Hey, guys, look!" They all turned when Duo spoke.
The girl had crawled under the blanket and started to shrink.
Quatre's eyes widened, "I think she's turning back to normal."
"Hn." Heero glared at her. "You may be right. Just make sure that she's not dangerous in the future."
Duo and Quatre smiled at each other.
"We should get her washed up." Quatre summoned a maid.
The maid who came was a motherly lady and after she bowed, she smiled at Quatre.
"Sara-san, please get her undressed and give a nice long bath. Make sure she's clean."
The maid nodded, "Hai, Quatre-sama."
The girl's ears perked when she heard the word, "Undress" and knew what that exactly meant. She stood up and took off her blanket. The pilots froze. All their faces turned red and Wufei developed a nosebleed. He quickly ran to his room and the others still stood there shocked. Although, Duo and Quatre recovered faster.
"Tsk. Tsk, dear," the maid said as she picked up the blanket and wrapped around the small girl's shoulders. "You don't do that until there are no males present in the room. Follow me." The girl blinked and followed the maid.
When the maid and the girl left, the four pilots sighed with relief.
Duo chuckled, "If you thought she was dangerous, I don't think you should worry about that now."
Quatre smiled, "She's very naive, just like a baby. She doesn't seem to know anything about the world."
Heero started to head towards his room, "You may be right, but still. Be on guard."
Quatre and Trowa went outside and Duo shrugged. "I don't see what there is to be worried about. She's a helpless girl with no past. I wonder who she is." Duo then thought a moment a smiled, "No wonder she looks like a cat!"
After the initial shock wore off, Quatre's face turned a tomato red. Duo's face turned red as well but not as much. She was not wearing anything. Not a single thread was covering her body. Besides that, she was a pitiful sight. She was very dirty and bruises littered her body. The two Gundam pilots saw a small girl with long jet-black hair that fell over her face and very pale skin. Her eyes were yellow and at the moment filled with fear.
"Duo," Quatre said with his voice filled with sympathy, "This is horrible. She looks so helpless."
Duo took a step towards the girl. She cowered a little and shook in fear. "Hey, we aren't gonna hurt ya. Do you have a name?"
She listened to him speak. It was soft and something she never heard in a voice before. He asked a question. She cocked her head. Then for the first time, she opened her mouth and spoke the only words she knew. "Pro-ject Fe-line?" She said quietly.
They blinked. "Could you repeat that please?" Quatre asked.
She blinked, "Pro-ject Fe-line?"
Duo and Quatre thought back to the briefing Heero gave them. It's called Project Feline. Their eyes widened and they looked at each other.
"Does that mean we have to kill her?" Quatre asked.
Duo shook his head, "I suppose so, she's part of it after all. Although I don't know how, she looks so weak."
"But look at her. She must have suffered so much. She probably had no say in the matter. Besides, she's probably hungry and cold right now." Quatre protested.
"Yeah, you're probably right. I mean what harm can come from her?" He took off his jacket and draped it over the girl.
At first she flinched when he made a sudden movement. But then blinked when something warm was draped over her. She liked it and pulled it closer to her.
Duo and Quatre smiled. Quatre hopped into the driver seat while Duo gently placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. She cowered under his touch and he blinked.
"Don't worry, koneko. I won't hurt you." He slowly wrapped his arms around her and slowly picked her up.
She blinked as she was lifted off the ground. This was strange. What was this strange person doing? Everything that was happening was strange. She felt herself move and she looked down. He was carrying her to the vehicle. She looked at him with curious eyes and blinked in confusion.
Duo looked down at her a smiled, "It looks like you've never been carried around like this, koneko." She just blinked.
Soon he had her safely in the truck and they drove to Quatre's house.
Quatre turned to Duo. "Do you think we should tell the others about this? Or rather that she's from the place?"
Duo shook his head. "I don't want any bloodshed and I know that Heero and Wufei will kill her just mentioning that she came from there."
"But what if they find out?"
Duo shrugged, "Then I guess we have to figure something out."
They arrived at the mansion and Duo carried her down again. Quatre opened the door and Duo carried her in. The other three pilots were in the living room and turned when they heard the door open. They all got up and stopped when they saw what was in Duo's arms.
Duo smiled, "I caught a stray!"
Heero stood up. "Who are you?" He asked her.
She started at the voice and her eyes quivered. That voice was similar to the Doctor's. Different but same at the same time. She knew she was in trouble.
Trowa went over to Quatre, "Where is she from?"
Quatre shrugged, "We really don't know. We found her in an alley while Duo went to the store."
Wufei crossed his arms, "Why did you bring in a weak onna, Maxwell?"
She shivered more and Duo felt her trembling. He looked at her with startled eyes. "Ok, you guys are scaring the poor girl. Look at her, she's shaking!"
Quatre quickly went over to her and stroked her hair, at the same time trying not to get his hands too dirty. She looked up and his eyes quivered. What has she been through to have eyes that are always full of fear? Something must have happened. Duo felt her relax a little and smiled at the blond pilot. Trowa walked to next to the two and quietly asked the girl, "What is your name?"
She blinked. It was the same question the other two asked her and they didn't do anything when she spoke, so she decided to say it again. "Pro-ject Fe-line?"
Heero's hand immediately went to his gun and aimed it at her. Trowa quickly took a step back. Wufei brandished his sword. Duo and Quatre sweatdropped at how the situation took a turn for the worst.
"Duo. Put her down, now." Heero said, his gun still aimed at her.
Duo felt the poor girl tremble and his violet eyes flashed with sympathy. "No. She isn't doing anything. And does it even look like she's dangerous?"
"It doesn't matter," Heero said in the same tone of voice. "We are to destroy all."
Quatre felt her tremble as well and glared at the others. "Look at her! She's frightened!"
She knew she was in trouble but didn't know what to do. Then she felt it. It was emerging. She slowly lowered her legs, blanket still around her and sat on the floor. Everyone looked at her in bewilderment. She quivered and felt her feet and hands meld together.
The others watched as she sat huddled on the floor. What was going on? Then they all blinked. They couldn't be seeing what they were seeing. She was... growing. And she kept on growing.
"Um, what exactly is going on?" Duo asked.
They all looked on and saw that she was getting darker as well. Not only that but she was changing entirely.
Heero glared at her, "She's the result of that genetic engineering! She's the animal that killed the soldiers at the base."
She then finished her change and growled. Then looked around her.
Heero shot the gun, but she was too quick and jumped out of the way. Wufei attacked her but she dodged again. Over and over again, the two Gundam pilots attacked the huge cat.
Quatre went over to Trowa. "Trowa! You have to do something!"
Trowa looked down at Quatre, "But she's the enemy."
Quatre shook his head, "I'm sure that there was a reason that she attacked those men. She doesn't seem like the type to kill for no reason. Look at her. She's not retaliating. All she's doing is defending herself."
Duo looked at Quatre and the scene in front of him. He would stop it, but how was he supposed to stop both the Shenlong and Wing pilots? He stood there helplessly, hoping she would stay alive for a couple more minutes.
Trowa looked at the distressed face of Quatre. He looked at Heero and Wufei who was still pursuing the midnight cat. Then he looked back at Quatre. He didn't want to see his angel so sad and distressed, but orders were orders. Yet, on the other hand, she really wasn't doing anything. And she didn't seem like the fighting type. He sighed and wiped the forming tears in Quatre's eyes. "Don't worry." He walked over to the others and put and hand on Wufei and Heero's shoulder. "I'll take it from here." Heero slightly lowered his gun and Wufei glared at Trowa.
"What do you think you're doing?" He asked.
"Putting an end to this." Trowa looked carefully and jumped up landing on her back.
She was completely frightened when the two started shooting and attacking her. But she was even more frightened that someone was sitting on her back. She was frightened beyond imagination and all she could do was run.
Trowa held on tightly but not enough to hurt her and stroked her fur. He leaned over close to her ear and in his low voice, "It's okay. No one will hurt you anymore. Calm down. There's no need to be frightened."
Hearing soothing words, she slowed her pace. Trowa kept whispering comforting words into her ear and she continued to slow. Eventually, she stopped and Trowa jumped off her back. He turned to Heero and Wufei, "As you can see, she is no harm. If she was to fight, she probably would have retaliated."
"That's because she's a weak onna!" Wufei exclaimed.
"Hey, guys, look!" They all turned when Duo spoke.
The girl had crawled under the blanket and started to shrink.
Quatre's eyes widened, "I think she's turning back to normal."
"Hn." Heero glared at her. "You may be right. Just make sure that she's not dangerous in the future."
Duo and Quatre smiled at each other.
"We should get her washed up." Quatre summoned a maid.
The maid who came was a motherly lady and after she bowed, she smiled at Quatre.
"Sara-san, please get her undressed and give a nice long bath. Make sure she's clean."
The maid nodded, "Hai, Quatre-sama."
The girl's ears perked when she heard the word, "Undress" and knew what that exactly meant. She stood up and took off her blanket. The pilots froze. All their faces turned red and Wufei developed a nosebleed. He quickly ran to his room and the others still stood there shocked. Although, Duo and Quatre recovered faster.
"Tsk. Tsk, dear," the maid said as she picked up the blanket and wrapped around the small girl's shoulders. "You don't do that until there are no males present in the room. Follow me." The girl blinked and followed the maid.
When the maid and the girl left, the four pilots sighed with relief.
Duo chuckled, "If you thought she was dangerous, I don't think you should worry about that now."
Quatre smiled, "She's very naive, just like a baby. She doesn't seem to know anything about the world."
Heero started to head towards his room, "You may be right, but still. Be on guard."
Quatre and Trowa went outside and Duo shrugged. "I don't see what there is to be worried about. She's a helpless girl with no past. I wonder who she is." Duo then thought a moment a smiled, "No wonder she looks like a cat!"