~Hi again. It's been a while since I worked on this story, so Gomen. But anyway. Blah blah, story time. ~
Trowa sat opposite Quatre. His face carefully neutral. His mind was going a mile a minute with the system works of his Gundam. Trying to keep his emotions in check by not thinking of the last unicorn. He failed miserably. Memories came and went in a multitude of color and sound. Quatre stood up, pacing un-easily. He sat by Trowa, and the stoic pilot found himself unconsciously resting a large hand on the blonde boy's lap. Quatre looked up in surprise, and then smiled reassuringly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Yet Another Flash Back~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"OOOWWW! Ow ow ow ow ow!"
"Please be quite Cara, we can't afford to be heard"
"Ow! Easy for you to say Mr. Silent. You didn't just stub your toe, hard!"
"…."
We're walking through the ventilation shafts on an Oz ship, and I still wonder to this day how Cara stubbed her toe. Our mission is to take control of the ship without endangering the lives of the 20 or so scientists working on the shuttle. Artificial gravity has made our job slightly easier, but Cara seemed to want to talk to me, which wasn't good. I can't really blame her. We have some things in common, and she's wanted to get to know me better. I think Duo put her up to cracking my silent shell. She's trying hard, but not making much leeway. I'm in the lead, and turn right at the next junction. Center at a three way break. These shafts go the entire way around the ship, making it easier to get in and out.
There are only about 2 dozen officers on the ship, which will make it easier to get the ship under our control.
"So, Mr. Silent, how long till we get in to the bridge?"
I make no comment on the name, if that's what she wants to call me, and then so be it. I chance a look at the next words that are imprinted in the metal beside me. Made by Steel Co. Ok, that doesn't help much. I guess we're about 20 minutes from the command deck, so I tell her in as few words as possible.
"20 Minutes"
I hear her sigh in annoyance. What? So I'm not going to change my entire demeanor for some girl. The other pilots think I don't think a lot, but that I know what I'm doing. Cara, however, saw through my mask at first sight. She knows me as well, if not betters then anyone else. She knows I think a lot, that I'm always using my mind for good. I don't talk a lot because I'm so busy thinking. A metal grate suddenly springs up in front of me, I stop short.
"Hey! Fix your brake lights Trowa, it's hard enough to see in here without your damn butt getting in my face"
I bite my lip to stop from losing my mask. I can hear the talk of officers outside the grate.
"Sir, the Taurus are ready in case of assault"
"Are the scientists working hard?"
"Yes sir"
"Add some more officers with guns to look over their shoulders. I want them to work in bad conditions"
Knowing better then to question his C.O. as to why the extra guards, the soldier saluted smartly, and ran out the door. There was already 1/3 of the crew monitoring the scientists, another 3rd piloting, leaving the others for rest, relaxation, and shift changes. So why so many on the scientists? One Lab guy had already soiled himself when he was working with a gun at his head, two women had fainted, one had thrown up so many times he was un-conscious. Did the captain want them all to drop like flies? The soldier was still pondering these questions when a shot rang out from the bridge. Running back to his captain, the soldier had the door opened for him, then his life taken away by my bullet. As we change into some of the Oz uniforms from the dead soldiers, Cara asks me a surprising question.
"Hey Trowa, do you ever wonder about the people we kill?"
"Their dead Cara"
"Well I know that! I mean, like, did they have family, do their parents still wait for them to come home? Are we leaving a family Fatherless?"
"Does it matter?"
"It does to me"
Cara had said the last sentence too quite for me to hear, but I could tell from her expression that she didn't enjoy this. We exit the empty bridge and move toward the large area in the middle of the ship. That was were the mission briefing had told us the scientists were located. There was no one on the bridge quick enough to trip the alarm before a bullet hit him, so the halls are empty. I briefly contemplate why there are very few female soldiers for Oz. I glance over at Cara as she trots beside me, she seems efficient enough, why should there not be more people like her. My mind continues to follow itself in a circle as I mull over the possibilities of an Oz full of Unicorns. The Gundams wouldn't stand a chance.
We arrive at the storage facility where the scientists are being kept. Walking in as Oz officers with weapons, I see several of the scientists cringe. There are approximately 16 scientists in the room, closely guarded by almost 2 dozen guards with weapons. The one closest gives me an appraising look, and then sizes up my companion. He just notices that Cara is a female, when she pinches a nerve in his neck, silencing his cry of protest before he even uttered it. She smiles at me as we move to the next guard. Repeating the performance several more times, we reduce the numbers to 18. Several scientists have now noticed that we aren't really Oz officers, and I get tipped several winks.
The other guards look up from watching their prey long enough to realize that their fellow Ozies are missing. One starts to protest, but I call upon my own voice, making it seem commanding and loud. Officer like.
"All guards are to report to the docking bay, by order of the captain"
Several of the dimwitted men start walking toward us, intent on following orders and leaving, but several of the bolder ones remain, looking at us skeptically. I feel sweat run down my back.
"All you soldiers to stupid to move will be getting a sound flogging by the captain himself in 3 seconds if they do not get their rears in gear this exact instant."
Whether it was her menacing voice, or aggressive stature, the men obeyed without another thought. Almost running in their haste. I raise an eyebrow at Cara, well, that was a surprise. She gives me a smug smile, several of the scientists cheer quietly. I decide to take the floor.
"We're not out of danger yet. You have to do what ever we say, no matter what you think of it. There is a small emergency craft secured to the bottom of the ship, Cara will show you to it, where you will stay while we secure the ship."
One of the scientists, a female, nervously raised a hand.
"There are 4 of us in the infirmary"
I nod my assent. Cara will show the scientists to the escape area, I'll go to the infirmary. I look at her, and she immediately knows what I'm going to do. She must be taking lessons from Cheryl. Either that or we both think on parallel lines. Motioning with her gun, the girl led the scientists away. I smile to myself, here's what I do best. Work by myself with a goal in mind. That I can do well. Then again, I can do most missions well. I round the next corner toward the infirmary.
Right in front of me I see the door. I almost walk by it, so lost in thought about past missions. Opening the door, I see the 4 scientists sitting on two beds behind a glass door. Past experience teaches me to look before I leap. I do so by checking the door handle to see if there is any alarm system. There is. Quickly scanning the instrument, I remember it to be the standard Oz security code. Typing in the 4-digit number, the door clicks its lock off. Smiling at the simplistic measure, I turn to let the scientists out, and freeze.
They are staring at me with pure horror on their faces. As far away from me as they can be in the small room, the quartet hangs on to each other and tremble. I suddenly realize that I still have my Oz uniform on, and a semi-automatic rifle clutched in my hand. I try to talk to them, but the damage has been done and they ignore me, pure terror freezing any movement. Thankfully, Cara decides to drop in for a minute, devoid of her own uniform. One of the scientists starts yelling at her.
"Get out of here before you get shot missy RUN!"
She stands kind of confused for a few seconds, not understanding. Cara then realizes what they mean.
"Oh, no. Don't worry, this is Trowa, we're here to get you guys out of here."
The scientists give me a skeptical look, but the thought of escape overrides their fear and they follow us through the halls. I start suddenly when I hear voices. Male voices. Shift change, my mind screams at me. No wonder, all the off duty personnel are now changing with the others. From the different voice patters, I decree about 4 guards. Cara was guarding the rear, but now comes up to the front to stand beside me. I look at her and she knows what must happen. She quietly tells the lab coats to stay there and cover their ears for a minute. They do so silently, fear once again on their faces.
Stepping quickly around the corner, I fire several shots. The surprised cries of the officers soon turn to those of pain and fear. Cara fires her own weapon and the cost is soon clear. Tugging the sleeve of one of the scientists, we motion again and they follow. There are no more interruptions, and we make it quickly to the escape ship. The other scientists are there already waiting, fear and amazement written on their faces blandly.
Cara effortlessly moves toward the controls. Piloting was one of her many good talents. I sit in the copilot's chair. We have to be going quickly so that we're off the other ships sensors before they can power up their weapons. I smile secretly, but boy, are they going to have a hard time getting those to work. I giggle quietly. Cara looks up in surprise at the sound I make. She smiles proudly, thinking that she must have done something. The engines roar to life under the skilled fingers of my friend. Seconds later, we blast off, the lab people falling back under the rush of power. We have easily cleared the distance between our ship and theirs when the scientists start to cheer wildly.
They pull me up into a many person hug. I am unused to this form of affection, and feel uncomfortable with many alien bodies so close to mine. The awkward moment passes as I feel a familiar body embrace me. The others back off, and I realize that it is Cara holding me like never before. An alien feeling sweeps across me but I like it, even after we moved apart, the feeling stayed, warming me up from toe to head. The scientists calm down and sit back for the un-disturbed ride home.