Chapter 6
Anubis-
They had decided that, for a while anyway, Shin would have a guard when he went out. It just wasn't safe if he was going to get attacked and he really didn't feel safe without his friends.
Of coarse, nothing would happen as Sh'ten had all ready found out who did it and extracted proper punishment. The little criminals wouldn't be found for a few weeks yet, if they were ever found. Yes, he was on the side of goodness now, but really...he was still the Ma-Sho of Cruelty and he just couldn't let someone get away with pounding on his little Shin, now could he?
It was Anubis' day to watch over Shin as they walked to the market early on Saturday morning, as was Shin's usual habit. It had been one week since the attack and Shin had decided that it would be safe to go out, because the chances of a second attack happening so soon on the same day were just to unlikely.
If nothing else, this was a good opportunity to get Junior out for a walk. The small cub ran happily beside them on his little leash.
Anubis was joking with his younger friend when they noticed a man standing in the middle of the road. Anubis was instantly alert when he recognized the man. There was something wrong about the way that man was standing there, as if he'd been waiting for them.
He was dressed very sharply with a short cape slung over on shoulder artfully. "What do you want?" Anubis asked, stepping slightly forward, so he stood in front of Shin.
"Good morning, Anubis, isn't it? I don't think I've met your friend." He addressed Shin. "I am Treize Kushranada and I've come to make you a job offer, again." Shin and Anubis exchanged doubtful looks as they recognized the name and Treize continued. "I am a representative from the OZ organization. We are currently in need of talented young people and you've managed to come to our attention. We would like to train you to become pilots and soldiers in the future."
Anubis yawned. "Get you your point. The sooner I get home, the sooner I get drunk. I do not wish to stand here listening to your voice."
"Yes, I know your opinion on my offer, but I just wanted you to rethink it." Treize seemed only slightly surprised by his attitude. "I would like you to consider working for us. I have had my people watching the local schools and you are two of the people who have recently come to our attention."
Shin frowned. "You've been spying on us?" He sounded outraged and Anubis could understand why. They all valued their privacy and were trying very hard to keep a low public image. Anubis had heard this all before when Treize had confronted him and Ryo at the gym in the city. He was not impressed.
Treize shrugged away Shin's anger. "We've got many people at many different schools to scout for new recruits. There are many benefits to joining OZ, you may want to consider."
Before he could go any further, Shin interrupted him. "I don't think so, mate. We don't need to be joining any army. We're kids, in case you haven't noticed, and we don't belong in wars."
The irony of that statement made Anubis let out a barked laugh.
"We can always work out a contract to wait until you've reached adulthood." Treize offered.
Shin shook his head. "No. Thank you anyway, but no." He started to walk past Treize who looked at Anubis following Shin.
"What about you? Do you share his feelings?"
Anubis gave Treize a half smile. "I do. Stay away from our friends, also."
Treize gave them a small smile. "I have to apologize, I'm afraid."
Shin looked at Anubis who frowned. "Apologize for what?" They both started to turn back to look at Treize when, without warning, Shin and Anubis felt a sharp pinprick at the back of the necks.
Anubis felt instantly light headed, but fought to control himself. Damn! He was an experience warrior, how could he get caught in such a simple trap!? Rajura was going to KILL him!
The warlord of darkness focused on the smiling man. He felt Shin's fear and confusion as the boy fell to his knees.
ANUBIS? I...I THINK WE'VE BEEN DRUGGED. Shin looked up at Anubis, terror in his eyes. Anubis then felt Shin's mind focus in another direction. HELP! Good, he was contacting the others. They should be here soon.
GEE, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT? Anubis asked sarcastically.
Anubis used his rapidly dwindling strength to leap at Treize and wrapped his large hands around the other man's throat. "Die!" Anubis snarled surprised at how hoarse he sounded.
Normally, Anubis was strong enough to kill almost instantly, but Treize just smiled and pried Anubis' fingers off his throat and let Anubis fall to his knees. The world was growing fuzzy. If only Naaza were here, he could easily neutralize the poison.
Dimly, Anubis saw through Shin's eyes and knew uniformed soldiers surrounded them. They were the ones who'd drugged Shin and himself. They stood with guns aimed at Shin and himself as they slowly walked out of the forest.
Anubis cried out to the others, WE NEED HELP! NOW!
Instantly, he felt the minds of his friends flood into him. Worry and anger were on the tops of their minds. WE'RE COMING. That was Ryo and Anubis felt strangely comforted that Ryo had answered so quickly. Granted he'd wanted Ryo's body for as long as he could remember, but lately the feeling had been growing more possessive. He was starting to view Ryo with an emotion. Love.
Anubis was growing weak and fell to the ground near Shin.
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? Shin asked, slumping further down until he was lying on the ground, on his side.
Anubis didn't answer, but knelt next to Shin and opened his mind fully to all his friends. The warlord of darkness carefully filled his mind with Trieze's face before looking at the uniformed soldiers. The others would have to know who to hunt.
His eyes were closing when Rajura touched his mind. WHO ARE THEY? WHERE ARE YOU?
WHAT'S HAPPENING? That was Sh'ten.
TREIZE FROM OZ. Anubis answered. WE'RE ABOUT THREE MILES FROM THE CITY, NEAR THE OLD SHRINE RUINS. Anubis started to reach for his kanji ball to summon his armor when Sh'ten's voice hit him.
DON'T!
WHAT? Anubis pulled his hand away by reflex. I CAN'T HELP SHIN WITHOUT MY ARMOR, HE'S OUT OF IT! Indeed, he looked down at Shin whose eyes were now closed and his mind felt still.
WE DON'T KNOW IF YOUR ARMOR WILL CANCEL THE POISONS THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN YOU. IF THEY SEE THE ARMOR AND YOU ARE STILL WEAKENED BY THE POISON, GOD KNOWS WHAT THEY WILL DO! LET THEM THINK YOU'RE A NORMAL HUMAN. Sh'ten's order made sense, but Anubis was a warrior, after all, and letting himself give in to his enemy was embarrassing. WE WILL COME FOR YOU. Sh'ten promised. JUST STAY WITH SHIN AND KEEP HIM SAFE, HE'S NOT AS STRONG AS YOU ARE AND MIGHT NOT RECOVER AS QUICKLY.
THEY WILL FIND OUT ABOUT US. Anubis thought about Shin's physical differences that would be quickly discovered. He couldn't do anything if Sh'ten, his general, forbid him to. After all, he was obedience. WE CAN'T AND WE SHOULDN'T HIDE.
Sh'ten paused and, while Anubis' eyes watched Treize lean over him, said, CALL YOUR ARMOR.
Thankfully, Anubis tucked his hand into the pocket of his jean and felt his fingertip brush against the impossibly smooth surface. The touch gave him renewed strength, if only for a moment, and his eyes sprang open. "Armor of the Jackal! Tao Tei!" He screamed his war cry as loudly as he could. He felt the armor surround him and was comforted with its familiar feel. Safe and cool in the metal that was his destiny with the long red cape flowing around him.
Unfortunately, the armor, as Sh'ten had feared, didn't cure whatever poison Anubis had been given.
Then he fell again and touched Shin, hoping the Ronin had enough strength to wake for just a moment. SHIN, WAKE AND TAKE YOUR ARMOR. YOU MUST. There was no answer for a moment. SHIN, YOU NEED TO PUT YOUR ARMOR ON!
Shin's eyes fluttered open, but then closed quickly. He couldn't do it. Anubis blacked out on top of Shin.
Treize-
I looked down at the two boys, absolutely shocked. I had never expected this! How on earth had the blue haired boy done all that by simply yelling? I had been certain that the drug would have knocked them both out in seconds, but they impressed me by staying conscience for several minutes, the blue haired one, Anubis, even tried to strangle me. Still, OZ needs their strength, even if we have to...convince them of the right side to be on in this war. I am very persuasive when I want to be.
I knew Anubis, of coarse. I had met him when I went to interview the other boy, Sanada Ryo. I had considered taking them both at that point, but they were in a public gym and someone might have walked in. Anubis seemed to be a typical ruffian, with all the piercing and tattoos and dyed hair, but there was something interesting about him. Then this armor had suddenly appeared.
In the local school there had been eight new students who had caught the attention of one of my scouts. Physically superior and mentally impressive. The boy, Touma, I really want working as one of my scientists. The others would be incredible pilots.
"Be careful with them." I told my soldiers as a van quietly puttered up the road. "They are our guests."
My men were very careful when the new recruits were strapped down to the stretchers and loaded into the van as if it were an ambulance. The smaller boy, Shin, was easier, but Anubis, with the strange armor, was far more difficult and took seven of my men to simply lift him. The armor shouldn't weight this much.
I wonder if he's some kind of machine. Still, I almost hope not. It would be wonderful having a human like him working for me.
Trowa-
Trowa walked quietly down the halls of the military complex, not feeling the least bit out of place although he was currently dressed in an OZ uniform, the organization he was fighting to destroy. The young man felt completely at ease with the standard issue gun on his hip and all the older soldiers walking past on the way to their own duties.
The pilot of the Gundam Heavy Arms had his own duties. Officially, it was his watch in the laboratory. Unofficially, he was doing some intelligence gathering.
As he made his way through the halls Trowa's thoughts went to Quarte, his gentle friend. He had asked Wufei to look after Quarte while was away. Trowa thought a great deal of Quarte, but frankly didn't trust the boy to look after himself if he were left alone.
It had crossed Trowa's mind to ask Heero to look after Quarte, but Heero had a tendency to shot people. Duo's name sprung to mind, but then was squashed by common sense. Duo couldn't be trusted to open a can of tuna without supervision. That left Wufei, and even Wufei wasn't entirely trusted, as he was a tad bit unstable. OF coarse, Quarte did tend to go a little -odd- in stressful situations.
Basically, in Trowa's mind, Trowa was the only sane one of that whole bunch of lunatics.
"I'm your replacement." Trowa told the soldier in the lab. Trowa was surprised to find the lab occupied. Usually, it was filled with Treize's pet scientists working on various projects, along with the base's medical department. It, normally, was very quiet. Today there was a flurry of activity.
"What's going on?" Trowa asked the other soldier before he left.
"Beats me." The soldier shrugged. "They brought in two kids about an hour ago and won't stop fussing over them."
Just then, one of the boys woke up. There was a scream. Trowa stepped forward to get a better look and saw a blue haired boy sitting up and struggling violently. He was dressed in armor with a bizarre helmet with a long cape falling over the sides of the examination table.
"Let me go, damnit!" The boy screamed furiously before turning to one of the doctors who'd gotten to close and sank his teeth in deeply in the man's arm.
The doctor swore, after he managed to pull away, clutching his arm. "Shock him!"
Someone punched a button and the boy jerked savagely, thanks to two electrodes attacked to his forehead. Tears of pain filled his eyes while the electricity coarse through his body and the wrist and ankle restrains were strained from the vicious, involuntary thrashing. The boy went limp and an IV needle was inserted into his bare cheek, just under a horrible scar. His face was the only part of his skin that was visible under the armor.
The excitement died down and everyone went back to their jobs. When he was sure that he wasn't being obvious, Trowa went to the tables were the prisoners were kept. The blue haired one, with needle in his face, looked up at Trowa, slowly. His eyes were cloudy and unfocused, drool oozed out of the corner of his lip.
His eyes were furious, but he the drugs were stopping him from doing anything.
"Stand away from him." One of the scientists told Trowa. He walked toward the prisoner with a black strap of leather in his hand. "He's more dangerous than we thought." The scientist professionally gagged the prisoner with the leather band then looked down, approving of his work. "There. That'll keep him out of trouble."
Trowa stepped back from the prisoner just as Trieze walked in.
Treize-
The scientists who worked for OZ were having a field day with they're new guinea pigs. They had run into Trieze's office and dropped off an armful of papers before running out to play with their new toys.
Treize looked briefly down at the pile of papers before deciding that he wanted to know what all the fuss was about. Without reading the reports in front of him, Treize left his office and headed down toward the laboratories. He was staring to get suspicious that maybe his scientists were starting to work on their own.
All he wanted was a simple physical before he had the boys woken up. He had decided to speak with them privately once they woke and try to convince them both to join with him.
Treize frowned when he got there and saw almost a dozen men in lab coats happily tapping away on computers and fiddling with medical equipment, scalpels, syringes, and other, more sinister looking tools. There was a slight amount of blood on the tools.
"What's going on?" Treize asked, frowning when he saw both boys still strapped down and Anubis still in his armor. Why should there be blood on those tools?
A young soldier stepped away from Anubis as I walked in.
Everything stopped, for just a moment, as if they were shocked to find a stranger in their midst. One of the scientists stepped forward and the work resumed.
"Mr. Treize, so nice to see you." The scientist said with true feeling. He was very happy about something. "I was wondering if you would come down to see our work."
"Professor Door, I would be pleased to, but I have to admit, no one's bothered to tell me what's going on." His voice darkened. "I had given my instructions, Professor Door. They are guests, not prisoners, there is no reason for them to still be bound."
The scientist told Treize, almost bubbling with joy. "Nothing like them has ever been discovered before. You must let us keep them!"
Treize looked at the boys, keeping as calm as possible. "What are they doing here? They should have been woken up by now." He just hated it when people disobeyed him! He certainly wasn't going to let innocent boys become experiments, even if they were, some how, unique.
"They are awake." Professor Door went to the brown haired young man and put a hand to Shin's throat. The boy's eyes opened instantly and he started to thrash, but as he was belted down, there was not much he could do. His eyes were filled with pain and fear. He'd had skin scraped from around his left eye, Trieze noticed with a frown. He did not condone torture for any reason.
Treize put a hand gently on Shin's hair. "Easy, child." He whispered. "I won't let you be hurt."
Shin's eyes rolled around until he was looking at Treize and Treize took his hand away. There was something in Shin's eyes. He was gentle and kind, but he glared at Trieze with ice in his eyes. He was not as weak as he appeared.
The scientist ignored the boy's struggle and pulled his head to one side, brushing aside his brown hair. Now Treize noticed something odd. Just on the side of the boy's throat was a slit of skin, as if he'd been sliced.
"What is it?" Treize asked, looking closer. Had they cut open a child's throat for some experiment?
"He has a matching on one the other side of his throat. As far as we can tell, they're gills. Completely natural gills on a human."
Treize slowly looked up at the scientist. "Are you serious?"
"Absolutely. His toes are webbed, as you can see," Treize looked down at the boy's bare feet and saw, indeed, tiny webbing. "And, if we were to turn him over, you would see scales on his lower back and on the back of his arms and legs. Sir, we believe that this boy is able to breathe underwater."
Treize stood up straight and thought for a moment. "Is he the result of an experiment, perhaps combining humans with fish, or something?"
"Oh, no. As far as the DNA tests have been able to determine, he is one hundred percent human!"
"But, it's impossible for humans to have these kinds of attributes. He must be some sort of mutation."
Again, the scientist shook his head. "No, no mutation of any kind is found. He is absolutely impossible, yet he does exist. We just can't understand it." The little man's face practically glowed with happiness. He had a mystery to solve. "It's the same with this one."
Treize looked at the other prisoner, strapped to the next bed. This one glared up at him with hatred and huge muscles were tensed and straining at his bonds. "We had to sedate him after you got here just to get him this calm." The scientist told Treize indicating the IV needle that was stuck into Anubis' face, the only visible part of his body. "We can't get his armor off and he's tried to attack anyone who goes near him. He woke up just minutes after arriving and almost killed several orderlies." Dr. Door touched the blue hair, just peeking out from under the helmet. "Isn't he just beautiful? Quite the mystery, also."
"Is he a fish, too?"
"We're not sure what he is, but just look at this." The scientist lead Treize to a monitor that was recording everything that was done to the prisoners. The brown haired boy was shown on his bed, still strapped down.
Anubis was not on the monitor. Treize blinked and looked back at the actual bed to where he saw the boy still glaring at him. Then back at the monitor.
"What is this?" Treize asked finally.
"We're not entirely sure. We are sure that there is a person in that bed. We know this. We also know that he doesn't show up on any kind of camera, but we're not sure why. It's almost as if his body is absorbing the light and making us think that he isn't there." The white haired man shook his head. "I just don't understand this. It's as if all laws of physics have been dismissed because they're to inconvenient." Professor Door beamed happily. "At one point he vanished completely and then reappeared. I believe he has the power to make himself invisible. A manipulation of light perhaps, or even darkness."
"You can't manipulate darkness, darkness is just the absence of light. It is nothing." Treize argued without thinking.
"Perhaps. But we need to experiment to make sure."
Treize thought. A boy that appeared to be half fish and a boy who didn't obey laws of nature were definitely interesting and he wondered if they had anything to do with the Gundams. Certainly, his people had reported unusually high results in physical responses and odd reports about behavior. They COULD be Gundam pilots.
Treize didn't look at the scientists as he said. "I want them released." They could be very useful if he could just talk to them.
"What?!" Professor Door demanded, shocked. "We can't let them go, yet! We have more experiments, more studying! Besides, that one is dangerous." He pointed to Anubis. "He just attacked a nurse so we had to sedate him."
Treize turned slowly. "Release them." His voice held no room for argument. He saw the smaller boy with brown hair watching them and he stepped closer to look down at the frightened boy.
"What's happening?" The boy mumbled, looking up at Treize. His voice was slurred and he sounded confused from the drug. Still, he had fight in his eyes and Treize knew Shin was every bit as able to fight as Anubis.
"You're my guests." Treize told him, trying to sound calm and friendly. He was very angry with the scientist making he job more difficult. Now he would have to convince them of the truth that he had nothing to do with this foolishness.
The boy shifted his eyes around until he saw his friend and they just stared at each other a moment.
Shin-
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? Shin asked Anubis.
BEEN BETTER. AND YOU?
I THINK I'M GOING TO THROW UP. Shin said, feeling his stomach churn violently. WHATEVER DRUG THEY GAVE US WAS A DOOZY.
THE OTHERS ARE COMING. DON'T WORRY.
Shin looked back at the stranger. "Please let us go. We haven't done anything wrong."
"Oh, I know that. But, once I found out there was something odd about you, I needed to know what it was. We've all ready discovered your gills and other fish like attributes. Is it true that you are able to breathe underwater?"
WHAT DO I DO? Shin asked Anubis, frightened. He'd never been a prisoner like this before.
GET ME UNMUZZLED AND I'LL GET US OUT OF HERE!
"Please, I need to talk to my friend." Shin looked at Treize, begging with his eyes. "I really have to talk with him."
"Of coarse you can talk to your friend, you're not prisoners. You're my guests."
Treize unstrapped the band that covered Anubis' mouth.
Anubis began to laugh, an insane sound filled with bitterness. He gave his bonds a little tug. "Not prisoners?"
"No, you're not prisoners." Treize repeated. "There has been a misunderstanding, I'm afraid and it seems my orders have been ignored. You will be released."
A soldier walked into the room and saluted Treize. "Sir, Mr. Zechs Merquise is here to see you."
Treize nodded. "Thank you, soldier. You'll excuse me." Treize said to the two, still tied down guests before he turned to address the head scientist. "Have them untied and show them to the guest rooms. I'll come to see them after my meeting with Zechs." Treize left the room and four of the scientists stood in front of the tables where Shin and Anubis were kept.
"He doesn't know what he's talking about." One of them said.
The others nodded. "I think we're all agreed." The one who spoken to Treize said. "Mr. Treize won't be done with his meeting for several hours. We can get a lot done in that time." He walked to the clear liquid that was suspended above Anubis' head, the liquid that was being fed into him through the IV needle and pushed a button on the computer behind the table. Anubis almost instantly felt more tired and his eyes began to droop.
"That should keep this one quiet while we work on him."
"Wait!" Shin said, his voice shaking as he tried to pull away from the table. "What are you going to do to him? Leave him alone!" He was starting to wake up properly and could understand what was happening.
SHIN, I CAN'T MOVE. There was no mistaking the fear in Anubis' thoughts. I CAN'T HELP YOU. THE DRUGS ARE GETTING STRONGER, THEY MUST HAVE INCREASED THE DOSE. I'M SORRY.
"You're boss said to let us go!" Shin shouted desperately. God, if only he had his Kanji Ball! The thing was still in his pants pocket, but they'd been stripped before they woke up here and Shin saw his pants laying all of four feet away. It might as well have been four miles, it was so far away.
"Mr. Treize sometimes lacks perspective." The scientist responded. "He doesn't understand how important you two are to science. Now, what shall we do with you?"
Shin began to panic. What would they do to Anubis? What would they do to him?
DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME, SHIN. AS LONG AS I AM IN MY ARMOR THEN I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY.
The head scientist motioned to an orderly. "Take him to the tank." Shin was quickly lifted off the bed, with his hands and feet still bound. They took him out of the room while Anubis lay, angrily passive. The scientists looked down at Anubis. "Don't be so angry. This is all in the name of both science, after all." He followed the orderly and the experiment out.
They went down the hall to a larger room while Shin kept talking to Anubis. I'M FINE, RIGHT NOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH ME. STAY CALM, MAYBE THE OTHERS WILL GET HERE BEFORE ANYTHING HAPPENS.
Anubis' furious thoughts rang back at him. THEY'LL HAVE TO, BECAUSE I CAN'T GET MY STRENGHTH BACK FAST ENOUGH TO DO ANYTHING. I'LL KEEP TRYING. Shin saw through Anubis' eyes and saw the IV drip that was delivering the drug into his system. Just enough to keep him halfway sedated, but no enough to put him to sleep.
They brought Shin to a room with a large tank of water, almost ten feet deep. "We had this made just for you." The scientist told him. "It wasn't hard to do with all our resources, and we really wanted to find out if our hypothesis was correct." The tank was filled to the absolute top and, to his surprise, they brought him over to it and, after unlocking his bonds, they threw him in the tank.
Shin landed with a splash, and he felt much better for just being in the water. He kicked off the bottom, but stopped when he saw what they were doing. The orderly's had set a large glass top over the tank, effectively sealing him in. He didn't have his kanji ball. He was helpless.
Shin floated in the water and kept his eyes on the scientist who was watching him with an amused smile.
"I knew I was right," The man's voice was distorted through the water and glass. "You can breath under water."
Shin swung his fist at the glass wall, but without his armor, he wasn't strong enough to do anything. The scientist laughed at the attempt. "Keep fighting, warrior. I want to know all about you and your friend. Now that he probably thinks you're dead, I wonder if he'll do anything interesting."
Anubis-
The scientist went back to Anubis. "We now have your friend awaiting torture, Mr. Anubis." He lied calmly. "If you don't want him to suffer, then you will take off your armor."
DON'T DO IT! Shin's voice yelled. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'LL DO TO YOU. I'M JUST IN A TANK OF WATER.
YES, BUT I KNOW WHAT THEY'LL DO TO YOU, IF I DON'T OBEY. IF DUO AND HIS FRIENDS WERE RIGHT, THESE PEOPLE ARE TOTALLY RUTHLESS. I CAN'T TAKE THE CHANCE. I HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO RESIST TORTURE, YOU HAVE NOT.
Anubis closed his eyes and let his armor fade back into his body, leaving him with the original jeans and thin t-shit he'd put on this morning. He felt terribly naked sitting like this before an enemy. When he got out...
The scientist picked up a long, thin knife. "Very good. Now we can begin."
Ryo-
We all felt Anubis and Shin's sudden panic. HELP! They had both begged and Ryo jumped onto his motorcycle. He really didn't know where to look, but he had to do something! For some reason, it was imperative to get to Anubis, now! Shin's anger and Anubis' frustration were battering at his mind as Ryo raced down the dirt road where Anubis and Shin should have been. Why would anyone attack them out here in the middle of nowhere?
Ryo listened in as Anubis and Sh'ten talked and Anubis finally called his armor. He saw Treize's face and knew who was behind this all. He would get Treize! He slowed his bike when he saw Seiji running down the road. Seiji wordlessly jumped on behind Ryo and they tore off silently.
No matter where they all were, Ryo knew they would all be heading to the same spot.
Shin's mind went numb, he wasn't dead (thankfully!), but his mind was asleep. Anubis was trying to stay awake, but he succumbed, in the end. That was the last of their contact with their friends.
When they reached the old Shrine, there was no one in sight, just a set of tire tracks leading into the city. There was no way to follow the tracks once the road became paved. Within minutes, everyone else had arrived.
Sh'ten was first and fuming with anger. Not surprising. It was the second time in two weeks his love had been attacked. When they got Shin back, Sh'ten wasn't going to let him out of his sight for a year!
"We're going to have to ask Duo and Heero." Touma said, trying to stay calm. "They said they know this Treize character, so they probably know how to find him."
Anubis-
They had decided that, for a while anyway, Shin would have a guard when he went out. It just wasn't safe if he was going to get attacked and he really didn't feel safe without his friends.
Of coarse, nothing would happen as Sh'ten had all ready found out who did it and extracted proper punishment. The little criminals wouldn't be found for a few weeks yet, if they were ever found. Yes, he was on the side of goodness now, but really...he was still the Ma-Sho of Cruelty and he just couldn't let someone get away with pounding on his little Shin, now could he?
It was Anubis' day to watch over Shin as they walked to the market early on Saturday morning, as was Shin's usual habit. It had been one week since the attack and Shin had decided that it would be safe to go out, because the chances of a second attack happening so soon on the same day were just to unlikely.
If nothing else, this was a good opportunity to get Junior out for a walk. The small cub ran happily beside them on his little leash.
Anubis was joking with his younger friend when they noticed a man standing in the middle of the road. Anubis was instantly alert when he recognized the man. There was something wrong about the way that man was standing there, as if he'd been waiting for them.
He was dressed very sharply with a short cape slung over on shoulder artfully. "What do you want?" Anubis asked, stepping slightly forward, so he stood in front of Shin.
"Good morning, Anubis, isn't it? I don't think I've met your friend." He addressed Shin. "I am Treize Kushranada and I've come to make you a job offer, again." Shin and Anubis exchanged doubtful looks as they recognized the name and Treize continued. "I am a representative from the OZ organization. We are currently in need of talented young people and you've managed to come to our attention. We would like to train you to become pilots and soldiers in the future."
Anubis yawned. "Get you your point. The sooner I get home, the sooner I get drunk. I do not wish to stand here listening to your voice."
"Yes, I know your opinion on my offer, but I just wanted you to rethink it." Treize seemed only slightly surprised by his attitude. "I would like you to consider working for us. I have had my people watching the local schools and you are two of the people who have recently come to our attention."
Shin frowned. "You've been spying on us?" He sounded outraged and Anubis could understand why. They all valued their privacy and were trying very hard to keep a low public image. Anubis had heard this all before when Treize had confronted him and Ryo at the gym in the city. He was not impressed.
Treize shrugged away Shin's anger. "We've got many people at many different schools to scout for new recruits. There are many benefits to joining OZ, you may want to consider."
Before he could go any further, Shin interrupted him. "I don't think so, mate. We don't need to be joining any army. We're kids, in case you haven't noticed, and we don't belong in wars."
The irony of that statement made Anubis let out a barked laugh.
"We can always work out a contract to wait until you've reached adulthood." Treize offered.
Shin shook his head. "No. Thank you anyway, but no." He started to walk past Treize who looked at Anubis following Shin.
"What about you? Do you share his feelings?"
Anubis gave Treize a half smile. "I do. Stay away from our friends, also."
Treize gave them a small smile. "I have to apologize, I'm afraid."
Shin looked at Anubis who frowned. "Apologize for what?" They both started to turn back to look at Treize when, without warning, Shin and Anubis felt a sharp pinprick at the back of the necks.
Anubis felt instantly light headed, but fought to control himself. Damn! He was an experience warrior, how could he get caught in such a simple trap!? Rajura was going to KILL him!
The warlord of darkness focused on the smiling man. He felt Shin's fear and confusion as the boy fell to his knees.
ANUBIS? I...I THINK WE'VE BEEN DRUGGED. Shin looked up at Anubis, terror in his eyes. Anubis then felt Shin's mind focus in another direction. HELP! Good, he was contacting the others. They should be here soon.
GEE, WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT? Anubis asked sarcastically.
Anubis used his rapidly dwindling strength to leap at Treize and wrapped his large hands around the other man's throat. "Die!" Anubis snarled surprised at how hoarse he sounded.
Normally, Anubis was strong enough to kill almost instantly, but Treize just smiled and pried Anubis' fingers off his throat and let Anubis fall to his knees. The world was growing fuzzy. If only Naaza were here, he could easily neutralize the poison.
Dimly, Anubis saw through Shin's eyes and knew uniformed soldiers surrounded them. They were the ones who'd drugged Shin and himself. They stood with guns aimed at Shin and himself as they slowly walked out of the forest.
Anubis cried out to the others, WE NEED HELP! NOW!
Instantly, he felt the minds of his friends flood into him. Worry and anger were on the tops of their minds. WE'RE COMING. That was Ryo and Anubis felt strangely comforted that Ryo had answered so quickly. Granted he'd wanted Ryo's body for as long as he could remember, but lately the feeling had been growing more possessive. He was starting to view Ryo with an emotion. Love.
Anubis was growing weak and fell to the ground near Shin.
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? Shin asked, slumping further down until he was lying on the ground, on his side.
Anubis didn't answer, but knelt next to Shin and opened his mind fully to all his friends. The warlord of darkness carefully filled his mind with Trieze's face before looking at the uniformed soldiers. The others would have to know who to hunt.
His eyes were closing when Rajura touched his mind. WHO ARE THEY? WHERE ARE YOU?
WHAT'S HAPPENING? That was Sh'ten.
TREIZE FROM OZ. Anubis answered. WE'RE ABOUT THREE MILES FROM THE CITY, NEAR THE OLD SHRINE RUINS. Anubis started to reach for his kanji ball to summon his armor when Sh'ten's voice hit him.
DON'T!
WHAT? Anubis pulled his hand away by reflex. I CAN'T HELP SHIN WITHOUT MY ARMOR, HE'S OUT OF IT! Indeed, he looked down at Shin whose eyes were now closed and his mind felt still.
WE DON'T KNOW IF YOUR ARMOR WILL CANCEL THE POISONS THAT THEY HAVE GIVEN YOU. IF THEY SEE THE ARMOR AND YOU ARE STILL WEAKENED BY THE POISON, GOD KNOWS WHAT THEY WILL DO! LET THEM THINK YOU'RE A NORMAL HUMAN. Sh'ten's order made sense, but Anubis was a warrior, after all, and letting himself give in to his enemy was embarrassing. WE WILL COME FOR YOU. Sh'ten promised. JUST STAY WITH SHIN AND KEEP HIM SAFE, HE'S NOT AS STRONG AS YOU ARE AND MIGHT NOT RECOVER AS QUICKLY.
THEY WILL FIND OUT ABOUT US. Anubis thought about Shin's physical differences that would be quickly discovered. He couldn't do anything if Sh'ten, his general, forbid him to. After all, he was obedience. WE CAN'T AND WE SHOULDN'T HIDE.
Sh'ten paused and, while Anubis' eyes watched Treize lean over him, said, CALL YOUR ARMOR.
Thankfully, Anubis tucked his hand into the pocket of his jean and felt his fingertip brush against the impossibly smooth surface. The touch gave him renewed strength, if only for a moment, and his eyes sprang open. "Armor of the Jackal! Tao Tei!" He screamed his war cry as loudly as he could. He felt the armor surround him and was comforted with its familiar feel. Safe and cool in the metal that was his destiny with the long red cape flowing around him.
Unfortunately, the armor, as Sh'ten had feared, didn't cure whatever poison Anubis had been given.
Then he fell again and touched Shin, hoping the Ronin had enough strength to wake for just a moment. SHIN, WAKE AND TAKE YOUR ARMOR. YOU MUST. There was no answer for a moment. SHIN, YOU NEED TO PUT YOUR ARMOR ON!
Shin's eyes fluttered open, but then closed quickly. He couldn't do it. Anubis blacked out on top of Shin.
Treize-
I looked down at the two boys, absolutely shocked. I had never expected this! How on earth had the blue haired boy done all that by simply yelling? I had been certain that the drug would have knocked them both out in seconds, but they impressed me by staying conscience for several minutes, the blue haired one, Anubis, even tried to strangle me. Still, OZ needs their strength, even if we have to...convince them of the right side to be on in this war. I am very persuasive when I want to be.
I knew Anubis, of coarse. I had met him when I went to interview the other boy, Sanada Ryo. I had considered taking them both at that point, but they were in a public gym and someone might have walked in. Anubis seemed to be a typical ruffian, with all the piercing and tattoos and dyed hair, but there was something interesting about him. Then this armor had suddenly appeared.
In the local school there had been eight new students who had caught the attention of one of my scouts. Physically superior and mentally impressive. The boy, Touma, I really want working as one of my scientists. The others would be incredible pilots.
"Be careful with them." I told my soldiers as a van quietly puttered up the road. "They are our guests."
My men were very careful when the new recruits were strapped down to the stretchers and loaded into the van as if it were an ambulance. The smaller boy, Shin, was easier, but Anubis, with the strange armor, was far more difficult and took seven of my men to simply lift him. The armor shouldn't weight this much.
I wonder if he's some kind of machine. Still, I almost hope not. It would be wonderful having a human like him working for me.
Trowa-
Trowa walked quietly down the halls of the military complex, not feeling the least bit out of place although he was currently dressed in an OZ uniform, the organization he was fighting to destroy. The young man felt completely at ease with the standard issue gun on his hip and all the older soldiers walking past on the way to their own duties.
The pilot of the Gundam Heavy Arms had his own duties. Officially, it was his watch in the laboratory. Unofficially, he was doing some intelligence gathering.
As he made his way through the halls Trowa's thoughts went to Quarte, his gentle friend. He had asked Wufei to look after Quarte while was away. Trowa thought a great deal of Quarte, but frankly didn't trust the boy to look after himself if he were left alone.
It had crossed Trowa's mind to ask Heero to look after Quarte, but Heero had a tendency to shot people. Duo's name sprung to mind, but then was squashed by common sense. Duo couldn't be trusted to open a can of tuna without supervision. That left Wufei, and even Wufei wasn't entirely trusted, as he was a tad bit unstable. OF coarse, Quarte did tend to go a little -odd- in stressful situations.
Basically, in Trowa's mind, Trowa was the only sane one of that whole bunch of lunatics.
"I'm your replacement." Trowa told the soldier in the lab. Trowa was surprised to find the lab occupied. Usually, it was filled with Treize's pet scientists working on various projects, along with the base's medical department. It, normally, was very quiet. Today there was a flurry of activity.
"What's going on?" Trowa asked the other soldier before he left.
"Beats me." The soldier shrugged. "They brought in two kids about an hour ago and won't stop fussing over them."
Just then, one of the boys woke up. There was a scream. Trowa stepped forward to get a better look and saw a blue haired boy sitting up and struggling violently. He was dressed in armor with a bizarre helmet with a long cape falling over the sides of the examination table.
"Let me go, damnit!" The boy screamed furiously before turning to one of the doctors who'd gotten to close and sank his teeth in deeply in the man's arm.
The doctor swore, after he managed to pull away, clutching his arm. "Shock him!"
Someone punched a button and the boy jerked savagely, thanks to two electrodes attacked to his forehead. Tears of pain filled his eyes while the electricity coarse through his body and the wrist and ankle restrains were strained from the vicious, involuntary thrashing. The boy went limp and an IV needle was inserted into his bare cheek, just under a horrible scar. His face was the only part of his skin that was visible under the armor.
The excitement died down and everyone went back to their jobs. When he was sure that he wasn't being obvious, Trowa went to the tables were the prisoners were kept. The blue haired one, with needle in his face, looked up at Trowa, slowly. His eyes were cloudy and unfocused, drool oozed out of the corner of his lip.
His eyes were furious, but he the drugs were stopping him from doing anything.
"Stand away from him." One of the scientists told Trowa. He walked toward the prisoner with a black strap of leather in his hand. "He's more dangerous than we thought." The scientist professionally gagged the prisoner with the leather band then looked down, approving of his work. "There. That'll keep him out of trouble."
Trowa stepped back from the prisoner just as Trieze walked in.
Treize-
The scientists who worked for OZ were having a field day with they're new guinea pigs. They had run into Trieze's office and dropped off an armful of papers before running out to play with their new toys.
Treize looked briefly down at the pile of papers before deciding that he wanted to know what all the fuss was about. Without reading the reports in front of him, Treize left his office and headed down toward the laboratories. He was staring to get suspicious that maybe his scientists were starting to work on their own.
All he wanted was a simple physical before he had the boys woken up. He had decided to speak with them privately once they woke and try to convince them both to join with him.
Treize frowned when he got there and saw almost a dozen men in lab coats happily tapping away on computers and fiddling with medical equipment, scalpels, syringes, and other, more sinister looking tools. There was a slight amount of blood on the tools.
"What's going on?" Treize asked, frowning when he saw both boys still strapped down and Anubis still in his armor. Why should there be blood on those tools?
A young soldier stepped away from Anubis as I walked in.
Everything stopped, for just a moment, as if they were shocked to find a stranger in their midst. One of the scientists stepped forward and the work resumed.
"Mr. Treize, so nice to see you." The scientist said with true feeling. He was very happy about something. "I was wondering if you would come down to see our work."
"Professor Door, I would be pleased to, but I have to admit, no one's bothered to tell me what's going on." His voice darkened. "I had given my instructions, Professor Door. They are guests, not prisoners, there is no reason for them to still be bound."
The scientist told Treize, almost bubbling with joy. "Nothing like them has ever been discovered before. You must let us keep them!"
Treize looked at the boys, keeping as calm as possible. "What are they doing here? They should have been woken up by now." He just hated it when people disobeyed him! He certainly wasn't going to let innocent boys become experiments, even if they were, some how, unique.
"They are awake." Professor Door went to the brown haired young man and put a hand to Shin's throat. The boy's eyes opened instantly and he started to thrash, but as he was belted down, there was not much he could do. His eyes were filled with pain and fear. He'd had skin scraped from around his left eye, Trieze noticed with a frown. He did not condone torture for any reason.
Treize put a hand gently on Shin's hair. "Easy, child." He whispered. "I won't let you be hurt."
Shin's eyes rolled around until he was looking at Treize and Treize took his hand away. There was something in Shin's eyes. He was gentle and kind, but he glared at Trieze with ice in his eyes. He was not as weak as he appeared.
The scientist ignored the boy's struggle and pulled his head to one side, brushing aside his brown hair. Now Treize noticed something odd. Just on the side of the boy's throat was a slit of skin, as if he'd been sliced.
"What is it?" Treize asked, looking closer. Had they cut open a child's throat for some experiment?
"He has a matching on one the other side of his throat. As far as we can tell, they're gills. Completely natural gills on a human."
Treize slowly looked up at the scientist. "Are you serious?"
"Absolutely. His toes are webbed, as you can see," Treize looked down at the boy's bare feet and saw, indeed, tiny webbing. "And, if we were to turn him over, you would see scales on his lower back and on the back of his arms and legs. Sir, we believe that this boy is able to breathe underwater."
Treize stood up straight and thought for a moment. "Is he the result of an experiment, perhaps combining humans with fish, or something?"
"Oh, no. As far as the DNA tests have been able to determine, he is one hundred percent human!"
"But, it's impossible for humans to have these kinds of attributes. He must be some sort of mutation."
Again, the scientist shook his head. "No, no mutation of any kind is found. He is absolutely impossible, yet he does exist. We just can't understand it." The little man's face practically glowed with happiness. He had a mystery to solve. "It's the same with this one."
Treize looked at the other prisoner, strapped to the next bed. This one glared up at him with hatred and huge muscles were tensed and straining at his bonds. "We had to sedate him after you got here just to get him this calm." The scientist told Treize indicating the IV needle that was stuck into Anubis' face, the only visible part of his body. "We can't get his armor off and he's tried to attack anyone who goes near him. He woke up just minutes after arriving and almost killed several orderlies." Dr. Door touched the blue hair, just peeking out from under the helmet. "Isn't he just beautiful? Quite the mystery, also."
"Is he a fish, too?"
"We're not sure what he is, but just look at this." The scientist lead Treize to a monitor that was recording everything that was done to the prisoners. The brown haired boy was shown on his bed, still strapped down.
Anubis was not on the monitor. Treize blinked and looked back at the actual bed to where he saw the boy still glaring at him. Then back at the monitor.
"What is this?" Treize asked finally.
"We're not entirely sure. We are sure that there is a person in that bed. We know this. We also know that he doesn't show up on any kind of camera, but we're not sure why. It's almost as if his body is absorbing the light and making us think that he isn't there." The white haired man shook his head. "I just don't understand this. It's as if all laws of physics have been dismissed because they're to inconvenient." Professor Door beamed happily. "At one point he vanished completely and then reappeared. I believe he has the power to make himself invisible. A manipulation of light perhaps, or even darkness."
"You can't manipulate darkness, darkness is just the absence of light. It is nothing." Treize argued without thinking.
"Perhaps. But we need to experiment to make sure."
Treize thought. A boy that appeared to be half fish and a boy who didn't obey laws of nature were definitely interesting and he wondered if they had anything to do with the Gundams. Certainly, his people had reported unusually high results in physical responses and odd reports about behavior. They COULD be Gundam pilots.
Treize didn't look at the scientists as he said. "I want them released." They could be very useful if he could just talk to them.
"What?!" Professor Door demanded, shocked. "We can't let them go, yet! We have more experiments, more studying! Besides, that one is dangerous." He pointed to Anubis. "He just attacked a nurse so we had to sedate him."
Treize turned slowly. "Release them." His voice held no room for argument. He saw the smaller boy with brown hair watching them and he stepped closer to look down at the frightened boy.
"What's happening?" The boy mumbled, looking up at Treize. His voice was slurred and he sounded confused from the drug. Still, he had fight in his eyes and Treize knew Shin was every bit as able to fight as Anubis.
"You're my guests." Treize told him, trying to sound calm and friendly. He was very angry with the scientist making he job more difficult. Now he would have to convince them of the truth that he had nothing to do with this foolishness.
The boy shifted his eyes around until he saw his friend and they just stared at each other a moment.
Shin-
ARE YOU ALL RIGHT? Shin asked Anubis.
BEEN BETTER. AND YOU?
I THINK I'M GOING TO THROW UP. Shin said, feeling his stomach churn violently. WHATEVER DRUG THEY GAVE US WAS A DOOZY.
THE OTHERS ARE COMING. DON'T WORRY.
Shin looked back at the stranger. "Please let us go. We haven't done anything wrong."
"Oh, I know that. But, once I found out there was something odd about you, I needed to know what it was. We've all ready discovered your gills and other fish like attributes. Is it true that you are able to breathe underwater?"
WHAT DO I DO? Shin asked Anubis, frightened. He'd never been a prisoner like this before.
GET ME UNMUZZLED AND I'LL GET US OUT OF HERE!
"Please, I need to talk to my friend." Shin looked at Treize, begging with his eyes. "I really have to talk with him."
"Of coarse you can talk to your friend, you're not prisoners. You're my guests."
Treize unstrapped the band that covered Anubis' mouth.
Anubis began to laugh, an insane sound filled with bitterness. He gave his bonds a little tug. "Not prisoners?"
"No, you're not prisoners." Treize repeated. "There has been a misunderstanding, I'm afraid and it seems my orders have been ignored. You will be released."
A soldier walked into the room and saluted Treize. "Sir, Mr. Zechs Merquise is here to see you."
Treize nodded. "Thank you, soldier. You'll excuse me." Treize said to the two, still tied down guests before he turned to address the head scientist. "Have them untied and show them to the guest rooms. I'll come to see them after my meeting with Zechs." Treize left the room and four of the scientists stood in front of the tables where Shin and Anubis were kept.
"He doesn't know what he's talking about." One of them said.
The others nodded. "I think we're all agreed." The one who spoken to Treize said. "Mr. Treize won't be done with his meeting for several hours. We can get a lot done in that time." He walked to the clear liquid that was suspended above Anubis' head, the liquid that was being fed into him through the IV needle and pushed a button on the computer behind the table. Anubis almost instantly felt more tired and his eyes began to droop.
"That should keep this one quiet while we work on him."
"Wait!" Shin said, his voice shaking as he tried to pull away from the table. "What are you going to do to him? Leave him alone!" He was starting to wake up properly and could understand what was happening.
SHIN, I CAN'T MOVE. There was no mistaking the fear in Anubis' thoughts. I CAN'T HELP YOU. THE DRUGS ARE GETTING STRONGER, THEY MUST HAVE INCREASED THE DOSE. I'M SORRY.
"You're boss said to let us go!" Shin shouted desperately. God, if only he had his Kanji Ball! The thing was still in his pants pocket, but they'd been stripped before they woke up here and Shin saw his pants laying all of four feet away. It might as well have been four miles, it was so far away.
"Mr. Treize sometimes lacks perspective." The scientist responded. "He doesn't understand how important you two are to science. Now, what shall we do with you?"
Shin began to panic. What would they do to Anubis? What would they do to him?
DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME, SHIN. AS LONG AS I AM IN MY ARMOR THEN I DON'T HAVE TO WORRY.
The head scientist motioned to an orderly. "Take him to the tank." Shin was quickly lifted off the bed, with his hands and feet still bound. They took him out of the room while Anubis lay, angrily passive. The scientists looked down at Anubis. "Don't be so angry. This is all in the name of both science, after all." He followed the orderly and the experiment out.
They went down the hall to a larger room while Shin kept talking to Anubis. I'M FINE, RIGHT NOW. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO WITH ME. STAY CALM, MAYBE THE OTHERS WILL GET HERE BEFORE ANYTHING HAPPENS.
Anubis' furious thoughts rang back at him. THEY'LL HAVE TO, BECAUSE I CAN'T GET MY STRENGHTH BACK FAST ENOUGH TO DO ANYTHING. I'LL KEEP TRYING. Shin saw through Anubis' eyes and saw the IV drip that was delivering the drug into his system. Just enough to keep him halfway sedated, but no enough to put him to sleep.
They brought Shin to a room with a large tank of water, almost ten feet deep. "We had this made just for you." The scientist told him. "It wasn't hard to do with all our resources, and we really wanted to find out if our hypothesis was correct." The tank was filled to the absolute top and, to his surprise, they brought him over to it and, after unlocking his bonds, they threw him in the tank.
Shin landed with a splash, and he felt much better for just being in the water. He kicked off the bottom, but stopped when he saw what they were doing. The orderly's had set a large glass top over the tank, effectively sealing him in. He didn't have his kanji ball. He was helpless.
Shin floated in the water and kept his eyes on the scientist who was watching him with an amused smile.
"I knew I was right," The man's voice was distorted through the water and glass. "You can breath under water."
Shin swung his fist at the glass wall, but without his armor, he wasn't strong enough to do anything. The scientist laughed at the attempt. "Keep fighting, warrior. I want to know all about you and your friend. Now that he probably thinks you're dead, I wonder if he'll do anything interesting."
Anubis-
The scientist went back to Anubis. "We now have your friend awaiting torture, Mr. Anubis." He lied calmly. "If you don't want him to suffer, then you will take off your armor."
DON'T DO IT! Shin's voice yelled. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'LL DO TO YOU. I'M JUST IN A TANK OF WATER.
YES, BUT I KNOW WHAT THEY'LL DO TO YOU, IF I DON'T OBEY. IF DUO AND HIS FRIENDS WERE RIGHT, THESE PEOPLE ARE TOTALLY RUTHLESS. I CAN'T TAKE THE CHANCE. I HAVE BEEN TRAINED TO RESIST TORTURE, YOU HAVE NOT.
Anubis closed his eyes and let his armor fade back into his body, leaving him with the original jeans and thin t-shit he'd put on this morning. He felt terribly naked sitting like this before an enemy. When he got out...
The scientist picked up a long, thin knife. "Very good. Now we can begin."
Ryo-
We all felt Anubis and Shin's sudden panic. HELP! They had both begged and Ryo jumped onto his motorcycle. He really didn't know where to look, but he had to do something! For some reason, it was imperative to get to Anubis, now! Shin's anger and Anubis' frustration were battering at his mind as Ryo raced down the dirt road where Anubis and Shin should have been. Why would anyone attack them out here in the middle of nowhere?
Ryo listened in as Anubis and Sh'ten talked and Anubis finally called his armor. He saw Treize's face and knew who was behind this all. He would get Treize! He slowed his bike when he saw Seiji running down the road. Seiji wordlessly jumped on behind Ryo and they tore off silently.
No matter where they all were, Ryo knew they would all be heading to the same spot.
Shin's mind went numb, he wasn't dead (thankfully!), but his mind was asleep. Anubis was trying to stay awake, but he succumbed, in the end. That was the last of their contact with their friends.
When they reached the old Shrine, there was no one in sight, just a set of tire tracks leading into the city. There was no way to follow the tracks once the road became paved. Within minutes, everyone else had arrived.
Sh'ten was first and fuming with anger. Not surprising. It was the second time in two weeks his love had been attacked. When they got Shin back, Sh'ten wasn't going to let him out of his sight for a year!
"We're going to have to ask Duo and Heero." Touma said, trying to stay calm. "They said they know this Treize character, so they probably know how to find him."
