Into The Rain

Part 6: Never and Forever

I woke up before him once again, dressing in my uniform. He was taking me with him
whether he liked it or not. He would have to beat me up, drug me, and then tie me down
with chains before I would even think about not going. I needed to sharpen combat skill;
this was the perfect opportunity. He stirred and looked up to see me fully dressed.
"Heero! I thought I told you that you weren't going!"

"You can't say no to a solider in uniform that is prepared to give his life for you." I said
simply and Duo shook his head.

"You wanna bet?"

I nodded. "Just try to say that I can't go."

He parted his lips just as I sat back down next to him. My hand went out and caressed his
cheek. Bribery?

Possibly.

Deception?

Hardly.

Trying to put sex appeal to good use?

You bet.

"Heero I'll say it once, I'll say it again you are-" I slipped my fingers down to his neck and
brushed my hand through his hair. He purred like a kitten and I smiled; it was working. "If
you keep doing that and brush my hair out, you get to come."

"Okay."

"But you have to stay in the truck."

There he was, trying to be himself again. "No, I'll fight. I know how to use a gun."

Duo nodded and rested his head against my shoulder. "Don't stop. You need to brush my
hair out next."

I nodded and asked him gently, "Where is your brush?"

Duo gestured over to the dresser. "Third drawer to the left." I walked over and pulled of a
brush. He shook his head as I walked back to him.

"Something on your mind?" I asked as I began to run the brush through his tangled hair.
Most of the tangles were my fault anyway. I hadn't realized how long his hair was until I had
gotten a chance to brush it. How did he manage it?

"Heero, why do you want to fight so much?"

"Because I don't want to be rendered useless."

"You're not useless! Only a little rusty."

"Then let me fight."

"No, this is a high-level plan, I don't want you to get kill-"

"And I won't."

I stressed and he shook his head. "Heero, no matter who you are in any time, you will
always be stubborn."

"Hai." I found myself answering simply. He was getting agitated. "I'm coming to fight and
that's all there is to it."

That was when he gave up, he finally found that it was pointless to argue with me. That
was smart. I heard him mumble under his breath a couple words, namely 'damn stubborn'
and a couple others. "We need to hurry if we want to start everything on time," Duo then
said after a moment of undisturbed silence. I nodded and finished combing out his hair as
he began to tie it back into a large braid.

"Let's go." He said standing up and walking to the door after reading himself for the job.
He was the leader and without him the operation would be put to a halt. I followed him
down the hall to a large room where all the other soldiers were standing at attention waiting
for him. I wasn't sure were I was going to stand so went he walked to the front I dropped off
at the side where the lines started.

"Okay everyone. We have gone over this plan time and time again. Over that time we
have perfected it. Now we are about to set that very plan into motion. If anyone does not
want to come I advise you to stay behind because in the long run you will become a
liability. Are we clear? We will begin loading the trucks and mobile suite in a matter of
minutes." He said and the room was silent. "Are there any question?"

Again, silence was the only noise. "Good, let's go."

The lines walked in unison out of the room, there had to be thousands there, and all their
lives were in Duo's hands. I never thought Duo to be the type for that kind of position but
he deserved it. I watched him look to the four that were standing behind him, captains,
probably. He talked with them for a while, I didn't know where to go so I waited.

After a couple more minutes, Duo approached me as the four other men dispersed. "Well
Heero, let's go." As we walked I heard a pair of running foot steps catching up to us. I
turned around and looked at the girl with long wheat-blonde hair. "What is it?" Duo asked,
coming to a halt.

"I was just catching up with you, I'm sorry that I'm late." She said and took a moment to
catch her breath.

"Relena, I don't want you to come with us for this."

"If Heero is going then I should be able to."

"Heero is a stubborn ass, I'm hoping that you're not as bad as him."

"No, I'm a stubborn ass as well. Therefore I'm going."

Duo let out an exasperated sigh. "Every where I look are people that don't know when to
give up."

I had to smile at that. "Well at least you know those people are going to stay alive longer
than the others."

He chuckled at my statement and I even brought a smile to Relena's face.

"I couldn't have said that any better."

I looked around as we boarded the truck, throughout Duo's rebel group there were only
seventeen mobile suite, the others were experienced terrorists. That was what they had all
been brought about for, that was what they were supposed to be. With Duo's superior
piloting capabilities it surprised me that he was leading the brigade of guerillas.

Relena was sitting next to Duo again and thinking with her hands cupping her face, being
supported by her knees. Duo was leaning back with his arms leaning on the seat in back
of him. As for me, I was busy thinking. I had been given a weapon to fight with and I would
have to undoubtedly use it. In the plan we were going to surround and surprise. Mobile
suites taking out the outside forces and the other soldiers, the majority, would be running in
and slaying those inside until they surrendered.

Even if they did surrender, we would kill Dorothy Catalonia no matter what. That was the
main objective, even if we couldn't take over the base; her death was top priority.

"What are you thinking about?" Duo's voice suddenly snapped me out of my trance as I
looked over to him. I shook my head and looked down.

"Just going over plans in my head."

"Well stop, it's about to combust." He said playfully.

I must have been thinking too hard. "How long will it be until we arrive there?" I asked and
Relena answered.

"That depends on how early they detect us. We are going to go at a relatively slow speed
until they find us, and then attack full-force." I nodded, but that didn't answer my question. I
was about to ask that but the woman cut me off once again. "We'll get there when we get
there."

I nodded and then waited. All was quiet once again.

"We're there." I heard a low voice call from in front. Duo jumped out of him seat and
immediately was followed by Relena as well as me. I looked to them as they pulled out as
soon as the first shot was fired. They were surprised and it showed. We ran out of the
truck and watched as all the other soldiers infiltrated the base with a vengeance. There
wasn't one man that stayed behind, everyone went on their own codes of honor.

I followed Relena and Duo to the side of another truckload of people that had arrived right
before us, using the truck as a shield for the volleys of bullets. Relena began to fire at the
front guards that blocked the entrance. I watched as two soldiers to my left dropped like
lead weights, dead.

Duo grabbed both of our hands and pulled us to the other side of the truck and we began
to run to the next as if it was a stepping-stone. "Follow me," he directed as we sprinted to
another truck. He drew out his gun and shot down one of the men that was guarding the
balcony on the third story. With a direct shot, he sent the man tumbling backwards to the
marble floor. Two more took his place and the braided pilot took them out with no effort.

He looked back to us a little worried. "Okay, here is the tricky part, we are going to need
to get up there, right now it's the easiest entrance, but it'll be a hell of a stunt. Can you two
make it? I have a feeling that the next things there going to bring out is bombs and
grenades."

I nodded.

"Don't worry, I can make it." Relena stated plainly.

Duo then looked to me and I nodded once more.

As soon as I had he dashed across the green lawn, now hinted with red and threw a rope
up to scale the building. Again, we followed with a tenacity beyond belief. As soon as he
set the rope he pushed me up first and then Relena. I hurried, I knew that if I was slow
everyone was going to suffer from it. I passed the top of the first and then reached the
second looking to the three dead bodies that laid in my path. I kicked they aside and
pulled Relena up right behind me.

As a greeting there were two more soldiers aiming at me. I readied my gun and
immediately fired, sending the first one down. After the kick of the gun took my body, I
aimed for the second. Before I could pull the trigger he dropped as well. Relena dropped
the gun back into the carried locked onto her hip and pulled Duo up the rest of the way.
We walked into the room and looked around. Dining hall, no doubt. No one would have
been in it at this time.

We picked up the pace and walked around the room, guns ready. "Where is her bed
room?" Relena asked over to Duo. I waited for the answer and then the order.

"Fifth floor, but I'm sure that they have evacuated her."

I paused and then looked back around to Duo. "Evacuated to where?"

"Under ground, that's my bet." The door to my left opened and another shot was fired as
the body fell to the ground.

I looked to Duo who was looking disappointed. "Heero you need to get those quicker."

"Hai."

"How are we going to act from here?" Relena asked looking around to the other doors as
well as the balcony. "We're going down on the most path."

"If that is where she was evacuated to, wouldn't that be the area with the most arsenals?"

Duo nodded. "There isn't any way to avoid that."

Relena then stood still for a second deep in thought. "How would she have gone to the
lower level so fast without warning? I don't think she's there yet."

"Then where would she be?"

"I still think she's on the fifth story." She said and Duo and I exchanged glance.

"I think she's right." I said after a moment. "With all the confusion she wouldn't have had
the chance get down stairs yet. And on top of that she's vain, from what I remember. She
would want to look as best she could even in a time like this. Dorothy would rather die
glamorously." I concluded and Duo thought for a moment more.

"Okay, let's go, we can't waste any more time whether we are right or not." Duo walked
over to the door that would lead to a staircase. We crept out to the staircase, even though
there was going to be a guard posted at every level. Getting ready once again, I listened
to the series of gunshots being fired at the guard two stories down. I turned around to see
Duo leaned over the staircase, shoot straight down. I caught another man out of the corner
of my eye above up in the stair well.

Quickly, as I had been instructed, I fired up ward and listened as the body tumbled down
the stairs. Relena smiled, "I can see that you're improving."

I decided to take that was a compliment as Duo walked past me, skipping steps to reach
the next floor. And then the next, there was just one more to go. We reached the fifth floor
and we all knew that on this level was the target according to common sense.

"Okay, usually I would say split up, but we need to stay together this time." Duo said
quietly. We waited for him to open the door, he moved to the handle slowly. As soon as it
was thrown open I felt a tearing pain ripping at my arm. I saw the red forming around the
wound as it began to ooze out. I looked to the person on the other side of the door.

"Heero Yuy back from the dead? It seems that I'm going to have to do a little bit of revision
on my stories." The voice sneered. Duo jumped to the other side of the door and fired
three shots. Dodging them almost effortlessly Dorothy smiled impishly. "Duo, Duo, Duo."
She began to scold, taking one step back. "You know that last time we met that didn't
work, why would it now? And Relena-sama! You're here too? I'm delighted that you all
decided to throw this little party for me!" She said making a small curtsy.

"Yeah, and it'll be your last part." Duo said and I tired not to concentrate on the pain in my
arm. If it was this one that I could never fully over come, it would have to be the pain of a
bullet lodged in your arm. I could over it fine, but it hurt so much. Duo steadied his gun on
her as did Relena. I tired and it looked as if I could perfectly.

"Oh? You can't possibly be the same Heero Yuy." She said raising an exotic eyebrow.

"I'm sure your wondering what the tip off was, right?" She jeered. I didn't move, I waited
for another move to be made. She had set her gun down long enough to twirl a lock of
blonde hair around her finger. "Well, for one you would have already killed me by now.
Heero Yuy always possessed the skill and he wouldn't think twice about one thing that he
did, ever." She said simply and I stood quiet even though was beginning to feel
lightheaded. Duo shot again, Dorothy dodged, but barely, her sleeve over ripped.

"Duo, now that you ripped one of my favorite shirts I'm going to have to kill you. It's a
shame too, I always liked you," she said with certain disgust. For some reason I could feel
her fear. She was afraid, but why? As soon as her finger touched that loaded gun Relena
and Duo began to fire simultaneously. She began to shoot back and as soon and I her
Relena's breath hiss from behind clenched teeth and Duo groan; I watched her fall over.

Every one of us had been hit and I watched a moment longer to see which ones of us
would rise again. Dorothy's gun was far from her reach and her face was paling as blood
began to flow from the wound in her chest in two areas. "I'm applaud you, Duo, direct hit."
Relena stood up and Duo did as well, Relena gripping her forearm and Duo his side. I
walked over to Dorothy, she wasn't a treat any more no matter which way you sliced it.

She was down and almost dead. She began to laugh and a trail of blood trickled down her
chin, streaming to her neck. "Heero, if I had a choice between dying and living again. I
would choose dying because there is no way in hell that I would want to come back as
weak as you. I'm sure that as you lay dying from Zechs-sama's wound, you prayed to be
brought back, as any coward would. I thought of you was a warrior but I can see plainly that
I was wrong. You are a coward, and now you are getting a cowards punishment in a
cowards body. Have fun in the future, Heero."

Her mouth hung open as she died silently. "Now we have to escape." Duo said simply.
"Now that she's dead this base won't have a leader and no means of survival. Mission
accomplished." Relena nodded and walked after Duo as he climbed the stairs in a mad
rush.

Cowards...?

Was that how they all saw me?

I'm sure that she was right. After all, what use am I to them?

"Heero, come on!" Relena shouted to me and I jumped to the door where she was calling
from. I chased after them, forgetting all about the pain in my arm. Duo slowed down in
front and told Relena to lead. He jogged beside me and smiled. "We'll get that fixed as
soon as we get back to the trucks. Believe it or not, the drivers are also doctors."

"It's that convenient?" I said dryly.

"I like to think so. They do their job well. Both of them."

"So what do we do after this?"

"Get the injured back to headquarters and those that aren't to look around this area. It's
ours now, isn't it?"

I nodded, I didn't want to face him now. I was just a coward. I might have been taking
things too seriously but right around now I didn't know how to act or what to believe.

"Come on, Duo! Hurry!" Relena called from the front. We picked up the pace once again
and made our way through the front gates back to the trucks.

On the way out I looked to all the dead bodies that painted the path and felt sadness fill me
all of a sudden. "Okay, you two get in, I want to have a word with the other general in
charge of the building." Relena stepped into the truck, where sure enough, the doctors
were. She sat down onto one of the benches and held out her arm.

I sat down on the bench adjacent and held out my own wound. The doctor took it and did
an external examination. I winced as he dabbed a disinfectant over it and then with
tweezers, went in to extract the bullet. The thought was the thing that made my knees
buckle. Poking around with that metal /in/ my arm.

"Don't worry, like Duo said they are good doctors."

Relena must have noticed my unease, and it made me feel a little better but not much.
She sat there, not squeamish as they extracted the bullet. Most girls that I knew would
have been screaming and crying their eyes out from the mere thought. She was strong,
whether I wanted to admit it or not. I was caught up in though again, I didn't even notice as
the doctor finished up with the bandaging. "There you go." He suddenly said and I looked
to my arm to find it perfectly wrapped and dressed. Relena stood up, hers was done as
well.

"We need to get out. Others are waiting to be taken care of. There will be another truck to
take us back to headquarters." I followed her once again and hopped out of the truck. I
watched Duo lean up again the truck we were just in talking to some men, who were
probably the generals. The red caught my eye. From where he was leaning, a deep trail
of red dripped down the side of the truck. He had gotten the worst wound but hadn't been
treated yet.

I cut off my path of following Relena and turned back to Duo. I approached him slowly.
"Are you going to get that looked at any time soon?" I said, cutting him off as he was
talking.

He looked a little agitated. "I will as soon as I'm done talking."

"That is if you last that long." I replied.

I was being a smart-ass on purpose. He wouldn't listen to me otherwise. "Heero, hold on
a minute-"

"I know how bad that wound is, you better do something with it or else this won't mean
anything, you'll be dead."

"Heero, I'm not going to die form a little wound like this."

I glared. "Want to bet?" I walked up closer and he gave me a questioning glance. The
general looked equally confused. They must have been even more bewildered when they
realized who I was. I was supposed to be a dead man, wasn't I?

"Heero, what are you-" I held him against the truck pinning him down. He struggled but
didn't win. "You see, if that wasn't a life threatening wound then you would be able to push
me away without a second thought. Wouldn't you agree?" He glared.

"And since for the time being I am momentarily stronger then you, I'm going to take you to
the doctors right now." I was going to get hell about this later. But it was for his own good.
I picked him up and carried him, still struggling, over to the nearest truck. Relena watched
me with shock painted across her face. But then that same shock prevalent turned into
amusement. She began to giggle as she watched Duo struggle.

"Heero, you realize that you're going to get it later, right?!" Duo shouted to me and I
nodded. Didn't I already know that? I walked up the ramp that was set by the truck and set
Duo down by the doctors who looked to me, equally as shocked as Relena. "I think we
might need a sedative as well." I said simply.

"No! No sedative! You even think about sticking a needle into me any time soon and
you're fired!" Duo shouted before I clamped a hand over his mouth.

"Don't listen to him, just give it to him." They exchanged glances but within a matter of
moments stuck the same needle that Duo protested against, into him.

In a matter of seconds, his kicking form fell limp and he was fast asleep.

"You're going to feel that later." Relena said from behind me. I looked around and
nodded.

"I have people telling me that right and left. I think it's been drilled in enough."

"We're just telling you of your mistake." She said simply, leaning against the frame of the
door. "Well I better talk to those generals that you left bewildered, ne?"

I nodded. She could speak to them just as well as Duo could have. Except for the fact that
Duo was now unconscious. "When will he be up again?" I asked to the doctor that was
along side Duo's body, but not actually working.

"Two to three hours. You made the right decision, he's going to need a blood transfusion
with all that he's lost."

I sat down, watching the two work. "I'm willing if you need a donor." They smiled. "I can't
ask you to do that, you lost quite a lot of blood as well, if you give then you will need a
transfusion as well."

"Where are the trucks that are going back to head quarters?" I heard another soldier ask.
I waited for an answer.

"They are the ones in the very back, you better be going as well." The man said to me. I
shook my head. "I just want to make sure that Duo's all right."

"You really want that beating, don't you?"

"I don't really mind if I get what he feels necessary, just as long as he's all right."

"You're a great soldier. You don't see that much compassion for others nowadays. You're
a gem, my boy."

Funny, wasn't compassion the one thing that I wasn't supposed to have? That was the
irony of the entire situation. Complete and total irony. I looked to the window as Relena
came back. "This base is secured, General Dilks has control of it for now, as well as his
section of the troops."

"Okay, then what are we going to do now?" I asked her, feeling a bit sheepish.

"Take Duo back to HQ and have him restrained, you don't want to die so soon after victory,
do you?"

I shook my head.

"Heero?"

The doctor said and I focused my gaze back to him. "Yes?"

"You're going to have to carry him to the truck and make sure that he stays in bed for a
which, the bullet grazed some organs and make sure that he doesn't get involved in any
strenuous activity."

"Yes."

"Well, let's get going, the first truck is about to take off, I want to catch that ride." Relena
commented and I lifted Duo up to my shoulders. We walked to the truck and then would
follow shortly after, getting back to headquarters

End of part 6

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