CHAPTER 12- ILL HOPE

Heero hurriedly followed Ann who was running towards the Virgo III's. The plan was to capture two of the mobile suits, then attack the base. But it wasn't going to be that easy now that Duo and Elizabeth had been captured. They had to alter the plans slightly, as well as enter the fact that they had to find where Elizabeth would be kept. "They won't put her with the other pilots," Ann explained, "she would be to tactful for that." "Hn," Heero answered as they got closer to the now mass produced suits. But was this actually going to work without the others being harmed? That was a serious doubt, very unlikely. So, now what was the choice they had, not much to work from. Their uncertainty was beginning to show, "Do you think we should go find the others first?" Ann asked Heero. He thought for a moment, *getting the others would mean more back up, but it might also mean more trouble. We might risk a lot if we do it alone. It might be better to just stick to this* he thought. "Heero, we're running out of time, we don't know what they are going to do to Elizabeth yet," Ann reminded him. He nodded, "We should," he paused, rerunning his thoughts, "get a hold of some explosives." Ann nodded; she forgot about that option. She led him over to some crates, "There should be some ammunition in here," she informed him. He nodded and started to open one of the containers as Ann kept watch for any guards.

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"Well, well, well, so you and 0101 did escape the Airial Base in space after it exploded," a man said while circling a bleeding Elizabeth. Her lip bled from being hit in the face a multiple amount of times. But she stayed quiet, even as the man approached closer. "Where is 0101 then?" he asked in a quite voice. Elizabeth shifted her position, but didn't answer the interrogator. "Leave her to me," he told the men that were standing by the door. They went outside and locked the door. "Okay, it's just you and me 0202, so, let's make this easy and tell me where your friends are," he said, walking up while twirling a gun around his finger. "Huh," she sneered. The man smirked back, and then kicked the girl. The chains clanked up against the wall as he pinned her, the restraint around her neck digging into her skin. Slowly small beads of blood started to form and trickle down slowly on the slender neck.

"Are you going to tell me or not?" he asked again in a more threatening tone. She smirked and spit in his face. That pissed him off. He threw her to the ground and kicked her once again, then pointed the gun to her. "Kill me," she whispered from her position on the ground. He shot her in the leg. Flinching, she didn't let the smile leave her face, but hot tears trickled down her cheeks. The man once again laughed at her, but it was to cover up his fear. "Your afraid of me, aren't you?" she dared, "I can see it in your eyes. I'll tell you what, I'll give you a quick death," she sneered. The smile dropped from his face as he shot her again, this time in the chest. She coughed out blood, but was unable to get up; it came back down on her face and rolled down the side of her mouth. But she kept her silent smile. "You know, I see you in no position to be threatening me," he tried to laugh, but it was choked by his fear that was slowly coming over him. He had seen this girl, along with her friend annihilate many he knew, and now he had a chance to kill her, as she threatened him. *She threatens me when she's the one lying on the floor slowly dieing* he sneered to himself. "I can kill you now and let you experience what my comrades had from you, or let you die painfully slow," he again sneered at the dieing figure. "Fine," she said, breathing in hard, trying to swallow down her screams, as she coughed out more blood. It started to form a puddle on the floor, gleaming in the dim golden light that was in the room. The man raised the gun again and pointed it at her, shaking with rage he had kept so long to himself. There was another gunshot as Elizabeth screamed. Blood splattered on the ground.

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"NO!" Duo screamed as he watched Elizabeth shot for the third time. "YOU BASTERD!" He screamed at the screen. That's what it had been for; he shut his mouth quickly. The screen was used to foil his emotions against him; use his feelings to cause him pain. His heart ached as the body fell slightly limp. He could see her scream, and it drummed in his temples, even though it was quiet. The point was to have him watch Elizabeth killed until he would give away information. "You willing to talk yet?" a voice came from one of the dark corners. Duo turned at glared at the figure standing in the shadows. "She'll die if you don't," the man coaxed. He turned away from the man and looked down at the floor. Tears blurred his vision as he tried to hold his sobs back. "Why?" he whispered to himself, "why is it everyone I love dies. Dies because of me, they die because of me, it's my fault." He raised his voice, "Why did I have to become God damn fucking SHINIGAMI?!!!" He sighed as the tears streamed down faster. *That's horrible* Quatre thought sadly, *Duo liked the girl, he had strong feelings for her* It was heartbreaking to hear the God of Death cry out his pain. So many he loved died, *they all died* he thought, he was going to go insane if this kept up.

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Ann and Heero had gathered gear and made their way into the airshafts after equipping the factory with many explosives. Ann stopped in front of Heero as she heard a blood-curdling scream. "Elizabeth," Ann said to herself. "Let's hurry," Heero said, knocking Ann out of the horrid thoughts that were proceeding into her mind. She shook her head and continued crawling along the narrow passage. *It sounds like they're killing her* Ann thought to herself. It was horrifying. The trainers had come close to putting them to death, but never actually murdered one of them. They couldn't because of their uses as duplicates of the Gundam pilots. But maybe they were now seen as a threat to the organization, considering all the retaliation they were giving them. Wait, that was it, if they stopped retaliating, and made it look like they were against the Gundam pilots, they might spare her life. It was a risky plan, but it would be the only way to save Elizabeth; if she was still alive. "Heero," Ann whispered. "Hn," he responded to let her know he was listening. "I've got a plan," she whispered the best she could to him. He nodded that he understood and they put the plan in motion.

A/N: That was a little longer, huh? Well, hope you think it is getting better! So, till next chapter- Darken Angel