CHAPTER 13- BREAK DOWN

Elizabeth slowly looked over to her arm that was now bleeding extensively. The bullet had gone right through the upper part of her right arm. The pain increased as she lost more blood. The room started to slowly spin around her as she groggily kept her eyes open the best she could. *I have to live; make it through to help everyone* she repeated over in her mind. It was probably the only thing that kept her alive. *Have to stay alive for Ann; Duo* was her last thought as she passed out.

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Duo looked up towards the screen again and saw the frail girl pass out. No longer being able to take the pain of seeing this happen to someone he loved, he started to bang on the bars. Thrashing clumsily, he smashed his body against the cold metal that was blocking his path. The sound rang throughout the small set of holding cells. "Duo, don't push yourself," Quatre tried to stop the teen that was putting all he had on the line; himself. *Everyone is gone* he smashed against the bars again, *Elizabeth* another clatter, *Solo* another, *Heero* he stopped for a moment, *Heero* His best friend, known as the Perfect Soldier, was still out there, along with Ann. There might be hope, if Elizabeth could make it. *Elizabeth* his thoughts returned to the fallen girl as he returned to thrashing against the bars. "Huh, pitiful boy," the man that was watching the teen's inferior traits commented, "Hey, those bars of made of Gundanium." He laughed as he watched the boy with a long chestnut colored braid slide down on to the floor again. Staring at the fragile body, there was an explosion heard not to far off, which directed his attention to the door. He looked back towards the cell that contained the retaliator, only to be met by cobalt blue eyes glaring back at him. The face was smeared in red, the boy's own blood. His bangs were pasted to his forehead as sweat rolled down into the cuts that mixed with tears that were now slowly drying. Duo stood up again and walked to the back of the cell. He heaved a sigh and ran strait for the bars. On impact there was a crash heard. The door to the small room was flung open. The man looked from the still boy on the floor inside the last cell, to the incoming fist of a young girl with long blond hair and hazel eyes that glared at him with hatred. "Duo," Ann tried as she hurried over to Wufei's cell. She unlocked the others chambers until she reached the black clothed boys aid. "Duo," she tried again as she bent down over him. Duo rolled over and looked at Ann with his distorted vision. "Elizabeth?" he questioned, "No, Ann," Ann answered back, "don't worry Duo, Elizabeth," she paused, "will be fine." Swallowing hard, she thought back to the limp body of her friend on the ground in the next room surrounded by a pool of dark red spots of blood. "She's not, is she," Duo asked, looking at Ann strait in the eye. Ann sighed and looked off to the side, "what I thought," Duo sighed. Trowa had moved into Wufei's cell and helped the Chinese boy, as Quatre came in behind Ann to help Duo. They propped Duo on their shoulders and slowly moved into the next room where Heero was crouched by Elizabeth. "She's still breathing," Heero said as he saw Duo hobble over. Duo sat down next to the form of Elizabeth. "Elizabeth?" he said softly. He looked over the torn body. It was covered in blood, her clothes stained a darker color then their original state. His eyes made their way across the room to a body lying on the ground in a corner. *That must have been the interrogator* he thought, looking back down to the bruised body in front of him. The young girl slowly started to come around. "Hey, looks like you made it before I could help," she said, coughing once more, causing blood to spatter again onto her face. "Shh, don't talk, you've lost to much blood," Duo told her. He looked down to the wound on the right side of her chest. The clothes around the dark whole were incrusted with dried and new blood. Heero stood up, "Ann, we need to finish up with the plan," he reminded the girl sitting on the floor next to her dying friend. "Right," she slowly got up and turned towards Quatre. "Quatre, my name is Ann, this is Elizabeth," Quatre nodded his understanding; she continued, "There is a shuttle docked and ready for launch in the seventh hanger. Heero and I have to finish up exporting things in this base and finish our mission," she looked down towards Duo, "Please help transport them." Quatre immediately nodded, "C'mon Duo, lets go," he slowly tugged on Duo's arm. Duo yanked it away, "Not without Elizabeth." "Duo, you must go now. I'll get her, or Quatre can try to come back for her, if there's time," Ann said as she walked towards the door. "No, not if. She doesn't go, I don't," he stubbornly inputted. "Damn you Duo, go, live for my sake," Elizabeth coughed. Duo looked down to the dark brown orbs that shown back his reflection. "My pack is in the second hanger, remember? I have a cross in it. It's my good luck charm. Keep it," Duo nodded at Elizabeth, "Get going." He slowly stood up with Quatre's help, "I'll come back for you," Duo said as he was led out to the hallway, Trowa and Wufei following. "Huh, I'm alone again," Elizabeth smirked to herself, "Guess I will die alone." She closed her eyes and took a stressed breath.

A/N: Well?…….. -_-………. Hum-dee, please review!!! Thanx- Darken Angel