ST: Well??? (Turning beaming at the Boys)
Duo: (meakly) It's my turn to be picked on isn't it?
ST: BINGO! (ST runs over and glomps on him)
Duo: Why me??
Disclaimer: G-Wing isn't mine! Blah, blah…..
"What?!" Quatre's voice rang in fear, as he shuddered clutching the phone in a death white grip. "Are you sure?!"
"Sure as death." Duo said grimly, "Seri said that someone found the base, and now has access to the files of Project Anibus." He said, "The only reason I found out was because I forced her to tell me about it. Which she wasn't happy about."
"I can imagine." Quatre said grimly, Seraphine was always sensitive about her past. Never really opened up to anyone unless they poked their nose in. Unfortunately, that wasn't Quatre's style, much as he worried about her.
"Project Anibus." Quatre whispered, "Oz's attempt to play God and create weapons of mass destruction."
"Ah, yea." Duo said, but something in his voice caught Quatre's attention.
"There's more?" He asked.
"What? Oh, no!" Duo laughed uneasily. "Nothing."
Quatre's eyes furrowed, :He's hiding something.: Then he spoke again, "Seraphine's with you, isn't she?" He asked.
"Yea." He said, "After finding out what she was researching, I didn't think it wise to leave her alone."
"I don't need a babysitter!" Came the irritated reply, as Quatre smiled. She hadn't changed one bit.
:I'm sorry, Seraphine but I agree with Duo on this one.: He thought as his smile faded, :You've always gotten a little crazy anytime anyone mention Project Anibus.: He mused for a moment, :No, not crazy…desperate maybe? But we never understood why.:
"So anyways, we need to get moving on this one right away." Duo said.
"Right." Quatre said, "Where are you now?"
"Uh, England I think." Duo said as Quatre half smiled.
"It's Ireland!" Seraphine's pained irritated voice caused Quatre to smile again. He could almost picture the 'I'm going to ring your neck' glare she always gave Duo.
"Alright. Meet me a the Winner Foundation House in County Calre." He said, "I'll tell my people to be expecting you there."
"Huh?!" Duo asked surprised, "You have a office branch here?!"
Quatre smiled a little, "No, it was my mother's house that father build for her while she was alive."
"You sure about this?" Duo asked, "I mean…."
"It's alright, Duo." Quatre said with a gentle smile. "I'll meet you there in a day or so."
"Right." Duo said, as they said their good byes and hung up the phone.
Quatre sighed as he closed his eyes, when a deep voice startled him.
"Another mission, Master Quatre?" Rashid asked as Quatre looked down at the phone.
"Someone found the files on project Anubis." He said softly.
"No, it can't be!" Rashid said with wide eyes. "That project was pure evil form day one!"
Quatre straightened and looked at Rashid, his eyes clouded. "Seraphine was the one who found out that the files were missing." He said, as he closed his eyes. "I wish I knew her connection to that project!" He said as he balled his fists. "I know she was somehow connected to the Oz organization before she was chosen as a Gundam pilot." He said, "But…." He looked up at Rashid helplessly, "Rashid, there's something about her…."
Rashid nodded, "You sensed it too, Master Quatre." He replied, more statement than question.
Quatre nodded, "Seraphine has a secret." He said, "One that connects her to Project Anibus." He closed his eyes, as he covered his heart. "One that is tearing her heart apart."
Rashid smiled a little, "You are fond of Miss Seraphine?" He asked simply.
That brought Quatre up short, "Well of course!" Quatre said as he felt the blood creep into his cheeks, "She's saved my life more than once, and she is a Gundam pilot!" He said.
Rashid simply smiled a bit, "I shale tell the members of the Maganac to be ready to leave within the hour." He said as he bowed to Quatre a bit, and left the room.
Quatre watched him leave, his cheeks still flaming. :What's…what's wrong with me?: He thought as he clenched the fabric of his shirt tightly. :Why is my heart beating so fast?: He looked at the mirror, at himself and found a stranger looking back at him.
It had been three years since he had seen Seraphine, he had thought about her on and off over those three years and always the though of her brought a smile to his lips. Quatre had never before felt for a girl the way he had for Seraphine. As much as he had once loved Trowa Barton, he cared for Seraphine more.
:Trowa…: The though of the green eyed, Heavyarms pilot made his heart ache. That relationship had ended a year ago. He and Trowa had been dating for about two years, and on their second year anniversary, Trowa had wanted to take their relationship to the next level. Quatre hadn't been ready for that, as much as he loved Trowa it didn't feel…. right. Trowa was angry, and accused Quatre of not loving him enough. An argument ensued and resulted in Trowa slapping Quatre across the face and leaving without a word.
His eyes watered, :Still, two years later, it still hurts.: He thought, as he clutched his aching heart. Angrily he whipped the tears away, :No, I can't think about him right now. I have to stay focused.: Quatre said as he picked up the phone, :Seraphine needs my help, and I won't let her go off on another suicide mission because she thinks she has to fight all her battles alone!:
Suddenly a memory popped into his mind, one from three years ago.
"Just go!" Seraphine snarled at him, as she used the butt of the gun to try and push him away as she clutched her wounded leg in her other hand, blood spurting from between her fingers. "I'll just slow you down!"
"I won't!" Quatre snapped back angrily as he quickly pulled off his vest and began to wrap it around her wounded leg. "I will not leave you here!"
"Your damned valor is going to get you killed!" Seraphine snapped, "Oz soldiers are looking for us and one of us has to make it off this damned ship alive to tell the others!" She gripped the front of his shirt, her eyes boring into his "Think about the MISSION!"
Quatre looked at her, then his eyes firmed, "To hell with the mission!" He snapped back angrily "What? Do you think so little of your own self worth that people can just abandon you without any second thought?!" He demanded angrily.
Seraphine blinked in surprise, startled by his reaction. Then she spoke "That's… that's how it's been." She said softly, as Quatre's anger quickly deflated as she looked down to the gun. "That's how it's always been." She whispered, "I was designed to be a tool, a weapon…" She said softly, pain in her eyes. "When a weapon is broken, it's to be abandoned." She said sadness creeping into her voice.
"Seraphine…" Quatre whispered, never before had he seen her like this. The cool, cold solider, now…she looked almost like a child that was about to cry. Gently he cupped her face, startled she turned to him as he smiled at her. "You're not a weapon, Seraphine." He said, "You're a human being, and a friend." He said as he grasped one of her wrists and pulled it around his neck as he hoisted her to her feet, as she stared at him stunned. "And I'm not going to leave you here to die!" He said as he began moving again, "I'm not going to abandon you."
"Not now." Quatre said softly, as his lips firmed, "Not ever!"