Author's Notes: Shin's Voice reporting. I guess I'm feeling better now.
Hmmmm, must be the reviews, they work like magic, you know.....
Well, thanks for your comments, you're all nice pretty people. Love you all. Thanks, my dear pretty Li-chan for your get-well wishes. As always, your review is very important to me. Thanks to Chibi-sora, loyal reader who, I hope, stays with me until we get to make a nice end for this.
Thanks to Seito no Tenshi (hope it goes like this) and yes, I have realized you've been reviewing. Domo Arigato.
Thanks to XelloSalina. Darker? Gee, how am I going to do that?....wait and we'll see.
Thanks to Shireoki! Hi there, nice to see ya! (hugs Shirene) Welcome back!
Remember minna, your wishes are my commands. Any suggestions, ideas, you just gotta tell me. OH, and for the ones asking clues related to the Movie thing, well, let me see...
Ok, the movie that inspired this fic has the name of a Black Animal. Think a bit, a black animal ......and the protagonist was famous, but his father was even more famous. Both are dead since long ago....
And now, lets get started.
warnings: blood, violence, supernatural stuff, Dark fic.
"Beyond Life and Death"
By Shinigami's Voice.
-chapter seven-
Wufei stared at the blackness of space. Everything was so quiet. And silent. And sad.
The ship advanced, wrapped in some kind of dark aura that seemed to take on wherever the pilots were.
Just as the rebels' main ship, that seemed to be haunted by silence while they stayed there, this ship the commander of the rebel forces had put to their disposition seemed to also bear with that eerie hallo that the Gundam Pilots drag with them.
The hallo of desolation.
Their destination was the KWT Space Prison of the Rebel Agency, the place where sergeant M had been assassinated.
A sigh escaped from the lips of the Chinese boy, as he leaned his forehead against the cool crystal of the window.
'Everything is so....wrong' -he thought sadly- 'Everything'
When he pulled back, he let his eyelids fall slowly. So slowly, that he caught a glimpse of the image staring back at him.
A pale face stained with crimson blood. A glimpse of violet.
Wufei's face contorted in an expression of fear as he opened his eyes again and backed off the window, almost falling from his seat.
"Wufei?" -Trowa's soft voice spoke from the European's place, just some meters in front of him.
The Asian boy turned to look at the tall pilot, black eyes wide in confusion. But he remained silent.
Instead of answering, the 05 pilot turned to stare at the window again, his glance searching the crystal in front of him.
But the reflection showed nothing else than Wufei's own face. Nothing else.
"Wufei?" -Trowa called again.
"It's nothing. I just thought.....I thought I saw something......it's nothing....." -the Chinese boy replied, his tone not quite sure.
"I saw it too" -Trowa suddenly said, looking at his feet.
"What.....What are you talking about?" -Wufei asked, his voice surprised.
"I have seen it every day since then.......every time I close my eyes....every night.....I see him too" -Trowa mused softly, his hands griping at the seat's arms, as in pain.
A pain that would never disappear.
Wufei nodded sadly, perfectly understanding.
"How's Quatre?" -he asked after a while, trying to avoid more tears.
"He's sleeping. Or at least trying" -Trowa answered with a sigh- "I left him in his room like an hour ago. He still seems very tired, but slowly, he's recovering strength"
"And Heero?" -Wufei asked in soft voice.
Trowa shrugged.
"Distant. He also seems to be very exhausted, but his training is somehow helping him to block out the situation. Or at least I think so"
"You know it's difficult for him, Trowa" -Wufei replied some seconds later- "He thinks he is the one to blame for.......for this.." -the black-haired boy muttered.
"But he's wrong.....we're all guilty" -Trowa said, looking down- "Not only Heero...... all of us......"
******
The quiet steps were the only sound in the halls of the ship.
The person continued his way some seconds more, but then, he stopped and leaned against the metallic wall.
Heero was so tired.
His sleep was scarce, and when he did sleep, the ghost that came to haunt his dreams was each time stronger, more constant, more real........
The Japanese boy closed his eyes, breathing deeply. Looking for inner calm, inner strength, inner...oblivion.
'Blank.....blank.....blank......blank.....just silence...just silence.....no sounds....no shadow.......no voices.....no laughter.....no laughter......and I miss it....I miss his...no! .....not again.....blank.....blank.......'
However, no matter how much he repeated that to himself, that soft whisper didn't go away.
That blurry image of the incoming shadow didn't go away.
That guilt disguised with amethyst eyes didn't go away.
[ Half asleep I hear a voice.....
Is it only in my mind? ......
Or is it someone calling me? ......
Someone I failed.....and left behind.......]
"Someone I failed.....and left behind" -Heero murmured- "And keeps haunting me....for my crime......and says........"
'Why? ........Why, Heero? ..........You do know ..... It was........your.......fault......'
The whisper repeated at 01's ears, making him tremble. His hands became fists, trying to stop the shaking, but it was in vain. The whisper kept coming at every minute.
And suddenly......a step. The sound of a step.
Heero heard it, and he froze when, after a second, another step sounded close to him.
'It's just an illusion' -the Japanese boy said to convince himself- ' I won't turn to look at it. It's useless....there's nothing there....'
But, how strange enough, the sound repeated itself. This time closer, stronger.
Two more steps towards Heero.
'I won't turn....I won't turn....I don't want to......don't want to look at ...him.....not again.......' -the boy breathed heavily, fearing the image drawing closer to him.
Those lifeless amethyst eyes, staring at him, silently screaming and blaming him.
Heero started as a cool hand was placed on his shoulder.
"Come, Heero. Lets rest a bit" -Quatre said softly.
The Wing pilot turned his blue eyes at the person. It was just Quatre. There was no haunting ghost.
There was no haunting ghost.....yet.
**********
"Gundam Pilots, welcomed. The Agency and all its members want to express you our condolences for the loss of your outstanding pilot and comrade" -the Intelligence Officer said formally, as he saluted the four youngsters in front of him- "His service for peace will be remembered and honored"
Quatre sighed almost imperceptibly. He was supposed to handle the manners on behalf of the others.
"Thanks, Officer. We appreciate your gesture" -he answered, his voice lacking any real gratitude.
"This way, please" -the Officer leaded the way through the station that was arranged as a high security prison until they reached the computers room.
"Have you found any new data about the responsible of the murder?" -Heero asked as the officer displayed some pictures.
"This is a list of the possible groups that have recently threatened the A.G. prisoners" -the man answered.
The list was formed by at least 25 names, some were individuals and others belonged to rebel fractions.
"After further investigation, we have reduced the list of possible authors of this crime" the man added, as the list changed, showing just 6 names- "All these fractions have clearly threatened the prisoners and have promised to take revenge for the pilot's death....."
"What?" -Trowa asked the single world.
"Yes. We received their letters since the A.G. capture" -the officer replied- "All these rebel fractions worked with Gundam 02 in some mission or were saved by 02 at some time during war. Three of their leaders seem to have had personal acquaintance with the pilot"
The screen displayed a message from one of the rebel leaders. Some of the lines of the message read:
'......for we won't stay passive before such crime. Pilot 02 will be avenged by the deaths of his killers. We join to the collective grief such a cherished young man's death means for all of us, who had the high honor to fight side by side with him.........'
"However, even with this evidence, we cannot formulate any accusations, since we don't have firm proofs in the crime's scene" -the taller man said, his eyebrows furrowed in some confused expression.
"No firm proofs?" -Wufei asked.
"Actually, any useful proof" -the officer admitted- "We don't have any digital prints, no suspicious object, no footprints, no witnesses......."
"What about the cell's tape?" -Quatre questioned.
"The cell's tape shows every day of the prisoner's permanence here, except the last 15 minutes. After that, it pictures the body bleeding, the sergeant already dead"
"Was the video room forced, or the camera disconnected?" -Heero asked after a pause.
"No. Everything was in perfect order. The tape just....blackens. Like if everything had gone......dark. There's no image and no sound."
The pilots turned to study the images of the murder scene for a moment.
The way the woman had been killed was horrific.
"What about the blood on the cell's wall?" -Trowa said as his green glance was fixed in the letters.
"It's still being investigated. But we already know it's not Sergeant M's blood. Her blood just surrounds her body, while the inscriptions on the walls don't match it."
"Nearly two days from the assassination and you still haven't identified the blood?" -Heero said with some degree of disbelief.
"Well.....it should have taken us no more than 6 hours to do so, but it may sound incredible..but we just can't find any record or type that matches this blood samples" -the man cringed at the hard blue glance of 01.
"Officer.....officer" -Quatre called. The blond pilot lifted his hand and pointed to the other screen, the one which showed the first list of possible authors- "Our names are on the list" -the Neo-Arabic said, blinking surprised.
The other three pilots turned to look at it again.
The four code names of the Gundam Pilots were, indeed, on the list.
"As I told you, this list was made as a....prototype, to put it that way. And, well, you also have strong reasons that relate you with the crime" -the Officer explained, a bit fearful.
The four young men looked at him for a moment, but they said nothing.
It was no lie. They had strong reasons to wish the A.G. deaths.
Stronger than any other person.
"What about the other two torturers?" -Wufei asked, changing the subject.
"They are being held prisoners in two different stations, but not very far from our location. I already sent a message in order to prevent another murder and increase the security in those two stations. We do believe the assassin will try to repeat the crime........"
"Sir! Sir!" -a cadet burst into the room, nearly breathless. He stopped in his tracks as he looked at everyone in the room- "Sir! Pilots!" -he said, saluting respectfully.
"Yes, cadet?" -the officer asked.
"I have a message for you, from KXT Space Prison, Sir" -the young soldier answered, eyeing the pilots a bit nervously.
"Good. I was expecting it. Is the report from the Officer in charge about the security implementations?"
"Not exactly, Sir" -the cadet replied- "It's an urgent message about....commander A's assassination......"
"What??!" -the Officer looked at the cadet totally confused.
The cadet fidgeted nervously, as he also could feel the eyes of the pilots on him.
"It arrived some minutes ago. It's the report about the murder of Commander A from the Agony Group. According with the message, it took place almost two hours ago...Here's the information, Sir" -the soldier presented the disk.
Some seconds later, the message was running on the screen.
"It's ..........almost the same" -the officer murmured, his eyes wide as they contemplated the images from the cell.
The body of a tall, dark blond man was spread on the floor covered in blood.
Again, there was a bullet wound in his chest.
His lower abdomen had been peeled, the scratched skin presenting the numbers 02.
His face presented bruises and cuts, as if he had been hit against the rough surfaces of the cell.
Most suspicious than everything else, his fingers had been broken, one by one, in each one of his two hands.
"The wall" -Quatre murmured, as the image pictured the same bloody words of before. Vengeance. Blood paid with blood.
"Hmm....Sir....Sir" -the cadet called- "The KXT prison is also investigating the blood samples, and......the results seem to coincide....but....."
"Are the results here?" -the Officer turned to look at the nervous and unsure soldier.
"Yes. Both investigations coincide that the samples.......they match Pilot 02's blood..."
The four Gundam Pilots remained silent, their expressions mixed with surprise and bewilderment.
Heero felt his breath falter. Suddenly, his chest was constricted in pain, as if some incredible weight had been placed on it.
He blinked several times, trying to shake the painful sensation, but it didn't disappeared.
It was there. Cold and real.
Pressing against his skin, a cold hand that seemed to try to strangulate him.
His own hand lifted at his heart's height, as his eyes stared down at the cold object that was incrusting against his flesh. As if trying to hurt him.
A silver cross.
"Heero?" -Trowa's voice sounded distant, as the 01 pilot stumbled back, his eyes closing, breathing rapidly.
"Heero!" -Quatre exclaimed, and was the last thing the Japanese boy heard, before he fell unconscious to the floor.
To Be Continued.....
A/N: Please R&R. Next chapter brings more revelations. The song? It's The Phantom's Theme, by Paul Williams. Leave me a comment, onegai.
Well, thanks for your comments, you're all nice pretty people. Love you all. Thanks, my dear pretty Li-chan for your get-well wishes. As always, your review is very important to me. Thanks to Chibi-sora, loyal reader who, I hope, stays with me until we get to make a nice end for this.
Thanks to Seito no Tenshi (hope it goes like this) and yes, I have realized you've been reviewing. Domo Arigato.
Thanks to XelloSalina. Darker? Gee, how am I going to do that?....wait and we'll see.
Thanks to Shireoki! Hi there, nice to see ya! (hugs Shirene) Welcome back!
Remember minna, your wishes are my commands. Any suggestions, ideas, you just gotta tell me. OH, and for the ones asking clues related to the Movie thing, well, let me see...
Ok, the movie that inspired this fic has the name of a Black Animal. Think a bit, a black animal ......and the protagonist was famous, but his father was even more famous. Both are dead since long ago....
And now, lets get started.
warnings: blood, violence, supernatural stuff, Dark fic.
"Beyond Life and Death"
By Shinigami's Voice.
-chapter seven-
Wufei stared at the blackness of space. Everything was so quiet. And silent. And sad.
The ship advanced, wrapped in some kind of dark aura that seemed to take on wherever the pilots were.
Just as the rebels' main ship, that seemed to be haunted by silence while they stayed there, this ship the commander of the rebel forces had put to their disposition seemed to also bear with that eerie hallo that the Gundam Pilots drag with them.
The hallo of desolation.
Their destination was the KWT Space Prison of the Rebel Agency, the place where sergeant M had been assassinated.
A sigh escaped from the lips of the Chinese boy, as he leaned his forehead against the cool crystal of the window.
'Everything is so....wrong' -he thought sadly- 'Everything'
When he pulled back, he let his eyelids fall slowly. So slowly, that he caught a glimpse of the image staring back at him.
A pale face stained with crimson blood. A glimpse of violet.
Wufei's face contorted in an expression of fear as he opened his eyes again and backed off the window, almost falling from his seat.
"Wufei?" -Trowa's soft voice spoke from the European's place, just some meters in front of him.
The Asian boy turned to look at the tall pilot, black eyes wide in confusion. But he remained silent.
Instead of answering, the 05 pilot turned to stare at the window again, his glance searching the crystal in front of him.
But the reflection showed nothing else than Wufei's own face. Nothing else.
"Wufei?" -Trowa called again.
"It's nothing. I just thought.....I thought I saw something......it's nothing....." -the Chinese boy replied, his tone not quite sure.
"I saw it too" -Trowa suddenly said, looking at his feet.
"What.....What are you talking about?" -Wufei asked, his voice surprised.
"I have seen it every day since then.......every time I close my eyes....every night.....I see him too" -Trowa mused softly, his hands griping at the seat's arms, as in pain.
A pain that would never disappear.
Wufei nodded sadly, perfectly understanding.
"How's Quatre?" -he asked after a while, trying to avoid more tears.
"He's sleeping. Or at least trying" -Trowa answered with a sigh- "I left him in his room like an hour ago. He still seems very tired, but slowly, he's recovering strength"
"And Heero?" -Wufei asked in soft voice.
Trowa shrugged.
"Distant. He also seems to be very exhausted, but his training is somehow helping him to block out the situation. Or at least I think so"
"You know it's difficult for him, Trowa" -Wufei replied some seconds later- "He thinks he is the one to blame for.......for this.." -the black-haired boy muttered.
"But he's wrong.....we're all guilty" -Trowa said, looking down- "Not only Heero...... all of us......"
******
The quiet steps were the only sound in the halls of the ship.
The person continued his way some seconds more, but then, he stopped and leaned against the metallic wall.
Heero was so tired.
His sleep was scarce, and when he did sleep, the ghost that came to haunt his dreams was each time stronger, more constant, more real........
The Japanese boy closed his eyes, breathing deeply. Looking for inner calm, inner strength, inner...oblivion.
'Blank.....blank.....blank......blank.....just silence...just silence.....no sounds....no shadow.......no voices.....no laughter.....no laughter......and I miss it....I miss his...no! .....not again.....blank.....blank.......'
However, no matter how much he repeated that to himself, that soft whisper didn't go away.
That blurry image of the incoming shadow didn't go away.
That guilt disguised with amethyst eyes didn't go away.
[ Half asleep I hear a voice.....
Is it only in my mind? ......
Or is it someone calling me? ......
Someone I failed.....and left behind.......]
"Someone I failed.....and left behind" -Heero murmured- "And keeps haunting me....for my crime......and says........"
'Why? ........Why, Heero? ..........You do know ..... It was........your.......fault......'
The whisper repeated at 01's ears, making him tremble. His hands became fists, trying to stop the shaking, but it was in vain. The whisper kept coming at every minute.
And suddenly......a step. The sound of a step.
Heero heard it, and he froze when, after a second, another step sounded close to him.
'It's just an illusion' -the Japanese boy said to convince himself- ' I won't turn to look at it. It's useless....there's nothing there....'
But, how strange enough, the sound repeated itself. This time closer, stronger.
Two more steps towards Heero.
'I won't turn....I won't turn....I don't want to......don't want to look at ...him.....not again.......' -the boy breathed heavily, fearing the image drawing closer to him.
Those lifeless amethyst eyes, staring at him, silently screaming and blaming him.
Heero started as a cool hand was placed on his shoulder.
"Come, Heero. Lets rest a bit" -Quatre said softly.
The Wing pilot turned his blue eyes at the person. It was just Quatre. There was no haunting ghost.
There was no haunting ghost.....yet.
**********
"Gundam Pilots, welcomed. The Agency and all its members want to express you our condolences for the loss of your outstanding pilot and comrade" -the Intelligence Officer said formally, as he saluted the four youngsters in front of him- "His service for peace will be remembered and honored"
Quatre sighed almost imperceptibly. He was supposed to handle the manners on behalf of the others.
"Thanks, Officer. We appreciate your gesture" -he answered, his voice lacking any real gratitude.
"This way, please" -the Officer leaded the way through the station that was arranged as a high security prison until they reached the computers room.
"Have you found any new data about the responsible of the murder?" -Heero asked as the officer displayed some pictures.
"This is a list of the possible groups that have recently threatened the A.G. prisoners" -the man answered.
The list was formed by at least 25 names, some were individuals and others belonged to rebel fractions.
"After further investigation, we have reduced the list of possible authors of this crime" the man added, as the list changed, showing just 6 names- "All these fractions have clearly threatened the prisoners and have promised to take revenge for the pilot's death....."
"What?" -Trowa asked the single world.
"Yes. We received their letters since the A.G. capture" -the officer replied- "All these rebel fractions worked with Gundam 02 in some mission or were saved by 02 at some time during war. Three of their leaders seem to have had personal acquaintance with the pilot"
The screen displayed a message from one of the rebel leaders. Some of the lines of the message read:
'......for we won't stay passive before such crime. Pilot 02 will be avenged by the deaths of his killers. We join to the collective grief such a cherished young man's death means for all of us, who had the high honor to fight side by side with him.........'
"However, even with this evidence, we cannot formulate any accusations, since we don't have firm proofs in the crime's scene" -the taller man said, his eyebrows furrowed in some confused expression.
"No firm proofs?" -Wufei asked.
"Actually, any useful proof" -the officer admitted- "We don't have any digital prints, no suspicious object, no footprints, no witnesses......."
"What about the cell's tape?" -Quatre questioned.
"The cell's tape shows every day of the prisoner's permanence here, except the last 15 minutes. After that, it pictures the body bleeding, the sergeant already dead"
"Was the video room forced, or the camera disconnected?" -Heero asked after a pause.
"No. Everything was in perfect order. The tape just....blackens. Like if everything had gone......dark. There's no image and no sound."
The pilots turned to study the images of the murder scene for a moment.
The way the woman had been killed was horrific.
"What about the blood on the cell's wall?" -Trowa said as his green glance was fixed in the letters.
"It's still being investigated. But we already know it's not Sergeant M's blood. Her blood just surrounds her body, while the inscriptions on the walls don't match it."
"Nearly two days from the assassination and you still haven't identified the blood?" -Heero said with some degree of disbelief.
"Well.....it should have taken us no more than 6 hours to do so, but it may sound incredible..but we just can't find any record or type that matches this blood samples" -the man cringed at the hard blue glance of 01.
"Officer.....officer" -Quatre called. The blond pilot lifted his hand and pointed to the other screen, the one which showed the first list of possible authors- "Our names are on the list" -the Neo-Arabic said, blinking surprised.
The other three pilots turned to look at it again.
The four code names of the Gundam Pilots were, indeed, on the list.
"As I told you, this list was made as a....prototype, to put it that way. And, well, you also have strong reasons that relate you with the crime" -the Officer explained, a bit fearful.
The four young men looked at him for a moment, but they said nothing.
It was no lie. They had strong reasons to wish the A.G. deaths.
Stronger than any other person.
"What about the other two torturers?" -Wufei asked, changing the subject.
"They are being held prisoners in two different stations, but not very far from our location. I already sent a message in order to prevent another murder and increase the security in those two stations. We do believe the assassin will try to repeat the crime........"
"Sir! Sir!" -a cadet burst into the room, nearly breathless. He stopped in his tracks as he looked at everyone in the room- "Sir! Pilots!" -he said, saluting respectfully.
"Yes, cadet?" -the officer asked.
"I have a message for you, from KXT Space Prison, Sir" -the young soldier answered, eyeing the pilots a bit nervously.
"Good. I was expecting it. Is the report from the Officer in charge about the security implementations?"
"Not exactly, Sir" -the cadet replied- "It's an urgent message about....commander A's assassination......"
"What??!" -the Officer looked at the cadet totally confused.
The cadet fidgeted nervously, as he also could feel the eyes of the pilots on him.
"It arrived some minutes ago. It's the report about the murder of Commander A from the Agony Group. According with the message, it took place almost two hours ago...Here's the information, Sir" -the soldier presented the disk.
Some seconds later, the message was running on the screen.
"It's ..........almost the same" -the officer murmured, his eyes wide as they contemplated the images from the cell.
The body of a tall, dark blond man was spread on the floor covered in blood.
Again, there was a bullet wound in his chest.
His lower abdomen had been peeled, the scratched skin presenting the numbers 02.
His face presented bruises and cuts, as if he had been hit against the rough surfaces of the cell.
Most suspicious than everything else, his fingers had been broken, one by one, in each one of his two hands.
"The wall" -Quatre murmured, as the image pictured the same bloody words of before. Vengeance. Blood paid with blood.
"Hmm....Sir....Sir" -the cadet called- "The KXT prison is also investigating the blood samples, and......the results seem to coincide....but....."
"Are the results here?" -the Officer turned to look at the nervous and unsure soldier.
"Yes. Both investigations coincide that the samples.......they match Pilot 02's blood..."
The four Gundam Pilots remained silent, their expressions mixed with surprise and bewilderment.
Heero felt his breath falter. Suddenly, his chest was constricted in pain, as if some incredible weight had been placed on it.
He blinked several times, trying to shake the painful sensation, but it didn't disappeared.
It was there. Cold and real.
Pressing against his skin, a cold hand that seemed to try to strangulate him.
His own hand lifted at his heart's height, as his eyes stared down at the cold object that was incrusting against his flesh. As if trying to hurt him.
A silver cross.
"Heero?" -Trowa's voice sounded distant, as the 01 pilot stumbled back, his eyes closing, breathing rapidly.
"Heero!" -Quatre exclaimed, and was the last thing the Japanese boy heard, before he fell unconscious to the floor.
To Be Continued.....
A/N: Please R&R. Next chapter brings more revelations. The song? It's The Phantom's Theme, by Paul Williams. Leave me a comment, onegai.