Author's Notes: Back to road. Shin's Voice here. Thanks for all your
comments.
You can be sure all of you are the reason why this fic is still running.
AnimePixieGirl: (I think I wrote it right.) Nope, sorry. That's not the movie I was talking about. Actually, I don't think I've heard about the one you told me. But thanks for trying.
Here's another clue, just because you asked me. Wish granted:
The protagonist of the movie (with a BLACK ANIMAL title) died while he was making one of the scenes. I think it was because one of the guns that fired against him had real bullets in its cartridge, but I'm not sure......Come on! I can't believe you don't know yet!
Well, lets go on with the story.
warnings: blood, violence, Dark fic.
"Beyond Life and Death"
by Shinigami's Voice
-chapter eight-
"Hey, Heero....Heero, are you okay?"
Quatre's concerned eyes appeared in view just some seconds after the Japanese pilot awoke in a white room.
"Nani?...Where..." -Heero murmured, as he pulled himself up from the bed.
"Back in the ship. We're in the ship" -Quatre answered, as he helped 01 to sit.
"What happened?" -Heero, clear confusion in his expression, asked.
"Well, I was about to ask you the same thing" -Quatre replied, as he poured some water in a cup and handed it to Heero- "You fainted while we were in the KXT prison. Remember?"
"Hn.......Hai" -the Wing pilot answered after a second, as he looked around the room.
"It was probably due to the lack of sleep and nourishment you have acquired during these.....last days" - the blond teen murmured, as he gently placed his right hand on top of the messy brown hair of the other boy.
Heero's eyes looked up at him, distant as usual, but didn't make any move of protest about the affectionate and supportive gesture of 04.
"And the others?" -he asked after a moment of silence.
"Trowa and Wufei had been here with us since your episode, but they left to the computer room to gather more information about the investigation of the crimes" -the Neo-Arabic explained.
"Why aren't we still in the KXT station?" -the blue-eyed soldier asked, taking the covers off him so he could stand up.
"Wait. Are you sure you're okay?" -Quatre tried to stop him- "You don't look very well...."
"You neither" -was the reply from 01.
"Guess you're right. None of us look pretty well lately" -the smaller pilot sighed, as he took hold of Heero's arm and helped him to stand.
"I'm fine" -Heero murmured, releasing his arm from the other's grasp.
The Japanese pilot gave some steps, making sure he was strong enough to walk.
"We left the station because, well, there was nothing more to investigate there" -Quatre said, answering the question of before- "We studied the report about Commander A's assassination. It is obviously the same murderer......."
"Hai. I remember" - Heero said, as the images of the body and the cell's inscription returned to his mind. Then, his memory brought back the last piece of data he heard.
"Quatre" -he called after a minute- "What about the blood sample?"
The fair-haired teen stayed silent for a moment, his Prussian eyes fixed on the wall.
"Trowa studied the sample too. And he also concluded the same thing" the blond pilot said almost in a whisper.
"Is it.....Duo's blood?" -Heero asked.
"Yes" -04 said, finally turning to look at him.
"Well, that's impossible. You probably made some mistake" -01 replied calmly.
"I wish that was true" -Quatre murmured, looking down.
"What are you talking about?" -Heero frowned, perfectly knowing 04 knew something else.
"I know it sounds impossible, Heero. I don't.....I don't know what to believe now.....but the results are right. The plague Duo survived affected his blood somehow, leaving tracks of that illness. And the blood on the walls coincide perfectly. It even has the same plague's sequels....."
Heero just stared at the Sandrock pilot for a full minute.
"What are you trying to say?" -he finally questioned.
"I'm not saying anything. I just.....I just don't know! It's...crazy" -the L4 pilot sighed.
Heero gave an almost non-existent sigh too, and leaned back on the metallic wall.
It was not only crazy, it was horrible. Whoever was doing this, wouldn't get away from them. How could anyone be so mentally disturbed to do such things and blame Duo on top of it?
'And blame Duo, who is dead' -Heero thought, as he let his face fall, his chin on his chest.
The cold, sacred cross penetrated his vision.
He remembered then.....
That it had been the cross......the cross was trying to.......
'NO! No!' -he mentally scolded himself- 'It wasn't the cross. It was just.....my imagination. That is. How could the cross harm me? It wasn't the cross. Because objects aren't alive......are they?'
Heero lifted his blue eyes, trying to stop the inner struggle he was getting involved in.
01 frowned slightly when his glance was fixed on Quatre, who was standing in front of him, though he was not looking at Heero.
The flaxen hair of the boy swayed as he looked around, his eyes confused and......scared.
"Quatre?" -he called.
04 practically jumped at his name. He looked at Heero and blinked.
"Oh, it's....it's nothing. I just thought that.....never mind. It's nothing" -he said, forcing a little smile.
"Hn." -Heero replied- "We better go and see what Trowa and Wufei have discovered" -he suggested, and started walking towards the gates.
"Yes, you're right"- 04 agreed and followed him.
But just a moment before exiting the room, the blond pilot turned and looked back, at the empty white room.
"I could almost swear......" -Quatre whispered- "That we aren't alone here......I could almost swear......I felt something here.....breathing...moving......staring......."
The moment the gates closed behind 04, a figure clad in black appeared, arms folded and leaning against one of the corners of the room.
"So you could almost swear......." -the figure murmured, straightening his back, his eyes staring at the gates, like if the pilots could still hear him.
Amethyst shadows closed, and the figure disappeared.
**********
"I've set the course for the Station, in order to investigate the case. They'll be expecting us in approximately....."
"Change the course" -Heero interrupted Trowa.
".." -the blank expression of 03 asked why.
"There's no point into studying the same murder scene. We have to go ahead of the criminal. Set the course for the station where Commander T is held. He is the next target" -the Wing pilot explained, as he took his seat in the room.
"Heero is right" -Wufei agreed- "We better head towards KYT prison. Once we are there, we'll be able to take care of the security by ourselves"
"Understood" -Trowa said, setting the new destination.
Quatre's sudden jump in his seat made the others turn to look at him.
"What was that?" -05 inquired.
"Uh...nothing" -the smaller pilot answered, but one of his hands lifted towards his left shoulder, while his glance averted from the others' eyes to look at the same spot.
"Quatre...." -Trowa said, his green eyes fixed worriedly on his friend.
"I just felt something. But I'm okay. I'm just a bit....err.....jumpy..it's nothing..." -04 mumbled, not making sense at all.
Quatre's hand lingered on his shoulder, trying his best not to tremble in front of the others. But he was sure.
Just some seconds before, a cold hand had griped his shoulder. Not he had just felt the strong grip, but his empathy had read, for an instant, another presence behind him.
But the fact was, that there was no one behind him. Just the four pilots, the four of them.
Why, then, his heart kept telling him.....there was a fifth presence there? .......
*******
"Gundam Pilots, your arrival takes us by surprise" - the Officer in charge leaded the youngsters into the main room of the station.
"Your prisoner is the main target for the author of the past murders. It was the most suitable decision to take, to come here in order to stop the criminal" -Trowa answered.
"We also think the next move of the assassin will take place here" -the officer replied- "We have taken our precautions. The security has been increased around the prisoner's area, and we have also increased the number of surveillance cameras. There's no place in this station not being recorded.."
The man explained while he showed in the main screen different images of the prison, the last one of T's cell.
"Does he know?" -Wufei asked, as they observed the A.G. officer in his cell.
The red-haired man was crouched in one of the room's corners, his head turning to look around every now and then, like a trapped animal.
"Yes" -the officer answered- "He hasn't slept since the first assassination. Rules obliged us to inform him about the risk"
"Has he informed about some possible authors? Any suspects about the serial killer?" -Quatre asked.
"Yes. A quite long list has been made. There are many people out there who want them dead. However, the characteristics of the crimes implied Pilot 02's death as the principal motive of the criminal"
The four pilots nodded.
"To tell you the truth, the A.G. was going to die, anyway. Their official Trial was going to take place around one month later. But the sentence was very well known for everyone......."
The officer in charge continued talking, as they headed out of the room.
"Though they were such cruel Oz agents, the Rebel Agency had planned a....less horrific death for them. Nothing similar of what this murderer is doing......And the prisoner guard Hamilton was surely going to be sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison........"
"This Station also holds the guard?" -Heero asked.
The four pilots remembered well guard Hamilton. He was the old Ozie who surrendered back in the ship where Duo was prisoner. In fact, guard Hamilton seemed to truly regret 02's death. He even cried for him.....
"Yes. He is held prisoner in the East area. You may also want to interrogate him after we pay a visit to Commander T. Though you probably know by now that T, being a torturer, won't answer your questions easily because......."
A brusque shaking of the station sent everyone to the floor and the lights started to flutter erratically.
"What's happening?!" -the officer asked to no one in particular, as he and the pilots used the wall to support themselves and stand up.
The moment the man said those words, the shaking stopped and the lights went back to normal.
The officer took his communicator and exchanged some words with the other rebel officers in the control's room.
"Everything is fine" -he said to the pilots some minutes later- "It seems there was a problem with the Station's stability, but it has been controlled"
Heero frowned slightly.
'How unusual....' -he thought, as he brushed his hair out of his eyes. He could feel his own forehead practically burning.
Since he woke up last day, he hadn't been feeling well. It seemed his body had broken into a fever, but the heat was becoming really unbearable by now.
Wufei let his black eyes wandered around the hall. Somehow, his warrior training was alerting him of a possible threat.
Trowa, the always-silent pilot, also observed the surroundings. He was almost sure his ears had picked a slight sound a moment ago.
'Footsteps? But....there's no one else here.....' -he mused in his mind.
Heero pressed his lips tightly together, barely controlling the widening of his eyes at the increasing pain.
'Impossible...' -he thought, faint fear creeping inside him- 'It's happening again.....'
His blue glance slipped down his own chest, halting in the exact spot where he knew the cross rested under his long sleeved shirt.
The silver cross dug against his flesh, as if it had transformed into a crystal cross. A sharp crystal cross.
"The prisoner!!" -Quatre suddenly exclaimed.
"What?" -the officer replied at the suddenly agitated pilot.
"T! The Commander!! He has been...."
The blond teen didn't finish the sentence, when everyone's eyes lit up in understanding, and they started to run towards the A.G. cell.
"Open the cell! Open the cell!" -the officer practically screamed at the rebels guarding T's place.
"But, Sir, what's happening? What's happening?" -one of the guards inquired, clearly surprised.
"Just open the doors!" -the officer replied.
"Yes, sir!" -the other replied, as he opened the electric gates- "But everything is in order, Sir. No one has come near here. We've been guarding and everything is......"
The young rebel halted in middle word, when he and the others stared at the cell's interior.
The floor was covered in crimson liquid, as well as the walls.
..........VENGEANCE.........
The red droplets were still slipping down the rough surface, where the word had been painted.
Commander T's body was thrown in the middle of a blood pool, his lifeless yellow eyes wide open in fear.
Dozens of scalpels were incrusted along his body. In his arms, legs, abdomen and chest.
One of the young guards covered his mouth with his hand, backing off. The other turned around and hurriedly exited the room, his eyes wide and disturbed.
T's face had been slashed as well. Both of his cheeks presented deep, open wounds. The fresh blood was still running down the corpse's face.
"It's just like....." -Wufei gulped, not able to say more.
The wounds were just like Duo's. But far much worse.
"Damn it!" -the officer finally woke up from his stupor- "How could the killer penetrate our defense? The guards didn't even moved from the doors! How could he enter the cell?! I don't understand!"
"He's still here" -Trowa suddenly said- "The blood is still warm. This happened when the lights started to flicker. The assassin is probably in the Station....."
Heero nodded, absently staring at the corpse.
His breathing was starting to come out in pants, due to the weight on his chest. His right hand came up to grasp the silver object, trying to pull it away from his skin.
He didn't understand why, but he couldn't bear with it anymore. It was painful, the cross was hurting him. His hand pulled the cross up, but then halted.
'But it's Duo's cross. How could I......how could I take it off......if Duo gave it to me......I can't.....'
And Heero let the cross rest again, hanging from his neck, as his hand released it and lowered to his side. He couldn't take it off.
Quatre whirled on his feet, his Prussian eyes fixed on the open doors, but his empathy staring far away from them. Penetrating them.
The assassin was there.
He could feel him. He could feel his breath, his steps, his every move...
He could almost see.......a smile on his pale face.......shadows of violet that also turned to see him......
"He's here!!" -the blond pilot said, his expression in total disbelief at the sight his empathy gave him.
And the ship shook again, the lights trembling one more time during scarce seconds.
"Hamilton! The old guard!!" -the officer said aloud, and they all started to run towards the east area.
"We're not going to make it in time!!" -Wufei murmured in their dash.
"Almost there!" -the officer replied as they turned another corner, facing another row of cells.
For their surprise, the cell's doors were open, but no one was in sight in the hall.
When the four pilots and the officer stepped into the room, they were all even more surprised.
The old guard was alive.
Hamilton was sitting against the wall, his brown eyes impossibly wide. There was no blood, no inscription, no wounds. No murder.
The old man turned to look at the pilots, tears suddenly flowing from his eyes.
"He...he was here....." -the man's voice trembled uncontrollably.
The officer kneeled beside him, confirming the prisoner was still cuffed.
"What happened? Answer now!" -the rebel officer shook the man by the shoulders.
But the old guard didn't turn to look at him. His glance was locked in the pilots in front of him.
"The....the.......kid......" -he murmured.
The four set of eyes widened at that. It couldn't be......
"The...kid........he was here......."
"Which kid? What are you talking about?" -the officer asked exasperated.
"The kid....he's not dead.....but he isn't alive either......" -Hamilton replied, his teeth clattering in fear.
"Did you see him? Did you see his face?" -the officer questioned, but the man was still trembling, totally scared.- "Listen up, prisoner! Put yourself together and answer me!!" -the rebel ordered.
Hamilton gulped, but nodded. He took deep breaths, trying to calm.
"I......no, I didn't see him, or his face" -he whispered at last.
"How do you know it was a kid, then?" -the officer inquired.
"He was....was all dressed in black......and his head was hidden...I didn't see his face......but..." -the man stammered, his stare suddenly fixed in Heero's blue eyes- "But he talked to me......and I can swear it was him.....the kid....."
"What did the killer tell you?" -the rebel asked in surprise.
"He said.....his vengeance wasn't completed yet...." -Hamilton gulped again- "There are more people who were going to pay blood with blood..he said that.....yes, he said that....." -the guard's hands twitched in fear as he recalled the scene- "But not me. He said not me.....he told me...he knew I tried to help him.......not me.....but other people.....he said other traitors will pay.....traitors, he said that.......soon, other traitors........."
And the man broke down in loud cry, hiding his face with his hands.
The officer shook his head in disbelief, as he called through his communicator more soldiers.
"Yes, tell the doctors to prepare a tranquilizer"- and the man turned the device off- "We'll take him to the clinic. He's clearly gone insane" -the officer said to the Pilots and then turned to look at the crying guard again.
Some moments later, Hamilton was being taken out in a stretcher, still murmuring.
The Officer in charge left the room, talking to other rebel soldiers. He obviously didn't believe any of the guard's words.
But the four Gundam Pilots remained in the cell, in total silence.
Could they believe? Did they believe?
A red droplet suddenly fell next to Trowa's feet. The European lifted his glance to the room's roof.
"Look" -he murmured, his voice sounding very agitated.
When the other three turned their eyes upwards, they found a clear message there.
Painted on the roof's surface, written in blood, another inscription.
........SOON.......TRAITORS WILL PAY.......
To Be Continued.......
A/N: Please R&R. This fic has just two or three chapters more to go. Stay with me and leave a comment please.
You can be sure all of you are the reason why this fic is still running.
AnimePixieGirl: (I think I wrote it right.) Nope, sorry. That's not the movie I was talking about. Actually, I don't think I've heard about the one you told me. But thanks for trying.
Here's another clue, just because you asked me. Wish granted:
The protagonist of the movie (with a BLACK ANIMAL title) died while he was making one of the scenes. I think it was because one of the guns that fired against him had real bullets in its cartridge, but I'm not sure......Come on! I can't believe you don't know yet!
Well, lets go on with the story.
warnings: blood, violence, Dark fic.
"Beyond Life and Death"
by Shinigami's Voice
-chapter eight-
"Hey, Heero....Heero, are you okay?"
Quatre's concerned eyes appeared in view just some seconds after the Japanese pilot awoke in a white room.
"Nani?...Where..." -Heero murmured, as he pulled himself up from the bed.
"Back in the ship. We're in the ship" -Quatre answered, as he helped 01 to sit.
"What happened?" -Heero, clear confusion in his expression, asked.
"Well, I was about to ask you the same thing" -Quatre replied, as he poured some water in a cup and handed it to Heero- "You fainted while we were in the KXT prison. Remember?"
"Hn.......Hai" -the Wing pilot answered after a second, as he looked around the room.
"It was probably due to the lack of sleep and nourishment you have acquired during these.....last days" - the blond teen murmured, as he gently placed his right hand on top of the messy brown hair of the other boy.
Heero's eyes looked up at him, distant as usual, but didn't make any move of protest about the affectionate and supportive gesture of 04.
"And the others?" -he asked after a moment of silence.
"Trowa and Wufei had been here with us since your episode, but they left to the computer room to gather more information about the investigation of the crimes" -the Neo-Arabic explained.
"Why aren't we still in the KXT station?" -the blue-eyed soldier asked, taking the covers off him so he could stand up.
"Wait. Are you sure you're okay?" -Quatre tried to stop him- "You don't look very well...."
"You neither" -was the reply from 01.
"Guess you're right. None of us look pretty well lately" -the smaller pilot sighed, as he took hold of Heero's arm and helped him to stand.
"I'm fine" -Heero murmured, releasing his arm from the other's grasp.
The Japanese pilot gave some steps, making sure he was strong enough to walk.
"We left the station because, well, there was nothing more to investigate there" -Quatre said, answering the question of before- "We studied the report about Commander A's assassination. It is obviously the same murderer......."
"Hai. I remember" - Heero said, as the images of the body and the cell's inscription returned to his mind. Then, his memory brought back the last piece of data he heard.
"Quatre" -he called after a minute- "What about the blood sample?"
The fair-haired teen stayed silent for a moment, his Prussian eyes fixed on the wall.
"Trowa studied the sample too. And he also concluded the same thing" the blond pilot said almost in a whisper.
"Is it.....Duo's blood?" -Heero asked.
"Yes" -04 said, finally turning to look at him.
"Well, that's impossible. You probably made some mistake" -01 replied calmly.
"I wish that was true" -Quatre murmured, looking down.
"What are you talking about?" -Heero frowned, perfectly knowing 04 knew something else.
"I know it sounds impossible, Heero. I don't.....I don't know what to believe now.....but the results are right. The plague Duo survived affected his blood somehow, leaving tracks of that illness. And the blood on the walls coincide perfectly. It even has the same plague's sequels....."
Heero just stared at the Sandrock pilot for a full minute.
"What are you trying to say?" -he finally questioned.
"I'm not saying anything. I just.....I just don't know! It's...crazy" -the L4 pilot sighed.
Heero gave an almost non-existent sigh too, and leaned back on the metallic wall.
It was not only crazy, it was horrible. Whoever was doing this, wouldn't get away from them. How could anyone be so mentally disturbed to do such things and blame Duo on top of it?
'And blame Duo, who is dead' -Heero thought, as he let his face fall, his chin on his chest.
The cold, sacred cross penetrated his vision.
He remembered then.....
That it had been the cross......the cross was trying to.......
'NO! No!' -he mentally scolded himself- 'It wasn't the cross. It was just.....my imagination. That is. How could the cross harm me? It wasn't the cross. Because objects aren't alive......are they?'
Heero lifted his blue eyes, trying to stop the inner struggle he was getting involved in.
01 frowned slightly when his glance was fixed on Quatre, who was standing in front of him, though he was not looking at Heero.
The flaxen hair of the boy swayed as he looked around, his eyes confused and......scared.
"Quatre?" -he called.
04 practically jumped at his name. He looked at Heero and blinked.
"Oh, it's....it's nothing. I just thought that.....never mind. It's nothing" -he said, forcing a little smile.
"Hn." -Heero replied- "We better go and see what Trowa and Wufei have discovered" -he suggested, and started walking towards the gates.
"Yes, you're right"- 04 agreed and followed him.
But just a moment before exiting the room, the blond pilot turned and looked back, at the empty white room.
"I could almost swear......" -Quatre whispered- "That we aren't alone here......I could almost swear......I felt something here.....breathing...moving......staring......."
The moment the gates closed behind 04, a figure clad in black appeared, arms folded and leaning against one of the corners of the room.
"So you could almost swear......." -the figure murmured, straightening his back, his eyes staring at the gates, like if the pilots could still hear him.
Amethyst shadows closed, and the figure disappeared.
**********
"I've set the course for the Station, in order to investigate the case. They'll be expecting us in approximately....."
"Change the course" -Heero interrupted Trowa.
".." -the blank expression of 03 asked why.
"There's no point into studying the same murder scene. We have to go ahead of the criminal. Set the course for the station where Commander T is held. He is the next target" -the Wing pilot explained, as he took his seat in the room.
"Heero is right" -Wufei agreed- "We better head towards KYT prison. Once we are there, we'll be able to take care of the security by ourselves"
"Understood" -Trowa said, setting the new destination.
Quatre's sudden jump in his seat made the others turn to look at him.
"What was that?" -05 inquired.
"Uh...nothing" -the smaller pilot answered, but one of his hands lifted towards his left shoulder, while his glance averted from the others' eyes to look at the same spot.
"Quatre...." -Trowa said, his green eyes fixed worriedly on his friend.
"I just felt something. But I'm okay. I'm just a bit....err.....jumpy..it's nothing..." -04 mumbled, not making sense at all.
Quatre's hand lingered on his shoulder, trying his best not to tremble in front of the others. But he was sure.
Just some seconds before, a cold hand had griped his shoulder. Not he had just felt the strong grip, but his empathy had read, for an instant, another presence behind him.
But the fact was, that there was no one behind him. Just the four pilots, the four of them.
Why, then, his heart kept telling him.....there was a fifth presence there? .......
*******
"Gundam Pilots, your arrival takes us by surprise" - the Officer in charge leaded the youngsters into the main room of the station.
"Your prisoner is the main target for the author of the past murders. It was the most suitable decision to take, to come here in order to stop the criminal" -Trowa answered.
"We also think the next move of the assassin will take place here" -the officer replied- "We have taken our precautions. The security has been increased around the prisoner's area, and we have also increased the number of surveillance cameras. There's no place in this station not being recorded.."
The man explained while he showed in the main screen different images of the prison, the last one of T's cell.
"Does he know?" -Wufei asked, as they observed the A.G. officer in his cell.
The red-haired man was crouched in one of the room's corners, his head turning to look around every now and then, like a trapped animal.
"Yes" -the officer answered- "He hasn't slept since the first assassination. Rules obliged us to inform him about the risk"
"Has he informed about some possible authors? Any suspects about the serial killer?" -Quatre asked.
"Yes. A quite long list has been made. There are many people out there who want them dead. However, the characteristics of the crimes implied Pilot 02's death as the principal motive of the criminal"
The four pilots nodded.
"To tell you the truth, the A.G. was going to die, anyway. Their official Trial was going to take place around one month later. But the sentence was very well known for everyone......."
The officer in charge continued talking, as they headed out of the room.
"Though they were such cruel Oz agents, the Rebel Agency had planned a....less horrific death for them. Nothing similar of what this murderer is doing......And the prisoner guard Hamilton was surely going to be sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison........"
"This Station also holds the guard?" -Heero asked.
The four pilots remembered well guard Hamilton. He was the old Ozie who surrendered back in the ship where Duo was prisoner. In fact, guard Hamilton seemed to truly regret 02's death. He even cried for him.....
"Yes. He is held prisoner in the East area. You may also want to interrogate him after we pay a visit to Commander T. Though you probably know by now that T, being a torturer, won't answer your questions easily because......."
A brusque shaking of the station sent everyone to the floor and the lights started to flutter erratically.
"What's happening?!" -the officer asked to no one in particular, as he and the pilots used the wall to support themselves and stand up.
The moment the man said those words, the shaking stopped and the lights went back to normal.
The officer took his communicator and exchanged some words with the other rebel officers in the control's room.
"Everything is fine" -he said to the pilots some minutes later- "It seems there was a problem with the Station's stability, but it has been controlled"
Heero frowned slightly.
'How unusual....' -he thought, as he brushed his hair out of his eyes. He could feel his own forehead practically burning.
Since he woke up last day, he hadn't been feeling well. It seemed his body had broken into a fever, but the heat was becoming really unbearable by now.
Wufei let his black eyes wandered around the hall. Somehow, his warrior training was alerting him of a possible threat.
Trowa, the always-silent pilot, also observed the surroundings. He was almost sure his ears had picked a slight sound a moment ago.
'Footsteps? But....there's no one else here.....' -he mused in his mind.
Heero pressed his lips tightly together, barely controlling the widening of his eyes at the increasing pain.
'Impossible...' -he thought, faint fear creeping inside him- 'It's happening again.....'
His blue glance slipped down his own chest, halting in the exact spot where he knew the cross rested under his long sleeved shirt.
The silver cross dug against his flesh, as if it had transformed into a crystal cross. A sharp crystal cross.
"The prisoner!!" -Quatre suddenly exclaimed.
"What?" -the officer replied at the suddenly agitated pilot.
"T! The Commander!! He has been...."
The blond teen didn't finish the sentence, when everyone's eyes lit up in understanding, and they started to run towards the A.G. cell.
"Open the cell! Open the cell!" -the officer practically screamed at the rebels guarding T's place.
"But, Sir, what's happening? What's happening?" -one of the guards inquired, clearly surprised.
"Just open the doors!" -the officer replied.
"Yes, sir!" -the other replied, as he opened the electric gates- "But everything is in order, Sir. No one has come near here. We've been guarding and everything is......"
The young rebel halted in middle word, when he and the others stared at the cell's interior.
The floor was covered in crimson liquid, as well as the walls.
..........VENGEANCE.........
The red droplets were still slipping down the rough surface, where the word had been painted.
Commander T's body was thrown in the middle of a blood pool, his lifeless yellow eyes wide open in fear.
Dozens of scalpels were incrusted along his body. In his arms, legs, abdomen and chest.
One of the young guards covered his mouth with his hand, backing off. The other turned around and hurriedly exited the room, his eyes wide and disturbed.
T's face had been slashed as well. Both of his cheeks presented deep, open wounds. The fresh blood was still running down the corpse's face.
"It's just like....." -Wufei gulped, not able to say more.
The wounds were just like Duo's. But far much worse.
"Damn it!" -the officer finally woke up from his stupor- "How could the killer penetrate our defense? The guards didn't even moved from the doors! How could he enter the cell?! I don't understand!"
"He's still here" -Trowa suddenly said- "The blood is still warm. This happened when the lights started to flicker. The assassin is probably in the Station....."
Heero nodded, absently staring at the corpse.
His breathing was starting to come out in pants, due to the weight on his chest. His right hand came up to grasp the silver object, trying to pull it away from his skin.
He didn't understand why, but he couldn't bear with it anymore. It was painful, the cross was hurting him. His hand pulled the cross up, but then halted.
'But it's Duo's cross. How could I......how could I take it off......if Duo gave it to me......I can't.....'
And Heero let the cross rest again, hanging from his neck, as his hand released it and lowered to his side. He couldn't take it off.
Quatre whirled on his feet, his Prussian eyes fixed on the open doors, but his empathy staring far away from them. Penetrating them.
The assassin was there.
He could feel him. He could feel his breath, his steps, his every move...
He could almost see.......a smile on his pale face.......shadows of violet that also turned to see him......
"He's here!!" -the blond pilot said, his expression in total disbelief at the sight his empathy gave him.
And the ship shook again, the lights trembling one more time during scarce seconds.
"Hamilton! The old guard!!" -the officer said aloud, and they all started to run towards the east area.
"We're not going to make it in time!!" -Wufei murmured in their dash.
"Almost there!" -the officer replied as they turned another corner, facing another row of cells.
For their surprise, the cell's doors were open, but no one was in sight in the hall.
When the four pilots and the officer stepped into the room, they were all even more surprised.
The old guard was alive.
Hamilton was sitting against the wall, his brown eyes impossibly wide. There was no blood, no inscription, no wounds. No murder.
The old man turned to look at the pilots, tears suddenly flowing from his eyes.
"He...he was here....." -the man's voice trembled uncontrollably.
The officer kneeled beside him, confirming the prisoner was still cuffed.
"What happened? Answer now!" -the rebel officer shook the man by the shoulders.
But the old guard didn't turn to look at him. His glance was locked in the pilots in front of him.
"The....the.......kid......" -he murmured.
The four set of eyes widened at that. It couldn't be......
"The...kid........he was here......."
"Which kid? What are you talking about?" -the officer asked exasperated.
"The kid....he's not dead.....but he isn't alive either......" -Hamilton replied, his teeth clattering in fear.
"Did you see him? Did you see his face?" -the officer questioned, but the man was still trembling, totally scared.- "Listen up, prisoner! Put yourself together and answer me!!" -the rebel ordered.
Hamilton gulped, but nodded. He took deep breaths, trying to calm.
"I......no, I didn't see him, or his face" -he whispered at last.
"How do you know it was a kid, then?" -the officer inquired.
"He was....was all dressed in black......and his head was hidden...I didn't see his face......but..." -the man stammered, his stare suddenly fixed in Heero's blue eyes- "But he talked to me......and I can swear it was him.....the kid....."
"What did the killer tell you?" -the rebel asked in surprise.
"He said.....his vengeance wasn't completed yet...." -Hamilton gulped again- "There are more people who were going to pay blood with blood..he said that.....yes, he said that....." -the guard's hands twitched in fear as he recalled the scene- "But not me. He said not me.....he told me...he knew I tried to help him.......not me.....but other people.....he said other traitors will pay.....traitors, he said that.......soon, other traitors........."
And the man broke down in loud cry, hiding his face with his hands.
The officer shook his head in disbelief, as he called through his communicator more soldiers.
"Yes, tell the doctors to prepare a tranquilizer"- and the man turned the device off- "We'll take him to the clinic. He's clearly gone insane" -the officer said to the Pilots and then turned to look at the crying guard again.
Some moments later, Hamilton was being taken out in a stretcher, still murmuring.
The Officer in charge left the room, talking to other rebel soldiers. He obviously didn't believe any of the guard's words.
But the four Gundam Pilots remained in the cell, in total silence.
Could they believe? Did they believe?
A red droplet suddenly fell next to Trowa's feet. The European lifted his glance to the room's roof.
"Look" -he murmured, his voice sounding very agitated.
When the other three turned their eyes upwards, they found a clear message there.
Painted on the roof's surface, written in blood, another inscription.
........SOON.......TRAITORS WILL PAY.......
To Be Continued.......
A/N: Please R&R. This fic has just two or three chapters more to go. Stay with me and leave a comment please.