Chapter 10
It was thought that I would do best in a class away from Mathew. So when training days came back I was put in the top level, besides the advanced, for mobile suit training. No more gundams, no more Synz. I really didn't mind. It was nice being able to try something new. When Mathew was drilling us in different ways to shoot and move, everyone else was practicing in mock battles, which I preferred. Today was just such a case.
The best part was it wasn't just with suits. I was in the fifth level of piloting. All the best pilots that didn't make it to Mathew's training were here. Sixty-three people to be exact, sixty-four if you include me. We were to be split into two groups for a test. It was like capture the flag, only with mobile suits and stun guns. I'd always loved capture the flag. It was a great test of skill. Though the flag in this case was the files for something important, which was made up and really didn't matter. If you were 'killed' you were pulled from the game. The first team to get the files and get them into their own computer, where their files were stored, won. That team gets to get out early from training. It sounded good to me.
We were split into two group of thirty-two, who were in turn split into two groups. Half of each team would be in mobile suits. The other half would be in a compound protecting their files. The people in suits could land near the enemy base and try to get into it. Of course they'd have to get past the sixteen people waiting and into the fifth room, where the oh so important computer was.
I was in my compound, first room out of six. A partner and me would be the first to deal with the meanies coming through the door to the hanger where the bad guys would be landing. Once inside the base our enemies were safe from our outside friends, and we couldn't leave our room, not for any reason. All weapons were stun only, but would knock you out for a good fifteen minutes, and if you woke up you'd have to leave. We were each equipped with a basic stun rifle. It wouldn't really knock you out unless you got a critical hit, but it would numb you so you couldn't move.
The room was completely white, except for a screen that hung on the wall above the door to the hangar. It showed the battle outside, and where everyone was. There was a metal stairway that led up to a balcony. The balcony had a second door that led to the second room. I hadn't even been in that room yet.
I stretched as I waited, not having done so yet today. I didn't entirely ignore the board, though. Carefully I watched in case an enemy suit got into the hangar. I had already planned what I would do when one showed up. I just wanted to be somewhat relaxed for that.
It didn't take long for a suit to break through my team's defenses. I stood and moved closer to the stairs, hiding partially behind them. My partner moved to a corner filled with shadows, blending into the darkness almost naturally. The door opened from the hangar, but the pilot didn't just walk in, he carefully poked his gun in first. When he finally stepped inside two shots took him out. Mine hit his head and my partner's his heart. I quickly jumped out of my spot and moved the pilot to the other side of the room, shutting the door as another suit flew in.
"Ready?" I asked my partner.
He nodded. "Yep."
The second man didn't come in right away. No one came in until another three suits had flown into the hangar, then they came in numbers. One slipped in first, my partner fired, but his target rolled out of the way as a second man shot at him. I heard my partner grunt as the shot hit his leg. I fired at the second guy and dropped to the ground, avoiding the first mans fire. The second was knocked out, and with another shot the first joined him. But two other people were still firing at us. I managed to hit one of them in the arm, and my partner finished him up when the remaining man knocked him out.
I moved into hiding, pushing myself against the stairs, but preparing to run. I didn't want to be stuck here while the last guy could easily fire at me. Standing up I turned and fired, but he was ready, too. Our shots hit each other, mine in his chest and his in mine. I don't know what happened to him but I was soon out cold.
I woke up in a large room. Moving to a sitting position I noticed other people coming around. Several were still unconscious, but no one was hurt. A tall man walked up to me, I recognized him as my new instructor.
"You didn't do bad for a first try. How're you feeling?" he asked, actually concerned.
I rubbed my head. "Like I was drugged into a sleep," I stated.
He chuckled to himself. "For some reason I'm not surprised. Get some rest, you're going to be here for another hour." He smiled before he walked away. Not as annoying as Mathew, but not the best instructed.
"I take it I lost," I muttered before getting to my feet to figure out what the final score was.
That afternoon was a constant practice of drills and such. It was beginning to remind me of practicing with Mathew. But I went about my job without complaint. No one criticized me for letting the other team past me, some people even said I had done a good job, but I was still mad with myself. I should have done better, even if the rest of the team hadn't. Maybe I was just pushing myself too hard, but I really didn't care. After the extra hour of practice I realized it was only four-thirty in the afternoon. Even with an hour more practice I was out at least four hours earlier than I would have been with Mathew. Things were looking up, even if I was knocked down a class.
I immediately went to the cafeteria, not having anything else to do.
People filled it, as normal. I didn't see a table without at least one person in it, and none of my friends were amongst the masses of people. I sighed as I worked my way to a vending machine. Buying a bag of chips and a pop I glanced around the room again. My eyes stopped on Nickolas, who was looking back at me. He was smiling again, and nodded to me before looking away. I didn't turn away for a moment, but did so soon enough.
"Tom?" someone said behind me. It took me a moment to remember to answer. I knew Conway but Tom was a little harder to remember. Yet I turned to look at the girl who had addressed me. She was shorter than I was and dressed as a pilot. Her blonde hair and split eyebrows vaguely reminded me of someone, though I couldn't remember who.
I answered, "Yes?"
"I have a message from Zechs, he wants to meet you same place as last night to talk about Duo," the girl said. She looked so sincere that I might have believed her if I hadn't known she was lying. I would have had to at least look into it if Zechs hadn't left the hint he wouldn't meet me there again.
I blinked at the girl. "Do I know you? And who's this Duo guy?"
She frowned. "Please, I'm just relaying the message. He doesn't dare talk to you himself at the moment."
I sighed, using my annoyed look to survey the crowd. Sure enough Nickolas was looking at me again. "Look, I don't know why Zechs wouldn't talk to me. I'm not hiding anything. You can tell him to talk to me himself. And who is Duo?" I emphasized the last question. "Because if you're not going to tell me anything then please don't bother me." When she didn't answer I turned away. She followed me as I walked and I figured I should go somewhere instead of just wondering.
So I made my way back to the foosball tables. I watched two guys play a game while their friends cheered them on. The girl seemed persistent in trying to talk to me. I ignored her.
"Please listen to me," she hissed, trying to remain unnoticed by the people around us.
I spoke clearly, "Who are you, anyway?"
She stiffened. "Oh, I'm Dorothy Catalonia's daughter, Ashley." I looked at her again, realizing where I'd seen her features before. I let the surprise show on my face, not aware that Dorothy had had a daughter. That would mean she's Zero's sister…
"Ashley?" my voice was a little weaker. Did Zero know he had a sister? She was probably only half, but still. I shook my head. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude, I didn't realize…"
"That's okay, but will you please listen to me?" she pleaded.
I nodded. "Sure, but I'll tell you now I don't know what you're talking about. I met Zechs in the courtyard around nine last night, but only because he wanted to relay a message from his father, basically telling me that if I screwed up Mathew could do what he wants with me. That's it. And as for this Duo… who're you talking about?" I blinked, "you couldn't be talking about the gundam pilot?"
Now we had a crowd. It was putting Ashley on the spot. I didn't mind. Maybe she'd go away. But Ashley only smiled. "Okay Tom. I'll be seeing you later." With that she turned and left, leaving me with a gut feeling something was wrong.
I was asleep in a room. I don't know what I was doing there, I couldn't remember. It couldn't be my memory but Synz was defiantly responsible for this. Ashley was near me, her and Lady Une, along with my father. They were talking, well, Ashley wasn't saying anything, but the other two were. I couldn't hear their words, I wasn't supposed to. Ashley just stood and stared at my sleeping face. It must have been several years ago, maybe six or seven. I looked so much younger, but mostly the same.
I blinked and was back. No one seemed to notice my brief moment of memory, which still confused me, but I silently thanked Synz for a hint. Leaving the lunchroom was easy, no one noticed or cared, or no one I saw. I didn't check for Nickolas. I continued to walk, not really caring where I went. I just needed to move, to get out of where I was. Before I knew it I was off the base. I didn't know why, but I was.
I wondered through shops and past restaurants, remembering when Julia and I had first met Tarmine and Zero. Remembering how Poe had showed up later, remembering how Poe had shown up not long ago to talk. I suddenly wished one of them were here to help me. I wanted Julia to be light hearted and happy, finding the weirdest way to get out of this. I wanted Tarmine so I'd have someone to fight with. I wanted Poe here with his calmness and logic and Zero just to be Zero. I wanted my group back, my friends, Alex's friends, not Conway's.
I sighed and leaned against a wall to close my eyes for a brief moment. I didn't want to have to deal with this situation. I could leave the colony. Oz wouldn't be able to stop me, but then how would I get Julia out? What would I do about Duo? Surely I should tell the other pilots, my dad and the others. But I couldn't do it quite yet. I couldn't leave and I couldn't contact them lest someone found out at the base. I didn't know if I was being followed. I didn't know if someone was watching me, and I didn't know who it would be. But I knew I had to get back to the base before people started wondering. Not that anyone would, but maybe, just maybe something would have come up.
The moment I walked back on base I was met by Mathew, the last person I wanted to see. He looked strangely pleased, and smiled at me, a very sneaky and deceitful smile. It reminded me strongly of Nickolas's. I didn't say anything as he asked me where I'd been. I didn't say anything when he demanded I answered. I didn't say anything until I felt a sense of anger and hatred burning below my skin, just waiting to be released. I knew what it was, and I wouldn't let the fire escape again.
No, I commanded. Not here and not now.
Then I looked at Mathew. "Look. I had a somewhat stressful day. I went for a walk to cool off. Ask your spies if you don't believe me. Why are you talking to me anyway? I thought we were avoiding each other."
Mathew chuckled, his grin growing. "No reason, no reason at all." With that he strolled back into the fort, before I could convince myself that punching him wouldn't get me into too much trouble. Of course, that was probably a good thing.
I didn't know what was going on, but I was worried. I needed to talk to Zechs, but he was probably still training. I needed to figure something out. Ashley had practically told me Duo was around somewhere. I don't think she expected my reaction, but at the same time she wasn't surprised. That alone was a bad thing.
They acted almost as if they knew… as if they knew the truth.
But if they knew why weren't they doing anything?
Filled with too many questions I walked back into my room and climbed into bed. I was suddenly very tired, even if it was only about six. Sleep over took me before I had much more than a thought.
V woke me up the next morning. I yawned as I climbed out of bed. Everyone else was still sleeping, but I was suddenly wide-awake. V looked as if he had been awake for a few hours. He was fully dressed and ready for a days work. "Come on, I want to show you something." V said.
I glanced at my watch. "Sorry, no can do. It's 4:28. I can't leave the room for another hour and a half."
"Don't worry about it, I'll cover you," he insisted.
I shook my head. "No, your dad's looking for anything to get me in trouble. He'd be tickled to learn of me out of my room before six."
"He's the one who asked me to get you," V stated.
I blinked in surprise. "Okay…" I murmured. "Then I suppose it's okay, where are we going?"
V looked uneasy, not sure of what to say. "Um, it doesn't really matter. Come on." I followed him, not liking the evasive answer, but I'd live. I don't think V would purposefully get in me in trouble, but the whole 'purposefully' part was what was bugging me. He might not mean to get me in trouble but that wouldn't change things if they went wrong.
We went to the prison section, passing rooms that'd I'd seen while I was on guard duty. We walked past the room I'd seen Duo in and still we continued walking. We went past the 'dangerous' prisoner cells, where I had been kept, to the top-secret place. Suddenly the guards had very big guns. They watched everything, giving even V a suspicious eye, but they didn't stop us. We had to identify our selves twice, showing our I.D.s to the gruff guards. Finally we stopped walking near the very back. We were in front of a door with two guards, both holding guns and standing at attention. I was suddenly glad I had been able to sit, and even nod off if I wanted to, at my station. It would be a pain to work here.
V pulled out a key, then another, and finally a key card. He carefully went through the locks, opening them one at a time. I wondered whom I'd be taken to see. Julia maybe? Doubtful. Whoever it was was being guarded quite a bit. They must be afraid the prisoner might escape.
"Why are we seeing a prisoner? Why would your dad want to meet here?" I asked.
V didn't even look at me as he opened the door and walked in. "My dad has nothing to do with this. He doesn't know you're here, he doesn't want you here."
"What?" I snapped. "I'm going back, now. Do you know how much trouble I'll be in if I'm caught out of my room?" staying calm didn't really seem like an option now.
V rolled his eyes. "If you're going to get caught then someone would have already by now. It's already five, everyone's awake and you should still be there. I know how to keep you out of trouble. Just come in here and I'll explain everything."
A little uncertainly I walked in to see a Duo sitting on a bed, ignoring the two of us. When I walked in he glanced at me, then went back at staring at a wall. I wondered how often people came in to see him, and why they'd be inside.
"This is a prisoner we aren't suppose to have. Now you know about him, if dad ever wanted to get you in trouble for being out of your room, and didn't believe or cared that I tricked you then you can just blackmail him. Not even Milliardo knows he's here. The guards don't know who he is or why he's under such high security. They don't care, and are paid a great deal for guarding and saying nothing," V explained.
I stared at Duo's cobalt blue eyes. He acted as if we weren't even here. I wasn't supposed to know of him, but V might know I guarded him. He might know that Duo had gotten into a fight. I suppose I should mention that I had seen him, but not that I know him. Nope, I'm just some clueless pilot who happens to be under close watch. I frowned before saying anything, mainly for effect. "Wasn't he in a regular cell a few nights ago?" I asked. "I think he got into a fight while I was on guard duty. Why's he in the top security prison?"
"You saw him in a normal prison?" V asked, suddenly concerned.
I nodded, the paused. "Maybe, but it could just have been someone who looked like him," I suggested.
V wasn't looking at me anymore. "So you got into a normal security prison, huh Duo?" V asked as he leaned against the wall.
Duo turned to look at him and smiled. "How could I do that Vince? I'm being heavily guarded and there's no way out of here. Your friend must be mistaken."
V raised an eye. "Is that so?' Neither of them said anything else about the subject, so I figured it was my turn to talk.
"So who's Duo? I mean, the only Duo I know of is dead. But I suppose this is probably the guy Ashley was talking about. Though I'm not sure, she wasn't specific," I said casually.
"You spoke to Dorothy's kid?" V asked, surprised.
I nodded. "Well, she actually spoke to me. I mainly tried to avoid her. She kept talking about Zechs, but he doesn't really care much about me at the moment. She said something about Zechs wanting to talk about some guy called Duo. All Zechs had wanted to say was that his dad just wants to use me to show your dad how little power he actually has, or something like that."
V smirked. "Sounds like Milliardo. But he's right, he is of higher standing than my dad. He's basically in charge of Earth, when Dad only has a few colonies."
"Well, I'm sure this is so very interesting for the two of you, but I'm not really into small talk," Duo said flatly. "Will you get on with whatever you're doing here? More questions? They'll get you as far as they did last time."
V shook his head. "No questions for you this timed," he stated matter- of-factly. Both Duo and I gave him a questioning look. Then he grabbed my arm. I felt a light shimmer, his psychic power. "Okay, just be truthful, I'll know if you're not. When did you first meet this man, Duo Maxwell?"
"You're questioning him?" Duo asked. "Why?"
V ignored him. "Well?"
I stared at Duo for a moment, not sure of what to say. "I guess I met Duo in the cell." My voice was a drone, nothing to give it emotion. I focused mainly on trying to shield me mind, even though I didn't know how. But I knew it worked, just as I knew it brought the dangerous power inside of me to the surface, shimmering just below my outer thoughts. I tried to push it down, but as long as I shielded my thoughts it didn't listen.
When the shock came through my arm, followed by the blue lights I was ready. When the tingling feeling ripped into my mind I had to bite my lip to stop from shouting out. V wasn't being nice. He wasn't trying to block out any pain. He wanted to know what I was hiding, and was doing his best to find out. Pain vibrated inside my head and the fire grew inside me. It wanted out, wanted to stop the pain.
No! I hissed to myself. Not now, not to V.
I saw myself standing with my jaw clenched. V gripped my arm, not letting me go. I knew Synz was showing me this, but once again it was no memory. I saw something around me, a red background almost. It seemed to surround me, to be a part of me. I knew, though I didn't know how, that I was seeing my aura. In the same way the red surrounded me an aqua-blue filled V.
I blinked as I came to myself. If Synz were a person I would have hit him, or lit him on fire. The power inside me had boiled up stronger from when I was having my little image. But so had my shield. I knew I had to do something fast or I was going to hurt V, and he was still my friend so I wouldn't do that.
I yanked away from him, gasping for breath as I did so. He glared at me, even as I moved to the other side of the room to lean against a wall. I knew I wouldn't be able to stand for long. Physical energy had been drained along with mental. Duo looked at us both curiously, but with little interest.
"Why don't I believe you?" V growled.
I shrugged. "I'm a crappy liar?"
"No, actually I think you're a damn good one. I don't know anyone else who can lie to me so well," V said angrily. "So you don't work for Alex, that I know. Who do you work for, and how do you know Duo?" I didn't answer, but simply looked at the floor. "Answer me, damn it! I'm tired of being lied to. From you, my dad, even my friends." He sounded a little angry still, more tired and betrayed.
I looked back at him. "You're friends?" I asked, but continued before he had a chance to answer. "This is probably a really bad time, but am I still amongst your list of friends?"
"Why? So you can lie to me too?" V snapped.
I probably dissevered it but his statement hurt. I didn't want to lie to him, and I did think of him as a friend. "No, so I can be a friend. I can't tell you everything. Change that, I won't tell you anything. I don't work for anyone but myself. I've known Duo for a while, from different things. He's a friend of the family, just like Milliardo is. Well, maybe not just like, but close."
V looked at Duo. "Is that so?"
Duo smiled at him, more kindly then anything else. "What do you think? You really should trust yourself more than other people," Duo suggested. "Remember that, your instincts are always the ones to consider first."
Surprisingly that seemed to mean something to V, as if someone had told him otherwise. He shook his head for a moment, as if trying to find a way to argue with Duo, but not being able to think of anything to say. Then he turned to me. "Let's go back. We're going to need to talk soon, and you're going to tell me a little more. But for now as far as anyone else is concerned you've never seen Duo before that prison fight."
I nodded, happy to be lucky enough to get away with lying, even if it was only temporary.
It was thought that I would do best in a class away from Mathew. So when training days came back I was put in the top level, besides the advanced, for mobile suit training. No more gundams, no more Synz. I really didn't mind. It was nice being able to try something new. When Mathew was drilling us in different ways to shoot and move, everyone else was practicing in mock battles, which I preferred. Today was just such a case.
The best part was it wasn't just with suits. I was in the fifth level of piloting. All the best pilots that didn't make it to Mathew's training were here. Sixty-three people to be exact, sixty-four if you include me. We were to be split into two groups for a test. It was like capture the flag, only with mobile suits and stun guns. I'd always loved capture the flag. It was a great test of skill. Though the flag in this case was the files for something important, which was made up and really didn't matter. If you were 'killed' you were pulled from the game. The first team to get the files and get them into their own computer, where their files were stored, won. That team gets to get out early from training. It sounded good to me.
We were split into two group of thirty-two, who were in turn split into two groups. Half of each team would be in mobile suits. The other half would be in a compound protecting their files. The people in suits could land near the enemy base and try to get into it. Of course they'd have to get past the sixteen people waiting and into the fifth room, where the oh so important computer was.
I was in my compound, first room out of six. A partner and me would be the first to deal with the meanies coming through the door to the hanger where the bad guys would be landing. Once inside the base our enemies were safe from our outside friends, and we couldn't leave our room, not for any reason. All weapons were stun only, but would knock you out for a good fifteen minutes, and if you woke up you'd have to leave. We were each equipped with a basic stun rifle. It wouldn't really knock you out unless you got a critical hit, but it would numb you so you couldn't move.
The room was completely white, except for a screen that hung on the wall above the door to the hangar. It showed the battle outside, and where everyone was. There was a metal stairway that led up to a balcony. The balcony had a second door that led to the second room. I hadn't even been in that room yet.
I stretched as I waited, not having done so yet today. I didn't entirely ignore the board, though. Carefully I watched in case an enemy suit got into the hangar. I had already planned what I would do when one showed up. I just wanted to be somewhat relaxed for that.
It didn't take long for a suit to break through my team's defenses. I stood and moved closer to the stairs, hiding partially behind them. My partner moved to a corner filled with shadows, blending into the darkness almost naturally. The door opened from the hangar, but the pilot didn't just walk in, he carefully poked his gun in first. When he finally stepped inside two shots took him out. Mine hit his head and my partner's his heart. I quickly jumped out of my spot and moved the pilot to the other side of the room, shutting the door as another suit flew in.
"Ready?" I asked my partner.
He nodded. "Yep."
The second man didn't come in right away. No one came in until another three suits had flown into the hangar, then they came in numbers. One slipped in first, my partner fired, but his target rolled out of the way as a second man shot at him. I heard my partner grunt as the shot hit his leg. I fired at the second guy and dropped to the ground, avoiding the first mans fire. The second was knocked out, and with another shot the first joined him. But two other people were still firing at us. I managed to hit one of them in the arm, and my partner finished him up when the remaining man knocked him out.
I moved into hiding, pushing myself against the stairs, but preparing to run. I didn't want to be stuck here while the last guy could easily fire at me. Standing up I turned and fired, but he was ready, too. Our shots hit each other, mine in his chest and his in mine. I don't know what happened to him but I was soon out cold.
I woke up in a large room. Moving to a sitting position I noticed other people coming around. Several were still unconscious, but no one was hurt. A tall man walked up to me, I recognized him as my new instructor.
"You didn't do bad for a first try. How're you feeling?" he asked, actually concerned.
I rubbed my head. "Like I was drugged into a sleep," I stated.
He chuckled to himself. "For some reason I'm not surprised. Get some rest, you're going to be here for another hour." He smiled before he walked away. Not as annoying as Mathew, but not the best instructed.
"I take it I lost," I muttered before getting to my feet to figure out what the final score was.
That afternoon was a constant practice of drills and such. It was beginning to remind me of practicing with Mathew. But I went about my job without complaint. No one criticized me for letting the other team past me, some people even said I had done a good job, but I was still mad with myself. I should have done better, even if the rest of the team hadn't. Maybe I was just pushing myself too hard, but I really didn't care. After the extra hour of practice I realized it was only four-thirty in the afternoon. Even with an hour more practice I was out at least four hours earlier than I would have been with Mathew. Things were looking up, even if I was knocked down a class.
I immediately went to the cafeteria, not having anything else to do.
People filled it, as normal. I didn't see a table without at least one person in it, and none of my friends were amongst the masses of people. I sighed as I worked my way to a vending machine. Buying a bag of chips and a pop I glanced around the room again. My eyes stopped on Nickolas, who was looking back at me. He was smiling again, and nodded to me before looking away. I didn't turn away for a moment, but did so soon enough.
"Tom?" someone said behind me. It took me a moment to remember to answer. I knew Conway but Tom was a little harder to remember. Yet I turned to look at the girl who had addressed me. She was shorter than I was and dressed as a pilot. Her blonde hair and split eyebrows vaguely reminded me of someone, though I couldn't remember who.
I answered, "Yes?"
"I have a message from Zechs, he wants to meet you same place as last night to talk about Duo," the girl said. She looked so sincere that I might have believed her if I hadn't known she was lying. I would have had to at least look into it if Zechs hadn't left the hint he wouldn't meet me there again.
I blinked at the girl. "Do I know you? And who's this Duo guy?"
She frowned. "Please, I'm just relaying the message. He doesn't dare talk to you himself at the moment."
I sighed, using my annoyed look to survey the crowd. Sure enough Nickolas was looking at me again. "Look, I don't know why Zechs wouldn't talk to me. I'm not hiding anything. You can tell him to talk to me himself. And who is Duo?" I emphasized the last question. "Because if you're not going to tell me anything then please don't bother me." When she didn't answer I turned away. She followed me as I walked and I figured I should go somewhere instead of just wondering.
So I made my way back to the foosball tables. I watched two guys play a game while their friends cheered them on. The girl seemed persistent in trying to talk to me. I ignored her.
"Please listen to me," she hissed, trying to remain unnoticed by the people around us.
I spoke clearly, "Who are you, anyway?"
She stiffened. "Oh, I'm Dorothy Catalonia's daughter, Ashley." I looked at her again, realizing where I'd seen her features before. I let the surprise show on my face, not aware that Dorothy had had a daughter. That would mean she's Zero's sister…
"Ashley?" my voice was a little weaker. Did Zero know he had a sister? She was probably only half, but still. I shook my head. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude, I didn't realize…"
"That's okay, but will you please listen to me?" she pleaded.
I nodded. "Sure, but I'll tell you now I don't know what you're talking about. I met Zechs in the courtyard around nine last night, but only because he wanted to relay a message from his father, basically telling me that if I screwed up Mathew could do what he wants with me. That's it. And as for this Duo… who're you talking about?" I blinked, "you couldn't be talking about the gundam pilot?"
Now we had a crowd. It was putting Ashley on the spot. I didn't mind. Maybe she'd go away. But Ashley only smiled. "Okay Tom. I'll be seeing you later." With that she turned and left, leaving me with a gut feeling something was wrong.
I was asleep in a room. I don't know what I was doing there, I couldn't remember. It couldn't be my memory but Synz was defiantly responsible for this. Ashley was near me, her and Lady Une, along with my father. They were talking, well, Ashley wasn't saying anything, but the other two were. I couldn't hear their words, I wasn't supposed to. Ashley just stood and stared at my sleeping face. It must have been several years ago, maybe six or seven. I looked so much younger, but mostly the same.
I blinked and was back. No one seemed to notice my brief moment of memory, which still confused me, but I silently thanked Synz for a hint. Leaving the lunchroom was easy, no one noticed or cared, or no one I saw. I didn't check for Nickolas. I continued to walk, not really caring where I went. I just needed to move, to get out of where I was. Before I knew it I was off the base. I didn't know why, but I was.
I wondered through shops and past restaurants, remembering when Julia and I had first met Tarmine and Zero. Remembering how Poe had showed up later, remembering how Poe had shown up not long ago to talk. I suddenly wished one of them were here to help me. I wanted Julia to be light hearted and happy, finding the weirdest way to get out of this. I wanted Tarmine so I'd have someone to fight with. I wanted Poe here with his calmness and logic and Zero just to be Zero. I wanted my group back, my friends, Alex's friends, not Conway's.
I sighed and leaned against a wall to close my eyes for a brief moment. I didn't want to have to deal with this situation. I could leave the colony. Oz wouldn't be able to stop me, but then how would I get Julia out? What would I do about Duo? Surely I should tell the other pilots, my dad and the others. But I couldn't do it quite yet. I couldn't leave and I couldn't contact them lest someone found out at the base. I didn't know if I was being followed. I didn't know if someone was watching me, and I didn't know who it would be. But I knew I had to get back to the base before people started wondering. Not that anyone would, but maybe, just maybe something would have come up.
The moment I walked back on base I was met by Mathew, the last person I wanted to see. He looked strangely pleased, and smiled at me, a very sneaky and deceitful smile. It reminded me strongly of Nickolas's. I didn't say anything as he asked me where I'd been. I didn't say anything when he demanded I answered. I didn't say anything until I felt a sense of anger and hatred burning below my skin, just waiting to be released. I knew what it was, and I wouldn't let the fire escape again.
No, I commanded. Not here and not now.
Then I looked at Mathew. "Look. I had a somewhat stressful day. I went for a walk to cool off. Ask your spies if you don't believe me. Why are you talking to me anyway? I thought we were avoiding each other."
Mathew chuckled, his grin growing. "No reason, no reason at all." With that he strolled back into the fort, before I could convince myself that punching him wouldn't get me into too much trouble. Of course, that was probably a good thing.
I didn't know what was going on, but I was worried. I needed to talk to Zechs, but he was probably still training. I needed to figure something out. Ashley had practically told me Duo was around somewhere. I don't think she expected my reaction, but at the same time she wasn't surprised. That alone was a bad thing.
They acted almost as if they knew… as if they knew the truth.
But if they knew why weren't they doing anything?
Filled with too many questions I walked back into my room and climbed into bed. I was suddenly very tired, even if it was only about six. Sleep over took me before I had much more than a thought.
V woke me up the next morning. I yawned as I climbed out of bed. Everyone else was still sleeping, but I was suddenly wide-awake. V looked as if he had been awake for a few hours. He was fully dressed and ready for a days work. "Come on, I want to show you something." V said.
I glanced at my watch. "Sorry, no can do. It's 4:28. I can't leave the room for another hour and a half."
"Don't worry about it, I'll cover you," he insisted.
I shook my head. "No, your dad's looking for anything to get me in trouble. He'd be tickled to learn of me out of my room before six."
"He's the one who asked me to get you," V stated.
I blinked in surprise. "Okay…" I murmured. "Then I suppose it's okay, where are we going?"
V looked uneasy, not sure of what to say. "Um, it doesn't really matter. Come on." I followed him, not liking the evasive answer, but I'd live. I don't think V would purposefully get in me in trouble, but the whole 'purposefully' part was what was bugging me. He might not mean to get me in trouble but that wouldn't change things if they went wrong.
We went to the prison section, passing rooms that'd I'd seen while I was on guard duty. We walked past the room I'd seen Duo in and still we continued walking. We went past the 'dangerous' prisoner cells, where I had been kept, to the top-secret place. Suddenly the guards had very big guns. They watched everything, giving even V a suspicious eye, but they didn't stop us. We had to identify our selves twice, showing our I.D.s to the gruff guards. Finally we stopped walking near the very back. We were in front of a door with two guards, both holding guns and standing at attention. I was suddenly glad I had been able to sit, and even nod off if I wanted to, at my station. It would be a pain to work here.
V pulled out a key, then another, and finally a key card. He carefully went through the locks, opening them one at a time. I wondered whom I'd be taken to see. Julia maybe? Doubtful. Whoever it was was being guarded quite a bit. They must be afraid the prisoner might escape.
"Why are we seeing a prisoner? Why would your dad want to meet here?" I asked.
V didn't even look at me as he opened the door and walked in. "My dad has nothing to do with this. He doesn't know you're here, he doesn't want you here."
"What?" I snapped. "I'm going back, now. Do you know how much trouble I'll be in if I'm caught out of my room?" staying calm didn't really seem like an option now.
V rolled his eyes. "If you're going to get caught then someone would have already by now. It's already five, everyone's awake and you should still be there. I know how to keep you out of trouble. Just come in here and I'll explain everything."
A little uncertainly I walked in to see a Duo sitting on a bed, ignoring the two of us. When I walked in he glanced at me, then went back at staring at a wall. I wondered how often people came in to see him, and why they'd be inside.
"This is a prisoner we aren't suppose to have. Now you know about him, if dad ever wanted to get you in trouble for being out of your room, and didn't believe or cared that I tricked you then you can just blackmail him. Not even Milliardo knows he's here. The guards don't know who he is or why he's under such high security. They don't care, and are paid a great deal for guarding and saying nothing," V explained.
I stared at Duo's cobalt blue eyes. He acted as if we weren't even here. I wasn't supposed to know of him, but V might know I guarded him. He might know that Duo had gotten into a fight. I suppose I should mention that I had seen him, but not that I know him. Nope, I'm just some clueless pilot who happens to be under close watch. I frowned before saying anything, mainly for effect. "Wasn't he in a regular cell a few nights ago?" I asked. "I think he got into a fight while I was on guard duty. Why's he in the top security prison?"
"You saw him in a normal prison?" V asked, suddenly concerned.
I nodded, the paused. "Maybe, but it could just have been someone who looked like him," I suggested.
V wasn't looking at me anymore. "So you got into a normal security prison, huh Duo?" V asked as he leaned against the wall.
Duo turned to look at him and smiled. "How could I do that Vince? I'm being heavily guarded and there's no way out of here. Your friend must be mistaken."
V raised an eye. "Is that so?' Neither of them said anything else about the subject, so I figured it was my turn to talk.
"So who's Duo? I mean, the only Duo I know of is dead. But I suppose this is probably the guy Ashley was talking about. Though I'm not sure, she wasn't specific," I said casually.
"You spoke to Dorothy's kid?" V asked, surprised.
I nodded. "Well, she actually spoke to me. I mainly tried to avoid her. She kept talking about Zechs, but he doesn't really care much about me at the moment. She said something about Zechs wanting to talk about some guy called Duo. All Zechs had wanted to say was that his dad just wants to use me to show your dad how little power he actually has, or something like that."
V smirked. "Sounds like Milliardo. But he's right, he is of higher standing than my dad. He's basically in charge of Earth, when Dad only has a few colonies."
"Well, I'm sure this is so very interesting for the two of you, but I'm not really into small talk," Duo said flatly. "Will you get on with whatever you're doing here? More questions? They'll get you as far as they did last time."
V shook his head. "No questions for you this timed," he stated matter- of-factly. Both Duo and I gave him a questioning look. Then he grabbed my arm. I felt a light shimmer, his psychic power. "Okay, just be truthful, I'll know if you're not. When did you first meet this man, Duo Maxwell?"
"You're questioning him?" Duo asked. "Why?"
V ignored him. "Well?"
I stared at Duo for a moment, not sure of what to say. "I guess I met Duo in the cell." My voice was a drone, nothing to give it emotion. I focused mainly on trying to shield me mind, even though I didn't know how. But I knew it worked, just as I knew it brought the dangerous power inside of me to the surface, shimmering just below my outer thoughts. I tried to push it down, but as long as I shielded my thoughts it didn't listen.
When the shock came through my arm, followed by the blue lights I was ready. When the tingling feeling ripped into my mind I had to bite my lip to stop from shouting out. V wasn't being nice. He wasn't trying to block out any pain. He wanted to know what I was hiding, and was doing his best to find out. Pain vibrated inside my head and the fire grew inside me. It wanted out, wanted to stop the pain.
No! I hissed to myself. Not now, not to V.
I saw myself standing with my jaw clenched. V gripped my arm, not letting me go. I knew Synz was showing me this, but once again it was no memory. I saw something around me, a red background almost. It seemed to surround me, to be a part of me. I knew, though I didn't know how, that I was seeing my aura. In the same way the red surrounded me an aqua-blue filled V.
I blinked as I came to myself. If Synz were a person I would have hit him, or lit him on fire. The power inside me had boiled up stronger from when I was having my little image. But so had my shield. I knew I had to do something fast or I was going to hurt V, and he was still my friend so I wouldn't do that.
I yanked away from him, gasping for breath as I did so. He glared at me, even as I moved to the other side of the room to lean against a wall. I knew I wouldn't be able to stand for long. Physical energy had been drained along with mental. Duo looked at us both curiously, but with little interest.
"Why don't I believe you?" V growled.
I shrugged. "I'm a crappy liar?"
"No, actually I think you're a damn good one. I don't know anyone else who can lie to me so well," V said angrily. "So you don't work for Alex, that I know. Who do you work for, and how do you know Duo?" I didn't answer, but simply looked at the floor. "Answer me, damn it! I'm tired of being lied to. From you, my dad, even my friends." He sounded a little angry still, more tired and betrayed.
I looked back at him. "You're friends?" I asked, but continued before he had a chance to answer. "This is probably a really bad time, but am I still amongst your list of friends?"
"Why? So you can lie to me too?" V snapped.
I probably dissevered it but his statement hurt. I didn't want to lie to him, and I did think of him as a friend. "No, so I can be a friend. I can't tell you everything. Change that, I won't tell you anything. I don't work for anyone but myself. I've known Duo for a while, from different things. He's a friend of the family, just like Milliardo is. Well, maybe not just like, but close."
V looked at Duo. "Is that so?"
Duo smiled at him, more kindly then anything else. "What do you think? You really should trust yourself more than other people," Duo suggested. "Remember that, your instincts are always the ones to consider first."
Surprisingly that seemed to mean something to V, as if someone had told him otherwise. He shook his head for a moment, as if trying to find a way to argue with Duo, but not being able to think of anything to say. Then he turned to me. "Let's go back. We're going to need to talk soon, and you're going to tell me a little more. But for now as far as anyone else is concerned you've never seen Duo before that prison fight."
I nodded, happy to be lucky enough to get away with lying, even if it was only temporary.