Title: Chaos Returned: Chapter 2a
Author: MJRD
Rating: PG-13 for now
Feedback: Please! C&C craved: meghan@zizania.org
Archive: Eclectic Unlimited:http://zizania.org/meghan
Fanfiction.net - MJRD
Disclaimer: I own neither Gundam Wing nor Ranma ½. It is said that imitation is the highest form of flattery; that is the intention of this. No copyright infringement intended.
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NOTE: This is set in 199 AC, about two years after the events in Endless Waltz. All five of the pilots are working for the Preventers. The Ranma timeline is the same as canon (manga) except for happening in the GW universe: knowledge of the colonies, slightly higher tech level. Genma and Ranma arrived in Nerima in 194 AC. The fight with Saffron occurred shortly after the formation of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation. The GW pilots are about 19 years old, while Ranma is 20. The age difference and passage of time would change behavior patterns somewhat; some characters have matured (I don't think that really counts as OOC)
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Duo woke suddenly, unsure of where he was or what it was that woke him. Huh, Ran's apartment? Let's see, Ran produced that stack of files. We found that several pharmaceutical companies appeared in connection with many of the cover businesses that the organization had been using. Heero, Wufei, and Trowa decided to see if they could find any more information in the Preventers' database. Kat stayed with Ran and me to look for more stuff. It got late and Ran invited us to stay. So, that's the where - but why am I awake?

He glanced over at Quatre, who was curled up on his side of the borrowed bed. Quatre whimpered again and Duo realized that was what had woken him in the first place. As he moved to wake his friend, Quatre gasped and sat up straight.

"Whoa, Kat, what's the matter?" Duo asked putting his hand on the blond's shoulder.

Quatre looked at him blankly for a moment, trembling. "I don't know - there was just this overwhelming sense of fear and helplessness."

"Your Space Heart again?"

The blond nodded, bringing his trembling under control. A half-strangled whimper from the direction of Ranma's bedroom attracted both of their attention.

"Well, I think we figured out where it was coming from at least," Duo said as he got up and headed towards the continuing whimpers, Quatre following closely behind.

As they stepped around the screen to enter the bedroom, Ranma let out a sharp cry and sat up in bed. Perceiving two shadows where they should not have been, Ranma rolled off the bed and dropped into a defensive stance.

Duo and Quatre froze at the sudden movement and glanced at each other, then at Ranma again. Shit, that must have been some dream! I don't think he's really awake yet. Ran's eyes glinted strangely, almost cat-like, as Duo took a cautious step forward.

"Hey, man, you okay?"

Ranma blinked, eyes clearing, and dropped the stance, finally recognizing who was there. "Huh?"

Duo and Quatre exchanged another look. "You were calling out in your sleep - sounded like a nightmare."

Ranma's face froze. "It's nothing."

Yeah right, nothing my ass. I won't push now but he's got to let that out before he cracks - I should know. Duo nodded, observing the shocked panic from earlier had faded. He then retreated back to the living area with Quatre and the two lay down to sleep again.

After a moment Duo spoke up quietly, "Hey, Kat, did you see his eyes? Were they really . . . ?"

There was a pause before he heard the confused response. "Yeah, they were. I thought I might have been imagining things."

"Me too." I almost wish I had been. Duo thought as he remembered the look of suppressed terror and helplessness combined with self-disgust deep in the other's glowing eyes.