Infirmary, Cinq Kingdom Colony L12
"You've spent way too much time here. I hardly ever see you as it is, Trynity, and I can't believe you are wasting your time at the infirmary with this bastard."
The voice seemed to be coming from far away, but Duo could recognize Relena Peacecraft Yuy's disapproving tone. Just as he suspected, Relena would be waiting in hell for him.
"I'm just checking on a patient," he heard Trynity say. Nothing sounded so sweet and so painful at the same time. After all that they had been through, he had come to be only a patient to her.
Duo realized he was not on the comfortable bed in the suite at the Yuy residence. Hearing a steady buzz of monitors and remembering Relena saying they were in the infirmary, he knew that he must have been hospitalized. Where was Shamara? He hoped that Taeron was taking his duty seriously in staying at her side although he didn't think they had anything to worry about in this solar system. With the possible except of that missing craft from Bayman. They still didn't know who was on it or what their intention had been.
"Can you meet me for lunch, at least?" Relena seemed to be pleading. "We haven't had a chance to talks about this."
"I'm sorry, Relena. Several of my former patients from the colony found out that I am have returned and they want me to see them this afternoon. I can't turn them down."
"You're lying! You're just going to sit here at his bedside."
"I have no intention of sitting at his beside. I wasn't even in here for two minutes before you got here."
"You looked pretty comfortable for a mere two minutes." There was a moment of silence. Duo wanted to open his eyes a crack to peek out, but he was afraid Relena might see he was conscious and start hassling him. He was too weak to put up with her censure today. His body felt numb and he didn't think he could move. He had no memory of what had happened after he had lost consciousness and didn't know how long he had been in the infirmary.
"I give up! I'll see you later, won't I? Or are you going to sleep in your office again?"
"I have rounds to make at night," snapped Trynity irritably. "Get off my back, Relena!"
Duo heard footsteps, but they stopped. "I just don't want you to do anything stupid, Trynity. If you've gotten burned putting your hand in the fire once, then you shouldn't do it again."
"What would I do without your sage advice?" Trynity's tone was sarcastic.
"I'll see you later."
"Maybe."
The footsteps sounded again, and he heard the door close. So now he was presumably alone with Trynity. This was a situation he wanted to avoid. Duo couldn't look at her without thinking of her with Lars Nelson, the man with whom she shared her life over sixteen years. Sixteen years! She hadn't even been with him sixteen months! All these years separated from her, Duo had guarded his precious memories of her in his heart hoping that he would one day be reunited with her. All that time, Trynity had been with another man.
He had no one to blame but himself.
He must have groaned aloud because he felt her cool fingers checking his pulse. "Are you awake, Duo?"
Duo didn't want to open his eyes. What he wanted was to return to Calabria, to his home on the moon where he could go about forgetting the past. He had wasted all those years pining for a love that she had quickly forgotten. Duo didn't know how he could change the way he felt, and he couldn't turn his back on what remained in his heart even if she had.
She took her fingers from his wrist. "I know you are awake. I can see by the monitor that you are conscious."
Damn machines! "I want to rest a little longer." His voice sounded weak and pathetic.
"Do as you please. Just don't try to get out of this bed or I'll have you strapped down."
Duo reluctantly opened his eyes. This was a different Trynity. She was wearing a lab coat, but there were what appeared to be balloons and bunny rabbits printed on the yellow fabric. In one of the pockets he noticed a teddy bear. "What the hell is that?" he asked.
Trynity looked down, then she laughed and pulled out the bear. "Some of my patients need some comfort." She put it in his hand. "He's actually very friendly."
Duo tossed it back to her. "I don't need it."
She shrugged and slipped it back in her pocket. "I have rounds in the children's ward. The children there like Master Cuddles." Duo didn't even think it was funny that she had named the bear after the ridiculous bear their math teacher kept on her desk.
"So what are you doing here?" he asked. "Am I in the children's ward?"
"Of course not! I was just checking on you."
"I'm touched by your concern." He didn't really mean it. She was just his doctor now.
She smiled. "Actually, I'm trying to make sure you don't die because I am quite certain your son would kill me if you did."
"He's not…" Duo stopped himself from admitting that Taeron wasn't his son. What was the point? "He's probably very worried."
"As is Shamara. I haven't let her visit because I thought she might try to use her powers, and I clearly heard you tell her that she could not."
"She's not as strong as Apolo. I was afraid she would cause great harm to herself." He tried to sit up, but couldn't. "So, what have you done to me?"
"I haven't done anything but give you a little post-surgery care. You had a perforated ulcer. Your surgeon said it was so bad that he is surprised you weren't dead. Fortunately there have been great advances made in that field and he was able to successfully repair you physically." She laughed. "He was quite amazed to see how many times the ulcer had been cauterized and wondered why you didn't have any scars."
Duo sighed. "I don't think he would understand Guerani healing."
"I don't understand Guerani healing." She reached down to pat his hand, which he wanted to draw away. "Get some rest. Now that you are conscious, I will let Shamara and Taeron know they can visit you. Right now I have some children to visit."
"How long have I been here?" he asked her when she reached the door.
"About a week."
"Have there been any more ships arriving from Calabria?"
"None."
A short rap at the door preceded the entry into the room of a man Trynity introduced to Duo as his surgeon. Dr. Kurt Duran greeted him politely, then immediately turned his attention to Trynity. Duo might as well be a corpse for all the attention the surgeon gave him. He asked Trynity what she would be doing, about her patients, how long she would be at the infirmary. Would she have lunch with him? Too busy. How about meeting him at the infirmary gym so they could work out together? She didn't think she would have time to go that day. Duo hoped her refusals wouldn't affect the care Dr. Duran would be giving him.
The doctor finally turned his attention to Duo's chart. "Everything seems to be going well. All your tests have come back in the normal range. Fortunately you are very healthy, so you are healing quickly."
"I have to get going," interrupted Trynity. She turned to look at Duo. "Get some rest. I might stop by later."
"Don't bother," he muttered. "I don't think I'll feel up to visitors." Especially not you, he finished silently.
Trynity shrugged and headed to the door.
"I'll see you around," said Dr. Duran, and he watched her walk to the door. Trynity turned back to glance at Duo, but he looked away, unfortunately getting a good look at Dr. Duran's obvious interest in her backside.
When she had gone, Duran sighed. "Too bad she runs that clinic down on Mars Colony. We don't see nearly enough of her. Not nearly enough."
"You know her pretty well?" asked Duo. He wondered if Trynity had moved on now that Lars was gone. She might be the type who needed a man in her life. Maybe that is why she jumped so readily into Lars' bed.
"We were in many of the same classes at medical school until I chose surgery and she decided on family practice. Waste of her talents, but she seems to get off on helping the wretched masses."
"Are you two an item now?" Duo asked. He didn't like Kurt Duran.
"Sadly, no. We were friends in medical school although I wouldn't have minded something a little more, and I didn't give a damn if she was married. Her husband's been dead over a year now. A woman like her has to get lonely, and I plan to be around when she does." The man stroked his bearded chin thoughtfully. "Although I did hear a rumor that she's been getting it from Quatre Winner down on Mars."
Quatre Winner? Duo couldn't even imagine it. Although Quatre hadn't been at the ball, Duo had met the Winner heir, and although Trynity's daughter seemed to find the blond young man attractive, Duo took an instant dislike to him. He couldn't put his finger on the problem, but he sensed Malik Winner was playing a role in public. So what had his father become? Duo realized that since his arrival, he knew very little about the lives of his former friends, not even Heero who had spent most of the previous day busy at his office while the Calabrians rested. Duo could easily imagine Trynity with Lars, but not Trynity with Quatre Winner. The thought was almost laughable.
"As for you, Mr. Maxwell…" The doctor gave Duo an explanation about the procedure he had undergone in enough detail to almost make Duo sick. He ended by telling Duo that he had to come to terms with whatever distress had caused the illness in the first place or he would find himself in the same shape in a few months. Duo knew what caused the distress, and there was nothing he could do to change it. How could one decision screw up his life so much? He ended by suggesting that Duo speak to a psychologist, but Duo told him not to bother sending one.
"I will find solace with guidance from the gods," he told Dr. Duran who raised a skeptical brow at him.
"Have they helped you up to this point?" he asked Duo.
Duo didn't answer. After spending so many years amongst the Calabrians and witnessing all that he had, he could not mock the gods. He just didn't know yet what the gods had planned for him.
"Let me know if you change your mind." Duo was glad when Dr. Duran finally left. He had little doubt that Duran was going to stalk and try to bag Trynity before the end of the day. He told himself that it was none of his business, and yet he hadn't liked how the man talked about her so casually to his patient. Didn't she deserve a little more respect than that?
Late in the day, Shamara and Taeron arrived with Quynn and the young man Duo had seen Trynity dancing with at the ball. He had called her "mom", so he must be her son, Ivan, whom everyone called Stryfe. He was wearing a pilot's uniform as was his sister so they must have recently gotten off duty to accompany Shamara and Taeron to the infirmary.
Shamara hurried to his bed and put her arms around him. "Lord Duo, you are awake! I was so worried about you!"
She framed his face with his hands, but he shook his head to remove her touch. "I am not in pain, Shamara."
She stepped back, the hurt showing in her eyes. "I was just trying to help."
Duo looked past her to Taeron. "Have you been protecting the princess?"
"She hasn't been from my sight, my lord."
"This whole imperial guard thing is a drag," commented Quynn as she sat on the edge of Duo's bed. "We can't have any fun."
Duo looked at her. In the short time he had been at Heero's home, he had determined that Trynity's daughter was a hopeless flirt. He couldn't decide if she preferred Heero's son, Chaz, or Quatre's son, Malik. They both buzzed around her like bees over a flower, but she mercilessly ignored them in her pursuit of any other male that caught her eye, including Taeron.
"Taeron has responsibilities," he said to her.
"Dull responsibilities." She sighed until her brother cleared his throat. "Oh! My brother wants to be introduced."
Stryfe stepped forward, his hand out. "I've heard a lot about you! I know you went to the academy with my mother and father. Pops mentioned you quite a bit. I think he admired you."
Sure he did, thought Duo bitterly as he grasped Stryfe's hand. Admired him enough to snatch up his girl at the first opportunity. "We weren't at the academy long together before I was assigned to L10."
"Too bad. Maybe you have some stories you can tell me about him."
He had nothing to say to Lars' son. "Maybe."
"Mom said not to tire him out," said Quynn as she reached out to grab Shamara's hand. "We have some shopping to do. Let's…" Her voice trailed off suddenly.
Duo glanced at Shamara and saw a startled look on her face, then his eyes dropped to her hand where Quynn was holding it. Damn! What was she doing now?
Quynn snatched her hand away, her eyes darted to Duo's face, and then she looked at her hand before she tossed back her hair and laughed. "That was quite a shock! Must be static electricity! Well, let's go!"
She walked to the door with a quick step, and she didn't even wait for them to say goodbye before she left. Shamara stayed behind for a moment because Duo grabbed her arm, and Taeron paused at the door. "What was that?"
"I…I…" There was surprise in her eyes as she met his. "I don't know! I felt something strange, but I can't put a name to it."
Duo closed his eyes. "Shamara, don't touch anyone else while we are here. Promise me."
"I won't, Lord Duo. I promise." She kissed his forehead, then she hugged him. "Get some rest."
"My lord," spoke up Taeron. "I have made some inquiries and have found no report of the Bayman ship. Could it have been destroyed in the wormhole?"
"If it was, I hope Prince Dagan wasn't aboard."
Mars Colony
"Get back to work!"
Dagan glanced up to see a guard club one of the other workers with a stick. The man dropped to his knees then dragged himself back up. He didn't know what the man had done, but he had been in the mine long enough to know that stopping to wipe sweat from one's brow was enough to infuriate the guards. The bruises on his own body had forced him to learn enough of this language to know why the other man was being beaten.
"You!" Dagan realized he was being addressed and turned to look at the burly man holding the stick. The fact that all the workers wore collars and wristbands through which the guards could send debilitating electronic pulses to punish them wasn't enough for this man. He seemed to derive some kind of pleasure by beating the workers.
Dagan started to move towards him when he felt a shock from his neck collar. Apparently he wasn't moving fast enough, so he hurried to the guard and hoped he would understand what was expected of him. Unfortunately, he didn't which earned him a slap across the face before the guard's other victim spoke quickly, saying something that appeased the guard who gave Dagan one last jolt in the neck collar before walking away to harass other workers.
As he gasped to catch his breath, the other man watched him for a moment then started to speak. He was explaining something in great detail that Dagan didn't understand until he pointed out what Dagan recognized as blasting equipment. Now he realized what was expected of him. The guard wanted him to set the charges further ahead in the tunnel. Dagan had never seen any man return from that duty. A few days ago some limbs were found of the last man they had sent deep into the mine shaft. Dagan thought it strange that some of the flesh was missing and that most of the body was never found.
So was this the fate the gods had for him? Where was the adventure he was supposed to encounter? He thought it had begun when the gods had sucked his craft into the vortex in space despite the efforts of his pilots to avoid it. They had lost control, and Dagan was sure he was going to die when they crashed on this primitive planet. The two pilots were killed on impact, one of his guards died shortly after, and the other who had shielded Dagan from the worst of the accident, lingered for a few days before he also died from his injuries. Dagan had been bruised, shaken and confused for several days as he wandered through the thick vegetation until kind strangers found him.
The simple people who lived in a forest village took him in and cared for his injuries despite the fact he could not communicate with them. In the evenings the entire village –a couple dozen people – would gather together to eat, sharing what they had with each other. Dagan wondered if the gods wanted him to learn a lesson from these honest people. The only lesson he learned was that cruelty was universal. One evening, their peaceful meal was disturbed when brigands riding horned beasts surged into camp. Some women and children escaped into the forest, others were beaten, raped or killed while the men were herded like animals away. Since that evening, Dagan had worn the collar around his neck, the bracelets around his wrists. The men had been thrust into the mines to dig for crude gems and another substance that glowed on the walls and ground of the dark, moist tunnels.
Dagan watched as the man explained again how to set the charges, then nodded toward the yawning black pit ahead of them. The guard barked at him, so Dagan moved carefully forward into the darkness. Fortunately, the glow from the mineral they were extracting lit the way somewhat although he had to squint to see better in the darkness. He stumbled over something, heard a squeak and felt something furry brushed against his leg. There were slimy creatures moving along the walls, most small enough not to cause concern although Dagan realized they would probably be feasting on his body if he were trapped in the rubble from the explosion he was about to set. He guessed the guard had timed the charges so that he couldn't escape, that he enjoyed killing men. All the men in the mines were at his mercy, and he preyed upon their fear. Were all men of power corrupt? Was this the lesson the gods expected him to learn? Was it a warning?
A low sound akin to a growl made Dagan stop and look around. The sound repeated, but this time it was louder and it seemed to ripple through his body. Although he was able to control himself, his heart began to beat faster with fear. Dagan knew that he had to suppress his panic or he would be unable to stop the surge of power now bubbling deep inside his body. He waited for a moment, listening carefully before he took a few steps back toward the end of the tunnel. He heard the guard shout something and assumed it was an order to continue. Strangely, he didn't feel a shock from the collar. Perhaps the signal did not reach this far.
There came a rumbling beneath his feet, and Dagan had to reach out to the wall to maintain his balance. The guard was shouting at him again, and he heard the shouts of others as well, but he could not understand them. He wiped the slime from his hand and pulled off a small, slippery beast that had begun to suck on his hand. This was a test of the gods, he was certain. When Dagan came to the wall at the end, he heard another loud groan, but this time the entire cavern shook and creatures dropped from the ceiling onto him.
He didn't have time to swipe them away because from the blackness ahead came another rumbling, and the wall suddenly collapsed, spewing rocks outward. Dagan fell backwards from the blast, wondering vaguely if the charges had already been set. But as he turned and started to rise, he was struck speechless as a creature the size and like of which he had never seen in his life burst out, opening an orifice that could be its mouth and spewing forth the same glowing liquid that eerily illuminated the mine. Dagan rolled out of the way, just barely able to avoid being hit by the repulsive ooze. Several of the smaller beasts on the floor were caught under the liquid and sizzled before dissolving.
Dagan didn't waste any more time. He quickly regained his feet just as he heard the creature roar again, and he started to run back from where he had come. He could hear the giant creature chasing him, its huge, unholy body slithering over the ground, making the entire cavern shake. Dagan could not worry about controlling his fear now. It was full upon him.
As he emerged from the tunnel into the central digging site, the men were already running for the lifts that could carry them upward to safety. Dagan dashed for the lift, but it was already ascending, and although the other workers reached down for him, the guard was laughing sadistically as it pulled away from him.
The roar of the beast behind him made Dagan spin around to see the fanged monster rear up over him. He saw horrified to see a skull with rotting flesh stuck between two of its massive teeth, and he knew if he didn't do something, he would become a victim as well. There was no more time for coherent thought. The monster struck down at him, and Dagan raised his hands as his master had taught him. The power flowed out from the center of his being, and a blast more powerful than any he had ever achieved struck the monster. Its shriek of pain was terrifying, and the stench of its burned flesh churned Dagan's stomach.
But after a moment's pause, the creature turned back to Dagan. Dagan had never used his powers more than once in such a short span. Master Nazzar didn't believe he was powerful enough. Now he would have to prove that he was, or he was going to be the creature's meal. Concentrating even as the monster came so close its hot, fetid breath assailed him, Dagan began to draw his powers again from deep within. Some type of appendage swept out and knocked him against a far wall. Dagan almost lost consciousness, but he forced himself to keep his eyes open, his blurry gaze upon the monster creeping toward him, sniffing as if searching for its food. It's huge tongue lapped over Dagan, covering him with a noxious slime. Fear exploded in his mind and heart and shook his body. When the beast opened it's gigantic mouth, Dagan let loose a stream of power that brightened the cavern and tore through the monster, making it glow for a moment before the beast exploded from the inside out.
As it's innards rained around him, Dagan closed his eyes and fell backwards, his last thought that although he had killed the monster, the tiny creatures in the caves would enjoy cleaning up both him and the beast.
A bright light awoke him. Dagan couldn't see very well at first, having been blinded by that light and having spent countless days in the hole in the ground. But after a few moments, he was able to see the blurry face of a man waving a small light as he held his eyelids open.
Dagan groaned. The man released him and said something to someone behind him. Dagan tried to sit up but realized quickly that he was strapped down to what seemed to be a table. Another man stepped forward, brushed blond hair from his blue eyes and peered down at Dagan.
When he spoke, Dagan was amazed to understand him. "The guards at the mine think you cannot hear. My guess is you came through that wormhole."
He was speaking Calabrian, a language Dagan could understand perfectly. So, was this some Calabrian colony? Dagan knew that Emperor Trey had made contacts on other worlds, had even spent a few years in another system. Was this the type of people his father wanted an alliance with?
"Perhaps you are deaf and dumb."
"I can speak," said Dagan.
"Who are you?"
"Am I on Calabria?"
The blond man laughed. "No. You are in the human solar system. Your ship passed through a wormhole and must have crashed here. My men are combing the forests for the wreckage. Fortunately for you, I can understand you although I expect you will have to learn to communicate with my people. Who are you?"
Dagan dared not tell the truth. By the treatment these humans gave each other, he feared what he would do if he knew Dagan was the heir to a planet kingdom. "My name is …is…" He remembered the name of one of his guards. "Kael. I was assigned to guard Prince Dagan on his nuptial voyage."
"Prince Dagan? I seem to recall something of that name. Ah, yes, the brother of the lovely Princess Ryana."
This man knew his sister! Dagan didn't betray his surprise. "Yes, the brother of Princess Ryana. He was to marry…"
"Let me guess: Princess Shamara. I will assume that she is the only one of rank worthy of him." The man leaned forward. "My name is Quatre Raberba Winner. I am well acquainted with Emperor Trey of Calabria. We fought side by side in many battles, but then he was called Trowa Barton. I held Princess Shamara in my arms when she was just an infant during those dark days before he gained his throne."
Dagan guessed by the tone of his voice that Quatre Raberba Winner wasn't all that impressed by Trey of Calabria. Dagan had heard nothing but good things about the ruler of Bayman's sister planet, so he was rather surprised. "I…I do not know Emperor Trey."
"Of course you wouldn't. Where is Prince Dagan?"
"He…he did not survive the crash."
The blond man stared at him, his blue eyes piercing as if he could read through his lies. Then he sighed. "Too bad. I would have liked having some leverage over Trey. Oh well, I suppose his empire has gotten very powerful, just as the prophecy foretold."
What prophecy? But Dagan nodded. "My lord, King Seighen, was honored that Emperor Trey wanted his son to marry his princess."
"Enough talk about Trey. I want information about the powers that you used in the mines. Unfortunately, you killed a boreworm, but I am interested in the magic you used. You frightened the workers considerably. They are a rebellious, lazy lot, and I don't think the guards and the collars will hold them in check much longer, especially when certain individuals seem to be so intent on fighting their battles."
"What is a boreworm?" asked Dagan. Winner seemed to be disappointed that the beast had been killed.
Quatre Winner chuckled, and the sound chilled Dagan. "They are my pets. I discovered their usefulness quite by accident. The beasts produce a substance that is highly hallucinogenic and very addictive. I have quite a thriving business on some of the colonies as well as here on Mars."
"The mines are not for retrieving ore?" asked Dagan.
"There are quite a few mineral deposits which make my operations on this planet appear respectable, but the farming of the boreworms is what makes this primitive planet worth my efforts here."
"The work is dangerous," commented Dagan. "The boreworms seem to have a taste for flesh."
Quatre laughed again. "Hasn't the big picture become clear to you? The guard told me you were among the men taken in the raid on the forest village in sector X712."
"I think they called it Greenvale," muttered Dagan. The village had a name; the people had names. Didn't they realize it?
"We don't really need workers." There was a half-smile on Quatre's lips.
Dagan recalled how little work was expected of the men. The quota of ore extracted was really quite small, and a people who could design collars that could keep men's actions in check would surely have a more advanced, less dangerous system of mining. "We…we were captured to … to feed the boreworms."
"You are an intelligent man, Kael. The true mining takes place at another location. I only have a few men at the mining facilities pushing buttons to operate the collection systems. The boreworms produce much better when fed human flesh."
It was on the tip of Dagan's tongue to tell Quatre Raberba Winner just what he thought of him, but he said nothing. Dagan was marooned here, with no chance of returning to Bayman in the immediate future. If he expected to live, he was going to have to do it on this man's terms. This must be part of the gods' plan.
"What do you want of me?" he asked.
"Your powers interest me. Soon enough word of them will have spread to many different villages. If you are seen at my side, the people will forget their wild imaginings of rebellion or at least realize that any such attempt would be futile. You will join my men on their harvesting raids."
Harvesting? The man spoke of destroying other people's lives as if he were talking about bringing in a crop.
"Do you have a problem with that?" Winner was staring down at him and Dagan was acutely aware that he was strapped down and still feeling weak from using his powers.
"I don't want to go back into the mines," stated Dagan. For now he would do what he must to survive.
"As I said before, you are a very intelligent young man." He reached out to push at Dagan's chest and he felt an intense pain. "It's too bad the lovely Dr. Nelson is still at L12. She would be able to set your broken ribs. For now you will have to put up with the primitive care Butch can give you." Quatre looked at the other man.
He stepped forward carrying a syringe. "This should keep him quiet for a while."
Dagan stared at the glowing substance in the syringe. "I…I have no intention of trying to escape."
Quatre smiled that chilling smile. "You can thank me later."
He felt a prick in his arm, and he strained to see the man called Butch emptying the substance under his skin into his flesh. When he was finished, he stepped back and watched Dagan.
Quatre leaned forward and whispered in his ear. "Enjoy your little trip."
