Living In the Spirit of the Ring
2/6
Chapter 2: Fighting to Survive
"There is something terribly wrong with that new recruit," Wufei reflected before lights out, still sitting cross-legged on his bunk, eyes closed. His breath came out in even, steady breaths and he sighed, opening his eyes to look for Trowa, who had settled into his own bunk underneath him.
"I agree."
"You know, just that feeling like she's not all here for OZ?"
Trowa said nothing, but pulled the covers off him and put on his socks.
"Perhaps we could check it out in the morning," the Chinese man said, clapping his hands twice to turn out the lights. He knew Trowa would go, regardless of what he said or did.
"I'll do it now," Trowa said softly, exiting the room.
~~***~~
Mind activate. Midii Une reporting on November twenty-two, oh one-hundred hours. Keep transmission open during the investigation. Stationed in Barton, Dekim's personal study.
Midii took no risks in her business. When it came down to it, she was the best spy there was. If she was ever nominated for her achievements and successes, she would win the Nobel Prize. She silently administered her mental connection, checking that no databases or networks were sneaking up on her.
You understand that if I give the word, you will erase all data stored; everything from my mind and your logs will be eliminated if we are caught, correct?
*Of course. You know you will not get caught, Midii.*
No, it's not a fact. And I accept nothing but facts.
*You've told me a thousand times about the mental destruction. Every time we go on a mission. I get your 'jist' Miss Midii.*
Good then. Let's get to work.
Midii searched every book on the wall-sized bookshelf and looked through every sheet of paper in Dekim's desk. She moved quickly and quietly, searching and gathering information when she saw a lead.
She removed all the disks from his personal files and let Hugo scan them. Everything so far was absolutely clear.
But there was still the 'link. It was only a matter of feet away, and she was sure she could scam it before anyone would get suspicious of her disappearance.
The squeak of the door made her jerk, and she dived behind one of the leather couches in the study.
Dekim's voice was the first thing she heard.
"Officer, I'm sure the child is completely harmless. I, however, am not sure of what kind of evidence you are trying pin on her, but she has only been here one day, so if you will please leave the new recruit alone." He cleared his throat and poured some brandy for himself, but offered none to the other officers. "She passed the lie detector test," he said after taking a swallow of the cherry-colored liquid, "and her past has been verified. Believe me, officers, if she was a threat, she wouldn't have gotten past me."
Inaudibly, Midii rolled her eyes. Sounds like some are suspicious already.
*Yes, Ma'am,* Hugo agreed.
"Sir," another voice pressed, "there is something that she must be keeping quiet. Are you absolutely sure that this girl is incapable of any remotely dangerous acts?"
Yet another voice filled the room. He shifted and cleared his throat. "Officer Une was certainly incapable of any harm. I passed her in the hall this morning, and it looked as if she hadn't eaten anything in days."
That must be the lieutenant, Midii thought. Her mind was going at warp speed, thinking back to what they said before she realized it was her the topic was about.
"I must insist," Dekim said loudly, "that you go back to your quarters and stay there. Miss Une will not be causing any distractions. Keep your mind on protecting the colonies, and away from that woman," he suggested. Pushing the two men out of his office, he shut the door and went back to his desk. He sat in the burgundy colored chair for a moment, then decided on some brandy.
Midii knew this would take a while, unless there was a God up there.
When Dekim poured his drink and retired to his room through a secret door in the wall, Midii thanked the gods and walked back to the 'link.
It took a maximum of thirty seconds before she got a copy of incoming and outgoing calls from the past four months in her eager hands.
The easy part of the job was getting in, and the hard part was getting out. Midii's gun was cocked and ready beside her; all senses in her alert.
What she could have used was some coffee, and not that mud they had in the mess hall. Most people looked at her funny when she took a cup and curled up in a chair to read a thick book. Usually, fifteen-year-olds didn't do such things. They were in school. But now there was a war going on and the services of OZ were open to everyone, including teenagers.
On her ID, Midii registered herself as seventeen, therefore granting herself a good reputation. Not too many teenage girls walked into OZ and asked for an application. But they must have missed that little fact, Midii thought as she slowly opened the door.
It squeaked, and she immediately sprayed it. Now it was time to go fast. A spy's job is always on the edge.
She was used to it.
One thing she wasn't used to was the eerie sense that someone was watching her. It had happened before and that is when she killed. She was only seven years old. And she was named a born killer after that.
Hugo, someone is here. I can feel it.
*So can I, Miss. To your left, behind the statue.*
Midii turned on her heel and raised her weapon up to eye level. "You were in there, weren't you?" she questioned.
The shadow made no answer. In fact, it didn't move. A splash of moonlight fell upon the statue, and she realized no one was behind it.
She went to turn around, but she was caught. Her arms were behind her, pulling upwards and sending sharp streaks of pain up them. She made no sound, nor any attempt to retaliate.
"You failed," the voice behind her said in monotone. "You consider yourself a good spy? You got caught. And you know something else?"
She waited. Something was familiar about this man's voice, but she couldn't put her finger on it.
"I know you."
That's something we have in common. Prepare to engage in mental destruction, Hugo.
*Miss?*
No questions. Just prepare.
*I'm sorry.*
Me too.
"And I know what you are about to do." The man placed two fingers to her temple and removed them. "You have a mental log. Spy, and a good one." He waited a moment to steady himself. "Don't do it. I'll kill you before you do it. I swear it!"
Midii's eyes went blank. She dropped to her knees, about to lose her past, memories, and identity.
"Damn it! Don't do it, Midii!"
Her eyes came back into focus and they spotted the one, jaded eye and soft brown hair pushed to one side. She knew him. That was it.
She knew him.
"I should have killed you when I had the chance," he snarled, his eyes narrowed in anger. "I knew it was you! Your looks, the way you walked, even how quiet you were. Everything confirmed that I was right. You have no business being here," he said quietly.
"No-name?"
"That's right. You better not activate that or else I'll kill you. Then you won't know
why. But I will."
"You never talked this much before," she muttered under her breath.
Trowa closed his eyes and raked a hand through his hair. The only way to get answers is to ask questions. "Why are you here?"
"Same question I was going to ask you. I am not at liberty to relay that information. You'll have to stop me from deploying to get it. And even then, chances are that it'll take a lot to get it from me."
"Why are you risking your life?"
"Same reason you are. We have both been spies. It just so happens that I've been in the job field a lot longer than you have." Her waist-long hair gathered around her face as she lowered her head and she didn't bother to push it away.
"I missed you." The words came out so softly that the silencer could barely hear them.
"You betrayed my family--"
"I'm sorry."
"You lied to me--"
"I'm sorry."
"You ruined the life that I could've had--"
"I'm sorry."
"Sorry isn't good enough! You can't erase those memories from me!"
"I may not, but you could."
Confusion mixed with the anger that was crawling through Trowa's mind.
"Feel here." Midii took his hand and buried into his hair, pressing his fingertips against his skull.
A cold piece of metal was there, pulsing with a little patch of heat beneath it. For some reason, Trowa didn't acknowledge how he had gotten it.
"You have the program, too. You just never used it."
He was very intrigued, but still furious. "You were spying on Dekim. Why?"
"I told you, I cannot--"
"Listen to me," he growled, pulling her up by the shoulders, "If you have any sense, you will tell me."
"Why should I? I can kill you."
As soon as the words were spoken, her weapon was clattering to the floor.
"Big deal." Her fist connected with his jaw and her leg came up to block his attack.
They fought hand-to-hand, rage built up in them that only their pasts could explain.
The fight continued; kicking, punching. Yet everything remained silent. Not even a blind mouse passing by would have noticed the two.
Quarreling ended when Midii finally pinned Trowa to the ground, holding him securely.
"Get off me."
"No. Not until you tell me why you are here. I never thought you'd be in a place like this," she said to herself.
"I can't tell you, either."
"Oh! So you're a spy here, too, huh? Well, that's comforting to know. Who's your employer?" She waited, then said, "I know about Operation Meteor."
Trowa's face remained expressionless.
"You were assigned on it first. And you, therefore, have all the information. I'll make a deal with you, No-name. Do you think you could stand me for one more day? That's all I need and I'll be out of here."
"Hn." Playing Heero's part was natural to Trowa now, and it worked well enough, also. Midii got off him and stood, holding her hand out to help him up.
"As long as you don't kill me first."
"Don't count on it."
~~TBC