Chapter 03 - Quatre
"""I can still remember how I felt when I saw Wing self-destruct. How angry,
helpless and utterly sad it made me. Having to abandon our mission I could live
with, as I hadn't been very fond of it from the beginning. Handing over
Deathscythe I could learn how to get used to. But I couldn't - and still can't -
stand to loose a friend to death. Especially Heero, the first friend I gained
since sneaking onboard the Sweepers ship. He was, is, the person closest to my
heart. And while he might disagree, I know he considers me one as well. If an
occasionally annoying friend.
If someone would ask me how I felt in that awful moment Wing lit up, just before
it blew to bits, I wouldn't know what to say. Then, I still couldn't quite
comprehend that Heero was going to die. In fact, the only thing I remember in
clarity that one second before Wing truly blew into bits and after doctor J
indirectly gave the order is complete calmness and indifference. It scares me
still. How could I feel like that when a person I loved was about to die?
The moment ended with the blast, and the sudden rush of contradicting feelings
almost drove me insane. Anger, fear, sorrow, shame, guilt, confusion, hurt. They
all hit me like a sledgehammer, and let me tell you, I have never been so close
to ending it as then. I think the only thing keeping me from doing it was the
realization that something was wrong. Very wrong."""
January 6 AC 197
The weather is nice this time a year, and it follows the pattern this year
again. I don't think Rashid and the Maguanacs have been forced to pick up even
one tourist who failed to read the recommendations about sun oil and covering
cloths yet this year though. And thank Allah for that. I'm running out of
guestrooms. My sisters were really worried about me during the Mariemeia
Incident, and I think they are trying to make sure I'm alive. And while the
Winner estates are generally large, twenty-nine sisters and their families take
up quite much place. And even though I love them dearly, I'm seriously thinking
about relocating. Besides, living in the desert doesn't frame business much.
I miss the others. Some of them more, some of them less. I meet Duo practically
every week after all as he 'works' for me. If work is the correct word. It is
more like he offered to look in on things at Winners offices all around the
world after the first war as he travelled a lot as a salvage worker. Somehow, he
ended up as my right hand and the most important person in the company besides
me. My sisters frequently tell me that they can't understand how they managed
without us.
Ever since our involuntary reunion a couple of weeks ago, I've tried to keep
check on where the others are. Duo travelled to L2 to check on Hilde and fix a
slight problem with our office there. Ended up subbing at a school though. I
think he wanted to stay at L2 for a while and had to find a legitimate reason.
Trowa went back to Catherine of course. Note that I'm writing 'of course' with a
certain amount of bitterness. During the wars that keep popping up from nowhere,
he is always sweet and protective when it comes to me; we've even shared a kiss
or two. Then, I can almost believe that we've got something going on there, and
I'm starting to fall in love with Mr. Silent. But as soon as the crisis is over,
he always leaves without even saying goodbye. I'm getting rather tired of his
mixed signals, and yet I'm so very attracted to him, maybe more. Well, I guess
that's life.
The Preventers snapped up Wufei rather quickly afterwards this time. I think
they will benefit from that, and he certainly will benefit from it. Wufei has a
rather strong sense of what's right and wrong, and often has a hard time to look
away from the injustices of the world. Working with the Preventers will
hopefully calm him down some and help him realize that there are shades of grey
as well as black and white.
And then we have Heero. Mr Mysterious himself who of course managed to slither
through my spy net as nothing and disappear. I have no idea where he can be,
just as no one knew where he was after the first war. No one but Duo though for
some strange reason. Or not so strange maybe. They are friends after all. Heero
maybe keeps in contact. But all I really know is that Duo knows how to contact
him if needed.
Oh, excuse me, my cell phone is beeping.
==Quatre R. Winner==
As a knock sounds at the door to my study, I know Duo is here. Not because it's
a secret knock or something, but due to the very simple reason that he is the
only one who ever knocks on my study door. Which is rather strange when you
think about it. I mean, since when do Duo Maxwell care about etiquette? But then
again, when does he ever do things like everyone else do?
"Come in," I call out; shifting in my seat so I easily can rise if Duo is in
hugging mode.
The door flies open within a second, admitting a stressed looking Duo.
"What has happened to you?" I exclaim, flying out of my seat to worriedly hurry
over to my friend. "You look like you haven't slept in days!"
He grins tiredly at me, flopping down in a nearby chair. Anxiously scanning him
for injuries or something to clue me in as to why he looks like he just dug
himself out of his own grave, I notice several abnormalities. First, his hair is
not in its normal braid, but hangs in a tangled mess from a high ponytail.
Second, he is dirtier than a street kid in the colonies, and that's saying a
lot. I can't even see his skin for all the black grime covering it, and his hair
looks like its natural colour is black. Third, he is dressed in something that
I'm hesitant on even calling cloths. And when I put all of these things
together, there's only one conclusion I can draw.
"Something has come up," I say, unconsciously tensing into a defensive stance.
"You've been reconnoitring."
Duo chuckles exhaustedly.
"Always the smart one," he quips, then freeze as a tremble flies through his
body.
He closes his eyes for a second, a movement that proves to me just how out of it
he is. Duo has always had better endurance than any of us, with maybe the
exception of Heero, and when he's exhausted, most others would have dropped dead
already.
"There's someone out there," he suddenly says, pulling his fingers through his
hopelessly knotted hair while looking at me with an utterly despairing yet
determined look on his face. "Someone who is as smart as us, thinks as we do,
operates as we did during the war. And that someone is after Relena."
Shit. This can't be. Not again. I refuse. I won't allow it. Please, not again!
Allah, it's supposed to be over, we're supposed to live in peace, marry and have
children! I can't kill again, it's over, it is!
Arms are surrounding me now, holding me tightly, comforting as I stare blankly,
not able to comprehend what is happening. Then, something rips me from my
confused mind.
"Quatre!" The voice is harsh, determined. "Snap out of it! We don't have the
time to panic."
Dragging my confused mind together, I find myself sitting on the floor, upheld
only by Duo's arms. Vaguely noticing that Duo has dirtied my cloths as well, I
look into my friend's eyes. Violet and very anxious. Worried even. Then my Space
Heart kicks in, and I am flooded by worry, stress and fear from Duo.
Gasping, I sit up by my own accord, breathing deeply to regain my composure.
"Better now?" Duo smiles a little, even though his eyes remain grave.
I nod, rising slightly wobbly to my feet. Walking over to my chair, I sit down,
looking at Duo.
"What do we know?" I silently ask, looking tiredly at Duo even as I feel myself
sliding into combat mode. "Have you contacted the others?"
Perching himself on the window seat, Duo produces a small palm reader from his
cloths, flipping it open and doing something on it.
"Wufei was the first one to become aware of the situation," he begins, his voice
the cool, detached one used by Shinigami. "During a regular network check two
days ago, he discovered a class Alpha Alpha One encrypted file. He managed to
crack it, and found that it contained detailed plans for an assassination
attempt on Relena. At first sight, it would seem like that it was the only thing
it contained, but both Wufei and I recognized the pattern. It's a very good
version of the infiltration and take over strategies we used during the war. One
that was very similarly laid out to those planned after our enhanced abilities
and resources."
I curse silently at that. Even if the plan had been less sophisticated, the
encryption technique would be alarming enough. For an Alpha Alpha One encryption
class is a Heero Yuy encryption, and if Heero Yuy encrypts something, it stays
encrypted if you aren't a pilot or have the key.
" We will all be needed for this one," I comment without the slightest tremble
in my voice. Quatre the Gundam pilot is back. And somehow, I fear he's back to
stay.
Duo nods, then glares at a filthy strand of his hair.
"I'll go clean up a bit," he says and starts to pull his hair from his tail. "My
shuttle to L1 Z-12583 doesn't leave in a few hours anyway."
I nod, absently reaching for my phone.
"Yes," I say. "We are gathering at safe house Beta V7, correct?"
At Duo's nod, I dial a number.
"Rashid? Good. I will need to depart for Little Vinton in an hour. Will you
please see to the jet is ready to depart? Thank you. No, that won't be
necessary, but thank you anyway. Yes, that's correct. Hn. All right. Bye."
Putting down the phone, I notice that Duo's already gone, leaving a trail of
dirt behind. Making a mental note to alert the cleaning ladies, I walk over to a
seemingly innocent window at the other side of the room. Looking around quickly
for eventual onlookers, I then tap a certain nail in the window, then place my
hand on the second glass quadrant from the upper corner and state my name
clearly. A loud beep is heard, and then the middle pillar in the room slides
away to reveal a hidden staircase leading into the ground.
Staring at the hole in the floor for a second, I then sigh and start down it.
The pillar slides into place behind me with a soft click, leaving me in the
narrow staircase with only the artificial light of glowing stones to show me the
way. No electricity is allowed beyond this point, as a safety precaution. For
what this hidden cellar holds, can destroy the known world.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I step out on an empty floor in an empty
hall. Or at least nearly empty. For in the middle of the hall are a computer
central and a simple chair. Neatly displayed on the empty space next to the
screen is an innocent looking headset.
Repressing the impulse to run away and never come back, I loose myself in
thoughts.
"'For power can be held in the smallest of things and used for the greatest of
evils,'" a voice quotes behind me, awakening me from my thoughts.
Duo steps up beside me, looking at the items before us.
"I never thought that we might need it again," he softly says, holding his ever-
present cross in his hand. "But here we are. And soon, hell will no doubt break
loose again."
I turn my back to the cursed thing, closing my eyes.
" Yes," I mutter so softly I almost cannot hear it myself. "Once again it was
right. Our future isn't meant to be spent in peace."
I start walking towards the stairs.
"Do what you have to do," I say to him, refusing to look at the thing again.
"But I cannot risk going near the thing again. I can't control myself.... I..."
Duo interrupts me, sympathy in his voice.
"I know, Quat," he simply says. "And no one will expect you to. You will never
have to experience the Zero system again. This time, I will have to be the one
to do it."
And even though I know that his words is illogical, I also know they are true.
***
Duo looked at the headset in front of him, a determined expression on his face.
He had to do this. When he still had been a trainee for professor G, the man had
told him that a time would come when he would need the answers buried inside
him. The scientist had told him about the Zero system, what it could do and what
the system would do to him. And now it was time to use it. It was time to
unleash the secrets buried in the mark genetically tattooed into his neck.
It was time to wake Shinigami Final V.2.6.6.
"""I can still remember how I felt when I saw Wing self-destruct. How angry,
helpless and utterly sad it made me. Having to abandon our mission I could live
with, as I hadn't been very fond of it from the beginning. Handing over
Deathscythe I could learn how to get used to. But I couldn't - and still can't -
stand to loose a friend to death. Especially Heero, the first friend I gained
since sneaking onboard the Sweepers ship. He was, is, the person closest to my
heart. And while he might disagree, I know he considers me one as well. If an
occasionally annoying friend.
If someone would ask me how I felt in that awful moment Wing lit up, just before
it blew to bits, I wouldn't know what to say. Then, I still couldn't quite
comprehend that Heero was going to die. In fact, the only thing I remember in
clarity that one second before Wing truly blew into bits and after doctor J
indirectly gave the order is complete calmness and indifference. It scares me
still. How could I feel like that when a person I loved was about to die?
The moment ended with the blast, and the sudden rush of contradicting feelings
almost drove me insane. Anger, fear, sorrow, shame, guilt, confusion, hurt. They
all hit me like a sledgehammer, and let me tell you, I have never been so close
to ending it as then. I think the only thing keeping me from doing it was the
realization that something was wrong. Very wrong."""
January 6 AC 197
The weather is nice this time a year, and it follows the pattern this year
again. I don't think Rashid and the Maguanacs have been forced to pick up even
one tourist who failed to read the recommendations about sun oil and covering
cloths yet this year though. And thank Allah for that. I'm running out of
guestrooms. My sisters were really worried about me during the Mariemeia
Incident, and I think they are trying to make sure I'm alive. And while the
Winner estates are generally large, twenty-nine sisters and their families take
up quite much place. And even though I love them dearly, I'm seriously thinking
about relocating. Besides, living in the desert doesn't frame business much.
I miss the others. Some of them more, some of them less. I meet Duo practically
every week after all as he 'works' for me. If work is the correct word. It is
more like he offered to look in on things at Winners offices all around the
world after the first war as he travelled a lot as a salvage worker. Somehow, he
ended up as my right hand and the most important person in the company besides
me. My sisters frequently tell me that they can't understand how they managed
without us.
Ever since our involuntary reunion a couple of weeks ago, I've tried to keep
check on where the others are. Duo travelled to L2 to check on Hilde and fix a
slight problem with our office there. Ended up subbing at a school though. I
think he wanted to stay at L2 for a while and had to find a legitimate reason.
Trowa went back to Catherine of course. Note that I'm writing 'of course' with a
certain amount of bitterness. During the wars that keep popping up from nowhere,
he is always sweet and protective when it comes to me; we've even shared a kiss
or two. Then, I can almost believe that we've got something going on there, and
I'm starting to fall in love with Mr. Silent. But as soon as the crisis is over,
he always leaves without even saying goodbye. I'm getting rather tired of his
mixed signals, and yet I'm so very attracted to him, maybe more. Well, I guess
that's life.
The Preventers snapped up Wufei rather quickly afterwards this time. I think
they will benefit from that, and he certainly will benefit from it. Wufei has a
rather strong sense of what's right and wrong, and often has a hard time to look
away from the injustices of the world. Working with the Preventers will
hopefully calm him down some and help him realize that there are shades of grey
as well as black and white.
And then we have Heero. Mr Mysterious himself who of course managed to slither
through my spy net as nothing and disappear. I have no idea where he can be,
just as no one knew where he was after the first war. No one but Duo though for
some strange reason. Or not so strange maybe. They are friends after all. Heero
maybe keeps in contact. But all I really know is that Duo knows how to contact
him if needed.
Oh, excuse me, my cell phone is beeping.
==Quatre R. Winner==
As a knock sounds at the door to my study, I know Duo is here. Not because it's
a secret knock or something, but due to the very simple reason that he is the
only one who ever knocks on my study door. Which is rather strange when you
think about it. I mean, since when do Duo Maxwell care about etiquette? But then
again, when does he ever do things like everyone else do?
"Come in," I call out; shifting in my seat so I easily can rise if Duo is in
hugging mode.
The door flies open within a second, admitting a stressed looking Duo.
"What has happened to you?" I exclaim, flying out of my seat to worriedly hurry
over to my friend. "You look like you haven't slept in days!"
He grins tiredly at me, flopping down in a nearby chair. Anxiously scanning him
for injuries or something to clue me in as to why he looks like he just dug
himself out of his own grave, I notice several abnormalities. First, his hair is
not in its normal braid, but hangs in a tangled mess from a high ponytail.
Second, he is dirtier than a street kid in the colonies, and that's saying a
lot. I can't even see his skin for all the black grime covering it, and his hair
looks like its natural colour is black. Third, he is dressed in something that
I'm hesitant on even calling cloths. And when I put all of these things
together, there's only one conclusion I can draw.
"Something has come up," I say, unconsciously tensing into a defensive stance.
"You've been reconnoitring."
Duo chuckles exhaustedly.
"Always the smart one," he quips, then freeze as a tremble flies through his
body.
He closes his eyes for a second, a movement that proves to me just how out of it
he is. Duo has always had better endurance than any of us, with maybe the
exception of Heero, and when he's exhausted, most others would have dropped dead
already.
"There's someone out there," he suddenly says, pulling his fingers through his
hopelessly knotted hair while looking at me with an utterly despairing yet
determined look on his face. "Someone who is as smart as us, thinks as we do,
operates as we did during the war. And that someone is after Relena."
Shit. This can't be. Not again. I refuse. I won't allow it. Please, not again!
Allah, it's supposed to be over, we're supposed to live in peace, marry and have
children! I can't kill again, it's over, it is!
Arms are surrounding me now, holding me tightly, comforting as I stare blankly,
not able to comprehend what is happening. Then, something rips me from my
confused mind.
"Quatre!" The voice is harsh, determined. "Snap out of it! We don't have the
time to panic."
Dragging my confused mind together, I find myself sitting on the floor, upheld
only by Duo's arms. Vaguely noticing that Duo has dirtied my cloths as well, I
look into my friend's eyes. Violet and very anxious. Worried even. Then my Space
Heart kicks in, and I am flooded by worry, stress and fear from Duo.
Gasping, I sit up by my own accord, breathing deeply to regain my composure.
"Better now?" Duo smiles a little, even though his eyes remain grave.
I nod, rising slightly wobbly to my feet. Walking over to my chair, I sit down,
looking at Duo.
"What do we know?" I silently ask, looking tiredly at Duo even as I feel myself
sliding into combat mode. "Have you contacted the others?"
Perching himself on the window seat, Duo produces a small palm reader from his
cloths, flipping it open and doing something on it.
"Wufei was the first one to become aware of the situation," he begins, his voice
the cool, detached one used by Shinigami. "During a regular network check two
days ago, he discovered a class Alpha Alpha One encrypted file. He managed to
crack it, and found that it contained detailed plans for an assassination
attempt on Relena. At first sight, it would seem like that it was the only thing
it contained, but both Wufei and I recognized the pattern. It's a very good
version of the infiltration and take over strategies we used during the war. One
that was very similarly laid out to those planned after our enhanced abilities
and resources."
I curse silently at that. Even if the plan had been less sophisticated, the
encryption technique would be alarming enough. For an Alpha Alpha One encryption
class is a Heero Yuy encryption, and if Heero Yuy encrypts something, it stays
encrypted if you aren't a pilot or have the key.
" We will all be needed for this one," I comment without the slightest tremble
in my voice. Quatre the Gundam pilot is back. And somehow, I fear he's back to
stay.
Duo nods, then glares at a filthy strand of his hair.
"I'll go clean up a bit," he says and starts to pull his hair from his tail. "My
shuttle to L1 Z-12583 doesn't leave in a few hours anyway."
I nod, absently reaching for my phone.
"Yes," I say. "We are gathering at safe house Beta V7, correct?"
At Duo's nod, I dial a number.
"Rashid? Good. I will need to depart for Little Vinton in an hour. Will you
please see to the jet is ready to depart? Thank you. No, that won't be
necessary, but thank you anyway. Yes, that's correct. Hn. All right. Bye."
Putting down the phone, I notice that Duo's already gone, leaving a trail of
dirt behind. Making a mental note to alert the cleaning ladies, I walk over to a
seemingly innocent window at the other side of the room. Looking around quickly
for eventual onlookers, I then tap a certain nail in the window, then place my
hand on the second glass quadrant from the upper corner and state my name
clearly. A loud beep is heard, and then the middle pillar in the room slides
away to reveal a hidden staircase leading into the ground.
Staring at the hole in the floor for a second, I then sigh and start down it.
The pillar slides into place behind me with a soft click, leaving me in the
narrow staircase with only the artificial light of glowing stones to show me the
way. No electricity is allowed beyond this point, as a safety precaution. For
what this hidden cellar holds, can destroy the known world.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I step out on an empty floor in an empty
hall. Or at least nearly empty. For in the middle of the hall are a computer
central and a simple chair. Neatly displayed on the empty space next to the
screen is an innocent looking headset.
Repressing the impulse to run away and never come back, I loose myself in
thoughts.
"'For power can be held in the smallest of things and used for the greatest of
evils,'" a voice quotes behind me, awakening me from my thoughts.
Duo steps up beside me, looking at the items before us.
"I never thought that we might need it again," he softly says, holding his ever-
present cross in his hand. "But here we are. And soon, hell will no doubt break
loose again."
I turn my back to the cursed thing, closing my eyes.
" Yes," I mutter so softly I almost cannot hear it myself. "Once again it was
right. Our future isn't meant to be spent in peace."
I start walking towards the stairs.
"Do what you have to do," I say to him, refusing to look at the thing again.
"But I cannot risk going near the thing again. I can't control myself.... I..."
Duo interrupts me, sympathy in his voice.
"I know, Quat," he simply says. "And no one will expect you to. You will never
have to experience the Zero system again. This time, I will have to be the one
to do it."
And even though I know that his words is illogical, I also know they are true.
***
Duo looked at the headset in front of him, a determined expression on his face.
He had to do this. When he still had been a trainee for professor G, the man had
told him that a time would come when he would need the answers buried inside
him. The scientist had told him about the Zero system, what it could do and what
the system would do to him. And now it was time to use it. It was time to
unleash the secrets buried in the mark genetically tattooed into his neck.
It was time to wake Shinigami Final V.2.6.6.
