"""Heero was asleep by the time we arrived at the colony. By the looks of it, it wasn't very restful though. Using the excuse of our arrival, I punched him lightly in the shoulder to wake him while calling his name softly. He woke up instinctively of course; we all do after all with our training. It wasn't hard to see in his eyes the relief for me waking him up. I'm not even going to speculate what he dreamt of then. Considering my own nightmares, I don't think I want to know either.
He wanted me to take us in. That ruffled me slightly. Sure, I know that with my superior reflexes I was the best-suited one to do it, but I had no idea that Heero knew that. What did he know about me? Did he only think I was a talented and skilful pilot, or had he found out something more? It wasn't something I had the time to ponder though, seeing as the bastard started shooting on us. Reflexes or no reflexes, it's hard to fly in a rain of missiles. Thank lord Noin and Sally showed up. Wanted to help us crash the party I guess.
I'm the first to admit that my landing wasn't one of the most graceful I've done in my life. I would have been surprised if it had been. As it is, I'm just happy that we got in alive. Especially after watching the security tapes afterwards. It's scary to see how fast I react when I really have to. It did bring us in alive though, and that is all that matters.
We abandoned the shuttle after that, naturally stealing a suit each and splitting up. Soon after that I ran into Trowa. Let me tell you that was scary. Especially as he fired those missiles at me. Normal suits aren't custom outfitted as Deathscythe after all and not nearly as fast. I had to work like a dog to even stay alive. I'm just thanking God Trowa did not intend to kill me. Even if I five minutes later dearly wished he had."""
Shinigami unfeelingly throws a hard punch at Heero, following it up with a kick aimed at the other's legs. The enemy jumps and retorts with a kick of his own. A jab and the man's leg collapse. *--Heero! Rise dammit, you know that pressure point! --* A failed punch, but the following blows land on Heero's face, breaking the nose and splitting a lip once more. Then the other is centred once again, exploding in a flurry of moves, an incredible strength behind each of them; Shinigami barely manages to block them, the other is well trained and skilled. A hairline fracture in Shinigami's arm. Nothing to worry about. *--Way to go, Heero. Keep him occupied. Relena will soon be free.--*
Shinigami senses something within and glances in the direction of the prisoner. A subject is closing in on her. Not good. Pain exploding in Shinigami's lower back. Almost falling, he manages with a stumble, immediately following up by kicking the legs out under the Asian man and stepping harshly on his leg. Not a break as the other man moved too fast. A kick aimed towards Shinigami's middle almost connects. Shinigami grips it though and twists it only to receive a kick in the face for the try. *--Good Heero. She has alerted Trowa. Go to Quatre, Tro! Tell him… Damn!--*
Shinigami lands series of blows to Heero's chest as the man is off balance after a connecting flying kick. A block, but several ribs are broken. He is slowing down and Shinigami smirks with empty eyes. The Master will be pleased. *--Yes! Quatre understands. Now find the damn thing!--* A trick and Shinigami receives a hard punch on the kneecap and falls to his knees. It will not support his body well. A swipe with a leg and the Asian man lies on the floor as well, taking a kick in the head.
Then Shinigami stills. *--Finally!--* Duo wrenches the body into submission and catch the device Quatre throws at him. Slipping it around his neck, he attaches it to the implant for the malady. It's connected to the brain and will serve as well as the devices used in Wing. A sharp pain, travelling up…up… The world goes black.
I'm floating. Lights are swirling around me, and I absently follow the pretty patterns with my eyes. So beautiful…
//"It's a beautiful being, sir. May I ask why you engineered it this way? It may be easy on the eye, but it will never reach six feet or develop bulging muscles like the conventional soldier."
"The subject is no conventional soldier. The DNA we put together for it are perfect for spy activity and assassin missions. As an androgynous man, the subject will slip into its roles easier. It has the perfect body for the missions we intend to give it."//
Memories are welling in my mind. It hurts, I guess, ZERO always hurts, but I cannot feel it. My training won't allow it. Nor will my body. Shinigami protects me.
//"We need to give it a codename for its missions. It will be best if it is ingrained already at this state, it will have to learn humanity."
"Yes. And no. We cannot give it a human name. It isn't human; it cannot be allowed the illusion of being one. Give it a word to be called by. No more, no less."
"Hm. You're right. I think we will call it…Shinigami. Yes, it seems right. 'The God of Death'. It fits the creature who will bring terror to the world at my command."//
The birth of Shinigami, of me. I can remember it now. I know what they did to me.
//"Is it complete?"
"Yes, it is fully trained. Shinigami will answer to your every command as soon as you activate him with the word. It is ready for the final touches before the training begins."
"Good. Then it is time to remove the last obstruction on the way. Prepare for the surgery to remove the barcode. You will assist me."
"Yessir."//
That was the last time I spent in the lab before my escape. But the drugs they used on me that night wiped my memory. Only ZERO could drag them out, only ZERO can help me break free. And it does. My lips give birth to a smile on my lips. A beautifully gentle smile that is also completely insane.
Absently going through my injuries, I watch Duo – no, Shinigami, go down. Pinching a nerve in my arm, I rid myself of the pain originating from the broken bones in my hand. I will need to be able to fight to get out of here. He is lying on the floor, his eyes open and blank. He's fighting whatever holding him tied top Arvidsen. If the thing Quatre threw at Duo is what I believe it is, Arvidsen has no chance. I should know.
A shiver goes through him, and Duo opens his eyes. I say Duo, because this is not the person controlled by the madman vying to take over the world. The insane smile on his lips tells me that better than everything. However, it also tells me that my suspicions about Quatre's device are correct. Arvidsen, meet Shinigami merged with ZERO. Mind if I stay out of this?
At the same time, the doors burst open and guards start welling in. Kisama! They have finally discovered our presence. Reacting in a split second, accompanied by Heero, Trowa and Quatre, we get in between the guards and Arvidsen. We split off in pairs, running towards a door each. And then the fight begins.
Ducking a gun, I wrench the arm of the shooter around and squeeze the trigger, hitting one of the men behind him. Disposing of the body with a sharp crack as I break his neck, I continue shooting while Heero runs right into the mass, taking down two of the guards in the first ten seconds. These guys are not prepared for Gundam pilots.
Letting go of the body, I step over it even as I block a punch and return it with a jab to the chest. My opponent will never see the light of the day again, but Heero and I have reached our goal as we slide into place on both sides of the door. We will be able to easily defend the door now. Thank you, Arvidsen, for having thick walls.
Risking a quick glance in the direction of Quatre and Trowa, I'm just in time to see Quatre effectively cut the throat of a guard even as Trowa clears two corridors outside with an automatic stolen from one of the first guards. There is no doubt that more guards will come, but it seems we are safe for now.
Not relaxing the slightest though, I turn to watch Duo. He has backed Arvidsen into a corner and is currently closing in on the man. The owner of Hel Inc. seems to have realized that he has lost control of his creation, and he is babbling furiously in an attempt to save his life. Judging from the look on Duo, that will not be the case. I shudder, to watch Duo's face in the middle of a battle is to watch the face of death. It never seize to surprise me how completely different Duo is when he's not in battle mode.
"Stop." Differently from Arvidsen's inaudible babble, Duo's voice is clear, sharp and utterly emotionless. "Meaningless talking will not do anything to spare your life. I'm not your subject. Not anymore. Lucky for you though, I have questions to ask. I advice you to answer them if you want to live longer."
Arvidsen nods frantically. It has always amused me to a certain degree how quickly former powerful men can be reduced to a heap if you take away their power. Are they truly that fickle?
"Anything!" he pleads. "I will answer everything. Please, Shinigami…"
As Duo lashes out in fury, the strength behind the blow causing Arvidsen's nose to crack, I quickly take back my former theory. Maybe the man is simply afraid because he knows what Duo is capable of. If that's the case, I understand the fear. No one mess with Shinigami or his friends.
"Don't call me that!" Duo's normally cheerful voice is tight and furious, overtones of ZERO in his mind clear as a summer's day. I can only hope he will be able to retreat from the ZERO induced bliss when all of this is over. "The creature you called 'Shinigami' is no more! I am Duo, not the boy you reduced to something less than human. You will not dare to assume anything about me."
The man shrinks back, his hands flying up to cover his face. I doubt he even feels the pain due to the fear.
"Y-yes," he stammers, looking up at Duo.
The young man I consider my friend doesn't change his expression, but only narrows his eyes as he crouches down to the same level as his adversary. He looks like nothing but an enraged cat. I'm almost expecting him to start hissing any minute.
"Have you created any others like me?"
The question is spoken as a growl, but it nevertheless catches the attention of everyone in the room. Heero almost snaps his head as he turns from watching the corridors and Quatre has an openly alarmed look on his face. More engineered soldiers like Duo? It cannot be, it…
"No, you're our only project. W-we were going to, but when you got loose, we lost our data with you."
The words has barely passed Arvidsen's lips before Duo lashes out once again, this time knocking him out with a pressure point I recognize only vaguely. My technique is built mostly on medicine and its uses within that area, but Duo's seems more battle oriented. It's understandable.
A collective sigh goes through the room, and everyone eases up. Thank Nataku for that answer! Even Duo's eyes become less hard, and the tension in his body lessens somewhat. ZERO's influence seems to be receding with that answer. It makes me wonder, how come Duo is able to control ZERO so easily?
"He knows himself," Heero quietly answers my unasked question as he pass me by; heading towards the man I strongly suspect is his lover. Their relationship seems to go too deep to be 'only' friendship.
Pondering Heero's comment, I take his place to watch the corridor.
Walking towards the man I love, I thank every deity I can think of that he is all right once again. I don't know what truly happened to him to make him that way, nor do I care. I'm just glad he's back.
Arriving just as Duo stands up, I meet his violet eyes for a second before opening my arms to him. He almost collapses against me, his fists grabbing my shirt and his head burying itself in my chest. I can almost sense the weariness inside him, from fighting us, from being afraid of our reactions. Not to mention that his knee has to be hurting like hell. I know my hand-to-hand battle, and my kick no doubt did some serious damage to his kneecap.
"Duo?" I calmly whisper, stroking his hair calmingly with one hand even as I hold him up with my other arm. There is no answer, and when I lift his head to look at him, his beautiful eyes are glassy and empty. "Shit! He's lost consciousness. We need to get out of here. Wufei, is anyone coming?"
The other Asian in our group shakes his head.
"No," he reports. "It's weird though. I would have thought more would have arrived by now."
"We can't worry about that know," I interrupt. "Duo needs to get to a hospital. Quatre, you grab Arvidsen. Wufei, you'll take Relena. Trowa, you'll take the lead. I'll follow with Duo. We will just have to chance it. And with all this noise, the Preventers should be here by now, no doubt. If we can just get to the bottom floor everything should be alright."
No one questions my orders, and we file out, slipping quickly through the corridors as we head towards the stairs. We have not even come two corners from the office when a shadow drops from a vent and we all stiffen, preparing to fight again. The shadow quickly steps into the light though, proving to be a lanky young man with a worried look in his grey eyes.
"Shinigami's enemy is your enemy," he swiftly says before showing us his empty hands. Another of Duo's operatives. "I'm sorry about the guards, but some managed to slip by before we got to their stations. You have free passage down now."
A hesitant look flitters over his face.
"Is Duo all right?" he asks, betraying the fondness all of Duo's operatives seem to hold for him.
"He will be, Mr.?" Quatre answers politely, ever the politician.
"Sorrow," the young man replies even as he turns to disappear again. Then he's gone.
TBC
