A Diamond So Dark...
Occurrences after Mercy's Sacrifice and the Sequel
Disclaimer: We do not own anything affiliated with Gundam Wing or its creations. Angela does own the plot and in helping, I revised and wrote the story. A joint creation. Any original characters along with Blacke Diamond sprung from either her or my own minds.
~+~ Chapter 2~+~
Welcome to Blacke Diamond
Jolting awake to the sound of footsteps echoing down the hall, Heero sat up and looked down to see that Duo was asleep and it appeared Quatre was as well. Gazing over to the clock, it was only 2:34 in the morning! No one was awake now or supposed to be roaming the halls. Maybe it was the new kid who'd just enrolled. That had to be it. Still tired as he fell back onto the mattress, the youth only rubbed his eyes with his palms and stared at the ceiling. Something didn't feel right though; it was nagging at him. Sitting up and jumping silently from the bed, he landed quietly and hastily gained his balance, as he was still tired. Looking toward the door and finding it slightly open and the lock undone, he spared a glare towards Duo's sleeping form. "Why do I keep trusting him?" Opening the door to find a brightly-lit hallway, the young man was temporarily blinded yet voices unlike any of the students or teachers he knew floated to his ears. All he heard were quick footsteps before he felt himself pulled from the room, spun about, his arms jerked brutally upwards behind his back, and a leather-gloved hand clamped tightly over his mouth. Yet when he tried to inhale, he couldn't without strong fumes of ether entering his lungs. Struggling against the man, he finally squinted against the light to find soldiers entering his room where Duo and Quatre were sleeping. Trying to break free of his captor's grasp, he finally stopped and let his body fall limp, pretending that the ether had gotten to him. They were pathetic and old schooled in such areas of captor, they used but ether for crying out loud! Feeling the hand removed as he let his head fall, the young man did begin to feel light-headed and woozy.
Releasing his hand from the boy's mouth and nose, the soldier was certain that they were quiet in their work. No one was to be awake, but it was expected. Taking a syringe filled with amber-colored liquid and sharply implanting it into his arm, he heard a small groan escape and knew the kid was coming around. "Didn't they tell you you're not supposed to be up this late?" Sneering and injecting it into his veins, he pulled the needle from his arm and felt the teenage tense in his grasp. "Nighty night brat...."
Heero felt his body begin to fall into immediate effect of the drug, whether he willed it to or not. Feeling the grasp on his arms let go he staggered forward, the youth tried to focus his vision and discipline. What he wanted to do was give in to the drug, but knew he couldn't and he was trained not to. Yet his training was fleeing him and swiftly. Gazing in to his room to find that the drug had already been injected into Duo, and that Quatre was awake and struggling against them, the tired and disoriented pilot tried to help his comrade. "L-leave him... alone..." Collapsing to his knees and not having the coordination to sit up, he fell roughly to the floor, wincing as his head hit the hardwood. Groaning softly, his world slowly fell black, Heero tried once again to regain control over his sense and body. Yet within moments, he was under the influence of the drug completely, unconscious and dead to the world around him.
Quatre tried to pull from the dark forms, feeling the prick of the needle as it was inserted into his arm. Wincing and groaning, the young Arabian tried to pull away again as he struggled to take in air against the leather glove, not having taken a full breath in the first place. It was just like back in the lake, only he wasn't surrounded by water, he could breathe if he could just get away. Having heard Heero's voice as he struggled, the youth shot his gaze to the door to find him unconscious and unmoving. Trying to scream out and call to his friends, Quatre could only manage a muffled tone. Yet when the ones restraining him left him to be, he couldn't do much or go anywhere now that the drug they'd injected into him had taken affect. Soft blue eyes fluttering closed, he tried to keep them open but to no avail as he too fell victim to his captors.
"Let's get them out of here, this is the last of the students and the last floor. Get them out of here and in the truck, morning is coming soon and we need to get out of here before we're seen." Ordering the men with a hushed whisper, the man who'd taken down Heero slung the kid's limp form over his shoulder, motioning for the others to be taken and gotten from the building. "Everyone else is out. Let's move!"
The boys along with the other students were taken from the school and loaded into trucks, the plans of the captors simple and true. They'd started with the closest and highest standard school, hoping to make quick soldiers and good soldiers out of the younger students and to build their forces. Being a school with high standards, the children were bound to be intelligent and thus making it easier for them and helping them in certain areas, such as strategic plans and whatever else they needed the for.
~-~
Growling and forcing his eyes open, Heero tried to gaze about himself but his vision was blurred greatly and he was still very uncoordinated. Trying to sit up, the youth felt the cold and bitter metal of the floor aside from the warm area of which he was laying. Blinking a few times and finally rubbing the distortion from his vision, his gaze was met with the unconscious and sleeping forms of his classmates and teachers, all in a brightly-lit, large, metal room. Or rather, cell. "What the..."
Standing on uncertain legs and swaying, he tried to keep his balance as he gazed about again, finding Duo's still unconscious form and beginning to panic when he couldn't find Quatre's. He didn't know what was happening or what happened, nor where they were. The only thought that came to mind was the enemy and trouble, and until they knew what they were up against, they were kept at bay. Tired eyes falling on his friend's stirring form, the Japanese youth took uncertain steps around the other sleeping forms and made his way to the other side of the room. There was nothing in there for them, only the walls, floor and ceiling, the knob less and lockless door, and the people within the room. Some of the kids weren't even high school students, at least thirty of the fifty-five students were junior high students that attended the school and stayed in the dorms as well, around the grades of seventh and eighth. This really couldn't be good. "Quatre? Are you okay?"
Groaning softly and trying to gaze about yet only being met with hazy objects, the Arabian teen laid where he was and didn't bother to move. He didn't know what happened, nor did he want to. He was still quite a bit under the influence of the drug they'd used on him, his thinking and decision-making ability disabled. Hearing a soft voice float to his ears with a gentleness and concern, yet an icy protectiveness, the youth tried to respond. "H-H-Heero?"
Smirking and trying to kneel carefully by his side, the youth softly laid his hand on his friend's arm to motion that he was safe and fine. "It's okay, you're all right."
Groaning again and feeling his ribs rebel to the movement, he rolled onto his side and faced Heero's still blurry form, trying to rub the haziness from his eyes. Finally, with a relieved smile, he looked up and pushed himself into a sitting position. "Where are we?"
Shaking his head and looking about to find another couple of people waking up, younger students, he spoke softer. "I don't know yet, but I have a feeling it has to do with the new organization. We need to keep the others safe and if they take into suspicion that any of us are who we truly are, I'll reveal myself and myself alone. You and Duo are to keep silent and keep the other students and teachers safe."
Nodding and trying to rise, he realized where they were being held and with who. This was going to be fun, he'd spotted Daemon and Zander right off the bat, Zander only a couple of yards from him. "This is going to be anything but dull..."
Confused cries began to echo within the walls, the younger students growing extremely scared and puzzled, along with older students. Some were sitting where they were, too paranoid or panicked to move, others were staggering to their feet and looking for escape, while still others became hysterical.
Sighing deeply, the young aristocrat only knew what he had to do. "Is Duo up yet? We need to keep them calm at least."
Gazing back at the still American, he shook his head. "I'll start over here with some of the older students, you'd be better with the younger children."
Understanding, Quatre nodded. They weren't children of course, yet compared to them, especially maturity-wise to the two, they were very much so children. "All right." Stepping cautiously over to two girls and a boy who seemed to be around their eighth or ninth year of schooling, he kneeled and smiled before the three. Both of the girls were crying softly, the boy panicky. "Are you guys okay over here?"
"Where are we? What is this, a sick joke?!" Raising his voice without caring, the young man took the offense.
"Look, settle down guys. This isn't a joke, something is going on and we're trying to find out what it is just as much as you want to know. We're just as clueless as you are. There's no need to get overexcited though, I need your help." Taking in a deep breath as the boy began to quiet, he tried to get them settled. "What year are the three of you in? I don't believe we've met at any time..."
At this, the first girl looked at him in disbelief. Here they were, somewhere with Lord knew what or who, and they hadn't a clue as to what was going to happen to them, and this kid was telling them to settle down and asking them about what grade they were in?! He had to be crazy!
The second girl spoke yet, having silenced her crying and began to feel safe with the kind, older student. "We're all ninth graders."
"That may explain why, being a tenth year student myself. You guys must be anxious to get done with your schooling, to be a twelfth year. I know I did. I didn't want anything to do with the other grades, just to skip to my senior year and finally graduate. I'm actually regretting it somewhat now." Seeing them begin to relax, he laughed softly. "Always so busy as a kid acting older that I want to be one again. You all have an excuse to act immature, our class sets those standards but not very high I'm afraid..." Smirking, he caught Heero's quick glance as he moved onto another student, a very jumpy young man who appeared to be in his eleventh year.
"Yeah, half the sophomores or juniors that I see act worse than some of our best class clowns..." added the boy.
"So do you," stated the first girl.
"I've seen worse." retorted the second, seeming to have relaxed greatly now that their mind was off of the problem at hand.
"And sadly, our class has some of the most immature people enrolled, and I've still seen so much worse..." Chuckling, he figured he might as well learn their names and move on, having them help him. "Well, I've held it off long enough. I'm Quatre."
"I'm Tristan," the boy said, then thinking for a minute, "hey, aren't you that kid who owns the Winner company and has all those resource satellites?"
Sighing and nodding, Quatre smiled. "I was wondering how long it was going to take until word got out. Usually it's sooner, but I enjoyed being normal while I can."
"You mean, you're that celebrity kid that everyone knows about and you didn't tell us and went to school with us?! I thought you'd have like private tutors and everything and like the other snobby rich kids!" Blurting it out, the first girl didn't even try to stop herself.
Covering her friend's mouth with her hand, the second girl laughed nervously. "Don't listen to Amanda, she's a loudmouth. I'm Laina."
Laughing softly, he only nodded. "That's okay, I get it a lot. Glad to meet the three of you. I need some help now, if it isn't too much of a favor to ask from you guys."
"Like what?" Tristan questioned.
"Well, a lot of these people are going to wake up and be scared to death and some of them are already awake. I can't calm them down all at once and I need you three to help. Just talk to them like I was talking to you. Just keep them calm. Nothing's going to happen to anyone, I'll see to it personally."
"O-okay," Laina replied, still struggling to keep Amanda quiet.
"Sure, who do you want me to start with?" Tristan called, still slightly nervous but now much more relaxed, feeling a different safety with an older student personally watching out for his well-being.
"You can start over with that girl in the corner. She might think you're crazy and if you need help, you can get either myself or my friend over there..." pointing to Heero, he watched the girls and boy follow his direction. "We need to do this and move on to the next people as soon as possible. Just let them know they're safe and fine and nothing is going to happen to them."
Standing and motioning for the girls to do the same, Tristan went ahead and pointed them to their first persons to aid and then took off for the distressed girl in the corner.
"Thanks..." Quatre spoke mainly to himself as he moved onto a teacher, trying to settle her and then get her help in settling the others.
Heero looked over his shoulder, moving from a small group to a younger student, it appeared to be one from the younger grades, and tried to force the iciness and protectiveness from his eyes and voice. Quatre was good at this, so was Duo. They could talk to people, they knew how to calm others down and make them feel safe. Yet Heero wasn't sure; he didn't know what to say to them half the time, neither to calm their fears nor to get their trust. And evidentially, by the three students moving about as well to others, Quatre had gotten help for the both of them. Kneeling and trying to keep his space from the panicking girl, he only inhaled deeply and tried to speak softly as he would when assuring his friends. "Are you okay?"
Shaking her head vigorously and continuing to cry, she watched the older teenager before her. She'd seen him in the halls a few times, but she didn't know him nor wanted to. She wasn't sure what to expect.
"Stop crying..." biting his lower lip, he thought his words out and tried once more to dispel the icy bitterness in his voice. "You can't start crying now, no one is going to hurt you, I swear to you."
"How do you know!? Maybe you're the reason we're all here?! I don't want to be here, I just want to go home! I never wanted to go to that stupid school anyway!" Screaming, she watched him flinch at her tone and throw his gaze to the floor.
"I know because I won't let anyone hurt you. I'm unsure if I am the reason you are here, but we are all going to get out of here and far from this place. Then you can return home. I will not let anything happen to you." Looking back at her with exhausted eyes, he tried once more to do what Quatre did. He'd overheard some of what the youth had said, and it had calmed the others. Smiling softly, he tried to keep his patience. "What grade are you in?"
"It's none of your business!" Snapping at him, she released a high-pitched scream at a soft groan behind her.
Rising, Heero wasn't sure how to get to this kid. "Here, I'm not going to touch you nor come near you. You must settle down, I'm just going to help him up so he doesn't hurt himself..." Crossing by her side, he tried to keep his distance but only forced himself to keep walking toward Zander's form when he realized who it was. They really weren't going to get along. Placing a firm hand on the boy's shoulder, he spoke with the same iciness in his voice, forgetting to drop his guard. "Don't move, just stay where you are and let the affects wear off first. You'll hurt yourself and the others around you if you don't."
Opening his eyes groggily and recognizing the voice, Zander only tried to squirm from his touch, panicking greatly. "I swear, I didn't do anything! You're a psycho kid, leave me alone! I didn't do anything to that guy!"
Closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath, Heero tried again, gripping the boy's shoulder a little tighter to keep him from running into the other unconscious students. "Look, if you don't stop moving now, I'll tie you up in a corner where you won't hurt the others around you. But for now, I won't do a thing and I've no clue as to what you're speaking of. Unless you want to hurt these people, stop moving."
Not wanting to chance anything with this guy, Zander laid as still as stone, barely breathing and not even blinking his open eyes.
A soft sigh of disgust and a roll of his eyes is all that Heero spared the boy before looking back to the skeptical girl. "Are you going to bother to calm down at all or is this going to take a while? There are others that are just as confused and I'm not any further ahead of you in what's going on, but someone has to keep them settled. Will you just settle down?" Watching her as she only wiped away her tears and glared deeply at Heero, he knew that he couldn't just waste time on this girl. "Quatre, can you come here a minute?"
Looking up from the couple who was huddled in a corner, the young woman finally settling down and her boyfriend seeming grateful, the youth answered his call. "Just a minute Heero." Then turning back to the others, "When we know any more, so will the both of you, but try and relax, they aren't going to hurt anyone. If you'll excuse me now...." Weaving his way in between the bodies of unconscious youths and adults, he made his way to Heero and the younger girl. With a sympathetic smile and a small chuckle at the girl's glare, she was good at it, he watched Heero stand. "Need help?"
"Would you? I don't have the patience you do Quatre. Don't worry about Zander, he'll be still for a little while, until the drug's worn off and I give him the go ahead..." Smirking at this and catching his friend's gratefulness for such a thing, he only went to Duo who was finally starting to come around.
Kneeling, the youth kept his distance from the girl. "I pray you weren't frightened by my friend, he's a good person if you take the time to get past his protective barriers."
"He's cruel and rude and I don't want to talk to either of you!! I don't want be here, I just want to go home!" Hugging her knees tighter and pulling them closer to her chest, she only kept her glare on the new teenager.
"Heero seems that way, but with good reason. Those are just the protective barriers that he keeps up so that he doesn't get hurt or hurt anyone else. It took me a while to realize that." Sighing, Quatre wasn't sure why he was going on about this except to keep her quiet and convince her that Heero meant no harm. "One doesn't gain his trust easily. I don't know much about his past, but I know he was let down quite a bit, brought up in a hard life and childhood, and only pain and death surrounded him. The world only crushed his hopes and dreams, beating him down and making his life miserable. But he's come a long way since I first met him, he wasn't even human then, he didn't show emotion, pain, or anything else. He didn't even care about his own life. Yet slowly, and I'm glad I didn't give up on him, he learned what life was and he tries. More than anybody I know. It's just harder for him, but he's a true friend and a good person at heart." Smiling, Heero was helping Duo up and the American seemed to be a bit too clumsy yet, and he pulled the both of them down. At this, Quatre couldn't help but laugh softly when Heero sent him a glare and hit his arm, yet not hard, not like he did when he was mad. More like that of just a game. And again Heero stood, helping Duo up and informing him, it seemed, of their plans. "See, he just expresses things differently than most."
The young woman listened, watching the boy who'd spoken to her earlier and becoming intrigued by his actions and his past. Lowering her eyes in shame, new tears began to fall as she hid her face in her arms, scared, angered, and confused.
Sighing softly and smiling, Quatre came closer and dug in his pocket, taking out a small handkerchief that had belonged to his mother, the only thing he really had from or of her. Holding it out, his voice spoke gently. "Here, go ahead and use this..."
Duo tried to shake the light-headed feeling away, listening to more people awaken and become frightened as well. "So we're doing what now?"
Snorting softly in frustration, Heero repeated in his emotionless, stoic voice. "I am the only one to reveal myself should the time call. You and Quatre play innocent. I can take care of myself, you and Quatre the rest of these people."
After a few blinks, the youth could see clearly. "Gotcha."
Noticing the others who were awaking as well, Heero looked back Quatre's way as he finished quickly with the girl and met his gaze. There was no way they could keep all these people calm like this, they were all waking up in large groups and the ones they'd spoken to were becoming riled up once more. Motioning for the youth to join them, he led Duo around the still drugged people and letting him lean against the steel wall.
"What's wrong?"
"They're waking up too fast. We need to get them quieted and now. Let's just do this all at once." With the same stoic voice, he caught people glancing at him but could have cared less.
"All right..." Biting his lower lip, Quatre wasn't sure what he'd say to get them to quite down enough in the first place. It appears he was already stuck with the calming down portion.
Glancing over and taking his cue, Duo only smirked and yelled above everyone else. "Hey people! Sit down and shut up a minute!" Amazed that it actually worked when everyone was dead silent, he only grinned sheepishly as all eyes turned to him. "Oops, uh, here you go man. They're quiet."
Laughing softly, the young Arabian couldn't help himself but stopped and placed a protective arm around his ribs now that the total effect was wearing off. "Thanks Duo." Then raising his voice to be heard in the room, "I need everyone to be quiet for now and just remain where you are. Look, we're just as clueless as all of you as to what is going on and we can't offer much help there, but if everyone starts to panic someone will get hurt and we'll never get out of here. So we need your help in staying quiet. Please..."
"How would you know?! You could be the reason we're here!" Shot a voice from the back.
Heero spoke at this. "Maybe, maybe not. Maybe you're the one they're after. We don't have a clue and I'm pretty sure no one in this room does. So don't make accusations you can't prove." His voice was once again cold and bitter, his Prussian eyes flashing softly in irritation.
"Please, there's nothing much any of us can do besides either sit here and panic or converse and try to keep settled. You've got two choices, and I suggest the easier one is the better pick. We can't go around and do this, so we need your help now. Just speak with each other, I don't care on what. Anything but this and keep your minds occupied. No one is going to get hurt or anything, I swear to you I won't let anything happen. We won't."
"Yeah right, and who are you to say so!? You're not soldiers or Gundam Pilots or anything! You couldn't help us out of here or guarantee that we'll get out just fine!" Daemon finally shot from the middle range of the group.
"He can't but I can." Heero stated coldly.
"Who do you think you are?!"
A rattling and jangling behind the boys made them wheel about swiftly, their eyes on the door as they stepped back, the crowd rising and in a panic again.
Opening the door to find their prisoners awake and scared to death, the rebel soldier only sneered. "Heh, welcome to Blacke Diamond kids. You should feel proud to be here now... Enjoy your stay, we'll be taking the first of you right now..." Snatching out at a girl near the door and listening to her scream, he glared at the boy who tried to hold her back and quickly aimed his gun at him. "Don't move unless you want to die."
Eyes becoming emotionless once more, voice monotone, and features stoic, Heero stepped forward with eyes on the girl and soldier. So it had been Black Diamond as Quatre first thought, and if anything, the e was silent. That's why he couldn't find any information on "Bleak Diamond" or "Black Diamond" without the e. Even the smallest mistake can change the entire course of events.
Staring past the barrel of the gun as it was aimed at him, the Japanese youth only walked closer, seeing the fear in the young woman's eyes as she struggled to break free of his grasp. "I do not fear you or death, so there's no use in intimidating..." Oh, if this guy was anything like Lady Une was the last time he did this, this capture would be just as much fun as the one before. He still had the scar on his lower left side from the bullet wound and then the blade marks for at the time, Trowa had to cut the wound open further to take the bullet from within him and they couldn't do much in capture.
Laina was terrified, she wasn't sure what was happening but the boy that seemed to be Quatre's friend was now face to face with the barrel of the gun and she couldn't get out of the man's grip. "Please, let me go..."
"Shut up brat... and as for you kid, I wouldn't be tempting fate right now because I have no regrets if I were to say, "accidentally" shoot one of you." Staring back into his indifferent eyes, the soldier turned the gun to the girl and smirked at his angered glare. It was cold and harsh, the glare intense. The same he'd seen before, but in battle with one of the Gundam Pilots as an OZ soldier at the time. It was 01 he'd been fighting against. "Well well, you're awfully brave for being a child. You're going to be fun to break, and I'm sure it will be wroth it, greatly." With a cold sneer, he turned and dragged the screaming girl from the room, instantly shutting the door and locking it.
Growing frustrated and smashing his fist into the metal door, Heero knew that the image of that girl's face would be burned into his mind, the utter terror along with each and every one of the soldiers that he'd ever killed- or even the innocents. He had to find out what they were planning on doing and then stop them and get the others to escape.
With a tentative hand, Quatre gently gave Heero's shoulder a reassuring squeeze but was startled when he whirled about on him, a cruel glare in place. "I-I'm sorry Heero, I didn't mean to..."
"Just don't touch me and leave me be for now." With a crueler voice than he'd meant, Heero brushed past them all and took a seat in the far corner in the back of the room, ignoring all who were watching him.
Seeing the hurt look in Quatre's eyes, Duo stepped over to his friend. "It's okay man, he just needs some space..."
A hesitant nod was all he showed of listening to Duo's comment, the platinum blonde looking back over the puzzled and frightened but quiet people. "I'm not going to try any longer to persuade you all to be quiet and calm, do as you will. I just don't know what to do anymore."
~-~
Yawning and stretching his hands above his head, Trowa was beginning to like not having to get up and move or battle at any time of day or night. And sleeping in a bed more often really helped too. In one smooth motion, the youth threw the blankets from his legs and was up and out of bed, fixing the blankets and smoothing them over. He'd finally grown frustrated the night before when he still wasn't able to find anything and went to sleep. He'd try again today.
Stepping from the room and taking the television box in hand, he turned it on and flipped through the channels, finding the news and turning the volume down. It was already 6:35 in the morning and Wufei was still asleep. He was one that woke up just about as early as Trowa did, if not earlier. Grabbing a glass from the cupboard and filling it with ice, he was about to turn on the faucet when something caught his attention.
"A strange occurrence has happened at the Bethel County Private School in Ishida. All 55 of the students attending have been reported missing as well as the teachers and other staff of the school. Authorities have been notified of this kidnapping since just early this morning, yet the police have stated that there are no clues as to who did this or motives..."
Trowa didn't really bother to pay attention after this. That was the same school that Heero, Duo, and Quatre had enrolled themselves into. Calling over his shoulder as he listened to the news, he watched it turn to another battle between OZ and the Alliance around a civilian city. "Wufei, get up now."
Groaning and turning away from the window and sunlight, Wufei tried to disregard Trowa's voice but there was urgency in it and worry- something that wasn't normally found there. Peeling himself from the bed and stumbling out into the morning, he'd missed out on yet another night of sleep, he only caught another battle between the Alliance and the opposing OZ, nothing new. "What baka?"
"What's the name of the school they others are staying at?"
"It's a private school, Bethel something..."
"This isn't good..." Dropping the glass in the sink, the ice clattered and fell down the drain. Striding quickly to the laptop they'd borrowed from Sally, he opened it and turned it on hastily.
"What?"
"Everyone in that school, students and staff, have been taken. They just vanished during the night and the only thing they found besides empty rooms." Clicking away at the keys as he brought up all the files of information he had about the new organization, Trowa looked for anything they could use. It couldn't be OZ or the Alliance, they'd come right out and say it. Then again, there was that new suspicious group starting. Yet, they couldn't figure out what they were up to or find any information on them if they didn't even know what they called themselves. That would help in showing them where to actually search for clues and valuable information.
Taken aback by the words and letting them sink in, the young warrior sat silently for a minute. "But who..."
"There's something that neither Heero or I told the three of you about. Heero caught rumor of a newly starting organization, just waiting for their time to strike in the war and take everything for keeps. I'd found out about it due to one of his rare but useful mistakes and have been trying to help him figure out anything about the new group. I'm not sure how far he's come, but I haven't even been able to figure out what they call themselves. We were just given a bunch of letters by our source and they don't make sense. I have a feeling they're behind it." Bringing up that file and opening it for Wufei to see, he stared once more at the letters.
CLABECK DAONDIM
"You don't know what that means?" Wufei looked at the letters as well, uncertain of what language it was.
"No..." Sighing, Trowa minimized the file and tried to break into the Alliance database this time. OZ didn't have any information and if it was, it wasn't in their systems.
~-~
A soft whisper or a whimpering was heard here or there, the students grouping together by friends and years, the staff together while a few remained with the students or the older students comforting and giving a sense of security to the others.
Quatre was actually surprised that they were doing this on their own, no one wanted to listen or cooperate before. Sighing deeply, he listened to Duo cross over and take a seat along the wall as well.
"How you doin' buddy?"
"I could be better..." Biting his tongue when he remembered Heero's angered tone and words, each still echoing in his mind and stinging his heart. It wasn't like Heero nor any of his friends, and he understood, yet there was still a great hatred burning within the boy when the Arabian youth tried to search his mind.
"Hey, Heero gets snappy from time to time. Don't let it get to you man, if it did me, then I seriously wouldn't be considered a friend. It still has me confused as to why I've lived this long around him..." Pondering hopefully, the young man heard small laughter from his friend and looked with an innocent and confused gaze. "What'd I say?"
It was only perfect timing. "We were talking about that yesterday..." Laughing again, he stiffened and stopped, his ribs beginning to pulse and throb slightly with the actions. Once more, he wrapped his arms around his lower torso and pulled his knees closer.
"Okay, I'll stop making you laugh... jeez, the things I do for you guys and you still insult me and my intelligence behind my back. Sure it's not a lot but hey, gimme credit would you?!" Joking again, he caught his friend trying his hardest not to laugh and to wipe the smile from his features. "Okay okay, I'm done now..."
"I really wonder about you Duo, I seriously do." Grinning and watching his "shocked" expression, Quatre had to look away so he didn't fall into another fit of laughter. Yet instead, he fell into a fit of coughs and he was sure he should have taken the laughter. It didn't hurt as much.
"You sound like you're gettin' a cold man..." Watching him in caution, Duo was sure to keep a close eye on his friend. He tried to place his hand gently on the boy's lower arm but found it to be icy cold to the touch.
Feeling a shiver run up his back when Duo touched his arm, Quatre realized just how cold he was and how cold it was in the room. It was like their dorm room, yet the quilt he used made it possible for him to wear comfortable shorts and a T-shirt to bed. And now, they were the only things he wore. "I just got over one..." With a teasing and reluctant whine, he watched Duo laugh softly. His colds always had him feeling tired, sore, miserable, and coughing. Not really sneezing or anything like the classical common cold, he just had to be different.
"Good one man, I'm doin' my job..." Chuckling softly, Duo took his sweater off and straightened out his T-shirt, handing the warmer sweater over to Quatre. "Here, you're already startin' to shake man and you're freezing. Whether you realize it or not." After a curt nod and small smile, Duo nodded in approval when the second youth pulled the oversized sweater over his head and fell into the warm cloth. Now he'd just be cold for a while.
"Maybe I should go over and talk to Heero. When I search his mind, it's different, like an entirely different war being waged within his soul. Yet guilt and confusion along with a usually welcome but this time unwelcome loneliness fills him. I'll be back in a few minutes Duo." Standing and wincing slightly, the youth circled and weaved between the groups of people and over to Heero who still sat in the corner, not leaving room for Duo to argue. The Japanese youth spared him a quick glare before returning his gaze to a spot on the floor. Quatre didn't want to intrude, nor anger Heero further, but he had to speak with the young man. Heero had to get whatever it was off his mind and out in the open, or at least his feelings, or it'd turn him back to the way he was before they really became friends or the emotions would eat at him. Leaning against the wall and sliding down until his legs gave and he came down on his ankle again, the youth stifled a groan. Taking in a deep breath, he spoke softly. "Heero, please just tell me what's bothering you so much. Not much seems to and this is really getting me worried. Usually it's the other way around, or has been, but I..." When the boy stood, the young man only snatched out and grabbed his wrist. Probably the worst thing in the world to do at the time, but he only returned the glare with a determined gaze. "Stop walking from me and answer me, you don't have anywhere to hide here."
"Quatre, take your hand from my wrist now or..." Icy and bitter, his voice was soft as he glared at the younger boy.
"Or what?" he interrupted. "Go ahead Heero, I can handle myself just as well as you can but even I can be caught off guard. Either way something is going to happen whether you are to strike out at me or just speak to me." Standing and feeling a few of the eyes on the two friends, along with Duo's probably extremely worried gaze, he stood his ground.
Pulling his hand sharply from the Arabian youth's grasp, or trying to, he was surprised when he held fast. "Let_me_go."
Duo stood as well, crossing over but keeping his distance when Heero seemed to be ready to explode and Quatre was standing right there, contradicting his every action. This was when you really had to watch yourself and not mess with the guy. Heero would even strike out at Quatre should he feel trapped or that angered and it was easy to do to the guy.
"I said no and I'm not changing my mind. Get used to it, I can be just as stubborn as you are." Sighing and giving a sympathetic smile, he tried once more to search Heero's mind. He was confused and troubled, uncertain and angered, but he didn't want to take it out on anyone just yet, not right now around those he was around. "Heero, you need to let it go either way and I don't really care how, just let it go."
Lips parting slightly as if to speak, the Japanese youth only watched the other as though he were crazy. To let it go? He'd end up hurting Quatre and regretting it! With desperate eyes, he sat once more in the corner and turned his gaze to the floor again, feeling Quatre sit once more by his side. He wasn't sure what to do. "We don't know anything about this organization and yet more innocents are sacrificed to this condemned fate of war, and I could have stopped her. It'd be kinder just to slaughter them all in their sleep than to think of what Blacke Diamond can and will do to them. Especially if they truly are worse than OZ."
Sighing and nodding, Quatre spoke gently. "Yes, it might seem kinder. Yet we've suffered so much before and we can pull through, we've just to show the others that they can as well. We'll all make it through this, just like everything else. We still don't know what Blacke Diamond has in mind and maybe we're overreacting." Smiling softly and laying his hand kindly on his arm, the gentle youth caught his slight tension to the touch before relaxing. At least he wasn't pulling away.
"But how can you say that no harm will befall them yet let something like that happen?" Contradicting his each and every feeling, Heero didn't care much that he was now opening up to Quatre again as he did, yet it wasn't away from the prying eyes of others. Now he was before everyone, and Quatre had spoken true, he couldn't hide within the shadows nor could he escape them. He had a duty to serve to them, to return them home safely and alive, all of them.
"We didn't know and neither did they. We can only protect them to the best of our abilities." Smirking when Heero only but nodded and seemed to relax and let a lot of his frustrations just disappear, he was glad and somewhat surprised. Usually it took longer.
Duo stood in shock; man that guy was lucky! Quatre could always get to people, but the young American actually thought that Heero might hit him or something. It looked that way and Quatre even told him to do it if it'd make him feel better! Was that kid crazy!? "Well I'll be...."
Sighing and leaning against the wall, the confused youth knew his duties and would fulfill them. He had to. Mission: Accepted. A soft coughing by his side startled him somewhat and he became immediately worried. This had happened before, an all too familiar time and it was rather recent. It wasn't going to happen again. "Quatre?"
Looking up and smiling, he only shook his head. "This is just a cold Heero, this time it's nothing more. There's a great difference in the feeling of this and pneumonia, there's no need to worry." Turning his eyes up to see Duo who was still confused, he only laughed softly. "I think we frightened him."
Turning to the youth as well and only giving a soft snort of acknowledgement, Heero closed his eyes. "That's not hard to do...."
Yawning and smirking, Quatre only waved his comrade over. "It's okay Duo, don't try and understand all that if it's confusing you that much." A soft chuckle to his side told him that Heero wasn't ready to hear that but thought it amusing enough.
"I won't, don't worry.... Hey, will you cut it out already?! Man, now the both of you are raggin' on me, this is so not cool." Crossing over to them and taking a seat, he caught the young Arabian's teasing smirk as Heero closed his eyes it seemed in slight weariness. "Maybe it was bad to corrupt you..."
"Only when I'm getting after you Duo," he corrected.
Head shooting up when he heard a disgruntled shout, the Japanese pilot looked to find that it was Daemon and he was trying to get Zander up. The boy still didn't move. With a cold laugh, he stood. "He can be taught..."
"Man, if you're going to tell him he can move, don't. It's so much easier with him like that..." added the American teen, smirking mischievously.
"Sometimes I worry about the both of you. It might be a little easier on us, but be nice guys..." Standing and looking at the two, he slowly made his way over- to the disliking of Duo and Heero it seemed. Looking past Daemon's glare though the older youth did not advance, probably having caught Heero's watchful eye, the gentle boy looked over the form. "Go ahead and move Zander. Heero meant for the first few minutes so that neither you nor the girl would be hurt. You can move now, he won't do anything, I assure you..."
Zander opened his eyes, blinking and glaring up at the youth. Sitting up slowly and catching sight of Heero, he hissed so as not to be heard but by the two around him. "I don't need your pity and I'll do what I want. Unless you want to be creamed, you'd better keep away from me."
Rolling his eyes and turning, Quatre turned to leave but whirled about quickly and dodged the thrown punch by Daemon and grabbed his arm, pulling it behind his back as Heero had done but just to restrain him. "What is your problem? Just stop acting like a child already and save it for later. Unless you haven't noticed what's going on." Releasing him and turning to walk away again, the youth only strode up to his friends' sides and gave them a reassuring smile. He was still rather tried, so in taking a seat, he closed his eyes and leaned against the wall.
Taking a seat in the corner once more, Heero kept his eyes on the two boys as they turned their backs to him. They were very lucky that Quatre had dodged. "Quatre?"
Hearing the soft voice as Duo settled down on his other side, the youth didn't bother to open his eyes. "Hmph?"
"Are you all right?" He noticed that the other youth looked paler and seemed exhausted.
"Yeah, just a little tired still. Don't worry, I always am when I get a cold..." Trailing off, the young man hugged himself and tried to warm up further, the sweater working nicely but he still had a sense of feeling cold. Slowly falling asleep with the soft chatter around him and the bright lights reflecting off of the metal, the youth didn't even realized that he'd leaned onto his friend nor felt him tense uncomfortably.
Heero looked down, Quatre asleep against his shoulder. Turning his confused and desperate eyes to Duo, he only saw a smirk. "What am I supposed to do?"
"He's tired man, we can see if we can't lay him down on the ground, but he might wake up. You were just conveniently sitting next to him. Here..." Standing and offering to hold the youth while Heero moved from under him so that he could lie down, he only shook his head.
"If he is ill, I do not want to wake him. He needs to rest..." Still somewhat confused and tense, no one really ever did that to him before let alone leaned against him or anything. Well, Relena tried to but that was a different story and he particularly didn't care for her hanging all over him. Yet his muscles stayed tense, the stoic youth trying not to move or at least too much for he didn't want to awaken his friend. Laying his head against the wall and closing his eyes, the young man kept to himself and his thoughts, quiet and still.
Sitting again and smirking, Duo was surprised that the boy told him no. Usually, it wasn't like Heero nor did he seem to be too comfortable, but he declined so as not to chance waking up the tired youth. His only problem now was: he was bored and had no one to talk to. He could always go join another group and converse, but he didn't really want to let the guys think he was just deserting them. "You gonna catch some sleep or what buddy?"
"Just go and ramble on with the others...." he ordered quietly, not even bothering to open his eyes as he slowly brought his arms up and crossed them before his chest.
"Okay, I'll be back in a little while..." Standing, he looked about the room and found his friends that he was conversing with the night before and trotted off in their direction.
~-~
Growling in frustration, Trowa brought up the previous file. The one with the letters. Wufei had gone out to see if he couldn't find any information, and the Alliance data banks were useless. If they only had more information. An idea snapped into his head, the youth quickly bringing up the links and finding the one to Heero's computer. He had to try and get a hold of him, if anyone knew anything or could have gotten out without being captured, Heero could have easily. "Come on, answer it already..."
The ringing continued, the laptop not being answered nor heard by anyone in the dorm room, sitting in the shadows of the youth's desk.
Waiting a few more minutes before groaning and closing the connection, he knew that Heero would have opened it by now or someone would have. Yet no one connected to the link, it rang endlessly. "Well, there goes any hope there..." His friends had all been taken as well. Returning to the jumble of words, the youth tried to think. If he just had another little clue, he could figure it all out. Just one more, that's all he needed! "What does this mean, I've tried looking it up along with anything else it could stand for and without finding a thing! I can't figure this out alone, I need something more..."
Authors' Notes:
Angela: ACK! This is much more emotional in written form than it ever was in plot form. Can I whimper yet? *grins, then tosses Star's muse Trowa some Skittles and then pops some in her mouth* This is becoming more and more interesting. Everyone, give Star a hand! *applause* Yeah, she writes the GW 5 really well. This story would be dead without her writing skills. This new, main muse [me] is impressed, and I'm in college-level English! Yeah, wow. *laugh* Okay, here are my technical comments for this chapter: Heero and Duo are becoming worried for Quatre more often and more readily. And this fact is thanks to Star's Mercy's Sacrifice story. Heero and Duo worried? I like it. *grin* Be sure to watch that in the coming chapters. Enjoy it all, peeps! That ends my part. Laterz!
Star: SORRY TO DISAPPOINT ANY, but this is not a 1+4 pairing as I seemed to have gotten in reviews. I can't write yaoi/yuri stories, I don't. If you see any affection between the boys, it's JUST a brotherly type of affection. Nothing more. I have nothing against those stories, but I can't see the chars. As that way and I don't write that way. Also, sorry to stop it there, I know, worst spot in the world, but it gets better, I swear! And just in case, there are only about 60 some peeps in the same room. The room isn't that big and sixty-some people isn't a lot! We have a band that was twice as big as that, we're a big school and have a big band, but we fit like, 125 people in one room that's only [L x W] about a 15 yard x 20 yard room. Just to clear up confusion there. Well, frustrations are rising among everyone; Quatre almost got another little wake up call from Daemon, not to mention what poor Heero could have actually done to him without having the discipline he does. That, and now the poor guy feels awful [Heero, Quatre does with a cold] for letting Laina being taken when they said they wouldn't let anything happen to them. Man, Zander deserved that though and I think that Quatre was being too nice telling him otherwise, but hey, that's the guy for you.
Quatre: I'm not that mean, but I could be if I wanted to. You can be mean and evil enough for the both of us, so why should I bother?
Star: But it's so much fun and I'll corrupt you yet! ~*mischievous grin*~ Okay, look for the next chapter. Ang, feel free at any time to post above this, and say whatever you want. You're the main author here! It was your plotline and I just get a bit carried away at times! ~*nudges her*~ Oh, come on!
Trowa: Give her a minute or so, impatient.... ~*sighs and hangs head*~ And remind me why I muse for you?
Star: Because you can't say no to a poor ickle girlie going on sweet sixteen who needs your help and spends her only income which is a rare babysitting job to pay you with Skittles which you seem to have taken to.
Trowa: They work for musing.
Star: But you're not being a muse! You're teasing me because I'm shorter and I have to threaten you to get any Skittles! You don't share easily! Besides, I've got things under control here, come up with more ideas for when I'm done and be ready this time! ~*snickers*~ I know, the things you do for me... ~*laughs and watches him leave to his room to think*~ Hope you liked the chapter peeps, and if you enjoy reading my ramblings, wow. That's all I can say. Thanks for reading, and !!!!!!THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOO MUCH ANGELA!!!!!! for making this story possible!
Disclaimer: We do not own anything affiliated with Gundam Wing or its creations. Angela does own the plot and in helping, I revised and wrote the story. A joint creation. Any original characters along with Blacke Diamond sprung from either her or my own minds.
~+~ Chapter 2~+~
Welcome to Blacke Diamond
Jolting awake to the sound of footsteps echoing down the hall, Heero sat up and looked down to see that Duo was asleep and it appeared Quatre was as well. Gazing over to the clock, it was only 2:34 in the morning! No one was awake now or supposed to be roaming the halls. Maybe it was the new kid who'd just enrolled. That had to be it. Still tired as he fell back onto the mattress, the youth only rubbed his eyes with his palms and stared at the ceiling. Something didn't feel right though; it was nagging at him. Sitting up and jumping silently from the bed, he landed quietly and hastily gained his balance, as he was still tired. Looking toward the door and finding it slightly open and the lock undone, he spared a glare towards Duo's sleeping form. "Why do I keep trusting him?" Opening the door to find a brightly-lit hallway, the young man was temporarily blinded yet voices unlike any of the students or teachers he knew floated to his ears. All he heard were quick footsteps before he felt himself pulled from the room, spun about, his arms jerked brutally upwards behind his back, and a leather-gloved hand clamped tightly over his mouth. Yet when he tried to inhale, he couldn't without strong fumes of ether entering his lungs. Struggling against the man, he finally squinted against the light to find soldiers entering his room where Duo and Quatre were sleeping. Trying to break free of his captor's grasp, he finally stopped and let his body fall limp, pretending that the ether had gotten to him. They were pathetic and old schooled in such areas of captor, they used but ether for crying out loud! Feeling the hand removed as he let his head fall, the young man did begin to feel light-headed and woozy.
Releasing his hand from the boy's mouth and nose, the soldier was certain that they were quiet in their work. No one was to be awake, but it was expected. Taking a syringe filled with amber-colored liquid and sharply implanting it into his arm, he heard a small groan escape and knew the kid was coming around. "Didn't they tell you you're not supposed to be up this late?" Sneering and injecting it into his veins, he pulled the needle from his arm and felt the teenage tense in his grasp. "Nighty night brat...."
Heero felt his body begin to fall into immediate effect of the drug, whether he willed it to or not. Feeling the grasp on his arms let go he staggered forward, the youth tried to focus his vision and discipline. What he wanted to do was give in to the drug, but knew he couldn't and he was trained not to. Yet his training was fleeing him and swiftly. Gazing in to his room to find that the drug had already been injected into Duo, and that Quatre was awake and struggling against them, the tired and disoriented pilot tried to help his comrade. "L-leave him... alone..." Collapsing to his knees and not having the coordination to sit up, he fell roughly to the floor, wincing as his head hit the hardwood. Groaning softly, his world slowly fell black, Heero tried once again to regain control over his sense and body. Yet within moments, he was under the influence of the drug completely, unconscious and dead to the world around him.
Quatre tried to pull from the dark forms, feeling the prick of the needle as it was inserted into his arm. Wincing and groaning, the young Arabian tried to pull away again as he struggled to take in air against the leather glove, not having taken a full breath in the first place. It was just like back in the lake, only he wasn't surrounded by water, he could breathe if he could just get away. Having heard Heero's voice as he struggled, the youth shot his gaze to the door to find him unconscious and unmoving. Trying to scream out and call to his friends, Quatre could only manage a muffled tone. Yet when the ones restraining him left him to be, he couldn't do much or go anywhere now that the drug they'd injected into him had taken affect. Soft blue eyes fluttering closed, he tried to keep them open but to no avail as he too fell victim to his captors.
"Let's get them out of here, this is the last of the students and the last floor. Get them out of here and in the truck, morning is coming soon and we need to get out of here before we're seen." Ordering the men with a hushed whisper, the man who'd taken down Heero slung the kid's limp form over his shoulder, motioning for the others to be taken and gotten from the building. "Everyone else is out. Let's move!"
The boys along with the other students were taken from the school and loaded into trucks, the plans of the captors simple and true. They'd started with the closest and highest standard school, hoping to make quick soldiers and good soldiers out of the younger students and to build their forces. Being a school with high standards, the children were bound to be intelligent and thus making it easier for them and helping them in certain areas, such as strategic plans and whatever else they needed the for.
~-~
Growling and forcing his eyes open, Heero tried to gaze about himself but his vision was blurred greatly and he was still very uncoordinated. Trying to sit up, the youth felt the cold and bitter metal of the floor aside from the warm area of which he was laying. Blinking a few times and finally rubbing the distortion from his vision, his gaze was met with the unconscious and sleeping forms of his classmates and teachers, all in a brightly-lit, large, metal room. Or rather, cell. "What the..."
Standing on uncertain legs and swaying, he tried to keep his balance as he gazed about again, finding Duo's still unconscious form and beginning to panic when he couldn't find Quatre's. He didn't know what was happening or what happened, nor where they were. The only thought that came to mind was the enemy and trouble, and until they knew what they were up against, they were kept at bay. Tired eyes falling on his friend's stirring form, the Japanese youth took uncertain steps around the other sleeping forms and made his way to the other side of the room. There was nothing in there for them, only the walls, floor and ceiling, the knob less and lockless door, and the people within the room. Some of the kids weren't even high school students, at least thirty of the fifty-five students were junior high students that attended the school and stayed in the dorms as well, around the grades of seventh and eighth. This really couldn't be good. "Quatre? Are you okay?"
Groaning softly and trying to gaze about yet only being met with hazy objects, the Arabian teen laid where he was and didn't bother to move. He didn't know what happened, nor did he want to. He was still quite a bit under the influence of the drug they'd used on him, his thinking and decision-making ability disabled. Hearing a soft voice float to his ears with a gentleness and concern, yet an icy protectiveness, the youth tried to respond. "H-H-Heero?"
Smirking and trying to kneel carefully by his side, the youth softly laid his hand on his friend's arm to motion that he was safe and fine. "It's okay, you're all right."
Groaning again and feeling his ribs rebel to the movement, he rolled onto his side and faced Heero's still blurry form, trying to rub the haziness from his eyes. Finally, with a relieved smile, he looked up and pushed himself into a sitting position. "Where are we?"
Shaking his head and looking about to find another couple of people waking up, younger students, he spoke softer. "I don't know yet, but I have a feeling it has to do with the new organization. We need to keep the others safe and if they take into suspicion that any of us are who we truly are, I'll reveal myself and myself alone. You and Duo are to keep silent and keep the other students and teachers safe."
Nodding and trying to rise, he realized where they were being held and with who. This was going to be fun, he'd spotted Daemon and Zander right off the bat, Zander only a couple of yards from him. "This is going to be anything but dull..."
Confused cries began to echo within the walls, the younger students growing extremely scared and puzzled, along with older students. Some were sitting where they were, too paranoid or panicked to move, others were staggering to their feet and looking for escape, while still others became hysterical.
Sighing deeply, the young aristocrat only knew what he had to do. "Is Duo up yet? We need to keep them calm at least."
Gazing back at the still American, he shook his head. "I'll start over here with some of the older students, you'd be better with the younger children."
Understanding, Quatre nodded. They weren't children of course, yet compared to them, especially maturity-wise to the two, they were very much so children. "All right." Stepping cautiously over to two girls and a boy who seemed to be around their eighth or ninth year of schooling, he kneeled and smiled before the three. Both of the girls were crying softly, the boy panicky. "Are you guys okay over here?"
"Where are we? What is this, a sick joke?!" Raising his voice without caring, the young man took the offense.
"Look, settle down guys. This isn't a joke, something is going on and we're trying to find out what it is just as much as you want to know. We're just as clueless as you are. There's no need to get overexcited though, I need your help." Taking in a deep breath as the boy began to quiet, he tried to get them settled. "What year are the three of you in? I don't believe we've met at any time..."
At this, the first girl looked at him in disbelief. Here they were, somewhere with Lord knew what or who, and they hadn't a clue as to what was going to happen to them, and this kid was telling them to settle down and asking them about what grade they were in?! He had to be crazy!
The second girl spoke yet, having silenced her crying and began to feel safe with the kind, older student. "We're all ninth graders."
"That may explain why, being a tenth year student myself. You guys must be anxious to get done with your schooling, to be a twelfth year. I know I did. I didn't want anything to do with the other grades, just to skip to my senior year and finally graduate. I'm actually regretting it somewhat now." Seeing them begin to relax, he laughed softly. "Always so busy as a kid acting older that I want to be one again. You all have an excuse to act immature, our class sets those standards but not very high I'm afraid..." Smirking, he caught Heero's quick glance as he moved onto another student, a very jumpy young man who appeared to be in his eleventh year.
"Yeah, half the sophomores or juniors that I see act worse than some of our best class clowns..." added the boy.
"So do you," stated the first girl.
"I've seen worse." retorted the second, seeming to have relaxed greatly now that their mind was off of the problem at hand.
"And sadly, our class has some of the most immature people enrolled, and I've still seen so much worse..." Chuckling, he figured he might as well learn their names and move on, having them help him. "Well, I've held it off long enough. I'm Quatre."
"I'm Tristan," the boy said, then thinking for a minute, "hey, aren't you that kid who owns the Winner company and has all those resource satellites?"
Sighing and nodding, Quatre smiled. "I was wondering how long it was going to take until word got out. Usually it's sooner, but I enjoyed being normal while I can."
"You mean, you're that celebrity kid that everyone knows about and you didn't tell us and went to school with us?! I thought you'd have like private tutors and everything and like the other snobby rich kids!" Blurting it out, the first girl didn't even try to stop herself.
Covering her friend's mouth with her hand, the second girl laughed nervously. "Don't listen to Amanda, she's a loudmouth. I'm Laina."
Laughing softly, he only nodded. "That's okay, I get it a lot. Glad to meet the three of you. I need some help now, if it isn't too much of a favor to ask from you guys."
"Like what?" Tristan questioned.
"Well, a lot of these people are going to wake up and be scared to death and some of them are already awake. I can't calm them down all at once and I need you three to help. Just talk to them like I was talking to you. Just keep them calm. Nothing's going to happen to anyone, I'll see to it personally."
"O-okay," Laina replied, still struggling to keep Amanda quiet.
"Sure, who do you want me to start with?" Tristan called, still slightly nervous but now much more relaxed, feeling a different safety with an older student personally watching out for his well-being.
"You can start over with that girl in the corner. She might think you're crazy and if you need help, you can get either myself or my friend over there..." pointing to Heero, he watched the girls and boy follow his direction. "We need to do this and move on to the next people as soon as possible. Just let them know they're safe and fine and nothing is going to happen to them."
Standing and motioning for the girls to do the same, Tristan went ahead and pointed them to their first persons to aid and then took off for the distressed girl in the corner.
"Thanks..." Quatre spoke mainly to himself as he moved onto a teacher, trying to settle her and then get her help in settling the others.
Heero looked over his shoulder, moving from a small group to a younger student, it appeared to be one from the younger grades, and tried to force the iciness and protectiveness from his eyes and voice. Quatre was good at this, so was Duo. They could talk to people, they knew how to calm others down and make them feel safe. Yet Heero wasn't sure; he didn't know what to say to them half the time, neither to calm their fears nor to get their trust. And evidentially, by the three students moving about as well to others, Quatre had gotten help for the both of them. Kneeling and trying to keep his space from the panicking girl, he only inhaled deeply and tried to speak softly as he would when assuring his friends. "Are you okay?"
Shaking her head vigorously and continuing to cry, she watched the older teenager before her. She'd seen him in the halls a few times, but she didn't know him nor wanted to. She wasn't sure what to expect.
"Stop crying..." biting his lower lip, he thought his words out and tried once more to dispel the icy bitterness in his voice. "You can't start crying now, no one is going to hurt you, I swear to you."
"How do you know!? Maybe you're the reason we're all here?! I don't want to be here, I just want to go home! I never wanted to go to that stupid school anyway!" Screaming, she watched him flinch at her tone and throw his gaze to the floor.
"I know because I won't let anyone hurt you. I'm unsure if I am the reason you are here, but we are all going to get out of here and far from this place. Then you can return home. I will not let anything happen to you." Looking back at her with exhausted eyes, he tried once more to do what Quatre did. He'd overheard some of what the youth had said, and it had calmed the others. Smiling softly, he tried to keep his patience. "What grade are you in?"
"It's none of your business!" Snapping at him, she released a high-pitched scream at a soft groan behind her.
Rising, Heero wasn't sure how to get to this kid. "Here, I'm not going to touch you nor come near you. You must settle down, I'm just going to help him up so he doesn't hurt himself..." Crossing by her side, he tried to keep his distance but only forced himself to keep walking toward Zander's form when he realized who it was. They really weren't going to get along. Placing a firm hand on the boy's shoulder, he spoke with the same iciness in his voice, forgetting to drop his guard. "Don't move, just stay where you are and let the affects wear off first. You'll hurt yourself and the others around you if you don't."
Opening his eyes groggily and recognizing the voice, Zander only tried to squirm from his touch, panicking greatly. "I swear, I didn't do anything! You're a psycho kid, leave me alone! I didn't do anything to that guy!"
Closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath, Heero tried again, gripping the boy's shoulder a little tighter to keep him from running into the other unconscious students. "Look, if you don't stop moving now, I'll tie you up in a corner where you won't hurt the others around you. But for now, I won't do a thing and I've no clue as to what you're speaking of. Unless you want to hurt these people, stop moving."
Not wanting to chance anything with this guy, Zander laid as still as stone, barely breathing and not even blinking his open eyes.
A soft sigh of disgust and a roll of his eyes is all that Heero spared the boy before looking back to the skeptical girl. "Are you going to bother to calm down at all or is this going to take a while? There are others that are just as confused and I'm not any further ahead of you in what's going on, but someone has to keep them settled. Will you just settle down?" Watching her as she only wiped away her tears and glared deeply at Heero, he knew that he couldn't just waste time on this girl. "Quatre, can you come here a minute?"
Looking up from the couple who was huddled in a corner, the young woman finally settling down and her boyfriend seeming grateful, the youth answered his call. "Just a minute Heero." Then turning back to the others, "When we know any more, so will the both of you, but try and relax, they aren't going to hurt anyone. If you'll excuse me now...." Weaving his way in between the bodies of unconscious youths and adults, he made his way to Heero and the younger girl. With a sympathetic smile and a small chuckle at the girl's glare, she was good at it, he watched Heero stand. "Need help?"
"Would you? I don't have the patience you do Quatre. Don't worry about Zander, he'll be still for a little while, until the drug's worn off and I give him the go ahead..." Smirking at this and catching his friend's gratefulness for such a thing, he only went to Duo who was finally starting to come around.
Kneeling, the youth kept his distance from the girl. "I pray you weren't frightened by my friend, he's a good person if you take the time to get past his protective barriers."
"He's cruel and rude and I don't want to talk to either of you!! I don't want be here, I just want to go home!" Hugging her knees tighter and pulling them closer to her chest, she only kept her glare on the new teenager.
"Heero seems that way, but with good reason. Those are just the protective barriers that he keeps up so that he doesn't get hurt or hurt anyone else. It took me a while to realize that." Sighing, Quatre wasn't sure why he was going on about this except to keep her quiet and convince her that Heero meant no harm. "One doesn't gain his trust easily. I don't know much about his past, but I know he was let down quite a bit, brought up in a hard life and childhood, and only pain and death surrounded him. The world only crushed his hopes and dreams, beating him down and making his life miserable. But he's come a long way since I first met him, he wasn't even human then, he didn't show emotion, pain, or anything else. He didn't even care about his own life. Yet slowly, and I'm glad I didn't give up on him, he learned what life was and he tries. More than anybody I know. It's just harder for him, but he's a true friend and a good person at heart." Smiling, Heero was helping Duo up and the American seemed to be a bit too clumsy yet, and he pulled the both of them down. At this, Quatre couldn't help but laugh softly when Heero sent him a glare and hit his arm, yet not hard, not like he did when he was mad. More like that of just a game. And again Heero stood, helping Duo up and informing him, it seemed, of their plans. "See, he just expresses things differently than most."
The young woman listened, watching the boy who'd spoken to her earlier and becoming intrigued by his actions and his past. Lowering her eyes in shame, new tears began to fall as she hid her face in her arms, scared, angered, and confused.
Sighing softly and smiling, Quatre came closer and dug in his pocket, taking out a small handkerchief that had belonged to his mother, the only thing he really had from or of her. Holding it out, his voice spoke gently. "Here, go ahead and use this..."
Duo tried to shake the light-headed feeling away, listening to more people awaken and become frightened as well. "So we're doing what now?"
Snorting softly in frustration, Heero repeated in his emotionless, stoic voice. "I am the only one to reveal myself should the time call. You and Quatre play innocent. I can take care of myself, you and Quatre the rest of these people."
After a few blinks, the youth could see clearly. "Gotcha."
Noticing the others who were awaking as well, Heero looked back Quatre's way as he finished quickly with the girl and met his gaze. There was no way they could keep all these people calm like this, they were all waking up in large groups and the ones they'd spoken to were becoming riled up once more. Motioning for the youth to join them, he led Duo around the still drugged people and letting him lean against the steel wall.
"What's wrong?"
"They're waking up too fast. We need to get them quieted and now. Let's just do this all at once." With the same stoic voice, he caught people glancing at him but could have cared less.
"All right..." Biting his lower lip, Quatre wasn't sure what he'd say to get them to quite down enough in the first place. It appears he was already stuck with the calming down portion.
Glancing over and taking his cue, Duo only smirked and yelled above everyone else. "Hey people! Sit down and shut up a minute!" Amazed that it actually worked when everyone was dead silent, he only grinned sheepishly as all eyes turned to him. "Oops, uh, here you go man. They're quiet."
Laughing softly, the young Arabian couldn't help himself but stopped and placed a protective arm around his ribs now that the total effect was wearing off. "Thanks Duo." Then raising his voice to be heard in the room, "I need everyone to be quiet for now and just remain where you are. Look, we're just as clueless as all of you as to what is going on and we can't offer much help there, but if everyone starts to panic someone will get hurt and we'll never get out of here. So we need your help in staying quiet. Please..."
"How would you know?! You could be the reason we're here!" Shot a voice from the back.
Heero spoke at this. "Maybe, maybe not. Maybe you're the one they're after. We don't have a clue and I'm pretty sure no one in this room does. So don't make accusations you can't prove." His voice was once again cold and bitter, his Prussian eyes flashing softly in irritation.
"Please, there's nothing much any of us can do besides either sit here and panic or converse and try to keep settled. You've got two choices, and I suggest the easier one is the better pick. We can't go around and do this, so we need your help now. Just speak with each other, I don't care on what. Anything but this and keep your minds occupied. No one is going to get hurt or anything, I swear to you I won't let anything happen. We won't."
"Yeah right, and who are you to say so!? You're not soldiers or Gundam Pilots or anything! You couldn't help us out of here or guarantee that we'll get out just fine!" Daemon finally shot from the middle range of the group.
"He can't but I can." Heero stated coldly.
"Who do you think you are?!"
A rattling and jangling behind the boys made them wheel about swiftly, their eyes on the door as they stepped back, the crowd rising and in a panic again.
Opening the door to find their prisoners awake and scared to death, the rebel soldier only sneered. "Heh, welcome to Blacke Diamond kids. You should feel proud to be here now... Enjoy your stay, we'll be taking the first of you right now..." Snatching out at a girl near the door and listening to her scream, he glared at the boy who tried to hold her back and quickly aimed his gun at him. "Don't move unless you want to die."
Eyes becoming emotionless once more, voice monotone, and features stoic, Heero stepped forward with eyes on the girl and soldier. So it had been Black Diamond as Quatre first thought, and if anything, the e was silent. That's why he couldn't find any information on "Bleak Diamond" or "Black Diamond" without the e. Even the smallest mistake can change the entire course of events.
Staring past the barrel of the gun as it was aimed at him, the Japanese youth only walked closer, seeing the fear in the young woman's eyes as she struggled to break free of his grasp. "I do not fear you or death, so there's no use in intimidating..." Oh, if this guy was anything like Lady Une was the last time he did this, this capture would be just as much fun as the one before. He still had the scar on his lower left side from the bullet wound and then the blade marks for at the time, Trowa had to cut the wound open further to take the bullet from within him and they couldn't do much in capture.
Laina was terrified, she wasn't sure what was happening but the boy that seemed to be Quatre's friend was now face to face with the barrel of the gun and she couldn't get out of the man's grip. "Please, let me go..."
"Shut up brat... and as for you kid, I wouldn't be tempting fate right now because I have no regrets if I were to say, "accidentally" shoot one of you." Staring back into his indifferent eyes, the soldier turned the gun to the girl and smirked at his angered glare. It was cold and harsh, the glare intense. The same he'd seen before, but in battle with one of the Gundam Pilots as an OZ soldier at the time. It was 01 he'd been fighting against. "Well well, you're awfully brave for being a child. You're going to be fun to break, and I'm sure it will be wroth it, greatly." With a cold sneer, he turned and dragged the screaming girl from the room, instantly shutting the door and locking it.
Growing frustrated and smashing his fist into the metal door, Heero knew that the image of that girl's face would be burned into his mind, the utter terror along with each and every one of the soldiers that he'd ever killed- or even the innocents. He had to find out what they were planning on doing and then stop them and get the others to escape.
With a tentative hand, Quatre gently gave Heero's shoulder a reassuring squeeze but was startled when he whirled about on him, a cruel glare in place. "I-I'm sorry Heero, I didn't mean to..."
"Just don't touch me and leave me be for now." With a crueler voice than he'd meant, Heero brushed past them all and took a seat in the far corner in the back of the room, ignoring all who were watching him.
Seeing the hurt look in Quatre's eyes, Duo stepped over to his friend. "It's okay man, he just needs some space..."
A hesitant nod was all he showed of listening to Duo's comment, the platinum blonde looking back over the puzzled and frightened but quiet people. "I'm not going to try any longer to persuade you all to be quiet and calm, do as you will. I just don't know what to do anymore."
~-~
Yawning and stretching his hands above his head, Trowa was beginning to like not having to get up and move or battle at any time of day or night. And sleeping in a bed more often really helped too. In one smooth motion, the youth threw the blankets from his legs and was up and out of bed, fixing the blankets and smoothing them over. He'd finally grown frustrated the night before when he still wasn't able to find anything and went to sleep. He'd try again today.
Stepping from the room and taking the television box in hand, he turned it on and flipped through the channels, finding the news and turning the volume down. It was already 6:35 in the morning and Wufei was still asleep. He was one that woke up just about as early as Trowa did, if not earlier. Grabbing a glass from the cupboard and filling it with ice, he was about to turn on the faucet when something caught his attention.
"A strange occurrence has happened at the Bethel County Private School in Ishida. All 55 of the students attending have been reported missing as well as the teachers and other staff of the school. Authorities have been notified of this kidnapping since just early this morning, yet the police have stated that there are no clues as to who did this or motives..."
Trowa didn't really bother to pay attention after this. That was the same school that Heero, Duo, and Quatre had enrolled themselves into. Calling over his shoulder as he listened to the news, he watched it turn to another battle between OZ and the Alliance around a civilian city. "Wufei, get up now."
Groaning and turning away from the window and sunlight, Wufei tried to disregard Trowa's voice but there was urgency in it and worry- something that wasn't normally found there. Peeling himself from the bed and stumbling out into the morning, he'd missed out on yet another night of sleep, he only caught another battle between the Alliance and the opposing OZ, nothing new. "What baka?"
"What's the name of the school they others are staying at?"
"It's a private school, Bethel something..."
"This isn't good..." Dropping the glass in the sink, the ice clattered and fell down the drain. Striding quickly to the laptop they'd borrowed from Sally, he opened it and turned it on hastily.
"What?"
"Everyone in that school, students and staff, have been taken. They just vanished during the night and the only thing they found besides empty rooms." Clicking away at the keys as he brought up all the files of information he had about the new organization, Trowa looked for anything they could use. It couldn't be OZ or the Alliance, they'd come right out and say it. Then again, there was that new suspicious group starting. Yet, they couldn't figure out what they were up to or find any information on them if they didn't even know what they called themselves. That would help in showing them where to actually search for clues and valuable information.
Taken aback by the words and letting them sink in, the young warrior sat silently for a minute. "But who..."
"There's something that neither Heero or I told the three of you about. Heero caught rumor of a newly starting organization, just waiting for their time to strike in the war and take everything for keeps. I'd found out about it due to one of his rare but useful mistakes and have been trying to help him figure out anything about the new group. I'm not sure how far he's come, but I haven't even been able to figure out what they call themselves. We were just given a bunch of letters by our source and they don't make sense. I have a feeling they're behind it." Bringing up that file and opening it for Wufei to see, he stared once more at the letters.
CLABECK DAONDIM
"You don't know what that means?" Wufei looked at the letters as well, uncertain of what language it was.
"No..." Sighing, Trowa minimized the file and tried to break into the Alliance database this time. OZ didn't have any information and if it was, it wasn't in their systems.
~-~
A soft whisper or a whimpering was heard here or there, the students grouping together by friends and years, the staff together while a few remained with the students or the older students comforting and giving a sense of security to the others.
Quatre was actually surprised that they were doing this on their own, no one wanted to listen or cooperate before. Sighing deeply, he listened to Duo cross over and take a seat along the wall as well.
"How you doin' buddy?"
"I could be better..." Biting his tongue when he remembered Heero's angered tone and words, each still echoing in his mind and stinging his heart. It wasn't like Heero nor any of his friends, and he understood, yet there was still a great hatred burning within the boy when the Arabian youth tried to search his mind.
"Hey, Heero gets snappy from time to time. Don't let it get to you man, if it did me, then I seriously wouldn't be considered a friend. It still has me confused as to why I've lived this long around him..." Pondering hopefully, the young man heard small laughter from his friend and looked with an innocent and confused gaze. "What'd I say?"
It was only perfect timing. "We were talking about that yesterday..." Laughing again, he stiffened and stopped, his ribs beginning to pulse and throb slightly with the actions. Once more, he wrapped his arms around his lower torso and pulled his knees closer.
"Okay, I'll stop making you laugh... jeez, the things I do for you guys and you still insult me and my intelligence behind my back. Sure it's not a lot but hey, gimme credit would you?!" Joking again, he caught his friend trying his hardest not to laugh and to wipe the smile from his features. "Okay okay, I'm done now..."
"I really wonder about you Duo, I seriously do." Grinning and watching his "shocked" expression, Quatre had to look away so he didn't fall into another fit of laughter. Yet instead, he fell into a fit of coughs and he was sure he should have taken the laughter. It didn't hurt as much.
"You sound like you're gettin' a cold man..." Watching him in caution, Duo was sure to keep a close eye on his friend. He tried to place his hand gently on the boy's lower arm but found it to be icy cold to the touch.
Feeling a shiver run up his back when Duo touched his arm, Quatre realized just how cold he was and how cold it was in the room. It was like their dorm room, yet the quilt he used made it possible for him to wear comfortable shorts and a T-shirt to bed. And now, they were the only things he wore. "I just got over one..." With a teasing and reluctant whine, he watched Duo laugh softly. His colds always had him feeling tired, sore, miserable, and coughing. Not really sneezing or anything like the classical common cold, he just had to be different.
"Good one man, I'm doin' my job..." Chuckling softly, Duo took his sweater off and straightened out his T-shirt, handing the warmer sweater over to Quatre. "Here, you're already startin' to shake man and you're freezing. Whether you realize it or not." After a curt nod and small smile, Duo nodded in approval when the second youth pulled the oversized sweater over his head and fell into the warm cloth. Now he'd just be cold for a while.
"Maybe I should go over and talk to Heero. When I search his mind, it's different, like an entirely different war being waged within his soul. Yet guilt and confusion along with a usually welcome but this time unwelcome loneliness fills him. I'll be back in a few minutes Duo." Standing and wincing slightly, the youth circled and weaved between the groups of people and over to Heero who still sat in the corner, not leaving room for Duo to argue. The Japanese youth spared him a quick glare before returning his gaze to a spot on the floor. Quatre didn't want to intrude, nor anger Heero further, but he had to speak with the young man. Heero had to get whatever it was off his mind and out in the open, or at least his feelings, or it'd turn him back to the way he was before they really became friends or the emotions would eat at him. Leaning against the wall and sliding down until his legs gave and he came down on his ankle again, the youth stifled a groan. Taking in a deep breath, he spoke softly. "Heero, please just tell me what's bothering you so much. Not much seems to and this is really getting me worried. Usually it's the other way around, or has been, but I..." When the boy stood, the young man only snatched out and grabbed his wrist. Probably the worst thing in the world to do at the time, but he only returned the glare with a determined gaze. "Stop walking from me and answer me, you don't have anywhere to hide here."
"Quatre, take your hand from my wrist now or..." Icy and bitter, his voice was soft as he glared at the younger boy.
"Or what?" he interrupted. "Go ahead Heero, I can handle myself just as well as you can but even I can be caught off guard. Either way something is going to happen whether you are to strike out at me or just speak to me." Standing and feeling a few of the eyes on the two friends, along with Duo's probably extremely worried gaze, he stood his ground.
Pulling his hand sharply from the Arabian youth's grasp, or trying to, he was surprised when he held fast. "Let_me_go."
Duo stood as well, crossing over but keeping his distance when Heero seemed to be ready to explode and Quatre was standing right there, contradicting his every action. This was when you really had to watch yourself and not mess with the guy. Heero would even strike out at Quatre should he feel trapped or that angered and it was easy to do to the guy.
"I said no and I'm not changing my mind. Get used to it, I can be just as stubborn as you are." Sighing and giving a sympathetic smile, he tried once more to search Heero's mind. He was confused and troubled, uncertain and angered, but he didn't want to take it out on anyone just yet, not right now around those he was around. "Heero, you need to let it go either way and I don't really care how, just let it go."
Lips parting slightly as if to speak, the Japanese youth only watched the other as though he were crazy. To let it go? He'd end up hurting Quatre and regretting it! With desperate eyes, he sat once more in the corner and turned his gaze to the floor again, feeling Quatre sit once more by his side. He wasn't sure what to do. "We don't know anything about this organization and yet more innocents are sacrificed to this condemned fate of war, and I could have stopped her. It'd be kinder just to slaughter them all in their sleep than to think of what Blacke Diamond can and will do to them. Especially if they truly are worse than OZ."
Sighing and nodding, Quatre spoke gently. "Yes, it might seem kinder. Yet we've suffered so much before and we can pull through, we've just to show the others that they can as well. We'll all make it through this, just like everything else. We still don't know what Blacke Diamond has in mind and maybe we're overreacting." Smiling softly and laying his hand kindly on his arm, the gentle youth caught his slight tension to the touch before relaxing. At least he wasn't pulling away.
"But how can you say that no harm will befall them yet let something like that happen?" Contradicting his each and every feeling, Heero didn't care much that he was now opening up to Quatre again as he did, yet it wasn't away from the prying eyes of others. Now he was before everyone, and Quatre had spoken true, he couldn't hide within the shadows nor could he escape them. He had a duty to serve to them, to return them home safely and alive, all of them.
"We didn't know and neither did they. We can only protect them to the best of our abilities." Smirking when Heero only but nodded and seemed to relax and let a lot of his frustrations just disappear, he was glad and somewhat surprised. Usually it took longer.
Duo stood in shock; man that guy was lucky! Quatre could always get to people, but the young American actually thought that Heero might hit him or something. It looked that way and Quatre even told him to do it if it'd make him feel better! Was that kid crazy!? "Well I'll be...."
Sighing and leaning against the wall, the confused youth knew his duties and would fulfill them. He had to. Mission: Accepted. A soft coughing by his side startled him somewhat and he became immediately worried. This had happened before, an all too familiar time and it was rather recent. It wasn't going to happen again. "Quatre?"
Looking up and smiling, he only shook his head. "This is just a cold Heero, this time it's nothing more. There's a great difference in the feeling of this and pneumonia, there's no need to worry." Turning his eyes up to see Duo who was still confused, he only laughed softly. "I think we frightened him."
Turning to the youth as well and only giving a soft snort of acknowledgement, Heero closed his eyes. "That's not hard to do...."
Yawning and smirking, Quatre only waved his comrade over. "It's okay Duo, don't try and understand all that if it's confusing you that much." A soft chuckle to his side told him that Heero wasn't ready to hear that but thought it amusing enough.
"I won't, don't worry.... Hey, will you cut it out already?! Man, now the both of you are raggin' on me, this is so not cool." Crossing over to them and taking a seat, he caught the young Arabian's teasing smirk as Heero closed his eyes it seemed in slight weariness. "Maybe it was bad to corrupt you..."
"Only when I'm getting after you Duo," he corrected.
Head shooting up when he heard a disgruntled shout, the Japanese pilot looked to find that it was Daemon and he was trying to get Zander up. The boy still didn't move. With a cold laugh, he stood. "He can be taught..."
"Man, if you're going to tell him he can move, don't. It's so much easier with him like that..." added the American teen, smirking mischievously.
"Sometimes I worry about the both of you. It might be a little easier on us, but be nice guys..." Standing and looking at the two, he slowly made his way over- to the disliking of Duo and Heero it seemed. Looking past Daemon's glare though the older youth did not advance, probably having caught Heero's watchful eye, the gentle boy looked over the form. "Go ahead and move Zander. Heero meant for the first few minutes so that neither you nor the girl would be hurt. You can move now, he won't do anything, I assure you..."
Zander opened his eyes, blinking and glaring up at the youth. Sitting up slowly and catching sight of Heero, he hissed so as not to be heard but by the two around him. "I don't need your pity and I'll do what I want. Unless you want to be creamed, you'd better keep away from me."
Rolling his eyes and turning, Quatre turned to leave but whirled about quickly and dodged the thrown punch by Daemon and grabbed his arm, pulling it behind his back as Heero had done but just to restrain him. "What is your problem? Just stop acting like a child already and save it for later. Unless you haven't noticed what's going on." Releasing him and turning to walk away again, the youth only strode up to his friends' sides and gave them a reassuring smile. He was still rather tried, so in taking a seat, he closed his eyes and leaned against the wall.
Taking a seat in the corner once more, Heero kept his eyes on the two boys as they turned their backs to him. They were very lucky that Quatre had dodged. "Quatre?"
Hearing the soft voice as Duo settled down on his other side, the youth didn't bother to open his eyes. "Hmph?"
"Are you all right?" He noticed that the other youth looked paler and seemed exhausted.
"Yeah, just a little tired still. Don't worry, I always am when I get a cold..." Trailing off, the young man hugged himself and tried to warm up further, the sweater working nicely but he still had a sense of feeling cold. Slowly falling asleep with the soft chatter around him and the bright lights reflecting off of the metal, the youth didn't even realized that he'd leaned onto his friend nor felt him tense uncomfortably.
Heero looked down, Quatre asleep against his shoulder. Turning his confused and desperate eyes to Duo, he only saw a smirk. "What am I supposed to do?"
"He's tired man, we can see if we can't lay him down on the ground, but he might wake up. You were just conveniently sitting next to him. Here..." Standing and offering to hold the youth while Heero moved from under him so that he could lie down, he only shook his head.
"If he is ill, I do not want to wake him. He needs to rest..." Still somewhat confused and tense, no one really ever did that to him before let alone leaned against him or anything. Well, Relena tried to but that was a different story and he particularly didn't care for her hanging all over him. Yet his muscles stayed tense, the stoic youth trying not to move or at least too much for he didn't want to awaken his friend. Laying his head against the wall and closing his eyes, the young man kept to himself and his thoughts, quiet and still.
Sitting again and smirking, Duo was surprised that the boy told him no. Usually, it wasn't like Heero nor did he seem to be too comfortable, but he declined so as not to chance waking up the tired youth. His only problem now was: he was bored and had no one to talk to. He could always go join another group and converse, but he didn't really want to let the guys think he was just deserting them. "You gonna catch some sleep or what buddy?"
"Just go and ramble on with the others...." he ordered quietly, not even bothering to open his eyes as he slowly brought his arms up and crossed them before his chest.
"Okay, I'll be back in a little while..." Standing, he looked about the room and found his friends that he was conversing with the night before and trotted off in their direction.
~-~
Growling in frustration, Trowa brought up the previous file. The one with the letters. Wufei had gone out to see if he couldn't find any information, and the Alliance data banks were useless. If they only had more information. An idea snapped into his head, the youth quickly bringing up the links and finding the one to Heero's computer. He had to try and get a hold of him, if anyone knew anything or could have gotten out without being captured, Heero could have easily. "Come on, answer it already..."
The ringing continued, the laptop not being answered nor heard by anyone in the dorm room, sitting in the shadows of the youth's desk.
Waiting a few more minutes before groaning and closing the connection, he knew that Heero would have opened it by now or someone would have. Yet no one connected to the link, it rang endlessly. "Well, there goes any hope there..." His friends had all been taken as well. Returning to the jumble of words, the youth tried to think. If he just had another little clue, he could figure it all out. Just one more, that's all he needed! "What does this mean, I've tried looking it up along with anything else it could stand for and without finding a thing! I can't figure this out alone, I need something more..."
Authors' Notes:
Angela: ACK! This is much more emotional in written form than it ever was in plot form. Can I whimper yet? *grins, then tosses Star's muse Trowa some Skittles and then pops some in her mouth* This is becoming more and more interesting. Everyone, give Star a hand! *applause* Yeah, she writes the GW 5 really well. This story would be dead without her writing skills. This new, main muse [me] is impressed, and I'm in college-level English! Yeah, wow. *laugh* Okay, here are my technical comments for this chapter: Heero and Duo are becoming worried for Quatre more often and more readily. And this fact is thanks to Star's Mercy's Sacrifice story. Heero and Duo worried? I like it. *grin* Be sure to watch that in the coming chapters. Enjoy it all, peeps! That ends my part. Laterz!
Star: SORRY TO DISAPPOINT ANY, but this is not a 1+4 pairing as I seemed to have gotten in reviews. I can't write yaoi/yuri stories, I don't. If you see any affection between the boys, it's JUST a brotherly type of affection. Nothing more. I have nothing against those stories, but I can't see the chars. As that way and I don't write that way. Also, sorry to stop it there, I know, worst spot in the world, but it gets better, I swear! And just in case, there are only about 60 some peeps in the same room. The room isn't that big and sixty-some people isn't a lot! We have a band that was twice as big as that, we're a big school and have a big band, but we fit like, 125 people in one room that's only [L x W] about a 15 yard x 20 yard room. Just to clear up confusion there. Well, frustrations are rising among everyone; Quatre almost got another little wake up call from Daemon, not to mention what poor Heero could have actually done to him without having the discipline he does. That, and now the poor guy feels awful [Heero, Quatre does with a cold] for letting Laina being taken when they said they wouldn't let anything happen to them. Man, Zander deserved that though and I think that Quatre was being too nice telling him otherwise, but hey, that's the guy for you.
Quatre: I'm not that mean, but I could be if I wanted to. You can be mean and evil enough for the both of us, so why should I bother?
Star: But it's so much fun and I'll corrupt you yet! ~*mischievous grin*~ Okay, look for the next chapter. Ang, feel free at any time to post above this, and say whatever you want. You're the main author here! It was your plotline and I just get a bit carried away at times! ~*nudges her*~ Oh, come on!
Trowa: Give her a minute or so, impatient.... ~*sighs and hangs head*~ And remind me why I muse for you?
Star: Because you can't say no to a poor ickle girlie going on sweet sixteen who needs your help and spends her only income which is a rare babysitting job to pay you with Skittles which you seem to have taken to.
Trowa: They work for musing.
Star: But you're not being a muse! You're teasing me because I'm shorter and I have to threaten you to get any Skittles! You don't share easily! Besides, I've got things under control here, come up with more ideas for when I'm done and be ready this time! ~*snickers*~ I know, the things you do for me... ~*laughs and watches him leave to his room to think*~ Hope you liked the chapter peeps, and if you enjoy reading my ramblings, wow. That's all I can say. Thanks for reading, and !!!!!!THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOO MUCH ANGELA!!!!!! for making this story possible!