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 4~+~ Deadly mistakes...
A loud scream echoing in the room pulled Duo from unconsciousness, the youth jerking awake and nearly jumping into the air. "Holy cow, what's wrong with you people!?" Looking about to find one of the upper classman screaming, a girl, she seemed to be really spazzing out. Extremely hysterical. Others around her were beginning to get extremely jumpy and anxious; they were worse than kids losing their parents at the store! "Geeze, talk about freakin' out..."
Heero stood, on guard as his eyes retained their natural indifference and could-care-less-about-my-life attitude. Prussian eyes watched as Quatre tried to settle the girl, she was panicking before but not this much. The diplomatic youth must have said something wrong or the girl was getting the wrong ideas, because she was not calming in the least. In truth, she was actually pathetic, but then again, maybe that was because he'd grown quickly accustomed to capture. "Settle down Duo..."
"Excuse me?" Turning with a queer look, the youth eyed Heero who'd gone into battle mode. Why?
"We have more important things to focus on..." Eyes sending a piercing gaze towards the door, he called out atop all the other voices. "Quatre, it's time!" The tone was harsh and commanding, icy cold but loud.
Wincing and spinning around, the platinum blonde gave up on trying to go ahead and calm the girl and made his way through the crowd, catching the echoing and dreaded footsteps. It was their turn now. Giving the others a small nod, his once compassionate eyes turned to a gaze of determination. "We should at least put up somewhat of a fight so they won't suspect." Catching a small nod from Heero, the three made their way to the front of the group as they always did, everyone else backing away. 'It's now or never,' the youth reminded himself mentally, watching the door open.
~-~
A click of the television box and the digital box was silent and blank. The Chinese warrior had found nothing, nor had any of the authorities it appeared, or so the newscasters claimed. They were no closer to finding the others than they were in figuring out anything more on the new organization. "Anything?"
Growling in frustration, the youth gave a feeble reply. "No..." He'd been working with the computer for nearly two straight days and it was nearing the end of the second. He never had this much trouble before, but now they were totally clueless on where to go or what to do with this mission. They didn't have enough information to do anything and it was nearly impossible to find anything else.
Nodding and sighing, he walked silently to the young man's side. "Pull up that program again with the letters."
Doing so, Trowa gazed at them and almost saw something, but laid his head on the counter when it disappeared before he had the chance to figure it out. He was tired, the only breaks he took were to go ahead and maybe rest for ten minutes or so or to stand or use the bathroom. He didn't really leave nor eat, he wasn't all that hungry anyway. The other three were capable of handling themselves, but they also didn't know anything about BD or what THEY were capable of. Anything could be possible.
Gazing at them for a few minutes, Wufei smirked. "Go get some rest."
"I'm not tired... I almost saw something..." Looking again, he thought the last word looked familiar, but he couldn't place it. Sighing and trying to stand, the youth collapsed non-expectantly to his knees, momentarily wide awake.
"I see that.." Eyeing and speaking sarcastically, the Chinese youth kneeled, helping Trowa from the ground and to the couch to at least rest. He was asleep not but seconds after he laid his head on the throw pillow. Yet without any sound, he sat at the computer and watched the words, calming his mind and trying to figure out the puzzle.
~-~
Coughing and looking about as his breathing came in forced gasps, the Arabian youth could see the terror in everyone's eyes. Reaching up with his hands to try and pry the grip from his throat, the youth only felt the hand grow tighter around his neck as the soldier's fingers crushed his windpipe. He was caught off guard, something that seemed to happen a lot at this time. He wasn't all that well coordinated or awake at the time, which probably aided in such a opposing factor. The with bitter metal of the barrel pressed against his temple, Quatre felt the hand tighten even further to where he couldn't even gasp. Each of his attempts, now matter how much more desperate, were futile.
Duo watched Quatre in slight fear. "Let him go!" The soldiers decided to use Quatre as bait it seemed and now they were helpless to really do anything without hurting the boy.
Biting his tongue, Heero remembered the plan and forced his eyes from the struggling youth pinned against the steel wall. Sighing heavily, he held out his arms to be restrained so as to quickly end the torture on Quatre's part. The youth was debating whether or not to go ahead and just attack the guards as soon as they entered, but it didn't work out that way. "Fine, leave him be." An icy venom still hung in each of his words, hissed through clenched teeth.
"You're truly pathetic kids, impudent but cowards when it comes right down to it..." the soldier claimed. He was the one of before, yet he'd quickly restrained the weakest looking of the three to get the others to submit.
Catching Heero's nod as his friend's reluctant Prussian eyes focus forward, Duo kept his gaze carefully on Quatre but submitted as well. The iron shackles were old and heavy, the cold metal biting his skin. "I'm sorry little buddy..."
When released, the platinum blonde crumbled to his knees, coughing and choking in air as one of his hands immediately went to soothe and protect his throat. Bold blue eyes squinted in pain, his every breath followed by a fit of coughs. Quatre couldn't see anything at the moment, his vision was blurred by a black void in his sight with only dancing colors flashing like tiny candles. Yet his sense of touch was just fine as he felt himself pulled from the floor and made to stand on wobbly legs, the shackles around his wrists heavy and cold. After a moment's hesitation, he blinked back the darkness and found the other two looking at him in worry, disgusted with the restraints but submissive to them either way. Forcing a small smile, he was shoved in their direction and nearly collapsed again had Duo and Heero not helped him to regain his balance.
"Quatre, are you okay?" Duo listened to his coughs continue and held his left shoulder in an action to let him regain his balance, and as protection against the other soldiers.
Heero stood on the youth's opposite side, glaring at the soldiers but sparing a concerned glance at Quatre. "Settle down, it'll help..."
Finally regaining his composure and control over his body, the young Arabian looked up to give a small nod to his comrades in thanks. Following them out the door, he was shoved with the others further down the hall. Now just to wait for Heero's signal.
He'd wait for the precise moment. Then they'd attack. The Japanese youth did not rebel nor comment or complain about what was being done to them. Instead, Prussian eyes watched ahead of himself and stayed on the other two, Quatre mainly who seemed to be getting it rather harder and worse than either he nor Duo. Giving a small nod, one of which only a keen eye would pick up if trained to, he was sure the American and Arabian had both caught it. Now, it was their turn. Quickly dropping to his hands and crouching low from the aim of the gun, the youth kicked out and swiped the soldier's feet from under him. Seizing up the gun and training it on the downed man, he quickly shot his gaze to the two other boys who had taken their escorts into captivity. "Are you sure you're all right and ready for this Quatre?"
"I'm not weak, trust me, I'm fine..." Smiling and training the gun he had on his escort, the youth hoped he wouldn't have need of the deadly weapon. Oh how he loathed killing, who really did enjoy it?
"So, what do we do with these guys?" Duo piped up. "If we shoot them, we'll be down a few soldiers, they can't do anything if they're dead. But that's gonna draw attention to us. If we try and tie them up, that's going to be fun and then to keep them quiet? Man, hard decision..." Pretending to ponder with a demonic smirk, he watched the fear play in his escort's eyes and only laughed to himself.
"We don't have time to waste on them, end it now." Glaring down at the soldier who'd hurt his friend twice and the one they'd encountered each time, Heero cocked the gun. To take his life would just mean another casualty of the war to him. Looking up at Quatre's reluctance, he sighed. "Quatre, we don't have time for any of this..."
Nodding, the youth placed his finger on the trigger of the gun, aiming it to kill. He knew he had to, but never wanted to do such a thing. Yet as Heero had said, they didn't have time for this.
Taking a deep breath, the Japanese youth pulled the trigger but moved his aim from the soldier's head at the last minute. A cry echoed in the halls, blood spurting out from the man's mid-waist. "There, now get the keys for these condemned things Duo, he has them..." Motioning towards the American's escort, he quickly raised his gun again and shot Quatre's soldier in the side, positive he'd not hit anything vital but enough to keep him downed. The relief in the boy's eyes told him he was grateful, but there wasn't time for that. "Get out of those and get the hostages out of here, I need to get the other six."
"Gotcha man, be careful... you can't go gettin' yourself killed, because we still know I'm better than you at battling but we've not put it to rest.." Smirking and catching his disgusted snort, the young American quickly undid his merciful comrade's bindings as the two took up their guns, running back down the halls and to the room where they were originally kept while the third ran the opposite direction.
"Duo... we need to get them out and quickly, I'm not sure where we are... but we've got to be near the center of the base or the inside. We can double back this way.... then take a right and try and get to the outer edge of the base and find our way out..." Lengthening his strides and running next to Duo's side, a barrage of gunfire fell upon the two. Quickly rounding the corner and turning to ready his aim and take out their enemy, Quatre watched as Duo stumbled forward, not quite making the turn as a scarlet liquid began to pool around his waist. "Duo!"
Hitting the floor with a stifled growl, Duo felt the bullet seer and tear through the skin in his upper leg, the pain flowing over his body in wave upon agonizing wave. Looking up, he tried to stagger to his feet but only managed to crawl/drag himself behind the shelter of the wall, Quatre firing back at those who were after them. Laying on his back and wincing, the youth tried to move, yet any movement in his right leg was torture. "Oh God..." Hissing the words through gritted teeth, he knew that things just couldn't get any "better".
Picking off the last of the soldiers, Quatre disregarded the alarm and kneeled by Duo's side, seeing the blood pool around his legs and waist. "C'mon Duo..." With a gentle smile and worry filled eyes, he helped his comrade into a sitting position, gazing on as he leaned against the metal wall in pain. "Do you think you can walk or should we..."
"I've got to... I just need some help up..." Cutting in, the youth looked back with a determination set, his cobalt eyes clearly showing his stubborn will. With the boy's help, he made it to his feet and forced the pain from his mind as he began to trot in agony down towards the cell.
Quatre followed, thoroughly worried and concerned but they had their mission to accomplish and now the entire of the base knew of their plans. This all to their disadvantage.
~-~
Dodging behind the wall after rounding the corner, Heero quickly turned again to face his enemy. Firing, he took down the men and looked on without emotion, wheeling about quickly and entering the next room he came upon. He didn't have time to waste, he had to get to a computer somehow, so instead, he ignored the wound in his arm. One of the soldiers had gotten lucking and hit him, very lucky. Heero's lower shoulder now bleed freely, the thick, crimson liquid flowing down and over his fingers.
Gun poised and ready, the young man opened the door and was prepared to fire but it appeared as though luck had turned in his favor. Entering quickly when shouts could be heard coming his direction, the Japanese pilot entered the surveillance room without hesitation. Nimble fingers moved over the command pad, closing and sealing the door, the codes redone and the password one of his own. "And still this is too easy..." Taking a seat at the command consul, he went about his business in trying to find where the others were located. Blacke Diamond didn't have much in their information bases, it wasn't as easy to find what he wanted to know from them as it was from OZ or the Alliance.
Shouting and yelling erupted along with gunfire outside of the room the teenager was in, his ears deaf to their cries.
Heero knew he was sloppy in hiding where he'd escaped too, he remembered punching in the numbers but the blood falling to the floor from his arm and over the key pad. That didn't matter now...
"We take him dead or alive! Get this door open!" A low and burly voice was muffled through the steel door, yet his anger and words were clear.
Looking quickly over his shoulder, a thought struck the young man's mind. He'd just caged himself in. "Great..." Hands flying quickly over the keys, the youth broke the codes of the computer message programs as a heavy pounding was heard in the large, steel room. He had no escape, yet. Maybe Duo and Quatre got out with the others, but his hope of freedom rested on the others. Linking with any available air wave or screen, his message spreading live, the youth glanced back over his shoulder to listen to the growing voices. Turning back to the screen, he prayed that it was broadcast to everyone. He'd even linked with OZ's computers in hopes of getting SOMEONE to figure out what they knew. With his normal, stoic voice, the youth sent out a small message as he heard the orders called to move from the door. They were planning on blowing the door up with explosives. "This had better work..." Recording his message, the youth spoke to all the viewers of his SOS. "Come Play Cards..." Quickly bringing up a picture, the youth altered it before the blast was heard and his lean form thrown to the ground harshly as if he were no more than a rag doll. Looking up, he realized that the computers had also been destroyed.
Trying to push himself into a sitting position, the youth only groaned and staggered to his feet, looking about for his gun frantically before a sharp pain burst through his head, a brilliant white flashing before his eyes until all turned black and he knew no more.
"Take him to his excellency." Motioning towards the unconscious form of the boy on the floor, the younger soldier glared deeply at the youth. He'd be unconscious for a little while, but not too long. They almost did have to kill this kid to capture him.
"Sir, his message has already been broadcasted..." a young woman, one of the many subordinates, called over as she checked the few computers that weren't destroyed in total.
"We'll tell his excellency then..." he called back, watching the kid being drug from the room as blood slowly left a trail on the ground. "Pick him up and do something to stop the blood flow, he's leaving enough of a mess as it is..." Leaving past his subordinates and hanging his head, the soldier headed towards the main control room to inform their leader of the successful recapture.
~-~
Yawning and looking about himself in confusion, Trowa squinted against the soft sunlight streaming in through the windows, the burning sphere sinking below the horizon. "What time is it?"
"Almost 6; you've been sleeping most of the day. Actually, I'm rather surprised but you seemed to have needed it..." Trailing off, the youth kept clicking away at the keys of the laptop, having been trying his luck and searching all day.
"Why didn't..." a yawn interrupted his sentence, "you wake me up?"
"As I said before, you not only needed it but I got a chance to look for myself on this condemned thing..." He didn't care much for the computer that they were using, it was far too slow.
Letting a slight grin grace his features as the youth sat up and turned on the television, he looked for the news but it was on later. Still, there was no harm in trying. A commercial caught his eyes but it was only for a split second. They were talking about wedding bands and rings.
"The princess cut diamond, one your love will be able to cherish and love for the rest of your lifetime. She just can't say no. Diamonds are a girl's best friend, diamonds are for eternity, diamonds, say I love you..."
Snorting softly in disgust and turning the channel, the youth thought something looked familiar about the word they kept using. 'What's wrong with me? Why would I be interested in diamond engagement rings?' Laughing to himself, the youth stood on unsteady feet and walked back over to Wufei's seat, looking carefully over his shoulder.
Trying to bring up the program with the words again, Wufei was startled when another message crossed the computer screen. He almost replied, seeing it was Heero, but when realizing that it was prerecorded and sent, the youth listened intentionally.
Heero's words were cold and stoic, yet to those with a keen ear could find slight panic in them and pleading. "Come Play Cards." Seconds later, a digital playing card was brought up, staying on the screen for moments before all disappeared into static.
Trowa watched it, curious and worried all at the same time. "Pull that up again... what was that picture? I wonder what he meant, "Come Play Cards"."
Hastily bringing back the picture, Wufei stopped it on the card. It was the red Ace of Diamonds, yet the A's were painted in black. "It has to be code."
"But for what, that's the problem." Staring at the screen, he sat in confusion. "Pull up that other program, the one with the foreign words."
Sighing and doing as he was told, Wufei watched the card uncertainly. Something wasn't right about it, but what it was, the clue didn't register in his mind. When the separate program with the words appeared before him, his mind was instantly thrown off track.
"This has something to do with that card and what he said, but what?" Gazing at the letters, he strained not only his eyes to see what was hidden within them, but his mind to think of what it could all mean.
~-~
Listening to the low groan escape his throat softly, the stubborn and normally indifferent pilot glared at the man before him. Looking about, he found Duo with Quatre, the American's features wan and Quatre extremely worried, but they held their tongues and their confidence. Growling when he was shoved forward and to his knees, he listened to the younger man speak. He must be the commander of this operation.
"So, someone actually got brave and try to escape or are you just stupid?" Sneering, the young man, though slightly older than the boys before him, walked from the shadows. His honey-brown hair was cut short, falling over his eyes messily. The icy, light-blue orbs that stared back at the forms before him, bitter and spiteful. His lean form stood in poise and pride, holding no weakness, but a few scars his only visible flaws. Arms crossed boredly before his chest, he waited for an answer.
"Dude, what happened to you? You look like a sissy, boy-band, wanna-be who couldn't hack it and got rejected." Duo piped up with his usual vigor and wit, not caring to keep what he had on his mind silent.
"Oh, the little girl speaks." Shrugging off the earlier comment and sneering, he watched the boy turn to him with hatred flaring in his eyes.
"You've got some real problems, man. I think you might still be helped, they get paid lots of money.." he acted as if he were talking to a child. "But they're called psychiatrists, or shrinks dude..." Speaking slowly, he only caught a glare and smiled proudly.
"Maybe you could recommend one, I'm sure there isn't one you haven't seen."
"Naw, only the smart, hot chicks..... though I'm sure for a sicko like you, Doctor Miller would be just fine. He's just like you..." Grinning demonically, he felt his knees give out as he fell to the floor brutally, his knee caps having been kicked in from the back. Stifling a groan, he only glared back up at the older man before him.
"Duo!" Looking to his side and trying to help Duo, Quatre was forced to stay where he was and was kept strictly restrained.
"What the hell do you want?" was Heero's blunt and cold question.
"Nothing of your concern." Smirking, he motioned for the two more talkative boys to be led away. "You risked an awful lot trying to escape, too bad, now you've got to pay."
"I thought it might actually be something better this time..." Heero spat, smirking and looking downward.
"What, were you expecting a formal ballroom party?" The young man asked with sarcasm.
"You are all the same, and yet no one else has been able to get any information nor teach me, what makes you think you can hurt me, The Perfect Soldier?" Watching the others stop, Quatre and Duo being led back up to his side closer where he could keep an eye on them, he heard the one before him shift.
"So full of yourself, you could never be a Gundam Pilot... stupid children..."
"Look into the OZ data banks if you do not believe so, though I don't think they miss me too greatly..." Relying on the sarcasm and cocky attitude to draw the attention to him, the youth waited silently as another soldier was instructed to do so.
"Ha! What, are they your little buddies in combat too?" With a somewhat childish and cruel-teasing tone, he motioned towards the other youths.
"They're gullible children who are pampered in that private school, you trust the others to be this weak?" Sneering, he ignored the other two in full, trying to make himself as he was before, cold and heartless to all and could care less. His friends would understand.
Turning to his subordinate, the commander waited as well for an answer.
"Mr. Takuchie, we've brought up the information and files that OZ has on the Perfect Soldier, Gundam Pilot 01."
Striding over to the computer and gazing upon it, Takuchie was rather surprised that the Perfect Soldier COULD be a boy! "Well, I'll be..."
"A lot of things, but none of them would be polite...." Heero smirked, oh Duo was rubbing off too much!! Way too much for his own good. Shooting the young American a warning glare, he hoped that he wouldn't break into laughter. He was supposed to be playing the part of a pampered brat, that of which he could do well, but you can't do too much without a straight face.
Quatre sat by and listened, biting his lower lip to keep from smiling as he caught Heero's instant retort. Oh, now he really wished he could have been there to see Une's face when Heero and Duo waged the "battle of wits" against her. Duo had described it and Heero only acknowledged for lack of something else to do and out of protecting his reputation and image, but it still had to be great. Sad to say though, he missed it.
Duo bit his tongue, tasting blood as his gaze watched the ground and he tried purposely to amplify the pain in his leg to keep his mind in a dreary state. That was SO perfect though!! He really wanted to just burst out laughing, to say the truth. Heero was finally corrupted! He was spouting off cocky and smart-alecky remarks left and right and hardly talked any other time! It was amazing!
Shifting his weight and rolling his stiff shoulders, a pain shot throughout the Japanese youth's entire torso. Yet while Takuchie had turned to face him at this time, he sat still without flinching and refused to acknowledge any pain or irritation.
With a smirk, Takuchie returned his gaze to the three. He didn't believe that this boy could be one of the Gundam Pilots, it was possible, just not believable. "We'll see..." Looking at the two weaker ones, he only snorted and waved them away. "Take them to be punished for their stunt, I'll have no use of those brats anyway, just less on my hands..."
Not knowing exactly what they could do or would do to his comrades, Heero thought quickly. He was still protective of them and in truth, Quatre more than the youthful American. Duo was tougher than he looked and was used to it, but Quatre wasn't trained as fully in torture and he'd gone through enough before, even if the Arabian aristocrat could very well care for himself. That was something he'd learned before, rather painfully he had to admit. "How truly stupid are you?"
With a raised eyebrow, the young man snorted in question. "Do you ever stop speaking? I was told you were extremely silent."
"I do it just to spite you..." Heero called softly in his rebuttal. This was him? Wow, normally he wouldn't even do such a thing. Not even rarely! Yet it was as if Duo were speaking for him, but not quiet as incompetently. Duo got OVERLY-cocky at times. "You are blinder than I thought... truly pathetic..."
"Do you just talk to yourself or will you answer?" An impatient sneer spat from his thin lips.
"And they die by your hand, what then do you plan to do? Personally, I wouldn't care and would just destroy this entire hell-hole. But the fighting of the others, they'd be at bay with the prisoners but kill any, and they'd kill the rest themselves to see you didn't." Taking in a slow breath and speaking softly, the young man continued with his stream of lies. It was terribly easy, just to quickly think of them and get the others to play along. That, and to be extremely convincing.
"If you are 01, why tell me such things? Only to doom the others?" A sphinx-like smirk played over his features in thought.
"Possibly, I care not for what they do, only myself and my mission," he spoke emotionlessly and without hesitation.
"And what IS your mission?" Maybe the boy would speak, but most likely, it wouldn't be of any use. It could have been a fluke that OZ had believed the boy a pilot but in turn he was only that of an accidental capture.
"None of your fucking business..." Eyes shooting towards the man, he glared with his normal hatred and loathing.
"Oh... feisty little runt I see...." Laughing in enjoyment when his glare only deepened with a fiery loathing, he couldn't help but find it amusing.
"To prey on others weaker then yourself, typical. You kill them, you kill yourselves. It's as simple as that. The blonde weakling is asthmatic and punishment of your choice he would have no chance of surviving, and the second is just as weak without excuse. The errors you make are right in front of your face and they'll be your downfall. I was expecting more and this to be interesting..." With a satanic smirk, he forced himself to enjoy speaking of his friends in such a manner. Duo, it wasn't that hard with him. The Japanese youth didn't mind much. Yet these lies were for their own safety and for the success of the mission. One that must be fulfilled.
Looking hurt and sending a weak glare of his own Heero's way, Duo sat in silence. That was just mean! Sure, he understood the reasoning, but that's the best lie he could come up with?! Man that was harsh... and he didn't even seem one bit reluctant to speak about them like that or remorseful!
Quatre sat silent as well, his eyes closed and his head down. Heero's words were just that to him, words. They didn't mean anything except that it was what was expected, his acting nothing more than a clever mask to hide the truth and to keep the enemy at bay. The amused tone in his voice was harder to ignore, for it was rather believable, yet he knew truly in his heart that it was but at well planned show for those gullible to believe it.
"Then why are you still here and not free of this place? If you see all my flaws in the plans, why haven't you yet to prey on those and use them?"
"It's fun to torment you...." Voice gentle yet bitter and amused, he kept no smile or glimmer of joy on his lips nor in his eyes. If he was overly confident, it'd ruin everything and not to mention just give him away in full. That, and it just wasn't his nature. Well, nor was talking this much or with this attitude, but that was necessary. At least it was working.
"...I see... and I'll have just as much fun seeing your torment..." Motioning for his other soldiers to listen, Takuchie spoke this time to them. "Take that blonde brat to Kayura, let her have fun with him. She'll know how to keep the child alive but make him pay and suffer. They shouldn't go without discipline.." An evil smirk pulled at the corners of his lips, his voice teasing. "As for these two, take them into "interrogation" with Kitabayashi, have him start with the one who thinks he's the great Perfect Soldier."
Heero was forced near the other two, catching Quatre's and Duo's eyes. Nodding ever so softly, he mouthed the words "Play along..." to Quatre ever so slightly. Catching his gentle nod in return, the three were forced out the door and taken along separate paths. Duo and Heero both were taken straight down the corridor in front of them, Quatre departing to the right and rounding the corner. "Now this should be interesting."
~-~
Trying to struggle away from the soldiers, Heero glared at them. He'd been reduced to near helplessness when they began to go ahead and threaten Duo, a hard, rounded, leather gag in his mouth and the others trying to blind fold him. Why?! Finally stopping when he felt an iron grip around his throat as his arms were pinned behind his back and legs unable to move, Heero watched as the cloth was put over his eyes for Lord knew whatever purpose and felt it tied tightly behind his head, pulling some of his hair back into the knot. They'd also stripped the shirt from his body, but why? They didn't want to ruin it or get it dirty?! Blacke Diamond was turning out to be worse than OZ all right, they were getting stupider! 'This should be anything but dull...'
Duo watched as they restrained his friend's arms, the cuffs put on a hook as the boy became vulnerable and defenseless, lifted into the air as his legs were tied together and restrained to the floor. "What are you going to do to him?" He was slightly fearful yet angered, but he knew better than to try anything. Heero had a plan and they were to follow it, he'd picked up his role of being a pampered, defenseless brat. Ha! How totally ironic for the boy?! Yet he played the role well, gazing on in worry and concern for his comrade.
"We're finding out if he's who he says he is kid, and if I were you, I'd keep my mouth shut unless you really want to feel pain later..." Kitabayashi sneered, cracking his knuckles and deciding to start out with a slow warm-up.
Coughing in slight surprise of the first blow, Heero felt his body jerk backwards from the punch in his abdomen against his will. The blow was hard and had no warning, barely catching the Japanese youth off guard. Leaning his head back and not bothering to struggle, Heero focused to gain full control over his body, laughing softly but with a bitterness and evil air. This was amusing, they thought they were actually going to get somewhere? Ha! Maybe this would be just another boring capture... Lady Une was sick minded in her games of torture, turning friend against friend and beating you down mentally. That was a well played game, but this? This was just the same as before and the time before that, growing old and quickly. And softly he laughed, listening to Duo's rather worried and concerned noises as he sat against the opposite wall, yet he didn't know why. The American youth should be used to this by now, pain didn't bother him! Not normal pain nor weak pain, he'd learned to ignore such a thing.
"Well, not bad, this might actually be a workout yet!" Gazing over to his friend, Kitabayashi continued to slowly work his way into harder punches, using this as his "workout" with the boy as his target. The second child would be next, whenever the first finally broke.
"Yeah, you might actually break a sweat! Oh no, the world's going to end!" Calling sarcastically from the door and once in a while gazing at the youth chained to the corner, the second soldier spoke casually.
"Don't worry, just theirs..." With a grin, the young soldier continued. "How much time do I get with this kid? He might actually be fun to break..."
Looking down at his watch, the second kept the conversation going. "About another hour and a half, we're moving out of this burrow because of his message. OZ or the Alliance might actually get some brains and track the message, but we don't want to chance it. Commander Takuchie is moving the entire squadron and all hostages to the Aquarina base."
With a keen ear, the stoic pilot listened in, only inhaling sharply but barely when he felt a kick land on his left side, near the old gunshot wound. A stab of pain raced up his entire side, spreading throughout his torso but he diminished it quickly. He had to dispel of it. 'Now just to hold out for that long and deal with this so the others won't get hurt...'
~-~
Keeping his eyes on the ground and only wincing when he was forced to his knees before the next commander, this to be the Miss Kayura, he only spared a glance up at her. She was a taller, lean woman but she wasn't weak looking in the least.
"What's this?" With a sphinx-like tongue, the woman spoke in irritation yet amusement.
"Ma'am, His Excellency, Mr. Takuchie ordered us to bring this child to your for disciplining Ma'am." The soldier barked back his response without hesitation.
Cringing away from the loud and burly soldier, the Arabian youth tried to turn from his voice. He wanted to keep his hearing.
Smirking at the boy's actions, she questioned further. "This one of those pathetic prisoners?"
"Yes Ma'am. He was one of the three that tried the escape. The other two are being handled by Kitabayashi but he wasn't sure what to do with this child. His records show that he does have medical problems as asthma and His Excellency wishes for all the prisoners to live. Thus ordering us to bring him to you in hopes you could find punishment Ma'am!" Again he barked his reply, unhesitant and thorough in his explanation.
"Fine, it appears Takuchie is losing his touch. Leave him here, I'm sure I can find something...." Smirking and sitting with a grace of a cat in her chair, the woman watched her soldiers salute and leave, pushing the young blonde to the ground. She was rather delighted to hear his startled cry and then watched him cower backwards.
Something was seriously wrong with this woman, and now Quatre was getting a really bad feeling from her. That couldn't be too good. He just had a strange feeling with this woman and didn't want to be anywhere near her. Taking a seat at a distance, he watched her smirk widen. "What are you going to do to me?" Letting down all his restraints, he let his act begin.
Fear and uncertainty filled the boy's voice, that was good, that was very good. Smirking, she stood once more with cat-like agility and grace, walking in her simple, skin-tight, black pants and deep violet, button-up shirt. "Wouldn't you like to know... I hope you like to play, because I'm feeling like something good and old fashion." Smirk widening, the woman grabbed for her "toy", an intimidating, black leather, cat-of-nine-tails. It was a strong and fun whip, some old fashion discipline would suit nicely. Besides, she was in the mood for a little generation change. Each of the nine, deep colored lashes falling over the handle and draping like the vines of a weeping willow.
Biting his lower lip and looking with dread at the whip, the youth couldn't help but let his mind wander to how much this was going to actually hurt! It wasn't like he trained every day for that pain, the leather tearing into his flesh and ripping deeply into the muscle. Who's idea was that of enjoyment?! Yet he knew his role and it would be easier, letting his emotions out and show clearly without restraint. Especially when the pain did come. Yet maybe he was a little too in character as he found his breathing erratic and shallow. Besides, that was the best Heero could come up with? Asthma? He'd wanted to laugh at the first mention of it but it was believable enough and it was his only excuse. Just, when did his new diagnosis he never knew of appear on his medical records?
Snapping the whip for practice, flexing her fingers over the warm, rigid leather, Kayura's eyes began to glow with mischief. "We can solve your hyperventilating problem simply, then have fun..."
~-~
The Ace of Diamonds sat upon the screen, a print out of the foreign words in hand as the young warrior looked between the two? What did, "Come play cards", a digital ace of diamonds, and the letters CLABEK DAONDIM have in common? The card and message fit together, but with the other words was what got him. "He couldn't have made it simpler..."
Sighing and shaking his head, Trowa looked down at the words. Why did the second one look so familiar? An idea clicking in his mind, the youth looked about before taking a pen from the counter and the paper from the Chinese boy's hand.
"What the..." In confusion, he spared the other a gentle glare at his hasty reactions, especially since the youth was trying to put two and two together, but only settled for remaining silent.
"Why would Heero pick the Ace of Diamonds out of all the other cards? What else is there? Spades, clubs, and hearts. So why is it he chose this card?" Turning with a grin playing over his lips, the youth turned back to his work, putting down a letter and crossing it out from above, finishing the word.
"What are you on to?" Not being able to see the paper of which his comrade was quickly scribbling on, the young man standing and stretching from his stiff position.
"This..." With a smirk, he matched up the letters from the first word with the second he was thinking of. THAT'S why the diamond commercial held something familiar and was bothering him for so long.
Looking in curiosity and cocking his head, the young man couldn't help but give a soft laugh. "Diamond... the second word. It's not foreign as we thought, or maybe we were just thinking too hard. That's why he chose this card, because it was the only. I see how it matches now, but what about the first word?"
Again, he looked back at the word and then to the computer screen. "Do you know where Duo kept his playing cards?"
Shaking his head, he couldn't help but smirk at the youth's frustrated growl before he took off for the room the American pilot occupied when there. "Why? What would you need one for?"
"Something's not right..." he called back in response, digging through all that he could think of to find the cards. Finally picking them up from inside the nightstand drawer, Trowa quickly dumped the pack out on the bed. Digging through it with vigor and determination, he silently picked up his target. "That is just a scanned copy of one of these cards, but it's altered. Look at the A's, then compared to these. In any normal card, they'd be the same color as their suite, but not this one. The A's are in black, the entire of the suite is red."
"So the first word would deal with the alteration..." Looking down at the paper, Wufei took up the pen this time and began the process once more. "It spells Black, as is the altered version of the card, but then where is the E?"
Staring down at the paper, he but shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe it's silent... like at the end."
Placing the E at the end of the word, it worked and if it was silent, then they'd just figured it out. "Then we should see if we can't get anything on it and then try and track the others down."
"Already ahead of you..." Taking a seat swiftly at the counter, he instantly cleared it all and brought up his links, trying to break into the computer banks of a possible "Blacke Diamond" and looking for what they were up against. It may be something small and just starting out, or it may be large and they could be in trouble. They had to know what actions to take and keep the others safe.
~-~
Biting down hard on the leather gag, Heero was certain at least five to six of his ribs were now broken along with others being bruised or fractured. The slow and gradual trickle of blood as it seeped from open cuts along his chest and along his bruised cheeks gave the youth a feeling of exhausted irritation. By the last time check the soldier, Kitabayashi, asked he'd almost been then for an hour and some odd minutes. It was harder to focus and keep track now. Slowing his breathing, the youth held his breath momentarily and prepared himself instantaneously for the next hit which crossed his right cheek, sending a wave of dizziness over him.
Duo only closed his eyes, daring not to look up for fear of becoming angry and ruining everything. He knew that Heero was probably hurt pretty badly about now and that it was getting harder for him to keep his discipline, you could hear it with his more frequent, but soft groans or growls. Yet things sometimes looked worse than they were, and right now, it sounded like he was looking pretty badly. Clasping his hands before him and pulling his knees closer, the youth only mumbled softly. "Please don't let them hurt my friends... please let their pain end swiftly..." Wincing at the soft groan and sharp inhale, Duo knew that Heero was losing it. "Just leave the guy alone already..."
"Shut up kid... he's actually... fun!" The second officer, having switched off with Kitabayashi for his turn, kicked up and delivered a hard blow to the boy's left side, watching him try and back away as a soft cracking was heard.
Kitabayashi fingered the jackknife in his hands, the silver hilt glinting in the light. "It is, tired yet DeWitt?"
Stopping and smirking, DeWitt turned and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Not quite, what's that? New toy?"
Tossing the closed knife to him, Kitabayashi nodded. "Got it from my brother. Works really nicely, extremely sharp and durable. The blade is stainless steal too. Try it out..." Smirking himself, Kitabayashi motioned towards the vulnerable boy.
Nodding and opening the blade, he only laughed coldly. "I think I will. You've got to make sure it works properly.." Swiftly taking the boy's right shoulder and spying the scar on his lower abdomen, he found his target. Thrusting the blade into his body, he was only all too delighted to hear the boy give a startled cry of pain, the blade only halfway into his muscle.
Heero threw his head back at this, not being able to stop his cry as the white hot blade entered his body, causing him to pull back sharply from the object. Yet the officer wasn't done as the blade was thrust into his lower stomach further, the metal of the handle icy cold against his skin.
Duo's gaze shot up at this, his eyes wide as the thick blood oozed from the wound, seeping over the blade and tracing its path down his friend's stomach and side, staining his denim shorts. "Leave him alone!" Not trying to stop himself, Duo knew that Heero had grown weaker from taking all the abuse, not being as strong as he was. "Stop that!"
Kitabayashi only grinned. "Nothing can hurt him, he's the Perfect Soldier. Shut up kid unless you want a hole in the side of your head."
"Now, it works nicely for stabbing into material, but that's just the point. If the edges of the blade aren't sharp, you're just getting ripped off!" Twisting the blade and slowly pulling it with jerky movements across to his other side, he only delighted further in hearing the boy's groans as he tried to pull away.
The Japanese youth could hear the sound of his flesh ripping slowly under the blade's edge, his muscle tearing to shreds as the blade reached his mid stomach. Heero tried and struggled, feeling his life's essence spill gradually from his body with the searing hot trail of pain, yet he couldn't pull back from it nor stop it. Gripping the chain that held him suspended in air and vulnerable, the youth couldn't do much to stop his torment. His knuckles turned a chalk white, his breathing coming in pants and sharp inhales with each of the blade's movements, blood continuing to seep from his body.
"Stop it! Leave him alone! He's just like anyone else and you're hurting him!" Trying to struggle to his feet but unable to when his legs wouldn't support him, Duo tried turning once more from the boy. His upper body was covered in bruises, blood dripping and oozing thickly from open wounds as it traced its path down his arms from his cut wrists, the edges of the handcuffs digging into his arms. Yet he was unable to, and just as helpless to aid his friend. Biting his tongue and tasting his own, sweetly bitter blood, the youth remained quiet but very worried.
Letting his head fall to his chest and giving a soft groan when the knife was twisted a third of the way from his opposite side and yanked at a harsh angel from his body, he only stopped his struggle. Fists unclenching, the boy didn't move except for the constant flow of blood slowly making its way from his body and the continual gasps and pants. He'd tried to prepare himself for this, even back in the large holding cell with the rest of the students. Yet he couldn't in full, and now with the progression of time and all that they'd inflicted upon him, he was greatly weakened. That, and not having eaten in nearly two days and scarcely anything before that did not help matters.
Takuchi opened the door, eyes falling on the boy who claimed he was the Perfect Soldier, and with all the facts they had, it proved him to be so. Bitter laughter escaped his lips as DeWitt wiped the blood from a switchblade on the boy's unstruggling and helpless form, smearing the blood over his bruised skin. "Well done, though a bit rash if I do say so myself, yet nice work boys..."
Kitayabashi took back his blade quickly and saluted his commander, smirking. "We serve to make proud sir."
Laughing at this as well, he only crossed his arms before his chest, looking down at the cowering boy in the corner. "Go ahead and release him, take him to the prisoner cells, don't put him back with the hostages. That might be a good idea to go ahead and scare the rest of them, but not yet. We've got to get the others out of here, have fun for a few minutes with this one, he still needs to be taught that he can't disobey or try and go against me."
"Yes sir." Dewitt turned and unchained the boy, letting his form fall from an upright position about a foot off the ground to the metal floor, listening to his choked cry. Motioning for Kitabayashi to go ahead and grab his other arm, the two men dragged the form off to the side. "We'll go ahead and get this one chained up and then go from there. That way we can drop this cry-baby off and not worry about him for a while.." Laughing, he reached for the long-haired boy.
Pulling back and glaring at the men, he wanted to go to Heero's side and help his friend. Yet against all his struggles, he found himself in the same state the Japanese pilot was, bound, hanging by his wrists, gagged, and blindfolded. Yet unlike Heero, he was allowed to keep his shirt.
~-~
Leaning against the side wall in a corner of the dark cell, Quatre hugged himself and pulled his knees closer to his chest. He dared not lean back, it hurt too much. Closing his eyes, Quatre thought back to what had happened.
¤The gentle youth felt himself raised into the air the sweater taken from his shoulders but his T-shirt still in place. A small prick of the needle inserted into his arm brought the boy from his thoughts, the feeling of helplessness overcoming him. It was as if he was no longer in charge of his body, he couldn't move it, he couldn't look anywhere from the spot he'd chosen on the ground before him, he didn't flinch. Quatre's breathing kept slow and steady, even if he did try to slow it further or make it erratic. Nothing changed, and he was helpless before them all.
Suddenly, with a snap of the whip, he could count each of the nine lashes hitting the bitter metal in wanting. Wanting to feed off of and rip into his tender flesh, to score his skin and muscles with a burning pain.
And then the first of the lashings, his body at the mercy of his captor. The leather lashes raked across his back, cutting deeply into the flesh, shredding the muscle as five of the nine hit his back, one more on each his shoulders and arms. Oh how he wanted to groan or cry out or do anything to help him bear his pain. Yet he couldn't move, couldn't rebel, couldn't struggle or plead. The only movement as the lashing continued over and over was the blood that spilled from his back, the wounds deep and jagged, his slow and constant breathing, and finally after letting his restraints down in total and not being able to put them back up, the soft trickle of tears from his bold blue eyes..¤
Groaning softly and hugging himself tighter in the cold cell, the merciful youth leaned his head against the bitter wall, feeling the iciness sweep over him and give somewhat of an unwelcome yet refreshing feeling. "Please be well my friends..." The pain he felt when searching Heero's mind told him that he too was suffering, Duo not any more for the time but confusion clouded his thoughts.
Trying to shift his position, the young Arabian looked warily at the floor where he could probably get some sleep and rest fairly comfortably. Yet, he'd had a hard enough time trying to go ahead and get back up and he was fairly vulnerable to anything when he was asleep. "No, I must fulfill my mission..." That, and he had to stay awake to be ready for anything and everything.
~-~
"Here, go through this..." Handing Wufei the information he'd found, he was rather surprised that Blacke Diamond was so careless in their actions and links into their information bases. Right now, he was bringing the message up and trying to locate or track down where it came from.
"Well, that was rather sad..." Taking the papers and looking through them, he looked for any useful information.
"Why?"
"Look at the words and the nature of the process we used to figure them out. Now how long have you had this information to try and decipher?"
"Okay, so I was trying to make it rocket science when it was child's play.." smirking and waiting for the computer to bring up the location of where the message had been sent from.
"But?" With amusement in his voice as he looked through the informational print outs, he was caught by the outline of the base. Were they THAT pathetic? Oh, if they were any worse than OZ, it was in the general area of common sense!
"But then again, we haven't had these easy missions to deal with and it wasn't what we expected." Finishing, he only looked at the computer in confusion. "It says that the message was sent from here, but there isn't anything here... unless..." Sighing, he turned to the confused Chinese warrior. He wasn't the only one. "We go tonight, they'll probably move and try and leave, after Heero's message. We'll have to look when we get there. If you can go ahead and..." Softly he spoke to the other youth, forming his plan and saving the information he had. The laptop showed that the message was transmitted from a base, giving him the layouts of it and everything. Yet by the physical observation from a satellite, it was a deserted area.
Authors' Notes:
Angela: That was bad! I mean, man, that was too intense!!!! Poor Heero! Poor Duo! Poor Quatre! How horrible!. I think I'm going to cry. *starts wimpering, then stops suddenly* Wait a minute. I don't have time to cry, I have to ramble something of story-related interest here!.. *silly giggle* Uhhh, in that case. Ahem. This is a draw-you-in-and-make-you-feel-something story.. And I guess that's my technical comment for this chapter. ((Duo: *stare* o_0;;)) Oh, that and the fact that Trowa and Wufei are fixing to get introduced to the fun.*Ang laughs then turns to Star* Way to go, Lady Stardancer! Great writing!
Star: Oh wow! ~*stares and giggles*~ I'm so mean to the guys! I'm sorry Heero! I really am mio! ~*laughs in amazement and amusement*~ I really am.
Heero: *snort of disgust* I'm all too sure you are... *looks at me with arms crossed in front of his chest, sarcasm dripping from his words before he stops, sounding too much like Duo* You let her do this to me?! *looks at Angela and sends a warning glare to Duo to behave* And what did I do to you?! *throws hands in air, finally questioning me loudly*
Star: Uh, read my journal with my private thoughts and the stories I told you to stay away from. ~*giggles*~ You wouldn't know about any of this if you didn't read it, so it was your fault. I prewarned... ~*laughs hysterically*~
Heero: I should know! Look what you're doing to me! *points to screen and looks at me like I'm crazy*
Star: ~*laughs harder*~ I said I was sorry! Don't worry, I'm in a good mood, I write the best torture and depressing parts then. Strange, everything is happy when I'm in the worst of moods! ^_~ Well, the guys get the great rescue in the next chapter, have fun, poor Heero's going to need some major attention... ~*collapses to knees and in laughter at his accusing "Only because of you!" shout as he walks away in "irritation"*~ But, that doesn't mean the story stops their, is the escape a success or not? ~*sphinx smirk*~ Tick Tock boys, better hurry Wufei and Trowa, or someone might not make it out alive... ~*laughs and giggles, hiccuping and trying to brush the tears from her eyes with her soaked sleeve*~ We make SUCH a good team Ang! Don't worry Heero, we still love you..... ~*laughs harder and tries to remember how to breathe at Heero's shocked look when he wheels about at the comment, pure and utter disbelief on his face*~ Please review and enjoy the next chapters!
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 4~+~ Deadly mistakes...
A loud scream echoing in the room pulled Duo from unconsciousness, the youth jerking awake and nearly jumping into the air. "Holy cow, what's wrong with you people!?" Looking about to find one of the upper classman screaming, a girl, she seemed to be really spazzing out. Extremely hysterical. Others around her were beginning to get extremely jumpy and anxious; they were worse than kids losing their parents at the store! "Geeze, talk about freakin' out..."
Heero stood, on guard as his eyes retained their natural indifference and could-care-less-about-my-life attitude. Prussian eyes watched as Quatre tried to settle the girl, she was panicking before but not this much. The diplomatic youth must have said something wrong or the girl was getting the wrong ideas, because she was not calming in the least. In truth, she was actually pathetic, but then again, maybe that was because he'd grown quickly accustomed to capture. "Settle down Duo..."
"Excuse me?" Turning with a queer look, the youth eyed Heero who'd gone into battle mode. Why?
"We have more important things to focus on..." Eyes sending a piercing gaze towards the door, he called out atop all the other voices. "Quatre, it's time!" The tone was harsh and commanding, icy cold but loud.
Wincing and spinning around, the platinum blonde gave up on trying to go ahead and calm the girl and made his way through the crowd, catching the echoing and dreaded footsteps. It was their turn now. Giving the others a small nod, his once compassionate eyes turned to a gaze of determination. "We should at least put up somewhat of a fight so they won't suspect." Catching a small nod from Heero, the three made their way to the front of the group as they always did, everyone else backing away. 'It's now or never,' the youth reminded himself mentally, watching the door open.
~-~
A click of the television box and the digital box was silent and blank. The Chinese warrior had found nothing, nor had any of the authorities it appeared, or so the newscasters claimed. They were no closer to finding the others than they were in figuring out anything more on the new organization. "Anything?"
Growling in frustration, the youth gave a feeble reply. "No..." He'd been working with the computer for nearly two straight days and it was nearing the end of the second. He never had this much trouble before, but now they were totally clueless on where to go or what to do with this mission. They didn't have enough information to do anything and it was nearly impossible to find anything else.
Nodding and sighing, he walked silently to the young man's side. "Pull up that program again with the letters."
Doing so, Trowa gazed at them and almost saw something, but laid his head on the counter when it disappeared before he had the chance to figure it out. He was tired, the only breaks he took were to go ahead and maybe rest for ten minutes or so or to stand or use the bathroom. He didn't really leave nor eat, he wasn't all that hungry anyway. The other three were capable of handling themselves, but they also didn't know anything about BD or what THEY were capable of. Anything could be possible.
Gazing at them for a few minutes, Wufei smirked. "Go get some rest."
"I'm not tired... I almost saw something..." Looking again, he thought the last word looked familiar, but he couldn't place it. Sighing and trying to stand, the youth collapsed non-expectantly to his knees, momentarily wide awake.
"I see that.." Eyeing and speaking sarcastically, the Chinese youth kneeled, helping Trowa from the ground and to the couch to at least rest. He was asleep not but seconds after he laid his head on the throw pillow. Yet without any sound, he sat at the computer and watched the words, calming his mind and trying to figure out the puzzle.
~-~
Coughing and looking about as his breathing came in forced gasps, the Arabian youth could see the terror in everyone's eyes. Reaching up with his hands to try and pry the grip from his throat, the youth only felt the hand grow tighter around his neck as the soldier's fingers crushed his windpipe. He was caught off guard, something that seemed to happen a lot at this time. He wasn't all that well coordinated or awake at the time, which probably aided in such a opposing factor. The with bitter metal of the barrel pressed against his temple, Quatre felt the hand tighten even further to where he couldn't even gasp. Each of his attempts, now matter how much more desperate, were futile.
Duo watched Quatre in slight fear. "Let him go!" The soldiers decided to use Quatre as bait it seemed and now they were helpless to really do anything without hurting the boy.
Biting his tongue, Heero remembered the plan and forced his eyes from the struggling youth pinned against the steel wall. Sighing heavily, he held out his arms to be restrained so as to quickly end the torture on Quatre's part. The youth was debating whether or not to go ahead and just attack the guards as soon as they entered, but it didn't work out that way. "Fine, leave him be." An icy venom still hung in each of his words, hissed through clenched teeth.
"You're truly pathetic kids, impudent but cowards when it comes right down to it..." the soldier claimed. He was the one of before, yet he'd quickly restrained the weakest looking of the three to get the others to submit.
Catching Heero's nod as his friend's reluctant Prussian eyes focus forward, Duo kept his gaze carefully on Quatre but submitted as well. The iron shackles were old and heavy, the cold metal biting his skin. "I'm sorry little buddy..."
When released, the platinum blonde crumbled to his knees, coughing and choking in air as one of his hands immediately went to soothe and protect his throat. Bold blue eyes squinted in pain, his every breath followed by a fit of coughs. Quatre couldn't see anything at the moment, his vision was blurred by a black void in his sight with only dancing colors flashing like tiny candles. Yet his sense of touch was just fine as he felt himself pulled from the floor and made to stand on wobbly legs, the shackles around his wrists heavy and cold. After a moment's hesitation, he blinked back the darkness and found the other two looking at him in worry, disgusted with the restraints but submissive to them either way. Forcing a small smile, he was shoved in their direction and nearly collapsed again had Duo and Heero not helped him to regain his balance.
"Quatre, are you okay?" Duo listened to his coughs continue and held his left shoulder in an action to let him regain his balance, and as protection against the other soldiers.
Heero stood on the youth's opposite side, glaring at the soldiers but sparing a concerned glance at Quatre. "Settle down, it'll help..."
Finally regaining his composure and control over his body, the young Arabian looked up to give a small nod to his comrades in thanks. Following them out the door, he was shoved with the others further down the hall. Now just to wait for Heero's signal.
He'd wait for the precise moment. Then they'd attack. The Japanese youth did not rebel nor comment or complain about what was being done to them. Instead, Prussian eyes watched ahead of himself and stayed on the other two, Quatre mainly who seemed to be getting it rather harder and worse than either he nor Duo. Giving a small nod, one of which only a keen eye would pick up if trained to, he was sure the American and Arabian had both caught it. Now, it was their turn. Quickly dropping to his hands and crouching low from the aim of the gun, the youth kicked out and swiped the soldier's feet from under him. Seizing up the gun and training it on the downed man, he quickly shot his gaze to the two other boys who had taken their escorts into captivity. "Are you sure you're all right and ready for this Quatre?"
"I'm not weak, trust me, I'm fine..." Smiling and training the gun he had on his escort, the youth hoped he wouldn't have need of the deadly weapon. Oh how he loathed killing, who really did enjoy it?
"So, what do we do with these guys?" Duo piped up. "If we shoot them, we'll be down a few soldiers, they can't do anything if they're dead. But that's gonna draw attention to us. If we try and tie them up, that's going to be fun and then to keep them quiet? Man, hard decision..." Pretending to ponder with a demonic smirk, he watched the fear play in his escort's eyes and only laughed to himself.
"We don't have time to waste on them, end it now." Glaring down at the soldier who'd hurt his friend twice and the one they'd encountered each time, Heero cocked the gun. To take his life would just mean another casualty of the war to him. Looking up at Quatre's reluctance, he sighed. "Quatre, we don't have time for any of this..."
Nodding, the youth placed his finger on the trigger of the gun, aiming it to kill. He knew he had to, but never wanted to do such a thing. Yet as Heero had said, they didn't have time for this.
Taking a deep breath, the Japanese youth pulled the trigger but moved his aim from the soldier's head at the last minute. A cry echoed in the halls, blood spurting out from the man's mid-waist. "There, now get the keys for these condemned things Duo, he has them..." Motioning towards the American's escort, he quickly raised his gun again and shot Quatre's soldier in the side, positive he'd not hit anything vital but enough to keep him downed. The relief in the boy's eyes told him he was grateful, but there wasn't time for that. "Get out of those and get the hostages out of here, I need to get the other six."
"Gotcha man, be careful... you can't go gettin' yourself killed, because we still know I'm better than you at battling but we've not put it to rest.." Smirking and catching his disgusted snort, the young American quickly undid his merciful comrade's bindings as the two took up their guns, running back down the halls and to the room where they were originally kept while the third ran the opposite direction.
"Duo... we need to get them out and quickly, I'm not sure where we are... but we've got to be near the center of the base or the inside. We can double back this way.... then take a right and try and get to the outer edge of the base and find our way out..." Lengthening his strides and running next to Duo's side, a barrage of gunfire fell upon the two. Quickly rounding the corner and turning to ready his aim and take out their enemy, Quatre watched as Duo stumbled forward, not quite making the turn as a scarlet liquid began to pool around his waist. "Duo!"
Hitting the floor with a stifled growl, Duo felt the bullet seer and tear through the skin in his upper leg, the pain flowing over his body in wave upon agonizing wave. Looking up, he tried to stagger to his feet but only managed to crawl/drag himself behind the shelter of the wall, Quatre firing back at those who were after them. Laying on his back and wincing, the youth tried to move, yet any movement in his right leg was torture. "Oh God..." Hissing the words through gritted teeth, he knew that things just couldn't get any "better".
Picking off the last of the soldiers, Quatre disregarded the alarm and kneeled by Duo's side, seeing the blood pool around his legs and waist. "C'mon Duo..." With a gentle smile and worry filled eyes, he helped his comrade into a sitting position, gazing on as he leaned against the metal wall in pain. "Do you think you can walk or should we..."
"I've got to... I just need some help up..." Cutting in, the youth looked back with a determination set, his cobalt eyes clearly showing his stubborn will. With the boy's help, he made it to his feet and forced the pain from his mind as he began to trot in agony down towards the cell.
Quatre followed, thoroughly worried and concerned but they had their mission to accomplish and now the entire of the base knew of their plans. This all to their disadvantage.
~-~
Dodging behind the wall after rounding the corner, Heero quickly turned again to face his enemy. Firing, he took down the men and looked on without emotion, wheeling about quickly and entering the next room he came upon. He didn't have time to waste, he had to get to a computer somehow, so instead, he ignored the wound in his arm. One of the soldiers had gotten lucking and hit him, very lucky. Heero's lower shoulder now bleed freely, the thick, crimson liquid flowing down and over his fingers.
Gun poised and ready, the young man opened the door and was prepared to fire but it appeared as though luck had turned in his favor. Entering quickly when shouts could be heard coming his direction, the Japanese pilot entered the surveillance room without hesitation. Nimble fingers moved over the command pad, closing and sealing the door, the codes redone and the password one of his own. "And still this is too easy..." Taking a seat at the command consul, he went about his business in trying to find where the others were located. Blacke Diamond didn't have much in their information bases, it wasn't as easy to find what he wanted to know from them as it was from OZ or the Alliance.
Shouting and yelling erupted along with gunfire outside of the room the teenager was in, his ears deaf to their cries.
Heero knew he was sloppy in hiding where he'd escaped too, he remembered punching in the numbers but the blood falling to the floor from his arm and over the key pad. That didn't matter now...
"We take him dead or alive! Get this door open!" A low and burly voice was muffled through the steel door, yet his anger and words were clear.
Looking quickly over his shoulder, a thought struck the young man's mind. He'd just caged himself in. "Great..." Hands flying quickly over the keys, the youth broke the codes of the computer message programs as a heavy pounding was heard in the large, steel room. He had no escape, yet. Maybe Duo and Quatre got out with the others, but his hope of freedom rested on the others. Linking with any available air wave or screen, his message spreading live, the youth glanced back over his shoulder to listen to the growing voices. Turning back to the screen, he prayed that it was broadcast to everyone. He'd even linked with OZ's computers in hopes of getting SOMEONE to figure out what they knew. With his normal, stoic voice, the youth sent out a small message as he heard the orders called to move from the door. They were planning on blowing the door up with explosives. "This had better work..." Recording his message, the youth spoke to all the viewers of his SOS. "Come Play Cards..." Quickly bringing up a picture, the youth altered it before the blast was heard and his lean form thrown to the ground harshly as if he were no more than a rag doll. Looking up, he realized that the computers had also been destroyed.
Trying to push himself into a sitting position, the youth only groaned and staggered to his feet, looking about for his gun frantically before a sharp pain burst through his head, a brilliant white flashing before his eyes until all turned black and he knew no more.
"Take him to his excellency." Motioning towards the unconscious form of the boy on the floor, the younger soldier glared deeply at the youth. He'd be unconscious for a little while, but not too long. They almost did have to kill this kid to capture him.
"Sir, his message has already been broadcasted..." a young woman, one of the many subordinates, called over as she checked the few computers that weren't destroyed in total.
"We'll tell his excellency then..." he called back, watching the kid being drug from the room as blood slowly left a trail on the ground. "Pick him up and do something to stop the blood flow, he's leaving enough of a mess as it is..." Leaving past his subordinates and hanging his head, the soldier headed towards the main control room to inform their leader of the successful recapture.
~-~
Yawning and looking about himself in confusion, Trowa squinted against the soft sunlight streaming in through the windows, the burning sphere sinking below the horizon. "What time is it?"
"Almost 6; you've been sleeping most of the day. Actually, I'm rather surprised but you seemed to have needed it..." Trailing off, the youth kept clicking away at the keys of the laptop, having been trying his luck and searching all day.
"Why didn't..." a yawn interrupted his sentence, "you wake me up?"
"As I said before, you not only needed it but I got a chance to look for myself on this condemned thing..." He didn't care much for the computer that they were using, it was far too slow.
Letting a slight grin grace his features as the youth sat up and turned on the television, he looked for the news but it was on later. Still, there was no harm in trying. A commercial caught his eyes but it was only for a split second. They were talking about wedding bands and rings.
"The princess cut diamond, one your love will be able to cherish and love for the rest of your lifetime. She just can't say no. Diamonds are a girl's best friend, diamonds are for eternity, diamonds, say I love you..."
Snorting softly in disgust and turning the channel, the youth thought something looked familiar about the word they kept using. 'What's wrong with me? Why would I be interested in diamond engagement rings?' Laughing to himself, the youth stood on unsteady feet and walked back over to Wufei's seat, looking carefully over his shoulder.
Trying to bring up the program with the words again, Wufei was startled when another message crossed the computer screen. He almost replied, seeing it was Heero, but when realizing that it was prerecorded and sent, the youth listened intentionally.
Heero's words were cold and stoic, yet to those with a keen ear could find slight panic in them and pleading. "Come Play Cards." Seconds later, a digital playing card was brought up, staying on the screen for moments before all disappeared into static.
Trowa watched it, curious and worried all at the same time. "Pull that up again... what was that picture? I wonder what he meant, "Come Play Cards"."
Hastily bringing back the picture, Wufei stopped it on the card. It was the red Ace of Diamonds, yet the A's were painted in black. "It has to be code."
"But for what, that's the problem." Staring at the screen, he sat in confusion. "Pull up that other program, the one with the foreign words."
Sighing and doing as he was told, Wufei watched the card uncertainly. Something wasn't right about it, but what it was, the clue didn't register in his mind. When the separate program with the words appeared before him, his mind was instantly thrown off track.
"This has something to do with that card and what he said, but what?" Gazing at the letters, he strained not only his eyes to see what was hidden within them, but his mind to think of what it could all mean.
~-~
Listening to the low groan escape his throat softly, the stubborn and normally indifferent pilot glared at the man before him. Looking about, he found Duo with Quatre, the American's features wan and Quatre extremely worried, but they held their tongues and their confidence. Growling when he was shoved forward and to his knees, he listened to the younger man speak. He must be the commander of this operation.
"So, someone actually got brave and try to escape or are you just stupid?" Sneering, the young man, though slightly older than the boys before him, walked from the shadows. His honey-brown hair was cut short, falling over his eyes messily. The icy, light-blue orbs that stared back at the forms before him, bitter and spiteful. His lean form stood in poise and pride, holding no weakness, but a few scars his only visible flaws. Arms crossed boredly before his chest, he waited for an answer.
"Dude, what happened to you? You look like a sissy, boy-band, wanna-be who couldn't hack it and got rejected." Duo piped up with his usual vigor and wit, not caring to keep what he had on his mind silent.
"Oh, the little girl speaks." Shrugging off the earlier comment and sneering, he watched the boy turn to him with hatred flaring in his eyes.
"You've got some real problems, man. I think you might still be helped, they get paid lots of money.." he acted as if he were talking to a child. "But they're called psychiatrists, or shrinks dude..." Speaking slowly, he only caught a glare and smiled proudly.
"Maybe you could recommend one, I'm sure there isn't one you haven't seen."
"Naw, only the smart, hot chicks..... though I'm sure for a sicko like you, Doctor Miller would be just fine. He's just like you..." Grinning demonically, he felt his knees give out as he fell to the floor brutally, his knee caps having been kicked in from the back. Stifling a groan, he only glared back up at the older man before him.
"Duo!" Looking to his side and trying to help Duo, Quatre was forced to stay where he was and was kept strictly restrained.
"What the hell do you want?" was Heero's blunt and cold question.
"Nothing of your concern." Smirking, he motioned for the two more talkative boys to be led away. "You risked an awful lot trying to escape, too bad, now you've got to pay."
"I thought it might actually be something better this time..." Heero spat, smirking and looking downward.
"What, were you expecting a formal ballroom party?" The young man asked with sarcasm.
"You are all the same, and yet no one else has been able to get any information nor teach me, what makes you think you can hurt me, The Perfect Soldier?" Watching the others stop, Quatre and Duo being led back up to his side closer where he could keep an eye on them, he heard the one before him shift.
"So full of yourself, you could never be a Gundam Pilot... stupid children..."
"Look into the OZ data banks if you do not believe so, though I don't think they miss me too greatly..." Relying on the sarcasm and cocky attitude to draw the attention to him, the youth waited silently as another soldier was instructed to do so.
"Ha! What, are they your little buddies in combat too?" With a somewhat childish and cruel-teasing tone, he motioned towards the other youths.
"They're gullible children who are pampered in that private school, you trust the others to be this weak?" Sneering, he ignored the other two in full, trying to make himself as he was before, cold and heartless to all and could care less. His friends would understand.
Turning to his subordinate, the commander waited as well for an answer.
"Mr. Takuchie, we've brought up the information and files that OZ has on the Perfect Soldier, Gundam Pilot 01."
Striding over to the computer and gazing upon it, Takuchie was rather surprised that the Perfect Soldier COULD be a boy! "Well, I'll be..."
"A lot of things, but none of them would be polite...." Heero smirked, oh Duo was rubbing off too much!! Way too much for his own good. Shooting the young American a warning glare, he hoped that he wouldn't break into laughter. He was supposed to be playing the part of a pampered brat, that of which he could do well, but you can't do too much without a straight face.
Quatre sat by and listened, biting his lower lip to keep from smiling as he caught Heero's instant retort. Oh, now he really wished he could have been there to see Une's face when Heero and Duo waged the "battle of wits" against her. Duo had described it and Heero only acknowledged for lack of something else to do and out of protecting his reputation and image, but it still had to be great. Sad to say though, he missed it.
Duo bit his tongue, tasting blood as his gaze watched the ground and he tried purposely to amplify the pain in his leg to keep his mind in a dreary state. That was SO perfect though!! He really wanted to just burst out laughing, to say the truth. Heero was finally corrupted! He was spouting off cocky and smart-alecky remarks left and right and hardly talked any other time! It was amazing!
Shifting his weight and rolling his stiff shoulders, a pain shot throughout the Japanese youth's entire torso. Yet while Takuchie had turned to face him at this time, he sat still without flinching and refused to acknowledge any pain or irritation.
With a smirk, Takuchie returned his gaze to the three. He didn't believe that this boy could be one of the Gundam Pilots, it was possible, just not believable. "We'll see..." Looking at the two weaker ones, he only snorted and waved them away. "Take them to be punished for their stunt, I'll have no use of those brats anyway, just less on my hands..."
Not knowing exactly what they could do or would do to his comrades, Heero thought quickly. He was still protective of them and in truth, Quatre more than the youthful American. Duo was tougher than he looked and was used to it, but Quatre wasn't trained as fully in torture and he'd gone through enough before, even if the Arabian aristocrat could very well care for himself. That was something he'd learned before, rather painfully he had to admit. "How truly stupid are you?"
With a raised eyebrow, the young man snorted in question. "Do you ever stop speaking? I was told you were extremely silent."
"I do it just to spite you..." Heero called softly in his rebuttal. This was him? Wow, normally he wouldn't even do such a thing. Not even rarely! Yet it was as if Duo were speaking for him, but not quiet as incompetently. Duo got OVERLY-cocky at times. "You are blinder than I thought... truly pathetic..."
"Do you just talk to yourself or will you answer?" An impatient sneer spat from his thin lips.
"And they die by your hand, what then do you plan to do? Personally, I wouldn't care and would just destroy this entire hell-hole. But the fighting of the others, they'd be at bay with the prisoners but kill any, and they'd kill the rest themselves to see you didn't." Taking in a slow breath and speaking softly, the young man continued with his stream of lies. It was terribly easy, just to quickly think of them and get the others to play along. That, and to be extremely convincing.
"If you are 01, why tell me such things? Only to doom the others?" A sphinx-like smirk played over his features in thought.
"Possibly, I care not for what they do, only myself and my mission," he spoke emotionlessly and without hesitation.
"And what IS your mission?" Maybe the boy would speak, but most likely, it wouldn't be of any use. It could have been a fluke that OZ had believed the boy a pilot but in turn he was only that of an accidental capture.
"None of your fucking business..." Eyes shooting towards the man, he glared with his normal hatred and loathing.
"Oh... feisty little runt I see...." Laughing in enjoyment when his glare only deepened with a fiery loathing, he couldn't help but find it amusing.
"To prey on others weaker then yourself, typical. You kill them, you kill yourselves. It's as simple as that. The blonde weakling is asthmatic and punishment of your choice he would have no chance of surviving, and the second is just as weak without excuse. The errors you make are right in front of your face and they'll be your downfall. I was expecting more and this to be interesting..." With a satanic smirk, he forced himself to enjoy speaking of his friends in such a manner. Duo, it wasn't that hard with him. The Japanese youth didn't mind much. Yet these lies were for their own safety and for the success of the mission. One that must be fulfilled.
Looking hurt and sending a weak glare of his own Heero's way, Duo sat in silence. That was just mean! Sure, he understood the reasoning, but that's the best lie he could come up with?! Man that was harsh... and he didn't even seem one bit reluctant to speak about them like that or remorseful!
Quatre sat silent as well, his eyes closed and his head down. Heero's words were just that to him, words. They didn't mean anything except that it was what was expected, his acting nothing more than a clever mask to hide the truth and to keep the enemy at bay. The amused tone in his voice was harder to ignore, for it was rather believable, yet he knew truly in his heart that it was but at well planned show for those gullible to believe it.
"Then why are you still here and not free of this place? If you see all my flaws in the plans, why haven't you yet to prey on those and use them?"
"It's fun to torment you...." Voice gentle yet bitter and amused, he kept no smile or glimmer of joy on his lips nor in his eyes. If he was overly confident, it'd ruin everything and not to mention just give him away in full. That, and it just wasn't his nature. Well, nor was talking this much or with this attitude, but that was necessary. At least it was working.
"...I see... and I'll have just as much fun seeing your torment..." Motioning for his other soldiers to listen, Takuchie spoke this time to them. "Take that blonde brat to Kayura, let her have fun with him. She'll know how to keep the child alive but make him pay and suffer. They shouldn't go without discipline.." An evil smirk pulled at the corners of his lips, his voice teasing. "As for these two, take them into "interrogation" with Kitabayashi, have him start with the one who thinks he's the great Perfect Soldier."
Heero was forced near the other two, catching Quatre's and Duo's eyes. Nodding ever so softly, he mouthed the words "Play along..." to Quatre ever so slightly. Catching his gentle nod in return, the three were forced out the door and taken along separate paths. Duo and Heero both were taken straight down the corridor in front of them, Quatre departing to the right and rounding the corner. "Now this should be interesting."
~-~
Trying to struggle away from the soldiers, Heero glared at them. He'd been reduced to near helplessness when they began to go ahead and threaten Duo, a hard, rounded, leather gag in his mouth and the others trying to blind fold him. Why?! Finally stopping when he felt an iron grip around his throat as his arms were pinned behind his back and legs unable to move, Heero watched as the cloth was put over his eyes for Lord knew whatever purpose and felt it tied tightly behind his head, pulling some of his hair back into the knot. They'd also stripped the shirt from his body, but why? They didn't want to ruin it or get it dirty?! Blacke Diamond was turning out to be worse than OZ all right, they were getting stupider! 'This should be anything but dull...'
Duo watched as they restrained his friend's arms, the cuffs put on a hook as the boy became vulnerable and defenseless, lifted into the air as his legs were tied together and restrained to the floor. "What are you going to do to him?" He was slightly fearful yet angered, but he knew better than to try anything. Heero had a plan and they were to follow it, he'd picked up his role of being a pampered, defenseless brat. Ha! How totally ironic for the boy?! Yet he played the role well, gazing on in worry and concern for his comrade.
"We're finding out if he's who he says he is kid, and if I were you, I'd keep my mouth shut unless you really want to feel pain later..." Kitabayashi sneered, cracking his knuckles and deciding to start out with a slow warm-up.
Coughing in slight surprise of the first blow, Heero felt his body jerk backwards from the punch in his abdomen against his will. The blow was hard and had no warning, barely catching the Japanese youth off guard. Leaning his head back and not bothering to struggle, Heero focused to gain full control over his body, laughing softly but with a bitterness and evil air. This was amusing, they thought they were actually going to get somewhere? Ha! Maybe this would be just another boring capture... Lady Une was sick minded in her games of torture, turning friend against friend and beating you down mentally. That was a well played game, but this? This was just the same as before and the time before that, growing old and quickly. And softly he laughed, listening to Duo's rather worried and concerned noises as he sat against the opposite wall, yet he didn't know why. The American youth should be used to this by now, pain didn't bother him! Not normal pain nor weak pain, he'd learned to ignore such a thing.
"Well, not bad, this might actually be a workout yet!" Gazing over to his friend, Kitabayashi continued to slowly work his way into harder punches, using this as his "workout" with the boy as his target. The second child would be next, whenever the first finally broke.
"Yeah, you might actually break a sweat! Oh no, the world's going to end!" Calling sarcastically from the door and once in a while gazing at the youth chained to the corner, the second soldier spoke casually.
"Don't worry, just theirs..." With a grin, the young soldier continued. "How much time do I get with this kid? He might actually be fun to break..."
Looking down at his watch, the second kept the conversation going. "About another hour and a half, we're moving out of this burrow because of his message. OZ or the Alliance might actually get some brains and track the message, but we don't want to chance it. Commander Takuchie is moving the entire squadron and all hostages to the Aquarina base."
With a keen ear, the stoic pilot listened in, only inhaling sharply but barely when he felt a kick land on his left side, near the old gunshot wound. A stab of pain raced up his entire side, spreading throughout his torso but he diminished it quickly. He had to dispel of it. 'Now just to hold out for that long and deal with this so the others won't get hurt...'
~-~
Keeping his eyes on the ground and only wincing when he was forced to his knees before the next commander, this to be the Miss Kayura, he only spared a glance up at her. She was a taller, lean woman but she wasn't weak looking in the least.
"What's this?" With a sphinx-like tongue, the woman spoke in irritation yet amusement.
"Ma'am, His Excellency, Mr. Takuchie ordered us to bring this child to your for disciplining Ma'am." The soldier barked back his response without hesitation.
Cringing away from the loud and burly soldier, the Arabian youth tried to turn from his voice. He wanted to keep his hearing.
Smirking at the boy's actions, she questioned further. "This one of those pathetic prisoners?"
"Yes Ma'am. He was one of the three that tried the escape. The other two are being handled by Kitabayashi but he wasn't sure what to do with this child. His records show that he does have medical problems as asthma and His Excellency wishes for all the prisoners to live. Thus ordering us to bring him to you in hopes you could find punishment Ma'am!" Again he barked his reply, unhesitant and thorough in his explanation.
"Fine, it appears Takuchie is losing his touch. Leave him here, I'm sure I can find something...." Smirking and sitting with a grace of a cat in her chair, the woman watched her soldiers salute and leave, pushing the young blonde to the ground. She was rather delighted to hear his startled cry and then watched him cower backwards.
Something was seriously wrong with this woman, and now Quatre was getting a really bad feeling from her. That couldn't be too good. He just had a strange feeling with this woman and didn't want to be anywhere near her. Taking a seat at a distance, he watched her smirk widen. "What are you going to do to me?" Letting down all his restraints, he let his act begin.
Fear and uncertainty filled the boy's voice, that was good, that was very good. Smirking, she stood once more with cat-like agility and grace, walking in her simple, skin-tight, black pants and deep violet, button-up shirt. "Wouldn't you like to know... I hope you like to play, because I'm feeling like something good and old fashion." Smirk widening, the woman grabbed for her "toy", an intimidating, black leather, cat-of-nine-tails. It was a strong and fun whip, some old fashion discipline would suit nicely. Besides, she was in the mood for a little generation change. Each of the nine, deep colored lashes falling over the handle and draping like the vines of a weeping willow.
Biting his lower lip and looking with dread at the whip, the youth couldn't help but let his mind wander to how much this was going to actually hurt! It wasn't like he trained every day for that pain, the leather tearing into his flesh and ripping deeply into the muscle. Who's idea was that of enjoyment?! Yet he knew his role and it would be easier, letting his emotions out and show clearly without restraint. Especially when the pain did come. Yet maybe he was a little too in character as he found his breathing erratic and shallow. Besides, that was the best Heero could come up with? Asthma? He'd wanted to laugh at the first mention of it but it was believable enough and it was his only excuse. Just, when did his new diagnosis he never knew of appear on his medical records?
Snapping the whip for practice, flexing her fingers over the warm, rigid leather, Kayura's eyes began to glow with mischief. "We can solve your hyperventilating problem simply, then have fun..."
~-~
The Ace of Diamonds sat upon the screen, a print out of the foreign words in hand as the young warrior looked between the two? What did, "Come play cards", a digital ace of diamonds, and the letters CLABEK DAONDIM have in common? The card and message fit together, but with the other words was what got him. "He couldn't have made it simpler..."
Sighing and shaking his head, Trowa looked down at the words. Why did the second one look so familiar? An idea clicking in his mind, the youth looked about before taking a pen from the counter and the paper from the Chinese boy's hand.
"What the..." In confusion, he spared the other a gentle glare at his hasty reactions, especially since the youth was trying to put two and two together, but only settled for remaining silent.
"Why would Heero pick the Ace of Diamonds out of all the other cards? What else is there? Spades, clubs, and hearts. So why is it he chose this card?" Turning with a grin playing over his lips, the youth turned back to his work, putting down a letter and crossing it out from above, finishing the word.
"What are you on to?" Not being able to see the paper of which his comrade was quickly scribbling on, the young man standing and stretching from his stiff position.
"This..." With a smirk, he matched up the letters from the first word with the second he was thinking of. THAT'S why the diamond commercial held something familiar and was bothering him for so long.
Looking in curiosity and cocking his head, the young man couldn't help but give a soft laugh. "Diamond... the second word. It's not foreign as we thought, or maybe we were just thinking too hard. That's why he chose this card, because it was the only. I see how it matches now, but what about the first word?"
Again, he looked back at the word and then to the computer screen. "Do you know where Duo kept his playing cards?"
Shaking his head, he couldn't help but smirk at the youth's frustrated growl before he took off for the room the American pilot occupied when there. "Why? What would you need one for?"
"Something's not right..." he called back in response, digging through all that he could think of to find the cards. Finally picking them up from inside the nightstand drawer, Trowa quickly dumped the pack out on the bed. Digging through it with vigor and determination, he silently picked up his target. "That is just a scanned copy of one of these cards, but it's altered. Look at the A's, then compared to these. In any normal card, they'd be the same color as their suite, but not this one. The A's are in black, the entire of the suite is red."
"So the first word would deal with the alteration..." Looking down at the paper, Wufei took up the pen this time and began the process once more. "It spells Black, as is the altered version of the card, but then where is the E?"
Staring down at the paper, he but shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe it's silent... like at the end."
Placing the E at the end of the word, it worked and if it was silent, then they'd just figured it out. "Then we should see if we can't get anything on it and then try and track the others down."
"Already ahead of you..." Taking a seat swiftly at the counter, he instantly cleared it all and brought up his links, trying to break into the computer banks of a possible "Blacke Diamond" and looking for what they were up against. It may be something small and just starting out, or it may be large and they could be in trouble. They had to know what actions to take and keep the others safe.
~-~
Biting down hard on the leather gag, Heero was certain at least five to six of his ribs were now broken along with others being bruised or fractured. The slow and gradual trickle of blood as it seeped from open cuts along his chest and along his bruised cheeks gave the youth a feeling of exhausted irritation. By the last time check the soldier, Kitabayashi, asked he'd almost been then for an hour and some odd minutes. It was harder to focus and keep track now. Slowing his breathing, the youth held his breath momentarily and prepared himself instantaneously for the next hit which crossed his right cheek, sending a wave of dizziness over him.
Duo only closed his eyes, daring not to look up for fear of becoming angry and ruining everything. He knew that Heero was probably hurt pretty badly about now and that it was getting harder for him to keep his discipline, you could hear it with his more frequent, but soft groans or growls. Yet things sometimes looked worse than they were, and right now, it sounded like he was looking pretty badly. Clasping his hands before him and pulling his knees closer, the youth only mumbled softly. "Please don't let them hurt my friends... please let their pain end swiftly..." Wincing at the soft groan and sharp inhale, Duo knew that Heero was losing it. "Just leave the guy alone already..."
"Shut up kid... he's actually... fun!" The second officer, having switched off with Kitabayashi for his turn, kicked up and delivered a hard blow to the boy's left side, watching him try and back away as a soft cracking was heard.
Kitabayashi fingered the jackknife in his hands, the silver hilt glinting in the light. "It is, tired yet DeWitt?"
Stopping and smirking, DeWitt turned and wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Not quite, what's that? New toy?"
Tossing the closed knife to him, Kitabayashi nodded. "Got it from my brother. Works really nicely, extremely sharp and durable. The blade is stainless steal too. Try it out..." Smirking himself, Kitabayashi motioned towards the vulnerable boy.
Nodding and opening the blade, he only laughed coldly. "I think I will. You've got to make sure it works properly.." Swiftly taking the boy's right shoulder and spying the scar on his lower abdomen, he found his target. Thrusting the blade into his body, he was only all too delighted to hear the boy give a startled cry of pain, the blade only halfway into his muscle.
Heero threw his head back at this, not being able to stop his cry as the white hot blade entered his body, causing him to pull back sharply from the object. Yet the officer wasn't done as the blade was thrust into his lower stomach further, the metal of the handle icy cold against his skin.
Duo's gaze shot up at this, his eyes wide as the thick blood oozed from the wound, seeping over the blade and tracing its path down his friend's stomach and side, staining his denim shorts. "Leave him alone!" Not trying to stop himself, Duo knew that Heero had grown weaker from taking all the abuse, not being as strong as he was. "Stop that!"
Kitabayashi only grinned. "Nothing can hurt him, he's the Perfect Soldier. Shut up kid unless you want a hole in the side of your head."
"Now, it works nicely for stabbing into material, but that's just the point. If the edges of the blade aren't sharp, you're just getting ripped off!" Twisting the blade and slowly pulling it with jerky movements across to his other side, he only delighted further in hearing the boy's groans as he tried to pull away.
The Japanese youth could hear the sound of his flesh ripping slowly under the blade's edge, his muscle tearing to shreds as the blade reached his mid stomach. Heero tried and struggled, feeling his life's essence spill gradually from his body with the searing hot trail of pain, yet he couldn't pull back from it nor stop it. Gripping the chain that held him suspended in air and vulnerable, the youth couldn't do much to stop his torment. His knuckles turned a chalk white, his breathing coming in pants and sharp inhales with each of the blade's movements, blood continuing to seep from his body.
"Stop it! Leave him alone! He's just like anyone else and you're hurting him!" Trying to struggle to his feet but unable to when his legs wouldn't support him, Duo tried turning once more from the boy. His upper body was covered in bruises, blood dripping and oozing thickly from open wounds as it traced its path down his arms from his cut wrists, the edges of the handcuffs digging into his arms. Yet he was unable to, and just as helpless to aid his friend. Biting his tongue and tasting his own, sweetly bitter blood, the youth remained quiet but very worried.
Letting his head fall to his chest and giving a soft groan when the knife was twisted a third of the way from his opposite side and yanked at a harsh angel from his body, he only stopped his struggle. Fists unclenching, the boy didn't move except for the constant flow of blood slowly making its way from his body and the continual gasps and pants. He'd tried to prepare himself for this, even back in the large holding cell with the rest of the students. Yet he couldn't in full, and now with the progression of time and all that they'd inflicted upon him, he was greatly weakened. That, and not having eaten in nearly two days and scarcely anything before that did not help matters.
Takuchi opened the door, eyes falling on the boy who claimed he was the Perfect Soldier, and with all the facts they had, it proved him to be so. Bitter laughter escaped his lips as DeWitt wiped the blood from a switchblade on the boy's unstruggling and helpless form, smearing the blood over his bruised skin. "Well done, though a bit rash if I do say so myself, yet nice work boys..."
Kitayabashi took back his blade quickly and saluted his commander, smirking. "We serve to make proud sir."
Laughing at this as well, he only crossed his arms before his chest, looking down at the cowering boy in the corner. "Go ahead and release him, take him to the prisoner cells, don't put him back with the hostages. That might be a good idea to go ahead and scare the rest of them, but not yet. We've got to get the others out of here, have fun for a few minutes with this one, he still needs to be taught that he can't disobey or try and go against me."
"Yes sir." Dewitt turned and unchained the boy, letting his form fall from an upright position about a foot off the ground to the metal floor, listening to his choked cry. Motioning for Kitabayashi to go ahead and grab his other arm, the two men dragged the form off to the side. "We'll go ahead and get this one chained up and then go from there. That way we can drop this cry-baby off and not worry about him for a while.." Laughing, he reached for the long-haired boy.
Pulling back and glaring at the men, he wanted to go to Heero's side and help his friend. Yet against all his struggles, he found himself in the same state the Japanese pilot was, bound, hanging by his wrists, gagged, and blindfolded. Yet unlike Heero, he was allowed to keep his shirt.
~-~
Leaning against the side wall in a corner of the dark cell, Quatre hugged himself and pulled his knees closer to his chest. He dared not lean back, it hurt too much. Closing his eyes, Quatre thought back to what had happened.
¤The gentle youth felt himself raised into the air the sweater taken from his shoulders but his T-shirt still in place. A small prick of the needle inserted into his arm brought the boy from his thoughts, the feeling of helplessness overcoming him. It was as if he was no longer in charge of his body, he couldn't move it, he couldn't look anywhere from the spot he'd chosen on the ground before him, he didn't flinch. Quatre's breathing kept slow and steady, even if he did try to slow it further or make it erratic. Nothing changed, and he was helpless before them all.
Suddenly, with a snap of the whip, he could count each of the nine lashes hitting the bitter metal in wanting. Wanting to feed off of and rip into his tender flesh, to score his skin and muscles with a burning pain.
And then the first of the lashings, his body at the mercy of his captor. The leather lashes raked across his back, cutting deeply into the flesh, shredding the muscle as five of the nine hit his back, one more on each his shoulders and arms. Oh how he wanted to groan or cry out or do anything to help him bear his pain. Yet he couldn't move, couldn't rebel, couldn't struggle or plead. The only movement as the lashing continued over and over was the blood that spilled from his back, the wounds deep and jagged, his slow and constant breathing, and finally after letting his restraints down in total and not being able to put them back up, the soft trickle of tears from his bold blue eyes..¤
Groaning softly and hugging himself tighter in the cold cell, the merciful youth leaned his head against the bitter wall, feeling the iciness sweep over him and give somewhat of an unwelcome yet refreshing feeling. "Please be well my friends..." The pain he felt when searching Heero's mind told him that he too was suffering, Duo not any more for the time but confusion clouded his thoughts.
Trying to shift his position, the young Arabian looked warily at the floor where he could probably get some sleep and rest fairly comfortably. Yet, he'd had a hard enough time trying to go ahead and get back up and he was fairly vulnerable to anything when he was asleep. "No, I must fulfill my mission..." That, and he had to stay awake to be ready for anything and everything.
~-~
"Here, go through this..." Handing Wufei the information he'd found, he was rather surprised that Blacke Diamond was so careless in their actions and links into their information bases. Right now, he was bringing the message up and trying to locate or track down where it came from.
"Well, that was rather sad..." Taking the papers and looking through them, he looked for any useful information.
"Why?"
"Look at the words and the nature of the process we used to figure them out. Now how long have you had this information to try and decipher?"
"Okay, so I was trying to make it rocket science when it was child's play.." smirking and waiting for the computer to bring up the location of where the message had been sent from.
"But?" With amusement in his voice as he looked through the informational print outs, he was caught by the outline of the base. Were they THAT pathetic? Oh, if they were any worse than OZ, it was in the general area of common sense!
"But then again, we haven't had these easy missions to deal with and it wasn't what we expected." Finishing, he only looked at the computer in confusion. "It says that the message was sent from here, but there isn't anything here... unless..." Sighing, he turned to the confused Chinese warrior. He wasn't the only one. "We go tonight, they'll probably move and try and leave, after Heero's message. We'll have to look when we get there. If you can go ahead and..." Softly he spoke to the other youth, forming his plan and saving the information he had. The laptop showed that the message was transmitted from a base, giving him the layouts of it and everything. Yet by the physical observation from a satellite, it was a deserted area.
Authors' Notes:
Angela: That was bad! I mean, man, that was too intense!!!! Poor Heero! Poor Duo! Poor Quatre! How horrible!. I think I'm going to cry. *starts wimpering, then stops suddenly* Wait a minute. I don't have time to cry, I have to ramble something of story-related interest here!.. *silly giggle* Uhhh, in that case. Ahem. This is a draw-you-in-and-make-you-feel-something story.. And I guess that's my technical comment for this chapter. ((Duo: *stare* o_0;;)) Oh, that and the fact that Trowa and Wufei are fixing to get introduced to the fun.*Ang laughs then turns to Star* Way to go, Lady Stardancer! Great writing!
Star: Oh wow! ~*stares and giggles*~ I'm so mean to the guys! I'm sorry Heero! I really am mio! ~*laughs in amazement and amusement*~ I really am.
Heero: *snort of disgust* I'm all too sure you are... *looks at me with arms crossed in front of his chest, sarcasm dripping from his words before he stops, sounding too much like Duo* You let her do this to me?! *looks at Angela and sends a warning glare to Duo to behave* And what did I do to you?! *throws hands in air, finally questioning me loudly*
Star: Uh, read my journal with my private thoughts and the stories I told you to stay away from. ~*giggles*~ You wouldn't know about any of this if you didn't read it, so it was your fault. I prewarned... ~*laughs hysterically*~
Heero: I should know! Look what you're doing to me! *points to screen and looks at me like I'm crazy*
Star: ~*laughs harder*~ I said I was sorry! Don't worry, I'm in a good mood, I write the best torture and depressing parts then. Strange, everything is happy when I'm in the worst of moods! ^_~ Well, the guys get the great rescue in the next chapter, have fun, poor Heero's going to need some major attention... ~*collapses to knees and in laughter at his accusing "Only because of you!" shout as he walks away in "irritation"*~ But, that doesn't mean the story stops their, is the escape a success or not? ~*sphinx smirk*~ Tick Tock boys, better hurry Wufei and Trowa, or someone might not make it out alive... ~*laughs and giggles, hiccuping and trying to brush the tears from her eyes with her soaked sleeve*~ We make SUCH a good team Ang! Don't worry Heero, we still love you..... ~*laughs harder and tries to remember how to breathe at Heero's shocked look when he wheels about at the comment, pure and utter disbelief on his face*~ Please review and enjoy the next chapters!