Story Three: Remnants of Reality
Chapter One
By Heartfire
~*~
The mist in my face,
When the snows begin, and the blasts denotes
I am nearing the place,
The power of the night, the press of the storm,
The post of the foe;
Where he stands, the Arch Fear in a visible form,
Yet the strong man must go:
For the journey is done and the summit attained,
And the barriers fall,
Though a battle's to fight ere the guerdon he gained,
The reward of it all.
I was ever a fighter, so- one fight more,
The best and the last!"
- Prospice by Robert Browning -
~*~
Knotted vines protruded from the ground and mingled with thick trees that created a curtain for those within the forest… Humans played hide and seek with existence that tottered between life and death in that time of darkness… Night creatures could only watch with glittering eyes while a lone figure, agile as a rabbit, ran carelessly with the wind and squadrons of men skittered about like a desperate pack of hyenas.
The summer night air was humid against sweaty skin…
The figure stumbled but recovered just in time.
Amidst the deep forest, angry voices shouted commands here and there. Gunshots rang with each trigger pulled by impatient fingers. Threats and expletives tore through the atmosphere, clear as the howl that left the throat of a lurking wolf.
The figure ducked. 'They're trigger happy tonight.' An eyebrow rose. Funny how amusing a person could become when pressured and fighting for life- or was this hysteria? 'Just a few more yards…' Hope was the only thing that kept the figure running. Hope that-
A smile appeared upon badly chapped lips as a boulder came to view, the marker for the cliff's edge, and for the hidden treasure.
The shadowed figure stopped, quickly kneeled on the ground, and started clawing through the wet soil at the base of the stone. 'Where the hell is it…?' Dirt inserted themselves under fingernails but who cares about dirt at a time like this? Hygiene versus saving lives, and the latter won.
Fingers knocked against something thick and hard.
'Yes. Finally!' Nimble hands pulled out a box that was quickly opened. Steel glinted against moonlight as the figure calmly pulled out the mechanism. A few switches were flipped. A button was turned. An antenna automatically erected itself from the side of the box, and finally, that heavenly beeping red light.
"Code: Rascal. Message 12. The Yacht El Salvador. Bull is in red. I repeat, bull is in red!" A prayer left those cold lips. "Preventers, TRONTOME! Main! Preventers! TRON-"
Consecutive blasts exploded from behind. Bullets went through the figure's body and blood spluttered onto the small, black console. Rascal gasped, and instantly clutched the bleeding side. 'No matter how many times… being fired at always hurt so much…'
"Stand up!"
The order was short and sweet- sweet with the taste of death. 'Ah death… Is this the end?' To just die in front of these bastard dogs who could not even think for oneself…? Who were too afraid to question Morley? The sadistic thoughts ended just as soon as they started. Confidence radiated through Rascal once again as sharp, lavender eyes cut through those who thought that he was captured. Those men were probably quaking in their underwear…
The figure stood up and turned, eyes slanted in anger after the initial surprise…
Surrounded. The cliff behind, and the men in front… Either way, it seemed as if the jaws of death had finally caught this lone figure.
Blood trickled through cotton sleeve. For a moment, a prayer of thanks escaped those cold, dry lips for the veil of the night.
All guns were trained to the shadowed chest while a soldier walked to the box and then smashed it under his foot.
Rascal smirked. "You were too late." The low voice traveled to the ears of nervous soldiers. 'The base was warned…' With that sound thought in mind, a decision was made. Rascal kicked the nearest gun, turned, and leaped off the edge of the cliff.
…
Two months later:
BLOMP!
Handsome aquamarine eyes snapped wide open in alarm and quickly stared toward the side of the bed where the weight had dropped. He didn't see anything…
A chain of giggles came from nowhere.
A small smile lighted his face. "I think I might need an exorcist… There's a poltergeist in my house! Hmmm… it sounds like a little girl…"
"Nobody can catch me!" The tiny declaration came with fingers that tickled Quatre's foot, instantly making him cry out in surprise.
"That's it! No one tickles Quatre Winner in the morning and gets away with it!" He sat up and instantly grabbed the clump of sheets at the base of his bed.
Laughter, squeals, and gasps rang in the air as Quatre tickled the creature under the sheets-
"I give up! I give up! Stop!" She panted yet her voice was full of merriment that Quatre couldn't help but stop and take off the blanket.
"Oh-ho! What is this! I see a little Princess under my blanket!" He faked a surprised look that instantly made the 'little Princess' roll to her back and laugh. Quatre could only grin as he watched the her fondly. She's going to be a beautiful lady when she grows older… Platinum blonde hair, green eyes, and a cheerful disposition... He's so proud of her! Not to mention- first in her class!
When she finally stopped, she stood on the bed and gave him a hug. "Mommy told me to wake you up and tell you that breakfast is ready."
Her face was so near that he could see the light freckles sprinkled over her cute button nose. He touched the tip of his nose to her freckled ones and rubbed it. "Okay. Tell your mommy that I'll be down very-"
"Quatre! Have you seen – Kershja! I've been looking all over the place for you!" A woman came inside, diverting Quatre's attention from the little girl. No questions as to where Kershja got her looks! Even in her pajamas, topped with her messy hair- or so she'll say later on while they eat breakfast- Uretta was beautiful.
"Hi mommy! You told me to wake-"
"My little Princess here was trying to wake the big lug up." Quatre finished Kershja's sentence as he placed a stopping hand on the little girl's shoulder.
Uretta shook her head. "You're going to make her head swell like a balloon if you don't stop calling her Princess."
Quatre grinned guiltily.
Kershja frowned. "What's 'swell like a balloon'?"
The two adults looked at each other then Quatre hugged Kreshja while he winked at Uretta. He just loves her innocence. It was just so fresh and lively… so full of life. "That means it's time for you to go to school and for me to go to work."
Kershja grimaced. "Oh… Yuck." She jumped out of the bed and grimly walked to her mom. "See you later then…" An exaggerated sigh escaped her pouting lips but Quatre could see a twinkle in her eyes that belied her excitement for school.
"See you later, Princess!" His eyes slowly wandered from Kershja to Uretta's face and the serious look she was giving him wiped his grin away. "Okay… Now what did I do?"
"You are spoiling her." Uretta crossed her arms then leaned against the doorframe while her voice came out in a hushed tone. "David is going to have some hard shoes to fill with the way you're treating his little girl… You know what I mean Quatre."
Quatre looked away. "Yes… I know… I'm sorry… I didn't mean it…" He sighed then propped his chin on his hand. "I'll try to stick to the Uncle side of things. It's just a bit hard though… She's a wonderful chid."
A proud smile appeared on Uretta's face. "Yes… she is."
"Wish I can have a little daughter or a little son like that…"
A towel hit him on his face and Quatre cried out in surprise. "Hey!" He grabbed the towel and playfully glared at his sister. "What was that for?!!!"
"Li'l Bro, start thinking that way after you get married. Right now, you're not married and you have a business to run so go take your shower and go to work!"
The playful smile on Uretta's face didn't express her angry tone of voice and Quatre imitated what Kershja did just a little while ago. He pouted, slumped his shoulders, sighed, and then walked in deject to the bathroom. "Yes mother…"
Another towel hit him at the back of his head.
"Ow!"
"I'm not your mom! I'm just your older sister!"
Before he could turn around, the door slammed close and he knew she left. With a grin on his lips, he grabbed the towel on the floor. It feels so good to tease his sister in the morning. If she ever found out that he's thankful her house has termites, and that he asked the exterminators to delay, she'd probably kill him. The thing was, he's lonely, and having them to share this large house was slightly enough to fill an empty hole inside him.
Funny how he became close to all his sisters, but of course, he wouldn't have it any other way. He took off his pajamas and shivered slightly as cold air hit his skin. Jumping inside the tub, he quickly turned on the shower. It was time to go to work…
…
Winner Enterprise Main Building, Colony U-561
0800 Hours
A man in his mid-twenties walked with lithe grace to the last mahogany door. His platinum blond hair was in perfect order, not a strand out of place, while his impeccable black suit was without a single crease.
A smile of greeting left his face when he saw his secretary, organizing her desk, and he let the hum of daily, office life envelop his being… or maybe that was his fax machine…
'Another day… another mountain full of work…' His hand stopped turning the doorknob and he silently shook the negative thoughts out of his head. 'Quatre, it's not good to start a day thinking like that!' Why was it that his mind had lately become polluted by sarcastic thoughts?
Taking a deep breath, he walked into the lion's den noiselessly. His den, his office, his prison- Quatre promptly stopped in his tracks. A frown appeared on his face and he quickly looked back to his blonde haired secretary outside his door, then looked back inside his office… He blinked, but the person didn't disappear.
Another woman with the same hairstyle was inside his office! A woman who has the same likeness as his secretary from behind! It was either he's seeing double or he needs a pair of glasses!
"Excuse me." Quatre started as he walked to the woman, briefcase held lightly within his grasp.
The woman turned and Quatre found himself staring into familiar brown eyes…
She smiled tentatively.
Quatre's frown drew in a little deeper. He could sense that this woman was a friend, but for the life of him, though she looked somewhat familiar, he couldn't quite put his finger on a name…
His trail of thought disappeared and his eyes widened slightly. 'No…'
"Good morning Quatre. I hope you don't mind my intrusion."
'That voice!' The observation rang in his head. Then, his clear, aquamarine eyes showed complete recognition. "Lady Une? Colonel Une?"
The woman in front of him smiled without humor while her hand went up to the first button of her blouse. She unbuttoned it then slipped her right hand under her collar.
Quatre gazed on curiously until the woman's skin moved.
With flourish, she tore off the skin at the base of her neck and pulled off her face, along with the curly mane of blonde hair, to reveal a tight bun of chestnut brown hair and pale, yet very familiar face. "You are correct, Quatre."
His frown disappeared as he finally let go of his briefcase and stood in front of his guest with a smile. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"
Une's brown eyes darkened seriously, and… was that slight panic enveloping her usual calm, placid face? "Quatre… we need your help."