Story Three: Remnants of Reality
Chapter Twelve
By Heartfire
~*~
A howl of pure anguish roared through the air.
"MORLEY! YOU LET HER GO AND I WON'T KILL YOU!!!"
Yvan's eyes widened. Her jaw dropped as she quickly turned her head towards the voice. She saw Quatre… in tattered, bloody clothes with a gun trained on Morley's head. His eyes were hard, his voice was clear… He meant business.
"NOW!!!"
She looked around and saw everyone surrounded by men in dark green uniforms, some were even around her and Morley. Slowly, her wide eyes riveted back to the ghost that walked to her direction…
The grip on her hands eased and the suffocating weight on her back disappeared. Little by little, Yvan let herself up.
"B-but… You're dead…" The whisper was hallow, full of disbelief.
Yvan couldn't move… Was that truly him? But she saw him… the bullets…
"Don't come near me!!! You're dead!!!" The hysterical screams erupted as Morley stared at the ghost. There was no other explanation for it! He had come to haunt him!
Quatre's eyes slanted. He would like to put a bullet through Morley's heart. Allah forgive him, his hand was itching to pull the trigger. But the way the man was shaking… the way his eyes were twitching… The man was battling with insanity… It was punishment enough. "Rashid! Get him out of here!"
"With pleasure, Master Quatre." One of the men from the platoon of soldiers who shot him jogged towards Morley and Yvan could only watch as 'Rashid' grabbed James' shot hand, inciting another howl from him.
Though it was satisfying to hear him yell like that, her eyes went back to the man who finally stopped in front of her. Yvan stepped back, confused. Was she seeing things? "I… I don't think… I don't think I understand…"
"Are you all right, Yvan?" Quatre reached for her, just to brush away the mud on her face, or to wipe away that streak of blood that dripped down her nose, but she moved away, fear so evident in her eyes.
She had seen him die… She saw the guns being fired… She saw blood appear…
"It's all right… I'm not a ghost…" Quatre smiled gently, knowing that he must do this slowly. "I'm alive… it was all a ploy…"
'A ploy…' Her shaking hand reached out to touch his battered face. Blue and black marks covered his cheeks, a wound with dried blood near his left eye, and lips… bruised and violet. Through it all, she felt his heat… The way he turned his head and kissed the palm of her hand when she neared his lips made that cold fist that clutched at her heart melt. He's alive…! With a cry of relief, Yvan embraced him like there was no tomorrow. "I don't care how it happened… I thought you were dead… I saw you fall and…" Sobs overcame her and she couldn't speak anymore… God! How could she explain how… what she had felt!?
"Shhh … Shhhh… Everything is fine now… We're together… There wasn't any time to tell you… We didn't know you would arrive so early, unexpectedly." He heaved a deep sigh. His shoulders still ached, and the way Yvan was clutching on to him added discomfort, but he wouldn't trade her embrace for the world.
Yvan pressed her face against his bloodied shirt… Oh her smile.
They started talking at once.
"When I saw you fall down, I thought the whole world had died along with you… I wanted to kill James!"
"Damn! I almost murdered Morley when he held that gun to you… I don't know what I would have done to myself if I was a second too late…"
"I love you so much…"
The couple stilled in each other's embrace as they heard those whispered words said at exactly the same time…
Slowly, they drew away, stared at each other then smiled.
"Rashid's jaw dropped when he watched you take down all fifteen men- not that I wasn't surprised… I never knew you could fight like that." Awe laced his words. Everything almost went down the drain when he saw her, but Rashid made him remember. Quatre grimaced as he recalled that blow on his back. He felt guilty as he walked to his plotted doom and he kept his eyes averted from Yvan's face though his heart and soul wished she knew there wasn't anything to worry about. He wasn't supposed to move until Rashid and the others carted him away to the hide out. Then they were going to rescue her. But he couldn't resist a small peek just to make sure that she was fine, hating himself for being unable to spare her from the scene. He had gone still when he saw her fighting them. Shocked. When she got distracted… the gun. He couldn't explain his fear.
"Fifteen? No wonder it was easy…" Yvan grinned as she went back to her original position, her ear on his chest to lovingly listen to his beating heart.
"Where did you learn how to fight?" He knew that she had her secrets, not that this one mattered a lot… He was just curious- as he had always been with everything that concerns her.
"My father…" She opened her eyes and saw the people around them once again… the platoon that 'shot' Quatre, clumped together, were the only ones moving, pointing at them, seemingly excited and with wide silly smiles… "… taught me…" Her voice faded when she saw a chestnut haired woman turn from the corner of the castle and walk onto the field. It seemed as though every man she passed by puffed out his chest some more, or stood straighter than before- if that was even possible!
Gently, Yvan pulled away from Quatre to stare at the woman while Quatre turned to look at what caught Yvan's attention.
Une noticed Quatre looking at her direction and gave a nod. She took in his beaten state and could only mentally sigh in relief that he was alive. The situation was just relayed to her and she mentally wondered why Rascal didn't add Quatre's situation in the report. She finally reached them- "Are you all right? We didn't know that you were in such trouble… Why didn't you notify us?"
"It was all unexpected, Lady Une." Quatre gave an apologetic look towards Une then motioned to his men. "But without them…"
"Yes. I'm happy the Maguanacs decided to help, though it was against our agreement." An anxious look crossed over Une's face while a curious one came over Quatre's.
"Why did you come?"
"Have you seen Rascal?"
Their questions were asked at the same time while Yvan stared from Quatre to Une… 'They were working together…?' That could only mean… Quatre was working… that he's an ally!
"No, I haven't." Quatre answered first, a bit confused.
Une looked around as if, by doing so, she would catch sight of her cousin. "We came because we received notification from Rascal… He gave us the specific location of the nuclear warheads, and with that, specific measure and composition."
"But… I thought you said that Rascal was dead…" Quatre's eyebrows furrowed together.
Une frowned. "You didn't come to contact with him?"
Yvan cleared her throat. "Excuse me…" For the first time, Quatre heard a meek voice come from Yvan. "I… I'm Rascal…"
"Rascal?" Quatre parroted in a whisper as he incredulously stared at Yvan.
Une's attention turned to the redhaired woman in Quatre's embrace. Rascal? But… Could it be that her cousin had found a family through all the years he had lived here and… this was his daughter?
Yvan cleared her throat once again. "Papa was killed two years ago… I've… I've been doing his job for him."
Une couldn't believe her ears!
"I think he never told you about us… my mother and me… but he had a picture of you with him and showed it to me before…" She looked down, embarrassed by their stares.
Quatre's hold around her waist tightened. There's a lot to ask her but… those could wait until later… Right now, they were both obviously tired.
A hand touched Yvan's shoulder and she looked up at Une's misty brown eyes. "You have your father's eyes…" There was a crack in her voice but she didn't care. She must accept her cousin's fate.
"I know… Mama always tells me." Yvan whispered as she shyly smiled at Une.
"I will give my respects to your mother later… I mean is… is she still alive?" Inwardly, Une cringed at her choice of words.
"Yes… very. She knew what papa was doing."
"That's good… it's never good to hide something like that from family. You have done a wonderful job." Une whispered as she patted Yvan's shoulder then let go. "I'm sorry that this has to be short…" She stopped and Quatre helped.
"Her name's Yvan."
Une gave a thankful smile at Quatre then turned back to her neice. "Yvan… but I have some things to disclose to Quatre and a lot to straighten with this government."
"That's fine. I can wait." Yvan answered. "Would you like me to go while you two talk?"
Quatre's hand instantly tightened around her waist. He's not about to let her go any time soon. "No… Une, she can stay, right?"
Une nodded. She had a feeling that Quatre wouldn't give her any choice. "It's all right with me if it is fine with you."
"It is."
Yvan kept her mouth closed and couldn't help but smile at Quatre's answer.
"There had been trouble. Four days ago, Relena was shot. A bullet intended for the President went through her left lung."
Quatre's hands fell down to his side in surprise. His dream…! "How… how is she?"
"She's fine. I just received word this morning about her condition." Concern flittered across Une's brown eyes. "Stable but… she has yet to regain consciousness."
Quatre bit his lower lip in concern. "How's Heero?"
"Heero's…" Une mentally sighed, remembering that day all too well. "Missing."
By the tone of Une's voice, something happened and she didn't have to say anymore…
"Colonel Une!" A man cried out her name even before he reached her. He snapped in salute then handed her a piece of paper.
Une opened the small slip of paper then paled.
Quatre frowned at her reaction, but dread also started to seep through him. "What is it?"
Une looked up to meet Quatre's eyes then looked away. "Quatre… The day before Relena was shot, Wufei's team sent two bodies to our forensics lab…" Slowly, she handed him the paper. "I'm so sorry…"
Confused, Quatre took the paper and opened it to read the print… He paled then his hands started to shake. The paper fell from his hands.
"Quatre…?" Yvan whispered as she reached for him and held his hand. She looked down at the paper on the ground and read the message printed across the page.
'Genetic code for Trowa Barton, test three: 99.9 % match. Confirmed. Body is Trowa Barton.'
She glanced back at Quatre's pale face, head shaking to show his disbelief, and knew that whoever that person was, he meant a lot to him.
"No… he can't be dead… he can't be…"
She wanted to inquire- 'Trowa?' but the hurt that showed on his face… She felt a push from Une and she didn't need any more prompting as she embraced him.
Trowa… his best friend… He faced Une from Yvan's shoulder while pain and anguish showed so clearly in his eyes. "That report is a lie! He is not dead…!"
"His body was found after an explosion. It was burnt beyond recognition." Une looked away. She could have told Quatre about Relena's condition quite easily, but… Trowa Barton's death… was a different matter…
"I'm going to prove to you that it isn't Trowa." Quatre stepped away from Yvan, then picked up the paper on the ground and tore it to pieces while his eyes shone with unshed tears. "He isn't dead. He can't be."
Yvan touched Quatre's shoulder to give him comfort. "Quatre… I'll… I'll go with you and check this report, if you want…" She knew what he was going through… all too well.
Quatre looked at her then embraced her, afraid that he might collapse. He kissed her hair and knew that she will give him strength… "Thank you, Yvan… I think I will need you..."
"You have me. I'm not going anywhere." Yvan whispered, knowing that she couldn't let him go just when she had thought she lost him.
Quatre slowly turned to Une. "Lady Une, do you still need me here, or can I go?"
Une nodded. "Go ahead. I'll stay and clean up this mess. I'll follow soon. You can use my plane, Quatre. The pilots know the route."
"Thank you." Quatre whispered before he pulled away from Yvan then motioned for Rashid and the others to move towards one of the heweys. His hand reached for Yvan's and they walked together to the helicopter.
She could feel the curious stares from the men around Rashid, then she suddenly remembered something. She stopped Quatre, turned around, and ran back to Une. "Please tell my mother where I'm going. She's in Cravoch, 24 East Hzah."
Une nodded, her quick mind memorizing the address. Suddenly, she remembered the message they received from Quatre a few days ago… the one with the familiar logo- "Quatre!"
Quatre stopped and turned. "What is it, Lady Une?"
"When you reach the base, contact Wufei and tell him to move their position to the Main. The lower basement is open for them. I'll make sure that the Intelligence does not override my command."
"Of course, Lady Une." Quatre answered, almost like an automaton.
"The files you sent me. Explain them to Wufei."
Quatre nodded once again. He had a feeling that the Preventers had encountered something that has to do with those files. He waited for Yvan to reach his side then asked a question that might make her think twice. "Are you sure you want to go with me?"
Yvan nodded, though fear started to grow in her heart. She was going to leave her land for the very first time… It was exciting and scary at the same time, but Quatre will be there with her. "Yes."
Une watched as her niece and Quatre boarded the helicopter, along with the Maguanacs, and wondered how those men got into the country without Morley finding them… Shaking her head to bring her back to reality, she hoped that Wufei would just follow her orders and not make a scene.
'I wonder how he is holding up with the Intelligence Alliance…' The thought that it was Wufei who found the burnt bodies… was he already informed who they were? She had kept an eye out after each gundam pilot since the war ended, all, save for the elusive Heero. Quatre, she always had followed through the news. Duo, she made sure was well established during those first few years. Trowa, she was able to create a contract with the government and the circus, and finally, Wufei… 'I hope he's doing all right…'
{Heartfire's Note: At the moment, I'm not going to put a 'preview' of the next story. I think I need a bit of rest- having written two chaps a week save for last week- and writer's block is definitely laying its weight on my mind. I will be emailing those who have passed along your emails/signed reviews, though ^_^ I hope you won't mind the late answers. It's been a bit hectic here lately. Take Care everyone. I'll try to inform those whose emails I have when I post the next story—whenever that may be.}