Chapter Nine: Don't Be Shy, There's Plenty of Chaos to go Around
They had gotten three notes out when a scream pierced the room. The violins screeched to a stop and everyone whirled to look to the origin of the sound. A woman stared in horror as her husband or the person she was dancing with staggered, then fell to the floor. Time slowed to a stop as the realization of what happened hit the room. Women screamed men stepped in front of them and looked around for the source of danger. People crowded around the fallen man. Quatre rushed up and grabbed Duo's shoulder.
"That was Mr. Walsh." He whispered.
Duo looked at him. "Now what?"
Anna and Dorothy exchanged glances. Anna got Duo's attention. "Listen, get Mr. Vincent and Dorothy out of here. Hide them somewhere in the building, outside the building, anything! He's the next target!" she exclaimed.
"I think out would be better than in." Dorothy said quietly.
"Anna!" Chase shouted near the body of Mr. Walsh.
"Coming!" she fished a card out of her pocket. "Look, call this cab driver, you can trust him. Tell him your friends of the girl that he took to Luck Inc. yesterday. Go!"
Duo grabbed Quatre and Dorothy's arm and they headed towards the elevator.
"We better make this quick." Duo said.
"Move, people, I'm a doctor." Anna barked. The terrified guests let her through.
She knelt by Chase. "Fancy seeing you here." She said dryly.
Chase rolled her eyes. "Is there a chance?"
Anna surveyed the wound and checked for a pulse. "No. That's a great shot. Straight through the heart. He's gone."
A woman behind them let out a half sob.
They were about to express their condolences when the glass doors in the balcony burst open and OWN soldiers flooded the second floor, guns aimed at the crowd. Soldiers came in through the downstairs too, backing Duo, Quatre, and Dorothy into the rest of the guests.
Heero had found an entrance and exit that had not been used.
"Chase." He hissed. She heard and looked up. She looked back at Anna.
"Yeah, yeah, I know the drill. We'll make a diversion, get shot at, and you take the enemy." She grinned.
"That's the general idea. Be careful." Chase said.
"Always. You too."
Chase again rolled her eyes and slipped over to where Heero was hiding behind a blue velvet curtain.
Anna joined Duo.
"We need to move him to the back of the crowd so he's more protected." Duo whispered.
"There's no point. They'll be able to see him from above." Dorothy murmured.
"Guys, I'm here too, you know." Quatre reminded gently.
"We know. That's our problem." Duo said wryly.
Several people gasped and looked to the center part of the balcony. A figure immerged from the center door. He was like the others in uniform, but one could tell he was of a higher rank. He had a helmet on, shielding his face from the crowd.
"I assume you understand our demonstration." He said. The baritone voice rang out over the large room.
Dorothy looked back and Anna nodded. Beside them, Quatre stiffened. "No, it can't be…" he whispered.
Dorothy grabbed his arm. "Don't." said so only he could hear.
He relaxed, but stared painstakingly at the man on the balcony. The man riveted his gaze so it rested on Quatre. Then he regarded his soldiers.
"You have your orders, go!" he commanded.
Chase slipped through to the area behind the balcony and made eye contact with her husband. He nodded and she laid a small devise down, watching him do the same on the other side.
She smirked to herself as she stepped away from the balcony and jogged a good ways down the hall. A small devise beeped in her ear. "Ima."
Chase pressed the detonator that she held in her hand and a small explosion came from the ballroom.
Quatre looked up to where the explosion sounded. "Chase," he muttered.
"Let's get you out of here," Duo muttered as he took Quatre by the arm.
Chase rounded the corner to her meeting spot. She stopped dead in her tracks when she ran into a gun pointed to her head. She looked past the OWN soldier to see Heero standing in much the same predicament.
Their eyes met and he glared slightly, telling her to stay still for the moment.
One soldier walked forward and smirked. He cupped Chase's chin in one hand and ripped her glasses off with the other. "So you're Chase Yuy? I thought you'd be more than this."
Chase glared, holding back her temper. Her eyes met Heero's again and he nodded slightly. He brought his elbow into his captor's stomach.
She dodged the soldier trying to grab her and then looked to see a red aiming dot aimed at her. She was about to move when she felt Heero knock into her, telling her to get down. The shot went off.
There was a multitude of problems downstairs as well. Twelve boys were advancing on the Luck Inc. owner. Duo was standing half in front of him, and Dorothy and Anna were on either side.
"Maybe we should just let them take me. That way nobody will get hurt." Quatre muttered.
"Yeah, buddy, except you. We don't know what those guys are willing to do. Look what we were willing to do at that age." Duo said.
"He's right. Giving you over to them will cause more problems than solutions." Dorothy said, sounding partially nervous.
The explosion upstairs went off. Several cadets cried out as the balcony filled with smoke.
"Now is good." Anna said.
Duo grabbed Quatre's wrist and took off, shoving their way through the people who were screaming and shouting again. The twelve advancing soldiers started to run after them.
"Anna." Dorothy said sharply.
She looked up and caught the Glock that was thrown to her. In one fluid motion they had them cocked and pointed at the two head cadets.
The two found themselves facing two sides of six. And they all looked dangerous.
"There's just one problem with this set up." Anna said quietly.
"What's that?" Dorothy asked, eyes flickering from soldier to soldier.
"We are totally out numbered."
"True. We're only in trouble if they shoot first." Dorothy murmured back.
"Oh, comforting I'm sure." Anna said sarcastically.
One of the boys stepped forward.
"You must be Anna Yuy and Chase Maxwell." He said, addressing them.
Before Dorothy could contest what he said, Anna spoke up. "Very good, Sparky. You've done your homework. But that's Anna Maxwell and Chase Yuy. I'm afraid you don't pass the class."
He glared and took a step forward.
"A-a, Sparky. Not your night. Move again and I'll shoot you." Anna warned. "And Ms. Yuy here isn't a bad aim herself."
Dorothy grinned wickedly.
The boy dubbed 'Sparky' also grinned. "If you shoot me, my comrades will shoot back. We're trained for that sort of thing."
"No kidding. We thought you were part of the circus." Dorothy snapped.
The boys on the dance floor were perfectly ignoring the cries and shouts from above them. Sparky moved forward again and Anna launched her attack, Dorothy following suit. They mixed themselves into the band of boys so that they couldn't shoot at the girls without shooting at each other.
"Remember these are kids! Keep casualties to a minimum!" Anna shouted over the noise.
Dorothy grabbed one of the boys around the neck and spun around using him as a shield. She knocked two of them on the head, sending them to the floor. She squeezed the neck pressure point of the one she was holding and let him drop. She held the three that were attacking her at bay with the gun she held.
Anna had used the same method and only had two standing from her group. The five of them moved closer to each other and eyed the females.
"That's pretty good. They took over half of us out without sending a shot off." One of them whispered.
Sparky silenced him with a glare.
"Why don't we just shoot them?" one of them whined.
"Because the Commander said to leave the gundam pilots alive." He hissed.
Most of the frightened guests had slipped out back ways or were under tables on the sides of the room. Anna and Dorothy were glad they had had the sense to move, or it would have been rather difficult to fight back.
"He said restrict them so they wouldn't be a threat. These two are definitely threats." Another said.
"Right." Sparky aimed his gun at Dorothy's shoulder, and the other four aimed at different non-fatal parts of the two's bodies.
"This is where the out numbered part comes into play, isn't it?" Dorothy said.
"Yeah, pretty much." Anna sighed. She fiddled with the necklace she was wearing with her free hand. She pulled it off and twisted the gem between her fingers.
"But out numbered never stopped us before."
She threw the gem at them and it exploded at their feet sending a violet mist spraying up around them. They cried out in surprise and slowly fell to the ground as the drug overtook their consciousness. Before Sparky could fall asleep, Anna pulled him out of the cloud and shook him by the collar.
"Who trained you? Who is your Commander?" She demanded.
"Can't say." He sighed.
"Who is it!?" Dorothy growled.
"Commander Trowa Barton." He mumbled sleepily.
"How loyal is he?" Anna asked lowly.
"He took the blood pledge. He'd die for OWN and M-" he fell asleep.
Anna and Dorothy looked at each other. "Traitor indeed." Dorothy said softly.
Anna nodded.
Duo and Quatre were dashing down the halls of the massive building. They had taken the stairs to avoid any guards on the elevators. The two had made it to the second floor, and were now trying to find the fire escape.
"This is the filing floor. I don't come down here very often." Quatre explained.
Duo had his gun out and ahead of him in one hand, and still had his grip on Quatre with the other. "Well, where do you think it would be?" he asked impatiently.
"I don't know!" Quatre cried exasperatedly.
"I'm sorry, Quatre. But we can't let them get you now." Duo apologized.
Quatre smiled and started to say something when he flinched, grabbed his neck, and dropped to his knees. Duo watched with horror and knelt by him.
"Quatre? Quatre what's wrong?" Duo exclaimed, looking around. He pulled his friends hand away from his neck and saw a small blue dart there.
"What the heck?" Duo muttered.
Quatre passed out. Duo barely caught him before he hit the carpet. He hovered over the unconscious pilot waiting for someone to come around the corner.
He never saw the leader of the soldiers of OWN come up behind him and knock him out.
Trowa picked Quatre up. He touched the comm. on his collar. "Alright. I have Mr. Vincent. Take us back."
He and Quatre disappeared, along with all of the OWN soldiers in the building, leaving it deathly quiet.
Chase opened her eyes slowly, feeling her head throb where she hit it on the hard ground. "Heero?" she muttered, still trying to gain her bearings. She looked to see him lying half on top of her. He had not risen from his shielding position. "Heero?"
He groaned slightly and his dark blue eyes fluttered open, staring at her for a moment. "Ohayo," he whispered.
"Daijoubu ka?" she asked quickly, trying to find out if he was hurt or not.
"Daijoubu," he groaned as he flopped over. "They're gone."
"Yeah. I noticed." She rolled over and sat up slightly. He stared up at her. "They won."
"The battle, Chase. Not the war."
The young woman felt a shiver go down her spine. "Battles make up wars, Heero."
"I know."
Chase sighed heavily and stood, offering her hand to him. "Let's go see if anyone is alive."
He accepted her hand and stood, holding his side lightly. She glared. "Yeah, boyo, you're in perfect condition."
"It's a scratch," he protested.
She rolled her eyes. "What am I going to do with you?" she asked, half exasperated.
He pulled her close and held her. "I won't let them win, Chase. We've worked too hard to let anyone take earth. I won't let them destroy everything."
She sighed and rested her chin on his chest. "And I thought it was over," she sighed.
"Never. War never ends, Chase."
"I know. But the same people don't always fight."
He buried his face in her strawberry blond hair. "We all have to get out alive this time."
"We will. We will."
Dorothy was explaining things to the police while police officers and Anna helped guests up from their hiding places under tables and some were even under the grand piano. The forensic teams had joined the remains of the party and were examining the late Mr. Walsh.
Dorothy told them that Mr. Vincent had indeed gotten away and would be laying low for several days. She also said that Heero, Chase, Anna, and Duo were undercover security employees of Luck Inc. so there was really no need to detain them. The officer took her statement and started searching the premises. Dorothy instructed the valets to bring the guests cars around and take them home or to the hospital if need be. The officer asked them to stay until the search was over in case they needed to ask any more questions.
Anna came to stand by her blonde friend. "He'll be alright. Trowa wouldn't hurt Quatre." She said gently.
Dorothy nodded. "I know. But his subordinates might."
"Quatre can take care of himself, you should know that better than anyone." Anna said.
"I know." Dorothy said sadly. She looked at Anna. "Where's Duo?"
"I don't know. The last time I saw him was when he was with Quatre. Maybe they made it out after all. Oh, no. Heero got himself hurt again." Anna replied.
Chase and Heero entered the room, Heero leaning slightly on his wife.
"Konban wa, minna-san. I think to party ended a little too soon," Chase said quietly, putting an arm around her husband's waist.
"Have you seen Duo?"
"Or Quatre?"
"No to both. I…"
"They got him," Duo said as he entered the room, holding his head gingerly.
"Blast it," Chase muttered. Heero tensed slightly. She glanced up to see his eyes closed. "I don't care what you say, boyo, I'm getting you to the nearest hospital."
"No," he said firmly. "I don't like hospitals."
"And I don't like doctors, but it never stopped me from going to see one."
"Hey!" Anna protested.
Chase grinned sheepishly. "Fine. I'll make you a deal, ne? We go back to the hotel and you let Anna treat that wound."
"No."
"It's that or a hospital."
Heero glared slightly at Chase then heaved a sigh. "Fine. We'll go back to the hotel."
So back to the hotel they went, and Dorothy came with them. Chase, Dorothy, and Duo had changed. Duo was sitting in a roll around chair and was holding an ice pack to his head, looking slightly miserable. Dorothy sat in the chair next to him, and Chase sat on one of the beds. Heero was lying on the other bed, and Anna was leaning over him, trying to check his wound.
"Confound it man, lie still! If you keep squirming this is only going to hurt worse." Anna sighed.
"You aren't doing it right." Heero grumbled.
"Excuse me? Which one of us went through six years of medical school? That's right, the one who doesn't have a bullet hole in me at the moment. So I thank you not to question my ability. Especially while you're in a rather awkward position." Anna warned, wielding a package of gauze.
Heero glared at her but relented, holding still while she cleaned the wound.
"So what's the diagnosis, Doctor?" Chase asked teasingly.
"He'll be fine, it's just a nick coupled with exhaustion. I actually think Duo's in worse shape than he is. Whoever hit him, hit him hard."
Duo rubbed the spot woefully. "You're telling me."
"Are you Doctor Estes or Doctor Maxwell now, Anna?" Dorothy asked absently from the chair.
It was a question she wasn't ready to answer. All eyes were on her now, and she looked to Chase. She didn't find an answer in the dark brown eyes of her friend.
Anna let a small smile play on her lips. "Why don't we just call me Bones and say it's even." She replied softly.
Just then Heero grunted –Anna had left the antiseptic on too long- drawing the attention away from the question. Anna muttered an apology and began wrapping his side. Finally she was done. Heero thanked her silently, and went into the bathroom to change. Anna leaned against the window of the hotel room and stared at the lighted city outside.
"So what do we do now?" Duo asked quietly.
"I have to stay here and run Luck Inc. Too much is riding on it to let it slip into the hands of younger members. They all know the dangers of OWN, but still, the public can't know about Quatre's abduction." Dorothy said.
"Speaking of, what are we going to do about Quatre?" Duo asked.
"We aren't going to do anything about Quatre. I'm going back to find him." Heero said, re-entering the room.
"Going back?" Chase echoed.
He nodded. "I've got to go where he is to find him."
"How are you planning to do that?" Chase asked.
"By going the way I came." Heero replied.
"That's vague." Anna remarked.
"I can't tell you how I got here." Heero said.
"I think it's a little late for secrecy, Heero." Dorothy mused.
The Perfect Soldier said nothing.
"Come on, Heero, they may as well know." Duo pushed gently.
Heero glowered at the ceiling for a moment then answered. "We got here the same way Chase and Anna went home."
"By laptop?!?" The two aforementioned exclaimed.
Heero nodded.
"How is that possible? I asked Trowa to destroy both laptops." Chase said.
"He destroyed one two weeks after you were gone, and said he destroyed the other a short time after that. One time when he was out I went into his room to look for a program he said I could use. I found a blue covered laptop and realized he hadn't destroyed both of them, and that the program for transportation was still on it. I made blueprints of the laptop, and copies of the software and built another laptop." Heero replied coolly.
"Why did you build another one?" Anna asked bewildered.
"I thought it could be useful in the future." Heero murmured, looking at Chase.
"Not that I'm not grateful, but this means there are two laptops again?" Chase questioned.
"Yes. Duo and I have the one, and we assume that Trowa has the original." Heero answered. "If you'll excuse me, I need to get ready." He went back to his room.
Duo stood. "I need to talk to him."
Dorothy also left, saying she was going to go call the cabby's number that Anna had given her.
Alone, Chase joined Anna by the window. "Life's become a whirlwind, ne?"
Anna watched the lights dance on the New World Trade Center, and the eternal flame that flickered next to it as a memorial for its predecessors. It was beautiful for what that building stood for. It stood for freedom, liberty, peace, and strength under God. And most of all, it stood for triumph over disaster.
"Go with him, Chase." She said, shifting her gaze to her friend.
"Nani?"
"Go with Heero." Anna said again.
"I can't do that, and you know it." Chase shook her head.
"Yes you can! You deserve to go you need to go. He needs you." Anna insisted.
"If I go I won't want to come back." Chase whispered.
"But you will. This is just the beginning. Think of it as a trial period."
"Can I subscribe for under $10.99?" she joked.
"Nah, I think shuttle rides cost more than that."
"You really think I should go?" Chase asked.
"Hai!" Anna said enthusiastically. "Remember, you're legally married there."
Chase arched an eyebrow. "True. Very true. But what about you?"
"Duo and I can go back to Chicago and be like a home base. We need to find Wufei. He's here somewhere."
Chase nodded. "Let's go see Dorothy off."
"Right. And then tell Heero he's taking you along." Anna agreed.
"You're not coming."
Chase glared at her husband over the rims of her glasses. "I am."
"No."
Anna sighed. "Battle of the wills. This could take a while."
Chase smirked slightly. "You have to take me."
"Why is that?"
"Because," Chase said, producing a leather bag – much like the one she had carried with her everywhere – from where it hung around her shoulder, "I have the laptop."
Heero's eyes narrowed. "Give that here, Chase."
"No. Not unless you take me with you."
He made a lunge at it, but he was too slow for her and she dodged. "Take me with you."
He stopped for a moment and stared down at her. She held the bag protectively. He slipped her glasses off and looked into her brown eyes. He sighed heavily. "Look in my bag. I brought something you use to wear. It'll work for this."
"I can get my own clothes."
"Just do it, Chase."
She nodded and looked; pulling out the black pants and shirt she wore often. She smirked. "Looks like Chase Yuy is back in action."
"We'll see. Go get changed. We need to leave as soon as possible. Quatre may not have much time."
Chase nodded and went back to the room the girls had shared, and Anna followed her.
Heero headed towards the door so he could check them out of the hotel. Duo grabbed his arm.
"Are you sure about this? It is Chase and Anna, but they haven't been in situations like this for almost a decade. It could be a suicide murder dragging them in now." He said warningly.
Heero looked surprised at his doubts. "They say it's like riding a bicycle. You above all people should know their capabilities. They went into this willingly, you know that."
"I know that. I'm just worried that it's all to fast. We don't want to lose what we've just gained." Duo said.
"I know. But you have become a worrier, my friend." Heero responded.
"Sometimes you don't worry enough." Duo replied.
"The best you can do is go back to Chicago with Anna and find Wufei. We have to know what side he's on. If we've lost both him and Trowa to OWN, things will be twice as difficult. Chase and I will be fine." Heero said.
Duo shrugged. "Whatever you say buddy. I just hope this turns out as well as things did in the past."
"The past is the past. We're fighting for the future, now." Heero said as he left the room.
He came back a few minutes later to find the other three ready to go.
"I've got the tickets back to Chicago." Anna announced. "We leave in five hours."
"Good. Chase and I will leave now." Heero said. He paused to glare slightly. "As soon she gives me the laptop."
She smiled sweetly and handed it back to him. He smiled wryly and opened it. Chase peered over his shoulder as he pulled up all the old familiar programs.
"I remember that." She said to herself, watching the program load up.
"You should. You helped modify it." Heero replied. "It's ready."
Anna squeezed Chase's shoulder. "Have fun, but remember the spell wears off at midnight."
Chase rolled her eyes. "Right. I'll make sure to take some extra explosive pumpkins."
"Make sure you do." Anna grinned.
"Wish us luck." Heero said, taking Chase's hand.
Duo put an arm around Anna's shoulders. "Good luck, buddy."
"Knock 'em dead, kid." Anna said.
Chase gave her a look as Heero pushed the enter button on the laptop. A white light engulfed the room and a second later; Duo and Anna were alone.
"We better rest up." Anna said softly.
"You're afraid, Anna?" Duo asked.
"I am unsure." She replied. "We thought our lives had settled themselves. Why didn't I know, that you wouldn't ever be far?"
"Because I promised you always." Duo replied quietly.
"Always." She repeated in a whisper.
They had gotten three notes out when a scream pierced the room. The violins screeched to a stop and everyone whirled to look to the origin of the sound. A woman stared in horror as her husband or the person she was dancing with staggered, then fell to the floor. Time slowed to a stop as the realization of what happened hit the room. Women screamed men stepped in front of them and looked around for the source of danger. People crowded around the fallen man. Quatre rushed up and grabbed Duo's shoulder.
"That was Mr. Walsh." He whispered.
Duo looked at him. "Now what?"
Anna and Dorothy exchanged glances. Anna got Duo's attention. "Listen, get Mr. Vincent and Dorothy out of here. Hide them somewhere in the building, outside the building, anything! He's the next target!" she exclaimed.
"I think out would be better than in." Dorothy said quietly.
"Anna!" Chase shouted near the body of Mr. Walsh.
"Coming!" she fished a card out of her pocket. "Look, call this cab driver, you can trust him. Tell him your friends of the girl that he took to Luck Inc. yesterday. Go!"
Duo grabbed Quatre and Dorothy's arm and they headed towards the elevator.
"We better make this quick." Duo said.
"Move, people, I'm a doctor." Anna barked. The terrified guests let her through.
She knelt by Chase. "Fancy seeing you here." She said dryly.
Chase rolled her eyes. "Is there a chance?"
Anna surveyed the wound and checked for a pulse. "No. That's a great shot. Straight through the heart. He's gone."
A woman behind them let out a half sob.
They were about to express their condolences when the glass doors in the balcony burst open and OWN soldiers flooded the second floor, guns aimed at the crowd. Soldiers came in through the downstairs too, backing Duo, Quatre, and Dorothy into the rest of the guests.
Heero had found an entrance and exit that had not been used.
"Chase." He hissed. She heard and looked up. She looked back at Anna.
"Yeah, yeah, I know the drill. We'll make a diversion, get shot at, and you take the enemy." She grinned.
"That's the general idea. Be careful." Chase said.
"Always. You too."
Chase again rolled her eyes and slipped over to where Heero was hiding behind a blue velvet curtain.
Anna joined Duo.
"We need to move him to the back of the crowd so he's more protected." Duo whispered.
"There's no point. They'll be able to see him from above." Dorothy murmured.
"Guys, I'm here too, you know." Quatre reminded gently.
"We know. That's our problem." Duo said wryly.
Several people gasped and looked to the center part of the balcony. A figure immerged from the center door. He was like the others in uniform, but one could tell he was of a higher rank. He had a helmet on, shielding his face from the crowd.
"I assume you understand our demonstration." He said. The baritone voice rang out over the large room.
Dorothy looked back and Anna nodded. Beside them, Quatre stiffened. "No, it can't be…" he whispered.
Dorothy grabbed his arm. "Don't." said so only he could hear.
He relaxed, but stared painstakingly at the man on the balcony. The man riveted his gaze so it rested on Quatre. Then he regarded his soldiers.
"You have your orders, go!" he commanded.
Chase slipped through to the area behind the balcony and made eye contact with her husband. He nodded and she laid a small devise down, watching him do the same on the other side.
She smirked to herself as she stepped away from the balcony and jogged a good ways down the hall. A small devise beeped in her ear. "Ima."
Chase pressed the detonator that she held in her hand and a small explosion came from the ballroom.
Quatre looked up to where the explosion sounded. "Chase," he muttered.
"Let's get you out of here," Duo muttered as he took Quatre by the arm.
Chase rounded the corner to her meeting spot. She stopped dead in her tracks when she ran into a gun pointed to her head. She looked past the OWN soldier to see Heero standing in much the same predicament.
Their eyes met and he glared slightly, telling her to stay still for the moment.
One soldier walked forward and smirked. He cupped Chase's chin in one hand and ripped her glasses off with the other. "So you're Chase Yuy? I thought you'd be more than this."
Chase glared, holding back her temper. Her eyes met Heero's again and he nodded slightly. He brought his elbow into his captor's stomach.
She dodged the soldier trying to grab her and then looked to see a red aiming dot aimed at her. She was about to move when she felt Heero knock into her, telling her to get down. The shot went off.
There was a multitude of problems downstairs as well. Twelve boys were advancing on the Luck Inc. owner. Duo was standing half in front of him, and Dorothy and Anna were on either side.
"Maybe we should just let them take me. That way nobody will get hurt." Quatre muttered.
"Yeah, buddy, except you. We don't know what those guys are willing to do. Look what we were willing to do at that age." Duo said.
"He's right. Giving you over to them will cause more problems than solutions." Dorothy said, sounding partially nervous.
The explosion upstairs went off. Several cadets cried out as the balcony filled with smoke.
"Now is good." Anna said.
Duo grabbed Quatre's wrist and took off, shoving their way through the people who were screaming and shouting again. The twelve advancing soldiers started to run after them.
"Anna." Dorothy said sharply.
She looked up and caught the Glock that was thrown to her. In one fluid motion they had them cocked and pointed at the two head cadets.
The two found themselves facing two sides of six. And they all looked dangerous.
"There's just one problem with this set up." Anna said quietly.
"What's that?" Dorothy asked, eyes flickering from soldier to soldier.
"We are totally out numbered."
"True. We're only in trouble if they shoot first." Dorothy murmured back.
"Oh, comforting I'm sure." Anna said sarcastically.
One of the boys stepped forward.
"You must be Anna Yuy and Chase Maxwell." He said, addressing them.
Before Dorothy could contest what he said, Anna spoke up. "Very good, Sparky. You've done your homework. But that's Anna Maxwell and Chase Yuy. I'm afraid you don't pass the class."
He glared and took a step forward.
"A-a, Sparky. Not your night. Move again and I'll shoot you." Anna warned. "And Ms. Yuy here isn't a bad aim herself."
Dorothy grinned wickedly.
The boy dubbed 'Sparky' also grinned. "If you shoot me, my comrades will shoot back. We're trained for that sort of thing."
"No kidding. We thought you were part of the circus." Dorothy snapped.
The boys on the dance floor were perfectly ignoring the cries and shouts from above them. Sparky moved forward again and Anna launched her attack, Dorothy following suit. They mixed themselves into the band of boys so that they couldn't shoot at the girls without shooting at each other.
"Remember these are kids! Keep casualties to a minimum!" Anna shouted over the noise.
Dorothy grabbed one of the boys around the neck and spun around using him as a shield. She knocked two of them on the head, sending them to the floor. She squeezed the neck pressure point of the one she was holding and let him drop. She held the three that were attacking her at bay with the gun she held.
Anna had used the same method and only had two standing from her group. The five of them moved closer to each other and eyed the females.
"That's pretty good. They took over half of us out without sending a shot off." One of them whispered.
Sparky silenced him with a glare.
"Why don't we just shoot them?" one of them whined.
"Because the Commander said to leave the gundam pilots alive." He hissed.
Most of the frightened guests had slipped out back ways or were under tables on the sides of the room. Anna and Dorothy were glad they had had the sense to move, or it would have been rather difficult to fight back.
"He said restrict them so they wouldn't be a threat. These two are definitely threats." Another said.
"Right." Sparky aimed his gun at Dorothy's shoulder, and the other four aimed at different non-fatal parts of the two's bodies.
"This is where the out numbered part comes into play, isn't it?" Dorothy said.
"Yeah, pretty much." Anna sighed. She fiddled with the necklace she was wearing with her free hand. She pulled it off and twisted the gem between her fingers.
"But out numbered never stopped us before."
She threw the gem at them and it exploded at their feet sending a violet mist spraying up around them. They cried out in surprise and slowly fell to the ground as the drug overtook their consciousness. Before Sparky could fall asleep, Anna pulled him out of the cloud and shook him by the collar.
"Who trained you? Who is your Commander?" She demanded.
"Can't say." He sighed.
"Who is it!?" Dorothy growled.
"Commander Trowa Barton." He mumbled sleepily.
"How loyal is he?" Anna asked lowly.
"He took the blood pledge. He'd die for OWN and M-" he fell asleep.
Anna and Dorothy looked at each other. "Traitor indeed." Dorothy said softly.
Anna nodded.
Duo and Quatre were dashing down the halls of the massive building. They had taken the stairs to avoid any guards on the elevators. The two had made it to the second floor, and were now trying to find the fire escape.
"This is the filing floor. I don't come down here very often." Quatre explained.
Duo had his gun out and ahead of him in one hand, and still had his grip on Quatre with the other. "Well, where do you think it would be?" he asked impatiently.
"I don't know!" Quatre cried exasperatedly.
"I'm sorry, Quatre. But we can't let them get you now." Duo apologized.
Quatre smiled and started to say something when he flinched, grabbed his neck, and dropped to his knees. Duo watched with horror and knelt by him.
"Quatre? Quatre what's wrong?" Duo exclaimed, looking around. He pulled his friends hand away from his neck and saw a small blue dart there.
"What the heck?" Duo muttered.
Quatre passed out. Duo barely caught him before he hit the carpet. He hovered over the unconscious pilot waiting for someone to come around the corner.
He never saw the leader of the soldiers of OWN come up behind him and knock him out.
Trowa picked Quatre up. He touched the comm. on his collar. "Alright. I have Mr. Vincent. Take us back."
He and Quatre disappeared, along with all of the OWN soldiers in the building, leaving it deathly quiet.
Chase opened her eyes slowly, feeling her head throb where she hit it on the hard ground. "Heero?" she muttered, still trying to gain her bearings. She looked to see him lying half on top of her. He had not risen from his shielding position. "Heero?"
He groaned slightly and his dark blue eyes fluttered open, staring at her for a moment. "Ohayo," he whispered.
"Daijoubu ka?" she asked quickly, trying to find out if he was hurt or not.
"Daijoubu," he groaned as he flopped over. "They're gone."
"Yeah. I noticed." She rolled over and sat up slightly. He stared up at her. "They won."
"The battle, Chase. Not the war."
The young woman felt a shiver go down her spine. "Battles make up wars, Heero."
"I know."
Chase sighed heavily and stood, offering her hand to him. "Let's go see if anyone is alive."
He accepted her hand and stood, holding his side lightly. She glared. "Yeah, boyo, you're in perfect condition."
"It's a scratch," he protested.
She rolled her eyes. "What am I going to do with you?" she asked, half exasperated.
He pulled her close and held her. "I won't let them win, Chase. We've worked too hard to let anyone take earth. I won't let them destroy everything."
She sighed and rested her chin on his chest. "And I thought it was over," she sighed.
"Never. War never ends, Chase."
"I know. But the same people don't always fight."
He buried his face in her strawberry blond hair. "We all have to get out alive this time."
"We will. We will."
Dorothy was explaining things to the police while police officers and Anna helped guests up from their hiding places under tables and some were even under the grand piano. The forensic teams had joined the remains of the party and were examining the late Mr. Walsh.
Dorothy told them that Mr. Vincent had indeed gotten away and would be laying low for several days. She also said that Heero, Chase, Anna, and Duo were undercover security employees of Luck Inc. so there was really no need to detain them. The officer took her statement and started searching the premises. Dorothy instructed the valets to bring the guests cars around and take them home or to the hospital if need be. The officer asked them to stay until the search was over in case they needed to ask any more questions.
Anna came to stand by her blonde friend. "He'll be alright. Trowa wouldn't hurt Quatre." She said gently.
Dorothy nodded. "I know. But his subordinates might."
"Quatre can take care of himself, you should know that better than anyone." Anna said.
"I know." Dorothy said sadly. She looked at Anna. "Where's Duo?"
"I don't know. The last time I saw him was when he was with Quatre. Maybe they made it out after all. Oh, no. Heero got himself hurt again." Anna replied.
Chase and Heero entered the room, Heero leaning slightly on his wife.
"Konban wa, minna-san. I think to party ended a little too soon," Chase said quietly, putting an arm around her husband's waist.
"Have you seen Duo?"
"Or Quatre?"
"No to both. I…"
"They got him," Duo said as he entered the room, holding his head gingerly.
"Blast it," Chase muttered. Heero tensed slightly. She glanced up to see his eyes closed. "I don't care what you say, boyo, I'm getting you to the nearest hospital."
"No," he said firmly. "I don't like hospitals."
"And I don't like doctors, but it never stopped me from going to see one."
"Hey!" Anna protested.
Chase grinned sheepishly. "Fine. I'll make you a deal, ne? We go back to the hotel and you let Anna treat that wound."
"No."
"It's that or a hospital."
Heero glared slightly at Chase then heaved a sigh. "Fine. We'll go back to the hotel."
So back to the hotel they went, and Dorothy came with them. Chase, Dorothy, and Duo had changed. Duo was sitting in a roll around chair and was holding an ice pack to his head, looking slightly miserable. Dorothy sat in the chair next to him, and Chase sat on one of the beds. Heero was lying on the other bed, and Anna was leaning over him, trying to check his wound.
"Confound it man, lie still! If you keep squirming this is only going to hurt worse." Anna sighed.
"You aren't doing it right." Heero grumbled.
"Excuse me? Which one of us went through six years of medical school? That's right, the one who doesn't have a bullet hole in me at the moment. So I thank you not to question my ability. Especially while you're in a rather awkward position." Anna warned, wielding a package of gauze.
Heero glared at her but relented, holding still while she cleaned the wound.
"So what's the diagnosis, Doctor?" Chase asked teasingly.
"He'll be fine, it's just a nick coupled with exhaustion. I actually think Duo's in worse shape than he is. Whoever hit him, hit him hard."
Duo rubbed the spot woefully. "You're telling me."
"Are you Doctor Estes or Doctor Maxwell now, Anna?" Dorothy asked absently from the chair.
It was a question she wasn't ready to answer. All eyes were on her now, and she looked to Chase. She didn't find an answer in the dark brown eyes of her friend.
Anna let a small smile play on her lips. "Why don't we just call me Bones and say it's even." She replied softly.
Just then Heero grunted –Anna had left the antiseptic on too long- drawing the attention away from the question. Anna muttered an apology and began wrapping his side. Finally she was done. Heero thanked her silently, and went into the bathroom to change. Anna leaned against the window of the hotel room and stared at the lighted city outside.
"So what do we do now?" Duo asked quietly.
"I have to stay here and run Luck Inc. Too much is riding on it to let it slip into the hands of younger members. They all know the dangers of OWN, but still, the public can't know about Quatre's abduction." Dorothy said.
"Speaking of, what are we going to do about Quatre?" Duo asked.
"We aren't going to do anything about Quatre. I'm going back to find him." Heero said, re-entering the room.
"Going back?" Chase echoed.
He nodded. "I've got to go where he is to find him."
"How are you planning to do that?" Chase asked.
"By going the way I came." Heero replied.
"That's vague." Anna remarked.
"I can't tell you how I got here." Heero said.
"I think it's a little late for secrecy, Heero." Dorothy mused.
The Perfect Soldier said nothing.
"Come on, Heero, they may as well know." Duo pushed gently.
Heero glowered at the ceiling for a moment then answered. "We got here the same way Chase and Anna went home."
"By laptop?!?" The two aforementioned exclaimed.
Heero nodded.
"How is that possible? I asked Trowa to destroy both laptops." Chase said.
"He destroyed one two weeks after you were gone, and said he destroyed the other a short time after that. One time when he was out I went into his room to look for a program he said I could use. I found a blue covered laptop and realized he hadn't destroyed both of them, and that the program for transportation was still on it. I made blueprints of the laptop, and copies of the software and built another laptop." Heero replied coolly.
"Why did you build another one?" Anna asked bewildered.
"I thought it could be useful in the future." Heero murmured, looking at Chase.
"Not that I'm not grateful, but this means there are two laptops again?" Chase questioned.
"Yes. Duo and I have the one, and we assume that Trowa has the original." Heero answered. "If you'll excuse me, I need to get ready." He went back to his room.
Duo stood. "I need to talk to him."
Dorothy also left, saying she was going to go call the cabby's number that Anna had given her.
Alone, Chase joined Anna by the window. "Life's become a whirlwind, ne?"
Anna watched the lights dance on the New World Trade Center, and the eternal flame that flickered next to it as a memorial for its predecessors. It was beautiful for what that building stood for. It stood for freedom, liberty, peace, and strength under God. And most of all, it stood for triumph over disaster.
"Go with him, Chase." She said, shifting her gaze to her friend.
"Nani?"
"Go with Heero." Anna said again.
"I can't do that, and you know it." Chase shook her head.
"Yes you can! You deserve to go you need to go. He needs you." Anna insisted.
"If I go I won't want to come back." Chase whispered.
"But you will. This is just the beginning. Think of it as a trial period."
"Can I subscribe for under $10.99?" she joked.
"Nah, I think shuttle rides cost more than that."
"You really think I should go?" Chase asked.
"Hai!" Anna said enthusiastically. "Remember, you're legally married there."
Chase arched an eyebrow. "True. Very true. But what about you?"
"Duo and I can go back to Chicago and be like a home base. We need to find Wufei. He's here somewhere."
Chase nodded. "Let's go see Dorothy off."
"Right. And then tell Heero he's taking you along." Anna agreed.
"You're not coming."
Chase glared at her husband over the rims of her glasses. "I am."
"No."
Anna sighed. "Battle of the wills. This could take a while."
Chase smirked slightly. "You have to take me."
"Why is that?"
"Because," Chase said, producing a leather bag – much like the one she had carried with her everywhere – from where it hung around her shoulder, "I have the laptop."
Heero's eyes narrowed. "Give that here, Chase."
"No. Not unless you take me with you."
He made a lunge at it, but he was too slow for her and she dodged. "Take me with you."
He stopped for a moment and stared down at her. She held the bag protectively. He slipped her glasses off and looked into her brown eyes. He sighed heavily. "Look in my bag. I brought something you use to wear. It'll work for this."
"I can get my own clothes."
"Just do it, Chase."
She nodded and looked; pulling out the black pants and shirt she wore often. She smirked. "Looks like Chase Yuy is back in action."
"We'll see. Go get changed. We need to leave as soon as possible. Quatre may not have much time."
Chase nodded and went back to the room the girls had shared, and Anna followed her.
Heero headed towards the door so he could check them out of the hotel. Duo grabbed his arm.
"Are you sure about this? It is Chase and Anna, but they haven't been in situations like this for almost a decade. It could be a suicide murder dragging them in now." He said warningly.
Heero looked surprised at his doubts. "They say it's like riding a bicycle. You above all people should know their capabilities. They went into this willingly, you know that."
"I know that. I'm just worried that it's all to fast. We don't want to lose what we've just gained." Duo said.
"I know. But you have become a worrier, my friend." Heero responded.
"Sometimes you don't worry enough." Duo replied.
"The best you can do is go back to Chicago with Anna and find Wufei. We have to know what side he's on. If we've lost both him and Trowa to OWN, things will be twice as difficult. Chase and I will be fine." Heero said.
Duo shrugged. "Whatever you say buddy. I just hope this turns out as well as things did in the past."
"The past is the past. We're fighting for the future, now." Heero said as he left the room.
He came back a few minutes later to find the other three ready to go.
"I've got the tickets back to Chicago." Anna announced. "We leave in five hours."
"Good. Chase and I will leave now." Heero said. He paused to glare slightly. "As soon she gives me the laptop."
She smiled sweetly and handed it back to him. He smiled wryly and opened it. Chase peered over his shoulder as he pulled up all the old familiar programs.
"I remember that." She said to herself, watching the program load up.
"You should. You helped modify it." Heero replied. "It's ready."
Anna squeezed Chase's shoulder. "Have fun, but remember the spell wears off at midnight."
Chase rolled her eyes. "Right. I'll make sure to take some extra explosive pumpkins."
"Make sure you do." Anna grinned.
"Wish us luck." Heero said, taking Chase's hand.
Duo put an arm around Anna's shoulders. "Good luck, buddy."
"Knock 'em dead, kid." Anna said.
Chase gave her a look as Heero pushed the enter button on the laptop. A white light engulfed the room and a second later; Duo and Anna were alone.
"We better rest up." Anna said softly.
"You're afraid, Anna?" Duo asked.
"I am unsure." She replied. "We thought our lives had settled themselves. Why didn't I know, that you wouldn't ever be far?"
"Because I promised you always." Duo replied quietly.
"Always." She repeated in a whisper.
