Chapter Twenty-Four: Didn't Curiosity Kill the Cat?
Meg Collins shoved the note under her paperweight. All it said was, `All clear on the home front,' but she assumed that the point would be taken.
Secondly, she dropped the violet colored box down on her desk. She'd found it on the bed in Doctor Estes' room and it said `Akago' on the top. Meg had been around her friend long enough to know it was Japanese, but she couldn't remember ever hearing the term before. Her hands hovered over the box. Maybe she shouldn't open it...
Meg shrugged and pulled the lid off the box. She let out a small gasp of surprise at what was on top.
"A sonogram?" she exclaimed. "That's impossible at that stage! How did they get such a detailed picture?"
She placed it to the side and pulled out the next item in the box. It was a nameplate. "Jack Robert Maxwell," Meg read aloud. "Maxwell. Isn't that the name of the guy she said was her husband? She had a son..." Meg murmured.
She continued going through the box. A baby Bible, patches of quilt fabric, more sonogram photos, a group shot of seven people. Meg recognized -Anna, did he call her? - And Jenny, her roommate, and the man Duo in the picture. The tall man in the back looked familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She put that on top of the other things from the box and pulled out what looked to be a journal page.
Dear Journal,
Wufei found out today.
Meg stopped reading. Wufei, he was the oriental man. She glanced at the picture, then continued.
It was all-my fault, really. He asked me if I wanted to spar as usually on Saturday and I agreed. Unfortunately, having extra baggage doesn't help my agility. Jack didn't like the fighting so well and I got severe cramps all of a sudden. I curled over when Fei-chan was expecting a block and he nearly impaled me. After several colorful exclamations, he knelt by me and asked if I was all right. I think I said something along the lines of, "What do you think?"
Jack decided to let me breathe a little and I sat back. Wufei and I just kneeled there, across from each other, staring at each other. I could tell this was going to be one of those moments when I was going to feel guilty again. Somehow, being quiet around him always makes me feel guilty. Like I betrayed him somehow.
He reached out and brushed the back of his fingers along my jaw line. "You're pregnant." He said. He said it quietly, and it wasn't a question. Shock must have registered all over my face, but after I thought about it I wasn't surprised. Of course he would know. I told him yes. I'll never forget what we said next, as long as I live.
"Moshimo watashi toiu naniyara isso, aitsu sugisattakanousei sotsu.*" He murmured.
"Tabun. Demo, watashi kibou anata ai sotsu dakaratte.**" I replied. And I meant it.
Meg slowly lowered the paper. It was the end of the entry, and there were no more inside the box. She had no earthly idea what they said, but she could feel the emotion behind the words. Whatever it was, it was important. There was only one thing left in the box, and Meg wasn't sure whether to read it or not. She felt like a total rat going through it now that she knew what it was.
"In for a penny, in for a pound." She said to herself.
The last piece of paper in the box was folded over and over into a tiny square. She almost ripped it trying to pull it open. It was the same type of paper as the journal entry, so Meg guessed it was from the same journal or one just like it. She turned it over to see the writing.
He is gone, and he never knew.
"What in the world does that mean?" Meg exclaimed. This was all too weird. She'd gone to medical school with this girl for seven years, and she'd never known any of this. But there was one thing above all that was bugging her. What happened to Jack Robert Maxwell? People didn't usually miscarry a baby after the first trimester, and that's when the last sonogram was from. It was possible she lost it after, but it wasn't all that likely. And however surprising all of it was, Meg knew her friend would never abort a baby.
Meg groaned and rubbed her eyes. She was still groggy from the drugs she'd been given by the OWN interrogators. However, once Meg Collins wanted to know something, she found it out no matter what. She placed everything back in the box and went to her locker. She pulled out the bag she kept extra clothes and personal items in and stuck the box in there. There was only one thing for her to do.
"Find Wufei Chang." She muttered. "And that means digging through more of Anna's things."
"Congratulations, Jack, it was a brilliant move." Trowa said, startling the younger man.
He turned to his superior. "Thank you, Commander."
Trowa shook his head. "Don't be angry with me, Jack, please. I'd hope you'd know I would back you up if you needed me."
Jack smiled grimly. "I know that. It's not that. Why didn't you tell me that the sniper took Cavel? He was like a brother to me."
"You make it sound as if she killed him. She's taking care of him. Better care than he'd get here. He was too young and too vulnerable for a job like this." Trowa replied.
Jack brushed his bangs out of his eyes. "I suppose. But will she kill him if he's to gentle for her as well?"
Trowa shook his head. "No. I met her today. She's not really the type to be an assassin, but I have a feeling when she works she's good at it."
He nodded. "If you say so. How are relations with the captives?"
Trowa glared at him. "As I expected."
"But not as you hoped."
"You know me that well."
"It's what anyone would have wanted. But don't forget, you are a traitor in their sight." Jack said.
"I'm a traitor by every right." Trowa said quietly.
"You don't believe the end justifies the means?" Jack asked.
"I believe that the means can be much more significant than the end. And I have made hell for these people, which is a cruel mean indeed." Trowa replied.
Jack sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. "I was never a fan of self-sacrifice."
"If that was true you wouldn't be here. Are you all right?"
The younger man nodded. "Just tired. A few hours sleep and I'll be good as new. I heard Victor wants Chase to play one of his games."
"I know. I've been invited myself, and Hoshimawari Mei."
"Can I be there, Trowa?"
"No. I know what you're thinking, and if you're right I don't want you in the line of fire." He replied.
"Trowa..."
"Jack, enough. You've done more than your share. I'll take it from here." Trowa said firmly.
Jack shrugged. "Fine. What are you going to do with Quatre Winner and the real Maxwell?"
"I don't know what I'm going to do with Quatre right now. My main concern is keeping Victor as far away from him as possible, because in Victor's eyes he is perfectly expendable. As for Duo, he's still sedated, isn't he?"
Jack nodded.
"I'll just keep him that way until the double is either paid off or dead. I have a feeling we'll have to end up taking him off the roster by force." Trowa responded.
"You don't think he'll go quietly." Jack said.
"No. Not if there's more money to be made."
"He was there at the raid today. He didn't do a thing."
"Idiot. Should have never hired him. I suppose it's just as well, it would have looked strange if he'd gotten involved."
"We may as well pay him off now and get rid of him. There's nothing left for him to do, really."
"No, not really. We know Heero and Wufei are together, and an older man. We know the real Duo is here in level nine. Chase and Quatre are here under protection." Trowa said.
"And you're obviously not teaming up with any of them. But that makes six." Jack said.
Trowa gave him a confused look. "What?"
Jack stared at him. "Six. That makes six gundam pilots. There were seven, remember? You're missing the other girl."
A look of realization dawned on Trowa's face. "Anna," he murmured. "The only time I've seen her during this whole ordeal was at the first attack at that party."
"Maybe she got killed." Jack said.
"No. Chase would be blaming me for that too if she was." Trowa said dryly.
"You might want to watch for her then. She could be sneaking up on you from somewhere." Jack warned.
Trowa nodded. "She was always sneaky."
Alarms blared and the sirens went off.
"Apparently your former girlfriend wasn't happy with the conditions." Jack remarked.
Trowa glared at him. "Great. I was afraid she'd do this. Shimmata."
"Well, while you go play the villain, I'm going to bed. Good night." Jack said.
"Right." Trowa sighed.
While the Commander and his Lieutenant were discussing the missing gundam pilot, she was knocking on General Victor's door.
Inside the office, Victor grinned to himself. "Enter." He summoned.
Anna came in, followed by Cavel. "General." They greeted together.
"Ms. Mei, Cavel. Come in, you're just in time to watch the games begin." He smiled.
Cavel shot a look at Anna, which she returned. There was something evil behind those hazel-gold eyes of his. Something that was either missing, or was there that shouldn't be.
"You speak a lot of games, General Victor. You like to play them?" Anna asked demurely.
"Yes, Ms. Mei, I enjoy games very much. I like them because there is always one winner and one loser. Not like in regular life, where everybody can be a loser." Victor said.
"Begging your pardon, sir, but everyone can be a winner in life as well, if they work for it." Cavel said quietly, but firmly.
Victor looked surprised. "Well, said, young man. You may have a future in politics."
"Thank you." He said.
"Do you like games, Mei?" Victor asked.
"I used to play them as a girl, but I haven't played many since I graduated high school." She answered.
"Yes. It's such a pity. More adults should play games, really. It would make their lives so much more pleasurable."
"I suppose so. I never thought about it much." Anna said, trying to sound diplomatic.
"Do, Miss Mei. It especially fun when there's an element of danger, but you know you'll win." Victor said.
At that point, red lights began flashing inside the office and alarms started ringing.
"Wonderful. Just as planned." Victor grinned.
Cavel and Anna shared another look. "What's going on, General?" Anna asked.
Victor pushed a button on the side of his desk and the mahogany wall panel across from his desk slid back to reveal a screen. The screen lit up with a picture of a hall that was filling with OWN soldiers.
"General Victor..." Anna said.
"Patience, patience, Miss Mei. We will see soon enough."
Anna didn't like where this was going at all.
Chase and Quatre tore down the maze of halls that made up OWN's headquarters. They had soldiers on their tail, and it wasn't looking good for the winded blonde boy.
"Come on, Quatre! Move!" Chase hissed.
"I'm sorry, Chase, I'm going as fast as I can." He gasped.
They came to a fork in the floor.
"Right or left?" Chase asked.
Quatre shook his head. "Left." He guessed.
Chase nodded and they took off in the said direction.
Anna stifled a gasp and Chase and Quatre came in range of the camera.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
"Playing my game. Watch." Victor instructed.
Chase and Quatre came to an abrupt halt as they found themselves faced with a group of soldiers. The soldiers that had been chasing them came up and trapped them between the two.
Chase's eyes darted around for an escape route but she found none.
Trowa emerged from the back of the group and leaned against the wall. "So we meet again."
"You..." Chase growled.
"Trowa," Quatre whispered.
"You know the drill. Failed escape has its price. Raise." Trowa said.
Both groups raised their guns.
Chase's eyes widened. So it would come down to this. Quatre gasped.
Anna stared in horror at the screen. Trowa was going to kill them.
Quatre reached out to him. "Trowa, please, I beg of you," he said softly.
"Ready." Trowa said flatly.
Chase shook her head. "You wouldn't." she snapped.
But Quatre could see that he would. He pulled his hand back, and slowly turned around.
"Oya," Anna murmured. Quatre had quite literally turned his back on Trowa.
"Fire." Trowa said.
Chase stiffened. She started to say something, but was cut off as the soldiers complied.
Anna nearly lunged for the screen as both Chase and Quatre fell.
Cavel grabbed her arm. "Darts." He whispered.
Trying to control her shaking, she turned on Victor. "Sadistic kind of game, isn't it?" she growled.
"But isn't it?" he replied. He picked up his phone. "Yes. Bring the girl to my office. Take Mr. Winner to interrogation." He hung up. "If you thought that was bad, Mei, you haven't seen anything yet."
No, Anna thought, this wasn't going anywhere pleasant.
*If I had said something sooner, he might have been my son.
**Maybe. But I hope you love him all the same.
Meg Collins shoved the note under her paperweight. All it said was, `All clear on the home front,' but she assumed that the point would be taken.
Secondly, she dropped the violet colored box down on her desk. She'd found it on the bed in Doctor Estes' room and it said `Akago' on the top. Meg had been around her friend long enough to know it was Japanese, but she couldn't remember ever hearing the term before. Her hands hovered over the box. Maybe she shouldn't open it...
Meg shrugged and pulled the lid off the box. She let out a small gasp of surprise at what was on top.
"A sonogram?" she exclaimed. "That's impossible at that stage! How did they get such a detailed picture?"
She placed it to the side and pulled out the next item in the box. It was a nameplate. "Jack Robert Maxwell," Meg read aloud. "Maxwell. Isn't that the name of the guy she said was her husband? She had a son..." Meg murmured.
She continued going through the box. A baby Bible, patches of quilt fabric, more sonogram photos, a group shot of seven people. Meg recognized -Anna, did he call her? - And Jenny, her roommate, and the man Duo in the picture. The tall man in the back looked familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it. She put that on top of the other things from the box and pulled out what looked to be a journal page.
Dear Journal,
Wufei found out today.
Meg stopped reading. Wufei, he was the oriental man. She glanced at the picture, then continued.
It was all-my fault, really. He asked me if I wanted to spar as usually on Saturday and I agreed. Unfortunately, having extra baggage doesn't help my agility. Jack didn't like the fighting so well and I got severe cramps all of a sudden. I curled over when Fei-chan was expecting a block and he nearly impaled me. After several colorful exclamations, he knelt by me and asked if I was all right. I think I said something along the lines of, "What do you think?"
Jack decided to let me breathe a little and I sat back. Wufei and I just kneeled there, across from each other, staring at each other. I could tell this was going to be one of those moments when I was going to feel guilty again. Somehow, being quiet around him always makes me feel guilty. Like I betrayed him somehow.
He reached out and brushed the back of his fingers along my jaw line. "You're pregnant." He said. He said it quietly, and it wasn't a question. Shock must have registered all over my face, but after I thought about it I wasn't surprised. Of course he would know. I told him yes. I'll never forget what we said next, as long as I live.
"Moshimo watashi toiu naniyara isso, aitsu sugisattakanousei sotsu.*" He murmured.
"Tabun. Demo, watashi kibou anata ai sotsu dakaratte.**" I replied. And I meant it.
Meg slowly lowered the paper. It was the end of the entry, and there were no more inside the box. She had no earthly idea what they said, but she could feel the emotion behind the words. Whatever it was, it was important. There was only one thing left in the box, and Meg wasn't sure whether to read it or not. She felt like a total rat going through it now that she knew what it was.
"In for a penny, in for a pound." She said to herself.
The last piece of paper in the box was folded over and over into a tiny square. She almost ripped it trying to pull it open. It was the same type of paper as the journal entry, so Meg guessed it was from the same journal or one just like it. She turned it over to see the writing.
He is gone, and he never knew.
"What in the world does that mean?" Meg exclaimed. This was all too weird. She'd gone to medical school with this girl for seven years, and she'd never known any of this. But there was one thing above all that was bugging her. What happened to Jack Robert Maxwell? People didn't usually miscarry a baby after the first trimester, and that's when the last sonogram was from. It was possible she lost it after, but it wasn't all that likely. And however surprising all of it was, Meg knew her friend would never abort a baby.
Meg groaned and rubbed her eyes. She was still groggy from the drugs she'd been given by the OWN interrogators. However, once Meg Collins wanted to know something, she found it out no matter what. She placed everything back in the box and went to her locker. She pulled out the bag she kept extra clothes and personal items in and stuck the box in there. There was only one thing for her to do.
"Find Wufei Chang." She muttered. "And that means digging through more of Anna's things."
"Congratulations, Jack, it was a brilliant move." Trowa said, startling the younger man.
He turned to his superior. "Thank you, Commander."
Trowa shook his head. "Don't be angry with me, Jack, please. I'd hope you'd know I would back you up if you needed me."
Jack smiled grimly. "I know that. It's not that. Why didn't you tell me that the sniper took Cavel? He was like a brother to me."
"You make it sound as if she killed him. She's taking care of him. Better care than he'd get here. He was too young and too vulnerable for a job like this." Trowa replied.
Jack brushed his bangs out of his eyes. "I suppose. But will she kill him if he's to gentle for her as well?"
Trowa shook his head. "No. I met her today. She's not really the type to be an assassin, but I have a feeling when she works she's good at it."
He nodded. "If you say so. How are relations with the captives?"
Trowa glared at him. "As I expected."
"But not as you hoped."
"You know me that well."
"It's what anyone would have wanted. But don't forget, you are a traitor in their sight." Jack said.
"I'm a traitor by every right." Trowa said quietly.
"You don't believe the end justifies the means?" Jack asked.
"I believe that the means can be much more significant than the end. And I have made hell for these people, which is a cruel mean indeed." Trowa replied.
Jack sighed and rubbed his hands over his face. "I was never a fan of self-sacrifice."
"If that was true you wouldn't be here. Are you all right?"
The younger man nodded. "Just tired. A few hours sleep and I'll be good as new. I heard Victor wants Chase to play one of his games."
"I know. I've been invited myself, and Hoshimawari Mei."
"Can I be there, Trowa?"
"No. I know what you're thinking, and if you're right I don't want you in the line of fire." He replied.
"Trowa..."
"Jack, enough. You've done more than your share. I'll take it from here." Trowa said firmly.
Jack shrugged. "Fine. What are you going to do with Quatre Winner and the real Maxwell?"
"I don't know what I'm going to do with Quatre right now. My main concern is keeping Victor as far away from him as possible, because in Victor's eyes he is perfectly expendable. As for Duo, he's still sedated, isn't he?"
Jack nodded.
"I'll just keep him that way until the double is either paid off or dead. I have a feeling we'll have to end up taking him off the roster by force." Trowa responded.
"You don't think he'll go quietly." Jack said.
"No. Not if there's more money to be made."
"He was there at the raid today. He didn't do a thing."
"Idiot. Should have never hired him. I suppose it's just as well, it would have looked strange if he'd gotten involved."
"We may as well pay him off now and get rid of him. There's nothing left for him to do, really."
"No, not really. We know Heero and Wufei are together, and an older man. We know the real Duo is here in level nine. Chase and Quatre are here under protection." Trowa said.
"And you're obviously not teaming up with any of them. But that makes six." Jack said.
Trowa gave him a confused look. "What?"
Jack stared at him. "Six. That makes six gundam pilots. There were seven, remember? You're missing the other girl."
A look of realization dawned on Trowa's face. "Anna," he murmured. "The only time I've seen her during this whole ordeal was at the first attack at that party."
"Maybe she got killed." Jack said.
"No. Chase would be blaming me for that too if she was." Trowa said dryly.
"You might want to watch for her then. She could be sneaking up on you from somewhere." Jack warned.
Trowa nodded. "She was always sneaky."
Alarms blared and the sirens went off.
"Apparently your former girlfriend wasn't happy with the conditions." Jack remarked.
Trowa glared at him. "Great. I was afraid she'd do this. Shimmata."
"Well, while you go play the villain, I'm going to bed. Good night." Jack said.
"Right." Trowa sighed.
While the Commander and his Lieutenant were discussing the missing gundam pilot, she was knocking on General Victor's door.
Inside the office, Victor grinned to himself. "Enter." He summoned.
Anna came in, followed by Cavel. "General." They greeted together.
"Ms. Mei, Cavel. Come in, you're just in time to watch the games begin." He smiled.
Cavel shot a look at Anna, which she returned. There was something evil behind those hazel-gold eyes of his. Something that was either missing, or was there that shouldn't be.
"You speak a lot of games, General Victor. You like to play them?" Anna asked demurely.
"Yes, Ms. Mei, I enjoy games very much. I like them because there is always one winner and one loser. Not like in regular life, where everybody can be a loser." Victor said.
"Begging your pardon, sir, but everyone can be a winner in life as well, if they work for it." Cavel said quietly, but firmly.
Victor looked surprised. "Well, said, young man. You may have a future in politics."
"Thank you." He said.
"Do you like games, Mei?" Victor asked.
"I used to play them as a girl, but I haven't played many since I graduated high school." She answered.
"Yes. It's such a pity. More adults should play games, really. It would make their lives so much more pleasurable."
"I suppose so. I never thought about it much." Anna said, trying to sound diplomatic.
"Do, Miss Mei. It especially fun when there's an element of danger, but you know you'll win." Victor said.
At that point, red lights began flashing inside the office and alarms started ringing.
"Wonderful. Just as planned." Victor grinned.
Cavel and Anna shared another look. "What's going on, General?" Anna asked.
Victor pushed a button on the side of his desk and the mahogany wall panel across from his desk slid back to reveal a screen. The screen lit up with a picture of a hall that was filling with OWN soldiers.
"General Victor..." Anna said.
"Patience, patience, Miss Mei. We will see soon enough."
Anna didn't like where this was going at all.
Chase and Quatre tore down the maze of halls that made up OWN's headquarters. They had soldiers on their tail, and it wasn't looking good for the winded blonde boy.
"Come on, Quatre! Move!" Chase hissed.
"I'm sorry, Chase, I'm going as fast as I can." He gasped.
They came to a fork in the floor.
"Right or left?" Chase asked.
Quatre shook his head. "Left." He guessed.
Chase nodded and they took off in the said direction.
Anna stifled a gasp and Chase and Quatre came in range of the camera.
"What are you doing?" she demanded.
"Playing my game. Watch." Victor instructed.
Chase and Quatre came to an abrupt halt as they found themselves faced with a group of soldiers. The soldiers that had been chasing them came up and trapped them between the two.
Chase's eyes darted around for an escape route but she found none.
Trowa emerged from the back of the group and leaned against the wall. "So we meet again."
"You..." Chase growled.
"Trowa," Quatre whispered.
"You know the drill. Failed escape has its price. Raise." Trowa said.
Both groups raised their guns.
Chase's eyes widened. So it would come down to this. Quatre gasped.
Anna stared in horror at the screen. Trowa was going to kill them.
Quatre reached out to him. "Trowa, please, I beg of you," he said softly.
"Ready." Trowa said flatly.
Chase shook her head. "You wouldn't." she snapped.
But Quatre could see that he would. He pulled his hand back, and slowly turned around.
"Oya," Anna murmured. Quatre had quite literally turned his back on Trowa.
"Fire." Trowa said.
Chase stiffened. She started to say something, but was cut off as the soldiers complied.
Anna nearly lunged for the screen as both Chase and Quatre fell.
Cavel grabbed her arm. "Darts." He whispered.
Trying to control her shaking, she turned on Victor. "Sadistic kind of game, isn't it?" she growled.
"But isn't it?" he replied. He picked up his phone. "Yes. Bring the girl to my office. Take Mr. Winner to interrogation." He hung up. "If you thought that was bad, Mei, you haven't seen anything yet."
No, Anna thought, this wasn't going anywhere pleasant.
*If I had said something sooner, he might have been my son.
**Maybe. But I hope you love him all the same.
