Chapter Twenty-Five: Meetings between worlds
Heero Yuy's eyes fluttered open as he came too. They quickly closed when met by the early morning light. He groaned slightly.
"I thought you'd never wake up, Yuy," Wufei's voice came from a chair on the other side of the room.
"So she's gone?"
Wufei cringed. It would take a bit to explain why he hadn't rushed head first into battle and tried to get the petite pilot out of danger, just as Heero would have (and did). The Chinese pilot had seen he was outnumbered and only would have caused more trouble for Quatre and Chase if he'd gone in to try to help. Though Heero never thought sensibly when it came to Chase.
"Yes," Wufei said quietly. "There was nothing I could do."
Heero turned so that he was looking away from his comrade. "I know."
"So, finally awake, ne kid?"
The two pilots turned to see Odin step into the room. "How ya feelin' kid?"
"Hn."
Odin smiled slightly. "I'm working on getting Chase and Quatre back. It's taking some time. I have been out of the business for a while, but old habits die hard and it is coming along. Your friend Barton hasn't covered all of his tracks."
"Trowa Barton is no friend of mine," Heero answered.
"You said something about telling us the whole story behind what Chase did for you," Wufei said. "What did you mean by that?"
Odin smiled. " Some years ago I was sent to this world, not knowing where I was or how I got here. It was more of a blur than anything was. I wondered pretty much aimlessly for a while until I found out that the year was 2005AD - late in the year - and I didn't have a clue where to go for help. That was sometime in late December.
"In early January I still had little idea of what was going on. I had only been there a week, actually. A...incident... happened and I was forced to keep out of sight of the police. I still had no idea what was going on.
"A couple days later I met a young woman, about nineteen at the time..."
*flashback *
A young girl passed where he was sitting and stopped. He'd received many strange looks since he had gotten here, so he assumed he was just out of place somehow.
"Konichi wa."
Odin bowed his head slightly. "Konichi wa."
"You seem troubled."
Odin looked at her. She was petite, medium length strawberry blond hair, and light brown eyes hidden behind dark rimmed glasses that rested on her nose. She smiled. "Is something bothering you, sir?"
"It's nothing."
The young woman knelt down in front of him and smiled again. "Watashi wa Thate Elise. Anata?"
What a forward young girl... "Lowe Odin."
Elise's eyes widened. "Odin Lowe? Is that your name? Tell me, Lowe-san, how long have you been in Tokyo?"
"A week or so."
"Do you know a young man... or at least use to know... a young man named Heero?"
Odin's eyes widened a fraction. "Yes."
Very likely not even the same Heero. Did he even go by Heero when he was young?
"What was his last name?"
"Yuy."
Too close. Maybe...
"If you don't mind my asking: where did you come from before you came to Tokyo?"
"I know you wouldn't believe me if I told you."
It's MY Heero's Odin. It is! He found a way to come to our world!
"Try me."
Odin relayed his story of how he got there, strange though it was. Elise's smile grew each moment as he relayed his tale.
"Just don't call the cops and have me thrown in the loony bin."
"Now allow me to tell you something, Odin-san." She looked around. "Perhaps... in the middle of the street isn't the best place for this discussion. Care to go down to the tea shop?" (A/N: I don't know if they really have tea shops like the do coffee shops in Tokyo, but bear with me... I don't like coffee...)
Odin nodded. "Yes."
Odin listened as Elise related her stories of being dragged into the other universe at age fourteen (along with her best friend) and her meetings with the Gundam boys, Dr. J, Ryuujin, and all the others. She related her love relations with Heero Yuy and Trowa Barton, and the death of her husband. She told about her depression after Heero died and how she and Anna had come home.
"So... Are you Elise-san or Chase-san?"
"I'd prefer you to call me 'Elise' so that I don't have to remember my old life every day. It hurts."
Odin nodded. "I'm sorry to hear the kid died. I was hoping he'd make a life for himself if I wasn't there to screw it up."
Elise smiled sadly. "Now, Odin-san, what are you running from?"
*end flashback *
"I'm still not entirely sure how she knew I was running from something, but she knew how to solve the problem. I really don't even know how she did it, or if she just used her influence. Whatever it was, I'm still in debt that girl, no matter what she says. We'll find her."
"Arigatou."
"Restrain your indignant anger, Miss Mei. I understand for a woman such as yourself, with your personality, that you do things evenly. You do thing bluntly without pretense. Tricks, maybe, but you do things where people can figure them out. I however, do not act this way. I like my games, and unfortunately for you, you agreed to be a player." Victor said to the seething Anna.
"Games, certainly, messing with peoples lives like that isn't a game. It's cruelty." She snapped.
"It's what I thrive on. Now sit down or I will find someone else to play." Victor responded icily.
Bending to the threat, Anna sat and crossed her arms. This guy was not healthy to be around. He had sent Cavel out of the room, leaving her alone with the General.
Trowa entered the room, but balked when he saw her. "I didn't know you had company. My apologies."
"I want you here together, Commander. Come in and take a seat next to her. You did beautifully with the capture." Victor said.
Trowa sat next to Anna. "Thank you." He said softly.
Anna was torn. There was a lot of pain behind those two words, as if he regretted doing it. But if that was so, what was he doing? Why was he fooling everyone? And what about what he had done to Quatre? She frowned and bit her lip. One of the things she hated most was not knowing.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Enter!" Victor shouted.
A soldier opened a door and two more came in carrying Chase between them.
"Good. Place her on the couch against the wall. Leave us." Victor instructed.
The soldiers did as they were told and hastened out of the room.
Victor sat back in his chair and smiled that evil grin again. "Perfection is always worth the price."
"Perfection?" both Trowa and Anna asked together. They looked at each other in surprise.
Victor continued to grin. "Of course. I set up the scenario I wanted. It should play out, as I want. I'll get what I want."
"Wonderful. Welcome to the opposite of Walt Disney." Anna remarked.
"Quite." Victor replied.
"Why do you need me? I do have other duties to be attending to." Trowa said.
"Patience, patience. Ms. Yuy should be waking up very soon." Victor answered.
As if on cue, the young woman on the couch stirred. "What happened?" she groaned.
"Welcome back, Ms. Yuy. Miss Mei, Commander, if you would go stand against the far wall I would appreciate it."
Anna slowly pushed herself up from her seat and walked over to the wall opposite from Chase. She didn't look at him, but she saw Trowa come to stand next to her from the corner of her eye.
"I suddenly feel like I'm being lined up for execution." She murmured to him.
"I wouldn't know. I've never been on the receiving end of a firing squad before." Trowa replied.
"You remember what I said about either one of us being expendable?" she asked.
"Yes, I do. The phrase better you than me comes to mind." Trowa said.
"That's exactly what I was thinking." Anna said dryly.
During their exchange, Victor had stood and put on his uniform jacket. Chase had sat up and was looking between him and the two against the wall.
"And you are?" she finally asked.
"My name is General Victor Marston. Most people simply refer to me as General." Victor said.
"I see." She glanced back over at Anna and Trowa. "What do you want from me?" Chase didn't like the situation she was in. She was out of ammo, and out of escape plans.
"Today is your lucky day, Ms. Yuy." Victor told her.
Chase raised an eyebrow. "I beg to differ. My day has been anything but lucky. Or pleasant, for that matter." She glared at Trowa.
Trowa avoided her gaze and continued to stare at Victor. No matter what he had said to whom he knew only as Mei, he was beginning to get that nagging feeling somebody was going to die.
"Ah, but the day isn't over yet. It's your lucky day because you're going to live. One of these fine people are not." Victor said.
"Oh boy." Anna muttered.
"Excuse me?" Chase asked, standing carefully.
"Well, I don't really need both of them alive. You get to pick which one stays and which one takes a permanent vacation." Victor said, as if explaining to a small child.
"Absolutely not. I don' t even know that woman." Chase said. This was outrageous.
"Oh, of course not. My apologies. This is Hoshimawari Mei. I employed her yesterday. She's a sniper as well, a pity you won't know each other better. Or maybe you will." He shrugged.
"Glad to meet you." Anna said sarcastically.
Chase didn't respond. "You're crazy. I won't do it."
Victor pulled a gun out of his coat and leveled it between Trowa and Anna. "Then I will make it simple and kill both of them."
"Um, I don't suppose Commander Barton or I get a say in this?" Anna asked.
He smiled cruelly. "No, I'm afraid you don't."
"Aha. Just curious." She shrugged. She was suddenly glad she still had her holster on. Trowa, she noticed, wasn't armed.
"Wait," Chase said harshly. "You really expect me to believe you'd kill both of them just to get a rise out of me?"
"Of course not." Victor said.
Chase looked smug.
"I expect you to believe I'll kill them because at the moment I feel like it."
All three of them nearly hit the floor.
"You have to be kidding," Anna exclaimed.
"I play games, Miss Mei. I don't joke."
Chase calculated her options. She could jump him, but she was to far away to prevent one of them from getting shot. She could distract him and give one of them a chance to jump him, but she didn't know how to read the other girl, and she wasn't about to ask for help from Trowa. In fact, she should tell Victor to shoot him just out of revenge. But once upon a time...she *had* been in love with him... And the other girl was a complete stranger... Chase felt a twinge in her chest. "Trowa," she whispered.
"Pardon?" Victor asked. He had heard perfectly well.
"I...I want him to live..." she said quietly.
"Very well." Victor said almost pleasantly.
"I object!" Anna said.
Chase looked at the floor.
"He'll be the one to die."
"What?!" both girls exclaimed.
Victor swung the gun in his direction. Trowa tensed.
"No!" Chase shouted.
"Crap," Anna muttered. She ripped her gun out and stepped in front of the banged boy. She aimed it at Victor. "Don't. You heard the lady."
"Why didn't you do that before?!" Chase hollered.
"Why set off an explosion if you can defuse it?" Anna replied.
Victor lowered his gun and began to laugh.
Anna released the cock on her gun and brought down as well. "Son of a gun. That's exactly what you wanted, isn't it?"
Victor continued to laugh and nodded.
"You son of..." Chase growled and lunged at him.
The larger man grabbed her wrist as she ran at him and flung her across the room. She landed in front of Anna and Trowa. Both of them automatically bent to help her. She snarled at them and wrenched her arm out of Trowa's grasp.
Victor had called in his guards and they quickly detained the girl. "Take her to interrogation far away from Mr. Winner. I don't want any more escapes."
"You won't get away with this, Victor. I'll kill you! And if I don't one of my friends will." Chase snapped.
"I'm sure they will." He answered.
They dragged her off, and the three left in Victor's office could hear her varied expressions down the hall.
"You're dismissed, Commander." Victor said, an amused expression still on his face.
Trowa gave one last glance at Anna who shrugged. He bowed stiffly and left.
"You can leave too, Miss Mei. I appreciate your participation."
"You're a sick man." Anna said.
"I know. Good day."
"I hope you die a horrible death." She spat and turned to leave. She nearly collided with three men who barged into the room.
Victor arched an eyebrow. "Can I help you?" he asked.
One of them took a deep breath. "Sir, it's that man we caught sneaking into grounds last night."
"The one with blue hair?" Victor asked.
"Yes, Sir."
"What's wrong with him?"
"Well, we're having a hard time restraining him. He keeps threatening us."
Victor looked irritated. "Threatening you with what?"
They looked at each other. "Sneezing." They said as one, and nervously.
Anna stopped short outside of the door. "Sneezing?" she muttered to herself.
"Sneezing?" Victor boomed. "You're afraid of a man sneezing?"
"We just don't know what to do with him, Sir."
"Let him shout and scream until he's hoarse for all I care. Sneezing. Where are your guts? Your fearlessness? What kind of soldiers are you?" Victor snapped.
"Um, General?" Anna asked coming back into the room.
"What?"
"Could I see this man?"
"If you like. Take her down there."
The three nodded and led Anna out of the room and down to the seventh level.
"He's an odd sort of chap," one of them told her.
"Really?" Anna asked amusedly. She had no doubt, if she was right.
They came to a stop in front of a cell that was generating a lot of noise.
Anna grinned like a Cheshire cat. "You can go now." She told them. They nodded and sped out of the hall like there was no tomorrow. After they were gone, she leaned her head against the door and laughed. A boy came down the hall.
"Can I help you, miss?" he asked.
"Actually, has this man eaten since he's been brought here?" she asked.
"No ma'am, I don't think so."
"Good. Go get him something to eat, and make sure there's lots of pepper on it." Anna instructed.
The boy looked confused. "Sure thing."
"Wait," Anna called. She pulled a pen and piece of paper out of her pocket. On it she wrote, "Chase is here." She handed it to the boy.
"Put this on his tray, will you?"
"Yes ma'am." He started off on his task.
"Oh, and kid?"
"Yes?"
"After you give it to him, run for your life. Promise?"
The boy looked even more confused. "I promise."
He disappeared and Cavel turned the corner. "Hey. Victor told me you were here. What's up?"
Anna grinned and tapped the door. "The first thing that's gone right this week. Come on, we don't want to be here when he gets out."
They left, and as they got off the property, they could hear sirens going off in the background.
Chase looked up when the door slid open. Trowa walked in and looked at her. "You were willing to save my life back there."
"You were going to die back there!"
"If we live, if we die, it's all for a greater good, isn't it, Chase?" Pause. "Well? Isn't it?!" Another pause. "Answer me!"
Chase felt tears sting her eyes but held them back. "...baka... Trowa no baka!" she screamed. "You don't even know what you're saying! Are you willing to die FOR the same type thing you would have died fighting AGAINST just ten years ago?!"
"What do I have to loose?"
"Everything! Your friends, your family, your life! Trowa-kun, if you'd come back, I could get them to accept you again. It'd take time, but we'd accept you for who you were years ago, just like after Marimaea."
Trowa looked at her for a moment. "Chase..."
The young girl glared at him for a second. "Answer me some things, Trowa," she whispered. "Please?"
"You may ask. I can't swear I'll answer them."
"Hikari. Where is she?"
Trowa smirked slightly. "She is well. I've kept her under my custody, not Victor's. Victor would have added her into his games and she'd be dead by now. Your little artist is quite all right and will be sent home when it is safe to do so. Your other questions?"
"Just one."
"Then ask."
Chase paused as if unsure of whether or not to go on. She took a deep breath. "Are you building a Gundam?" she asked in a rush.
Trowa's eyes widened in shock. They then hardened, once again returning to the soldier that had betrayed his comrades. "Of course you would think of that, Chase. It was your computer after all. Are you worried for the safety of this world? What would you do if I were secretly building a Gundam somewhere here?"
"You can't! Victor would have the greatest power known to this time if you did!" Chase responded eyes wide in horror, as she grasped his shirt and shook him slightly.
"Who says Victor would ever get a hold of it? There is a bigger picture."
"Blast it, Trowa! I don't care about the big picture! You are playing around with time and other things that humans have no right to use for war!"
"But you did."
Chase avoided his eyes. "That was different. We never came to you by choice."
"How did you come, Chase? And why did you stay?"
"We came... We came because Dr. J brought us. We thought of it as an adventure when we came. We were young..." She paused. "We stayed... We stayed because we wanted to make your world better in some small way. That and we learned to love while we were there. We were brought not by our choice, but we stayed by our own wills."
"And why is that not using the time travel for war? You fought. You fight."
"We didn't bring something from your future into your world so that we could defeat you!"
"It will all be over soon, Chase," Trowa said quietly. "For now, all you need to know is that your world will someday be safe. Yours and mine. Somehow."
The door slid open and a young soldier stood. "Commander Barton?"
"Yes?"
"The prisoner that was taken last night has escaped."
"Very well. I'll see to it." He then turned back to Chase. "An old friend of yours, I think. Blue hair and a sword. Ryuujin was quite a handful to take down."
"Ryu?"
"Hai. Now it appears I must go handle the small matter. Ja ne."
When the door closed, Chase slammed her fist against it. "BAKA!"
Cavel and Anna made their way back to their apartment. As soon as they were inside, Anna told him to turn the TV on.
"Why?" he asked, switching it on.
"Because there should be some late breaking news." Anna replied. "And hopefully it will be good."
Cavel flipped channels until he landed on the news station. It was on a commercial break. While they waited, he turned to her. "You're her, aren't you?"
Anna looked up at him. "Her? There are lots of hers, junior."
"You're the girl. Anna Maxwell." He said.
She raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"
He ducked his head a little. "You sound like her. You act like her, to me at least. And only two other people have ever used nicknames for me. My older sister and Anna Maxwell."
"What happened to your older sister? And your family?" Anna asked, avoiding the original question.
He bit his lip before answering. "She, my younger brother, and my parents were killed."
"How?"
"Three years ago, before OWN was internationally established and recognized, they did secret attacks. They never claimed responsibility. But, they attacked a village. My village, the place I grew up. My family was killed." He said softly.
"Where were you?" Anna asked. She was fairly sure she already knew the answer.
"I was in training. At OWN headquarters."
That's what she was afraid she'd hear. Anna slipped an arm over his shoulders and hugged him. "I'm sorry, Sparky." She whispered. "I know what it's like to loose someone you love so young."
He smiled sadly, tears forming in his brown eyes. "If they had waited a year, even nine months, my brother would have been with me."
"Some things turn out the way they do because God designed it that way. Some things turn out the way they do because man can't handle the fact that there's someone with a will for their lives and they mess things up. Maybe your family died so you would have a reason to fight, and to keep on living. Something to stand up for." Anna offered. She kissed the top of his head. "And some things were just never meant to be understood."
He nodded, sniffed, and wiped a sleeve across his eyes. "I guess so. It's back on."
Anna looked up, and turned the volume up as well. The newscaster's voice filled the apartment.
"And in other news today, there was an escape from OWN's prisoners. There is no word on how he managed to get through all the guards, or take another prisoner out with him." A picture of Ryuujin appeared on the screen. "He is said to be armed only with a sword, however, he is to be considered extremely dangerous. If you have any information please call the number on your screen. In sports today..." Cavel muted it.
"So what does that mean?" he asked.
Anna leaned back in the couch and bit the nail on her thumb. "I don't know. Which prisoner?" she growled.
"It makes a difference?"
"Yes!" Anna exclaimed. The phone rang, cutting off Cavel's next question. Anna reached over and grabbed it. "What?" she asked with irritation. "Oh, Victor."
On the other end of the line, Victor grinned sardonically. "Didn't expect hear from me so soon, did you?"
"Not really." Anna muttered.
Victor's smile broadened, then he frowned just as quickly. "I'm sure you've heard of the break out."
"Yes. It seems you go through prisoners about as fast as I go through shampoo." Anna remarked.
"Do you use much shampoo, Ms. Mei?"
"Quite a bit."
"Then you'd be correct. And it is not pleasing me, or my superiors."
"Which prisoner did he take with him?" Anna asked.
"Not surprisingly enough, Ms. Yuy. A note was found on the floor of Mr. Ryuujin's cell informing him that she was in fact on the premises." Victor said.
"Your tone would imply that I know something about that. I'm sorry to say that I do not." She said flatly.
"Of course not, Ms. Mei. But I fear that possibly Mr. Barton did, then. It seems to me that past relationships are indeed influencing his current thinking."
Anna straightened her spine and sat forward. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I have made a decision and therefore you have your first assignment. It was unexpected to me, and so I will pay you fifteen million extra to do it."
"Fifteen million..." Anna repeated in a whisper.
"Yes. I'm evil, Ms. Mei, not cheap. I paid you one million simply to hire you. You will be paid for each individual assassination individually."
Anna resisted the urge to shiver. "I see."
"This is more of a punishment for Mr. Barton than a security measure, you see."
Something clicked inside Anna's brain. "You're going to have me kill him?" she murmured.
Victor's voice sounded surprised coming over the line. "Oh, no, Ms. Mei. You really don't think after the game we had today I'd go and ruin it like that?"
"Let me tell you something, Victor, you're about as predictable my old junker car. You aren't. I don't know what you'd have me do." Anna snapped.
He laughed. "Fair enough. No, you aren't going to be killing him any time soon."
Anna groaned in frustration. "Then what do you want?"
Victor chuckled. "Not Mr. Barton no. A close friend of his."
"What?" she asked. Realization hit her like a ton of bricks. He voiced what she was thinking.
"I want you to assassinate Quatre Winner."
"Quatre Winner?" she choked out.
"Um-hum. You have a problem with this?"
You have a cover to keep. "No. But riddle me this, you have him, why don't you do it yourself?"
"It's all in the game, Ms. Mei. Tomorrow morning at dawn I'm releasing him into the city. I want him dead by nightfall."
Anna closed her eyes. "I'll take care of it."
"I'm sure you will. Who knows what I'll do if you fail." Victor hung up on her.
Anna hung the phone up. "Aw, crap."
"What's the matter?"
"I'm an idiot for thinking I could pull this off."
"Pull what off."
"I should have just stayed with Wufei."
"Wufei as in Wufei Chang?"
"What am I going to do now? It's not like I can kill him."
"Kill who?"
"I am such an idiot..."
"WOULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS?" Cavel shouted.
She blinked and looked over at him. "Oh. Sure. You were right, I'm Anna Maxwell, and I'm in a whole lot of trouble."
Meg heaved a huge sigh, drank a giant gulp of coffee, and sat down behind her friend's desk. She'd already gone through the bedrooms, and still not a clue as to where she could find Wufei Chang. She'd tried every phone number she'd found so far, to no avail. There was another thing that was bothering her. She didn't know who had kidnapped her, why, or who the girl was that had set her free.
The coroner rifled through different manuscripts, and picked up stray pieces of paper that littered the floor. Apparently she hadn't been the only one here looking for something.
She grinned to herself as she scanned one of the papers. Anna was writing a story about their college days. About the time Meg had planted a body in her closet and other random acts of insanity. It hadn't been real, of course, but who would have known that in the dark?
Meg turned the page over and was greeted with a series of numbers. "What's this?" The numbers didn't have any labeling. "Why not..." She picked up the phone. She dialed, and it rang for what seemed to be forever. Someone finally picked up.
"Anna?" they asked hopefully.
"Um, no. I'm Meg Collins. Who's this?"
"Wufei Chang." He answered, sounding disappointed. Meg Collins. Where had he heard that name before? A flash of memory played across his mind. In the car with Anna, he'd looked in the glove compartment...Meg Collins was on the pink slip. She was the girl who'd been kidnapped. "You're the coroner." He said.
Surprise clouded Meg's face. "Yes. I don't know you, but I have some questions about Anna."
Wufei looked over to where Heero was sleeping. Odin was in the other room, planning an escape for Chase. Wufei had questions about Anna too. "Do you know where she is? And where are you?"
"I was hoping you'd know where she was. I'm at her apartment in Chicago." Meg answered.
That meant that at the moment, no one knew where the former Star pilot was. Wufei sighed. "How did you escape?"
"A friend of Anna's broke me out. It was quite an experience." Meg said dryly.
"A friend? What was this friend's name?"
Meg groaned. She didn't remember all of it. "It was Hos...Hoshi? Hoshi Mei or something like that. I'm not to good with Japanese plus I was drugged at the time."
"Hoshi Mei?" Wufei repeated with confusion.
"It means dark star." Heero whispered.
Wufei's glance shot in his direction. He nodded. "I see. What kind of questions did you have, Ms. Collins?"
"It's about a baby." Meg said carefully. She didn't know who this man was exactly, but her friend had been close to him at one point.
The color drained from Wufei's ivory face. "A baby?" he repeated. He didn't know if he could trust this girl. Anna had acted as if she was trustworthy.
"A baby?" Heero asked. He was still waking up, but that was something he hadn't expected to hear. Wufei waved him off.
"A baby. Could I meet you somewhere?" Meg asked.
Wufei ran a hand through his hair. "Yes. I'll meet you in Chicago. You know Navy Pier?"
"I know it well." Meg agreed.
"I'll meet you there tomorrow morning at eight. At the feris wheel."
"I'll be there." Meg said softly.
Wufei hung up.
"You're leaving?" Heero asked.
"Yes."
"Do you know who this person is?"
"I know that Anna trusts her. And that Anna rescued her from OWN." Wufei answered.
"Anna did what?" Heero asked incredulously.
Wufei shook his head. "I think Anna's infiltrated OWN."
Heero groaned. "She must be at the headquarters then. Where they took Chase. They're going to get themselves killed."
"Or try to win the war alone. This woman Meg Collins might be helpful." Wufei said.
"What was that about a baby?"
"I don't know. There's a possibility that she could know..." Wufei trailed off.
Heero frowned at his friend. "Know what?"
Wufei looked at him. "Ten years ago, when you and Duo were killed, Anna was expecting a baby."
Heero paled slightly more than he all ready was. "Anna was going to have a baby?!"
"Hai..."
"Does Duo know this?"
"No. Only she and I did... Do."
Heero sunk down against the pillow. "My word," he muttered. "I hope Chase didn't pull something like that..."
Heero Yuy's eyes fluttered open as he came too. They quickly closed when met by the early morning light. He groaned slightly.
"I thought you'd never wake up, Yuy," Wufei's voice came from a chair on the other side of the room.
"So she's gone?"
Wufei cringed. It would take a bit to explain why he hadn't rushed head first into battle and tried to get the petite pilot out of danger, just as Heero would have (and did). The Chinese pilot had seen he was outnumbered and only would have caused more trouble for Quatre and Chase if he'd gone in to try to help. Though Heero never thought sensibly when it came to Chase.
"Yes," Wufei said quietly. "There was nothing I could do."
Heero turned so that he was looking away from his comrade. "I know."
"So, finally awake, ne kid?"
The two pilots turned to see Odin step into the room. "How ya feelin' kid?"
"Hn."
Odin smiled slightly. "I'm working on getting Chase and Quatre back. It's taking some time. I have been out of the business for a while, but old habits die hard and it is coming along. Your friend Barton hasn't covered all of his tracks."
"Trowa Barton is no friend of mine," Heero answered.
"You said something about telling us the whole story behind what Chase did for you," Wufei said. "What did you mean by that?"
Odin smiled. " Some years ago I was sent to this world, not knowing where I was or how I got here. It was more of a blur than anything was. I wondered pretty much aimlessly for a while until I found out that the year was 2005AD - late in the year - and I didn't have a clue where to go for help. That was sometime in late December.
"In early January I still had little idea of what was going on. I had only been there a week, actually. A...incident... happened and I was forced to keep out of sight of the police. I still had no idea what was going on.
"A couple days later I met a young woman, about nineteen at the time..."
*flashback *
A young girl passed where he was sitting and stopped. He'd received many strange looks since he had gotten here, so he assumed he was just out of place somehow.
"Konichi wa."
Odin bowed his head slightly. "Konichi wa."
"You seem troubled."
Odin looked at her. She was petite, medium length strawberry blond hair, and light brown eyes hidden behind dark rimmed glasses that rested on her nose. She smiled. "Is something bothering you, sir?"
"It's nothing."
The young woman knelt down in front of him and smiled again. "Watashi wa Thate Elise. Anata?"
What a forward young girl... "Lowe Odin."
Elise's eyes widened. "Odin Lowe? Is that your name? Tell me, Lowe-san, how long have you been in Tokyo?"
"A week or so."
"Do you know a young man... or at least use to know... a young man named Heero?"
Odin's eyes widened a fraction. "Yes."
Very likely not even the same Heero. Did he even go by Heero when he was young?
"What was his last name?"
"Yuy."
Too close. Maybe...
"If you don't mind my asking: where did you come from before you came to Tokyo?"
"I know you wouldn't believe me if I told you."
It's MY Heero's Odin. It is! He found a way to come to our world!
"Try me."
Odin relayed his story of how he got there, strange though it was. Elise's smile grew each moment as he relayed his tale.
"Just don't call the cops and have me thrown in the loony bin."
"Now allow me to tell you something, Odin-san." She looked around. "Perhaps... in the middle of the street isn't the best place for this discussion. Care to go down to the tea shop?" (A/N: I don't know if they really have tea shops like the do coffee shops in Tokyo, but bear with me... I don't like coffee...)
Odin nodded. "Yes."
Odin listened as Elise related her stories of being dragged into the other universe at age fourteen (along with her best friend) and her meetings with the Gundam boys, Dr. J, Ryuujin, and all the others. She related her love relations with Heero Yuy and Trowa Barton, and the death of her husband. She told about her depression after Heero died and how she and Anna had come home.
"So... Are you Elise-san or Chase-san?"
"I'd prefer you to call me 'Elise' so that I don't have to remember my old life every day. It hurts."
Odin nodded. "I'm sorry to hear the kid died. I was hoping he'd make a life for himself if I wasn't there to screw it up."
Elise smiled sadly. "Now, Odin-san, what are you running from?"
*end flashback *
"I'm still not entirely sure how she knew I was running from something, but she knew how to solve the problem. I really don't even know how she did it, or if she just used her influence. Whatever it was, I'm still in debt that girl, no matter what she says. We'll find her."
"Arigatou."
"Restrain your indignant anger, Miss Mei. I understand for a woman such as yourself, with your personality, that you do things evenly. You do thing bluntly without pretense. Tricks, maybe, but you do things where people can figure them out. I however, do not act this way. I like my games, and unfortunately for you, you agreed to be a player." Victor said to the seething Anna.
"Games, certainly, messing with peoples lives like that isn't a game. It's cruelty." She snapped.
"It's what I thrive on. Now sit down or I will find someone else to play." Victor responded icily.
Bending to the threat, Anna sat and crossed her arms. This guy was not healthy to be around. He had sent Cavel out of the room, leaving her alone with the General.
Trowa entered the room, but balked when he saw her. "I didn't know you had company. My apologies."
"I want you here together, Commander. Come in and take a seat next to her. You did beautifully with the capture." Victor said.
Trowa sat next to Anna. "Thank you." He said softly.
Anna was torn. There was a lot of pain behind those two words, as if he regretted doing it. But if that was so, what was he doing? Why was he fooling everyone? And what about what he had done to Quatre? She frowned and bit her lip. One of the things she hated most was not knowing.
Someone knocked on the door.
"Enter!" Victor shouted.
A soldier opened a door and two more came in carrying Chase between them.
"Good. Place her on the couch against the wall. Leave us." Victor instructed.
The soldiers did as they were told and hastened out of the room.
Victor sat back in his chair and smiled that evil grin again. "Perfection is always worth the price."
"Perfection?" both Trowa and Anna asked together. They looked at each other in surprise.
Victor continued to grin. "Of course. I set up the scenario I wanted. It should play out, as I want. I'll get what I want."
"Wonderful. Welcome to the opposite of Walt Disney." Anna remarked.
"Quite." Victor replied.
"Why do you need me? I do have other duties to be attending to." Trowa said.
"Patience, patience. Ms. Yuy should be waking up very soon." Victor answered.
As if on cue, the young woman on the couch stirred. "What happened?" she groaned.
"Welcome back, Ms. Yuy. Miss Mei, Commander, if you would go stand against the far wall I would appreciate it."
Anna slowly pushed herself up from her seat and walked over to the wall opposite from Chase. She didn't look at him, but she saw Trowa come to stand next to her from the corner of her eye.
"I suddenly feel like I'm being lined up for execution." She murmured to him.
"I wouldn't know. I've never been on the receiving end of a firing squad before." Trowa replied.
"You remember what I said about either one of us being expendable?" she asked.
"Yes, I do. The phrase better you than me comes to mind." Trowa said.
"That's exactly what I was thinking." Anna said dryly.
During their exchange, Victor had stood and put on his uniform jacket. Chase had sat up and was looking between him and the two against the wall.
"And you are?" she finally asked.
"My name is General Victor Marston. Most people simply refer to me as General." Victor said.
"I see." She glanced back over at Anna and Trowa. "What do you want from me?" Chase didn't like the situation she was in. She was out of ammo, and out of escape plans.
"Today is your lucky day, Ms. Yuy." Victor told her.
Chase raised an eyebrow. "I beg to differ. My day has been anything but lucky. Or pleasant, for that matter." She glared at Trowa.
Trowa avoided her gaze and continued to stare at Victor. No matter what he had said to whom he knew only as Mei, he was beginning to get that nagging feeling somebody was going to die.
"Ah, but the day isn't over yet. It's your lucky day because you're going to live. One of these fine people are not." Victor said.
"Oh boy." Anna muttered.
"Excuse me?" Chase asked, standing carefully.
"Well, I don't really need both of them alive. You get to pick which one stays and which one takes a permanent vacation." Victor said, as if explaining to a small child.
"Absolutely not. I don' t even know that woman." Chase said. This was outrageous.
"Oh, of course not. My apologies. This is Hoshimawari Mei. I employed her yesterday. She's a sniper as well, a pity you won't know each other better. Or maybe you will." He shrugged.
"Glad to meet you." Anna said sarcastically.
Chase didn't respond. "You're crazy. I won't do it."
Victor pulled a gun out of his coat and leveled it between Trowa and Anna. "Then I will make it simple and kill both of them."
"Um, I don't suppose Commander Barton or I get a say in this?" Anna asked.
He smiled cruelly. "No, I'm afraid you don't."
"Aha. Just curious." She shrugged. She was suddenly glad she still had her holster on. Trowa, she noticed, wasn't armed.
"Wait," Chase said harshly. "You really expect me to believe you'd kill both of them just to get a rise out of me?"
"Of course not." Victor said.
Chase looked smug.
"I expect you to believe I'll kill them because at the moment I feel like it."
All three of them nearly hit the floor.
"You have to be kidding," Anna exclaimed.
"I play games, Miss Mei. I don't joke."
Chase calculated her options. She could jump him, but she was to far away to prevent one of them from getting shot. She could distract him and give one of them a chance to jump him, but she didn't know how to read the other girl, and she wasn't about to ask for help from Trowa. In fact, she should tell Victor to shoot him just out of revenge. But once upon a time...she *had* been in love with him... And the other girl was a complete stranger... Chase felt a twinge in her chest. "Trowa," she whispered.
"Pardon?" Victor asked. He had heard perfectly well.
"I...I want him to live..." she said quietly.
"Very well." Victor said almost pleasantly.
"I object!" Anna said.
Chase looked at the floor.
"He'll be the one to die."
"What?!" both girls exclaimed.
Victor swung the gun in his direction. Trowa tensed.
"No!" Chase shouted.
"Crap," Anna muttered. She ripped her gun out and stepped in front of the banged boy. She aimed it at Victor. "Don't. You heard the lady."
"Why didn't you do that before?!" Chase hollered.
"Why set off an explosion if you can defuse it?" Anna replied.
Victor lowered his gun and began to laugh.
Anna released the cock on her gun and brought down as well. "Son of a gun. That's exactly what you wanted, isn't it?"
Victor continued to laugh and nodded.
"You son of..." Chase growled and lunged at him.
The larger man grabbed her wrist as she ran at him and flung her across the room. She landed in front of Anna and Trowa. Both of them automatically bent to help her. She snarled at them and wrenched her arm out of Trowa's grasp.
Victor had called in his guards and they quickly detained the girl. "Take her to interrogation far away from Mr. Winner. I don't want any more escapes."
"You won't get away with this, Victor. I'll kill you! And if I don't one of my friends will." Chase snapped.
"I'm sure they will." He answered.
They dragged her off, and the three left in Victor's office could hear her varied expressions down the hall.
"You're dismissed, Commander." Victor said, an amused expression still on his face.
Trowa gave one last glance at Anna who shrugged. He bowed stiffly and left.
"You can leave too, Miss Mei. I appreciate your participation."
"You're a sick man." Anna said.
"I know. Good day."
"I hope you die a horrible death." She spat and turned to leave. She nearly collided with three men who barged into the room.
Victor arched an eyebrow. "Can I help you?" he asked.
One of them took a deep breath. "Sir, it's that man we caught sneaking into grounds last night."
"The one with blue hair?" Victor asked.
"Yes, Sir."
"What's wrong with him?"
"Well, we're having a hard time restraining him. He keeps threatening us."
Victor looked irritated. "Threatening you with what?"
They looked at each other. "Sneezing." They said as one, and nervously.
Anna stopped short outside of the door. "Sneezing?" she muttered to herself.
"Sneezing?" Victor boomed. "You're afraid of a man sneezing?"
"We just don't know what to do with him, Sir."
"Let him shout and scream until he's hoarse for all I care. Sneezing. Where are your guts? Your fearlessness? What kind of soldiers are you?" Victor snapped.
"Um, General?" Anna asked coming back into the room.
"What?"
"Could I see this man?"
"If you like. Take her down there."
The three nodded and led Anna out of the room and down to the seventh level.
"He's an odd sort of chap," one of them told her.
"Really?" Anna asked amusedly. She had no doubt, if she was right.
They came to a stop in front of a cell that was generating a lot of noise.
Anna grinned like a Cheshire cat. "You can go now." She told them. They nodded and sped out of the hall like there was no tomorrow. After they were gone, she leaned her head against the door and laughed. A boy came down the hall.
"Can I help you, miss?" he asked.
"Actually, has this man eaten since he's been brought here?" she asked.
"No ma'am, I don't think so."
"Good. Go get him something to eat, and make sure there's lots of pepper on it." Anna instructed.
The boy looked confused. "Sure thing."
"Wait," Anna called. She pulled a pen and piece of paper out of her pocket. On it she wrote, "Chase is here." She handed it to the boy.
"Put this on his tray, will you?"
"Yes ma'am." He started off on his task.
"Oh, and kid?"
"Yes?"
"After you give it to him, run for your life. Promise?"
The boy looked even more confused. "I promise."
He disappeared and Cavel turned the corner. "Hey. Victor told me you were here. What's up?"
Anna grinned and tapped the door. "The first thing that's gone right this week. Come on, we don't want to be here when he gets out."
They left, and as they got off the property, they could hear sirens going off in the background.
Chase looked up when the door slid open. Trowa walked in and looked at her. "You were willing to save my life back there."
"You were going to die back there!"
"If we live, if we die, it's all for a greater good, isn't it, Chase?" Pause. "Well? Isn't it?!" Another pause. "Answer me!"
Chase felt tears sting her eyes but held them back. "...baka... Trowa no baka!" she screamed. "You don't even know what you're saying! Are you willing to die FOR the same type thing you would have died fighting AGAINST just ten years ago?!"
"What do I have to loose?"
"Everything! Your friends, your family, your life! Trowa-kun, if you'd come back, I could get them to accept you again. It'd take time, but we'd accept you for who you were years ago, just like after Marimaea."
Trowa looked at her for a moment. "Chase..."
The young girl glared at him for a second. "Answer me some things, Trowa," she whispered. "Please?"
"You may ask. I can't swear I'll answer them."
"Hikari. Where is she?"
Trowa smirked slightly. "She is well. I've kept her under my custody, not Victor's. Victor would have added her into his games and she'd be dead by now. Your little artist is quite all right and will be sent home when it is safe to do so. Your other questions?"
"Just one."
"Then ask."
Chase paused as if unsure of whether or not to go on. She took a deep breath. "Are you building a Gundam?" she asked in a rush.
Trowa's eyes widened in shock. They then hardened, once again returning to the soldier that had betrayed his comrades. "Of course you would think of that, Chase. It was your computer after all. Are you worried for the safety of this world? What would you do if I were secretly building a Gundam somewhere here?"
"You can't! Victor would have the greatest power known to this time if you did!" Chase responded eyes wide in horror, as she grasped his shirt and shook him slightly.
"Who says Victor would ever get a hold of it? There is a bigger picture."
"Blast it, Trowa! I don't care about the big picture! You are playing around with time and other things that humans have no right to use for war!"
"But you did."
Chase avoided his eyes. "That was different. We never came to you by choice."
"How did you come, Chase? And why did you stay?"
"We came... We came because Dr. J brought us. We thought of it as an adventure when we came. We were young..." She paused. "We stayed... We stayed because we wanted to make your world better in some small way. That and we learned to love while we were there. We were brought not by our choice, but we stayed by our own wills."
"And why is that not using the time travel for war? You fought. You fight."
"We didn't bring something from your future into your world so that we could defeat you!"
"It will all be over soon, Chase," Trowa said quietly. "For now, all you need to know is that your world will someday be safe. Yours and mine. Somehow."
The door slid open and a young soldier stood. "Commander Barton?"
"Yes?"
"The prisoner that was taken last night has escaped."
"Very well. I'll see to it." He then turned back to Chase. "An old friend of yours, I think. Blue hair and a sword. Ryuujin was quite a handful to take down."
"Ryu?"
"Hai. Now it appears I must go handle the small matter. Ja ne."
When the door closed, Chase slammed her fist against it. "BAKA!"
Cavel and Anna made their way back to their apartment. As soon as they were inside, Anna told him to turn the TV on.
"Why?" he asked, switching it on.
"Because there should be some late breaking news." Anna replied. "And hopefully it will be good."
Cavel flipped channels until he landed on the news station. It was on a commercial break. While they waited, he turned to her. "You're her, aren't you?"
Anna looked up at him. "Her? There are lots of hers, junior."
"You're the girl. Anna Maxwell." He said.
She raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"
He ducked his head a little. "You sound like her. You act like her, to me at least. And only two other people have ever used nicknames for me. My older sister and Anna Maxwell."
"What happened to your older sister? And your family?" Anna asked, avoiding the original question.
He bit his lip before answering. "She, my younger brother, and my parents were killed."
"How?"
"Three years ago, before OWN was internationally established and recognized, they did secret attacks. They never claimed responsibility. But, they attacked a village. My village, the place I grew up. My family was killed." He said softly.
"Where were you?" Anna asked. She was fairly sure she already knew the answer.
"I was in training. At OWN headquarters."
That's what she was afraid she'd hear. Anna slipped an arm over his shoulders and hugged him. "I'm sorry, Sparky." She whispered. "I know what it's like to loose someone you love so young."
He smiled sadly, tears forming in his brown eyes. "If they had waited a year, even nine months, my brother would have been with me."
"Some things turn out the way they do because God designed it that way. Some things turn out the way they do because man can't handle the fact that there's someone with a will for their lives and they mess things up. Maybe your family died so you would have a reason to fight, and to keep on living. Something to stand up for." Anna offered. She kissed the top of his head. "And some things were just never meant to be understood."
He nodded, sniffed, and wiped a sleeve across his eyes. "I guess so. It's back on."
Anna looked up, and turned the volume up as well. The newscaster's voice filled the apartment.
"And in other news today, there was an escape from OWN's prisoners. There is no word on how he managed to get through all the guards, or take another prisoner out with him." A picture of Ryuujin appeared on the screen. "He is said to be armed only with a sword, however, he is to be considered extremely dangerous. If you have any information please call the number on your screen. In sports today..." Cavel muted it.
"So what does that mean?" he asked.
Anna leaned back in the couch and bit the nail on her thumb. "I don't know. Which prisoner?" she growled.
"It makes a difference?"
"Yes!" Anna exclaimed. The phone rang, cutting off Cavel's next question. Anna reached over and grabbed it. "What?" she asked with irritation. "Oh, Victor."
On the other end of the line, Victor grinned sardonically. "Didn't expect hear from me so soon, did you?"
"Not really." Anna muttered.
Victor's smile broadened, then he frowned just as quickly. "I'm sure you've heard of the break out."
"Yes. It seems you go through prisoners about as fast as I go through shampoo." Anna remarked.
"Do you use much shampoo, Ms. Mei?"
"Quite a bit."
"Then you'd be correct. And it is not pleasing me, or my superiors."
"Which prisoner did he take with him?" Anna asked.
"Not surprisingly enough, Ms. Yuy. A note was found on the floor of Mr. Ryuujin's cell informing him that she was in fact on the premises." Victor said.
"Your tone would imply that I know something about that. I'm sorry to say that I do not." She said flatly.
"Of course not, Ms. Mei. But I fear that possibly Mr. Barton did, then. It seems to me that past relationships are indeed influencing his current thinking."
Anna straightened her spine and sat forward. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I have made a decision and therefore you have your first assignment. It was unexpected to me, and so I will pay you fifteen million extra to do it."
"Fifteen million..." Anna repeated in a whisper.
"Yes. I'm evil, Ms. Mei, not cheap. I paid you one million simply to hire you. You will be paid for each individual assassination individually."
Anna resisted the urge to shiver. "I see."
"This is more of a punishment for Mr. Barton than a security measure, you see."
Something clicked inside Anna's brain. "You're going to have me kill him?" she murmured.
Victor's voice sounded surprised coming over the line. "Oh, no, Ms. Mei. You really don't think after the game we had today I'd go and ruin it like that?"
"Let me tell you something, Victor, you're about as predictable my old junker car. You aren't. I don't know what you'd have me do." Anna snapped.
He laughed. "Fair enough. No, you aren't going to be killing him any time soon."
Anna groaned in frustration. "Then what do you want?"
Victor chuckled. "Not Mr. Barton no. A close friend of his."
"What?" she asked. Realization hit her like a ton of bricks. He voiced what she was thinking.
"I want you to assassinate Quatre Winner."
"Quatre Winner?" she choked out.
"Um-hum. You have a problem with this?"
You have a cover to keep. "No. But riddle me this, you have him, why don't you do it yourself?"
"It's all in the game, Ms. Mei. Tomorrow morning at dawn I'm releasing him into the city. I want him dead by nightfall."
Anna closed her eyes. "I'll take care of it."
"I'm sure you will. Who knows what I'll do if you fail." Victor hung up on her.
Anna hung the phone up. "Aw, crap."
"What's the matter?"
"I'm an idiot for thinking I could pull this off."
"Pull what off."
"I should have just stayed with Wufei."
"Wufei as in Wufei Chang?"
"What am I going to do now? It's not like I can kill him."
"Kill who?"
"I am such an idiot..."
"WOULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN THIS?" Cavel shouted.
She blinked and looked over at him. "Oh. Sure. You were right, I'm Anna Maxwell, and I'm in a whole lot of trouble."
Meg heaved a huge sigh, drank a giant gulp of coffee, and sat down behind her friend's desk. She'd already gone through the bedrooms, and still not a clue as to where she could find Wufei Chang. She'd tried every phone number she'd found so far, to no avail. There was another thing that was bothering her. She didn't know who had kidnapped her, why, or who the girl was that had set her free.
The coroner rifled through different manuscripts, and picked up stray pieces of paper that littered the floor. Apparently she hadn't been the only one here looking for something.
She grinned to herself as she scanned one of the papers. Anna was writing a story about their college days. About the time Meg had planted a body in her closet and other random acts of insanity. It hadn't been real, of course, but who would have known that in the dark?
Meg turned the page over and was greeted with a series of numbers. "What's this?" The numbers didn't have any labeling. "Why not..." She picked up the phone. She dialed, and it rang for what seemed to be forever. Someone finally picked up.
"Anna?" they asked hopefully.
"Um, no. I'm Meg Collins. Who's this?"
"Wufei Chang." He answered, sounding disappointed. Meg Collins. Where had he heard that name before? A flash of memory played across his mind. In the car with Anna, he'd looked in the glove compartment...Meg Collins was on the pink slip. She was the girl who'd been kidnapped. "You're the coroner." He said.
Surprise clouded Meg's face. "Yes. I don't know you, but I have some questions about Anna."
Wufei looked over to where Heero was sleeping. Odin was in the other room, planning an escape for Chase. Wufei had questions about Anna too. "Do you know where she is? And where are you?"
"I was hoping you'd know where she was. I'm at her apartment in Chicago." Meg answered.
That meant that at the moment, no one knew where the former Star pilot was. Wufei sighed. "How did you escape?"
"A friend of Anna's broke me out. It was quite an experience." Meg said dryly.
"A friend? What was this friend's name?"
Meg groaned. She didn't remember all of it. "It was Hos...Hoshi? Hoshi Mei or something like that. I'm not to good with Japanese plus I was drugged at the time."
"Hoshi Mei?" Wufei repeated with confusion.
"It means dark star." Heero whispered.
Wufei's glance shot in his direction. He nodded. "I see. What kind of questions did you have, Ms. Collins?"
"It's about a baby." Meg said carefully. She didn't know who this man was exactly, but her friend had been close to him at one point.
The color drained from Wufei's ivory face. "A baby?" he repeated. He didn't know if he could trust this girl. Anna had acted as if she was trustworthy.
"A baby?" Heero asked. He was still waking up, but that was something he hadn't expected to hear. Wufei waved him off.
"A baby. Could I meet you somewhere?" Meg asked.
Wufei ran a hand through his hair. "Yes. I'll meet you in Chicago. You know Navy Pier?"
"I know it well." Meg agreed.
"I'll meet you there tomorrow morning at eight. At the feris wheel."
"I'll be there." Meg said softly.
Wufei hung up.
"You're leaving?" Heero asked.
"Yes."
"Do you know who this person is?"
"I know that Anna trusts her. And that Anna rescued her from OWN." Wufei answered.
"Anna did what?" Heero asked incredulously.
Wufei shook his head. "I think Anna's infiltrated OWN."
Heero groaned. "She must be at the headquarters then. Where they took Chase. They're going to get themselves killed."
"Or try to win the war alone. This woman Meg Collins might be helpful." Wufei said.
"What was that about a baby?"
"I don't know. There's a possibility that she could know..." Wufei trailed off.
Heero frowned at his friend. "Know what?"
Wufei looked at him. "Ten years ago, when you and Duo were killed, Anna was expecting a baby."
Heero paled slightly more than he all ready was. "Anna was going to have a baby?!"
"Hai..."
"Does Duo know this?"
"No. Only she and I did... Do."
Heero sunk down against the pillow. "My word," he muttered. "I hope Chase didn't pull something like that..."
