The 3rd- Chance & Collie
m m m m
That was the second night she woke up screaming.
The same dream from two nights ago . . . A young girl . . . a glass coffin . . . a ballerina in mourning at her side . . . A mirrors surrounding the body . . . the stench of rotten parents . . .
Those same ginger browns were blinded by the bright hospital lights.
Just another dream, right?
The report read that she lost three pints of blood, suffered severe fatigue, and an unnumerable amount of bruises and scars covered her up and down her body.
Starved, shaking, and sickly she wouldn't be released for another three weeks.
Anymore stress would sign, seal, and deliver her to her death.
Last time was just cheating it.
"You can't get lucky three times."
Went through her mind, a now disorganized thing, twisted within her own madness.
Could a mirror really do that much?
No . . . She closed her eyes then opened them listening to her heartbeat . . . They did much worse.
The kat dropped back into her bed. The curtains were pulled filing the room with darkness, the tv was only showing a random late night tv infomercial. Her bare food remained untouched-she hated the crap they served. All the beeing of the machines and monitors would drive her insane. Ghost white lilies were by her bedside and a 'get well' card . . . Then something new.
An obscure brown envelope entitled For Your Eyez Only.
"Not a bill, not another damn bill." She whispered.
Something made her unnerved, something told her not to open it.
Five colored photos fell out the envelope . . . Nausea washed over her.
"Oh God." She whispered knees bucking under her, crumpled she clutching the edge of the table.
Her heart stopped, the note reading: Beware of the chicas bearing gifts . . .
The faint click of her heels burned on the feline's ears.
"Screaming again, Miss Nelson? The staff and your lil' friends sho' are very worried about you. Whoever you kidnappers were did a number on you-po' thang." A short middle-aged woman with a Southern accent walked in, "Aww, how sweet, your little braided friend send these to'ya."
Katrina had her back to the woman so the nurse had no idea how she looked.
A hand touched her shoulder. "Now what sees to be the problem-HEEEEEYYYYY!"
She snatched the sedative from the nurse's leg pocket and kicked her legs, pinning her down she jammed into her arm. Amazingly she had to fight as best as she could moving her hand toward the security button. It was thrown across the room and hit the ground with a thump.
The nurse figured her luck was out.
"You need this more than me." She felt out, her body slacked and fell onto the carpet.
A plan formulated itself in her mind . . .
"I can use a new set of threads . . . I think I'll take yours."
By the time anyone realized it, Katrina ran out of the door into the moonless night.
m
"SHE DID WHAT?!?"
It was a very distraught Duo screaming into the telephone. "You idiots couldn't one eye on a woman who just tried to commit suicide? She's half-way dead for God sakes!"
Were his ears deceiving him or did he just hear that she escaped from a hospital?
He signed.
No doubt this way the infamous Blaque Kat who ran when necessary and killed when necessary.
He runs, he hides . . . Duo would recall himself saying. But did she realized she ran away with apart of him? A part that was-exposed?
A voice from the front door yelled.
"Duo! Duo, did they say anything about Katrina, is she well? Dead? What?"
Duo threw the receiver down, "Dammit Katrina!"
He started raving, "You can't stay put for anything!"
Relena found the door unlocked much to her good luck.
"You mean, you mean-she's gone?" Relena entreated.
"No, she went for a Sunday stroll . . . Of course she's gone! They said she escaped!"
"Escaped? From intensive care? In her state?"
"Yeah, just like a certain somebody."
"But-but-but why?"
"Why is a word that doesn't applies to Kat."
Silence was filling in the spaces.
"We have got to tell the others."
"Now, that's funny." He smirked for the first time today, "And I'm our dear Heero will do anything for you."
Relena promptly clamped her jaw shut.
m
"Little boys with toys."
Erin smiled to herself.
"That's all those Gundams are. Too bad they're cute . . . But money's like that, guys are like that-cool, fast, and dangerous."
3 am Egyptian time and the party was still jumping.
The former pharaoh's castle was now the summer retreat of the other three Blaques, as the Nile River shined this night Erin wondered if she should pour another glass of Don P for herself.
"I sure as hell should, after Katrina gets here, we'll be r-o-l-l-i-n-g in dough."
With another full glass, she lifted it to the sky.
"Come home Kitty Kat, come home."
m
The plane ride was easy-change some computer files saying you have first-class tickets and that you lost al your luggage for an fat insurance check-but finding out what to do was the hard part.
Cairo's airport was packed with business people, idle vacationers, locals looking for a meal ticket.
Aww hell ran through her mind as she lowered the floppy sunny hat over her eyes, she had to disgust herself as another badly dressed tourist-sandals, socks and all.
OZ was there also.
Would the solders know this way the same spy that nearly took the money and ran?
Now the backups were almost in their hands and her 'sisters' had the paper.
She watched a young boy trying to give out pamphlets but no one would take them, curiosity prompted her to walk over to him and ask what was he selling . . . A light feminine voice spoke to her, "Welcome home."
She spun around thinking only to run . . . the blow from the cane made it clear:
She was being kidnaped.
By the time she could come to, she found herself tied and gagged in the bathroom, taken out, and riding around in somebody's limo. Erin only regretted that she wouldn't shut her mouth while they were doing it. 'God Katrina, don't get tried of your trap?"
"Let ME GO! BITCH! I'LL KILL YOU, I'LL MAKE YOU PAY!"
"Ooh. I wouldn't fight too much: They know where to hit, when to hit, and how hard to hit."
Someone slammed her into the side of the limo, blood oozed from her arm, tearing a new cut into her now healed bruise. "I wasn't expecting such a pleasant welcome." She stated.
This drunken laugher followed, "Such a kidder this one! That's right Kitty Kat, keep smiling!"
"What do want with me?" The feline added with a growl.
"All I wanted to do was see you honey." The smiled was sweet, "Well, before you die-we got the backups, the cash, the scapegoat. Taking you out means mo' money and no problems."
The feline fell back into her seat. "They'll come for you." What did I just say that for? Lie . . .
"We kill them." Erin pulled out her matches mechanically.
"The mirror thing was low and it was cruel."
The sadness there in her quiet tone went ignored, life was cruel, she had to get over it.
"But what F-U-N eh?"
"Don't you LIKE the pretty looking glasses . . . The spy sang loudly, "Pretty, pretty glasses, pretty, pretty glasses, pretty, pretty glasses, pretty, pretty glasses, pretty, pretty glasses . . ."
Her glass coffin . . . it drummed itself into her skull . . . the pretty glasses . . . her end . . . Colleen.
"Pretty, pretty glasses, pretty, pretty, glasses, PRETTY, PRETTY GLASSES-"
She struggled to speak- "You. Cold-hearted. Bitch. Ice. Cold. Like. Glass."
Katrina tried jumping on her, hoping to rip out her eyes for being so cruel, sisters aren't suppose to be that way. "I'll SEND YOU TO HELL!"
One of the muscle-bound men restrained her from any other movements by pinning her face down in the seat arms behind her back, lost of breath slowed her down.
"Not until I send you Kitty Kat."
Erin puffed lightly on the cigarette. "You think you got it this time Kitty Kat, but you don't. Beware of the Greeks bearing gifts . . ." Smoke watered Kat's browns, there it was, the fire.
"Now sit down and be a good little ballerina." There it was burning into her eyes, in her soul.
"Besides, you're sick. Let us doctor you up." The agony.
The humiliation caused the kat to pay while the eyce mocked her pain.
"And you're getting a change of clothes, even a nut like you must stay fashionable."
m
Trowa asked, "So how does an intensive care patient slip out of a hospital unnoticed?"
Duo's reply: "Easy-she does."
Quatre merly shook his head, "I don't think we'll ever understand that girl."
"Don't try to understand her . . . just nod your head and smile."
"Well aren't we going to do something?" The blonde girl was anxious to know.
"When did this become 'we?' You know something Relena, I'm getting tried of you interfering with this. She didn't pay up and look what happened."
What are you-Heero's retarded echo? "She's my friend. She doesn't deserve to die like this."
"She deserves whatever she wants!" He pounded his fist on the desk.
Liar, he told himself, just like Katrina.
Wufei interjected, "We? We what? If that foolish woman wants to die, then let her."
"She's caused enough problems." Heero walked into the room coolly, making his entrance,
"But we need to find her because she knows too much about us and the Blaques have backups."
"Is that the only reason you can think of?!?"
Relena sprung from her chair pointing an accusing finger at the five pilots.
Caught way off guard by her outbursts, tongue tied they only listened.
"Don't you for once give a damn about something than your missions? Try thinking a of person for once. She didn't sell anyone of you short so why do the same?"
Now who was she defending: Katrina or herself?
The tension was so thick you could cut with a knife, yet a beeping sound cut through it.
It was a message on Duo's email.
"Oh what an uncool time to get junk mail!" He left the room leaving the others to make sense of Miss Dorian . . . "What?!? No way she could've sent this! 'READ THIS OR LET ME DIE.'"
Everyone rushed to the terminal read it:
Duo
I'm not explaining why I did thisI just didRelena, the lies stop here.
To the Fly Boyz, This isn't a request-it's an invitation.
Come to the city where dying cats play and Blaque sprits slay
Baset weaves these words: "The River older than night, Young in Day, Isis's child.
So the blood flows like it, the beauty."
Quatre snapped his fingers, "The Nile, she's on the River Nile."
"Katrina's in-" Duo still tried to gasp it, "Egypt."
"Then prepare a plane, Egypt's only a day away." Relena told them running out of the room.
m
"You're having so much fun with this."
"I'll be lying to say I didn't." Rachael tossed her head, "We thought you liked 'tight' clothing."
"I feel naked."
The "fabric" she had to put up with was an antique Egyptian dress that was clinging to a prayer on her blossom, the split raised more eyebrows then her green skirt ever did, the only things that felt covered were her feet. Her death scythe ponytail was replaced with a single genie-like ponytail that trailed down her back made of same material used in the other girls pleated wigs, gold, green, and black make-up shined on her face and nails, the dress was cream silk.
"And you never did before?" The trio were wearing their regular catsuits. So I'm a doll now?
"And that green skirt, what a touch! Only Katrina can sashay in a piece of fabric and still have fun with it." Stacie squeals with delight. "The Great Pretender: Good looking and deadly."
"Not everything that glitters is gold." Erin dwelled, swinging the Baset charm in Kat's face.
"The Great Deceiver." Rachael raised a glass to her.
Kat put her head into her hands, groaning. "Just shoot me."
Erin threw her hands in the air, "Sorry, no can do, try again!"
"Besides . . . the real guests haven't arrived." Stacie cooed, that child-like innocent quality the pig-tailed wearing Asian sported only concealed her wild nature-the real Wydow that lurked without wanting to fed on blood, lust, and sin. "I wanna see your Fly Boyz and I know you snatched up the cute one."
"Only the best for our ballerina princess." Rachael teased falling back on the couch giggling madly. Katrina could see it, smell it, they were all drunk and drugged up. "Ain't that right?"
"Don't you dare touch them." Came out suddenly, fiercely, defensively.
The other girls exchanged glances then laughed in front of Katrina's face.
"Aww! You know me too well!" Katrina watched as she jumped on the table and stomped her heels into the wood like a whiney child. "That's just like you to wanna hog it all for yourself."
She tried reason:
"The three of you are drunk and you're high, you're not thinking straight, what would Angie-"
Rachael snapped back in a more somber tone, "Angie would tell us to kick your sorry ass for betraying us. Consider this our punishment: Enjoy the night while it lasts."
m
"Collie . . ."
Where are you the girl asked herself. Another mission was down for the night so she could go back home and play with her sister that night. She dreaded leaving her alone night after night in the tiny studio apartment-but their livelihood depended on her and her alone.
She would die first before seeing the ten-year old follow in any inch of her footsteps.
"Colleen, don't you dare play games with me!" No squeaky voice answered her back like it usual would, there wasn't a 'I'm not playing' or 'come catch me if you can.'"
No signs of a pig-tail wearing, hyper-active tomboy anywhere, the place was unusually neat and there were no sounds of feet. This wasn't Colleen Denise Nelson Nyle at all.
"Colleen, I'm serious! You're really scaring me, I'm gonna really get you for playing."
In the living room, around the kitchen, outside: She was no where.
Standing in the bedroom the older girl tried to collect herself . . . A trail appeared.
A blood trail.
Blood, Colleen? Can't be, can't beeeeeeee . . . "COLLEEN!"
The spy ran into the bathroom throwing the light hoping this wasn't real, that it was punch or wine accidently spilled, hoping that the kid would pop out of the closet any minute.
Hoping to breath herself . . .
From the shower pole there, it was swinging-the ruined body. A child's body, her sister's body.
Someone wrapped a corded along her neck and left this ghost vision there for her eyes.
That what the mirror said: For your eyes only.
Sick, that what she was, sicken. Katrina couldn't stand, couldn't speak.
But she could cry, she could echo madly . . . The name, the vision, the victim, the mirror's fate.
Her mouth opened back and unleashed:
"Colleen!"
She woke up screaming. Number three.
Sweat cooled her burning face. Her bones were quaking from left to right, with her water jug she drowned her face, swallowed the only thing she touched in three days.
"I wish it was poison, then maybe I could sleep at night."
Out of her heavy breaths a small chuckle escaped. Sleep, Katrina licked her dry lips, she hadn't sleep in two days. "I wanna sleep at night."
The wind whistled through the open bay windows, a palace older than time was the cage for the cat. She had her cat food and a pretty collar to match-wired with a hundred bolts of electricity.
"Do you want me to go to sleep Death? Can I sleep now?"
Maxwell . . .
She wanted Duo, she wanted to see Relena and even the Fly Boyz would be easy on the eyes now.
"Death: What makes you so poignant?"
She asked the darken night, no pearl moon would shine tonight.
"Why must some kill so that some may live?
You've taken my parents, you've taken my Collie, you even wanted to take me . . .
Why did you let me live? Why must I breathe? Why am I important? Why must I grieve?
Don't take Maximilian please. Don't take the Fly Boyz, Don't take Relena.
Don't take me . . . Until I'm ready."
Silence met her answer. What was it telling her? That she was forgiven?
"Hell, that's asking Fate to stop screwing with me, but I need to fix things, I need to make them believe, make them proud of me. I've committed my sins many a time over . . . But grant me this: A chance to make up for them: Bastet protects my soul so Death, protect my life."
m
"Boy, we're in the middle of a damn war and you giving out books!?!"
"Father, I don't wanna fight in a losing battle!"
"Losing? If you don't fight then how do you expect to win?!? This is OZ for God's sake."
"These aren't books!" He shot back, "This is the way I'm fighting! With words!"
"And words on a page are suppose to end this war? Boy, you're being foolish!"
"There's been too much bloodshed. It mustn't be this way!"
"Then what way must it be boy-should we be holding hands and singing?"
On the other side of the restaurant the party of six listened with a strong interest to this, OZ was in town and ready to play.
The blonde asked the question on all their minds first: "Do you think we should get involved?"
"Not only waste our time with Katrina but get involved in another fight?Yeah, good thinking."
Heero polished off the rest of his drink, throat drying than the Sahara.
"Can you just for once get your head out of your-" This deadly tone came out of Duo's mouth.
Relena signed, "Guys, please, we can't forget why we're here."
"Yeah, that's right-why are we here?"
"We should talk to them, maybe they can help us find the spy." Trowa rose from his seat, leaving his plate untouched. "And find our fight."
They watched him go before rising themselves, they had missions before, so this shouldn't be any different. Sadiq continued to protest, "Fighting is the problem and not solution!" The boy, small and skinny, challenged. "We can stop without killing any-one, there's a chance for peace."
"Maybe bloodshed is necessary for peace."A new voice said.
The two jumped, looking up to find six teenagers listening to their quarrel, looming silently.
Exchanging a glance with his son, Raphael stood up clearing his throat. "May I ask why you are here?" Suspicious crept into his deep tone, the blonde boy spoke first extending a hand.
"Forgive us friends, we could hear you-talking-about the war going on in your land."
Raphael gave each of them a hard stare before taking it. "Sorry, but you can't trust too many strangers in this land. Our home has been taken over by OZ, but Egypt isn't going down easy."
He motioned toward the younger boy, "Forgive my son, his misguided ideology about peace is causing tension between us. We're trying to get people to fight but fears had settled into them."
Sadiq stood up straing at his father, "Misguided? You call not waiting to kill misguided?"
Pushing pass the group he ran outside into the burning heat of the day.
One big happy family so it seemed.
The father shook his head sadly, "I don't know what to do with that boy."
This is where Relena found her voice. "Sir, not to pry but maybe you should let him be."
Wufei added, "Or keep him out of this. He's weak, he shouldn't fight."
Raphael found is jaw set in protest, he was ready to tell these kids to mind their own business.
"Might I ask why you are here in Egypt? Only the crazy venture into these parts."
Duo chucked, "Whoever said we were ordinary? We're trying to locate someone we know."
"In the middle of a war?" The older man laugh, "Good luck, you won't find them here. The only people here are OZ and the people trapped in the war, be it fighting or killed."
His tone turned somber "This person's life is in danger because of some hot computer disks."
"I wouldn't know anything of the sort but . . . maybe we can help each other."
Heero cocked an eyebrow, the others offer no protest so he asked the man to continue.
"You kids strike me as fighters."
His monotone gave an answer, "Good guess."
Quatre put the offer on the table, "We can be of assistance if that's what your saying."
"Well . . . naw, I couldn't do that, you should be trying to find your friend if they mean that much-The braided boy's voice came in, "You can help us find her and we can do all the necessary clean up." Plain as day, they could see he was trying to betray his emotions about Katrina.
Of course Duo wasn't ready to admit to that. And neither Wufei or Heero wanted him to do so.
"You got suits?" Trowa inquired.
"Not the best suits, but suits nevertheless."
"Then it's settled." He said with his usual light tone returining, they witnessed the first real smile Duo gave in three days, "The Great Destroyer's back in business!"
m
"Sadiq!"
"Great, whose this?"
"Sadiq!" Relena ran out onto the dirt streets chasing after yet another hard-headed young man.
The twelve-year old wearing a T-shirt and cotton shorts stopped in the middle of the market amiss the merchants pedaling their wares and the other teens matching off to training. The older girl caught up with him catching her breath.
Sadiq merely huffed his disapproval, "So why did you come after me?"
"I wanted to talk to you."
"You're really gonna stay and fight huh?"
"I can't fight the way my friends fight yet I too strive for peace."
"Another day, another battle, and the beat goes on."
"They're helping your father."
"Helping him kill, I don't like it." He responded, tone fading to sadness, Relena placed a steady hand on his shoulder.
"I know there are so many other ways to achieve peace, my friends on the other hand seem to think otherwise. Fighting with their hands is the only way they know how."
"Then how do YOU fight?"
Relena made sure he could see straight through her, "With my mind."
m
Raphael took the six into his tiny yet comfortable estate near the Nile waters for the week.
Relena and the boys were given room and board in exchange for their aid only. Raphael's proud nature warned not to offer anything more so they did all they could to help out-the boys train with the other kids while Relena was left in the care of Sadiq and his three aunts.
Sitting around and doing nothing made her feel useless, she could take another lecture or fight from Heero these days . . . Maybe he did care about her if he was willing to bite her head off about her actions . . . and the women of the house wouldn't even let her raise her pinky finger.
"I shouldn't be sitting here doing nothing-I must fight somehow."
"You can't leave this place, OZ soldiers are here prowling like lions, they want blood. People get taken everyday . . ." Even thought the guys-other than Duo in his all his off time-put off finding Relena was still searching for Katrina, grilling all the locals with her tiredness questions about the spy. Today, Sadiq's words sparked her idle interest. "Taken? Who was taken?"
"I saw this lady get taken wearing a Baset's amulet."
It sounded so familiar, "Baset?"
"Our Lady, the Gooddess, Guardian of cats."
Baset . . . She thought . . . Cat, our Kat had one . . . "This necklace-" Something struck Relena. "This Baset necklace wouldn't happened to be made of black and gold? Very expensive looking?"
"Expensive looking? Hah, lady that came from the very walls of Egypt herself."
Her heart jumped, she could be getting somewhere, "Describe her then, do you remember her?"
"She has the blood of an Egyptian, I saw her skin, but she was dressed like an American."
"Tall, dark-skinned, hair in a ponytail? In some wild outfit?" The catsuit always was funny to her.
"Y-yyyyyyyyeah . . ." He brightened, "But I didn't see a ponytail. Maybe you're mistaken."
"Or maybe I'm right about her! Quick, where did they take her?" Relena shook him.
"I don't know lady!"Sadiq shook her grip off, "These other women put her in a limo and drove off in one direction." Relena started to put the pieces togther, if they found Kat then she could help the Gundams, she formatted the disk before to save them, her escape could've been another way of helping. She wasn't a dishonest thief, Katrina Nyle was her friend, someone who knew the real Relena. They shared things about each other, having a bond only women could have.
Instantly she began rummaging the drawers that contained her summer clothing.
"What's that direction?"
"Pharaoh's castle. Everybody knows that one, it stands at the Nile." Sadiq answered in smugness. "Then that's where I'm going."With a pen she scribbled a quick note explaining herself then took the bundle stuffed with make-up and an outfit but the boy jumped in front, blocking her from leaving the guest room. "You can't go lady."
She narrowed her eyes, "Oh really? Who told you that?"
"The guy with the messy hair." He stated simply.
Heero: Being overprotective again.
"Well tell him he's just gonna have to deal with it. I'm making my own decisions-it's not your fault." The boy was determined-and very unnerved by the pilot's words this morning.
"He said he'll kill me if I even let your feet touch on the sand."
"Then tell Heero Yuy he'll have just have to do it. I'll be touching a lot of sand."
"But-but lady!"
He remained fixed in his place, "You're not going."
"Oh yeas . . . I am."
She pushed him in her closet and locked it tight, then bounced on her way out the door.
m
Missing.
The room was quieter than Pharaoh's tomb.
"Relena." He growled through teeth.
The note said I'm going after Katrina.
Nosies were coming from the closet.
"Sadiq?"
"Mmm-mmm-mmmmm-" Wufei snatched the duck tape from his lips.
"OWWW! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?" The boy snapped wresting in his bounds.
"Where's Relena?"
"She locked me in the closet then ran out."
"Sadiq?"
"Then what happened to the car, it's missing."
"Someone stole it?!?"
"NO! She probably took it!"
"Dammmit."
"Great, there are two women missing."
"Where was she headed?"
"She-she said she was looking for someone, some Egyptian-looking lady who was kidnaped-"
"Katrina?" Duo and Heero said at the same time.
"I mean she's here?" Quatre asked.
"I don't know! All I know was that these people took her then that other lady started questioning me then she tied me up and pushed me in. I try to stop her!"
m
"Well, well, well! The Fly Boyz are here to party up!"
The commander of this deployment felt his nerves shot, damn spies were annoying him.
"Then send out the Leos."
"They said . . . I killed . . . my own sister."
"Ohhhh Katrina." Relena hugged her, "I-I never knew."
"I never told you."
"What happended?"
"A gang of guys raped her then they hung her with a phone cord."
"How awful."
"Awwww, how sweet. They're hugging." Erin faked a tear.
"Relena, you're my friend." Stacie mocked.
"Run Relena run!"
m
"The vents are too tight."
"Damn! We can't stay here."
"Get down!"
m
"Shit! It's stuck!"
The computer had this blood red message appear on the screen.
SORRY . . . THE SYSTEM IS AGAINST YOU . . . GOOD BYE.
"Blood for blood, a body for a body."
Stacie kicked Erin's body over, "Well, then, I just take this, I'm sure you won't mind."
m
"You wanna start something?!?" Stacie wasn't something she was knew with but the idea of death struck her for the first time. "I'll kill her Fly Boy! I'll take off her pretty little head just watch me,
JUST WATCH ME-"
Bang.
A lone shot in the dark.
Bang.
It wasn't the gun piercing Heero's heart.
Bang.
The spy's eyes said I'm dead.
Bang.
It wasn't necessary for this last round, blood soaked both their clothing and watered the ground.
Bang.
The Blaque Kat wearing the white dress came out of the fire.
Hair strewed, ginger eyes dead with AK in hand, walking slowly on the roof top toward the Gundam . . . Toward Relena . . . Toward the black sky.
m m m m
That was the second night she woke up screaming.
The same dream from two nights ago . . . A young girl . . . a glass coffin . . . a ballerina in mourning at her side . . . A mirrors surrounding the body . . . the stench of rotten parents . . .
Those same ginger browns were blinded by the bright hospital lights.
Just another dream, right?
The report read that she lost three pints of blood, suffered severe fatigue, and an unnumerable amount of bruises and scars covered her up and down her body.
Starved, shaking, and sickly she wouldn't be released for another three weeks.
Anymore stress would sign, seal, and deliver her to her death.
Last time was just cheating it.
"You can't get lucky three times."
Went through her mind, a now disorganized thing, twisted within her own madness.
Could a mirror really do that much?
No . . . She closed her eyes then opened them listening to her heartbeat . . . They did much worse.
The kat dropped back into her bed. The curtains were pulled filing the room with darkness, the tv was only showing a random late night tv infomercial. Her bare food remained untouched-she hated the crap they served. All the beeing of the machines and monitors would drive her insane. Ghost white lilies were by her bedside and a 'get well' card . . . Then something new.
An obscure brown envelope entitled For Your Eyez Only.
"Not a bill, not another damn bill." She whispered.
Something made her unnerved, something told her not to open it.
Five colored photos fell out the envelope . . . Nausea washed over her.
"Oh God." She whispered knees bucking under her, crumpled she clutching the edge of the table.
Her heart stopped, the note reading: Beware of the chicas bearing gifts . . .
The faint click of her heels burned on the feline's ears.
"Screaming again, Miss Nelson? The staff and your lil' friends sho' are very worried about you. Whoever you kidnappers were did a number on you-po' thang." A short middle-aged woman with a Southern accent walked in, "Aww, how sweet, your little braided friend send these to'ya."
Katrina had her back to the woman so the nurse had no idea how she looked.
A hand touched her shoulder. "Now what sees to be the problem-HEEEEEYYYYY!"
She snatched the sedative from the nurse's leg pocket and kicked her legs, pinning her down she jammed into her arm. Amazingly she had to fight as best as she could moving her hand toward the security button. It was thrown across the room and hit the ground with a thump.
The nurse figured her luck was out.
"You need this more than me." She felt out, her body slacked and fell onto the carpet.
A plan formulated itself in her mind . . .
"I can use a new set of threads . . . I think I'll take yours."
By the time anyone realized it, Katrina ran out of the door into the moonless night.
m
"SHE DID WHAT?!?"
It was a very distraught Duo screaming into the telephone. "You idiots couldn't one eye on a woman who just tried to commit suicide? She's half-way dead for God sakes!"
Were his ears deceiving him or did he just hear that she escaped from a hospital?
He signed.
No doubt this way the infamous Blaque Kat who ran when necessary and killed when necessary.
He runs, he hides . . . Duo would recall himself saying. But did she realized she ran away with apart of him? A part that was-exposed?
A voice from the front door yelled.
"Duo! Duo, did they say anything about Katrina, is she well? Dead? What?"
Duo threw the receiver down, "Dammit Katrina!"
He started raving, "You can't stay put for anything!"
Relena found the door unlocked much to her good luck.
"You mean, you mean-she's gone?" Relena entreated.
"No, she went for a Sunday stroll . . . Of course she's gone! They said she escaped!"
"Escaped? From intensive care? In her state?"
"Yeah, just like a certain somebody."
"But-but-but why?"
"Why is a word that doesn't applies to Kat."
Silence was filling in the spaces.
"We have got to tell the others."
"Now, that's funny." He smirked for the first time today, "And I'm our dear Heero will do anything for you."
Relena promptly clamped her jaw shut.
m
"Little boys with toys."
Erin smiled to herself.
"That's all those Gundams are. Too bad they're cute . . . But money's like that, guys are like that-cool, fast, and dangerous."
3 am Egyptian time and the party was still jumping.
The former pharaoh's castle was now the summer retreat of the other three Blaques, as the Nile River shined this night Erin wondered if she should pour another glass of Don P for herself.
"I sure as hell should, after Katrina gets here, we'll be r-o-l-l-i-n-g in dough."
With another full glass, she lifted it to the sky.
"Come home Kitty Kat, come home."
m
The plane ride was easy-change some computer files saying you have first-class tickets and that you lost al your luggage for an fat insurance check-but finding out what to do was the hard part.
Cairo's airport was packed with business people, idle vacationers, locals looking for a meal ticket.
Aww hell ran through her mind as she lowered the floppy sunny hat over her eyes, she had to disgust herself as another badly dressed tourist-sandals, socks and all.
OZ was there also.
Would the solders know this way the same spy that nearly took the money and ran?
Now the backups were almost in their hands and her 'sisters' had the paper.
She watched a young boy trying to give out pamphlets but no one would take them, curiosity prompted her to walk over to him and ask what was he selling . . . A light feminine voice spoke to her, "Welcome home."
She spun around thinking only to run . . . the blow from the cane made it clear:
She was being kidnaped.
By the time she could come to, she found herself tied and gagged in the bathroom, taken out, and riding around in somebody's limo. Erin only regretted that she wouldn't shut her mouth while they were doing it. 'God Katrina, don't get tried of your trap?"
"Let ME GO! BITCH! I'LL KILL YOU, I'LL MAKE YOU PAY!"
"Ooh. I wouldn't fight too much: They know where to hit, when to hit, and how hard to hit."
Someone slammed her into the side of the limo, blood oozed from her arm, tearing a new cut into her now healed bruise. "I wasn't expecting such a pleasant welcome." She stated.
This drunken laugher followed, "Such a kidder this one! That's right Kitty Kat, keep smiling!"
"What do want with me?" The feline added with a growl.
"All I wanted to do was see you honey." The smiled was sweet, "Well, before you die-we got the backups, the cash, the scapegoat. Taking you out means mo' money and no problems."
The feline fell back into her seat. "They'll come for you." What did I just say that for? Lie . . .
"We kill them." Erin pulled out her matches mechanically.
"The mirror thing was low and it was cruel."
The sadness there in her quiet tone went ignored, life was cruel, she had to get over it.
"But what F-U-N eh?"
"Don't you LIKE the pretty looking glasses . . . The spy sang loudly, "Pretty, pretty glasses, pretty, pretty glasses, pretty, pretty glasses, pretty, pretty glasses, pretty, pretty glasses . . ."
Her glass coffin . . . it drummed itself into her skull . . . the pretty glasses . . . her end . . . Colleen.
"Pretty, pretty glasses, pretty, pretty, glasses, PRETTY, PRETTY GLASSES-"
She struggled to speak- "You. Cold-hearted. Bitch. Ice. Cold. Like. Glass."
Katrina tried jumping on her, hoping to rip out her eyes for being so cruel, sisters aren't suppose to be that way. "I'll SEND YOU TO HELL!"
One of the muscle-bound men restrained her from any other movements by pinning her face down in the seat arms behind her back, lost of breath slowed her down.
"Not until I send you Kitty Kat."
Erin puffed lightly on the cigarette. "You think you got it this time Kitty Kat, but you don't. Beware of the Greeks bearing gifts . . ." Smoke watered Kat's browns, there it was, the fire.
"Now sit down and be a good little ballerina." There it was burning into her eyes, in her soul.
"Besides, you're sick. Let us doctor you up." The agony.
The humiliation caused the kat to pay while the eyce mocked her pain.
"And you're getting a change of clothes, even a nut like you must stay fashionable."
m
Trowa asked, "So how does an intensive care patient slip out of a hospital unnoticed?"
Duo's reply: "Easy-she does."
Quatre merly shook his head, "I don't think we'll ever understand that girl."
"Don't try to understand her . . . just nod your head and smile."
"Well aren't we going to do something?" The blonde girl was anxious to know.
"When did this become 'we?' You know something Relena, I'm getting tried of you interfering with this. She didn't pay up and look what happened."
What are you-Heero's retarded echo? "She's my friend. She doesn't deserve to die like this."
"She deserves whatever she wants!" He pounded his fist on the desk.
Liar, he told himself, just like Katrina.
Wufei interjected, "We? We what? If that foolish woman wants to die, then let her."
"She's caused enough problems." Heero walked into the room coolly, making his entrance,
"But we need to find her because she knows too much about us and the Blaques have backups."
"Is that the only reason you can think of?!?"
Relena sprung from her chair pointing an accusing finger at the five pilots.
Caught way off guard by her outbursts, tongue tied they only listened.
"Don't you for once give a damn about something than your missions? Try thinking a of person for once. She didn't sell anyone of you short so why do the same?"
Now who was she defending: Katrina or herself?
The tension was so thick you could cut with a knife, yet a beeping sound cut through it.
It was a message on Duo's email.
"Oh what an uncool time to get junk mail!" He left the room leaving the others to make sense of Miss Dorian . . . "What?!? No way she could've sent this! 'READ THIS OR LET ME DIE.'"
Everyone rushed to the terminal read it:
Duo
I'm not explaining why I did thisI just didRelena, the lies stop here.
To the Fly Boyz, This isn't a request-it's an invitation.
Come to the city where dying cats play and Blaque sprits slay
Baset weaves these words: "The River older than night, Young in Day, Isis's child.
So the blood flows like it, the beauty."
Quatre snapped his fingers, "The Nile, she's on the River Nile."
"Katrina's in-" Duo still tried to gasp it, "Egypt."
"Then prepare a plane, Egypt's only a day away." Relena told them running out of the room.
m
"You're having so much fun with this."
"I'll be lying to say I didn't." Rachael tossed her head, "We thought you liked 'tight' clothing."
"I feel naked."
The "fabric" she had to put up with was an antique Egyptian dress that was clinging to a prayer on her blossom, the split raised more eyebrows then her green skirt ever did, the only things that felt covered were her feet. Her death scythe ponytail was replaced with a single genie-like ponytail that trailed down her back made of same material used in the other girls pleated wigs, gold, green, and black make-up shined on her face and nails, the dress was cream silk.
"And you never did before?" The trio were wearing their regular catsuits. So I'm a doll now?
"And that green skirt, what a touch! Only Katrina can sashay in a piece of fabric and still have fun with it." Stacie squeals with delight. "The Great Pretender: Good looking and deadly."
"Not everything that glitters is gold." Erin dwelled, swinging the Baset charm in Kat's face.
"The Great Deceiver." Rachael raised a glass to her.
Kat put her head into her hands, groaning. "Just shoot me."
Erin threw her hands in the air, "Sorry, no can do, try again!"
"Besides . . . the real guests haven't arrived." Stacie cooed, that child-like innocent quality the pig-tailed wearing Asian sported only concealed her wild nature-the real Wydow that lurked without wanting to fed on blood, lust, and sin. "I wanna see your Fly Boyz and I know you snatched up the cute one."
"Only the best for our ballerina princess." Rachael teased falling back on the couch giggling madly. Katrina could see it, smell it, they were all drunk and drugged up. "Ain't that right?"
"Don't you dare touch them." Came out suddenly, fiercely, defensively.
The other girls exchanged glances then laughed in front of Katrina's face.
"Aww! You know me too well!" Katrina watched as she jumped on the table and stomped her heels into the wood like a whiney child. "That's just like you to wanna hog it all for yourself."
She tried reason:
"The three of you are drunk and you're high, you're not thinking straight, what would Angie-"
Rachael snapped back in a more somber tone, "Angie would tell us to kick your sorry ass for betraying us. Consider this our punishment: Enjoy the night while it lasts."
m
"Collie . . ."
Where are you the girl asked herself. Another mission was down for the night so she could go back home and play with her sister that night. She dreaded leaving her alone night after night in the tiny studio apartment-but their livelihood depended on her and her alone.
She would die first before seeing the ten-year old follow in any inch of her footsteps.
"Colleen, don't you dare play games with me!" No squeaky voice answered her back like it usual would, there wasn't a 'I'm not playing' or 'come catch me if you can.'"
No signs of a pig-tail wearing, hyper-active tomboy anywhere, the place was unusually neat and there were no sounds of feet. This wasn't Colleen Denise Nelson Nyle at all.
"Colleen, I'm serious! You're really scaring me, I'm gonna really get you for playing."
In the living room, around the kitchen, outside: She was no where.
Standing in the bedroom the older girl tried to collect herself . . . A trail appeared.
A blood trail.
Blood, Colleen? Can't be, can't beeeeeeee . . . "COLLEEN!"
The spy ran into the bathroom throwing the light hoping this wasn't real, that it was punch or wine accidently spilled, hoping that the kid would pop out of the closet any minute.
Hoping to breath herself . . .
From the shower pole there, it was swinging-the ruined body. A child's body, her sister's body.
Someone wrapped a corded along her neck and left this ghost vision there for her eyes.
That what the mirror said: For your eyes only.
Sick, that what she was, sicken. Katrina couldn't stand, couldn't speak.
But she could cry, she could echo madly . . . The name, the vision, the victim, the mirror's fate.
Her mouth opened back and unleashed:
"Colleen!"
She woke up screaming. Number three.
Sweat cooled her burning face. Her bones were quaking from left to right, with her water jug she drowned her face, swallowed the only thing she touched in three days.
"I wish it was poison, then maybe I could sleep at night."
Out of her heavy breaths a small chuckle escaped. Sleep, Katrina licked her dry lips, she hadn't sleep in two days. "I wanna sleep at night."
The wind whistled through the open bay windows, a palace older than time was the cage for the cat. She had her cat food and a pretty collar to match-wired with a hundred bolts of electricity.
"Do you want me to go to sleep Death? Can I sleep now?"
Maxwell . . .
She wanted Duo, she wanted to see Relena and even the Fly Boyz would be easy on the eyes now.
"Death: What makes you so poignant?"
She asked the darken night, no pearl moon would shine tonight.
"Why must some kill so that some may live?
You've taken my parents, you've taken my Collie, you even wanted to take me . . .
Why did you let me live? Why must I breathe? Why am I important? Why must I grieve?
Don't take Maximilian please. Don't take the Fly Boyz, Don't take Relena.
Don't take me . . . Until I'm ready."
Silence met her answer. What was it telling her? That she was forgiven?
"Hell, that's asking Fate to stop screwing with me, but I need to fix things, I need to make them believe, make them proud of me. I've committed my sins many a time over . . . But grant me this: A chance to make up for them: Bastet protects my soul so Death, protect my life."
m
"Boy, we're in the middle of a damn war and you giving out books!?!"
"Father, I don't wanna fight in a losing battle!"
"Losing? If you don't fight then how do you expect to win?!? This is OZ for God's sake."
"These aren't books!" He shot back, "This is the way I'm fighting! With words!"
"And words on a page are suppose to end this war? Boy, you're being foolish!"
"There's been too much bloodshed. It mustn't be this way!"
"Then what way must it be boy-should we be holding hands and singing?"
On the other side of the restaurant the party of six listened with a strong interest to this, OZ was in town and ready to play.
The blonde asked the question on all their minds first: "Do you think we should get involved?"
"Not only waste our time with Katrina but get involved in another fight?Yeah, good thinking."
Heero polished off the rest of his drink, throat drying than the Sahara.
"Can you just for once get your head out of your-" This deadly tone came out of Duo's mouth.
Relena signed, "Guys, please, we can't forget why we're here."
"Yeah, that's right-why are we here?"
"We should talk to them, maybe they can help us find the spy." Trowa rose from his seat, leaving his plate untouched. "And find our fight."
They watched him go before rising themselves, they had missions before, so this shouldn't be any different. Sadiq continued to protest, "Fighting is the problem and not solution!" The boy, small and skinny, challenged. "We can stop without killing any-one, there's a chance for peace."
"Maybe bloodshed is necessary for peace."A new voice said.
The two jumped, looking up to find six teenagers listening to their quarrel, looming silently.
Exchanging a glance with his son, Raphael stood up clearing his throat. "May I ask why you are here?" Suspicious crept into his deep tone, the blonde boy spoke first extending a hand.
"Forgive us friends, we could hear you-talking-about the war going on in your land."
Raphael gave each of them a hard stare before taking it. "Sorry, but you can't trust too many strangers in this land. Our home has been taken over by OZ, but Egypt isn't going down easy."
He motioned toward the younger boy, "Forgive my son, his misguided ideology about peace is causing tension between us. We're trying to get people to fight but fears had settled into them."
Sadiq stood up straing at his father, "Misguided? You call not waiting to kill misguided?"
Pushing pass the group he ran outside into the burning heat of the day.
One big happy family so it seemed.
The father shook his head sadly, "I don't know what to do with that boy."
This is where Relena found her voice. "Sir, not to pry but maybe you should let him be."
Wufei added, "Or keep him out of this. He's weak, he shouldn't fight."
Raphael found is jaw set in protest, he was ready to tell these kids to mind their own business.
"Might I ask why you are here in Egypt? Only the crazy venture into these parts."
Duo chucked, "Whoever said we were ordinary? We're trying to locate someone we know."
"In the middle of a war?" The older man laugh, "Good luck, you won't find them here. The only people here are OZ and the people trapped in the war, be it fighting or killed."
His tone turned somber "This person's life is in danger because of some hot computer disks."
"I wouldn't know anything of the sort but . . . maybe we can help each other."
Heero cocked an eyebrow, the others offer no protest so he asked the man to continue.
"You kids strike me as fighters."
His monotone gave an answer, "Good guess."
Quatre put the offer on the table, "We can be of assistance if that's what your saying."
"Well . . . naw, I couldn't do that, you should be trying to find your friend if they mean that much-The braided boy's voice came in, "You can help us find her and we can do all the necessary clean up." Plain as day, they could see he was trying to betray his emotions about Katrina.
Of course Duo wasn't ready to admit to that. And neither Wufei or Heero wanted him to do so.
"You got suits?" Trowa inquired.
"Not the best suits, but suits nevertheless."
"Then it's settled." He said with his usual light tone returining, they witnessed the first real smile Duo gave in three days, "The Great Destroyer's back in business!"
m
"Sadiq!"
"Great, whose this?"
"Sadiq!" Relena ran out onto the dirt streets chasing after yet another hard-headed young man.
The twelve-year old wearing a T-shirt and cotton shorts stopped in the middle of the market amiss the merchants pedaling their wares and the other teens matching off to training. The older girl caught up with him catching her breath.
Sadiq merely huffed his disapproval, "So why did you come after me?"
"I wanted to talk to you."
"You're really gonna stay and fight huh?"
"I can't fight the way my friends fight yet I too strive for peace."
"Another day, another battle, and the beat goes on."
"They're helping your father."
"Helping him kill, I don't like it." He responded, tone fading to sadness, Relena placed a steady hand on his shoulder.
"I know there are so many other ways to achieve peace, my friends on the other hand seem to think otherwise. Fighting with their hands is the only way they know how."
"Then how do YOU fight?"
Relena made sure he could see straight through her, "With my mind."
m
Raphael took the six into his tiny yet comfortable estate near the Nile waters for the week.
Relena and the boys were given room and board in exchange for their aid only. Raphael's proud nature warned not to offer anything more so they did all they could to help out-the boys train with the other kids while Relena was left in the care of Sadiq and his three aunts.
Sitting around and doing nothing made her feel useless, she could take another lecture or fight from Heero these days . . . Maybe he did care about her if he was willing to bite her head off about her actions . . . and the women of the house wouldn't even let her raise her pinky finger.
"I shouldn't be sitting here doing nothing-I must fight somehow."
"You can't leave this place, OZ soldiers are here prowling like lions, they want blood. People get taken everyday . . ." Even thought the guys-other than Duo in his all his off time-put off finding Relena was still searching for Katrina, grilling all the locals with her tiredness questions about the spy. Today, Sadiq's words sparked her idle interest. "Taken? Who was taken?"
"I saw this lady get taken wearing a Baset's amulet."
It sounded so familiar, "Baset?"
"Our Lady, the Gooddess, Guardian of cats."
Baset . . . She thought . . . Cat, our Kat had one . . . "This necklace-" Something struck Relena. "This Baset necklace wouldn't happened to be made of black and gold? Very expensive looking?"
"Expensive looking? Hah, lady that came from the very walls of Egypt herself."
Her heart jumped, she could be getting somewhere, "Describe her then, do you remember her?"
"She has the blood of an Egyptian, I saw her skin, but she was dressed like an American."
"Tall, dark-skinned, hair in a ponytail? In some wild outfit?" The catsuit always was funny to her.
"Y-yyyyyyyyeah . . ." He brightened, "But I didn't see a ponytail. Maybe you're mistaken."
"Or maybe I'm right about her! Quick, where did they take her?" Relena shook him.
"I don't know lady!"Sadiq shook her grip off, "These other women put her in a limo and drove off in one direction." Relena started to put the pieces togther, if they found Kat then she could help the Gundams, she formatted the disk before to save them, her escape could've been another way of helping. She wasn't a dishonest thief, Katrina Nyle was her friend, someone who knew the real Relena. They shared things about each other, having a bond only women could have.
Instantly she began rummaging the drawers that contained her summer clothing.
"What's that direction?"
"Pharaoh's castle. Everybody knows that one, it stands at the Nile." Sadiq answered in smugness. "Then that's where I'm going."With a pen she scribbled a quick note explaining herself then took the bundle stuffed with make-up and an outfit but the boy jumped in front, blocking her from leaving the guest room. "You can't go lady."
She narrowed her eyes, "Oh really? Who told you that?"
"The guy with the messy hair." He stated simply.
Heero: Being overprotective again.
"Well tell him he's just gonna have to deal with it. I'm making my own decisions-it's not your fault." The boy was determined-and very unnerved by the pilot's words this morning.
"He said he'll kill me if I even let your feet touch on the sand."
"Then tell Heero Yuy he'll have just have to do it. I'll be touching a lot of sand."
"But-but lady!"
He remained fixed in his place, "You're not going."
"Oh yeas . . . I am."
She pushed him in her closet and locked it tight, then bounced on her way out the door.
m
Missing.
The room was quieter than Pharaoh's tomb.
"Relena." He growled through teeth.
The note said I'm going after Katrina.
Nosies were coming from the closet.
"Sadiq?"
"Mmm-mmm-mmmmm-" Wufei snatched the duck tape from his lips.
"OWWW! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?" The boy snapped wresting in his bounds.
"Where's Relena?"
"She locked me in the closet then ran out."
"Sadiq?"
"Then what happened to the car, it's missing."
"Someone stole it?!?"
"NO! She probably took it!"
"Dammmit."
"Great, there are two women missing."
"Where was she headed?"
"She-she said she was looking for someone, some Egyptian-looking lady who was kidnaped-"
"Katrina?" Duo and Heero said at the same time.
"I mean she's here?" Quatre asked.
"I don't know! All I know was that these people took her then that other lady started questioning me then she tied me up and pushed me in. I try to stop her!"
m
"Well, well, well! The Fly Boyz are here to party up!"
The commander of this deployment felt his nerves shot, damn spies were annoying him.
"Then send out the Leos."
"They said . . . I killed . . . my own sister."
"Ohhhh Katrina." Relena hugged her, "I-I never knew."
"I never told you."
"What happended?"
"A gang of guys raped her then they hung her with a phone cord."
"How awful."
"Awwww, how sweet. They're hugging." Erin faked a tear.
"Relena, you're my friend." Stacie mocked.
"Run Relena run!"
m
"The vents are too tight."
"Damn! We can't stay here."
"Get down!"
m
"Shit! It's stuck!"
The computer had this blood red message appear on the screen.
SORRY . . . THE SYSTEM IS AGAINST YOU . . . GOOD BYE.
"Blood for blood, a body for a body."
Stacie kicked Erin's body over, "Well, then, I just take this, I'm sure you won't mind."
m
"You wanna start something?!?" Stacie wasn't something she was knew with but the idea of death struck her for the first time. "I'll kill her Fly Boy! I'll take off her pretty little head just watch me,
JUST WATCH ME-"
Bang.
A lone shot in the dark.
Bang.
It wasn't the gun piercing Heero's heart.
Bang.
The spy's eyes said I'm dead.
Bang.
It wasn't necessary for this last round, blood soaked both their clothing and watered the ground.
Bang.
The Blaque Kat wearing the white dress came out of the fire.
Hair strewed, ginger eyes dead with AK in hand, walking slowly on the roof top toward the Gundam . . . Toward Relena . . . Toward the black sky.