4.Back on the Road:
Quatre turned his gaze to the ceiling, his exhaustion and sleepiness along with his anger all hit him with full force, resulting in an agonizing headache. He would have given anything to sleep for a week, Professors and weirdo attackers be damned. And speaking of professors... Quatre knew that Professor H's involvement in the matter was not such a big surprise to him, and though it was a most heinous act, he couldn't deny that it saved his cousin's life.
Rama had calmed down about the matter, but that was not the end of the affair. If the stories were true, those people might start a new war, even worse than those of before... More people dying, another journey on the road... Quatre did not have a steady footing amongst the blaring reports from everywhere, with no clue about their accuracy. But in spite of all this mess, the blonde pilot knew one thing.
He would NOT let it happen again, no matter what the cost.
After what seemed ages, the Arabian quit scowling at the ceiling, and returned once more to the people around him. He decided it was time to tell them the last bit of information; they didn't have much time.
"Rashid said something more when I last contacted him," he began, calling the attention of the other pilots, "he wanted me to come to Ramda base, obviously, but..." He raised a hand as Duo opened his mouth to speak; the braided teenager fell silent.
"...he also asked me if you would agree to come."
"All of us?" asked Trowa.
"Yes."
"That's one hell of an idiotic question to ask," said Duo heatedly. "Of course we're coming!"
"I know," replied Quatre, "but you know what this means?"
"It means we'll be back to that injustice of a nightmare," supplied Wu Fei. His statement received grave nods.
"Quatre..." began Duo earnestly, amethyst meeting azure, "to say the truth, going back to that hell isn't particularly my favourite activity, but I'll tell you something. I fought that war because I didn't want to see another Maxwell tragedy. You taught me that our sorrows are healed in seeing others happy, and that's what I went to the battlefield for. I don't think I'll ever regret that.
"But when someone comes and makes Rama here join the club, this is beyond the red line. WAY beyond the line. It isn't nice, and it's not a stroll in the park, and I'd prefer one of your pancakes in front of the television than getting cornered by a dozen Taurus. But – NO, I'm not going to sit here like it's not my business... no sir, Shinigami's gonna show them some hell of his own, and you have my word on it."
Quatre grasped the outstretched hand with a warm smile, the others following suit. Rama shrugged with an amused smile on her face.
"Honestly, these people are in BIG trouble, aren't they?"
"You bet," replied the other braided one. "With Mr. 'Perfect Soldier', Shinigami, Nanashi, Pancake-maker here, and of course Lord 'this is injustice', these guys had better bail out now – but that doesn't mean we're leaving them."
Quatre had one eyebrow arched high, "Pancake-maker? Maybe I'm going to ignore a certain someone in the cupboard today..."
"But before these humble soldiers go out under the leadership of Captain Baka, the strategist must get some sleep," said Heero firmly, looking at Quatre's haggard face.
"I know, Heero. But I'll talk to Iria first about the shuttle, alright?"
"Then you'll get some sleep – even if I have to tie him outside," said Wu Fei, jerking his head in the direction of a slightly apprehensive Duo.
After a short and to-the-point call, Quatre obediently went to bed, having settled his worries by making sure that something was going to be done. Their shuttle was scheduled for the next day at dawn, and the other pilots were already packing. Rama was going to sleep in the spare bedroom. At this point of thinking, Quatre decided to submit in the sweet folds of sleep before one of his comrades discovered his disobedience.
oo00oo
The vague smell of pancakes filtered through Duo's muddy mind and forced him back to awareness. Stretching as he glanced at the clock in surprise – it was four in the morning – he remembered that they had a shuttle to ride. Quatre must have got up early, having gone to bed first the day before.
'Well, a full Shingami is much better than a hungry one,' he told himself as he went into the living room.
"Hello, Duo," greeted Quatre. The other three were already assembled at the table; Rama was helping her cousin give out food.
Wu Fei glanced at the newspaper beside him. "No sign of your disappearance, Quatre," he remarked.
"Oh, Iria's kept them quiet," he replied. "It doesn't matter to them who's in charge – as long as they get the money."
Ten minutes later found them assembled outside the door with bags slung across their shoulders, ready to leave a silent house in the sleepy dawn. As he passed the door, Heero had a fleeting memory of Trowa, Duo, Wu Fei and him passing out of a silent safehouse only a year ago.
'Here we go again,' he mused.
...
The base was very much the same as they left it, only this time they didn't pass through the town. As they came out of the shuttle, they were met by Fahad.
"Hello, Master Quatre. It's nice to see you again," he added to the others.
"You too, Fahad," replied the blonde. "Where's Rashid?"
"I will take you to someone who will answer all your questions," said Fahad.
Eyebrows raised, he followed the Maganac with the others behind him. After winding through several corridors and passages, he led them to an iron door. Samra stood beside it, scowling deeply. At her brother's questioning look, she merely shrugged and jerked her head at the door. Eyes narrowed, the blonde pushed it open, and stepped inside with the others – to stop dead in their tracks.
It wasn't Rashid.
It wasn't even Professor H.
It was Treize Kushrenada.
--end of chapter four—
Author's Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters do not belong to me.
Author's notes:
Much shorter than the previous one, and not much plot, either. Sorry about that cliffhanger at the end; I am so evil. Don't think I have anything else to say – so much work to do, and the muses are showing no mercy. Please spare some time to write a note and raise my spirits and speed. Thanks to all those who reviewed and were patient with me. See you later!
Free Skylark. 18 July 2004.
Quatre turned his gaze to the ceiling, his exhaustion and sleepiness along with his anger all hit him with full force, resulting in an agonizing headache. He would have given anything to sleep for a week, Professors and weirdo attackers be damned. And speaking of professors... Quatre knew that Professor H's involvement in the matter was not such a big surprise to him, and though it was a most heinous act, he couldn't deny that it saved his cousin's life.
Rama had calmed down about the matter, but that was not the end of the affair. If the stories were true, those people might start a new war, even worse than those of before... More people dying, another journey on the road... Quatre did not have a steady footing amongst the blaring reports from everywhere, with no clue about their accuracy. But in spite of all this mess, the blonde pilot knew one thing.
He would NOT let it happen again, no matter what the cost.
After what seemed ages, the Arabian quit scowling at the ceiling, and returned once more to the people around him. He decided it was time to tell them the last bit of information; they didn't have much time.
"Rashid said something more when I last contacted him," he began, calling the attention of the other pilots, "he wanted me to come to Ramda base, obviously, but..." He raised a hand as Duo opened his mouth to speak; the braided teenager fell silent.
"...he also asked me if you would agree to come."
"All of us?" asked Trowa.
"Yes."
"That's one hell of an idiotic question to ask," said Duo heatedly. "Of course we're coming!"
"I know," replied Quatre, "but you know what this means?"
"It means we'll be back to that injustice of a nightmare," supplied Wu Fei. His statement received grave nods.
"Quatre..." began Duo earnestly, amethyst meeting azure, "to say the truth, going back to that hell isn't particularly my favourite activity, but I'll tell you something. I fought that war because I didn't want to see another Maxwell tragedy. You taught me that our sorrows are healed in seeing others happy, and that's what I went to the battlefield for. I don't think I'll ever regret that.
"But when someone comes and makes Rama here join the club, this is beyond the red line. WAY beyond the line. It isn't nice, and it's not a stroll in the park, and I'd prefer one of your pancakes in front of the television than getting cornered by a dozen Taurus. But – NO, I'm not going to sit here like it's not my business... no sir, Shinigami's gonna show them some hell of his own, and you have my word on it."
Quatre grasped the outstretched hand with a warm smile, the others following suit. Rama shrugged with an amused smile on her face.
"Honestly, these people are in BIG trouble, aren't they?"
"You bet," replied the other braided one. "With Mr. 'Perfect Soldier', Shinigami, Nanashi, Pancake-maker here, and of course Lord 'this is injustice', these guys had better bail out now – but that doesn't mean we're leaving them."
Quatre had one eyebrow arched high, "Pancake-maker? Maybe I'm going to ignore a certain someone in the cupboard today..."
"But before these humble soldiers go out under the leadership of Captain Baka, the strategist must get some sleep," said Heero firmly, looking at Quatre's haggard face.
"I know, Heero. But I'll talk to Iria first about the shuttle, alright?"
"Then you'll get some sleep – even if I have to tie him outside," said Wu Fei, jerking his head in the direction of a slightly apprehensive Duo.
After a short and to-the-point call, Quatre obediently went to bed, having settled his worries by making sure that something was going to be done. Their shuttle was scheduled for the next day at dawn, and the other pilots were already packing. Rama was going to sleep in the spare bedroom. At this point of thinking, Quatre decided to submit in the sweet folds of sleep before one of his comrades discovered his disobedience.
oo00oo
The vague smell of pancakes filtered through Duo's muddy mind and forced him back to awareness. Stretching as he glanced at the clock in surprise – it was four in the morning – he remembered that they had a shuttle to ride. Quatre must have got up early, having gone to bed first the day before.
'Well, a full Shingami is much better than a hungry one,' he told himself as he went into the living room.
"Hello, Duo," greeted Quatre. The other three were already assembled at the table; Rama was helping her cousin give out food.
Wu Fei glanced at the newspaper beside him. "No sign of your disappearance, Quatre," he remarked.
"Oh, Iria's kept them quiet," he replied. "It doesn't matter to them who's in charge – as long as they get the money."
Ten minutes later found them assembled outside the door with bags slung across their shoulders, ready to leave a silent house in the sleepy dawn. As he passed the door, Heero had a fleeting memory of Trowa, Duo, Wu Fei and him passing out of a silent safehouse only a year ago.
'Here we go again,' he mused.
...
The base was very much the same as they left it, only this time they didn't pass through the town. As they came out of the shuttle, they were met by Fahad.
"Hello, Master Quatre. It's nice to see you again," he added to the others.
"You too, Fahad," replied the blonde. "Where's Rashid?"
"I will take you to someone who will answer all your questions," said Fahad.
Eyebrows raised, he followed the Maganac with the others behind him. After winding through several corridors and passages, he led them to an iron door. Samra stood beside it, scowling deeply. At her brother's questioning look, she merely shrugged and jerked her head at the door. Eyes narrowed, the blonde pushed it open, and stepped inside with the others – to stop dead in their tracks.
It wasn't Rashid.
It wasn't even Professor H.
It was Treize Kushrenada.
--end of chapter four—
Author's Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters do not belong to me.
Author's notes:
Much shorter than the previous one, and not much plot, either. Sorry about that cliffhanger at the end; I am so evil. Don't think I have anything else to say – so much work to do, and the muses are showing no mercy. Please spare some time to write a note and raise my spirits and speed. Thanks to all those who reviewed and were patient with me. See you later!
Free Skylark. 18 July 2004.