Memento [Part Twelve]
Watching the clock tick wasn't one of Trowa's favorite activities but it was starting to become entertaining as the days passed by. In fact, the consistent sound of the tick-tock as the seconds went by was very soothing. Never mind the fact that the clock was a plain, steel piece that did absolutely nothing for his weary imagination. It was almost like a mantra, except that this one wasn't voiced out.
"I'm going to lose my mind."
That, however, was Duo's alternative. It was fine except that his voiced mantra was said out loud that it was getting on Wufei's nerves. Trowa glanced at the two in the far corner of the room. Duo had his eyes closed and was leaning back on a chair, repeating the same line over and over again. Wufei was looming dangerously over him and Trowa could almost swear he could see the man's nostrils flair.
"Relax, Wu," Duo said without opening his eyes. The seething presence over him was obvious enough. "Why don't you get yourself a line to chant? It really helps pass the time plus it'll get that high blood pressure of yours down."
"How about 'I'm going to kill you'?" Wufei answered.
"Heh, whatever suits you buddy. If Trowa's going to stare at that clock for the next few hours then you at least have the right to do whatever weird thing you want."
"Fine, I'm going to kill you."
"That's it baby; say it again."
"I'm going to kill you."
"Right, now I'm going to say my line and you say yours, agree?"
Wufei calmed down a bit and stared at Duo. He seemed to debate the issue in his head but after a few seconds, shrugged. Perhaps Duo's idea wasn't too bad after all. Wufei sat himself down on a nearby chair, leaned back and then closed his eyes as well. When he was cozy, he began chanting his line in deep concentration.
"I'm going to kill you."
"I'm going to lose my mind."
"I'm going to kill you."
"I'm going to lose my mind."
Trowa groaned. Oh sure, it did look amusing when they were talking about it but now that they were actually doing it, it was getting very annoying. They even had a rhythm going. He was surprised Wufei didn't just have Duo shut up. Trowa put his hand on his head. It was going to be a long, long day. He couldn't even hear the tick of the clock anymore.
"I'm going to kill you."
"I'm going to lose my mind."
Tick
Trowa blinked and then took his hand out of his head. Maybe it did work. Their chants were in synchrony with the clock.
"I'm going to kill you."
"I'm going to lose my mind."
Tock
Trowa smiled and then crossed his arms. It was soothing in a very, very weird way but whatever worked was fine with him. The next hour passed by the same way and Trowa didn't even notice when Heero arrived. The three of them were so engrossed in their relaxation techniques that they didn't even see the look on his face when he came in.
Trowa did jump when he heard the loud banging of metal on metal, effectively ruining their rhythm. He opened his eyes and looked back to find Heero with a steel pipe in hand and a large dent on their aircraft.
"Aww, Heero, you just messed up the really good thing we had going on."
Heero's eye twitched.
"I was trying to call on you imbeciles for the past half hour and here I find you doing whatever the hell it is you're doing," Heero answered, fighting to stay calm.
Trowa chose to remain silent and so did Wufei. Heero was terrifying and not to mention 5 times stronger when he was angry. Duo, however, was a different story.
"Hey, you left us here all day with nothing to do," he whined. "What were we supposed to do?"
"For one thing, you should have been waiting for my signal. We're going to have to do this over because our likely target has left the area. We have to wait until he shows up again. Oh, and have I mentioned that it's going to take us another week to do this?"
They groaned all at the same time. There was nothing like surveillance jobs that got them testy.
"I want to go home."
Trowa looked up to find all three of them looking at him strangely. So, he said what was on his mind. It wasn't like he didn't have the right to complain at least some of the time. They'd been in the deserted, depraved area for almost four weeks and it was driving him crazy, enough to find pleasure in watching the hand of the clock move.
"Uh, I think Tro needs a break. What do you say Heero, could we possibly leave and then come back next week?"
There was a period of momentary silence, which signaled the possibility of an agreement on Heero's part. Trowa didn't care much for the answer although he was hoping he'd agree. They hadn't been in contact with the outside world for so long it was draining him. He did want to see how Quatre was doing. The last time he saw the man, he was becoming more disoriented and confused than usual.
"You know we can't do that," Heero said and although his answer was supposed to be directed to Duo, he was facing Trowa instead.
Trowa nodded. They had a job to do.
"Now that the drama's over, I want all of you to come here and check this," Wufei interrupted.
That seemed to anger Heero a bit more. After all, why hadn't Wufei been paying attention to the communicator when he was gone? What was so important now that wasn't as important then?
"It's not coming from this colony," he added.
All their ears picked up the exciting news. Finally, they were going to get a message from the outside world.
"I'm not sure of its location but it's not from here. It's unclear so it should be coming from somewhere else."
"Put the speakers on," Trowa said.
"It's on."
They waited a few seconds, listening to all the static coming in. It was too much that the transmission was barely going through. When the voice did come through, it sounded more like a machine than a human. Whoever was on the other line was using a voice scrambler.
"... not going to last ...uch longer," it started. It was hard to understand but at least it was coming through. "...doll ...will forget ...new chara ...ter"
They had to concentrate and keep silent since the message was barely audible.
"...deteriorating slowly ...is progressing ...cell atrophy ...haven't figured it ou ...ight be too la..."
There was a final, raucous tone before the transmission was cut off. It left them to wonder whether it was a distress signal or something else. Duo scratched his chin.
"So we're supposed to figure out something from that messed-up piece of information," Duo started. "Great, whoever was calling would be toast before we even get there."
"I don't think it's a distress signal," Heero interrupted.
Trowa nodded at the statement. They had come up with the same idea. There was just something wrong about the message. Some parts made sense but other parts just didn't fit in.
"I guess so. That cell comment made no sense at all," Duo agreed.
Heero grabbed a chair and flipped it the other way before sitting down to join them. He didn't even notice that they were unconsciously drawing themselves into a circle.
"Atrophy means something close to death, something like wasting away," Wufei said, turning his seat so he was facing them as well. "Not just any kind of wasting away," he continued. "It has got more to do with pathology, some kind of wasting away of organs or tissues or in this case, cells."
"You think they're infected with something so they're asking for help?"
Duo seemed eager and was coming up with all the questions. Then again, this was the first new issue they'd been able to talk about ever since they left for the mission. All the other topics they previously discussed had been exhausted and were now long forgotten.
"Like I said," Heero voiced out, looking down on the floor. "It's not help they're after. Otherwise, whoever sent it wouldn't have used a voice scrambler. It's a warning and I don't like it."
Trowa nodded. There was something suspicious about the message and the fact that it involved secrecy wasn't good either. They were going to have to check on it soon.
"What should we do?" Trowa asked.
"We're leaving this place - now," Heero answered and didn't waste any time. He stood up to get ready.
"I love you!" Duo exclaimed and then ran to tackle him and smother him with kisses. "I didn't know all it took were freaky voices to convince you to let us go home. I should've done this earlier if I only knew."
Wufei and Trowa chose to show their approval in a different way. They simply left him alone and got ready as well. If Heero decided to abort a mission for an indiscernible transmission then something was going on. They were going to have to check with headquarters and make sure there wasn't anything dangerous about it.
===
"I'm telling you, I can't do it that fast."
Wufei was pacing around the room while the rest of them sat down to listen while Sally gave her excuse.
"Even then, I can't assure you that I could trace it down. Why are you all here anyway? Did you finish the job Une sent you to do?"
They all looked at Heero. He was the one who decided that they leave after all.
"I prioritize what's important," Heero answered for them. "And I know this is more important than following a fat man with toys for weapons."
"Fine," Sally said and then sighed. There was no arguing with any of them. She always lost the argument, except for Wufei that is. He was the easiest.
"So Wufei," she started. "Miss me?"
He huffed indignantly.
"In your dreams."
Trowa decided that he wasn't going to stay for the entertainment. He had something else he needed to do. Signaling to Duo and Heero that he was leaving, he opened the door and left the arguing pair. He knew Sally was going to win this one. It was just a matter of time.
===
"What do you mean he isn't here?" Trowa asked, surprised that Quatre didn't answer the door.
"Whoever this Quatre is doesn't live here. You might want to check elsewhere. I just moved in two weeks ago so the person you're looking for might have moved."
Trowa hesitated before muttering a 'thank you'. He was doubtful that Quatre moved. After all, he'd just moved in recently and was thrilled at the prospect of having his own apartment again. There were very little possibilities of where he could have gone, considering that he didn't seem to know very many people aside from health professionals, that is. Perhaps his doctor knew where he was.
"What was his name?" Trowa thought aloud. There were so many things to keep a track of in his job that he chose to forget the names of certain people who seemed irrelevant. This, however, was anything but irrelevant considering his circumstance.
He tried to remember the name and it was almost at the tip of his tongue when he noticed a middle-aged man stop and look at him strangely.
"Are you looking for someone?" the stranger asked while putting his key into the slot.
"Uh, I'm looking for someone who used to live here," Trowa answered, hoping that the man would be able to give him more useful information.
"Oh, that young man," the man answered. "The manager did mention that he'd lost his job earlier and decided to move in with a friend. I saw him when I was starting to move in, even helped him lift up those boxes. He was polite and he looked a little too sick to be carrying around all those heavy boxes."
Trowa's ears picked up on the description. The man had just described Quatre. Now, if he could only question further, he'd find him before nightfall.
"If you really need to find him," the man said, probably noticing Trowa's look of determination. "Try asking the manager. I'm not sure if she keeps track of these things but she's nice. Maybe she'll help you out."
"Thanks," Trowa said and then hurried down the steps. He remembered that the manager's office was close to the entrance. He was breathless when he reached the office but made it just in time before the manager had left. She was in the process of locking up the door.
"Wait," Trowa said, breathing heavily. "I'm looking for someone."
The startled woman faced him, first with a frightened look and then with one of relief.
"You must be looking for Mr. Winner," she said.
"Huh?"
The woman opened up her bag and retrieved a notepad. When she landed on a specific page, she tore it off.
"He moved here," she said and then handed it to him.
Trowa didn't know how she could almost read his mind and it was evident in the expression on his face.
"Oh, how silly of me," the manager said. "Mr. Winner did mention that someone this tall, brown hair, green eyes might come looking for him. So, he left me that address and told me to give it to him. Your name is Trowa, am I right?"
Trowa nodded.
"Then good, that address belongs to you."
"Uh, thank you."
Trowa watched as the woman left the building and crossed the street. He had to leave as well. It had been forever since he'd seen Quatre and there were some new turn of events that needed some sort of explanation.
===
"Lara?" Trowa asked, unsure if he'd made it to the right address.
"Oh, hi Trowa," she said. "Come in. You might be able to talk some sense into Quatre."
Trowa did step in but felt strange. The new tenant mentioned that Quatre had moved in with a friend so she was the most obvious alternative. However, it didn't mean that she was the first person that came to mind.
"Go straight and turn left. His room is on the far corner."
Trowa nodded. Whatever he thought would have to wait until later. He needed to know what was going on first. Things were happening so fast it was as if he wasn't in contact with the world for so long. Then again, he had been on the last mission long enough.
When Trowa reached his intended destination, he knocked twice on the door.
"Go 'way," he heard Quatre say.
Trowa chose to ignore the irate reaction and instead turned the doorknob to check if it was open.
"I'm coming in," he warned and turned the knob all the way to find that the door wasn't locked.
"Wha..." he said, bewildered and disturbed when he stepped into Quatre's room. It looked like he'd stepped into a twilight zone. He noticed the various sticky notes in green, yellow and pink stuck to the pieces of furniture.
He glanced at the drawers and decided to read some of the notes.
"This is where you keep your socks," was stuck on the top drawer. "Underwear in here!" was written on the next.
Trowa walked cautiously toward the lump on the bed which could only have been one person.
"Quatre?" he asked, placing his hand on top of the warm lump.
"Uh huh?" was the muffled answer he got.
When he didn't sense any resistance on Quatre's part, he slowly sat next to him and then lifted the blanket to check him. The first thing he saw as he pulled down the blanket was the back of Quatre's head. He had his face buried in the pillow. The next thing he noticed wasn't something he noticed before despite previous inspections. There was a barely discernible scar hidden behind layers of hair.
"Quatre?" he decided to ask. "When did you get hit on your head?"
Quatre didn't answer and he was left to wonder. All he could do was put his hand on the head and weave his fingers through the thin strands of hair. He'd missed doing that during the long days he couldn't spend with Quatre.