Part 31
AC 198, August 27th, L4 Colony cluster, WEI Building, 9:43 AM
Quatre checked his image in the great mirror that replaced one of the walls of the great entrance hall of the WEI Building. Knowing the part he was supposed to play, he had opted for a totally different style. He was wearing faded blue jeans (but the cut in itself was enough to indicate they were designer's clothes), a tight black turtleneck and a leather jacket. It made him look like the perfect young tycoon and concealed the shoulder holsters he had insisted to wear. He checked his weapons as well, unfastening the security, since he would not be able to do it once outside.
A quick look around the hall assured him everyone was tense but ready. Noin was frowning, looking outside and apparently trying to decide if the security service covered everything. Sally was at her side, and exchanged glances with Wufei every now and then, with a little smile that spoke volumes to Quatre. 'And two more lovebirds', he thought. Trowa was leaning on the wall, staring at the floor. He did not seem to carry any weapon, the seven or so knives he had concealed very efficiently. Duo had kept his own two gundanium blades in their wrist sheaths, and carried two thigh holsters that were barely hidden under his leather coat. Heero was looking outside also. His posture was a bit stiff, and his blue eyes were scanning the crowd, relentlessly shifting from one side to the other in an attempt to locate danger.
"You ready, Cat ?", Duo said, bouncing through the hall to his best friend.
Quatre caught Duo by the arm and made him come a bit further away.
"I'm fine, it's just …"
"What ? Spill it !"
"I'm afraid."
Duo raised an eyebrow.
"Not gonna chicken out now, Cat, are ya ? This was your idea …"
"I'm not afraid about that, you stupid ! I told it countless times to both Heero and Wufei, these people don't scare me, so would everyone please stop trying to convince me to be scared or saying I am scared or …"
"I getcha, Cat", Duo interrupted, a bit worried about the slight hysterical note in Quatre's voice. "What's scaring you, then ?"
Quatre jerked his chin, showing Heero, who still had their back on them, looking outside.
"So what ?", Duo said, puzzled.
"Did you see the look he has on his face, Duo ? I … it's even worse here", Quatre added, rubbing his chest. "He's kind of … I don't know how to explain it, but it feels like he's retreated into that kind of soldier mode he has. I can still feel him but there's something … like a tall cold transparent wall over his feelings. Like he bottled them to be sure he won't be bothered by them, but it feels so … unnatural. So cold. It's disturbing me. I'm afraid he's going to do something dangerous."
Duo made a face, then laughed.
"Define 'dangerous', Cat. No, wait, let me rephrase this. Define dangerous for Mr Iceman there, 'cause from what I saw, flattening fifteen armed people in a dark alley is what he does on his days off when he's bored."
"I know, it's stupid to worry too much about him …"
"It's not stupid", a new voice said, and both teens turned to see Trowa joining the conversation. "You love him and you're both about to jump into a situation that neither of you quite control. You're putting yourself in danger and he doesn't know how to protect you. Or even if you would take his protection well, 'cause you can take care of yourself. So his training kicks in."
Both teens looked at him, and Trowa smiled trying to explain.
"He doesn't know what to do with the anxiety and the fear, so he's just blocking them. I don't know what kind of training he had. It looks a bit like what Special elite corps do. Anyway, I think it's the only way he knows how to cope. I don't think you have to worry, but I'm not surprised you do, even though he is supposed to be the best killer in the market."
"Of course", Quatre snorted, "said like this it sounds dumb, I just can't help it."
"You know he can take care of himself, but you don't have to like it, Quatre. I know I don't like the fact Duo and Hilde had to survive by themselves on the streets, even if that's why they're here now."
"And I don't like the fact you grew up in a merc camp with big soldier men, Bang Boy", Duo protested.
This started a rather heated argument about who had had the most miserable childhood, each of the boys intending to prove that his boyfriend was to be pitied and arguing that his own childhood had not been that rough. Quatre watched them with wide eyes, completely puzzled, and tried to stifle a snicker but in vain. His laughter rang in the great hallway, successfully stopping the argument and making everyone turn to look at him. There was even a flash of joy in Heero's Prussian Blue eyes, although his face remained absolutely calm and collected. Wufei for his part, was smiling calmly and exchanged a wink with Sally.
"Thank you, guys", Quatre muttered to Duo and Trowa as he tried to regain control of his breathing.
The clock suddenly dinged, and a silence fell on everyone. The scheduled time for the press conference had come. The little warm flame disappeared from Heero's blue gaze as it hardened as steel. His eyes connected to Quatre's, and the blond young man did the only thing he could think of. He went to Heero and snuggled in his arms, holding on tight.
"We're going to be alright, Heero", he whispered. "I trust you."
"Hn."
"That's no real answer, Heero."
There was a fraction of a tiny thing that could be interpreted as a smile on Heero's lips as he left an awkward kiss on top of the blond head.
"Gomen nasai (1), Katoru. I know we're gonna be alright. I just …"
"I know. Don't think of it. I'm here. We're going to win."
Quatre's mouth was against Heero's ear as he said the next words so that only his lover heard them.
"Whatever happens, Heero Yuy, remember this. I love you. Forever."
Heero's grip around Quatre tightened just a bit. The cold veil on his feelings seemed to thin as he let all the feeling he possibly could pour out in his next words.
"Doumo (2), Katoru. Ai shiteiru."
They both let go a bit abruptly. Quatre had just realized that this sounded like those awful farewell scenes in bad movies, and this was most definitely not a farewell scene. Today, the assassin of his father was going to pay for her crimes, and then … well, living happily ever after did look like a good option, even if the road would probably be bumpy.
Trowa, Duo and Wufei took protective stances behind Quatre, and Sally, Heero and Lucrezia Noin took front. Noin opened the door leading to the podium that had been built on the esplanade in front of the great building, and they all went out.
O.O.O.O.O
'I don't get it', Zechs thought, looking at the scene from above.
Heero would have been pleased to see his estimations were exact. Une had picked one of the three buildings he had marked as possibilities, and she had even been predictable enough to choose the one in the middle. Her sniper rifle was ready, and both her and Zechs were observing the scene below with binoculars.
"They're coming out", Lady Une said.
Quatre Winner went to the center of the podium, politely smiling at the cameras and brushing off questions for the moment. Sally and Noin took position in the front corners of the podium, watching the crowd of journalists who were contained by the Winner security service. Chang Wufei took position in the corner opposite to Sally, and Trowa Barton in the corner opposite to Noin. Duo Maxwell and Heero Yuy were both behind Quatre Winner, at the back of the stage, looking around.
'Why did they do that ?', Zechs wondered. 'They know she's after them and Winner gives a press conference out in the open. He could have painted a target on his back, it would have been easier, too. It's like he's begging to get shot. Or …'
Zechs' eyes suddenly widened as comprehension hit him.
'They wouldn't … who am I kidding, they totally would ! They set her up ! This is a blatant trap, and she's walking right into it! They did it on purpose ! I can't believe those kids, and please God let them never know I called them that ! How can they even think … Which one of them designed this ? I'm sure Sally and Lu don't even know …'
He zoomed on Lucrezia's face.
'She's nervous, and she's not looking up. She doesn't like what she sees, but she had to comply with the security design.'
He switched to Sally and caught her just as she was exchanging a brief nod with Chang Wufei.
'Well, that's clear enough. Even if she doesn't know what's up, she knows something is up. Damn it, I don't have time for them to go playing games like that ! What the hell am I supposed to do ? What was Yuy thinking, honestly, to put Winner in danger like this …. Or maybe it was Winner's idea and he had to go along …. Aaaargh ! I'm stuck between an insane killer and people who get in their mind to catch her themselves !'
Lady Une's voice interrupted this train of thoughts, which was just as good, as Zechs was beginning to think he had gone crazy and was having the weirdest nightmare, 'cause in a normal, sane world, things like this did not happen.
"Call the driver and tell him to be ready", Lady Une ordered dryly. "We'll have to leave soon once I'm done."
"Winner or Yuy first ?"
"Winner, it's the easiest. I'll keep Yuy for the grand finale. I've always dreamt to be the one to wipe that little smirk off his face."
Zechs shivered inwardly, but made the call. He just watched as Une picked up her rifle and began adjusting settings for her shot.
"Don't forget that you only have to shoot if Winner doesn't end the charities."
"I am quite familiar with what I am supposed to do, Zechs, thank you. I am the one Treize-sama appointed for this, you're here to provide me with assistance, but I did not ask for your opinion", Lady Une said very coldly.
"Of course, of course, it's just … You know Treize-sama wouldn't like unnecessary bloodshed. If Mr Winner knows where his best interests lies …"
"I know, I know", Une cut impatiently. "I'll be sure to remember that."
She put the rifle back on the roof and smiled, the kind of smile that made Zechs want to run very far away and hide himself in a hole, and he wasn't even ashamed of admitting it. Anyone seeing Lady Une smile like this would have run.
"But whatever happens, Yuy is dead meat. I was always second to Lowe when he was alive. I'll rectify this today."
O.O.O.O.O
"Good morning", Quatre said in the microphones. "If you could please be quiet just a moment, I have an announcement to make, and then I'll be most happy to answer all your questions."
The brouhaha that had followed Quatre's entrance was reduced to a low whisper as every journalist did his very best to catch every word.
"Thank you", Quatre kept on. "As you all know, I have now taken the charge of CEO of Winner Enterprises Incorporated due to my father's death. This tragic event occurred as my father was trying to set up new charity programs in favor of the deprived, especially in the L2 and L3 colony clusters. It is no mystery to those of you who follow the news that those two things are related."
A light pause to let everyone ponder those words, then Quatre went on to the next part of his speech, after stealing a quick glance to Heero. The Japanese nodded imperceptibly to signify he hadn't spotted Une yet.
"My father was assassinated because he tried to help people who were left behind. He was killed because he tried to make something he believed in a reality. I know that the GSA will do their very best to catch the person behind this assassination, but that is not enough. As his heir, I cannot let my father's ideals be crushed because someone decided to shoot him. I cannot accept that the good WEI was going to do could be reduced to nothing due to the stubbornness and greed of some people. This is why, in spite of the threats that have been issued against WEI charity workers, the programs that my father started will continue, in memory of his actions. My sister Iria and myself will personally stay at the head of WEI Charities, our new division, to make sure they will be implemented. This project is now the one that I hold dearest, and I'll do my best to make sure everything that I designed with my father will come true. Now if you have any questions …"
There was a rush for the podium.
O.O.O.O.O
"Well, I guess that answers it", Une said, putting the binoculars down and taking the rifle again. "Get ready to depart. My men have orders not to shoot Yuy, but they'll slow the security service down."
'Oh my God, this is going to turn into full scale slaughter', Zechs thought as he watched the slender silhouettes of Duo Maxwell and Trowa Barton. 'Yuy and Chang can fight, but the others … And what about Winner ? There are fifty men in the streets below to 'slow them down'. Am I ready to take responsibility for that ? I can't stop her now, it's too soon ! Or too late ! Whatever, it's not the right time !'
And Zechs watched, powerless, as Une began to carefully aim for the podium.
O.O.O.O.O
Heero looked at the roofs, dismissing the journalists as irrelevant. Une was somewhere there, he was sure of it. The unknown parameter in this was Wind. Would the agent understand what was going on, and more importantly, how would he react to the situation if he understood ? This was a variable Heero had no power upon. 'Except eliminating it if it proves to be too much of a liability', his mind corrected. Not the case yet.
Noin was also a potential danger, but Heero still believed that it was best not to have warned her. She would never have agreed with the plan. It looked like Wufei had told something to Sally Po, but the blond woman was acting as if she didn't know anything. She was here as a representative of the official body the GSA was, and only interacting with the 'official' security service.
A small glimmer caught Heero's eyes. A glimmer he would recognize anywhere, the glimmer of the lights reflecting on metal. The blue eyes looked up at the building straight in front of the WEI building. The Japanese apprehended the scene in seconds. Une on the roof, holding the sniper rifle directed right at Quatre, Zechs at her side, and no one else noticing anything.
'I don't have time to go there and stop her', he thought, coldly calculating the probabilities. 'She will shoot in the next seconds. The only way is to …'
Before anyone could react or even understand what was happening, Heero had lunged forward and pushed Quatre out of the way. The blond young man fell on the floor behind his lover and shook his head, a bit dazed. He looked up just in time to see Heero stagger back as the bullet pierced his left shoulder.
O.O.O.O.O
Duo shot forward to kneel beside Quatre. He was ready to catch Heero too, but if the Japanese stumbled he did not fall. He did not blink either for that matter, fixing the roof from which the shot had come with a burning glare.
"You okay, Cat ?"
"Yeah, I … Heero ?"
"Stay here", the Japanese said tersely, before jogging off to the end of the podium and diving into the crowd, rapidly disappearing.
"Heero !", Quatre shouted, before letting out a choice of curse words in Arabic that made even Duo blush.
But to be honest, Duo was a bit shaken too. He had seen nothing until the moment he had turned to speak to Heero only to notice Heero wasn't there anymore.
"Damn it, what does he think he's doin' ? Mister takes a KTP in the shoulder and he takes off to give it back to the crazy lady ! That's just …"
"Duo, stop !", Trowa ordered sharply. "He needs back up. Wufei ?"
"I'll stay with him", the Chinese said, beckoning to the other two to move forward.
On the ground, Quatre was positively fuming. He was completely mad at Heero for running off with a bullet wound, and at the rest of his friends for trying to make him stay here while his lover was hunting the killer wounded. Lucrezia Noin was helping Rashid and his men to contain the crowd of panicked journalists, and her shouts of 'Please everybody stay calm!' were gradually increasing in volume. Unsurprisingly, Sally Po had materialized behind Wufei.
"Let's go", Trowa said to Duo, and they took off after Heero.
O.O.O.O.O
"They'll have a car or somethin'", Duo grumbled as he ran. "Think Iron Man thought of that ?"
"I'm sure he thought of that, but not that he cared", Trowa answered.
"God, that's just neat, so what he's gonna run after them losing his blood ? Cat's gonna gut us if anything's happens to him …"
Duo's voice trailed off as he noticed a bright shining motorcycle chained to a lamppost. Tugging Trowa's sleeve, he ran to it.
"This is yours ?", he yelled at the group of teenagers that was lazing not too far away.
They shook their head, watching with wide eyes as Duo took one of his gundanium blades and cut through the chain as easily as through butter. Two more seconds only were needed to wire the engine and make it roar.
"C'mon, Tro ! Let's catch up with them !"
O.O.O.O.O
"Wufei, let me go !", Quatre protested as he vainly tried to escape his friend's grip.
"I promised him I would watch over you in case he couldn't", Wufei protested. "You want to make me lie ?"
Quatre let out a deep exasperated sigh, but didn't stop trying to get away.
"What the hell was he thinking ?", he ranted, more for himself than his public. "Was he even thinking at all ? That was the stupidest stunt I ever saw, why did he step in front of me ?"
"Because he was trying to protect you !", Wufei said, beginning to lose his temper. "Can't you at least try to understand what he's trying to do ?"
"Getting shot is not going to protect me !", Quatre snapped back. "And if that was supposed to make me feel better, then it didn't work !"
"Quatre, please calm down …"
"I can't ! ... Calm down ! What am I supposed to do, Wufei, watch him get shot and say 'thank you' ? No way ! This was stupid, and I have every intention to tell him once I get my hands on him again !"
"Quatre … He's just doing what he thinks is best for you, he's not …"
"I'd like people to stop doing what they think is best for me and start asking for my opinion instead ! Damn it, Wufei, my whole family spent their time doing that to me for eighteen years, you don't think I'm going to let him do that too, do you ? He's hurt because of me, this whole thing was my idea ! I'm going after him and no one is going to stop me, not even you Wufei ! So let the fuck go of me or I'll make you !"
Wufei let go of Quatre, more because of the shock of seeing his friend in such a rage and swearing for all he was worth than because he really wanted to. Quatre's face was stubbornly set, his eyes gleaming with a feral light.
"Quatre, I told him I would look after you. He wouldn't want you to go running after Une by yourself and putting yourself even more into danger just because of him. He wouldn't want you to get to her for revenge like this."
"Fei, I don't give a damn about that bitch, she can go to hell for all I care !"
"Wh… What ? But …"
"Fei, I'm not crazy enough to go chasing after a serial killer myself, even if she did kill my father and hurt my sister and my lover. I know perfectly well it won't bring anyone back. I couldn't care less about her, it's … it's him I can't lose."
And all of a sudden, the fear was visible again in the green-blue eyes. Wufei shook his head.
"No, Quatre. He promised me, I know he's not going to …"
"I know it too, Wufei. He doesn't want to lose his life either. He knows he's got me to come back to. But if you only knew how angry he is … how hurt … I can feel it all, it's burning me from the inside … I know he wants to live. I … Allah, Fei, I'm scared shitless that he's going to do something completely crazy because he won't have a choice. I want him back ! I need him, Fei. I can't live without him. I can't lose him. Not now. I won't stand it."
Quatre's eyes were pleading, begging for understanding.
"Let me go, please. I have to find him. I'm not staying here waiting for someone to bring me news. I can't feel him well because of that damn training of his, so I'm going to see it with my own eyes. I have to."
"But Quatre … Oh, I'm not gonna win this, am I ?", Wufei groaned, rubbing a point between his eyes. "I'll be damned if I've ever met anyone more stubborn than you two ! You guys are going to kill me ! He wants to protect you, you want to protect him, you both claim you don't need protection and we end up in a bloody mess ! What am I supposed to do with you two, honest ?"
"I'm sorry, Fei, really. But I have to go. I have to make sure he is going to come back. This is a chance I can't take. Where he goes, I'm going to. He won't leave me behind, not this time. So if you still want to protect me, you'll have to follow me."
And Quatre dashed away, leaving his friend to watch him go and curse loudly in Mandarin. The young Chinese almost jumped out of his skin as Sally caught him by the sleeve and began to run.
"Sally ! What the hell …"
"Come on!", she said. "We'll never catch up with him if we don't run !"
"But … what … how … Oh, hell ! What's gone into you people today ?", Wufei yelled as he followed.
O.O.O.O.O
The motorcycle was racing at top speed behind the black jeep, slowly gaining on it.
"Seen Heero ?", Duo yelled to Trowa while negotiating a curb the fastest possible.
"No."
"Damn it, where is he ? Never mind, we're catchin' up, if Blondie would be kind and make a move ! Hey, what's that ?"
A small troop of men had suddenly appeared from alleys and barred the road a hundred yards ahead. Looking up, Trowa saw some more on the roofs of the building surrounding the streets. Not even stopping to think, he caught Duo's shoulders and used them to lever himself until he was standing behind his lover on the motorcycle.
"Shit, Tro, watcha doin' ?", Duo said, peeking in his rearview mirror and gasping as he realized what was going on. "Sit back down !"
"I'm taking up, take care of down", the green-eyed young man answered.
And he jumped off the motorcycle, catching the lowest bar of a fire ladder in the middle of his jump and swiftly getting himself back upright.
"God I hate it when he does that!", Duo mumbled under his breath ! "Now let's think, do I just drive on the crazy idiots or do I actually stop and kill them all ? Well, option B has possibilities, definitely ! And I definitely have some steam to work off ! Too bad they were in my way !"
As he reached the human barrage, Duo threw the motorcycle on the floor and let go of it, letting it crash in the nearby wall, taking two of the men with it. The young man swiftly rolled back on his feet, and unsheathed his two black blades, watching with a grin as a circle began to close around him.
"One, two, three, four .. or bust it, let's just say you are a lot ! Now let me think, how many of you actually do have a brain ?"
"Shut up !", one of the men barked.
"Uh uh, I don't think so ! You see, I like talking a lot. And to be exact, I'm not the one in trouble, you are, guys !"
"What's he talking about ?", one of the men asked, and all of them started to look at each other uneasily. This was not a usual reaction to being cornered and outnumbered. And Une had not warned them about that guy in particular.
"Those of you who come from L2 know what I'm talkin' about", Duo snarled, his eyes slowly turning creepy blue again, and he had the satisfaction to see some of the guys pale a bit and start to sweat. "Those who don't, well guess I'll have to do you a topo or somethin'. To sum it up, your boss burnt my house, killed the only family I had, shot my best friend's dad, tried to shoot him and just wounded his lover. So I just wanna get back to her and give her a piece of my mind, see ? 'Cause it's only fair, she did all this crap to me and she didn't even get one little bit in return !"
"Shinigami", someone breathed, and more men paled visibly and started to back off.
"Ding-ding-ding, give the winner a prize !", Duo exclaimed in a not so sane voice before bowing in front of his public. "Now let's get somethin' straight. I don't enjoy killing people that much, actually, I hate killing dumb people, but dontcha know, it's always the dumb ones who get caught, but whatever … anyway, I'm giving you a choice here, boys ! Either you stay here, and you're in the biggest trouble of your life, and I'm not responsible for everything that will happen to you. Well in truth I am responsible, seeing as Shinigami is me, and I am gonna inflict endless torments to you, the whole nine yards. Anyway, for those of you who choose to leave, a sensible choice if I might add that, you got two options. Option one means going to 'slow down' my other friends, which will oblige me to hunt you down and kill you later. Option two means getting your ass back to L2 and making sure I never ever hear about you again. I know what I'd choose in your place, folks, but hey, your choice. So ?"
About a third of the men lowered their weapons and started to slowly back off to some safer place. The man who was obviously the leader looked at them incredulously.
"What do you think you're doin' ? He's just a kid and the boss said to slow them down !"
"Yeah, well, you slow him down and if there's somethin' left of ya after that, we'll speak of it okay ? I kinda like my head where it is, on my shoulders !"
"You can't just leave now !"
"Wanna bet ?"
"Lady Une said …"
"Lady Une said 'slow them down, it's gonna be easy'. She never said a thing about Shinigami."
"That would be 'cause the Lady doesn't know me, chaps", Duo cut in, remembering everyone of his presence. "Don't know why, but it looks like the circle of my fans doesn't go out of L2, that's a bit unfair if you ask me. Then, if you look closely at things, I'm more a good kind of guy, so no wonder most bad guys don't know me unless they get to face my wrath, which usually ends up with them in such a bad shape that …"
"Won't you just shut up !", the leader snapped.
Two seconds later, he was almost wetting his pants as Duo stalked towards him, murder alive in his eyes. The braided young man hadn't even pulled a weapon on the man, he was simply staring at him while slowly walking on him.
"There is only one person in this universe who's got a right to tell me that, dumbass ! And you are not he !"
This seemed to trigger some sort of signal in the people who had recognized Duo and it didn't take them more than a few seconds to put themselves out of harm's way and to run as fast as they could in the opposite direction. Duo watched them leave, then turned back to the leader of the remaining group, who was now starting to look nicely green.
"Good. Now that those of you who still had a few brain cells in the air they got between their ears have cleared the way, let's get to serious stuff. I'm on the hunt, guys. Not that I'm the only one, I think I'm right in sayin' Yuy's after your boss right now, and who knows, her Creepy Ladyness could have some surprises before the curtain falls … as for you …"
The two black blades glimmered under the bright and joyful lights of L4.
"Hope you didn't have anyone waiting for you at home, cuz you're gonna be late. Very, very late."
O.O.O.O.O
(1) Japanese for 'I'm sorry'.
(2) Another way of saying 'Thank you'.