Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or its characters. I also don't own the song "Bring me to life" by Evanescence, which has aided in many of the dramatic scenes of my stories by setting the mood. . . I do, however, own "Propylon", which I won't tell you what it is yet or else I'll spoil the surprise! . evil laugh
Chapter 11
"Hmm? Where'd she go?" Michael muttered as he walked into his cabin, finding the floor absent of a body. Looking around, he noticed a cleaner sparkle to the room, which somewhat startled him.
Did she clean my house? Michael wondered, his eyes widening as he roamed toward his kitchen. Pushing open the door, he found the culprit.
"What. . .are you doing?" Michael said, his eyes locked onto the woman going through his refrigerator.
"Oh, you're back! Yay, and you brought food! Gimme!" Rachel jumped up and ran over to him, quickly grabbing the bags of groceries out of his arms. He barely had time to complain when she whipped out the edibles, commenting along the way.
"Hey. . ." He hesitantly stepped toward her, a little confused by how she was acting.
"Where's your pots and pans, maybe I can make a worthwhile meal out of these TV dinners. Do you have any spices?" She rattled off questions as she bustled around the small kitchen.
"You haven't found them yet? Seems you've searched this place pretty thoroughly. . ." He grumbled as she looked through drawers searching out the items she needed.
"Nope, I was just starting on the kitchen when you came back, haven't been awake long. A little help here?" She said, not turning to him as she stretched to see into the top cabinets. He frowned and stalked across the floor to her, grabbing her arm as she reached up to open another cabinet door. Startled, she stared at him, saying, "If. . .you want to cook. . .that's okay too. . ." Although he was frowning, he didn't look mad, he looked almost sad. Slowly, he let her go, turning away and muttering, "Do as you wish, I'm not hungry." He quickly walked out of the kitchen and disappeared somewhere else in the cabin. She just stared at the door for a while, wondering what his problem was. After preparing dinner, she wandered into the living room with a plate of food, looking for Michael. A soft tune floated through the cabin, catching Rachel's attention as she followed it to the bedroom door.
"♪How can you see into my eyes like open doors? Leading you down into my core, where I've become so numb. Without a soul, my spirit's sleeping somewhere cold until you find it there and lead it back home. ♪"
I know this song. . .Rachel thought, listening to the singing.
"♪Wake me up inside, wake me up inside, call my name and save me from the dark. Bid my blood to run, before I come undone. Save me from the nothing I've become.♪"
"Is that what you really want?" Rachel whispered at the door. The singing stopped, followed by the creek of the door as Michael stared wide-eyed at her.
"Were you eavesdropping on me?" Michael hissed.
"No, I was just coming to see if you were interested in some food, it's still a little hot." She said quietly, offering a plate of the dinner she made. He looked down at it, surprised by how different it looked from the TV dinners he had bought.
"Oh. . ." He slowly took the plate, the aroma drifting up from it teasing his hungry stomach. Turning away, Rachel paused briefly to say, "All your songs, they're so. . .sad. . .lonely. . .desperate. You're only alone. . .because you chose to be, you know." With that, she walked back to the kitchen to get herself a plate of food.
Why. . .did she say that? What does she care? Michael thought, caught off guard by the concern she showed for him. His stomach complained to him as the smell of the meal in his hands became too much to stand. Turning, he closed the door.
"Hello, hello, do come in! I've been expecting you, Ms. Noin. I believe you'll find everything's in order?" An old man welcomed her in, waving her into an entranceway. She nodded to him, quietly following him down the empty corridor, their footsteps echoing off the white walls. They reached a door at the far end, the man pulling open a small panel on the wall next to it. Removing a chain from around his neck, he fiddled with the key hanging from it and stuck it into a slot in the panel. With a moan, the old metal door slowly eased open, sliding away into a hidden hole in the wall. Motioning, the man stepped into the next room, waving his hands up as he said, "Here she is! The Propylon of the future." Slightly in awe, Noin responded, "Indeed. . .is she ready?"
"Whenever you are."
"Good." Noin smiled.
"YAWN Goooood mornin'!" Duo stretched as he entered the foyer, finding a few of the guests lulling about in a sleepy state.
"Why are you so cheerful?" Chang asked, glaring at the smiling man.
"Hey, don't pick on me cause you're not a morning person! Where's Trowa at?" Duo glanced over in Quatre's direction. Looking up from his tea, he said, "Oh, he's in his room sleeping, he didn't get to bed until very late last night."
"Couldn't sleep?"
"Something like that. . ."
"Hey, where's your better half at? Is she still asleep too?"
"She's. . .not feeling well, you know, pregnancy stuff." Quatre looked down at his tea and slowly took a sip.
"Ah. . ." Duo sensed a desire for silence and made his way toward the kitchen to get some breakfast. Heero walked into the foyer, soon followed by his wife who floated over to Quatre and said hello.
"What took you so long getting up this morning, Yuy?" Chang eyed him, his eyebrow cocked.
"I was up, just busy in my office with some paperwork." Heero said, looking fully awake, unlike the others.
"Right. . .paperwork. . .like that work you had last night. . ." Duo commented as he walked back into the room. Heero glared at him and muttered something but no one quite understood what he said as he took a seat on the love seat. Duo sat down in a chair by the coffee table and set his plate of food down, relaxing as he drank his glass of orange juice.
"So do we have any plans for today? I don't like sitting around when I could be doing something to stop this." Chang commented, staring at Heero in expectance.
"Well, I had made plans for another meeting to discuss this new information on the enemy, devise a strategy to take their operation out and-" A sudden clatter of silverware on the floor caused everyone to stare at Duo in confusion. His eyes were wide as possible, making him look like he had just seen a ghost.
"Duo?" Relena tilted her head, noticing the far off look on his face.
". . .Rachel. . .?" Duo muttered, his eyes fluttering as he fell out of his seat, hitting his head on the table as he crashed to the floor.
"Duo!" Quatre jumped up, running over to his friend's aid.
"What on earth-" Chang stood, staring at the shivering form on the rug. Quatre lifted Duo's head, looking into his pain stricken expression as he exclaimed, "Duo! Duo, what's wrong?"
"No, get away, help me! DUO!" Duo screamed; the whole room sinking into a stunned silence.
"What were you doing out here! TELL ME!" Michael screamed as he wrestled with Rachel to hold her still.
"I was just getting some fresh air, I wasn't running away!" Rachel exclaimed, struggling to get free.
"Who were you calling! Duo, who's that!" Michael pulled her against himself and she stopped fighting, staring up into his fierce green eyes, feeling her knees giving under the glare.
"M-my. . .boyfriend. . .I thought I heard him. . ." Rachel said, her eyes beginning to shake with tears. She tilted her head down, resting against his shirt as she shook, trying to keep from crying. Michael loosened his grip, stepping back, a little caught off guard by her tears.
"Is he. . .like you. . .with the powers?" Michael asked, trying not to sound like he was caving to her emotions.
". . .Yes. . ." Rachel muttered, slowly reaching up to wipe away the hot salty rivers streaming down her face, "He was there. . .I felt him. . .somewhere. . .he's so scared, something's not right. . ."
"He's worried about you, no doubt. . .inside, now." Michael scoffed at her and stalked toward the cabin.
"No. . .it's someone else. . .I'm not the only one. . ." Rachel said, falling to her knees as she shuttered at the thought of who else had been caught. Glancing back, Michael began to wonder about his situation.
She's truly heartbroken. . .no one could fake tears like that, and I've seen my fair share of actresses. Maybe. . .something else really is going on. . .I've been out here so long. . . Turning, Michael walked off toward the cabin with Rachel close behind him slowly following.
"What just happened?" Heero asked after they put Duo back in his bed. Closing his door quietly, Quatre said softly, "I'm not quite sure. . .he was starting to sound like someone was talking through him. He muttered Rachel's name before he went into that possessed state, perhaps she had found some way of speaking to us."
"Someone has her captive, she was most likely trying to run but got caught and tried to call for help. But where is she? Did he give any indication?"
"No, he passed out too quickly for me to ask any questions, that bump on his head might have something to do with it but. . .maybe. . ."
"Is she with the others or is there someone else out there stirring up trouble? It didn't seem like she was taken the way the others were, she would have done something to stop her kidnapping or at least warned Duo. She was taken quickly and without much warning, there's only one possibility. . ."
"What's that?"
"There's someone else out there like us. . ." Quatre stopped in his tracks, staring at Heero as he said, "Heero, you're not serious! Why would Rachel give anyone else powers?"
"Maybe it wasn't on purpose, besides this is mere speculation. . .I wouldn't have thought that she was so easy to capture. Last time when OZ caught her, she at least called out for help."
"That is true. . .maybe she's not really kidnapped, perhaps she's just hiding out?"
"Wishful thinking. . .when Duo wakes up, we need to ask him some questions. Meanwhile, we have a meeting to attend." Heero walked into the foyer, announcing the meeting.
"Duo. . ." Rachel whispered, scrunched up on the couch as she stared into the distance, still mulling over the voice in her head earlier.
I heard him, I know it wasn't my imagination. There must be a certain distance from Michael where I can use my powers; how far from him was I? 100 feet perhaps? It wasn't that far. . .but I was outside of this cabin. . .maybe if I could just get back out there I could teleport away and put up a shield to keep him away. . .just being with Duo is enough, he could protect me from him. I just need the right timing. . .
"Rachel. . ." Looking up, she saw Michael standing next to her, looking down sadly. Blinking, Rachel said, "Y-yes?" He sat down next to her, his head bowed in contemplation as he said quietly, "What exactly. . .did you mean when you said my songs were. . .lonely. . ." She stared at him, thinking, He's finally giving in. . .I would have expected him to be harder. . . He looked up into her eyes, touching her cheek with his gloved hand as he said, "I don't. . .like being alone. . .but I can't help it, I can't do anything about it. . .not like this."
"Michael, I. . ." She felt sorry for him, her heart pounding as she sensed his torment. She leaned over, resting against his chest and surprising him as she said, "If you let me go back. . .I'll help you, I promise. But I need to return, it's getting pretty bad out there and I don't know who's missing now. . .your sister could even be in danger. Michael. . .will you please help me?" His eyes were wide as his heart pounded in his chest, slowly causing his arms to slip over Rachel and hold her tightly. Tilting his head down, he said, "I. . .I'll help you. . .for my sister. . ." Suddenly, Rachel sat up, staring into his eyes happily.
"Are you serious? Oh, thank you, Michael!" As quickly as she sat up, she wrapped her arms around his waist, grabbing him in a warm hug. He gulped, not used to such displays of affection as he eased his arms down to rest on her back. They sat for a while like that in quiet before Rachel got up and began insisting on their immediate departure to the Sanc Capitol.
"Mike!" Stacy ran to her old friend, tackling him in a hug. He blinked, surprised that she was there.
"Hey Mike, who's the chick?" Mike said, lowering his shades so he could get a better look at the girl hugging his comrade. Mike smiled and Stacy leaned back, saying with a smile, "We're old friends. I haven't seen you since you went off to join the peace movement! How are you?" He shrugged and she dragged him off to catch up.
"Awe. . .look, he does have a girlfriend!" Chris said with a dorky smile on his face, wiping an invisible tear from his eye.
"They're just friends. . .not sure he'd have the guts to ask her out if it was anything more. . .he's so quiet. . ." Mike muttered, watching the girl go on about things that had happened in her life.
"Kinda like you?" Dexter elbowed Mike with a wink. Mike frowned and they all watched as Mike actually opened his mouth and responded to Stacy's questions.
"Woah. . .he's talking! Hey, what's her secret? I can never get him to talk!" Mike said, crossing his arms over his chest as he scowled at the two talking on and on.
"Guess he doesn't like you." Mike said quietly, glancing at Mike who glared back, about to punch him.
"Boys, chill out, the boss' sis is here." Chris whispered, poking the feuding Mikes as Relena walked into the lobby to greet the guests.
"Hello, I assume you're my brother's men. . ." Relena addressed Chris. He bowed, taking her hand and kissing it as he said, "We are, special lady." Relena smiled.
"I'd remove your lips from my wife's hand, if you want to keep them." Heero said as he walked in behind her. Chris stood up and said, scratching his head, "It was merely a sign of respect, sir."
"Hmm." Heero grunted, keeping a sharp eye on Chris for the remainder of the visit.
"Everyone's in the board room, if you'll come with me. . ." Relena led the men down the hall to the room holding the members of the Sanc Council, showing them to some spare seats placed around the long table. She took her place at the head of the table, clearing her throat as she said, "Now that our informants have arrived, we can continue with business. You two say you know the enemy?" Relena looked in Mike and Stacy's direction, signaling them to speak.
"Well yes, it was Chris who kidnapped Mrs. Wufei; he didn't speak to me but I could never forget his face." Stacy said, bowing her head sadly.
"And that virus you ran into, are you positive it was him as well?" Milliardo asked. Mike nodded, glancing at Mike who still looked perturbed about it.
"Well then, we have photographic I.D. on him, we can keep on the lookout for him if he ever turns up again."
"I don't think he would be just wandering around, Chris is smarter than that. . ." Stacy commented. Everyone looked at her suspiciously and she added, "Well. . .he played a lot of strategy games when we were younger. . ."
"Uh huh. . .so why don't we set a trap and see if they bite?" Chang suggested.
"A trap? Like. . .put a blowup Quatre in some park and wait for someone to grab it?" Duo seemed less than enthusiastic.
"It's too risky, we can't let them have the chance of kidnapping anyone else. Besides, they seem set on capturing the women in the group. . .and the only ones left and Relena and Noin." Heero said, not thrilled with the idea.
"Speaking of which, where is Noin?" Quatre asked.
"She said she had an old friend to meet up with. I never ask, cause she won't tell me. . ." Milliardo said, feeling a sigh almost come out.
"Aren't you the slightest bit worried?" Dexter wondered.
"She's an ex-lieutenant of OZ, she's not that easy to capture." Milliardo commented.
"And what of Asuka? She killed OZ officers, and yet she was taken down. Don't think your woman is any different." Chang sounded insulted by the remark.
"Let's settle down, gentlemen, and stick to more pressing concerns. Now-" Relena tried to calm the argument between the two men but things only proceeded to get worse. As soon as they had contained their feud, Stacy let out a cry as two figures faded into the back of the room out of nowhere. Jumping to his feet, Quatre exclaimed, "RACHEL!" Everyone seemed to stand at once, startled by the presence of their missing friend and the mysterious man next to her.
"Who's he?" Chang said, staring at Michael with a suspicious eye. Milliardo reached for his pistol holster but Rachel raised her hand, saying, "No, please, don't be alarmed. This is Michael, he is an ally of ours now."
"Where have you been?" Heero asked, still not sure of Michael.
"Well. . ." She glanced at Michael who was staring at Quatre, his eyes slightly wider than usual. She tilted her head, whispering, "Michael?"
It's him. . .no, I can't be here. . .he'll remember me. . .Michael thought, backing toward the door.
"Hey?" Rachel reached for his arm but he grabbed her first, pulling her out the door with him.
"Rachel!" Relena called out as the room grew tense, wondering if they should follow. As Michael charged toward the front door, Rachel resisted, saying, "Michael, what is your problem? Hey, stop! I thought we had a de-"
"No deal! You can stay here but I'll be back for you later, don't try to run away." Michael said. He let go but Rachel held on, pulling him back and slapping him.
"GAH!" She recoiled her hand, forgetting about his skin contact response. Stepping back, she winced as her head spun for a second. He rubbed his cheek spitefully, muttering, "Idiot. . .it's your own fault. . ."
"Why are you running away? What's wrong?" Rachel asked, looking confused.
"I'm not running away! Leave me alone!" He turned, starting for the door.
"I thought you didn't want to be alone. . ." She whispered. He halted, caught by her words.
"Rachel?" Whipping her head around, Rachel saw Duo standing in the hallway, looking unsteady and half-asleep as he gazed at her and the man by the door.
"Duo. . ." Rachel said, her eyes sparkling with joy as she started toward him but looked back at Michael who was still facing the door.
Michael. . .
