Disclaimer: I do not claim to own Gundam Wing yawn so. . .sigh don't sue. . .yawn me. . .I think I need some sleep. . .
Chapter 27
Heero braced himself against the sides of the shaft as Quatre came tumbling down and crashed into him. He cringed as he slid down a ways, getting sharp rub burns from the metal against his back as his shirt rode up, his hands slipping slowly. He forced his body out in all directions to stop himself, feeling the weight of Quatre's body pushing him down. He groaned and said, "Quatre, get. . .off me. . ." Quatre didn't respond. Heero looked closer at him and figured out that he had hit his head and fell unconscious. With a sigh of strain, Heero started down the shaft with Quatre on top of him, hoping he wouldn't slip and brake his back on the bottom. He finally reached the bottom and let out a sigh of relief, turning his head to look out the vent slats, only to see a face staring in at him. His eyes widened as the grate was pulled off, revealing a young woman with bluish black hair masking half her face, her eyes the same shimmering color.
"Well hello there, I didn't realize we had an infestation in our air ducts. Who might you be?" The woman asked, blinking her curious blue-purple eyes. He didn't respond as he tried to get out and fight her off. She grabbed his arm and said, "Woah, calm down! What did I say?" Quatre slid off Heero's lap and almost hit his head on the floor if the woman's quick reflexes hadn't kicked in. She caught him and Heero stared at her, trying to figure out if he should kill her or not.
"You work for OZ, don't you. . ." Heero asked in his cold voice. She looked up at him and said, "Well. . .I suppose. . .who are you?"
"Who are you." Heero returned the question. She smiled and said, "Lieutenant Noin."
Noin. . .she's Zechs' second in command. Heero remembered as he fell out of the vent, standing in front of Noin. She looked up at him, sizing up his body and figuring he was a bit too much for her to take down.
"Stand aside, I don't need to hurt you if I don't have to but I will." She held Quatre in her arms, frowning up at Heero as she said, "You have an attitude problem, you know that? I just said hello and you're throwing death threats at me already! Wait, you're the reason those alarms are going off, aren't you? Are you a rebel spy?"
"I suggest you hand him over, if you want to ever see that OZ man again." Heero threatened, his hand stretched out to Quatre's limp body. She blinked and said, "OZ man?"
"The one who came after us, I believe Zechs is his name. . ."
"Zechs? What did you do to him!" Noin looked worried.
"I didn't do anything, it's my friends that stopped him. I heard he's not doing so good, but since he's our prisoner now it doesn't really matter." Noin frowned at Heero and said, "Let him go, you don't understand. . ."
"I understand perfectly, now give him to me." Heero gestured to Quatre again and she looked down at him. Finally, she pulled out a gun and aimed it to Quatre's head, saying, "You'll take me to Zechs right now, or else." Heero growled and didn't want to take any chances on Quatre's life.
"Fine, but don't try anything stupid." She picked up Quatre, carrying him along with her as she followed Heero across the field to where their Gundams were hidden. Noin jumped into Sandrock with Quatre and piloted it back to the plane where they loaded up. Taking off, they were spotted by a patrol group and shot at.
"Hold on." Heero said bluntly as he veered back and forth to avoid being hit. They finally traveled far enough away to escape the attack. About 10 minutes later they arrived back at the camp to find the mess awaiting them. Noin's eyes widened when she saw the condition of Tallgeese, its hands mutilated and its body burnt and half destroyed.
"It looks like a war went on here. . ." Noin commented. Heero grunted and landed the plane, getting out with Noin following, carrying Quatre to ensure her safety. They walked over to the encampment and went up the elevator, remaining quiet the entire ride up. Noin stepped out of the elevator and waited for Heero to lead the way. He glanced into the first hut to see where everyone was and found the group, battered and injured from the battle. He stepped in and said, "You weren't kidding. . ."
"Heero, you're back." Relena said joyfully, jumping up and remembering her ankle as it throbbed. She fell back onto the bed and he quickly walked over to her, examining her ankle intently. Noin cautiously stepped in and said, "Where's Zechs? You told me he was here."
"Who's the pretty lady?" Duo asked as he stood up, greeting Noin.
"Lieutenant Lucrezia Noin, I'm here for Zechs. And I do believe he needs medical attention." Noin said, looking down at Quatre who hung off her shoulder by his arm. Duo motioned her to follow him and they stepped outside, walking down to the next hut over. He opened the door and looked in to see Trowa watching Zechs. Noin handed Quatre over to Duo and hurried to Zechs' side, blinking in admiration.
"His. . .mask is gone. I've never seen his entire face before. . .what happened?" Noin turned to Trowa, addressing the question to him. He blinked dully and said, "I don't know, I got here after the fight. You should ask Relena or Chang, since they were involved."
"I will." Noin checked his pulse and was satisfied with the steady beat. She brushed his bangs back as she felt his forehead for a temperature. Standing, she walked toward the door.
"Hey, wait! What happened to Quatre?" Duo asked Noin. She turned and looked down at him, saying, "I don't know, I found him and your other friend in the ventilation shaft." She walked out and returned to the first hut. She walked over to Relena and said, "Relena?" She looked up in surprise and said, "Yes, do I know you?"
"No, I was just guessing who you were. So, you're who he was after. . .what happened to Zechs?" Noin asked, musing for a moment.
"He fell from his Gundam, I think he might have broken his back." Relena said sadly.
"And where'd his mask go?"
"Oh, I broke it."
"You did what?" Noin looked shocked.
"She told me to, it was cracked anyway. . .why, what's the big deal with it?" Relena pointed to Rachel. Noin looked over at her and saw how bad her wounds were, walking across the hut to her bed. Heero stood and said, "Now that you've been here, I can't let you leave, you might tell Treize where we are and how bad it is."
"I don't know what you're talking about, I just came to get Zechs." Noin said, starting to resent being so nice to him in the first place and not sounding the alarm on him.
"You came for him? Are you his friend?" Relena asked.
"I guess you can say that. . .I don't know what's with his fascination in you but he seems to always be protecting you or looking out for you."
"Really?" Relena felt a slight blush on her cheek as she smiled. Heero frowned and said, "I don't get it, do you even know him?"
"Well, personally no but. . .he's my brother." Heero looked surprised.
"He is?" Heero said. Relena was about to answer when they heard commotion in the hut next door. Noin and Heero ran over to it and stopped in the doorway as they heard Zechs arguing with Trowa and Duo.
"Zechs, you're awake, how do you feel?" Noin asked as she walked over to him. He paused and stared at her, saying, "Noin? What are you doing here?"
"I caught two of these guys in the base and they said they had you, so I came to get you. But I don't think there's any plans for us to leave anytime soon. . ." Noin said, glancing over her shoulder at Heero standing in the doorway.
"Did Treize send you?"
"No, I came on my own accord."
"I see. . .well, no need to hurry me back, I will no longer work for Treize." Noin blinked in surprise and said, "What do you mean? You're joining them?"
"My mask was destroyed. It resembled my friendship with Treize; we are enemies now." Zechs stated briefly. Noin touched his shoulder as she said, "But then. . .what will you do now?"
"I don't know, I suppose fight against Treize. You might as well return because I won't be."
"I don't care much for OZ, I only want to help you achieve your goals, fight by your side. If you don't mind, I'd like to stay with you." Zechs blinked and said, "If you want to. . ." She smiled and said, "Thank you."
"Are you on our side now?" Duo asked, turning to the two ex-OZ officers.
"If you are against Treize, then yes, but I have one question, why is Relena with you?"
"Because I rescued her from death by the hands of your organization, they tried to suffocate her." Heero said coldly.
"What? Why! That wasn't suppose to happen, I don't even know why Treize wants her in the first place, her father is dead so there's no real significance to capturing her. She couldn't possibly know anything of importance. . ."
"She knows us." Duo commented.
"That is true, but he couldn't have known we had her in our possession. . ." Heero pondered.
"There's something strange going on and I want to know what it is. Like first off, why was I attacked and yet somewhat saved by an angel? She grew a sword from her hands and mutilated my Mobile suit. . .was she just a violent dream? Or is she. . .alive?" Zechs asked, still not able to move.
"I don't know for how much longer she'll be alive but yes, she's real." Heero said grimly.
"Don't say that, she'll be just fine!" Duo said, running out of the room to check on Rachel. Zechs viewed Duo's mood swing and said quietly, "He's in love with the angel, is he?"
"One might say so. . .hmm." Heero turned to Quatre. He lay unconscious still on the bed, his vest laying across the end of the bed and his shirt unbuttoned, pulled down around his elbows from when Duo had tended to and bandaged his bullet wound. Heero leaned against the doorframe, saying, "He's not very durable. . .one gunshot wound and he's out like a light."
"Give him a break, you had him crawling through ventilation shafts! He's not like you,. . .I don't even think I know your name."
"It's Heero." Everyone turned to see Relena in the doorway beside Heero, her hand on his shoulder for support as she hopped up. She leaned her other hand on his shoulder and rested her head against the backs of her hands, staring down at Zechs and Noin.
"Relena, you're alright." Zechs said, sounding pleased. She smiled weakly and said, "So are you. . .I suppose."
"I can't move, I think I may be paralyzed permanently. . ." Zechs said sadly. Noin looked concerned and said, "No, you can't be, we need you! You're one of the best pilots I've ever met. . ."
"Noin. . .it can't be stopped, what's done is done." Heero looked at the floor, thinking how Rachel could probably do something about it. But she was badly hurt, barely holding on herself at the moment. Heero glanced at Relena and saw the same look on her face, most likely having the same thoughts as well.
Everyone's so badly hurt; this isn't looking good. . .what if we get attacked? My gundam is running low on fuel and Duo's Gundam has nothing in it but fumes. Quatre's gundam is battered, I don't know what we were thinking bringing his gundam along and leaving Chang behind, we could have used him. And as much as I'd like to claim the ability to do everything myself, I can't. . .not this time. We're seriously in trouble if we're attacked now. . . Heero thought as he stared at Relena's daydreaming eyes, gazing into the floor as she thought. Not showing any emotions, Heero reached up and touched Relena's cheek, startling her from her trance. She glanced up at him and smiled. He softened his stone-like expression and said, "You should sit down, you're not helping that ankle heal any faster by standing on it."
"I'm not standing on it, see?" She motioned to her flamingo-like stance, her knee bent and injured foot in the air behind her. He grunted and said, "I still would prefer that you sat down, just to be safe."
"Oh fine. . ." She started to hop forward when Heero put his hand on her waist, helping her along. She smiled at him and he eased her over to Zechs' bed, sitting her down on the edge on the other side of Noin.
"I'll go check to see how the others are doing and-" He heard shuffling noises and turned to see Quatre waking and sitting up. Wincing, Quatre gently touched his bandaged arm, saying, "Ugh, what happened? I remember my foot sliding and then things started spinning. . .Heero?" He looked up groggily and blinked, seeing Noin by Relena and Heero. Heero walked over to the bed and said, "You passed out and fell on top of me, I could have broken my back on the bottom of that vent shaft thanks to you, but all I got was a painful rub burn." Heero sternly scolded. Quatre hunched over, sweating a bit as he said, "I. . .I'm sorry, Heero. I don't know what happened, I don't usually do that. I mean, I've been shot before and never passed out. . ."
"Well, I had to carry both our weights, be thankful I didn't slip too, we could have both been badly hurt if not killed."
"Heero, stop it! Why are you being so mean to Quatre, it wasn't something he could help!" Relena scolded Heero. He looked over his shoulder at her and grunted. Frowning, she responded, "Don't you grunt at me, I mean it, leave him alone, Heero Yuy! How would you feel if someone picked on you every time you messed up? Oh right, you'd just shoot them. . ." Heero turned to her and said quietly, "Why are you being so judgmental?"
"I'd like to ask the same question." Relena folded her arms, giving him a glare. It wasn't exactly Heero's death glare but it was a glare, more of a ticked "P.M.S. style" glare than anything. Heero looked away and said, "Fine, I'll stop."
"Good." Relena said, and the discussion ended. Trowa came walking in just then and said, "Rachel's awake, she wants to talk to you, Heero." Heero looked surprised and said, "Okay." He followed Trowa out the door to the other hut where he found Rachel's pale face moving, her eyes dull with weakness. She was whispering to Duo when Heero walked in and turned her attention to the newcomer.
"Heero. . ." Rachel whispered, almost gasping for air. He knelt down next to her bed, getting close so she didn't have to speak loud.
"You wanted to speak to me?" Heero asked calmly.
"I have to. . .to tell you something." Rachel closed her eyes as a chilly pain went through her body. Heero waited till she was settled. Opening her eyes again, she whispered, "I. . .I don't think I can make it this time. . .I've lost too much. . .blood and. . .I'm feeling fainter by the second. I think I might. . ."
"No, you can't die, please don't say that. . ." Duo pleaded, gently holding her cold hand in his, tears starting to well up in his eyes.
"It's the truth, Duo, she is dying." Heero said, glancing at him out of the corner of his eye. Trowa stood in the doorway, his arms folded as he watched them talk.
"Why don't you have that same enthusiasm to save her, Heero?" Trowa asked quietly. Heero turned to him and said, "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean, I'm talking about earlier. . .the cell. . .the air slowly draining out and you-"
"I get the picture." Heero growled. Yes, he had freaked out when Relena was suffocating. But that was different, wasn't it? He looked down at the bed in thought as he said, "I don't think there's anything any of us can do for her, so why judge me, Trowa. . .it's not as if I have any brilliant plans."
"But she's so valuable. . .are you just going to let her die?"
"I can't do anything, I'm just a human being."
"I thought you said you weren't human, Heero. . ." Heero looked up to see Quatre leaning against the doorframe, looking down at him with a stern stare.
"Are you okay? You looked scared, Heero."
"I don't have fear."
"It's not a bad thing to be scared now and then, it's part of being human."
"Then I guess I'm not human. . ." Oh yes. . .I did say that, didn't I. . .maybe. . .I was. . .wrong. . .Heero thought, remembering a conversation he had had with Quatre earlier on in their journeys.
"I was referring to fear, Quatre. . .I'm not afraid of anything." Heero stated.
"You're a hypocrite." Trowa said. Heero glared at him, feeling cornered in the three-way conversation.
"Well if you're so smart why don't you heal her, Trowa! HUH! Go ahead, work your magic!" Heero stood up, yelling and huffing. Trowa didn't shift his gaze as he said, "Calm down, Heero, you're not achieving anything through arguing."
"How about you shutup before I shoot you." Heero growled, reaching for his gun.
"Heero, please. . ." He stopped and turned back to Rachel, seeing her weakly reaching to him. He took her hand gently and said, "Rachel, I can't do anything for you. . ."
"Please, just let me. . .let me have. . ." She gasped out, trying to finish her sentence. He knelt down next to her bed, saying, "Let you have what?"
"Your life." Heero's eyes widened and he said, "My life?" Suddenly, his pupils shrank and he screamed, his head flying back as his eyes flew wide open. Just as suddenly as he let this outburst out, his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell to the floor, his grip on Rachel's hand loosened.
"HEERO!" Duo screamed, diving to the floor beside the wide eyed, unconscious boy.
