Savor the Darkness
-Two-
"Sir, I am not receiving a response to our hails."
Rashid scowls at the shuttle controls before him. Many of the Maguanaqs accompanying him on his journey cannot see the expression but they can acutely sense their leader's frustration.
"What are the readings on the runway?" he inquires after a moment of thought.
A third member of the group consults the instrumentation before him. "All clear, sir."
Attempting to squash the disquiet bubbling beneath his sternum, Rashid declares, "Continue with landing procedures."
As the others occasionally shout out a course correction or engine boost adjustment, Rashid holds the yoke steady and wonders why his old allies are not responding to their calls. He wonders at the subtle changes he has sensed amongst the Bedouin. He wonders about Master Quatre...
"Touchdown in five... four... three..."
A moment and a half later, the wheels make contact with the soft, shifting sand. Rashid fights to keep the wheels from twisting in the malleable matter.
"Sir! Engines are overheating!"
Rashid orders his copilot to cut back on the reverse engines as quickly as he can. But still, the engines scream and shriek until the ship rolls to a gentle coast. The engines grind painfully as they subside into silence. It is a telling sound. As is the continued silence that greets them from the fortress.
Quickly, Rashid organizes the men. One team will stay with the shuttle and attempt to determine the extent of the damage the overabundance of sand has caused to the engines. The second team will accompany him to the fortress.
As the Maguanaqs prepare for their respective tasks, Rashid regards the profile of the fortress against the afternoon sky. Although the structure is intended to block all signs of the life within from unwelcome eyes, he is further agitated by the fact that no one appears to be coming out to greet them. And, if their communications array had been malfunctioning, surely they would have sent a messenger on foot.
"No one is coming to meet us," Abdul notes very quietly. His words reach Rashid and go no further but the leader knows that all of the men must be thinking this.
Rashid nods. "Perhaps they are in need of assistance. We should be prepared for anything."
Abdul nods and turns to communicate the orders to the rest of the Maguanaqs. Rashid continues to stare out at the fortress and sends a silent prayer out into the bright void, Be safe, Master Quatre. I have finally returned with the aid I'd promised so please be safe...
...ooo...
"You're taking to this much faster than I did," Duo expounds with a smile that isn't as bright as Wufei remembers. "You never told me you were a quick study, Wu."
As they depart from the meditation room, Wufei studies the slight lines of strain around Duo's mouth and eyes and feels a twinge of concern. "Maxwell."
Duo continues, perhaps attempting to distract Wufei from his observations, "Of course, I probably should have figured that out. I mean, you put yourself into a trance on the moon when they shut off our oxygen, so I already knew you have exceptional self-discipline..."
"Maxwell."
"I was really impressed when you did that, by the way. I don't think I ever told you..."
"Maxwell!"
"What!"
Wufei reaches out and catches Duo's elbow. He turns the young man to face him and settles his hands on Duo's shoulders. "What is wrong, my friend?"
"Wrong?" Duo replies and his confusion seems genuine.
Wufei observes quietly, "You are tired. Are Heero and Trowa not allowing you to rest? Shall we postpone these lessons until next week?"
Duo grins crookedly at his friend. "Naw, the guys are taking care of me and our sessions really aren't that taxing. I... I think it has something to do with my sleep cycles. Ever since I... well... acquired Heero and Trowa I just haven't been able to rest very well. My R.E.M. sleep is off, I think."
Wufei hesitates to mention the first thing that comes to his mind. "Do you think it... could be Quatre?"
Duo shakes his head and lets out a long breath. "No, it's not Quatre. But I worry about him."
"As do I."
"I'm sorry, Wufei."
With a startled frown, Wufei asks, "For what?"
"For coming for you last. I... I really thought that with your ability to close yourself off and go into a trance that you'd be able to withstand Quatre the best. It... it never occurred to me that in order to go into a trance you have to open yourself up."
Touched by Duo's deep concern for a former comrade and feeling a little guilt over Duo's quiet pain, he says, "But we made it through, didn't we?"
This time, when Duo smiles, the results a much more satisfying. "Yeah, we did." Duo draws in a steadying breath and nods in the direction of the library. "Well, we'd better see what kinds of trouble those two have found."
Wufei chuckles and they continue toward their destination. Neither of them are surprised when they open the door to find both young men at their respective computers.
"What's up, guys? Another assignment?"
Heero nods. Trowa continues scanning the data on his screen.
Wufei grins wryly. "Who would have thought the three of you could find a way to get paid legitimately for breaking into high security facilities."
"Hey," Duo replies with a shrug, "somebody's gotta test out the new systems these companies come up with." He wanders over to Trowa and leans over the young man's shoulder to glance at the assignment. "Oh, hey, Zanoah is ready for us again? It's only been about a month since we last tested their security." Duo smirks. "Must have been working around the clock. We'll see if they got it right this time, shall we?"
Trowa's lips twitch. Heero openly smirks. Neither man glances up from his pc screen.
"Looks like we may have to postpone those lessons anyway, Wu."
Wufei shrugs. "That's fine." He then regards his other friends. By way of farewell, he tells them, "Heero. Trowa. I expect you to look after him and make sure he gets plenty of rest. He needs it."
"Of course," Trowa replies blandly, glancing up at Wufei with a smile in his eyes.
Heero merely grunts as if Wufei's words were a foregone conclusion. With one last nod in parting, Wufei sees himself to the door. Behind him he can hear the soft murmurs of his friends as they discuss their next assignment.
As he opens the door and follows the path down to the driveway, Wufei wonders at the aftermath of his friends' strange relationship. Duo had anticipated the transition from being completely self-reliant and independent to living and working as cohesive unit to be much more challenging that it actually had. Rather quickly, they had pooled their finances, found a house that suited their tastes, and developed a means of maintaining their lifestyle that is reasonably satisfying to each of them.
And they never had to spend a day apart from each other unless desired.
Wufei shakes his head and slides in behind the wheel of the car. Perhaps there are more fortunate people in the universe, but if there are Wufei does not know them.
...ooo...
Rashid stares into one of the many the quiet rooms within the fortress. But it differs from the others in that it is empty.
And that it had once been Master Quatre's.
His soul is heavy with the presence of failure. He had arrived too late.
He leans against the doorway and listens to the approaching footsteps of one of his men. Before the other man can speak, Rashid asks, "Did you find anything?"
Abdul shakes his head. "They're all dead, sir. Killed in their sleep, it seems like."
Softly, Rashid exhales a breath that would have been a curse had his religion not strongly discouraged such vulgar displays. The warm weight of a hand on his shoulder eases a bit of the guilt and pain as it becomes a shared emotion between them.
"We will find him," Abdul promises. "And we will protect him."
Rashid nods.
"Come on," Abdul urges. "There's still much we can do here while Mohammed's team works on clearing the sand from the engines."
At these words Rashid straightens. Even though his haste to return to Master Quatre had led him to use a shuttle not equipt for the sands of his homeland, even though that decision will cost them a cosiderable amount of time, that time need not be wasted. "We must locate the other Gundam pilots."
Abdul offers up a sad grin. "I've already got someone on it, sir."
Rashid nods and wonders where the young Winner heir is. Wonders if he's safe. Wonders if he will turn tothe other pilots in this time of great unrest. Wonders if he still trusts them that much. The tall Maguanaq has so very many questions yet the only reply he receives is the eerie silence of the tombs.
...ooo...
Things have changed.
The blond haired youth narrows his eyes at the computer screen before him. Thus far he has confirmed that Trowa is no longer traveling with the circus. Heero has resigned from the Preventers. And all research indicates that Duo no longer offers his services as a pilot-for-hire. The information predating Quatre's departure is simple enough to find. But now... Well, it is as if all three of them have ceased to exist.
Quatre leans back against the seat tucked away in the far corner of the public library and allows a tiny grin to play at the corners of his mouth.
It's not as if he'd expected this to be easy. Especially with three former Gundam pilots pooling their knowledge and resources. And possibly more...
But some things have not changed.
Like Chang Wufei.
Still an agent with the Preventers.
Still struggling with his role in this new world.
Still alone.
Yes, some things do not change.
Now, just as during the war, Wufei will be the one to decide the fate of many. In maintaining his solidarity, he retains the ability to affect the greatest change. And the one to gain the allegiance of the last of the Dragon Clan will hold the power to turn the tides in his favor.
Quatre smiles as he decides his course of action.
End of Chapter Two
