A/N: Before you throw pitchforks and other dangerous objects at me I would like to say that........... my internet abandoned me. This in itself was a VERY traumatic experience so before you hate me please sympathize with me. I'm still in utter and complete shock and need time to cope (breaks down into tears)

Oh and I noticed not too long go that Alex just so happens to be a character in Gundam Wing. The Alex/ Anthony that I'm using is not this one. When you think of Alex/ Anthony's appearance think of a more suave, debonair, crafty Vash. (With shorted hair that isn't sticking up and hazel eyes.) Or even better, Think of what Vash and wolf wood might be combined. It's the only way I can think of to describe my Alex character.

But anywayz I finally over came my writers block and knew where I should take the story. And so for your own viewing pleasure (or literary/ reading) we get to see how our perfect soldier is doing in the land of darkness! Doesn't that sound just fascinating? Well c'mon mate, let's go! (Drives away in jungle safari jeep swirling up dust and sand in its wake)

Pairings: (scrolls through former chapters) Yup. Still 1x2 and 3x4

Warnings: Might be some violence depending on how you look at it. Profanity here and there. Some choice words and phrases.

Disclaimers: Still don't own it.

Chapter 11: The Apparitions Plight

The car was quiet as Trowa and I sat in silence. We had just run by J's for a few items we would need for the integration of Zechs army, into the human and vampire population of New York City.

I stared at the small burlap sack of marbles on the dashboard of the car. I picked it up and poured 5 into my hand. Examining the colors and eerie hue they presented. They shone with colors of green, blue, red, indigo, amethyst, green, opal, amber....... Each marble had an individual color scheme that allowed the colors to meld together and center themselves's around the contents of the marble. You see at first glance they looked like ordinary marbles, but if you looked closer you could see a small light shining in the center, flickering about. It was a soul. A human soul to be exact. When applied properly with the right kind of magic procedures, it allows it's carrier to take on the appearance of the being who once owned the soul inside. I was supposed to implant these in some of Zechs more... unique.... minions who couldn't possibly pass as human: Trolls, desert mages, lesslings, drakes, shape shifters, apparitions who couldn't even take on solid forms without the help of strong charms or possessing someone....... Sigh. Zechs army was VERY diversified. But at least the beings of that sort tried to keep a low profile, even if the were a bit arrogant at times. In comparison to some of the more human looking members, they were as quiet as butterflies. Lord knows THEY never make sounds. I would be surprised if the barge even made it to the dock without some pedestrian noticing them after a squabble over who gets the last rum. Idiots. Thinking about them for only a second is enough to get me pissed.

But as for the marbles, they were a creation of J himself, back when he worked with some of his equally adept colleagues. When first created the marble had a slight problem. In addition to taking on the appearance of the one who once owned the soul inside, the carrier would also take on the persons feelings and personality, in some cases even the person's abilities (if they had any in the first place). They wouldn't be themselves anymore, causing the carrier to cease existence and allowing the soul inside to be reborn once again. A second chance at life. The soul inside the marble would absorb that of the carriers until the carrier no longer existed. Needless to say a couple of lives were lost in the experimentation, regardless of the equal amount gained. I think this is what got J exiled. Because regardless of the time and place, illegal experimentation was still a call for severe punishment. J fled to Zechs dark army where his talents were better received and as for his colleagues..... well they disappeared altogether as far as I know. The original prototype of the marble still exist along with some of the copies. The one's I'm looking at now however are the revised ones, glitch free. I don't think Zechs could fight with an army of beings who are too sensitive to even hurt a fly. So it's a good thing. The newer marbles.

I returned the marble's to their rightful place and turned the key in the ignition and started up the car. Trowa was still brooding and wouldn't be speaking to me for the duration of this trip. That was fine by me. I never asked for his company if the first place. I couldn't counter everything Zechs decided nor could I change his mind every time something didn't sit right with one of us. He should learn that. His anger was misdirected if anything.

It was night as we left for the edge of the city. Despite this fact, it was still pretty bright out. The lights of the neon store signs and headlights of cars made sure of that. This city was always radiating some kind of energy. It was New York City.

The car windows were closed, shielding us from all sound and activity going on outside the car. The quiet was numbing and a bit unsettling. Since I've started hanging around with Duo my environment is almost always filled with some kind of sound. Whether it be Duo's animated baritone or one the many soundtracks he loves to listen to. Most would think differently but I do indeed dislike quiet. I just deal with it in a different manner than others, such as Duo, do. While Duo feels a need to talk and socialize with others in order to fill the void, I cope with it by either a)seeking out his company b) being cranky and sullen c) thinking of Duo or d) listening to music. Yes I find that music soothes me. This is another reason that I seek Duo out when it's too quiet. Duo's life is like music. Everything he does and says turns itself into a song, his own personal soundtrack if you will. I'm not talking about him humming his own theme music in order to wash dishes or retrieve something from the refrigerator but I'm talking in poetic or metaphoric terms. Which is really not me so I would appreciate it if you didn't mention this to others. IF you can't keep a secret than I can help you. It's quite simple. I'll kill you.

So Duo's life is one big song. A healing, soothing, living, breathing song. And I want to be there to hear it's finale. Every action he engages in is set to a rhythm of sorts.

"Heero watch the road." Trowa's calm voice breaks me out of my thoughts just in time for me to see myself swerve into the next lane, just missing a bright yellow Taxi cab. I curse as I get back in control of the car and try to ignore Trowa's amused yet un moved gaze. I turned on the radio and decided it would be in my best interest if I halted this day dreaming I was all of the sudden prone to.

"Your weren't here." I kept my eyes on the road.

"Excuse me?" The silence that was just previously broken wasn't allowed a chance to take it previous reign as Trowa snorted and then spoke.

"Your mind is somewhere else. You weren't paying attention." I snorted.

"No shit." It was silent and I looked at Trowa to see that his eyes were somewhat widened in amusement. I sighed, irritated.

"What?" He shook his head and chuckled.

"Nothing. It's just that. You sounded a lot like Duo just then." I glared at him.

"I was under the impression that we weren't speaking during this trip." I growled through clenched teeth. Trowa's laughter filled the car. I tried to focus my eyes on the moving lights on the road.

"Aren't we a little old for those sorts of games Heero? Not speaking?" He shook his head and silence once again took hold of our environment. I was thankful it, but still equally unnerved by it. I turned on the radio and was greeted by the voice of some group.

)Well he looks at me with those innocent eyes

And says it looks like your wearing some type of disguise

Cuz your hair sticks up, your shoes are untied

And I hope that you got those shoes on half price(

I growled in disgust and changed the station. I was somewhat mellowed by the whining guitar of one of the many punk rock groups who had taken over the radio. I settled for that and was just thankful that it wasn't Trowa interrogating me with questions I couldn't answer, or preferred not to answer.

)Cuz she's watcing wrestling.

Screamin over tough guys.

Listenin to rock metal, turn tables in her eyes-(

The song soon found itself working my last nerves and so in a last ditch effort I turned to Z 100 daring them to be playing something that would further irritate me.

)I don't know about y'all but I
know about us and uhh it's the only way we know how to rock (repeat)

)It started when we were younger and you were mine (my boo)
Now another brothers' taken over but its'
still in your eyes (my boo)
Even though we use to argue it's alright (

I let out an inaudible sigh of contentment and continued to stare down the long road ahead of me. Cursing at the stifling traffic. It's like they let any idiot with a name drive the damn things. Taxi's. I hated them. I almost wish I hadn't missed the one I nearly hit earlier. Would've been one less to trap me in one of those damned stand stills (1) that happen so often. I hear Trowa stifle a chuckle and switch my vision to eye him dangerously out the corner of my eyes.

"What the hell is so funny now?" He quirks an eyebrow at me then opens his mouth to speak.

"I was just wondering where it went."

"What the hell are you talking about? Where what went?" I was starting to get a bit hostile and cranky, which didn't sit well with me. Usually I had a good hold over my moods but Trowa was starting to piss me off. I could catch the light dancing in his eyes, just before he looked out the window.

"Your mind, when we almost swerved into that car." I sucked my teeth cursing as I nearly bit my own tongue. He continued speaking in this quiet yet mirthful tone.

"I think I know where it went." I rolled my eyes.

"Where? Where do you think it went Trowa?" I spat. He turned to look at me and smirked.

" Well maybe I'm just being sentimental but, I think it was with Duo." He looked ahead and I could see the corners of his mouth turn up in a small smile as he closed his eyes and nodded of to sleep. His words left me to think as I stared off into the illuminated sheet of New York night.

(X)(x)(X)

We made it to the edge of town and checked in to some cheesy motel. It vaguely reminded me of something that had happened in this show I once watched with Duo. I think it was called "Family Guy" (2). But I'm going to halt that thought because it will only lead me back to the square one day dreaming stage. We threw our bags in the corner of the apartment, stripped down to our boxers, and got in bed, waiting for sleep to take us. My back was facing Trowa as was his to me and I tried to ignore the chill creeping up through the scant covers. The darkness of the room was solid thanks to the help of our blinds, but you could make out a slight glow coming from where the window was. It wasn't big enough to break through the darkness though.

I had remained silent the rest of the drive in hopes that Trowa wouldn't press the Duo issue. I was still trying to cope with the idea that I was allowing someone to knock down my mental barriers and build their own special place to dwell in my mind. I don't tell anyone this, but I do miss Lynx. I think even if we did succeed in gaining her power and Zechs was on top of the world with me as his right hand man, I still wouldn't be happy. We were bound to each other. But then I think about it and notice that all the good in whatever relationship we had, was topped my that one final moment when she abandoned me. If she was still alive even then she'd be dead to me. Dwelling on it will not give the situation an outcome any different that what was originally presented. I know that now. When she disappeared over that cliff the incessant tugging had started to die and eventually faded away telling me she was gone. For days after her disappearance, as we searched for her, I became more and more aware of the situation and her being gone. I thought about it and tried my best to flip over everything in my mind so it wouldn't seem as though she had actually left me but it was a foolish thing to do. By the end of that time period in which the troops and I combed the banks of the river I was relieved that we hadn't found her. Because it proved me right. She was gone. A new phoenix would take her place and I in turn would wait for it's inevitable return into the world. But that same connection that tied me to Lynx tugged me to this place, to this country, to this city. I was on top again and wouldn't let anyone or anything stand in my way and weaken or distract me. That's the way it had to be. Somebody's gotta be on top.

(X)(x)(X)

The next morning I showered and gulped down some coffee, which in my world had no taste. However even I couldn't taste it, it still had the same effect it would have on most mortal bodies: it kept me awake without the jittery over active side effects.

Before we walked outside and started up the car I made a mental note to bring the I.D.'s and marble's. Each marble was catalogued with a number that had a corresponding I.D. The numbers on the I.D.'s and marbles couldn't be seen unless forced to reveal itself by way of magic. I had the spell memorized like a science. Magic and craft were my sciences in fact. J had given me careful instructions on how to implant the marble properly and I had payed close attention taking in each fact and jotting it down in my mental notes.

When J first appeared and became a member of Zech's crew I had been somewhat wary of him as I was with most outsiders. I don't remember how I came to grow up under Zech's watchful eye and careful instruction, but I do remember I wasn't brought up to trust easily. The funny thing is that I can't remember anything before Zechs. I can remember when I first met him but anything before that is a mystery. Zechs had seen my negative disposition and decided that it might do me some good to work as J's protege and apprentice of sorts. He knew I had the gift of craft but as a kid I had no idea how to use it. So I was to learn about magic, craft, and how to channel and use it with this supposedly crazy and, at first look, senile old man. He taught me well though and in a way I grew to respect him as a teacher. Despite his less favorable habits....

The air outside was cold and stale with the smell of the rotting and polluted water surrounding the area. They sky was cloudless and gray. In addition to the stale ocean smell I could also pick up the scent of rain. I wanted to get this thing done with so we could head back to the motel before a down pour started.

Trowa and I got in the car drove then short distance to the docks. It was pretty early so we didn't have to worry about the obscene driving of taxi drivers or the lackadaisical stride of pedestrians crossing the street, unaware of the dangers of not looking left and right before they walked. These people could be a lively lot but then just as stupid as anyone else in the world. We arrived at the edge of the docks and parked a safe distance away from the edge. We waited.

The barge they'd be arriving on would be quite easy enough to spot. It'd be engulfed in flames that only Trowa, those on the barge, and I would be able to see. This flame would mark the barge as the one the apparitions would be arriving on. Apparitions were a bold yet wise breed. They could often be a bit over confident in their abilities and loved to have the upper hand over their opponents. They were always competing to show just how much they knew and took pride in the fact that very few individuals, if any, could see them. However it took a real trained eye to see them when they didn't want to be seen. I was one of the individuals who could see them in this state of mind. When they arrived they might be carrying a few others beside those of the apparition. And I knew they would have to send out a vampire or human representative to report the status of those on the barge and then invite me inside to give them their I.D.'s and S.S. Marbles. The S.S. stood for Silent or Sapian Soul. It would probably be better if Trowa gave them their I.D.'s and instructions though. I'd have him wait outside to do that.

"Their here." Trowa stated as he nodded towards the open water spanning before us and holding up the ships that sailed over it busily despite the early hour. I nodded in response and got out the car, putting my hands in my pockets as I waited for them to dock the barge.

As they approached I noticed that instead of the significant flames there was an eerie fog. Obviously someone hadn't followed orders or either something was amiss. It would be my first priority to find that out once I got on the barge. I gave Trowa the case of I.D.'s.

"Give them these along with their instructions as I send them out the barge. I'll be inside distributing and applying the marbles." He nodded and took the case quietly as he perched himself on the hood of the car, awaiting any further instructions. I stood waiting for the expected human representative to make their appearance and was annoyed when I saw no one exit the barge. I fingered the object in my pocket and addressed Trowa. I wasn't getting a good feeling about this.

"Trowa something isn't right. I'm going in to check things out. Be prepared for anything." He nodded and slid off the car hood to stand up. I braced my self and leapt onto the barge with little effort. It was quiet but if you listened past the cries of the scavenging fowl and bells of nearby ships and buoy's you could hear quiet murmuring voices floating about. I went inside the main stall of the barge and made my presence known. As I passed through the fog surrounding the barrier I noticed that a sudden drop in temperature had taken place, causing my skin to grow cold. I ignored this and strode into the main cabin of the barge.

"This is your commander and general speaking, show yourselves." I spoke with enough authority to let them know I wasn't playing around. Trowa and I wore identical charms in our ears to shield us from being possessed. Apparitions were tricky and in my opinion shouldn't be trusted. They feared Zechs though for he was powerful enough to ward off their spells and expose their trickery. They were loyal to Zechs as far as I knew though I was pretty sure they despised him for his superior being and abilities. I know a lot of 'other beings' did. Notice how apparition is another word for 'demon'. I adjusted my focus as to allow myself to see them around me. The first I spotted was one of the few I had gotten to know by name. She was conniving, manipulative, and probably the oldest of the apparitions. I spotted her. Now the thing about apparitions is that those who can see them can't really see them. They don't have a form so I'm not sure how to explain what seeing them is like. I don't think anyone ever could. She floated around playfully, as if mocking me in a 'now you see now you don't gesture'.

"Ambience, enough of your games." I could hear her chuckle vibrate through the air and was pleased to see her actually follow instructions for once, as she showed herself. I decided to cut to the chase and handle the question of what was going on later.

"Come here. I have orders from Zechs and J that your are to let me add these to your state of matter." I held up the marble and looked around suspiciously as I felt her being float around me, examining the marble closely. After a few seconds I heard her voice float through the air.

"Is that so? An S.S. marble?" I scowled.

"Yes. Now are you going to follow through?" I could hear here give a small yawn as she focused her entire self in front of me, ceasing her lazy floating about.

"Very well." I took the marble in hand and applied it to her being. The marble glowed before disappearing altogether and in place of what had once seemed like nothing but air came a tall red haired woman with sapphire eyes, clad in a baggy pair of jeans and raggedy olive green tank. Ambience took in her appearance in wonder and then disgust.

"UGH whoever this human was had no class OR sense of style. An what's with this hair!?" She held up the thick red strands in a mixture of horror and distaste, wailing slightly. I rolled my eyes and snorted.

"This isn't a fashion show or trip to the gallery Ambience, this is a mission." She rolled her eyes at me and waved me off as I gave her a stern look. She sauntered over to the other side of the room and crossed her arms. The human body suited her well and she knew how to operate it to fit her needs and moods already. She held her nose in the air to finish off the gesture.

"OH please, don't you think I know that. Get over it Metrian." I chose to ignore her indifference and usual attitude along with the fact she had called me Metrian. No one really used that name to address me these days and I guess it kind of bothered me. I shook off the feeling that washed over me and pushed on. I should ask about the others along with the ships barrier.

"Where are the rest of the apparitions." She had found a mirror to examine herself in and was now admiring the curves of the human body she was occupying. She didn't look at me as she spoke but instead remained focused on the person staring back at her in the mirror. Sapphire eyes widened in slight wonder and inquiry.

"Well you know them, their ALWAYS fighting about something or the other." I stared at her letting her know she should elaborate. She made a lazy wave of her hand as she wrinkled her nose to show her distaste towards the actions of her fellow clan members.

"Well you know Charisma, right? The head fire apparition? Well she was supposed to put up the barrier that signaled the flames but then Dante decided that he should be leader and challenged Charisma so I was like 'Dante you can't be serious' and he was like' it will do you well to mind your business' so I said like 'Dante you need to watch it cause a water apparition like me can stomp you out'. SO we were about to fight-" Her rambling was giving me a headache. Whenever you asked Ambience something she told it in a way that would swear it was some "juicy" piece of gossip she picked up from a teen magazine. I decided to stop her halfway through, because Lord knows she could go on forever about her personal thoughts and Dante and so on.

"Ambience," She turned to blink at me in question

"Back to the original question please." She nodded simply and started up again.

"Well to make a long story short Dante started a sort of revolt among the apparitions after he challenged Charisma and nearly lost. Well I instructed the water apparitions to stand by seeing as how I'm the head water apparition. So most of us are still here. A majority of the fire apparitions are gone. The darkness apparitions don't really care for political matters outside of their little circle and that includes their leader Nigra(3) so they just went about their business and found their own corner of the barge to hide out in. The earth apparitions sided with fire and some of them took off also. While the lightning apparitions love a good fight here and there they decided that it'd be best if they sat this one out. OH and don't even let me get started on the ice apparitions...." I held up and hand to silence her as I leaned against the door post.

"Ok, OK so the point is that most of the Fire and Earth apparitions including Charisma and Dante are AWOL but everyone else is accounted for." She blinked and put her hands on her hips as she turned around.

"Obviously. They exploded through that whole up there, see?" She pointed up and sure enough there was a giant hole burnt through the ceiling of the barge shack, the edges black as if they had been burnt and in some places frozen. My guess was that some of the ice apparitions either tried to hold them back or that they followed. Ambience seemed to read my thoughts.

"The ice apparitions tried to hold them back. Their leader, Glaciero (4), joined in when he noticed that some of the less.... cooperative ice apparitions were fighting against members of their own clan and group. So the ice has been divided as well. It's really quite chaotic right now. SO most of the apparitions are floating here and there discussing this most TROUBLING turn of events. But then again it was only a matter of time before this happened." She shook her head sighed, pouting her lips. I looked at her.

"What do you mean?" She shook her head again, sending red locks here and there.

"Isn't it obvious?" I gave her a look that clearly said I didn't get it. She gave a dramatic sigh and flopped onto a ratty arm chair that was slightly covered in soot.

" The fire apparitions are controlled by the most high being of the flame, the phoenix. When Zechs had ordered the siege of the phoenix's birthplace, the temple, the F.A.'s had been against it from the start. The group of apparitions that stood against Zechs guarded the temple. Few of them survived and after that whole escapade they scattered. The other group, led by Charisma until now, joined Zechs in fear as most of the apparitions have. With the possible return of the phoenix, fire apparitions are starting to choose sides now and if possible, turn away from Zechs army as subtly as possible. Dante believes that years ago a mistake was made and now wants be head of the F.A.'s and lead them to fight on the right side when the time comes. The ice apparitions aren't pleased with this. But those I.A.'s think they run everything these days... Glaciero tries his best to keep them line but their so young and their blood practically boils for challenges and battles." She seemed to think for a moment and then looked me in the eye, smiling slightly.

"I'm sorry but anything else is confidential held by the head's of the apparition clans. Though we fight for Zechs as members of his army, our first obligation is always to our race as a whole. I can't tell you anymore." I nodded knowing it would be ridiculous to try and get the apparitions to forsake this code they were held to. Ambience walked throughout the room.

"The water apparitions are not faced with such conflict as the other clans though." I quirked an eyebrow at this.

"Why is that?" I asked moving from my place against the door.

"In addition to the fact that our most high member isn't that of the flaming Phoenix....." She paused under the giant whole in the ceiling staring up into the gray sky, her eyes shining as she smiled widely. She glowed slightly as a solitary rain drop fell upon her, soon followed by countless others. She closed her eyes as if savoring the feeling of the water against her skin.

"We are truly in the likeness of water......." I could see her being surrounded by the matter of other water apparitions as they flocked to their leader, dancing around her in the rain.

"We are relaxed.... we are calm, translucent.....we go with the flow of things......" I stared at her glowing form and nodded, taking in what I had learned.

(X)(x)(X)

I eventually rounded up most of the apparitions. I learned that Glaciero had been the one who set up the barrier of fog instead of the flames. None of the remaining fire apparitions were powerful enough to hold up a blaze barrier. It would have been pointless to try. Trowa gave the apparition group their I.D.'s and they were off into the city. Some apparitions chose not to have the S.S. Marble's installed and decided that they would be of more help if they went about the city in their usual invisible form; this way they could soak up more information. They felt if any action needed to be taken that wasn't possible in that form then they would possess someone for the time being. As they said this they seemed to delight in the thought which caused me to grimace. Ambience swore that her first order of business would be to go shopping because her current ensemble was simply "not doing it". I scolded her but she simply gave me the "hand" and told me 'put a sock in it'. I ignored her childish antics and told her if she screwed this up she was through. I took down a report for all apparitions un accounted for and would contact Zechs to fill him in and establish how long they had to return before they were officially marked as AWOL. Once this happened chances were that they would be tracked down and disposed of. We had double A's for that(5).

Trowa and I headed back to the motel where I filled him in on what Ambience had told me about the Phoenix and the hints of a possible uprising if Dante got his way. If what she said was true then we would have to send someone after Dante regardless of the deadline he had before he became AWOL. I wasn't sure if I should report this to Zechs or take care of it myself. The answer to that lay in Dante's whereabouts. If I could find Dante and speak with him then I would be able to decide. If things were not as they were supposed to be then I'd have him disposed of and report it to Zechs as an accident of some sort. If it's even possible for an apparition to get in an accident in the first place. But if so that way Dante would be able to keep his honor as he faded away into obscurity and non existence. Than there was the reason for this uprising. The apparitions could sense the returning and possible presence of the phoenix, then why couldn't I find her soul? Why couldn't I sense Lynx reincarnated soul if we had been supposedly bound to one another? Why was she invisible to me?

(X)(x)(X)

(1) I think most know what a stand still is but just to make sure: a stand still is when there is so much traffic that you're literally just sitting in your car, unable to move one inch (unless you want to mow down someone else's car, which actually seems like a pretty good option when you're irritated enough)

(2) I once watched this episode of Family Guy where Brian (the dog) and Stewie (the baby) checked into a motel and the owner was giving them a lay out and mentioned that they also had some pretty bad roaches. So then he opens the door to the bathroom and these two big ass roaches are standing in the bathroom wearing green and red bandannas and smoking. So one says "YO man your on our territory" while the other takes out a knife with his little roach arms and says. "Man Imma cut you up so bad you gonna wish I ain't cut you up so bad." so then the guy closes the door and Bryan says "Man those are pretty bad roaches" and the motel owner guy goes "Yea I blame the school systems." Like it's a causal every day thing having roaches in your bathroom pointing knives at you. I found it kinda hilarious and just felt I had to mention that. I'm going to shut up now though...

(3) Pronounced Knee- gruh

(4) Pronounced Glay- shee- ro

5) Apparition's Assassin. I found it clever in it's own way despite the fact that the same term is used for a lot of other things. But let me have my glory moment ok?

Notes: Credit for song lyrics go to Bowling For Soup, Alicia Keys, Usher, and Josie and the Pussy Cats.