Disclaimer: Officer Tembo, Li, Shimi, Fox, and Sophia are all my
characters. Before any of you guys get on my case I received permission
from Niko Nightwind herself that I can put her in my story. So. BACK
OFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gundam Wing Episode 9 *A Lot Can Happen in a Few Minutes* 11:45am
The black fox walk jumps on the bed in which Quatre is sleeping on and paws at the covers. Quatre turns over in his bed in response still asleep. It whimpers before lying down next to him resting it's head on it's paws. White bandages wrap it's neck like a collar. The scratch on its face had finally stopped bleeding. Fox looks at Quatre and sighs. "Mr. Winner I have the feeling. you're going to be the end of me." The fox whimpers again. Fox looks up when he hears voices outside the door.
^*~; Quatre stirs when something cold touches his nose. "So, you decided to come back after all." As he scratches the fox's head and its ears shoot up, but it stays in the same position. How can you be so ferocious one minute and so placid the next?
~~~~~~~~~~~~Flash~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Come on, we're just going to take you downstairs and get a better look at your neck ok ," a girl in a says softly to the fox under Mr. Winner's bed. She sighs when all she got was a yelp from under the bed. She looks up at Quatre. "And you say you have no idea to where the animal came from."
"No, this is the first time I've ever seen it" Quatre kneels next to her looking under the bed. The fox camouflaged with darkness under the bed. The only indication that it was under the bed was its glowing blue eyes . "How's your neck?" Quatre feels his bandaged neck as he sits cross legged. The fox pokes its head from under the bed as though curious for Quatre's answer.
"Oh, I'll be fine, the teeth didn't sink in as deep as was thought. Your partner said it should heal in a couple of days." It sits in front of him as though ready to have a conversation. "So, now you come out." The lady's deep brown eyes grow wide seeing the size of the fox then still a little shaken takes the chance to get a good look at its neck.
"This neck needs to be tended to immediately." She says lifting a piece of skin that was hanging off it's neck. She takes out the first aid kit and starts to sterilize it wounds.
"Is it serious?" Quatre watches as she starts to bandage its neck.
"Well, normally if we bandage a wound like this it will heal without a problem, but it depends on the animal. from by the way she's acting, she's a fast healer."
"Hey, sis did you get that fox out from under that bed yet?" the boy stops in his tracks. His brown eyes grow large in shock at the size of the fox. ".And I thought the cage was too big." The fox's head jerks in his direction at the sound of his voice.
"Just bring the cage over here." He hesitates before walking into the room and as he approached the fox started to snarl at him. The boy stops.
"Ok, now what do we do?" he asks his sister as the fox stands on all fours. The boy takes a step back. "It's ok they're just here to help you." The fox looks at Quatre a moment quickly loses interest in the boy returning to it's calm state. Then as though seeing the bandages for the first time, it grabs a hold of the bandage that trailed from its neck to the roll the girl had in her hand. They pull on each end starting a game of tug of war.
"Now, Brandon! While she's distracted!" He takes out a muzzle, but as he gets near her face bandage rips and the fox quickly turns her attention to Brandon. She bites his hand and jumps on him snarling.
"Sarani, get her off of me!" he says as he pushes the snapping jaws of fox away from him. As Sarani got close the fox turns unexpectedly and bits her in her neck then jerks her forward. It turns it's attention to Quatre who has was now shielding the brother and sister from another attack.
"Sarani, are you ok?" Brandon asks helping his sister up.
"Yeah, she only snagged my collar."
"Just calm down" Quatre slowly goes on his knees in front of the snarling fox. He holds out his hand to pet her. "It's ok." She calms down and sniffs his hand. Without warning she clamps down on his hand and jerks him forward. "Ah!" he hit the floor surprisingly hard then was dragged to the door before she decided to release his hand.
The fox disappears in the darkness of the hallway. Brandon and Sarani race to a shaken Quatre. "Mr. Winner, are you, ok?" Brandon looks at his hand as his sister goes to the door and looks in the direction in which the fox ran.
"Yes, I'm fine." Brandon helps him up.
"How's his hand?" Sarani turns back to her brother.
"Would you believe there's not even a scratch?" flabbergasted by her brother's answer she looks at his hand herself. "Looks like you might have a guardian angel looking after you."
Bewildered she shrugs, "Well, it is possible she didn't want to leave because she had pups hidden somewhere. She must feel that she has to protect you because you own the place." He looks into the darkened hallway again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~Flash~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Where did you come from in time to save me, huh?" just then the door opens and Rashid comes in.
"I see you're finally awake, Quatre." The doorway fills with curious Maganacs. Seeing them Quatre greets then with a smile as Rashid walks up to him.
"Who turned off my alarm?" Quatre asks sitting up when he saw his clock.
"I did" Quatre looks up at Rashid surprised. "You needed the rest, Quatre. we all can see that you're tired." The fox jumps off the bed as Rashid sits next to Quatre. "Have you considered having a vacation?"
"A vacation...? No not really."
~*~
Master Li walks to down a long hall to his office. Walking in, he sits down at his desk. Placing his elbow on the armrest he places his head in his hand leaning on it. He glances up noticing the computer was on. Hum, mother must be using my office again. He doesn't give it another thought. Sophia, Sophia, Sophia, where are you? You seemed to have just disappeared. You're still making robots I know that, but let me find you so we can put that talent to better use. This game of hide and seek is getting tiresome.
He sighs and looks up as a black fox shows up on his computer screen. Its red eyes shine bright in the screen. "What the." The fox looks at him a moment before casually going to the back where his folders are and starts picking them up. The fox starts to walk away with the folders carefully tucked under his arm. "Hey! You put those back!" the fox stops and looks as though he heard him.
He sighs and drops the folders. Shrugging he takes out a welder's mask and puts it on then pulls out a blow torch. He lets it lose on the folders. "What, why you little!" the fox puts away his stuff and snickers at him then takes out a paintbrush with rainbow paint. He writes Mischievous was here!!!!! in the background. The fox runs up to the screen taking out a mallet. At the last second the computer turns off and starts to smoke. "This had better be someone's idea of a sick joke!" Li says though clinched teeth. The phone rings and he picks it up. "Yes"
"We have a problem. There's a computer virus deleting information. The virus some how coded itself in the new virus elimination system we got."
"How much is left?"
"Um. we were only able to save a forth of our data sir. Wha-" Li crushes the receiver in his hand and hangs up what's left.
"Annoying isn't he. Even I had trouble getting in here." Li looks up to see a tall man in a cloak.
"Cobra. what brings you here?" Li relaxes when seeing him.
"Having trouble I see. The Hyena Brothers- average, Black panther- uum. a little better. Close, but no cigar. All she did was tire Mr. Winner out. Let's just hope she used that that virus I gave her." Cobra walks to his desk. "We used to pick off the Dragon Clan now they're picking us off one by one."
"Please don't tease me, now. It's hard enough as it is."
"Getting rid of the amateurs I see. I think you should join Black Zoë." Li looks up at him surprised. "We can't afford to have anymore enemies at the state we're in now; and take a vacation, you look like shit."
"Everybody needs a vacation now a days it seems. Fine, it'll help me clear my head. You'll take over while I'm gone."
"Sorry not this time. Let your mother take control for a while. It's my turn to find this mechanic girl of yours you want."
"No, I want you to take over. Do you know how embarrassing it is to let your mother take over? Besides I don't want my class A assassin going off in case I might need him."
"In other words you don't want me to clean up your mess, you can do it yourself." He laughs at him. "Well, if you want to know I'm doing this of my own accord to have a bit of fun. Can't an old man have a little fun anymore?"
"Might as well go; you never listen to me anyway" Cobra takes out a newspaper and throws it on his desk. Li picks it up. "Girl found ripped open." He throws it down not finishing. "So they're looking for a rabid wolf that escaped from the zoo."
"You killed another girl didn't you? What did I tell you about watching your temper?"
"They won't find out about the animal enhancements if they examine the body anyway you know that. All signs will show it was a wolf."
"You're getting careless." Cobra says sternly.
"I don't need this now, grandfather. I'll let mother take over and go. do what you want."
*o* Shimi steps into the Winner mansion in awe. "Sweet digs. When you said Winner I didn't think you meant Quatre Winner of the Winner Foundation." The others come in behind her. Wufei and Sally went to talk to Mariemaia taking Hilde with them and were going to meet up with them later. "I just have to take a look around before I leave. A matter a fact. I'm going to go explore. Catch you guys later!"
"Shouldn't you do something about that motorcycle you hit, before deciding to run off!"? Duo calls after her, but she was already halfway up the stairs.
"Don't worry about it!" Shimi calls back before disappearing.
"So you came to visit again, Duo" Rashid walks down the stairs stopping halfway down, "and I see you brought two friends with you. Welcome back Trowa."
"I see you're looking well" They walk up to Rashid. "This is Heero our leader, you two probably haven't been properly introduced."
Heero and Rashid shake hands. "I hope you don't mind waiting a few minutes for Quatre. He didn't get much sleep last night. There has been a series of attempts on his life lately and we're starting to get worried." They look at Rashid stunned by such news. Who would want Quatre dead? And why, besides to try and take over the satellites, but the way the Winner Foundation had it run, everybody benefited from there usage.
Shimi looks around the room surprised at the torn up bedpost, ripped sheets, and blood stained floor. What happened here? She takes a closer look at the bedpost. Are those. claw marks? Shimi turns when she hears a small whimper behind her. "Wha." the black eyes of the fox look at her in astonishment. Oh. oh no, she didn't. Out of all the things to use.
"Honestly, Fox your trump card. You used your trump card." Shimi looks at her partner in skepticism as they sit on his bed in his dim room.
"I had no choice." His voice came out small, but calm.
"You could have got yourself killed! Fox, you know you can't control that form as well as I can. You still need training in that area." Shimi gets up and looks at the claw mark carved in his face.
"She was like us, Shimi! She could change her form too, ok!" the room goes silent as Fox moves away from her and takes off the bandage from around his neck. "It was either that or let him die. I didn't have a choice in the matter. Just forget it. It's time to change my bandages anyway."
The three listen to Rashid in disbelief at what he had just told them. They had caught a few assassins that had been perusing Quatre. The sabotage of the building cut down their security force a bit. "How's Quatre taking this?" Trowa looks up as Heero asks his question.
"Quatre's isn't taking the sabotaged building incident too well which I believe is stressing him out, but the one that worries me the most was the attack that happened early this morning."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Duo. How can I say this? The assassin was a panther. an animal. You think we would have known if a big cat was hidden in this place. I know this is a big mansion, but someone would have at least seen it."
Abdul comes in and the attention switches to him. "Rashid, it's almost time to leave, you coming?"
"Yes, I'll be right back." Abdul disappears through the door. "I know Quatre will be safe with you, so I'm taking our last three teams to get some extra work done. I'm leaving the handful that escaped from the accident. I hope you find the man who you're looking for?" Rashid exits the tea room leaving it silent a moment before Shimi arrived with a friend.
They were fighting over something as the three look up at Shimi's friend in surprise at first sight of him. That's weird why is Wufei here? Duo opens his mouth, but stops. He sees the long scratch across his face. No way that's Wufei. He's way to short and no way, that scratch is resent.
Shimi turns around when she hears the comment. "What did you just call me?"
"You heard me." Tikki catches her hand before she slaps his face. "I'm not putting up with any of your crap, now sit down!" she does so angrily. "What did I tell you picking up hitch hikers" he says motioning towards Heero, Trowa, and Duo who were sitting on the couch. Shimi turns to them on the couch.
"Everybody, I want you to meet Tikki Rembu, my partner. He's a jerk, but you learn to love him eventually." She says aggravated.
Man, this guy looks too much like Wufei. Duo watches him closely as Tikki bows then turns to his companions. There're probably thinking the same thing I am.
"This is Heero, Trowa, and Duo." They say there hellos.
"Why do you always assume it's me?" she says annoyed.
"It has Shimi written all over it" he looks at her with anger in his eyes. "Where have you been? Why didn't you call me?"
"God, I hit my head and had amnesia for a while, ok!" She turns away. This is stupid. He knows I would have called if I could. He acts just like his father... when he was worried. She looks at her partner who was sitting on the armrest now fuming more.
She hugs Tikki pulling him in her lap. "HEY!"
"You big baby, you were worried about me." Tikki tries to pull away furiously his eyes wide.
"I, I didn't say that. You know I didn't say that. Cut it out, Shimi, you're creeping me out. Shimi cut it out!" He finally pulls away from her standing up. "Do you know how embarrassing that is to have you hug me like that? I'm not ten anymore, so no more hugs, ok."
"So how long have you two been partners, exactly?" Duo says interrupting.
"I don't know as long as I can remember we've always been partners." Shimi says thinking.
"A little too long if you ask me. Those hugs of hers would kill a bear if you got her angry enough." Tikki gets a smug look on his face.
She stands up and pinches his cheek. "Is little Tikki Wikki afraid of a little hug." He slaps her hand away.
"Cut it out, that's not funny. You always treat me like I'm a baby."
"That's because you act like one."
"Hey there's nothing wrong with having a little fun as long as you're focused when the time comes there's a time for work and there's a time for play. As long as you know how to separate the two it's ok." Just then Quatre comes in.
"Like you know how to separate the two, look where it got your father!" There's a long pause and a look of shock on Tikki's face which didn't last for long. His face turns furious as he balls up his fist.
I've seen that look before. Trowa looks at Tikki completely amazed, but he'd never let it show like his other feeling. He remembered what he told Wufei in the final days of the war.
~~~~~~~~~~~~Flash~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If Heero brings Relena back here, at least greet her. It's so easy to hurt a woman's feelings" Wufei grits his teeth and his eyes twitch as he holds back his anger.
~~~~~~~~~~~~Flash~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tikki's face turns cold. "Huh" He looks down as he bites his lower lip then calmly walks past her. "Damn it. Tikki wait." she runs to him putting a hand on his shoulder, but he shoves it away facing.
"You're going to have to find your own way home. I have no more money to give you." His voice comes out tired and airy. "I don't even know why I help you."
"What happened to your face?" Quatre utters with concern just noticing his face.
"Nothing, I'm ok. I went to get a glass of water early this morning and something got me"
"Why didn't you tell anyone?"
"I'm sorry Mr. Winner, but can we talk about this later? I'm sure these gentlemen have been waiting a long time. I, I got to go." Quatre sees that he was upset shuck his head with a small smile.
"I didn't mean for it to come out that way." Shimi pleas with him, "I'm-"
"Just, just don't talk to me." He quickly exits the room, but Shimi doesn't follow. She falls to her knees staring at the door. The others stand up and walk to her.
I just blamed her for him own father's death. "Tikki, I'm so, so sorry. I can't believe I said that." Trowa kneels down next to her as she covers her face with her hands. "Oh, my God, what have I done? That's the last thing I ever wanted to say to him especially now." He puts a hand on her shoulder and gently squeezes.
"Hey, just let him cool down" Duo says as she takes her hands away from her face. Tears stain her hands and face. "You weren't kidding about the jerk part, but I don't know about the loving part."
She laughs and wipes some tears of with the back of her hand. "Thanks Duo, but he was just joking when he called you guys hitch hikers."
"What do you mean especially now?" Quatre asks her confused.
"You haven't known him long, but he has an immense burden at home. He's inherited his father's business" He hides it under that childish prankster attitude of his. He hates asking for help, and keeps things to himself. What's worse is that he hates to show his feelings because of his father's murder. He feels it's his fault. "Today is the day Mr. Dragon was killed. I just made it worse." Man, I feel like dirt.
"He looks so much like Wufei though" Duo says wondering. "Are they related?"
"From what I know, no, he's not, but it is possible. would you believe he looks up to Wufei. It was Wufei who trained him. That's probably why he never wants any help, but the thing is when there're around each other they act. so different that you wouldn't be able to distinguish them. It's. it's strange."
Heero glances at Quatre who looked a little pastel. "Quatre. you look ill."
Quatre forces a smile. "I'm just a little tired that's all."
"Heero's right. you don't look so good."
o_~; ~~~~~~~~~~~~Flash~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We'll cover for you if it's that important." Auda says as the other eight agree with him. The nine huddle behind a truck after listening to Tikki's request. "Just don't let Rashid catch you or we're all in trouble."
"Thanks guys. I'll only be gone for two hours at the most. I should be back in time for lunch at the most."
~~~~~~~~~~~~Flash~~~~~~~~~~~~
I came to this party for what again. Tikki groans looking at the people as they dance in there formal attire. He looks at his own clothes which were solid white Dragon Clan Training uniform with matching Chinese slippers. I'm the only one here wearing white. I stick out like a sore thumb. His hair was in a short ponytail ending in the middle of his back. No wait, there's the birthday girl. Mariemaia sits at a table with Relena talking.
"Excuse me sir, but I didn't see your invitation" he looks over the see the butler he raced past to get were he was."
"Um." he starts digging in his pocket. "You know what, I must have left it in my other jacket" Tikki gives a cheesy smile.
"Then I'm afraid you're going to have to leave." The butler's voice has a hint of disapproval in his voice.
"Can I at least give the birthday girl her present before I leave?"
"No, but I'm willing to give her your present for you."
"Sorry, I prefer to deliver my packages in person if you don't mind.
"This party is only for invited guests, no exceptions." His voice comes out sternly. Two tall guys in black tuxes come up behind Tikki. "I'll let Kyle and Samuel, see you out."
"That's ok; I can see myself out, if you don't mind."
"Oh, but I insist." He jerks his head in the direction in which the two guards ended up carrying Tikki. They threw him out the back.
"Juuusst great, now I have to find another way in. I see you had a little trouble getting in yourself, Niko."
Niko came out of the shadows a little surprised. "Fox, how do you do it?" Niko was wearing a long green dress with a dragon design that started from the neck and wrapped around until it reached the end of the dress. There was a slit on the right slide that was about 5 inches.
"That's my little secret" he sighs looking up at the side of the building. "You know your disguise isn't a good one Niko. You know people are after Sophia Dragon."
Niko looks at Fox a moment. Is it possible he knows the person I'm impersonating? "Thanks for the advice, but I can take care of myself. who decided to use your face as a scratching post, anyway?"
"I found the panther had claws." Tikki jumps on the trashcan and jumps to the nearest windowsill. Climbing higher he reaches an open window on the top floor.
"Hey, what about me, huh?" Niko calls up to Fox as he starts to climb in.
"I give advice not help!"
Niko shrugs and follows the path Fox took. As she starts for the open window she stops seeing the claw marks in the brick. Could he be. enhanced? That would explain why he knew I was hiding in the shadows. Niko continues and as she enters the room Fox is fixing his cloths in the mirror.
"What took you so long?" he turns to Niko. "Well, how do I look?"
"Better. I guess" Fox bows to Niko before heading for the exit. Niko goes to the door as he leaves the room. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." Fox gives her a, don't worry; I know what I'm doing, look before turning the corner at the intersection. It was only a few seconds later that Fox came dashing across the intersection with two guys chasing him. Niko sighs. I warned him. might as well use this to my advantage.
Niko heads out of the room and starts down the hall. She hides a guy comes out of a room and at the same time sticks a gun in his pocket. Bingo, just the guy I was looking for. She follows him closely, but before she could catch him a large group of people dancing slowed her down. As she tries to make her way through, he starts to take out his gun. Damn it, I'm not going to make it. She reaches for her gun.
"HEEY!!!" Everyone's attention turns to Fox who was standing on the rail of the highest balcony. "Hey, you in the balcony across from me, yeah you, this is a kid's birthday party!" People's attention switches to the guy with the gun.
What's that fool doing?! Is he trying to cause mass panic?
"Don't traumatize her, anymore then she's already is! It takes a long time to fix something like that!" The guy points the gun to Relena and fires, but Wufei pushes her out of the way. There are screams as a second gun shot is fired. Sally lowers her gun.
"I thought that was you, Fox!" Fox takes out his gun and points it at the butler with a smirk on his face.
"I knew I didn't like you when I first saw you." Fox kills him on the spot then turns toward his terrified audience. "Sorry, about that! Mariemaia nice security, but you should really check these peoples background before you use them."
"Who are you?" Mariemaia asks looking up at him as Kyle and Samuel walk come in taking out machine guns.
"Get Down!!" Fox hollers as he shoots in her direction hitting the guy behind her. He stagers back as his partner starts firing at Fox on the balcony. Fox quickly jumps down and gets down like everyone else, but the firing soon cease, rather suddenly. Fox peaks over the side and sees both guys on the ground dead. Looking closer fox could see the first guy had been shot again and this time in the head. He stands up seeing Niko lowering her gun. "It's about time you decided to shoot off your gun Sophia!"
"Tell Sophia I'll meet her at the house." He winks at her.
"Ok" Mariemaia waves goodbye to Fox as he exits through the window holding a black puppy with a white tail tip and paws. "Thank you, I'll take good care of Snow Paws."
Fox smiles seeing Mariemaia with her new puppy. Time to go back to work Fox looks at his watch as he enters a grocery store. After picking up a few things for the guys, he suddenly lost his appetite. I'm just glad that the site was conveniently close to the party. He heads down the street and everything starts to spin. He starts to have hot and cold flashes. Fox breaths heavily. Ignoring it, he somehow makes it back to the site as Rashid starts to check up on everyone.
"And where have you been?" Rashid asks suspiciously.
"Me. just getting lunch for everyone, that's all."
"I don't remember that being your uniform, Tikki"
All man I forgot to change back into my uniform. "Well. I um." he blushes, but he covers it with the paper bag he's carrying.
"Hey, Tikki thanks for the snacks" Auda and the guys come running up to him. "Shimi wasn't kidding that uniform does make you look like you're related to Wufei Chang. Have you decided to take a blood test to see if your related or not?"
Auda takes the bag from him. Tikki catches on quick. "Sure, why not." Rashid looks at them hard for a moment.
"Just. remember to change back after lunch." I don't know what they're up to, but I'll let this one slide. He was about to turn and leave when he saw Tikki sit down quit suddenly. It was more like he dropped into his sitting position breathing fairly heavily. "Tikki are you feeling ok?" Everyone's attention turns to Tikki.
"I, I don't know. I just feel sick all of a sudden." Tikki chokes out. Rashid and Auda kneel beside him. Tikki suddenly looked sick as his heavy breathing continued. His usual bright black eyes that had first showed itself now earlier then a week after he first arrived began to fade slightly.
Rashid feels his head. "You should go home, Tikki; you have a fever."
Tikki looks up at Rashid astonished at what he had just said. "It's ok, really." He stands up, but a dizzy spell overwhelms him. Rashid and Auda both steady him. They walk him over the truck as a car drives up to them. Tikki looks up. The car window rolls down.
"Tikki, what's the matter? You look so sick."
"I don't know, but I don't need you bothering me right now, Sophia." Tikki says as Sophia opens the back seat and steps out.
"Sophia, do you mind taking Tikki home for us."
"It'll be no trouble at all." She smiles at them, but it was a crocked smile only Tikki noticed.
He looks at Niko closely gritting his teeth. Damn it she's going to take advantage of this. I just know it. A wave of nausea begins to creep up on him. He throws up on Niko by accident. His voice comes out hoarse. "Sorry, Sophia."
Gundam Wing Episode 9 *A Lot Can Happen in a Few Minutes* 11:45am
The black fox walk jumps on the bed in which Quatre is sleeping on and paws at the covers. Quatre turns over in his bed in response still asleep. It whimpers before lying down next to him resting it's head on it's paws. White bandages wrap it's neck like a collar. The scratch on its face had finally stopped bleeding. Fox looks at Quatre and sighs. "Mr. Winner I have the feeling. you're going to be the end of me." The fox whimpers again. Fox looks up when he hears voices outside the door.
^*~; Quatre stirs when something cold touches his nose. "So, you decided to come back after all." As he scratches the fox's head and its ears shoot up, but it stays in the same position. How can you be so ferocious one minute and so placid the next?
~~~~~~~~~~~~Flash~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Come on, we're just going to take you downstairs and get a better look at your neck ok ," a girl in a says softly to the fox under Mr. Winner's bed. She sighs when all she got was a yelp from under the bed. She looks up at Quatre. "And you say you have no idea to where the animal came from."
"No, this is the first time I've ever seen it" Quatre kneels next to her looking under the bed. The fox camouflaged with darkness under the bed. The only indication that it was under the bed was its glowing blue eyes . "How's your neck?" Quatre feels his bandaged neck as he sits cross legged. The fox pokes its head from under the bed as though curious for Quatre's answer.
"Oh, I'll be fine, the teeth didn't sink in as deep as was thought. Your partner said it should heal in a couple of days." It sits in front of him as though ready to have a conversation. "So, now you come out." The lady's deep brown eyes grow wide seeing the size of the fox then still a little shaken takes the chance to get a good look at its neck.
"This neck needs to be tended to immediately." She says lifting a piece of skin that was hanging off it's neck. She takes out the first aid kit and starts to sterilize it wounds.
"Is it serious?" Quatre watches as she starts to bandage its neck.
"Well, normally if we bandage a wound like this it will heal without a problem, but it depends on the animal. from by the way she's acting, she's a fast healer."
"Hey, sis did you get that fox out from under that bed yet?" the boy stops in his tracks. His brown eyes grow large in shock at the size of the fox. ".And I thought the cage was too big." The fox's head jerks in his direction at the sound of his voice.
"Just bring the cage over here." He hesitates before walking into the room and as he approached the fox started to snarl at him. The boy stops.
"Ok, now what do we do?" he asks his sister as the fox stands on all fours. The boy takes a step back. "It's ok they're just here to help you." The fox looks at Quatre a moment quickly loses interest in the boy returning to it's calm state. Then as though seeing the bandages for the first time, it grabs a hold of the bandage that trailed from its neck to the roll the girl had in her hand. They pull on each end starting a game of tug of war.
"Now, Brandon! While she's distracted!" He takes out a muzzle, but as he gets near her face bandage rips and the fox quickly turns her attention to Brandon. She bites his hand and jumps on him snarling.
"Sarani, get her off of me!" he says as he pushes the snapping jaws of fox away from him. As Sarani got close the fox turns unexpectedly and bits her in her neck then jerks her forward. It turns it's attention to Quatre who has was now shielding the brother and sister from another attack.
"Sarani, are you ok?" Brandon asks helping his sister up.
"Yeah, she only snagged my collar."
"Just calm down" Quatre slowly goes on his knees in front of the snarling fox. He holds out his hand to pet her. "It's ok." She calms down and sniffs his hand. Without warning she clamps down on his hand and jerks him forward. "Ah!" he hit the floor surprisingly hard then was dragged to the door before she decided to release his hand.
The fox disappears in the darkness of the hallway. Brandon and Sarani race to a shaken Quatre. "Mr. Winner, are you, ok?" Brandon looks at his hand as his sister goes to the door and looks in the direction in which the fox ran.
"Yes, I'm fine." Brandon helps him up.
"How's his hand?" Sarani turns back to her brother.
"Would you believe there's not even a scratch?" flabbergasted by her brother's answer she looks at his hand herself. "Looks like you might have a guardian angel looking after you."
Bewildered she shrugs, "Well, it is possible she didn't want to leave because she had pups hidden somewhere. She must feel that she has to protect you because you own the place." He looks into the darkened hallway again.
~~~~~~~~~~~~Flash~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Where did you come from in time to save me, huh?" just then the door opens and Rashid comes in.
"I see you're finally awake, Quatre." The doorway fills with curious Maganacs. Seeing them Quatre greets then with a smile as Rashid walks up to him.
"Who turned off my alarm?" Quatre asks sitting up when he saw his clock.
"I did" Quatre looks up at Rashid surprised. "You needed the rest, Quatre. we all can see that you're tired." The fox jumps off the bed as Rashid sits next to Quatre. "Have you considered having a vacation?"
"A vacation...? No not really."
~*~
Master Li walks to down a long hall to his office. Walking in, he sits down at his desk. Placing his elbow on the armrest he places his head in his hand leaning on it. He glances up noticing the computer was on. Hum, mother must be using my office again. He doesn't give it another thought. Sophia, Sophia, Sophia, where are you? You seemed to have just disappeared. You're still making robots I know that, but let me find you so we can put that talent to better use. This game of hide and seek is getting tiresome.
He sighs and looks up as a black fox shows up on his computer screen. Its red eyes shine bright in the screen. "What the." The fox looks at him a moment before casually going to the back where his folders are and starts picking them up. The fox starts to walk away with the folders carefully tucked under his arm. "Hey! You put those back!" the fox stops and looks as though he heard him.
He sighs and drops the folders. Shrugging he takes out a welder's mask and puts it on then pulls out a blow torch. He lets it lose on the folders. "What, why you little!" the fox puts away his stuff and snickers at him then takes out a paintbrush with rainbow paint. He writes Mischievous was here!!!!! in the background. The fox runs up to the screen taking out a mallet. At the last second the computer turns off and starts to smoke. "This had better be someone's idea of a sick joke!" Li says though clinched teeth. The phone rings and he picks it up. "Yes"
"We have a problem. There's a computer virus deleting information. The virus some how coded itself in the new virus elimination system we got."
"How much is left?"
"Um. we were only able to save a forth of our data sir. Wha-" Li crushes the receiver in his hand and hangs up what's left.
"Annoying isn't he. Even I had trouble getting in here." Li looks up to see a tall man in a cloak.
"Cobra. what brings you here?" Li relaxes when seeing him.
"Having trouble I see. The Hyena Brothers- average, Black panther- uum. a little better. Close, but no cigar. All she did was tire Mr. Winner out. Let's just hope she used that that virus I gave her." Cobra walks to his desk. "We used to pick off the Dragon Clan now they're picking us off one by one."
"Please don't tease me, now. It's hard enough as it is."
"Getting rid of the amateurs I see. I think you should join Black Zoë." Li looks up at him surprised. "We can't afford to have anymore enemies at the state we're in now; and take a vacation, you look like shit."
"Everybody needs a vacation now a days it seems. Fine, it'll help me clear my head. You'll take over while I'm gone."
"Sorry not this time. Let your mother take control for a while. It's my turn to find this mechanic girl of yours you want."
"No, I want you to take over. Do you know how embarrassing it is to let your mother take over? Besides I don't want my class A assassin going off in case I might need him."
"In other words you don't want me to clean up your mess, you can do it yourself." He laughs at him. "Well, if you want to know I'm doing this of my own accord to have a bit of fun. Can't an old man have a little fun anymore?"
"Might as well go; you never listen to me anyway" Cobra takes out a newspaper and throws it on his desk. Li picks it up. "Girl found ripped open." He throws it down not finishing. "So they're looking for a rabid wolf that escaped from the zoo."
"You killed another girl didn't you? What did I tell you about watching your temper?"
"They won't find out about the animal enhancements if they examine the body anyway you know that. All signs will show it was a wolf."
"You're getting careless." Cobra says sternly.
"I don't need this now, grandfather. I'll let mother take over and go. do what you want."
*o* Shimi steps into the Winner mansion in awe. "Sweet digs. When you said Winner I didn't think you meant Quatre Winner of the Winner Foundation." The others come in behind her. Wufei and Sally went to talk to Mariemaia taking Hilde with them and were going to meet up with them later. "I just have to take a look around before I leave. A matter a fact. I'm going to go explore. Catch you guys later!"
"Shouldn't you do something about that motorcycle you hit, before deciding to run off!"? Duo calls after her, but she was already halfway up the stairs.
"Don't worry about it!" Shimi calls back before disappearing.
"So you came to visit again, Duo" Rashid walks down the stairs stopping halfway down, "and I see you brought two friends with you. Welcome back Trowa."
"I see you're looking well" They walk up to Rashid. "This is Heero our leader, you two probably haven't been properly introduced."
Heero and Rashid shake hands. "I hope you don't mind waiting a few minutes for Quatre. He didn't get much sleep last night. There has been a series of attempts on his life lately and we're starting to get worried." They look at Rashid stunned by such news. Who would want Quatre dead? And why, besides to try and take over the satellites, but the way the Winner Foundation had it run, everybody benefited from there usage.
Shimi looks around the room surprised at the torn up bedpost, ripped sheets, and blood stained floor. What happened here? She takes a closer look at the bedpost. Are those. claw marks? Shimi turns when she hears a small whimper behind her. "Wha." the black eyes of the fox look at her in astonishment. Oh. oh no, she didn't. Out of all the things to use.
"Honestly, Fox your trump card. You used your trump card." Shimi looks at her partner in skepticism as they sit on his bed in his dim room.
"I had no choice." His voice came out small, but calm.
"You could have got yourself killed! Fox, you know you can't control that form as well as I can. You still need training in that area." Shimi gets up and looks at the claw mark carved in his face.
"She was like us, Shimi! She could change her form too, ok!" the room goes silent as Fox moves away from her and takes off the bandage from around his neck. "It was either that or let him die. I didn't have a choice in the matter. Just forget it. It's time to change my bandages anyway."
The three listen to Rashid in disbelief at what he had just told them. They had caught a few assassins that had been perusing Quatre. The sabotage of the building cut down their security force a bit. "How's Quatre taking this?" Trowa looks up as Heero asks his question.
"Quatre's isn't taking the sabotaged building incident too well which I believe is stressing him out, but the one that worries me the most was the attack that happened early this morning."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, Duo. How can I say this? The assassin was a panther. an animal. You think we would have known if a big cat was hidden in this place. I know this is a big mansion, but someone would have at least seen it."
Abdul comes in and the attention switches to him. "Rashid, it's almost time to leave, you coming?"
"Yes, I'll be right back." Abdul disappears through the door. "I know Quatre will be safe with you, so I'm taking our last three teams to get some extra work done. I'm leaving the handful that escaped from the accident. I hope you find the man who you're looking for?" Rashid exits the tea room leaving it silent a moment before Shimi arrived with a friend.
They were fighting over something as the three look up at Shimi's friend in surprise at first sight of him. That's weird why is Wufei here? Duo opens his mouth, but stops. He sees the long scratch across his face. No way that's Wufei. He's way to short and no way, that scratch is resent.
Shimi turns around when she hears the comment. "What did you just call me?"
"You heard me." Tikki catches her hand before she slaps his face. "I'm not putting up with any of your crap, now sit down!" she does so angrily. "What did I tell you picking up hitch hikers" he says motioning towards Heero, Trowa, and Duo who were sitting on the couch. Shimi turns to them on the couch.
"Everybody, I want you to meet Tikki Rembu, my partner. He's a jerk, but you learn to love him eventually." She says aggravated.
Man, this guy looks too much like Wufei. Duo watches him closely as Tikki bows then turns to his companions. There're probably thinking the same thing I am.
"This is Heero, Trowa, and Duo." They say there hellos.
"Why do you always assume it's me?" she says annoyed.
"It has Shimi written all over it" he looks at her with anger in his eyes. "Where have you been? Why didn't you call me?"
"God, I hit my head and had amnesia for a while, ok!" She turns away. This is stupid. He knows I would have called if I could. He acts just like his father... when he was worried. She looks at her partner who was sitting on the armrest now fuming more.
She hugs Tikki pulling him in her lap. "HEY!"
"You big baby, you were worried about me." Tikki tries to pull away furiously his eyes wide.
"I, I didn't say that. You know I didn't say that. Cut it out, Shimi, you're creeping me out. Shimi cut it out!" He finally pulls away from her standing up. "Do you know how embarrassing that is to have you hug me like that? I'm not ten anymore, so no more hugs, ok."
"So how long have you two been partners, exactly?" Duo says interrupting.
"I don't know as long as I can remember we've always been partners." Shimi says thinking.
"A little too long if you ask me. Those hugs of hers would kill a bear if you got her angry enough." Tikki gets a smug look on his face.
She stands up and pinches his cheek. "Is little Tikki Wikki afraid of a little hug." He slaps her hand away.
"Cut it out, that's not funny. You always treat me like I'm a baby."
"That's because you act like one."
"Hey there's nothing wrong with having a little fun as long as you're focused when the time comes there's a time for work and there's a time for play. As long as you know how to separate the two it's ok." Just then Quatre comes in.
"Like you know how to separate the two, look where it got your father!" There's a long pause and a look of shock on Tikki's face which didn't last for long. His face turns furious as he balls up his fist.
I've seen that look before. Trowa looks at Tikki completely amazed, but he'd never let it show like his other feeling. He remembered what he told Wufei in the final days of the war.
~~~~~~~~~~~~Flash~~~~~~~~~~~~
"If Heero brings Relena back here, at least greet her. It's so easy to hurt a woman's feelings" Wufei grits his teeth and his eyes twitch as he holds back his anger.
~~~~~~~~~~~~Flash~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tikki's face turns cold. "Huh" He looks down as he bites his lower lip then calmly walks past her. "Damn it. Tikki wait." she runs to him putting a hand on his shoulder, but he shoves it away facing.
"You're going to have to find your own way home. I have no more money to give you." His voice comes out tired and airy. "I don't even know why I help you."
"What happened to your face?" Quatre utters with concern just noticing his face.
"Nothing, I'm ok. I went to get a glass of water early this morning and something got me"
"Why didn't you tell anyone?"
"I'm sorry Mr. Winner, but can we talk about this later? I'm sure these gentlemen have been waiting a long time. I, I got to go." Quatre sees that he was upset shuck his head with a small smile.
"I didn't mean for it to come out that way." Shimi pleas with him, "I'm-"
"Just, just don't talk to me." He quickly exits the room, but Shimi doesn't follow. She falls to her knees staring at the door. The others stand up and walk to her.
I just blamed her for him own father's death. "Tikki, I'm so, so sorry. I can't believe I said that." Trowa kneels down next to her as she covers her face with her hands. "Oh, my God, what have I done? That's the last thing I ever wanted to say to him especially now." He puts a hand on her shoulder and gently squeezes.
"Hey, just let him cool down" Duo says as she takes her hands away from her face. Tears stain her hands and face. "You weren't kidding about the jerk part, but I don't know about the loving part."
She laughs and wipes some tears of with the back of her hand. "Thanks Duo, but he was just joking when he called you guys hitch hikers."
"What do you mean especially now?" Quatre asks her confused.
"You haven't known him long, but he has an immense burden at home. He's inherited his father's business" He hides it under that childish prankster attitude of his. He hates asking for help, and keeps things to himself. What's worse is that he hates to show his feelings because of his father's murder. He feels it's his fault. "Today is the day Mr. Dragon was killed. I just made it worse." Man, I feel like dirt.
"He looks so much like Wufei though" Duo says wondering. "Are they related?"
"From what I know, no, he's not, but it is possible. would you believe he looks up to Wufei. It was Wufei who trained him. That's probably why he never wants any help, but the thing is when there're around each other they act. so different that you wouldn't be able to distinguish them. It's. it's strange."
Heero glances at Quatre who looked a little pastel. "Quatre. you look ill."
Quatre forces a smile. "I'm just a little tired that's all."
"Heero's right. you don't look so good."
o_~; ~~~~~~~~~~~~Flash~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We'll cover for you if it's that important." Auda says as the other eight agree with him. The nine huddle behind a truck after listening to Tikki's request. "Just don't let Rashid catch you or we're all in trouble."
"Thanks guys. I'll only be gone for two hours at the most. I should be back in time for lunch at the most."
~~~~~~~~~~~~Flash~~~~~~~~~~~~
I came to this party for what again. Tikki groans looking at the people as they dance in there formal attire. He looks at his own clothes which were solid white Dragon Clan Training uniform with matching Chinese slippers. I'm the only one here wearing white. I stick out like a sore thumb. His hair was in a short ponytail ending in the middle of his back. No wait, there's the birthday girl. Mariemaia sits at a table with Relena talking.
"Excuse me sir, but I didn't see your invitation" he looks over the see the butler he raced past to get were he was."
"Um." he starts digging in his pocket. "You know what, I must have left it in my other jacket" Tikki gives a cheesy smile.
"Then I'm afraid you're going to have to leave." The butler's voice has a hint of disapproval in his voice.
"Can I at least give the birthday girl her present before I leave?"
"No, but I'm willing to give her your present for you."
"Sorry, I prefer to deliver my packages in person if you don't mind.
"This party is only for invited guests, no exceptions." His voice comes out sternly. Two tall guys in black tuxes come up behind Tikki. "I'll let Kyle and Samuel, see you out."
"That's ok; I can see myself out, if you don't mind."
"Oh, but I insist." He jerks his head in the direction in which the two guards ended up carrying Tikki. They threw him out the back.
"Juuusst great, now I have to find another way in. I see you had a little trouble getting in yourself, Niko."
Niko came out of the shadows a little surprised. "Fox, how do you do it?" Niko was wearing a long green dress with a dragon design that started from the neck and wrapped around until it reached the end of the dress. There was a slit on the right slide that was about 5 inches.
"That's my little secret" he sighs looking up at the side of the building. "You know your disguise isn't a good one Niko. You know people are after Sophia Dragon."
Niko looks at Fox a moment. Is it possible he knows the person I'm impersonating? "Thanks for the advice, but I can take care of myself. who decided to use your face as a scratching post, anyway?"
"I found the panther had claws." Tikki jumps on the trashcan and jumps to the nearest windowsill. Climbing higher he reaches an open window on the top floor.
"Hey, what about me, huh?" Niko calls up to Fox as he starts to climb in.
"I give advice not help!"
Niko shrugs and follows the path Fox took. As she starts for the open window she stops seeing the claw marks in the brick. Could he be. enhanced? That would explain why he knew I was hiding in the shadows. Niko continues and as she enters the room Fox is fixing his cloths in the mirror.
"What took you so long?" he turns to Niko. "Well, how do I look?"
"Better. I guess" Fox bows to Niko before heading for the exit. Niko goes to the door as he leaves the room. "I wouldn't do that if I were you." Fox gives her a, don't worry; I know what I'm doing, look before turning the corner at the intersection. It was only a few seconds later that Fox came dashing across the intersection with two guys chasing him. Niko sighs. I warned him. might as well use this to my advantage.
Niko heads out of the room and starts down the hall. She hides a guy comes out of a room and at the same time sticks a gun in his pocket. Bingo, just the guy I was looking for. She follows him closely, but before she could catch him a large group of people dancing slowed her down. As she tries to make her way through, he starts to take out his gun. Damn it, I'm not going to make it. She reaches for her gun.
"HEEY!!!" Everyone's attention turns to Fox who was standing on the rail of the highest balcony. "Hey, you in the balcony across from me, yeah you, this is a kid's birthday party!" People's attention switches to the guy with the gun.
What's that fool doing?! Is he trying to cause mass panic?
"Don't traumatize her, anymore then she's already is! It takes a long time to fix something like that!" The guy points the gun to Relena and fires, but Wufei pushes her out of the way. There are screams as a second gun shot is fired. Sally lowers her gun.
"I thought that was you, Fox!" Fox takes out his gun and points it at the butler with a smirk on his face.
"I knew I didn't like you when I first saw you." Fox kills him on the spot then turns toward his terrified audience. "Sorry, about that! Mariemaia nice security, but you should really check these peoples background before you use them."
"Who are you?" Mariemaia asks looking up at him as Kyle and Samuel walk come in taking out machine guns.
"Get Down!!" Fox hollers as he shoots in her direction hitting the guy behind her. He stagers back as his partner starts firing at Fox on the balcony. Fox quickly jumps down and gets down like everyone else, but the firing soon cease, rather suddenly. Fox peaks over the side and sees both guys on the ground dead. Looking closer fox could see the first guy had been shot again and this time in the head. He stands up seeing Niko lowering her gun. "It's about time you decided to shoot off your gun Sophia!"
"Tell Sophia I'll meet her at the house." He winks at her.
"Ok" Mariemaia waves goodbye to Fox as he exits through the window holding a black puppy with a white tail tip and paws. "Thank you, I'll take good care of Snow Paws."
Fox smiles seeing Mariemaia with her new puppy. Time to go back to work Fox looks at his watch as he enters a grocery store. After picking up a few things for the guys, he suddenly lost his appetite. I'm just glad that the site was conveniently close to the party. He heads down the street and everything starts to spin. He starts to have hot and cold flashes. Fox breaths heavily. Ignoring it, he somehow makes it back to the site as Rashid starts to check up on everyone.
"And where have you been?" Rashid asks suspiciously.
"Me. just getting lunch for everyone, that's all."
"I don't remember that being your uniform, Tikki"
All man I forgot to change back into my uniform. "Well. I um." he blushes, but he covers it with the paper bag he's carrying.
"Hey, Tikki thanks for the snacks" Auda and the guys come running up to him. "Shimi wasn't kidding that uniform does make you look like you're related to Wufei Chang. Have you decided to take a blood test to see if your related or not?"
Auda takes the bag from him. Tikki catches on quick. "Sure, why not." Rashid looks at them hard for a moment.
"Just. remember to change back after lunch." I don't know what they're up to, but I'll let this one slide. He was about to turn and leave when he saw Tikki sit down quit suddenly. It was more like he dropped into his sitting position breathing fairly heavily. "Tikki are you feeling ok?" Everyone's attention turns to Tikki.
"I, I don't know. I just feel sick all of a sudden." Tikki chokes out. Rashid and Auda kneel beside him. Tikki suddenly looked sick as his heavy breathing continued. His usual bright black eyes that had first showed itself now earlier then a week after he first arrived began to fade slightly.
Rashid feels his head. "You should go home, Tikki; you have a fever."
Tikki looks up at Rashid astonished at what he had just said. "It's ok, really." He stands up, but a dizzy spell overwhelms him. Rashid and Auda both steady him. They walk him over the truck as a car drives up to them. Tikki looks up. The car window rolls down.
"Tikki, what's the matter? You look so sick."
"I don't know, but I don't need you bothering me right now, Sophia." Tikki says as Sophia opens the back seat and steps out.
"Sophia, do you mind taking Tikki home for us."
"It'll be no trouble at all." She smiles at them, but it was a crocked smile only Tikki noticed.
He looks at Niko closely gritting his teeth. Damn it she's going to take advantage of this. I just know it. A wave of nausea begins to creep up on him. He throws up on Niko by accident. His voice comes out hoarse. "Sorry, Sophia."
