Chapter 11: Same Old Fire

Laughing Jade exited the dark shop, wearing a new black trucker hat with her hair pulled up into it. Duo, who had picked the hat out, followed close at her heels.

"You know you look like a boy with your hair puller up in that hat," Duo said, leaning over her shoulder.

Jade turned around to face him, "Well then I guess we're even, because you look like a girl with that braid hanging out from under your hat!"

Duo punched Jade in the arm and then started laughing. "I thought I warned you about messing with the braid."

Jade shrugged, "I guess I just wasn't paying attention."

Duo faked surprise, "Really?"

"I know!" Jade laughed back. "So where are we going next?"

"Nothing big," Duo shrugged, "just wanted to stop by someplace real quick, if you don't mind."

Jade's smile was her response.

Heero sat in the living room organizing his tools that he might need that night.

Quatre walked in with a mug of coffee. "So are you doing some spy work tonight then?"

Heero nodded, "Yes. But hey, have you seen Jade? I need to ask her something."

Quatre shook his head, "She left with Duo awhile ago and they're not back yet."

"Oh, Thanks." Damn Duo.

Duo stood across the street from the re-built Maxwell Church, with Jade.

"Why are we here?" she whispered, not breaking the mood.

"This is the closest thing I had to a home here," Duo responded. "Well, at least the original building was."

"You lived in a Church?"

"I was a war orphan. I was lucky they took me in. I was rebellious and hated it, but very lucky."

"So let's go in then!" Jade said, after Duo had continued to stare at the building or another minute.

"It's not that easy though. Everything here is a replication! There's even a monument to those who died here! None of those people are even around anymore."

Jade grabbed Duo's arm and started heading across the street. "So we will go for a visit. I see no problem here! Besides, I don't think you walked all the way here just to stand out front."

Duo just shrugged as he followed her through the tall gates, and into the courtyard. It was there that Duo saw it.

Standing in front of the re-constructed church was the statue the colony had erected as a tribute to those who died. The Statue was standing on a huge marble block. Inscribed in the block were the words The Maxwell Church Tragedy; You will never be forgotten, Along with the date, and the names of the 245 people who were killed.

Yet, it was the statue that got to Duo the most. The statue was of three people smiling happily at each other. The first was unmistakably Father Maxwell, himself. The second was Sister Helen. The third, Duo recognized as himself as a kid.

"Wow," Jade breathed next to him. "Must be a colony thing, guys having long braided hair." She smiled at him, she knew, she had figured it out on her own.

Duo laughed, "Yeah that's me alright."

"Damn," Jade said. "I've never met someone who was a statue before. Well, at least not someone that I didn't have to kill."

Duo laughed at this, but quickly spun around when he heard, "Duo is that you?" from behind him. Standing before him was an older gentleman adorning the robes of a priest.

"Excuse me?" Duo inquired, not recognizing the man.

The man cleared his throat and spoke again, "I asked if you were Duo."

"Yes, I'm Duo, Duo Maxwell. May I ask who you are?"

"Oh, of course. I am Father Kelly. Umm back before the attacks I was a traveling Priest. We've only met maybe 2 or 3 times."

Duo stood and thought, then it dawned on him. "Oh, I remember you now. You were the man that brought all the kids candy when you came."

Father Kelly nodded his head. "Yes, that was me. I honestly never thought I would see you again." He Laughed, "I actually had wondered if you hadn't died after all."

"I can't believe you thought about me at all."

"Duo, when I heard what had happened to Father Maxwell, and Sister Helen, you were the first person I asked about. You always trailed along behind them. After you came around, I hardly ever saw them without you. So I asked. They assured me that your name had been taken down with the living, but I still had doubts because I never saw you."

Duo ran his figures through his bangs, "I left as soon as I possibly could."

"Well I see you took on the Maxwell name. Does that mean you gave up your childhood fascination with the god of death?"

Jade chuckled in the background as a smile crept through Duo's lips and he said, "Hardly."

"You're leaving?" Wufei asked looking up from his magazine.

"Gotta get this work done somehow," Heero flatly responded

"You need any cover?"

"Nah," Heero shook his head, "This is just one of those things that will be easier alone. Have you seen Jade though?"

"Yeah, she left with Duo this morning."

"Are they back yet?"

Wufei shook his head. "Not that I've seen."

Heero nodded. "Just do me a favor and let me know when they get back. Text me or something. My phones on silent."

"No problem" Wufei nodded.

Jade wandered through the streets nearby the Maxwell Church. Duo had sat down to talk to Father Kelly, and that was fine with her. Duo really needed to catch up with people from his past. Jade didn't like the way Duo's happy smile seemed to be fake.

It might be hypocritical, but Jade didn't believe in running from your past. She, herself, had been doing it for far too long. Her phone buzzed. It was Odin.

"Hey" she greated him.

"Hey yourself! Where are you at?"

"Places, why who's asking?"

"Heero's been looking for you all day."

"Let's hope, for your sake, that he doesn't find me."

"What?" Odin stammered, "Why would that be a problem?"

"I don't trust him."

"How can you not trust him? You asked him for his help."

"Yeah, but the scientists got away in the first place."

"Then why ask him to help?" Odin probed, still confused.

"Because, I'm hoping that he will lead me right to them," and with that she glanced to the roofline. A shadow passed by, obviously heading somewhere fast. "and that seems to be what he's doing. Gotta go." Jade hung up the phone, and began pursuit of the shadow, for ground level.

A man wearing round glasses laughed to himself from the darkened doorway of a nearby building. Jade was still miles ahead of the guys, but she was sometimes so dense. He had been surprised to see her still alive, but this made everything better.

No one had been able to withstand the Zero Chip for long. No one, except Jade that is. Now, as J stood watching the very live Jade chase off down the street after here brother, it became clear to him, that before they could execute their plans, they needed the girl.

A/N:

READ THIS CHAPTER!!!!! It starts off the same as the previous release of this story, but it has new material at the end. From here on out it's all new. Don't miss a beat. Also, reviews would be nice. I kinda don't know what people are thinking in regards to this story right now. Even Flames are welcome. If lot's of people flame, then I just know that I need to work harder. Tah for now! See Ya'll again soon.