AN: *peeks out from behind the closet* Okay. I'm sorry for the last chapter. And please note, that after this... there is probably one chapter plus and epilogue left. So... I will say it's been a joy writing this, and there is possibly a sequel to come, plus several short-stories to follow. And this will be over-hauled at some point. There are several things I'm not satisfied with, so... yeah. But not now. Later. For now... lets continue on with the story...
And HUGE shoutout to my dear little DaughterSkyVanny. I am sorry, little one! *huggles you* Please don't be mad.
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Waking Up In Vegas
Chapter Fifty-Eight
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"Fighting sucks," Midii growled. She leaned up over the concrete rise to fire another few shots at the three men taking cover behind the helicopter.
"Got that right," Emily muttered, firing another shot. Midii had proven herself to be fairly good at rapid fire, but Dorothy, thanks to her rather questionable career choice, was the better shot. She picked a target, then aimed and fired. She's downed at least two men already, and Midii had injured at least one more. Emily was a pacifist, and though she hadn't even hurt anyone yet... the fighting was tearing at her heart.
"Emily!"
Emily, eyes wide, peered out at the figure standing outside the helicopter.
"Cease fire!" Emily screamed to her two comrades, only moments before Dorothy could fire. The guns on the other side silenced as well.
"Aunt Louisa!" Emily said, standing up, ignoring the horrified hissing and whispering from Dorothy and Midii.
The woman across from then smirked, the smile marring her beautiful features.
"Stupid, stupid child. All you had to do was relay information, and you couldn't even do that properly."
"They were just people," Emily snapped. "It was only supposed to be information. There weren't supposed to be guns involved. Murder is no way to insure peace."
"It's the only way to insure peace," Louisa snarled.
"Dermail is dead," Emily cried. "Give it up. Wing is destoryed, Epyon is destroyed. It's all GONE. It's over."
"Wherever did you learn such weak ways, girl? Must have been from your mother's family, as it certainly didn't come from my side of the family. Weak-willed little filly, that's what she was. I'll never know what my good-for-nothing brother saw in her."
Emily's eyes hardened. "You are a cruel, heartless bitch."
"And that's still my mother!" cried another voice as the door to the roof burst open, and Sei Lovecraft stumbled into the fray.
"Sei!" Emily yelled.
"Marseilles," Louisa noted. "It took you long enough. I can't believe you let that Yuy-brat get the drop on you. "And just what did take you so damn long?"
"I had a few things to take care of first," the woman said. "But I'm here now. Yuy's in this building somewhere. And we can probably get Winner's location from him. Enough of this fighting. Why are you two fighting anyway?"
"Your cousin is a danger to this operation, Marseilles," Louisa said, raising her gun, pointed straight for a shocked, frozen Emily. "She needs to be eliminated just like the other threats."
"Wait! No!" Sei cried, rushing forward a few steps. "Mother, no! You can't!"
Louisa spared one last look at her daughter. "You're still too young. You'll understand later why it had to be done. Just listen to Mother. Mother always knows best."
Louisa turned her gaze back to Emily... and fired.
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"Get me a phone," Jezzy croaked, trying to sit up. "I need..."
"Stay laying down," Jasper ordered, then produced the hospital room's phone. "Do you know who you're calling?"
She recited a number from memory and allowed Jasper to hold the phone to her ear. It rang several times.
"Haptism Residence, Marie speaking."
"Mom," Jezzy sighed in relief.
"Jezebel? Oh, my God! They said... they said you might not..."
"Mom, I'm fine. Just a little worse for wear is all. I doubt I'll be going on any missions any time soon, but I'm fine. Listen, I need you to call Sumeragi Lee for me."
"Sumeragi? But... why her?"
"I need her to go arrest Tsubarov and Quinze. All the info you need to hold him should be on my tablet. It's at the Maxwell residence in Tennessee. Relena has it. And I'm sure my brother will be bringing you some more evidence as well," Jezzy chuckled.
She could almost hear her mother shaking her head. "You two are as alike as two peas in a pod," Marie laughed.
"This to the person who could be my twin," Jezzy said wryly. "Just get Dad and call Sumeragi and get the arrest warrants."
"What about Barton?"
Jezzy sighed. "I have no proof. But rather take down who we can. There's always tomorrow for Dekim."
"Agreed."
"Oh... and make sure Sumeragi gets someone to head over to Dr. G's place... and probably stop by the Winner Residence. I know something's either going to happen, or already has. At least just have them check, okay? It'd put me at ease to know everything's okay."
"Always worrying about that brother of yours," Marie sighed. "Alright, darling. I will. Take care, Jezzy. No more trying to kill yourself, okay?"
Jezzy chuckled. "Okay, Mom. Besides... dying hurts like hell."
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"No, Jon. I'm a pacifist!"
"'Rina, love. Please. I don't like you being out there, alone and unprotected. Just take it, it'll fit inside the zipper of your purse. You'll probably never have to use it, but I want you to have it."
"Guns are violent!"
"Guns don't kill people, 'Rina. People kill people. And I want you to be able to protect yourself."
"Alright... for you, Jon."
Marina stared in horror at the gun that had slipped from her numb fingers. Guns don't kill people. People kill people.
She'd killed her sister... she's killed her baby sister.
But Ninny had killed their father. Ninny would have killed Quatre... Ninny tried to kill Quatre, and now her baby brother was crying, hugging his friend- husband- as the crimson life drained from him.
Ninny had killed Iria. Did this make Marina herself no better than Ninny? She'd killed her own flesh and blood...
She stared at her hands, and backed up into the hall.
"No, no, no..." she whispered. "No."
"Marina!"
Marina shook her head, and kept backing up. "No. I killed her... Ninny..."
"Marina! Watch ou...!"
Marina wasn't watching. And when she took the next step back... her foot met with open air instead of floor.
"MARINA!" Her sister screamed as Marina tumbled backwards down the stairs.
"MARINA!"
In the distance... sirens wailed. Coming closer and closer.
But they were, perhaps, too late. Two bodies lay, lifeless, and another two lay, fading away bit by bit.
Much, much too late.
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"S-s-sei?" Emily dropped to her knees as her cousin fell limply into her arms. No-one had seen her leap forwards, no-one had seen a blond blur move into the path of the bullet.
Louisa stared, horrified. "Marseilles?" she whispered, looking at the gun in her hand, and her daughter... at the bright red staining the white shirt.
"S-sei?" Emily cried, cradling the older girl to her chest. Louisa looked down at the gun in her hands. Sei? She'd shot... her own daughter? No...
"Marseilles," she cried... and started to run towards them... "Please don't die..."
Tear-filled hazel eyes glared up at her, and Louisa stopped cold.
"She's dead," Emily whispered. "She's... dead..."
"I... I..." Louisa looked from Emily and Sei to the gun in her hand. What had she done?
"My daughter..." she whispered, then raised the gun once more.
Emily closed her eyes, and flinched when the gun fired. The dull thud of a body dropping to the ground echoed in the eerie silence, but Emily didn't dare open her eyes. She could feel the coolness seeping into Sei's body, she could feel the once warm blood drying. She didn't need to see it- any of it.
"Alright," Dorothy's voice sounded, calm and sure. "Unless you guys want to become the next dead bodies on this roof, I suggest you drop your weapons and hold your hands up." There was silence, then the clink of guns hitting the ground. In the distance, Emily could hear sirens. Coming closer with every passing heartbeat.
But they were too late. Emily clutched the lifeless form of her cousin closer to her.
Much, much too late.
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"Huh?" M looked at where the man had fell, but never remembering any of them hitting him. From his back sprouted an arrow shaft.
"Duo!"
From the door, a petite girl with dark black hair ran into the room. "DUO! WUFEI!"
"Vanessa?" Duo peered out from where Wufei had landed on top of him. "Vanessa!"
The girl squealed, launching herself across the room at him, throwing away the bow she still held. "DUO!"
"Vanny!" Wufei gasped as the girl giggled and wriggled her way between them, arms wrapped around both of them until they were in little more than a 'puppy' pile on the floor. Maia was but a heartbeat behind them, joining into the fray.
"That's cute," M said, "And I'm happy for you, but there are other things to... Grandfather!"
M gasped as she saw her grandfather sinking to the floor slowly, a hand held to his abdomen.
"There's something I have to say, child," G said, looking from her to Heero, standing up, holding his left arm with his right hand. His shirt was torn, and it looked as if he had merely a flesh wound.
"Melora... The will's in the safe, as you know. Heero... I suggest contacting Doctor Jay."
"Doctor Jay?"
G shook his head. "There's things you don't know. Things you probably should know. Stupid, stupid Odin," he muttered. "I never agreed with this damn plan."
"Odin? What about my father?" Heero's eyes widened as he staggered towards the collapsed doctor.
G merely waved a weak hand. "You'll know one day, boy. Melora, help him find Jay. Jay has the answers. Stay strong, granddaughter. Stay strong." And then... nothing.
No thought was given to the dead Quinze... or his multiple dead and injured goonies, two of them downed by the same type arrow that speared Quinze. No thought was given to the room behind them all, where the remains of a potentially world-destructive weapon resided.
They were thinking of the joy on the faces of the reunited family
They were thinking of the heart-ache of loss, looking at the two doctors.
"Grandfather," Melora Germaine sighed, feeling the distinct absence of a pulse in her grandfather's neck.
In the distance, Heero could hear two separate gunshots, as if from the roof.
In the distance, they could hear the ring of sirens. Help was coming.
M felt a tear roll down her cheek, and fall to mingle with the blood on her grandfather's hand. But it was too late.
Much, much too late.
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AN: *grins* So... a few cliffhangers solved... and more introduced. *ducks behind the closet again.* Just remember... I LOVE YOU ALL! *blows kisses*
PS... check out my profile! I have two poll questions up! Answers would be greatly appreciated! Ciao!