| If this is a little hard to read or sounds jerky, my sincere apologies. I wrote this amidst the typical chaotic familial setting, so you can imagine just how hard it was to concentrate and make it sound coherent. Anyone with more then 3 people in their immediate family understands what I mean. By the way, why does everybody want to know if I�m an English student?!? Do I have �Lit Geek� tattooed on my forehead or somethin�?! What�s it to everyone, anyway? If you like the story, then what�s your problem? I apologize for this but I�ve gotten a coupla nasty comments and emails and I feel the need to defend myself. Just for the record, I�m not. If my language sickens/upsets/confuses/is beyond you, feel free to read something else. I�m not forcing you to read them. For those kind hearts who support me and have written praise, may God bless your shining souls. I write for you. I hope to continue to keep up the good work. Thanks to all the usuals and too many generous souls from the Internet to list here. I do read all your emails and I remember the nice ones (the nasty ones generally write only once). ------------------------------- Disclaimer: Gundam Wing or Shinkidousenki Gundam Wing is copyrighted and trademarked by Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency and associated parties with all rights and privileges. The characters were used without permission for the purposes of entertainment only. This is not meant for sale of profit. Any characters not created by those listed above are mine and hereby considered the sole property and copyright of the author. ------------------------------ NOCTURNE OF SHADOWS: DARK BEGINNINGS PART 3 By Lady DarkAngel ------------------------------- Trowa lead the way to the club meeting Taylor West had told him about earlier in the day. The mission was to discover who was their real target. The girl that had so affectionately referred to as �Baka-sama� would must certainly be there. He was most certain that the girl Duo had been with earlier was one and the same, their objective. That would soon be confirmed, along with the other information he had received. He felt a twinge of.....regret? The fact that life was not easy, if not totally unfair, was weighing heavily on his mind. Duo and his recent experiences were proof that, if there is a guiding force to life, it has a most perverse sense of operation. His fellow pilot finally discovers a girl that he feels for and seems to reciprocate, only to learn she works for OZ and has been playing everyone for fools. The enemy was hidden behind a pleasant mask. Whereas the Heavyarms pilot found himself in a similar, but less extreme situation. The object of his.....interest.....was in league with the traitor but seemingly unwittingly. While this was easier on Trowa, it had given him the extremely unpleasant task of revealing the truth to the smitten Deathscythe pilot. Although he hadn�t let it show, Trowa truly felt sorry for Duo. He had a vague idea how such a betrayal felt and had no desire to learn anymore. That sort of pain was beyond his capability to bear. <I�m sure of it. I am strong, but not that strong.> They approached the co-ed building where most of the clubs and societies held their meetings. The group in question was a science club, apparently headed by the reclusive �Baka-sama�. They had a meeting scheduled for earlier in the afternoon and it should be over by now. All the better; fewer witnesses and innocents in the way. Before they entered, Heero and Wufei took a quick look around to confirm if they really were alone. They were; the campus was practically empty, as would be the building. The Wing Zero pilot motioned for the rest to follow him inside. Trowa held the door, intending to be the last one in and cover the rear. Duo was the last to pass him. Trowa barely managed to suppress a shiver at the grim look on his friend�s face. This most definitely would not be a good evening for anyone. -------------------------------------- Wufei swiftly took in his surroundings as the other pilots spread out. Only two girls remained in the room; one was the girl from the lunchroom. The other he had never seen before. The girls did not notice that they had come in; they had been meticulously silent. He furtively glanced to see if the others were in position. Trowa was by the only door, Quatre by the window, Duo on the right, Heero in the middle and he stationed the left. The Chinese boy waited for Heero to make their next move. <How to attract their notice without causing a scene? Do we just go up and inquire them about what we want to know?> The Wing Zero pilot calmly stepped forward and fired his gun at the ceiling. <Well, *THAT* certainly got their attention. Let�s hope it didn�t attract anyone else�s.> he thought with a touch of disapproval. Both girls whirled at the sound. The unidentified one cried out and fell backwards in shock. Wufei couldn�t stop the sneer of disgust from reaching his lips. <Women! The whole lot of them are nothing but weak-minded, spineless babies! Look at how she�s trembling. She probably thinks were thieves or gang members here to kill them. She quakes like a rabbit!> He nearly snorted his loathing when he noticed the other girl. She was still standing and was in what appeared to be a defensive crouch. He was shocked to recognize it as one of the moves he frequently used. <But that�s impossible! That�s one of the most difficult techniques to master! How could a mere GIRL have learned it?!> He studied her more closely. Although her posture hadn�t visibly changed, he saw that she had actually moved in front of her fallen friend. <The look on her face..... I think that expression could melt the gundamium off my Nataku! She�s being defiant; not challenging, but showing she�s not afraid. She�s willing to fight us to protect her cowardly friend. Stupid, but impressive. She�s unarmed, surrounded and outnumbered; she knows she doesn�t have a prayer. Yet still she stands her ground. Maybe not all women are so weak, after all.....> He snapped back to reality as the brave girl demanded in a clear, authoritative voice, �Just who the hell do you think you are, pulling a stunt like this? I demand you tell me who you are and what you want now!� Heero�s cheek twitched ever-so-slightly. You would have had to be looking for it to have seen it. <Remarkable! She actually got a reaction out of that stone-faced excuse for a human being! If she is really our enemy, then she�s a formidable one. Excellent.> The Wing Zero pilot went on as if the defiant one hadn�t scored an impressive blow so quickly. �First, I want you to answer one question: Are you the one working for OZ?� <*WHAT*?! Oh, VERY subtle, Yuy! I know that we�re in a hurry, but you could have at least phrased it a little better! Even if she is the target, the other girl is not! How can you include her in this mess? Where�s your sense of justice?! Oh.....that right, you don�t really have one, now do you?> Wufei thought. He could similar shock and similar thoughts race across Quatre and Trowa�s faces, as well. Duo�s, however, remained fixated on the female in question. The gray-eyed girl gave them a furious glare. She spoke in a low even tone. �Get out of here. I don�t know who you are or what you want.....and frankly I really don�t give a damn anymore. I want you gone, *NOW*.� Every single person but her had the same incredulous look. <Unbelievable! We�ve got her at gunpoint and she has the NERVE to order us?! She�s definitely used to being obeyed and has no problems exercising authority in the face of danger. That�s not a good sign.....> Heero recovered and pointed the gun straight at her head. The girl�s face didn�t even twitch. The Wing Zero pilot growled ominously, �Answer the damn question. Do you work for OZ?� -------------------------------------- Quatre nervously switched his gaze back and forth between the deadly serious Heero and the equally immovable female challenging him. <Is she insane? Surely she must realize that he�ll do it..... Her spirit is strong, maybe too strong. I don�t think she�ll back down.....> He glanced at the other girl who was slowly getting up but was keeping her friend between herself and the intruding pilots. He felt sorry for her. <She�s not involved. We should let her go. We�re scaring her.....> His thoughts were rudely shattered as the braided beauty stepped forward and practically marched up to the still-armed Heero. She stopped less then 2 feet away, well within point-blank range. <She IS insane!> �My name is Kelly Memori. My friend is Taylor West. We have no idea what you�re talking about. I can speak for both of us when I say that we don�t work for anyone. We�re students here and have done nothing wrong. Now I suggest you correct your obvious mistaken-identity error by getting the hell out of here.� Quatre blinked at the sheer boldness of the girl. <This Kelly is...... I don�t *BELIEVE* this! She�s giving Heero a run for his money!> His eyes quickly shifted to the other pilots to see their reactions. Wufei looked positively apoplectic; his face was a bright shade of blue. Trowa�s face reflected shock, his green eyes so wide *both* were plainly visible. Heero looked completely unimpressed. The Arab pilot knew that this was a mask, though. Heero was just as bewildered as the rest of them. It was only Duo that Quatre was unsure of. <He�s been acting so....different, who knows what he�s thinking?> �No.� Typical Heero answer: short, to the point and utterly non-negotiable. �Then you will let my friend leave.� This brought a startled gasp and swift jerk of the head from the other girl. Heero appeared to mull this over and then gave a slight nod of acceptance. The braided beauty turned to her companion and said stiffly, �Go on, get out. It�s safe for you to leave now.� The short-haired girl�s mouth worked for a few seconds before she managed to stutter out a shaky, �But...but...you. It�s not...s-s-safe...for you....� She tossed the pilots a terrified glance that left Quatre feeling extremely guilty. �I...I...can�t go....� The Sandrock pilot noted that although she seemed scared out of her mind, she did appear to care about the answer to that little statement. �Doesn�t matter. Don�t worry about me. Go.� �But.....� Kelly rounded on her friend and snarled, �Damnit, will you just go! I�ll be fine. They�re letting you leave; take advantage of it! Ryn, I�m telling you to get the hell out of here NOW!� �No.� The shake was gone, replaced by self-righteous fury and concern for a good friend. �I�m not goin�. You�re my best bud and there�s no way in hell I�m gonna leave you to these....these.... If I leave now, then I wouldn�t be a good friend. You need me; I�m goin� nowhere.� She crossed her arms and gave what Quatre assumed was supposed to be a death glare. Kelly did not seem pleased and was returning the glare more effectively. The others were starting to fidget, never a good sign. Taylor let out a huff and turned slightly, only to exaggerate the movement when something caught her eye. She whirled full force in Trowa�s direction and she stuttered for a few seconds before the outraged remarks fully formed. �You.....*YOU*!!!!! What the hell do you think you�re *doing*?! What is going on here?! Is this your idea of a *JOKE*?!?� He slowly stepped forward and spoke. �We don�t have time for this. Is she �Baka-sama�?� He gestured to Kelly. Talyor seemed at a complete loss. Somehow she knew the answer she gave to this inconspicuous question was a matter of life and death, especially for Kelly. Her confused eyes traveled from Trowa to Heero and the gun finally to the girl the weapon was pointed at. Her face hardened, as did her voice. �No. Now get out of here, you miserable bastards. That�s not her.� �Liar.� The word was spoken simultaneously by two matching voices. Quatre watched in amazement as Duo stepped forward, one half of the vocal pair, to face Kelly, the other. Both had the same look on their face: a blank, nearly empty expression that barely hid the raging emotions beneath them. They gave each other a measured, knowing look......and Duo placed his hand on Heero�s gun, lowering it at the precise moment Kelly stepped back and spread her hands wide in a symbol of unarmed surrender. The tension in the room was so thick, it was going to choke somebody soon. Quatre didn�t really understand what was happening, but decided to do something about it. <Someone could get trigger-happy or do something stupid. Can�t have that.> He stepped forward to diffuse the stress radiating in front of him when the door Trowa was guarding flew open. He spun to see the new arrival. It was Ward. The fool boy marched in, completely and totally oblivious to the pair of guns sighted at his head. Both Wufei and Trowa were looking at Heero for confirmation to kill. <This is not good. What is he doing here, anyway?! He�s supposed to be uninvolved.> �Oh, Star-heart, there you are! And Ryn, too! -------------------------------------- Ward was staring at the two girls rapturously. Heero gave him a death glare. The boy didn�t seem to notice. �I�ve got great news! You�ll never guess what.....� The rest of his pronouncement was lost by Kelly�s next statement. �Nicolas. Leave. Now.� The words were ground out from her throat, flat but imperative. She was deadly serious. �Leave? Why? I haven�t told you my news yet! They�re done!� �Damnit, Nicky, she told you to go! What the hell�s *WRONG* with you?! Listen for once in your damn life. Get *OUT* of here!� Taylor shrieked at the oblivious intruder. She was panting and her hands were balled into tight fists. <Hn. Not used to this level of stress.> Kelly laid a hand on her to calm the shorthaired girl and turned a cool visage on Ward. �What is so important that you�re willing to risk your life, Nicky? What�s done?� �What do you mean? �Risk my life�? What�s going on?� He flicked suddenly uncertain eyes towards Duo and the others, visible nervous. �Not.....not here. I have to show you, anyway. It�s a surprise.� �We�re not going anywhere. Now tell me, what�s the problem? Why are you so excited?� �I told you; they�re done! You *HAVE* to see them. They�re magnificent!! Absolutely perfect! But then, they should be. They�re yours.� �WHAT are?! What are you babbling about, you freaking moron?!� Taylor�s patience had reached and exceeded her limit. Ward�s radiant smile returned full force. The smug satisfaction on his face was almost enough to cause Heero to punch him out. He could see everyone else reacting similarly. <That boy knows something. And I�m sure we won�t like it.> He braced himself for what could be some seriously bad news. He wasn�t disappointed. The arrogant boy allowed his gaze to sweep the room before settling it directly into Kelly�s eyes. �Why......the Gundams, of course.� -------------------------------------- I thought I�d be bad and leave it there for now..... More coming up with new characters added in. If anyone gets lost or anything, blame my friends. They insist on being written in. As for the story, I can state with firm certainity that this whole situation is going straight to hell. The G-boys are *not* happy campers as you would guess but neither are the girls..... A lovely action sequence coming up along with a new villain and even *more* complications and revelations, next in Nocturne of Shadows: Dark Beginnings Part 4! |