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| Warnings: same as the last ones + slight squick in parts Disclaimer: I don�t own any Gundam stuff in any way, shape or form. I�m not getting paid for this, this is for entertainment purposes only. *** mean time passed/scene change Sister Dearest: Part 10 �Captain! One of the patrol groups hasn�t made it back, and I can�t get them on the radio.� Panting heavily, the soldier skidded to a stop, a look of nervousness in his eyes. �Well they have to be out there somewhere. Take two squads and find out what�s going on.� �Yes Sir!� Motioning to the men nearest him he took off into the rapidly darkening street. *** Eyes narrowed, Duo pulled more ammo out of the heavy wooden chest, loading it into the clips he had strapped on his chest. Lips compressed with worry, he finished, and began working on Heero�s. The silence was almost unnerving as they prepared to go back out into the streets. It was a hard decision, but they all needed to collect information on the OZ movements. Something wasn�t right in the way they were concentrated near that lab, and they weren�t going to find out anything staying indoors. �Duo?� �Yes?� �Are you still having that feeling like there�s something wrong?� Silently he nodded, moving towards the pile of �new� coats Quatre had brought in. Grabbing one and a hat, he walked over to where he�d left his priest�s jacket. �I wish I knew what it was. There�s just something not right about this.� Shrugging, he led the way out of the room. *** Steeling his square jaw, Karl looked from Michael to Wufei, and back again. Michael refused to meet his eyes, and Wufei simply smiled evilly. �Ok, you have me in here. I said I�d talk, now can we get whatever it is over with? I have an appointment to keep. One Doctor is going to have his insides pulled out, and that�s not the sort of thing I want to be late for.� �Just relax. I am not going to ask you to rehash your previous relationship, I just want to know how you both feel.� Wufei smiled yet again, stretching his powerful arms over his head. �I know Michael quite a bit already, but I don�t know you, and it�s important to know your lovers.� �Lovers?� They both looked at him in amazement. �Why not? I could tell from your face that you cared about Karl here, and I�m not going to leave.. so what�s wrong with including him?� Karl threw back his head and laughed. �So, you have the Cat by the tail, eh Wufei?� Grinning madly, he reached out and caught them both, crushing them to him in a hug. �I�ll go by whatever you decide. I�m easy to please.� Planting a kiss on Wufei�s jaw, he let them go and grabbed his jacket. �Well time to go take care of the mess, so we can come home to celebrate.� Turning and exiting the room, he blew a kiss behind him. �Well Michael, what do you think about this?� �I think you�re nuts, lover. But I also think that�s the most kind, unselfish thing I�ve ever seen, and that you�ve made me very happy.� Running his short metal nails down Wufei�s cheek, he smiled. �Now, let�s go help him so we can see if this will really work. Robot-head and I don�t always agree, but it�s long past time to go on the offensive.� *** An age weathered hand gently stroked soft brown hair. Looking up at the panels, he reached up to adjust a single dial. He watched as eyes snapped open, showing terror and disbelief. Chuckling, he allowed her to rise to her feet and take a single step towards him before he uttered a crisp command. Grabbing her chin roughly he pressed his lips to hers for a moment� before spitting in her face. �Lady Une.. my, how the mighty have fallen. I told you when we started our little partnership that I would bow to no one. I didn�t lie. Now� you find yourself trapped by an old man.� Smirking, he traced the newly healed scars on her arm. �I like having money.. but I must have respect. You thought your little offer would tempt me.. power.. position� You didn�t even realize that by doing what you did, you only left yourself open for revenge.� Pointing towards a mirror, he smiled and nodded. �Go, take a look at what you�ve become. You are everything you asked for.. a fitting partner for my other little toy.� Noticing her throat working, he snorted. �So you�d like to scream? You don�t like what I�ve done? Why.. I�ve wasted all my good work on an Ingrate! Look at what a fine, smooth finish I�ve given to your metal parts.. and I even took away most of the scarring. I assure you lady, that if I hadn�t you�d have been quite unsightly.� Unzipping his pants, he let them fall to his knees. �Now.. I believe it�s time for you to show me how grateful you are for all my efforts. And when you�re finished, you can go out and destroy every OZ soldier you find until one of them destroys you.� *** Duo retched as he slumped against a wall, receiving what comfort he could from the strong arms of his lover. Trying to stand up, he nearly fell as he gazed once more at the gory scene before his eyes. �Oh god.. Heero. I know she did this.. look.. that man�s head is torn completely off of his shoulders! And look how that one�s spinal cord is cut� oh god� I think he�s still alive!� Grabbing his gun shakily, he put two bullets into the twitching form that lay on the ground a few feet away. Sinking back to the ground, he leaned against Heero�s legs. �Duo� I�m sorry.. but we have to get out of here. These are all OZ soldiers, and if someone comes looking for them, they�ll shoot first and ask questions later.� Looking around, he nearly gagged. �I know I would.� Helping his lover up, he stopped as something caught his eye. �Wait here for a minute.� Walking over to one of the bodies, he gingerly pulled out a black two-way radio. Cleaning it off on the corpse, he switched it on, receive only. Listening carefully, he gathered Duo up in his arms and headed back to a safer location. Tell the General that we�re moving into the last sections- Roger- Blue squad leader, send troops to section E-1, and do Not let anyone go out alone- Any sign of Green, Yellow, and Orange squads?- Negative Blue squad leader. Also have lost contact with Purple leader.- Snorting, Heero thought of the purple emblems that had adorned the few intact jackets they had found. All squad leaders- Check- Check- Check- Check- Check- General Kushrenada is ordering all forces to pull back to sector A-1. Repeat. Sector A-1.- Nodding sharply, Heero switched the radio off. Treize wouldn�t let his soldiers get slaughtered for no result. He�d bring in more equipment, and more men. �Duo.. I hate to say this.. but you�ve heard what I have�� Sighing, he flipped his braid over his shoulder. �I know.. we�re gonna have to get out of here. We can�t chance them finding the Gundams.. or us.� Growling, he clenched his fists and started walking. Kicking trash out of his way, he looked back to see Heero standing still. �Come on.. we need to let everyone know.� �Shhhh.. I hear something�.. Over there.� Nodding, Heero crept towards another dimly-lit street. Drawing his gun, he aimed carefully at the figure slumped in the middle of the pavement. �Duo� hurry!� Swallowing, he ran towards dark shape, noting the braid that trailed into the dirty water. Trying to lift the heavy form, he looked at the shredded clothing and flesh. Blackened wires trailed and sparked, throwing loud cracking energy into the air. Greenish eyes opened.. and shut once again. �Give me a hand!� �Dyana?!� Gathering her into his arms, Duo felt tears scald his cheeks. �Sister� gods.. what�?� Looking at Heero he helped get her to her feet, though they couldn�t do more than drag her along. After a few blocks they had to stop. �Dyana.. you�ve got to wake up! We can�t keep going like this.� Shaking her slightly, he touched her face, ignoring the wounds across her chest and arms. "�Wake up!� �Erich..� Moaning, she opened her eyes again. �You.. are here�� Forcing herself to move, she walked between them, her motions jerky and unbalanced. �How much time do you think we have left?� �It will take awhile for him to get the mobile suits in.. so I�d say we have a few hours at least.� �Once we get her in, we�ll let Valdin fix her up�� Heero nodded, trying to take more of her weight. �We can�t let OZ get that bastard either.� Grunting, he walked a little faster. Warnings: same as the last ones Disclaimer: I don�t own any Gundam stuff in any way, shape or form. I�m not getting paid for this, this is for entertainment purposes only. *** mean time passed/scene change Sister Dearest: Part 11 �Is moving her going to harm her further?� Quatre asked in concern as he glanced at the burly men that had followed him in. �All of the carriers are loaded, and there�s enough room to bring her and all of the equipment. This area isn�t going to be safe much longer.� �Yes she can be moved, but I�ll have to go with her.� Working with meticulous care, he looked up only for a moment. �Would you be so kind as to send Wufei, Michael, Karl, Duo and Heero in?� Catching Quatre�s nod, he ignored the men who started moving the machines, save for instructions. This wasn�t going to be easy� �Ahem.� Wufei cleared his throat as he opened the door, bringing the others in behind him. Taking up positions near the table, they all paled at the sight before them. Duo visibly winced, clutching Heero�s hand like a lifeline. Karl and Michael grimaced, rage written across their features. Wufei swallowed. �I never thought� that it could go this far..� Looking down, he saw metal� so much metal. Grafted to her ribs.. snaking though her wounds.. it seemed like she wasn�t even human.. or ever had been. �Stop that!� Valdin snapped, looking angrily up at them. �He did more to her than anyone else. She may not be a strong as Karl or I, but she�s even more complex than Michael. It�s not like any of us chose to be that way.� Growling low in his throat, he turned to activate one of the machines that hadn�t been moved yet. �I�m doing the best that I can. I don�t know if it will be enough, but I can�t leave her.. not even for a minute. You�re going to have to take out the Doctor.� Clenching his fists for a moment, he cursed. �I want to be there, but this is more important. Michael.. Karl. Make him pay for me. Heero, Duo, I have a separate mission for you. From what I learned from her, she was freed by a scientist that Lady Une had learn how to control her. She believes that OZ killed him.. but I need you to go find out. If he�s still alive, he�s dangerous to leave in their hands.� Nodding, Duo drew closer. Pushing a bit of hair out of her face, he planted a kiss on her forehead. �Hang in there Sis.. I�ll be back as soon as I can.� *** Smirking through bloodied lips, Alex stretched a little further across the concrete floor. A few centimeters later he finally touched the plastic. Further exploration proved his glasses to be intact. Bringing them to his face, he nudged them into place, ignoring the pain from his broken nose. Rotted wood greeted his suddenly restored vision. Shifting a little further to the right, he found more of the same. One of the abandoned houses in the area.. and in poor repair. They must have thought he wasn�t strong enough to escape. Trying to stand up, he immediately collapsed. Prodding his chest gingerly, he explored his broken ribs�. three of them. If he didn�t move it probably wouldn�t kill him. Grimacing, he looked for the door. If he couldn�t find a way out of here it wouldn�t matter if he died from internal bleeding, since they would kill him anyway. If he could just rest� get some strength together����.. Waking up at the loud slam, he cautiously opened his eyes. Seeing the rotted wood, he realized he�d have to move if he wanted to see who it was. Grimacing, he stayed still, breathing evenly. �You heard him.. we have to keep it guarded for dissection!� �But..� �No buts! He said they were going to dissect her, and that�s final! If you can�t keep one corpse and a banged up traitor prisoner you can give me your gun and go report for scout duty. Between this bitch here, and whatever got the rest of our squads, there aren�t enough people willing to go out. They�d love to have you as a volunteer.� �Damn it, she was one of us! One of the high and mighty of Oz, done up like some kind of machine! What does this mean for the rest of us? Are they going to make robots out of common soldiers?� �From what I heard, she did this to herself somehow.. besides, if you say a word you�ll disappear. One of the General�s women is her younger sister. Orders are that she�ll fake a split personality to take her place, then eventually drop the act entirely.� �So.. since we�ve seen the body�..� �That�s right. One word and we�re both dead. We might be anyway.� �But what about him? What does he have to do with any of this?� �He�s a traitor, that�s all you need to know.� Alex would have sobbed if he�d had the strength. All of his hopes had shattered, struck with the reality that lay on the floor a few feet away. Forcing himself to move, he turned so he could gaze on the broken face of the woman he had loved. Tears glistened against the grime on his cheeks, as he stretched forth a shaking arm to touch the ends of the honey-shaded hair. There was no doubt.. she was gone. Rolling back onto his side, he felt a sudden sharp pain as one of the broken ribs shifted, tearing into something inside. Wincing slightly, he almost smiled. If he was lucky, it would all be over soon. *** �This doesn�t look good.� Clutching his braid, he stared at the wreckage below him. It had been a matter of skill and luck to navigate the area from above.. finding the house the prisoners were kept and break in.. but it looked like their luck had run out. The boards had come out easily, but it didn�t look like they were going to be able to get the prisoner out. �We could dispose of the body with a grenade.. and the panic would give us time to escape, but I don�t think we can move him without killing him.� Heero bit his lower lip, lowering himself into the room carefully so as not to alert the guards outside. Feeling for a pulse, he found it weak and erratic. �If we had Valdin with us, he could probably move him without damage, but we�d kill him before moving him an inch.� Duo sighed and dropped to the floor beside his lover. �If we can�t move him, we�ll have to kill him. He saved my sister, and the least we can do is end his misery.� Pulling a knife out from his boot, he moved closer to the twisted form. Suddenly he felt his shoulder gripped in a cold, incredibly strong grip. Spinning around, he found himself faced with the glint of metal on fangs. �Michael?� Nodding silently, he narrowed his eyes staring at the bodies on the floor. Deftly positioning the twisted limbs, he carefully lifted the bleeding form, pulling himself back into the ceiling with a single hand. Climbing out onto the roof, he waited patiently as the two pilots struggled to catch up. �I couldn�t stand to go back to the lab.� He offered in way of explanation, watching as the pair withdrew explosives from their pockets. As they took off, he looked back for a moment, the orange flames dancing against his eyes. �I made your enemies mine when I met Wufei.. but now� it�s personal.� �It�s always like this.� Duo grunted, shimmying down a wall. �It comes down to who is willing to destroy the most.. who uses the most force.� �Well, now that we�re all together, I don�t think Oz knows what it�s up against.� Growling slightly, Michael leapt over a fallen timber, not jarring his burden in the slightest. *** �Alex.. wake up.� The strange voice jarred him back into the world of pain. Trying to move sent fire through his body, as he snapped his eyes open. Focusing on the blond man over him, he felt terror run through him as he saw the similarities to the doctor that had altered Une. �Relax. You�re safe. Dyana told us about you.� Narrowing his eyes, he watched as the man grabbed a scalpel and cleaned it. Looking at the straps that held him down, he grimaced. �Why should that make me safe?� �I wouldn�t hurt someone she cares for. If you�re going to live, I�ll have to change you though. There�s no way you�ll survive without being enhanced.� Glaring angrily at his hands he reached for a tube. �I thought I�d be destroying these machines.. yet I find myself using them as much as my father has.� �Don�t.� Alex whispered, fear choking his voice. �I�d rather die. I�d rather be with Une in hell, than living as a walking machine.. like she did. Like you have to. You can�t do that to me.� �You�ll die.� Valdin stated, a pained expression on his face. �I don�t care.� �She cares for you. She needs you.� �No she doesn�t! She needs someone to love her. I can�t do that. My heart is dead and buried, the rest of me might as well follow.� Shaking his head, he winced. �Give me a piece of paper and something to write with.� Upon receiving them, he quickly wrote some coding and a small diagram. �Here. The doctor used this to program her. If you want to set her free, you�ll have to remove this base code, and these pieces of hardware.� Coughing, he lifted the notebook a little, seeing stars in front of his eyes. �It doesn�t have to be this way Alex.. it wouldn�t be so bad! Wufei doesn�t even know he�s different.� �It does matter. To me. Now leave me alone.� �Alex..� Turning around, he went back to the area where Dyana was laid out. Implementing the code, he raised the scalpel he hadn�t let go of. �Thank you.� he whispered, getting back to work. *** �How many defenses does this place have? Another explosion like that one and we�ll have the whole Oz force crawling down our throats!� Wufei panted, trying to shield his face with his arms. Looking up, he brushed the cement crumbs out of his hair. Karl stood there, glaring at the smooth metal of the door. �I think that�s about all of em.� Pointing out the four blackened holes that graced the walls. �I wish Michael had decided to come. His kitty-eyes are more sensitive than mine, not to mention he spent more time here than I did. When I was here, I was usually on ice inside.� Eyes narrowing, he suddenly jumped right in front of the door, ducking and rolling before anything could have hit him. Standing back up, he carefully approached the metal again. �We�re lucky most of the setup isn�t activated. If that light up there were lit, the system would destroy the building before it would let anyone near.� �So, what now?� �Now I see if my security overrides still work.� Extending his hands, he carefully tapped the keys set into the wall. Checking them against the image on his internal screen, he finally passed through the secondary protocol. �This outta do it..� Punching a final button, he backed a step away, watching intently as the doors slid open. �Ok.. once we�re in, don�t stay in the same place long. If he�s in there, he�s dangerous. As much as I want to get revenge, it�ll be best if we just kill him and get out. Got it?� Wufei nodded, pulling the sniper-rifle from his back. Rushing into the room, he quickly scanned the room around him. �What the hell? Everything�s dead!� �Wait! Don�t move!� Karl shouted from across the room. Grabbing the nearest console he groaned. �It�s all set to self-destruct! We have about five minutes till everything blows!� �Get over here! I�ve found something, but I can�t see what it is! It�s too dark!� Growling, Wufei prodded the inert object with his foot. Fumbling with his wrist, an eerie glow suddenly burst forth from Karl�s arm, bathing the area in a blood-red light. Crouching low, he turned the body over with his other hand. The doctor�s features faced them, death in his grimace. Cursing, he stood back up and increased the light to a fierce scarlet glow. Black rivulets flowed from the chest of the corpse, rushing to coat the cement floor. �Damn it!� Karl shouted, rage in his face. �The bastard cheated us.. Damn Him!� Growling, he pulled a strange device from the nearby wall. Twisting a dial, he looked through it for a moment, pressing a button. �Come on, let�s get the hell out of here.� Grabbing Wufei�s hand, he took off running, barely making it past the metal doors as they started to close again. Running out of the building, they spared no thought for concealment. Passing civilians and soldiers, they screamed instructions to run. *** |
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