See Part One for Disclaimers

Part Four

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>>dream or flashback<<
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Heero peered out of his window to the landscape below.  They were flying over eastern China now, headed straight for Siberia.  As soon as we get there, I'll tell them all about the underground base.  This was the type of mission he hated.  Why can't  all missions involve blowing things up?  Instead, all they had to worry about was one of the scientists working there.  Hmm, Dr. Kemerov.  Oh well, a mission was a mission.

He was trying very hard not to drift off to sleep.  I'm so tired...up all night...such a long way to fly...  Heero's head fell gently backwards, his mind descending into a quiet slumber.

>>>>>Relena stood, dressed entirely in black, behind a red velvet curtain.  He could see the glass she held out to him, urging him to drink from it.  He knew he should take it, wanted to take it, but something was stopping him.  There was something wrapped around his leg, a snake, shining black.  She smiled at him with those bright eyes of hers.  They were outdoors now, was a powerful wind blowing through the grass and trees.  Behind her, he could see the sun moving through the sky, rising and setting, and then the moon rising, setting...time seemed to be passing at a rapid rate.

"Watch." She whispered.  Somehow, he knew she meant to look behind him.  Out of nowhere, they bounded towards them, a large herd of various animals.  He started to move, to get out of their way, but she stopped him, taking his hand.  "Wait." She said.

The creatures flanked them now, flowing around the two like water.  A passing lion paused a moment to his left.  "Do you mind?"  It asked, nodding towards the snake on Heero's leg.  He shook his head, not sure what the lion meant.  The beast opened its huge jaws ever so slightly, taking the shimmering black snake into its mouth.

He didn't want the lion to hurt the serpent.  "No!" he tried to yell, but nothing came out of his mouth.  The lion swallowed the snake whole, turning its head away.

"He'll be safe now." Relena told him.  Heero grabbed her by the shoulders.

"What have you done?"  His voice seemed to work now.

Relena is gone, and he now held in his hands a tiny baby bird.  But something wasn't right, he knew.  Fire began to shoot out from the bird's body, engulfing it and his hand in flames.  They both began to melt...<<<<<

Heero jerked awake, the disturbing vision still clear in his mind.  He raised his hand up to his face, checking for any burns.  His heart beat nearly out of his chest, breath coming in ragged gasps.  Heero's eyes darted all around the plane, assuring himself that everything was okay.  But in his heart, he just couldn't believe it.  Not yet.  What the hell kind of dream was that?

Heero resigned himself to staying away for the rest of the flight, not wanting to give his demented mind any more opportunities to upset him.

*      *      *

All he really wanted to do on the plane was sleep, but Wufei also didn't want to give up this opportunity to talk with Trowa about their 'problem'.  He hadn't been able to bring up a discussion (if you could call it that when dealing with Trowa) in the car because of Quatre.  I'm taking a chance, I know, assuming he's innocent, but I have to talk to  someone.

Wufei thought momentarily about last night's meditation.  Bring us our justice...  He knew they wouldn't ask unless it was right, but  how could what they were asking be right?

Placing a hand over his forehead, Wufei turned slightly to face his friend in the seat next to him.  He spoke in a conspiratorial tone.  "Had any more insights into 'recent events'?"

Of course, Trowa remained silent; Wufei expected nothing less.  The Chinese boy was marginally impressed by Trowa's remarkable restraint.  "I know you were looking around in the office this morning before we left."  He paused to let his words sink in.  "And I know you've been contemplating this for quite a while.  Just how long have you suspected something?"  To his surprise, Trowa responded.

"Since our last mission."

"That long?  Why?"  Trowa seemed to think carefully before continuing.  He's probably deciding whether or not to trust me.

"I thought it might be a trap from the beginning, then, after what happened with Quatre, I knew it was.  Everything was too easy; I'm pretty sure it was a set up."  It was one of the longest sentences Wufei had ever heard his friend utter.  I'm honored.

"So, what's your theory?"  I wonder how long I can keep him talking...  Trowa remained silent for a long moment before going on.  The Chinese pilot had just decided that his friend was through with the conversation, when Trowa finally went on.

"I've been monitoring radio signals for 3 weeks now.  Someone's been sending transmissions from the base at least once a day."

Wufei was unimpressed.  "That's probably Heero, contacting headquarters."

"Why would Heero use a radio transmission when he's got a direct line in his office?"

Now Wufei was shocked.  "You mean, there really is, I wasn't sure..."

"I can't be sure what it means.  I only know the phenomenon occurs, usually at night, no longer than 24 hours apart."

"Have you been able to track it?"

"No; the transmissions seem to head east, probably overseas."

Hmm, Relena's located overseas; of course, so are a lot of people.  Wufei decided to risk one more question.  What was the worse that could happen?  This was already the longest conversation he'd had with Trowa.  "Got any suspects?"

Trowa turned his impassive gaze to the aisle, indicating he was through talking; Wufei knew the sign.  "I thought you'd say that." He sighed, using his favorite line on the boy yet again.

*      *      *

I've  already said too much.  I can't tell him about Duo, not yet.  He thought about the slip of paper, Duo's handwriting, the American's remarkable survival of the shooting.  The transmissions usually occur late at night, and he's always up until practically dawn...

Trowa wasn't sure what to think.  He had some evidence, yes, but he also knew that the slip of paper could be  anything, someone could have even forged Duo's handwriting; after all, he was no expert.  As for surviving the shooting, the American might just be extremely lucky.

Look at how many times he should have died in battle...maybe he  is the god of death.  And Trowa well knew that Duo wasn't the only one up late at night; Wufei often went without sleep.  If only there had been some way to rule the Chinese boy out.  But his training told him to trust no one, not even his only friend.

He had been waiting patiently for a transmission to occur when it might possibly eliminate someone from his list of suspects (like one occurring when someone was gone), but, so far, it hadn't happened.  Of course, Duo  was at the top of that list, but Trowa struggled with himself over that.  He did have the most evidence against the American, but his gut feeling didn't agree with the evidence.

Quatre is the more likely traitor.  He's been acting so strangely lately, and the way he looks at Heero, it's almost frightening.  And what about Heero?  He could be delivering them into the hands of terrorists, insurrectionists, revolutionaries, or anyone.

Trowa heard a loud gasp and focused his attention towards the front right section of the plane.  Heero seemed to be suddenly disoriented, panting and turning his head around wildly.  What's wrong with him?  Maybe a guilty conscious is catching up with him...  Trowa glanced in Wufei's direction to see if he'd noticed Heero's strange behavior, but the Chinese boy was mesmerized by the swiftly passing scenery below.  Am I the only observant one around here?

Frustrated, Trowa lay his head back against the seat and closed his eyes.  The rest would probably think he was asleep, but he only wanted to think for a little while.

*      *      *

Duo kept going on and on with his mindless chatter.  Quatre knew he was only trying to keep his mind off 'unpleasantness', but the monotony of his non-stop monologue lulled the Arabian into a trance-like state.  His mind, now free from distraction, went back to that day.

>>>>>Through a thick mist, Quatre could see a cold, gray cement floor.  He was only semi-aware of being dragged along, like a rag doll, by a group of blue and red clad men.  He could vaguely hear a deep voice, slightly familiar to him.

"Well, he's not the one we wanted, but he'll do.  Put him in the lab's observation room."

Blackness.

The next thing he was aware of was being roughly dumped in the corner of some room with a very cold floor.  He dared not move, hoping they would leave.  The men left, a loud clank heralding their exit.  Quatre lay there, still afraid to move.

So this is it.  The others have left me here to die.  I guess I never expected anything better from them.  Quatre knew Heero's policy on being taken prisoner.  Rescue attempts are  not an option.  And the likelihood of me being able to get out of here on my own isn't very good.  I guess that only leaves me with one option...

He could hear Heero's voice echoing in his head.  "If you're ever caught, use this."  Yes, he knew he had to do it.  As he raised the small white pill to his lips, Quatre heard another voice, this time Duo's.

"Hey, shouldn't that be saved as a last resort?  Don't you think we should at least  try to escape first?"  Quatre lowered his hand.

He's right, I should at least try.  The Arabian replaced the pill to the pouch inside his shirt and opened his eyes.  Without moving his head, he took in as much of the room as possible, seeing that it was some sort of observation area.  The walls were made of thick, reinforced glass.  He could also see the guards, four of them, outside, near the door.

There's no way I can get out of here!  However, Quatre knew they would be coming for him later.  They'll no doubt want all the valuable information I can give them.  He grimly remembered all the training he'd undergone on how to resist torture.  I never  did learn to like pain.

The clank of the door opening made him jump.  Two men advanced on him, one grabbing hold of each arm.  He knew better than to struggle, best to just let them take him.

"Where are we going?" he asked, sounding, to his surprise, much calmer than he felt.  They didn't answer, only guided him out of the cell and down a dimly lit hallway.<<<<<

"...and then she jumps right in front of him.  That was the last thing I expected.  Hey, are you listening to me?  I must've told you this story before."

Quatre tried to reorient himself to the present.  "Yeah, I think I've heard this one a few times before."

*      *      *

Am I that boring?  Damn, I can't even keep his attention for five minutes!  Duo decided to try and get Quatre talking, maybe that would keep his mind out of the past and here, safely in the present.  "You never  did tell me where you and Noin are going on your trip."

Quatre brightened a little; thinking about his vacation always seemed to cheer him up.  "I've got an extensive itinerary all planned.  I thought we'd start in Spain, then France, Italy, and Germany.  Then we'll go over and spend a day or two in Sweden, and finish up in Greece; kind of thaw out after Sweden."

"Wow, that sounds great.  It'd be nice to get to travel."

"What are you talking about?  We travel all the time."

"You know what I mean, not on missions and official business, just for fun."  If any of us can remember  how to have fun after all of this...I thought when the war was over, I could go back to normal.  But it just doesn't end, does it?  This life is forever.

"You have some vacation time coming up, right?"

"Yeah, I guess.  I haven't really been keeping up with it too well."

"Why don't you go somewhere, get away for a while?"

"I have no where to go."  I should say no one to go anywhere with.  God, why did he constantly have to be reminded of how lonely he was.  Quatre had Noin, but he had no one.  The others are alone, too, though.  Except Heero, he had Relena...sort of.  Maybe it was better to not have anyone than someone you didn't want.

Quatre seemed to understand what he'd meant.  "When's the last time you heard from Hilde?"

"It's been a while."

"I heard she was here, on Earth."

"Yeah, she's goin' to school in North America."

"Maybe you could go visit her."

She'd probably enjoy seeing me, but I really don't feel like seeing her.  "Yeah."  Duo didn't sound at all enthused.

Quatre's face, as well as his voice, took on a more serious tone.  "Duo, sometimes you just have to go."

The American felt a sudden wave of deja vu come over him.  Where have I heard that before?  He flipped through his memories for a moment, trying to place the phrase.  Oh no, and here I was trying to get Quatre to forget about this.  Duo could not prevent the scene from overtaking him.

>>>>>"Let's go!" Heero ordered, heading for their small plane; Wufei was already behind the controls, ready to take off.  Trowa obediently followed directly behind Heero; Duo, however, remained staring into the base.  The Japanese boy returned to Duo, grabbing his right arm.  "Hurry, before they come after us."  The American did not react to the hand on his arm, only kept his gaze steadily on the base.

"We can't leave him."

Heero seemed to  attempt to keep the frustration out of his voice.  "You know the procedure.  He's lost."

Now Duo reacted to the hand, jerking away from its grasp.  "I won't leave him."  Heero's eyes flickered some sort of unintelligible emotion before he turned and started back to the plane.  Trowa did not follow immediately after Heero this time.  Duo projected his sorrowful gaze upon the tall boy, looking for an ally.  "How can you just go?"

"Sometimes, you just have to go."  With that, Trowa was gone, disappearing into the aircraft along with Heero and Wufei.

Duo spoke to the ground.  "I'll go alone, then, as usual."<<<<<

"It's time for the debriefing."

Despite his surprise at Heero's sudden appearance, Duo didn't miss a beat.  "Finally!"

Motioning for the others to join them, Heero began.

"When we arrive on the Central Siberian Plateau, we will proceed over land to Syul 'dyukar, located on an arm of the Vilyui River.  The Organization has discovered an underground base at this point.  We are to retrieve a Dr. Kemerov, one of the scientists working there.  Under no circumstances are we to damage the base or bring any attention to our presence in the area."

"Won't they notice something's wrong when one of their scientists turns up missing?" Duo wondered.

"That's not a problem."  Heero indicated that the briefing was over by going back to his seat near the plane's front.

Duo was momentarily stunned, but slowly coming to terms with the new method of information relay within the group.  "Man, I guess that's it for now."  He was slightly surprised that Quatre had been so silent.  I guess he's still feeling the effects of yesterday's incident.  Wufei's voice from behind half startled him.

"I wonder why he didn't give us any information on Dr. Kemerov.  How are we supposed to 'retrieve' someone we've never seen?"

The thought had occurred to Duo as well.  "I guess we'll find out."

Trowa let out a slight huff of air and returned to his seat in the rear of the aircraft, as Quatre began to mumble something, none of which the American could make out.  "Huh?"

"Nothing, I was just thinking out loud."

"What about?"  Quatre looked down into his lap, then raised his head to give the back of Heero's chair an evil glare, only to lower his head again.

"Nothing."

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