See Part One for Disclaimers

Part Eight

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>>dream or flashback<<
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Heero and Trowa watched them go, three dull shapes against a backdrop of the purest white.  The two knelt down, readying their guns.  The Japanese boy peered through is scope, sighting Quatre's head in the crosshairs.  Then he moved the gun ahead of the group, trying to see if he could make out the entrance to the underground base.

I can't see any breaks in the snow. . .it must be well concealed.  All the two could do now was wait.  Hopefully, they wouldn't have to fire a shot.  Unfortunately, Heero well knew that things seldom went according to plan.

*      *      *

"Where is she?" Wufei cursed, wishing he'd worn something a little warmer.  It hadn't been so cold back in the cover of the trees, but out here in the open, the wind cut through him like a knife.  He looked to Muya, completely unaffected by the freezing temperature.

"How should I know?' the doctor snapped.

"Your friend's already ten minutes late!  We can't just  sit out here much longer."

"She isn't my friend.  You're such a grumpy widower.  She'll  be here."

Wufei tried not to show that her remark shocked him, covering it with the best annoyed look he could come up with.  How in the hell did she know I'd been married on L5?  I've only told two people, and everyone from the colony is dead.

He chose to ignore her statement.  "We'll give her five more minutes, then we'll have to abort."  He'd barely gotten the words out when something about 5 meters to their left began to stir.  All three whirled around to stare as a small, open, metal elevator began to rise out of the snow.  Standing inside, wearing a long white lab coat, was Dr. Kemerov's exact double, even down to their identical outfits.

Incredible.  They look  exactly alike.  They've even got the same condescending look to their faces!  The woman rushed forward out of the lift, taking off her coat as she hurried towards them.

"Hurry, I don't think I was followed, but I can't be sure."  How does she manage to have the exact same voice as Dr. Kemerov too?

Muya nodded and took the coat from her, pulling it on over her clothes.  "All right.  You'd better get out of here."  With that, Dr. Kemerov stepped into the elevator and, with the press of a button, vanished below the snowy ground.

Quatre looked around nervously, an uneasy feeling coming over him.  "Guys, we'd better get back to the others."  Wufei and Muya's double nodded in agreement.  They began as one to head for the cover of the forest, when a man's voice stopped them.

"Freeze!  Throw down you weapons!"  I should have known.  These things  never run smoothly.  As he was about to turn and tell them they didn't  have any weapons any weapons you can see, anyway, Wufei watched in horror as Dr. Kemerov's double dropped to the ground, whipped out a hand gun, and began shooting at the guards.

Hasn't she ever heard of being discreet?  Quatre took the opportunity the ensuing confusion afforded to pull his own weapon and begin firing.  Wufei was about to reluctantly do the same, when he realized that Heero and Trowa were probably already taking aim at the four guards.  "Wait!" he bellowed.  "You two, stop shooting!  We surrender!"

Quatre and the doctor both stared at him in disbelief.  "What are you doing?" Quatre whispered.  Wufei only nodded towards the woods; the blonde seemed to understand and tossed his gun down into the snow.  Muya's double was less enthusiastic about the idea, but complied, giving Wufei a look that said 'I hope you know what you're doing.'

Reasonably satisfied that the trio were now approachable, the guards advanced on them, keeping a constant watch on the surrounding area.  When they were within a few meters of them, Wufei screamed "Now!", he and Quatre flinging themselves to the ground and taking the very confused woman with them.

Please let Heero and Trowa be ready.  Within seconds, two of the guards were down, the other two looking madly around for the invisible assailants.

"Snipers!" one of them called out, only to be shot in the neck three seconds later.  The final guard dropped to the ground and rolled his body over to Wufei.  The two fell into a scuffle, each trying to get control of the guard's pistol.  Wufei finally got the upper hand, sending the man sprawling in the snow.

The Chinese boy stood up and took aim at the last living guard, about to finish him off.  Before he'd had a chance to fire, the man leapt up from the ground and flew towards him.  Two shots rang out into the air.  The first hit Wufei's right leg, the second hit the man squarely in the chest.  The Chinese pilot dropped down on his knees, clutching at his injury.  Oh god!  Which one of them has the lousy aim?

*      *      *

Trowa's eyes had begun to go in and out of focus.  Where is that woman?  We've been sitting here for a while.  Just as he was starting to think that Dr. Kemerov's twin wasn't going to make it, and they'd have to abort the mission, the elevator came slowly to the surface.  Okay, now hurry!

Trowa watched as the two women traded the coat and Dr. Kemerov boarded the elevator.  He was just about to relax when the four guards appeared.  Damn!  He sent a glance to Heero and they both raised their rifles, taking aim.

The tall pilot couldn't believe what he was seeing.  What the  hell is she doing?  Trowa patiently waited for an opportunity to shoot, seeing one arise when Wufei began yelling orders at Quatre and the woman.  As the word "Now!" rang out into the air and the three fell to the ground, Trowa immediately pulled his trigger, rewarded by the spray of blood that shot out of his victim's neck.  Heero had gotten one as well; they only had two more to worry about.

The guards were beginning to realize what was going on, but it was too late now.  Heero hit another one and Trowa was about to take out the last of the guards, when the man disappeared from his sight.

What the. . .  Trowa lowered his gun and saw the man fighting with Wufei.  The tall boy went back to his riffle, waiting for a semi-clear shot.  As the man went flying, Trowa readied himself.  Rocketing towards Wufei at an inhumanly fast rate, the guard would not be an easy target.  Trowa fired, his hands quavering ever so slightly.

Shit.  Immediately taking aim again, he fired a second shot, this time making no mistake.  The two boys both lowered their guns and looked at each other.

Heero's face remained emotionless.  "That's what you get for not using tranquilizers."

Trowa sighed, trying to decide if it was meant as a joke or not.

*      *      *

Quatre was fighting a losing battle with himself.  He knew he was about two seconds from completely panicking.  They're coming; I can feel it!  I'm  not going to be captured again.  Knowing he and Muya's double had to get themselves and Wufei back to the woods immediately, the blonde attempted once more to think clearly.

Calm down.  You get one side, she gets the other, and you get away from here as fast as you can.  Okay, he was okay now.  I haven't been okay for a while. . .

"Ah, doctor?  We've got to get him, and us, out of here.  I'm sure my comrades are already waiting for us in the truck."

"You can call me Muya or Dr. Kemerov, if it makes things easier; I'm used to it."

Quatre took exception to that.  "Miss, I come from a large family, and one thing I have learned is that  everyone needs to have some sense of individuality."

She gave him a truly sweet, sincere smile, completely unlike anything he'd ever seen cross Muya's face.  Any one that's spent any time around both of them could  never get the two mixed up.

"You're right.  My name's Sym."  She stooped down to where Wufei was silently laying in a semi-conscious state.  "Here, I'll take this side."

Quatre went to Wufei's other arm.  "Okay, on three.  One. . .two. . .three."  The two stood up at once, taking Wufei with them.

Sym sucked in her breath.  "He's heavier than he looks!" she grunted out.

Quatre was powerless to stop the grin that spread across his face.  "Yeah, well, we've been after him to go on a diet, but. . ."  Why am I suddenly talking like Duo?

Wufei seemed to become suddenly aware.  He didn't say anything, but let his disapproval be known with a soft growl.  "I think you hurt his feelings." Sym said lightly.  The three were moving slowly, but steadily, through the snow.

"You said you came from a large family?  Me too.  I had five brothers and three sisters.  What about you?"

For some reason, she had completely changed his previous mood; Quatre now felt almost happy.  "Well, let's just say I was the only boy among many, many girls."

"That must have been interesting."  She stopped walking for a minute, seeming to realize something, and turned her head towards him.  "Hey, you didn't tell me  your name, after that whole spiel about mine!"

"It's Quatre.  Quatre Raberba Winner."  They both continued walking, Wufei still choosing to remain silent.

"That's better.  Quatre.  That's a very nice name."

He was a little surprised at her reaction or rather, lack there of.  "I'm a little surprised you haven't heard of me."

"I didn't say that.  I just know that I would hate it if people were always treating me differently just because I came from a well-known family."

Quatre was quickly becoming enchanted with the young woman.  No one had ever put him so at ease before.  "That's true; I do."

She got a slightly sheepish look on her face and let out a small laugh.  "Having said that, do you mind if I ask you a question?"

"Not at all."  It wasn't a lie.

"What's it like to have 29 sisters?"

Quatre gave her a serious look.  "Actually, that's just a myth."

Sym's eyes widened and her mouth fell open.  "Really?"

"Yeah," he grinned, "I really only have 28."

*      *      *

Duo stood outside the vehicle, waiting anxiously for the others to return.  He glanced sideways into the truck; Heero and Trowa sat calmly, silently inside.  Yeah, something happened, they just don't want to say what.  The American went back to staring impatiently at the woods, mentally willing the trio to return.

He gradually began to sense more than actually see some sort of movement deep within the forest.  Is that them?  Duo waited for a few moments, straining his eyes in that direction.  Yeah, that's the jacket Quatre was wearing.

He took off towards them, not particularly wary of any enemies that might be lingering around.  As Duo got closer to the group, he skidded to a halt, noticing Wufei's injured leg.  "What happened?" he called, not sure if they were close enough yet to hear.  Not waiting for any answer he might receive, Duo began jogging again, finally catching up with them.

The American placed a hand on Quatre's shoulder and smirked.  "Looks like you two could use a hand there."  I'm glad to see you're okay, Quatre.  The blonde boy smiled sweetly, a look that Duo hadn't seen on his face in quite a while.  What's got him so happy?  He couldn't help being intrigued by his friend's sudden change in moods, but still, Duo was just thrilled to see it at all.

"I'm fine, but you can take Sym's place."

Duo took a closer look at the woman.  "Sym?"  His eyes widened a little in surprise.  "This is Muya's double?  Man, you two look exactly alike; I mean, you're like identical twins or something!"

Sym laughed at the boy's shocked expression.  "I know.  I couldn't believe it either.  After I healed from the operation, I would spend hours just staring in the mirror."  She frowned a bit in mock regret.  "I was kinda' attached to my old face.  Not too bad looking."  Sym gave Duo a little wink at that.

The boy winked right back at her.  "I know what you mean.  I'd be pretty upset if I ever had to give up  my face for some mission."

Sym narrowed her eyes a little, one corner of her mouth inching up.  "I can see why.  You're very good looking."

"You should talk.  I don't know how you were before, but you're no slouch in the looks department now."  This lady's too much.  She's an exact replica of Muya, and yet, she's not. . .

The woman raised an eyebrow, now smiling broadly.  "Thank you."  She held the boy's eyes for a long moment before Quatre finally broke in.

"Sym?  Duo?  We'd better get Wufei to the jeep; he's going to need some medical attention before we leave."

Duo seemed to just now remember that Wufei and Quatre were there.  "Huh?  Oh, right.  And let's not forget that the terrorists, or whatever they are in that base, might be looking for us."  For some reason, I already feel like I know this woman.

Sym dropped her flirty smile and took on a much more business-like look.  "You're not kidding there.  They've lost four guards and they're gonna' notice pretty soon."

Duo looked a little confused.  "Just what happened back there?"

Quatre gave a long sigh.  "We'll tell you on the way to the truck.  Take the other side and lets get moving."

The woman gave Duo a doubtful look.  "To be perfectly honest, I think I'm probably stronger than you, ah, . . ."

"Duo."  The American supplied.

"Duo.  Don't forget I'm a soldier.  I've trained for this sort of thing."

"If you say so.  Maybe I could get his legs; we'd probably be able to move faster that way."

"Let's do it." Quatre replied.

As the four headed swiftly for the car, Sym relayed what had occurred from the time she and Muya had switched places.

"You just started shooting?  Just like that?"  This woman's crazier than Heero!

"I wasn't aware of your friends in the woods, and since being captured wasn't an option, I thought it was the right thing to do."

Wufei stirred in their grasps.  "Stupid woman. . ." he muttered.

Duo almost chuckled.  "Have you been properly introduced to our charming Mr. Chang?"

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