Categories > Anime/Manga > Gundam Wing > Mistaken Words
Alone With Regret
0 reviewsStumbling forward Heero clutched at his head with one hand, trying to clear his mind by sheer force of will. The battle was a loosing one, and he found himself dropping forward, into Ash's arms and...
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Mistaken Words
AN: This is a Looooooooooong story ^_~ and formatting them for this site is mind numbing ^_~ so I'm going to work in ten chapter increments. The thought of doing 57 of these makes me want to cry ^_~ but if I get bored I'll add a few more, I hope everyone enjoys the story!
Disclaimer: Don't own the show!
Alone With Regret
Heero glanced about his early morning surroundings, pleased that the large hanger was almost completely empty of all staff. He had wasted no time upon leaving his lunch with Dante to begin searching for her yet again, this time with the information he needed to actually find her location. There were only a few places on this colony that Dante could hide such a place, and it had not taken him long to narrow down the field to this hanger. It was the very same one their shuttle had landed in. There was a small service hatch neatly hidden away in the back right corner of the huge room, it was down there that Relena was being held.
He rested in the shadows, waiting for the way to be clear, his every sense heightened and aware, as the familiar feel of the mission and adrenaline washed over him. Keeping his back to the cold metal wall Heero slid through the shadows, ever watchful for any who might spot him. He had made his way through tighter security before without being noticed, this was basically a walk in the park. A deep seated anger smoldered in Heero's soul, one that was mostly directed at himself. . . Relena had been in their VR for far to long, if she hadn't yet given them a name, it was only a matter of time until she did.
Dropping down into a crouch behind a huge storage crate, Heero pulled forth his gun, and checked the clip of small darts. He had made a promise four years ago, one he had no intention of breaking anytime soon. It was just as easy to render his opponent's unconscious as it was to kill them, certainly it was more dangerous, as there was always the chance of them coming around and taking you from behind. But it was a chance Heero was willing to take, he hated the feel of blood on his hands, it was something he had learned to live with, yet by no means wanted to add to.
Heero quickly replaced the gun in the waistband of his pants, he had never become accustom to wearing the holsters, it was just one more thing he had to dispose of before being seen. The fact that he was so small had been a great advantage during the war, he was easily overlooked because of it, but an empty gun holster would have brought more attention than he'd wanted. His hands felt about in the shadows for the latch, he had already carefully disabled the lock, and had set a computer virus to sweep through the computer program systematically shutting down each obstacle just before he reached it, and returning it seconds after he passed.
With the doorway opened Heero was now under a time limit. He had looked over the schematics he could find carefully, gauging the distances, and time which route he would take as best he could. As it was he had not left himself much of a window for error, he simply had to get in as quickly as possible. Out was an entirely different matter, he would be in control of the system once inside and there would be no one to stop him. The trickiest part was going to come when he had to unhook Relena from the system.
There had not been all that much information anywhere on what Dante was using, but he knew already simply from what he had said, that it would have to be carefully done. The fact that it was working with her memories told Heero there had to be a definite connection with the brain, that part he fully intended to take out slowly.
There was no hesitation as Heero dropped down into the darkness below, landing lightly on his feet in a defensive crouch. The dimly lit hall was devoid of all life; he could hear nothing besides the hum of the colony itself, it was a droning sound he hardly noticed having lived on a colony for most of his life. He had been surprised when he was on earth that he found himself missing the constant noise. With eyes watching everything Heero moved forward, drawing his gun, holding it before him expertly in rock steady hands, finger ready to dispatch the first man he saw.
He had no idea how many men Dante had working down here, but he was surprised when the minutes continued to pass, and he made his steady trek down the corridor without being challenged. Prussian orbs glanced at his watch seeing the careful count of time, and nodded to himself, he was right on time. He slipped through the well-lit area like an unseen shadow, his presence cloaked by virus slowly crawling through the system.
Edging his way to sharp corner, the former pilot carefully glanced around, surprised to see a huge room open out before him. Nothing he had managed to find on the computer had even hinted at this room. He wondered what it was for; it seemed rather empty now, though the broad catwalks and scaffolding reminded him of the hangers that he had used for his Gundam during the war. His sharp eyes caught the movement of one man patrolling the area. Heero didn't feel the term guard applied, as the man was not even armed, all he carried was a small radio.
On feet as silent as death, Heero crept up behind the unsuspecting man, he moved as close as he dared before firing a dart. The drug was a fast acting one, so fast that the man was unconscious before he knew he had been hit. Heero had brought himself as close as he could to catch the limp body, with such a large open space and empty halls, the sound of a body falling would echo forever. Slowly lowering the unconscious man the former pilot kept his eyes scanning the room searching for any more men.
Satisfied that he was still alone and unnoticed, he pressed on, still working under the constraints of the virus. He was grateful for the fact that Dante had not seen fit to add useless side tunnels which would lead him nowhere. The set up was simple and to the point, leading him to the central room where Relena waited, completely unaware of the true world around her. From the limited knowledge that he had, Heero guessed he was nearing his target, and would be coming across more of Dante's men. He could not waste that much time, for fear of falling outside his window of unknown movement.
The hall rounded an easy corner following the contours of the colony, and Heero's eyes locked upon his destination. Everything led to this one door. There were a number of other doors lining the corridor, but he could recognise them for what they really were, the sleeping quarters of the technicians. It was this one door, slightly larger than the rest and equipped with a security key panel that would take him to Relena.
Heero took his time; not passing a single door without first opening it, and firing a dart at any who might have been in the room. He certainly did not want any one walking in on him while he was trying to unhook Relena. The only sound made was the soft thud of bodies dropping, no one had time to shout in surprise before they too had succumb to the drug induced blackness. Heero saw surprise in the men's eyes, those that actually managed to lay eyes upon him before it was too late. And he recognised a few of them, was even sure he had worked with one or two during his three years on the colony, but none of that mattered now.
The small red light right above the keypad flashed green just as Heero reached the door and his hand took the handle with satisfaction. Pushing the door open, the former pilot walked in, gun aimed before him, ready to fire at the first thing he saw. He took the room by storm, eyes making a fast sweep of the expansive area, pausing only long enough to dart them before moving on to the next. The last man had just jumped from his seat in shock when he too fell.
A strange half silence filled the room, as the air was now lacking the subtle noises of other humans. Yet the artificial voices of the vast amount of machinery about the room still sung of their unending tasks. And it was then in those first few moments of odd solitude that Heero allowed himself to lay eyes upon Relena.
She lay upon a padded table both arms and legs shackled in place, against her body's subconscious movements. Wires and tubs rested everywhere, in a sort of organised chaos; one he felt daunted with just looking at. Her features were pale and drawn, her eyes slightly sunken as though she were dehydrated. His prussian eyes moved instantly than to one of the two IVs running to her arms. The closer of the two appeared filled with a bluish liquid that was dripping steadily into her right arm. And the other; the one that seemed to be nothing more than life sustaining saline, did not appear to be doing very much at all.
Taking in all that was before him, Heero did not like what he was seeing. Dante had mentioned the drug but had never given it name or side effects. Though from the looks of it, the substance didn't work unless the patient was dehydrated. He reached out instantly, fully intending on rectifying this situation, but stopped himself. There was no telling what effect that could have on Relena if he was not careful.
It was an effort to turn his back on her and walk across the room to one of the many computer consoles there. He tried hard not to truly think to deeply about this, reminding himself that any hopes he had once had were obsolete. Relena had made that very clear. The only reason he was doing this was to protect himself and the other pilots. The information they held in their heads was something that could never get into the wrong hands; and there was simply know way of knowing if Dante was 'right' or 'wrong'.
His fingers flew across the keys and his eyes skimmed all the information that the screen had to offer, taking it all in, in half the time it would a normal man. Shoulders twitching Heero found himself half turned and eyes on Relena before he even realised he was no longer looking at the screen. She looked so vulnerable lying there unaware, trapped within a world of dreams. . .that were perhaps more nightmares now than anything she'd really want to remember. The Japanese man found himself considering a few of the 'special' moments they had shared together, and a gaping wound opened within him, gnawing at his very soul.
Heero growled "There's no going back now!" he barked in harsh tones, though there was none to hear him. Striding back to Relena face set as though made of stone, the former pilot reached for the IVs knowing now that it was crucial that he begin re-hydrating her immediately. A glare overtook his features when he finally took note of the tremor in his limbs as they worked over Relena. He swallowed his frustration and willed them to steady, he did not have the time for this. But the harder he tried to simply concentrate on merely unhooking the fragile girl before him, the more Heero found himself staring with a pained expression, of great loss.
". . .Hee. . .ro. . ." the name escaped her lips in a breathy whisper. It was so quiet he had barely caught it, and at the same time so expressive it tore him apart. There was too much pain and regret, like he had never heard before; such hope and longing just beside the anger and hate.
A harsh shudder raced through him and his fingers fumbled in their careful work. Halting, Heero rested his hands on the padded bed, eyes locking upon Relena's face despite his best efforts to remove them. Little in her appearance had changed as refreshing liquid entered her body, but to him she was still beautiful. Though now far beyond his grasp. He had to keep telling himself that, reconciling himself with the path he had chosen, with the only life he could lead.
His body's decent was so slow at first that Heero had not even noticed it was moving of its own free will. Blinking he found himself mere inches from Relena's sleeping face, but it was too late to pull back, too late to try and save himself. He wet his lips in anticipation of that special contact he had not shared with another soul, that he had not known he was capable of before meeting her. Their lips touched ever so gently, and Heero's eyes fell closed savouring the memory as there could be no feeling here. . .only the memories of what had been lost.
Only seconds passed before the former pilot was jarred back to reality, and tore himself back, eyes dead. ~/What am I doing?!/~ he thought in disgust, raking a hand through his hair trying to even out his breathing. He knew he had to finish fast, the longer he took the more chance someone would awake from the drug, and come looking for him. However it was an uphill battle to focus his thought on the task at hand, Heero threw himself fully into what he was doing. He worked quickly at turning off all the necessary machinery, careful not to remove anything until it was all safely shut down.
What he had to be so careful of was the small electrode which had been inserted into the soft flesh behind her right ear, and carefully fed up into her brain. That was how Dante's men had gained access to her memories. . .all of her memories. All he could hope now was that she had managed to guard the most important ones. With a hesitant hand Heero took hold of the almost hair thin wire and began to draw it with the utmost care. It was one of the last things that still connected Relena to the dream world she had been trapped in for over a week.
The clank of a boot on the metal grating caught Heero's attention and he spun around to face the door, one hand reaching for the gun, though he already knew it was useless. He had almost used up both clips making his way in here, depending on how many men were approaching, he might be able to take out one or two before they overpowered him. The door slowly opened and the Japanese man found himself unconsciously lowering himself into a defensive crouch. A single man appeared in the opening, tall and burly, but surprisingly not bearing any open form of arms.
This caused Heero a moments pause, but he was by no means put at ease. The man's dark eyes scanned the room for a brief moment before coming to rest on the former pilot. "Heero Yuy," he almost seemed to question, "Dante would like to speak to you." The man turned as if to leave the room, appearing to assume Heero would follow, and as he stepped passed the doorway, the Japanese man caught sight of others.
His mind raced, trying to decide what it was that Dante could want, and how he had known to look here. His presence should have gone completely unnoticed, as there was no external connection to this secret bunker. . .unless. Heero's eyes shot about the room searching for the bugs that must have been planted there. Had Dante suspected this? If he had, why had he let him go through with it? What was he up too? Heero's eyes flickered to Relena's prone form, completely unaware even of his proximity, which he quickly decided was a good thing.
"Mr Yuy?" the man called from the doorway, Heero filtered the voice through his mind searching for anything besides what he was hear, which was a calm patience, a politeness even. Not at all what he expected, when he had first heard the misplaced footstep.
Heero's feelings were mixed as he stepped away from Relena. On the one hand he was grateful to be away from her, and the hallow pain she caused. Yet it made him a little more than uneasy to leave her there where he memories were open for anyone to see. It was curiosity that finally drove him to follow the men, curiosity at what Dante was thinking, at what he had planned. He had only once before met a man who he could not see clearly through, and it was eerie now to see just how many similarities Dante held with Treize.
As he stepped out into the hall, a few of the men waiting there slipped in to the room he had just vacated, moving instantly to Relena's side. Unconsciously he stiffed, face falling into an ice hard glare. "Dante said she will be well taken care of," the man spoke as though reading his mind, and Heero's glare only darkened.
He said nothing in response only walked forward between the two men, dwarfed not only by their height but also their broad build. Something told him there had been no coincidence in the selection of these men to 'escort' him to Dante. Heero watched them warily but continued to walk with them, not feeling a true threat from their presence.
It did not take them nearly as long to exit the hanger as it had for Heero to enter, and he was somewhat surprised at the passage of time. What had before been almost empty was now bustling with life, as shuttles were being repaired and upgraded, readied for take off, and he was fairly sure that one had only recently landed. No one seemed to pay the three men any mind as they crossed the open expanse and left the hanger behind them. Heero was led to a black car which had been left out front, a third man waiting in the driver's seat who started the engine the moment they came into sight.
Heero was not altogether comfortable with being forced to sit between the two men, but they did it in an almost unconscious way and the fact that they were taking to Dante did ease him a little. Through the corners of his eyes Heero studied the men, listing in his mind all the pressure points that were available to him should the need arise. The car pulled away with all speed, navigating its way through the colony streets without hesitation. Silence reigned over the car and all who road inside, leaving Heero's thoughts to tumble about his head trying to draw up an answer to what Dante was thinking.
Thankfully the distance between Dante's office and the hanger was not that great, yet by the time the car had reached the impressive stone building Heero had begun to feel unease. His mind had settled upon a few possibilities, and he didn't like any of them. However by now it was too late, all he could do was ride with it, and see for himself. He was ushered from the vehicle without a word, and lead into the building, past the secretary and right to Dante's door. The two men stopped a few feet away clearly signalling that they would be going no further, but that Heero was to continue on his own.
The Japanese man didn't even spare them a glance, but strode forward and walked in. Dante was seated behind his massive desk, elbow resting upon its polished surface, and head upon them, eyes focused intently on where Heero would be entering. He met the man's heavy gaze without a word pushing the door closed behind him and stepping a little closer. There was an odd light shinning in those eyes, one Heero could not name, nor liked the look of.
A wan smile touched Dante's features as he came to his feet, "Please take a seat, Pilot 01."
The former pilot stiffened at the name OZ had branded him with, eyes like daggers piercing into Dante's mind, but finding nothing. Relena had given him up. That thought crashed home, and with it some answers to his many questions. A strong part of Heero wanted to bolt just then, he had never intended for them to discover who he really was, but at the same time he wanted to know that which Dante had not revealed to anyone. Why he wanted a Gundam pilot.
"You didn't think we knew, did you?" he questioned in what almost constituted for friendly tones. Heero remained silent, having nothing to say to that. Dante stepped about his desk folding his arms across his chest. "You knew we were searching for a pilot," he continued taking a seat on the edge of his desk, "You assisted in the hunt. . .why not just tell us?" he asked finally.
"You refused to explain why you wanted a pilot. Do you really think me fool enough to just hand myself over?" he forced his posture to remain relaxed, even as he was preparing every part of him for whatever was to come next.
The taller man nodded, "It's a valid point," he conceded. "The reason we've been searching for a pilot these last three years, is we want a Gundam--"
"No!" he cut him off sharply.
"You haven't even heard me out," Dante protested.
"The answer will still be no. After all the lives that were lost to attain this peace, I will not help bring back a weapon that could destroy it!"
"Destroy it?!" The Free Born leader barked a laugh, "Have you forgotten three years back you yourself attempted to destroy that peace, by assassinating the very woman you just tried to save?"
Heero could keep himself from flinching at that, Dante did not know everything about what had happened. But for all Relena knew, it might as well have been as the man had said. He brought the full weight of his glare to bear, but the other man seemed unaffected, it was a credit to his bravery. "That had been a puzzlement to me of late I must admit," Dante broke the silence seeing that Heero was going to add nothing. "What made you decide she had to die? I've heard rumour that you care for her. . ." he trailed off.
~/Ash!~/ he thought darkly, it shouldn't have surprised him that he had been reporting back to his boss. And it made him wonder if all that talk of friendship had been nothing more than a means to an end. Heero did not want to consider Dante's words, there was no point dwelling on that past, what was done could certainly not be undone. . .not anymore. "What do you want?!" he demanded bluntly, wanting nothing more than a subject change.
This was not missed to Dante but the man only raised and eyebrow; "I told you I want a Gundam--"
"I know that!" he broke in again, "Why? I thought you were a man who hated war!" he spat that like an insult.
"I do," was the calm agreement, "But I also hate being overlooked, and as things stand among the colonies that all that I can see in our future." He stood taking a few steps closer to the pilot who he towered over. "What I propose is a way that we can declare our independence while still maintaining the peace."
"Last I looked a Gundam was not a means to that end," Heero told him dryly.
Dante nodded what appeared to be agreement, "I merely intend to destroy the Gundam as a sign of our solidarity. To show the Earth's Sphere that we are willing to destroy a tool of war, instead of using it to gain the freedom that we desire." Pausing for a moment he watched Heero as if to see that the former pilot was following his line of thought. "It is my hope that they will see we are serious but at the same time not against them."
Heero was not impressed, "I understand Quatre is an understanding man, why not simply bring your complaints to him?"
"It is not the desires of these people that we remain a part of this coalition, it has only been my goal to attain our separation."
"And you think a Gundam is the answer?" Heero questioned an eyebrow raised.
"I'd ask you to suggest something better, but be sure, whatever you may be considering has already been attempted without success." His voice was as smooth as Heero had ever heard it, he had take a great deal of time to considered this from every angle. Yet Heero had to doubt his words and their truth, there was simply no way-short of asking-to knowing whether or not a phoenix shaped brand adorned Dante's chest. And he certainly was not about to turn the knowledge in his mind over to such a man.
"I won't give you Zero," he told him simply.
"I'm afraid we're completely prepared for your refusal."
"Are you sure you haven't made the same mistakes your predecessors did when dealing with Gundam Pilots?" Heero was ready for anything, adrenaline had already been coursing through his system for sometime, and it was becoming a slight effort to remain as he was simply standing.
A touch of concern entered Dante's features then, "Make this easy for yourself, Heero, please."
"You know I won't."
"Then you leave me no other option, I'm sorry," he truly did sound remorseful.
Heero was turning towards the door even as he saw Dante's reach for a small switch on the table. His gun was out in a heartbeat, and as the door opened he fired off the last two shots dropping the two men who had escorted him into the building. Tossing the useless weapon aside, Heero bolted from the room, with a single thought racing though his mind Escape! No matter what he could not allow himself to be caught.
The large foyer, which had stood next to empty when Heero had first come through, was far from it now. He noted absently that the young secretary was nowhere in sight, not surprised that Dante would want to keep her way from this. It said something to the man's thinking that he had prepared for this. But it was still not enough, Heero couldn't let it be enough, these men were coming at him unarmed, they could not afford to be shooting at him yet there was a chance that they could overpower him. His eyes locked upon the artificial light spilling in through the glass doors, that was his goal, and not an army of men was going to keep him from it.
The former pilot dove into the thick of things, his body a blur as he stuck with both arms and legs at the men who sought to surround him. With yet another rush of precious adrenaline, Heero could feel nothing but the roar of the fight. He stuck with precision, every punch and kick meant to drop someone for the duration of the fight; he could not afford to waste time with needless blocks and pretty attacks. Everything was raw, untamed, what rested at the core of every human being, those animal like instincts that could raise them above their opponents.
Heero's small stature was a great asset in a situation like this, as the men around him were striking each other as often as him. Agility on his side Heero used one of the men as a springboard vaulting into another and taking them both to the ground. The former pilot heard the man's head crack of the marble, and his eyes rolled up into back of his head. Without wasting a second Heero was on his feet again racing for the now opened doorway, he raced across the distance as though carried by wings, his body feeling nothing of the beating it had taken.
It seemed a miracle to him when he had gained the door, and the freedom that it offered. His pupils dilated with the amphetamines racing through his veins would not adjust to the sudden brightness, and he winced. Looking through slightly blurry eyes Heero's cobalt orbs landed upon a solitary figure standing on the steps, the last person to stand in his way.
"Ash. . ." he breathed. For the first time feeling a pang of regret. He could not quite explain where it came from; he was not really betraying them as he had the other pilots. But for some reason it had the same feel to him no matter how he tried to quell it. "Get out of my way!"
"You know I can't. . ." he responded, voice sounding slightly unsure, as he looked up at the man who had just single handily taken out fifteen men.
The former pilot knew he could take out Ash if it meant the difference between freedom and being caught. So why was he just standing there?
His moment of hesitation was all they needed, riding the wave of emotions. Heero was aware of his surroundings, but the shock of seeing Ash had for a brief second blinded him. Torn back to the present as the syringe was pulled from his arm Heero could feel the drug course through his system. For the briefest second he hoped the adrenaline would be enough to counter whatever it was that he had been given. It was a futile hope; Dante had prepared for everything.
Stumbling forward Heero clutched at his head with one hand, trying to clear his mind by sheer force of will. The battle was a loosing one, and he found himself dropping forward, into Ash's arms and the blackness beyond. The last thought that pasted his clouded mind was one of his failure.
Thanks for reading!
To Glimpse A Tortured Soul:
Dante's attention moved to the IV bag dripping a steady flow of bluish liquid into Heero's right arm. Reaching up he touched the bag, turning it one way, than the other as he considered its contents. Adnolprinaminiphen, was a drug created many years ago, but quickly abandoned when it did not meet the standards set at the time. Because of this, the drugs full potential had never been reached. It had been Dante's good fortune, that a scientist on the colony had been doing some intensive research on the drug. And quite by accident discovered this little uniqueness about it.
It was not a drug to be taken lightly; there had been good reason for its shutdown all those years back. The drug was highly addictive, and the withdrawal symptoms harsh, and since it showed the best results when the patient was dehydrated the medics were continually walking a fine line. There had not been such a worry over Relena; she had not been in the system long enough to start worrying about the consequences of re-hydrating her only to dehydrate her again. Dante had reviewed everything concerning these side effects, wanting to make sure that everything would be done to keep Heero from suffering from any.
Yet it really didn't matter how careful any of them were, the road to recovery from this procedure would never be a pleasant or easy one, for any who were put through it. It had been by no means easy for Dante to decide on this method, but the needs of his people had stood above everything. And he truly felt that in the end, no permanent harm would befall either Relena or Heero. His thoughts turned then to the princess, now resting in a more comfortable room, it was his intention to send her out on a shuttle along with her guards, soon within the next few hours. He wanted her to be back in the proper hands soon.
AN: ^_^ 50 points to whoever can tell me where I got the name for the drug! I'll give you a hint, it certain isn't an actual drug. ^_^ It's something my brother came up with for me. Think about it, and see what you can get!
Morganeth Taren'drel
AN: This is a Looooooooooong story ^_~ and formatting them for this site is mind numbing ^_~ so I'm going to work in ten chapter increments. The thought of doing 57 of these makes me want to cry ^_~ but if I get bored I'll add a few more, I hope everyone enjoys the story!
Disclaimer: Don't own the show!
Alone With Regret
Heero glanced about his early morning surroundings, pleased that the large hanger was almost completely empty of all staff. He had wasted no time upon leaving his lunch with Dante to begin searching for her yet again, this time with the information he needed to actually find her location. There were only a few places on this colony that Dante could hide such a place, and it had not taken him long to narrow down the field to this hanger. It was the very same one their shuttle had landed in. There was a small service hatch neatly hidden away in the back right corner of the huge room, it was down there that Relena was being held.
He rested in the shadows, waiting for the way to be clear, his every sense heightened and aware, as the familiar feel of the mission and adrenaline washed over him. Keeping his back to the cold metal wall Heero slid through the shadows, ever watchful for any who might spot him. He had made his way through tighter security before without being noticed, this was basically a walk in the park. A deep seated anger smoldered in Heero's soul, one that was mostly directed at himself. . . Relena had been in their VR for far to long, if she hadn't yet given them a name, it was only a matter of time until she did.
Dropping down into a crouch behind a huge storage crate, Heero pulled forth his gun, and checked the clip of small darts. He had made a promise four years ago, one he had no intention of breaking anytime soon. It was just as easy to render his opponent's unconscious as it was to kill them, certainly it was more dangerous, as there was always the chance of them coming around and taking you from behind. But it was a chance Heero was willing to take, he hated the feel of blood on his hands, it was something he had learned to live with, yet by no means wanted to add to.
Heero quickly replaced the gun in the waistband of his pants, he had never become accustom to wearing the holsters, it was just one more thing he had to dispose of before being seen. The fact that he was so small had been a great advantage during the war, he was easily overlooked because of it, but an empty gun holster would have brought more attention than he'd wanted. His hands felt about in the shadows for the latch, he had already carefully disabled the lock, and had set a computer virus to sweep through the computer program systematically shutting down each obstacle just before he reached it, and returning it seconds after he passed.
With the doorway opened Heero was now under a time limit. He had looked over the schematics he could find carefully, gauging the distances, and time which route he would take as best he could. As it was he had not left himself much of a window for error, he simply had to get in as quickly as possible. Out was an entirely different matter, he would be in control of the system once inside and there would be no one to stop him. The trickiest part was going to come when he had to unhook Relena from the system.
There had not been all that much information anywhere on what Dante was using, but he knew already simply from what he had said, that it would have to be carefully done. The fact that it was working with her memories told Heero there had to be a definite connection with the brain, that part he fully intended to take out slowly.
There was no hesitation as Heero dropped down into the darkness below, landing lightly on his feet in a defensive crouch. The dimly lit hall was devoid of all life; he could hear nothing besides the hum of the colony itself, it was a droning sound he hardly noticed having lived on a colony for most of his life. He had been surprised when he was on earth that he found himself missing the constant noise. With eyes watching everything Heero moved forward, drawing his gun, holding it before him expertly in rock steady hands, finger ready to dispatch the first man he saw.
He had no idea how many men Dante had working down here, but he was surprised when the minutes continued to pass, and he made his steady trek down the corridor without being challenged. Prussian orbs glanced at his watch seeing the careful count of time, and nodded to himself, he was right on time. He slipped through the well-lit area like an unseen shadow, his presence cloaked by virus slowly crawling through the system.
Edging his way to sharp corner, the former pilot carefully glanced around, surprised to see a huge room open out before him. Nothing he had managed to find on the computer had even hinted at this room. He wondered what it was for; it seemed rather empty now, though the broad catwalks and scaffolding reminded him of the hangers that he had used for his Gundam during the war. His sharp eyes caught the movement of one man patrolling the area. Heero didn't feel the term guard applied, as the man was not even armed, all he carried was a small radio.
On feet as silent as death, Heero crept up behind the unsuspecting man, he moved as close as he dared before firing a dart. The drug was a fast acting one, so fast that the man was unconscious before he knew he had been hit. Heero had brought himself as close as he could to catch the limp body, with such a large open space and empty halls, the sound of a body falling would echo forever. Slowly lowering the unconscious man the former pilot kept his eyes scanning the room searching for any more men.
Satisfied that he was still alone and unnoticed, he pressed on, still working under the constraints of the virus. He was grateful for the fact that Dante had not seen fit to add useless side tunnels which would lead him nowhere. The set up was simple and to the point, leading him to the central room where Relena waited, completely unaware of the true world around her. From the limited knowledge that he had, Heero guessed he was nearing his target, and would be coming across more of Dante's men. He could not waste that much time, for fear of falling outside his window of unknown movement.
The hall rounded an easy corner following the contours of the colony, and Heero's eyes locked upon his destination. Everything led to this one door. There were a number of other doors lining the corridor, but he could recognise them for what they really were, the sleeping quarters of the technicians. It was this one door, slightly larger than the rest and equipped with a security key panel that would take him to Relena.
Heero took his time; not passing a single door without first opening it, and firing a dart at any who might have been in the room. He certainly did not want any one walking in on him while he was trying to unhook Relena. The only sound made was the soft thud of bodies dropping, no one had time to shout in surprise before they too had succumb to the drug induced blackness. Heero saw surprise in the men's eyes, those that actually managed to lay eyes upon him before it was too late. And he recognised a few of them, was even sure he had worked with one or two during his three years on the colony, but none of that mattered now.
The small red light right above the keypad flashed green just as Heero reached the door and his hand took the handle with satisfaction. Pushing the door open, the former pilot walked in, gun aimed before him, ready to fire at the first thing he saw. He took the room by storm, eyes making a fast sweep of the expansive area, pausing only long enough to dart them before moving on to the next. The last man had just jumped from his seat in shock when he too fell.
A strange half silence filled the room, as the air was now lacking the subtle noises of other humans. Yet the artificial voices of the vast amount of machinery about the room still sung of their unending tasks. And it was then in those first few moments of odd solitude that Heero allowed himself to lay eyes upon Relena.
She lay upon a padded table both arms and legs shackled in place, against her body's subconscious movements. Wires and tubs rested everywhere, in a sort of organised chaos; one he felt daunted with just looking at. Her features were pale and drawn, her eyes slightly sunken as though she were dehydrated. His prussian eyes moved instantly than to one of the two IVs running to her arms. The closer of the two appeared filled with a bluish liquid that was dripping steadily into her right arm. And the other; the one that seemed to be nothing more than life sustaining saline, did not appear to be doing very much at all.
Taking in all that was before him, Heero did not like what he was seeing. Dante had mentioned the drug but had never given it name or side effects. Though from the looks of it, the substance didn't work unless the patient was dehydrated. He reached out instantly, fully intending on rectifying this situation, but stopped himself. There was no telling what effect that could have on Relena if he was not careful.
It was an effort to turn his back on her and walk across the room to one of the many computer consoles there. He tried hard not to truly think to deeply about this, reminding himself that any hopes he had once had were obsolete. Relena had made that very clear. The only reason he was doing this was to protect himself and the other pilots. The information they held in their heads was something that could never get into the wrong hands; and there was simply know way of knowing if Dante was 'right' or 'wrong'.
His fingers flew across the keys and his eyes skimmed all the information that the screen had to offer, taking it all in, in half the time it would a normal man. Shoulders twitching Heero found himself half turned and eyes on Relena before he even realised he was no longer looking at the screen. She looked so vulnerable lying there unaware, trapped within a world of dreams. . .that were perhaps more nightmares now than anything she'd really want to remember. The Japanese man found himself considering a few of the 'special' moments they had shared together, and a gaping wound opened within him, gnawing at his very soul.
Heero growled "There's no going back now!" he barked in harsh tones, though there was none to hear him. Striding back to Relena face set as though made of stone, the former pilot reached for the IVs knowing now that it was crucial that he begin re-hydrating her immediately. A glare overtook his features when he finally took note of the tremor in his limbs as they worked over Relena. He swallowed his frustration and willed them to steady, he did not have the time for this. But the harder he tried to simply concentrate on merely unhooking the fragile girl before him, the more Heero found himself staring with a pained expression, of great loss.
". . .Hee. . .ro. . ." the name escaped her lips in a breathy whisper. It was so quiet he had barely caught it, and at the same time so expressive it tore him apart. There was too much pain and regret, like he had never heard before; such hope and longing just beside the anger and hate.
A harsh shudder raced through him and his fingers fumbled in their careful work. Halting, Heero rested his hands on the padded bed, eyes locking upon Relena's face despite his best efforts to remove them. Little in her appearance had changed as refreshing liquid entered her body, but to him she was still beautiful. Though now far beyond his grasp. He had to keep telling himself that, reconciling himself with the path he had chosen, with the only life he could lead.
His body's decent was so slow at first that Heero had not even noticed it was moving of its own free will. Blinking he found himself mere inches from Relena's sleeping face, but it was too late to pull back, too late to try and save himself. He wet his lips in anticipation of that special contact he had not shared with another soul, that he had not known he was capable of before meeting her. Their lips touched ever so gently, and Heero's eyes fell closed savouring the memory as there could be no feeling here. . .only the memories of what had been lost.
Only seconds passed before the former pilot was jarred back to reality, and tore himself back, eyes dead. ~/What am I doing?!/~ he thought in disgust, raking a hand through his hair trying to even out his breathing. He knew he had to finish fast, the longer he took the more chance someone would awake from the drug, and come looking for him. However it was an uphill battle to focus his thought on the task at hand, Heero threw himself fully into what he was doing. He worked quickly at turning off all the necessary machinery, careful not to remove anything until it was all safely shut down.
What he had to be so careful of was the small electrode which had been inserted into the soft flesh behind her right ear, and carefully fed up into her brain. That was how Dante's men had gained access to her memories. . .all of her memories. All he could hope now was that she had managed to guard the most important ones. With a hesitant hand Heero took hold of the almost hair thin wire and began to draw it with the utmost care. It was one of the last things that still connected Relena to the dream world she had been trapped in for over a week.
The clank of a boot on the metal grating caught Heero's attention and he spun around to face the door, one hand reaching for the gun, though he already knew it was useless. He had almost used up both clips making his way in here, depending on how many men were approaching, he might be able to take out one or two before they overpowered him. The door slowly opened and the Japanese man found himself unconsciously lowering himself into a defensive crouch. A single man appeared in the opening, tall and burly, but surprisingly not bearing any open form of arms.
This caused Heero a moments pause, but he was by no means put at ease. The man's dark eyes scanned the room for a brief moment before coming to rest on the former pilot. "Heero Yuy," he almost seemed to question, "Dante would like to speak to you." The man turned as if to leave the room, appearing to assume Heero would follow, and as he stepped passed the doorway, the Japanese man caught sight of others.
His mind raced, trying to decide what it was that Dante could want, and how he had known to look here. His presence should have gone completely unnoticed, as there was no external connection to this secret bunker. . .unless. Heero's eyes shot about the room searching for the bugs that must have been planted there. Had Dante suspected this? If he had, why had he let him go through with it? What was he up too? Heero's eyes flickered to Relena's prone form, completely unaware even of his proximity, which he quickly decided was a good thing.
"Mr Yuy?" the man called from the doorway, Heero filtered the voice through his mind searching for anything besides what he was hear, which was a calm patience, a politeness even. Not at all what he expected, when he had first heard the misplaced footstep.
Heero's feelings were mixed as he stepped away from Relena. On the one hand he was grateful to be away from her, and the hallow pain she caused. Yet it made him a little more than uneasy to leave her there where he memories were open for anyone to see. It was curiosity that finally drove him to follow the men, curiosity at what Dante was thinking, at what he had planned. He had only once before met a man who he could not see clearly through, and it was eerie now to see just how many similarities Dante held with Treize.
As he stepped out into the hall, a few of the men waiting there slipped in to the room he had just vacated, moving instantly to Relena's side. Unconsciously he stiffed, face falling into an ice hard glare. "Dante said she will be well taken care of," the man spoke as though reading his mind, and Heero's glare only darkened.
He said nothing in response only walked forward between the two men, dwarfed not only by their height but also their broad build. Something told him there had been no coincidence in the selection of these men to 'escort' him to Dante. Heero watched them warily but continued to walk with them, not feeling a true threat from their presence.
It did not take them nearly as long to exit the hanger as it had for Heero to enter, and he was somewhat surprised at the passage of time. What had before been almost empty was now bustling with life, as shuttles were being repaired and upgraded, readied for take off, and he was fairly sure that one had only recently landed. No one seemed to pay the three men any mind as they crossed the open expanse and left the hanger behind them. Heero was led to a black car which had been left out front, a third man waiting in the driver's seat who started the engine the moment they came into sight.
Heero was not altogether comfortable with being forced to sit between the two men, but they did it in an almost unconscious way and the fact that they were taking to Dante did ease him a little. Through the corners of his eyes Heero studied the men, listing in his mind all the pressure points that were available to him should the need arise. The car pulled away with all speed, navigating its way through the colony streets without hesitation. Silence reigned over the car and all who road inside, leaving Heero's thoughts to tumble about his head trying to draw up an answer to what Dante was thinking.
Thankfully the distance between Dante's office and the hanger was not that great, yet by the time the car had reached the impressive stone building Heero had begun to feel unease. His mind had settled upon a few possibilities, and he didn't like any of them. However by now it was too late, all he could do was ride with it, and see for himself. He was ushered from the vehicle without a word, and lead into the building, past the secretary and right to Dante's door. The two men stopped a few feet away clearly signalling that they would be going no further, but that Heero was to continue on his own.
The Japanese man didn't even spare them a glance, but strode forward and walked in. Dante was seated behind his massive desk, elbow resting upon its polished surface, and head upon them, eyes focused intently on where Heero would be entering. He met the man's heavy gaze without a word pushing the door closed behind him and stepping a little closer. There was an odd light shinning in those eyes, one Heero could not name, nor liked the look of.
A wan smile touched Dante's features as he came to his feet, "Please take a seat, Pilot 01."
The former pilot stiffened at the name OZ had branded him with, eyes like daggers piercing into Dante's mind, but finding nothing. Relena had given him up. That thought crashed home, and with it some answers to his many questions. A strong part of Heero wanted to bolt just then, he had never intended for them to discover who he really was, but at the same time he wanted to know that which Dante had not revealed to anyone. Why he wanted a Gundam pilot.
"You didn't think we knew, did you?" he questioned in what almost constituted for friendly tones. Heero remained silent, having nothing to say to that. Dante stepped about his desk folding his arms across his chest. "You knew we were searching for a pilot," he continued taking a seat on the edge of his desk, "You assisted in the hunt. . .why not just tell us?" he asked finally.
"You refused to explain why you wanted a pilot. Do you really think me fool enough to just hand myself over?" he forced his posture to remain relaxed, even as he was preparing every part of him for whatever was to come next.
The taller man nodded, "It's a valid point," he conceded. "The reason we've been searching for a pilot these last three years, is we want a Gundam--"
"No!" he cut him off sharply.
"You haven't even heard me out," Dante protested.
"The answer will still be no. After all the lives that were lost to attain this peace, I will not help bring back a weapon that could destroy it!"
"Destroy it?!" The Free Born leader barked a laugh, "Have you forgotten three years back you yourself attempted to destroy that peace, by assassinating the very woman you just tried to save?"
Heero could keep himself from flinching at that, Dante did not know everything about what had happened. But for all Relena knew, it might as well have been as the man had said. He brought the full weight of his glare to bear, but the other man seemed unaffected, it was a credit to his bravery. "That had been a puzzlement to me of late I must admit," Dante broke the silence seeing that Heero was going to add nothing. "What made you decide she had to die? I've heard rumour that you care for her. . ." he trailed off.
~/Ash!~/ he thought darkly, it shouldn't have surprised him that he had been reporting back to his boss. And it made him wonder if all that talk of friendship had been nothing more than a means to an end. Heero did not want to consider Dante's words, there was no point dwelling on that past, what was done could certainly not be undone. . .not anymore. "What do you want?!" he demanded bluntly, wanting nothing more than a subject change.
This was not missed to Dante but the man only raised and eyebrow; "I told you I want a Gundam--"
"I know that!" he broke in again, "Why? I thought you were a man who hated war!" he spat that like an insult.
"I do," was the calm agreement, "But I also hate being overlooked, and as things stand among the colonies that all that I can see in our future." He stood taking a few steps closer to the pilot who he towered over. "What I propose is a way that we can declare our independence while still maintaining the peace."
"Last I looked a Gundam was not a means to that end," Heero told him dryly.
Dante nodded what appeared to be agreement, "I merely intend to destroy the Gundam as a sign of our solidarity. To show the Earth's Sphere that we are willing to destroy a tool of war, instead of using it to gain the freedom that we desire." Pausing for a moment he watched Heero as if to see that the former pilot was following his line of thought. "It is my hope that they will see we are serious but at the same time not against them."
Heero was not impressed, "I understand Quatre is an understanding man, why not simply bring your complaints to him?"
"It is not the desires of these people that we remain a part of this coalition, it has only been my goal to attain our separation."
"And you think a Gundam is the answer?" Heero questioned an eyebrow raised.
"I'd ask you to suggest something better, but be sure, whatever you may be considering has already been attempted without success." His voice was as smooth as Heero had ever heard it, he had take a great deal of time to considered this from every angle. Yet Heero had to doubt his words and their truth, there was simply no way-short of asking-to knowing whether or not a phoenix shaped brand adorned Dante's chest. And he certainly was not about to turn the knowledge in his mind over to such a man.
"I won't give you Zero," he told him simply.
"I'm afraid we're completely prepared for your refusal."
"Are you sure you haven't made the same mistakes your predecessors did when dealing with Gundam Pilots?" Heero was ready for anything, adrenaline had already been coursing through his system for sometime, and it was becoming a slight effort to remain as he was simply standing.
A touch of concern entered Dante's features then, "Make this easy for yourself, Heero, please."
"You know I won't."
"Then you leave me no other option, I'm sorry," he truly did sound remorseful.
Heero was turning towards the door even as he saw Dante's reach for a small switch on the table. His gun was out in a heartbeat, and as the door opened he fired off the last two shots dropping the two men who had escorted him into the building. Tossing the useless weapon aside, Heero bolted from the room, with a single thought racing though his mind Escape! No matter what he could not allow himself to be caught.
The large foyer, which had stood next to empty when Heero had first come through, was far from it now. He noted absently that the young secretary was nowhere in sight, not surprised that Dante would want to keep her way from this. It said something to the man's thinking that he had prepared for this. But it was still not enough, Heero couldn't let it be enough, these men were coming at him unarmed, they could not afford to be shooting at him yet there was a chance that they could overpower him. His eyes locked upon the artificial light spilling in through the glass doors, that was his goal, and not an army of men was going to keep him from it.
The former pilot dove into the thick of things, his body a blur as he stuck with both arms and legs at the men who sought to surround him. With yet another rush of precious adrenaline, Heero could feel nothing but the roar of the fight. He stuck with precision, every punch and kick meant to drop someone for the duration of the fight; he could not afford to waste time with needless blocks and pretty attacks. Everything was raw, untamed, what rested at the core of every human being, those animal like instincts that could raise them above their opponents.
Heero's small stature was a great asset in a situation like this, as the men around him were striking each other as often as him. Agility on his side Heero used one of the men as a springboard vaulting into another and taking them both to the ground. The former pilot heard the man's head crack of the marble, and his eyes rolled up into back of his head. Without wasting a second Heero was on his feet again racing for the now opened doorway, he raced across the distance as though carried by wings, his body feeling nothing of the beating it had taken.
It seemed a miracle to him when he had gained the door, and the freedom that it offered. His pupils dilated with the amphetamines racing through his veins would not adjust to the sudden brightness, and he winced. Looking through slightly blurry eyes Heero's cobalt orbs landed upon a solitary figure standing on the steps, the last person to stand in his way.
"Ash. . ." he breathed. For the first time feeling a pang of regret. He could not quite explain where it came from; he was not really betraying them as he had the other pilots. But for some reason it had the same feel to him no matter how he tried to quell it. "Get out of my way!"
"You know I can't. . ." he responded, voice sounding slightly unsure, as he looked up at the man who had just single handily taken out fifteen men.
The former pilot knew he could take out Ash if it meant the difference between freedom and being caught. So why was he just standing there?
His moment of hesitation was all they needed, riding the wave of emotions. Heero was aware of his surroundings, but the shock of seeing Ash had for a brief second blinded him. Torn back to the present as the syringe was pulled from his arm Heero could feel the drug course through his system. For the briefest second he hoped the adrenaline would be enough to counter whatever it was that he had been given. It was a futile hope; Dante had prepared for everything.
Stumbling forward Heero clutched at his head with one hand, trying to clear his mind by sheer force of will. The battle was a loosing one, and he found himself dropping forward, into Ash's arms and the blackness beyond. The last thought that pasted his clouded mind was one of his failure.
Thanks for reading!
To Glimpse A Tortured Soul:
Dante's attention moved to the IV bag dripping a steady flow of bluish liquid into Heero's right arm. Reaching up he touched the bag, turning it one way, than the other as he considered its contents. Adnolprinaminiphen, was a drug created many years ago, but quickly abandoned when it did not meet the standards set at the time. Because of this, the drugs full potential had never been reached. It had been Dante's good fortune, that a scientist on the colony had been doing some intensive research on the drug. And quite by accident discovered this little uniqueness about it.
It was not a drug to be taken lightly; there had been good reason for its shutdown all those years back. The drug was highly addictive, and the withdrawal symptoms harsh, and since it showed the best results when the patient was dehydrated the medics were continually walking a fine line. There had not been such a worry over Relena; she had not been in the system long enough to start worrying about the consequences of re-hydrating her only to dehydrate her again. Dante had reviewed everything concerning these side effects, wanting to make sure that everything would be done to keep Heero from suffering from any.
Yet it really didn't matter how careful any of them were, the road to recovery from this procedure would never be a pleasant or easy one, for any who were put through it. It had been by no means easy for Dante to decide on this method, but the needs of his people had stood above everything. And he truly felt that in the end, no permanent harm would befall either Relena or Heero. His thoughts turned then to the princess, now resting in a more comfortable room, it was his intention to send her out on a shuttle along with her guards, soon within the next few hours. He wanted her to be back in the proper hands soon.
AN: ^_^ 50 points to whoever can tell me where I got the name for the drug! I'll give you a hint, it certain isn't an actual drug. ^_^ It's something my brother came up with for me. Think about it, and see what you can get!
Morganeth Taren'drel
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