FUTURE HAUNTS
~By K.T.~

Chapter XI

Disclaimer: Don't own; don't sue.

Words surrounded in * are in italics.

           *Atlantis/Sabriel* couldn't see a thing.  She couldn't feel 
a
thing.  Their was no time...no up, no down.  Nothing.  All she knew was
logic.  The computer calculated everyone of *Zeus'* moves, 
statistically 90%
perfect, helping *Atlantis* anticipated blows easily.   Yet, despite 
all of
the computer's efforts to cut off *Atlantis/Sabriel's* emotions, she 
could
not bring herself to allow *Atlantis* to give *Zeus* a death blow.  She 
was
losing the battle.
            Ryden saw them.  All the people who had destroyed his 
wonderful
plans to rule the galaxy.  He focused in on a large group standing near 
the
door.  Then he saw them.  He saw *him* in particular.  That stupid 
*Gundam
pilot*!
	With a hard blow to *Atlantis*, *Zeus* suddenly unfurled his wings and 
flew
towards the group of Preventers, ex-Gundam pilots, and friends.  He 
pointed
his gun at one individual.  One who's death would devastate the world 
nation.
	"DIE, RELENA PEACECRAFT!!!  DIE SO THAT YOUR DEATH WILL WOUND THE MAN 
WHO
DESTROYED THE LIVES OF ME AND MY SISTER!!!"
	 He took aim and fired...
      The sound of the shot echoed throughout the colony block.  
	Heero saw it too late.  The others froze, stunned into place.  Relena 
drew
back, her mouth opened in a gasp and the gigantic bullet hit...
	*Atlantis*.   
   *Atlantis/Sabriel* gasped with the pain that ripped through her 
skull.
Then she quickly twisted *Atlantis* to the side so as not to land on 
the
people below.  Her bones rattled with the impact of the ground, and
*Atlantis/Sabriel*  felt her left side began to throb.  She coughed as 
her
lungs fill with blood and vomited. 
	She groaned and tried to sit up when she heard Ryden's insane laughter 
echo
through her cockpit.  Her whole body screaming in protest,
*Atlantis/Sabriel* took out a small pin from the inside of her shirt 
and
held it up.  She couldn't see it, but she felt it, and she felt the 
little
knob on the top.  
	"You shouldn't have interfered, Aerran!"   Ryden's voice taunted her. 
     *Atlantis/Sabriel* closed her blind eyes and saw through 
*Atlantis'*
vision. *Zeus* was still standing a good two hundred yards away.  He 
raised
his gun, pointed it at the group of friends once again. 
*Atlantis/Sabriel*
fingered the head of the pin softly before bringing it up and inserting 
it
into her helmet.  It pierced into her skin and she shoved on it hard,
feeling it slide through her skull bone and embed into her brain.  
	Ryden laughed as he squeezed the trigger.   But his mecha didn't 
respond.
*Zeus* was frozen up.  Ryden banged his fists against the controls and
screamed at it.  The loud speaker came on and many of the people below 
began
to cover their ears while Ryden's cries filled the air. 
	*Atlantis* slowly got to her knees and then, gears groaning in 
protest,
stood to her feet.  Half of her left side was missing and now embedded 
into
the ware house.  She watched with distant curiosity as people began 
running
away from the ware house.  Then a man stepped forward and cupped his 
hands
to his mouth. 
	"The ware house is going to blow! See if you can't trap Ryden in it!"
     *Atlantis/Zeus/Sabriel* dimly recognized Trowa as he yelled at 
her, but
his words registered in the computer immediately. *Atlantis* unfurled 
her
own wings and flew straight towards *Zeus* at top speed.
			---------------------
	"We've got to get everyone as far away as possible." Heero told Noin 
as
they began loading people into the Preventer trucks and air craft.  
	"Radius?"  Noin asked as she threw the first aid kit to Sally who 
deftly
caught it.  
     "I would say about a two hundred feet perimeter around the 
building
with a six hundred feet blast distance and two hundred more off of 
that."
Trowa said, calculating quickly in his head while watching the Sabriel 
beat
Ryden back toward the ware house.  Every once in a while, Ryden's mecha
would freeze up and Sabriel got in more good hits. "I'm also worried 
about
the extra fuel cells the Gundam suits are carrying.  If the fire's hot
enough, they could blow too and..."
        "Okay!"  Noin interrupted. "We'll say it's about ten blocks."
	"Man, I feel like I've been hit by a truck."  Quatre blew out a breath 
and
winced as Sally poured iodine on his cuts. 
	 When Sally turned around, Duo clapped the blond on the back, 
cheerfully
ignoring his wince, and said, "You know, Quatre.  I heard you cried for 
me."
Duo wiped an imaginary tear from his eye.  "It really touches a guy 
when you
know people truly care." then he turned his face to the blond and 
grinned
his silly grin.  
	Quatre opened his mouth to give a testy retort when he saw the serious 
look
in Duo's eyes.  Instead, Quatre replied, "You're my friend, Duo.  I'd 
never
be ashamed to show my feelings for a friend." 
             "There's got to be something we can do!"  Heero's 
frustrated
voice made the two young men turn their gazes toward their leader. 
	"There is something to do."  Trowa said simply. "We can save these 
people."  
     Heero glanced at the taller man and noted that his dark green gaze 
had
not left the mecha battle.   He frowned for a moment and then his face
cleared.  Heero turned to his friends. 
       "Trowa's right. Sally."  The woman looked up at him. "you and 
Noin
get the Preventers together and have them sweep the entire block for
civilians.  Check inside every building."  
	Sally nodded and finished taping a bandage to Quatre's leg before 
moving
away.  Wufei was instantly at her side, walking with her towards Noin. 
	Heero turned his gaze to Duo. 
      "Duo, you, Hilde, Dorthy, the man that's with Dorthy, and 
Milliardo
make sure that everyone has a ride."  
	    The wiry man nodded and went in search of his friends. 
    Heero turned back beside Trowa and both men stood there.  Quatre 
slowly
moved beside them and watched the mobile suits as they fought.  Ryden's 
was
nearly lying on top of the ware-house and Sabriel's was leaning over 
it,
bashing its fists over and over into the suit.   
	"Come on, kid."  Heero and Quatre heard Trowa mutter under his breath.  
       Quatre glanced at the tall man and then his gaze met Heero's.  
The
blond's eye brows lowered confusedly. 
	"She was on both sides."  He said. 
     "Who?"  Quatre asked, even more confused. 
           "Sabriel."  The other two answered at the same time.  
     Heero looked up at Trowa. 
         "You mean...you knew!"  
     Trowa didn't even glance at him. 
        "I didn't know she was with YOU when she left, but...she was 
always
going off and then coming back...I figured she was into something else.  
We
didn't officially meet until a few days ago but I knew about her from 
the
moment I joined up with Ryden Alayn.  She was his right hand...not to
mention his left."  
	Heero shook his head and then the three men jumped when piece of the 
ware
house began to fly everywhere. 
	"Is that...?" 
     "Let's move."  Trowa said, leaning down for Quatre to hop up. 
	 "Where's Catherine?"  Quatre asked worriedly as Trowa carried him,
piggy-back, to the nearest jeep.
   "Safe with Relena and Rina."  Trowa answered.  He helped Quatre to 
stand
near the door and then blinked when he saw Heero jump into the driver's 
seat. 
         "Heero?"  Quatre questioned as the young man wrenched the key 
in
the ignition. 
     "Trowa, get Quatre out of here."  
	Trowa pulled Quatre away from the truck but Quatre grabbed the door.
      "Wait!  Where are you going!" 
	   Heero looked at the kind, loving blond and the taller, strong 
hearted
brunette beside him.  They both looked at him and saw the anguish 
churning
in his deep blue eyes. 
	"I can't let her die again."
      Trowa nodded.  Both he and Quatre knew the story.  They had been 
the
only ones around at the time he told it.
   Quatre smiled softly. 
         "Then hurry, Heero."  
                                          
-------------------------------
	*Atlantis* hit *Zeus* once more as the debris flew up around her.  
Then she
felt her life's blood leaking from her torn and mangled body.  She was
dying.  Her power cells began shutting off and the main computer went 
off
line.  
	*Atlantis/Sabriel* opened her eyes and then shut them when she was 
blinded
by the light of the fire around her.  She squinted them open again and
blinked in the dust swirling around.   Ah! Her body ached so much...
	*Atlantis/Sabriel* picked at the straps under her chin and then began 
to
pull the helmet off of her head.  She gave a scream as the needles 
pulled
out of her skin, some taking skin with them.  The processor had 
overloaded,
melting computer chips in the main core, adhering them to her head in 
the
process.   She threw the helmet from her with a sob and then unfastened 
the
body restraints.  She blinked against the scenes *Atlantis* had viewed 
which
flashed through her highly stimulated brain.    
	*Atlantis/Sabriel* rolled out of her seat and made her way to the 
emergency
exit.  Smoke poured in through gaps and she coughed, blood flecking her 
lips.  
			-------------------------------
	Heero slammed on the brakes and tore out of the car.  He stared up at 
the
two Gundam suits and then began climbing up Sabriel's.   He stopped 
when he
was at the shoulder.  Fire licked at the neck and surrounded the head 
as it
lay on the chest of the other mobile suit.   He looked around for 
another
way in and then spotted the gaping hole in the thing's side. 
		---------------------
	She pounded on the metal, coughing up more blood and bloody-ing her 
fists.
There was no way out.  
	"I guess I was meant to die by fire."  She leaned against the hot 
metal,
not caring that it ate away at the skin on her back.  She was so tired.  
And
soar.  Her eyes snapped open and she saw in *Zeus'* mind's eye, her
brother's body, lying broken across the controls.   The vision cleared 
and
burning blue eyes replaced it. 
          "Aaaahhhh!" *Zeus/Sabriel* screamed, bringing up her arms and
pressing back into the melting wall. 
	Heero drew back, surprised by her reaction, and then stared at the 
blood
that dripped off the ends of her elbows.  He leaned forward and pulled 
her
away from the wall, his hands clasped about her wrists. 
  	"Come on, we've got to get out of here before it blows."   
   "It's too late."  She mumbled and Heero jerked her closer to he 
could hear. 
          "It's too late." he heard her say again softly, as if to 
herself.
Heero glanced at her and saw blood dribble down her forehead.  Little
pin-pricks of blood welled up all over her head and slid down her neck 
and
over her ears.  
        Heero frowned, scooped her up and half-crawled, half-climbed 
through
the mecha's 	chest cavity.  He switched her from arm to arm when he 
climbed,
holding her up on his lap when he switched arms.  She was still 
mumbling and
he heard her say. 
          "It's too late."  Again. 
    "That's really starting to get on my nerves."  Heero growled at 
her.  No
response.  She just closed her eyes and kept muttering.   Heero began
muttering himself, but his words were a little less pleasant. 
         He gripped a fuel pipe and then swore loudly when it burned 
him.
Unfortunately, he also let go of the pipe, his "perfect" soldier 
instincts
momentarily slipping in his worry for the young girl in his arms.  
Heero
cried out as they fell and he hugged Sabriel to him, hoping that she 
might
live if she landed on him.  The fall seemed to take for ever...
	Then they hit, and Heero felt something strange slide under him just 
before
they landed.  He opened his eyes, awed to still be alive, and then 
looked
down at...
	The back of Trowa's head. 
     Heero blinked. 
        "Thanks, Trowa." 
    "You're welcome."  The green eyed man answered.  Then he wriggled. 
"But
get off."  
	 Heero laughed.  
     Sabriel's own eyes flew open at the sound of a loud noise just 
under
her ear.  She pushed herself off of what ever she had been lying on and 
then
stared down into Heero Yuy's laughing face.   A smile tugged at her own 
lips
and then she frowned. 
	"Where am I?"  
      Heero sat up and she slid off onto the ground.  Then he scooted 
closer
to her and she watched, wide-eyed, as Trowa slowly sat up.  
	"Where did you learn to do that?"  Heero asked, a little amazed. 
   Trowa shrugged. 
       "Was a spotter once for some flyers in the circus."  
	Heero shook his head, his laughter abating into an amused smirk the 
three
of them shared.  A piece of burning Gundam landed right beside them, 
blowing
smoke and ash all over the three young people.    They looked at one 
another. 
       "Let's go."  Trowa said, standing to his feet.  Heero did the 
same
and then moved toward his truck.  Or, what would have been his truck if 
it
wasn't smashed flat as a pan-cake.  He looked at it and then turned 
back to
Trowa who was helping Sabriel stand. 	
	He froze and Trowa stopped when he saw Heero stiffen.
     "Thought you could destroy me?!"  Ryden Alayn stood, his legs 
shaking,
blood smearing the whole left side of his face.  He held the gun up,
pointing it at Heero. "I should have done this in the beginning.  I 
knew you
were trouble."  Then he glanced at Sabriel, who was held to the side of
Trowa's body by his protective arms.  "And YOU!"  He sneered. "I 
thought I
could trust you.  I thought you loved me...as I loved you.  We were 
meant to
rule together.  Always!"  He brought the gun around a little, pointing 
it
between the two and Heero. His mad gaze burned hell's fire at Trowa.  
"But
YOU took her away!  YOU brainwashed her!"  
           Heero frowned slightly at Trowa, but the young man remained
impassive as he stared at Ryden.  
      "I will win, now!  I always win!  I am god!"  He pointed the gun 
at
Trowa's head and Heero lunged toward him.  The shot rang through his 
ears
and he stopped short, his gaze moving to Trowa, afraid of what he would
find.  Then his eyes widened in surprise.  
            Sabriel stood in front of Trowa, a gun gripped so tightly 
in her
outstretched arms that her knuckles were white.  She shook, her whole 
body
on the point of collapsing.  Heero deftly caught the keys Trowa threw 
to him
as the taller man bent to pick her up.  
  	"Don't!"  She bit out sharply. 
      Trowa didn't reply and Heero followed him to the Preventer jeep 
Trowa
had swiped.  He rounded the side and jumped into the driver's seat.  
Trowa
reached up, grabbed the safety bar and swung into his seat while 
holding
Sabriel across his lap.  
	"Go, Heero!"   Trowa suddenly yelled as another explosion blew up half 
of
the out walls to the building.  Heero floored the gas pedal.   
	Sabriel clutched at Trowa's neck when she felt the threat of being 
bounced
off his lap.  Her teeth rattled in her head and she felt her chest 
spasm
with each bounce.  She coughed and blood flew from between her red 
stained
lips, flicking Trowa's face and arm. 
	His eyes met hers, a startled look in them. Quickly, he pulled her 
arms
from around his neck and twisted her forward so that her back was 
against
his chest.  Reaching up with his left hand he pressed hard against the
sternum bone between her breasts while gripping the safety bar tightly 
with
the other hand.  
	Sabriel gasped with pain and tried to wriggled out of his hold but she 
was
too weak.  She laid her head back on his shoulder and felt her legs 
jolt
with each bump.  Her upper body, however, moved against Trowa's each 
time
the jeep bounced and her chest pain lessened to a dull throb.  With an
exhausted sigh, Sabriel closed her eyes, the last bomb destroying the
ware-house completely, and burying the past in a sea of fire, debris, 
and ash.
		------------------------------------------------
Mary Paradis