Sorry it took so long! Thanks to all my reviewers! You guys are AWESOME!
I think I've officially used up my limit for exclamation points for the day! My bad!
...and I'm still doing it!
This is rated PG-13.
Surely as the Sun
Chapter Five
The metallic scent of blood hung in the air like dust billowing from the earth, the gray, chalky ground of his cage giving way to irritation within his lungs. This room ? he had seen it many times before, but could not understand why he had been here all of this time. He sat crouched against the wall, slumped against his hind legs with his hands hanging limply over his knees. The perfect picture of meditation, and yet?
He glanced quickly at the door, denoting a noise he knew from experience he should not be able to hear, and yet could. How long he had been a human pin cushion for these scientists he did not know, but the number of puncture wounds along his lower abdomen and pelvis gave rise to the confirmation of recollections within his mind. The reason it had taken him so long to remember anything was unknown to him, but on the last performance testing, he had seen her, and remembered.
He had come back here for answers.
The noise he heard moments before repeated itself, and a woman walked into the lab with a stretcher. She eyed him cautiously as he sat unfazed in the corner, two braids adorning the sides of her face. She had large, blue eyes that seemed to scan every inch of him.
?Heero.?
His eyes shot up to her, hands clinching into fists. That is what she had called him?
He anticipated her movement before she had even decided she was going to take a step towards him, and like a flash of light, he had both of her wrists behind her back with his other hand pushing down onto the back of her neck, her head banging against the floor as she fell helpless beneath his calculated movements. He had her facedown, but she twisted her neck to where she turned her face to the side. Her eyes swam, unfocused for a few seconds, as blood trickled out of her nose and down her cheek. His eyes pierced through the darkness of the room and focused on her, no mercy within their depths.
?I know who you are!? She whispered, wary of the painful hold he had her in. He could kill her any number of ways like this.
?You all know who I am.? He said, the sound deep and almost a growl. She swallowed and tried to shake her head, then grimaced when he pushed further down onto her neck, crushing her wind pipe against the concrete floor. She tried to inhale and ended up choking, but he did not take the pressure off of her.
?You are of no use to me. I can find answers elsewhere.? He said, and her eyes bulged as the oxygen was cut off from her, her face turning pale. She groaned and closed her eyes as she began to see spots, her mind going blurry. He released her hands, which had fallen limply at her sides, and wrapped his arm around her stomach. As she attempted to inhale once more, he flexed his arm and subsequently pushed her diaphragm in, cutting off any oxygen she had been trying to retain. She groaned once more and her eyes fluttered, rolling into the back of her head.
?Relena??
The name made him pause. He heard a barrage of thirty or so men coming, probably less than six doors away from him. He could have easily taken them all out alone, but he needed this woman. She knew something. She had long since lost consciousness, and he flipped her over and glanced at her name tag.
Sally.
Grunting to himself, he hefted her up and threw her over his shoulder. He glanced about the room once more, and then eyed the vent shaft above him.
---
?That stupid sonofa-?
?Quatre! Grab him!?
??I?ll kill him!?
The monitor went careening towards the floor as Wufei violently kicked it off the desk, showers of sparks lighting up the dark Preventor?s office. Quatre made a half-hearted attempt to place his hand on Wufei?s shoulder as he stomped off towards the door, which Wufei immediately snorted at, and jerked his shoulder out of his hold. Quatre eyed him resolutely, crossing his arms over his chest and cocking his head to the side. Une stared sullenly at her new laptop now in shambles across her office.
?You will be of no use to her like that.?
?And how exactly do you know of what use I could be to her?? he said, the concern behind his eyes leading to the anger boiling at the surface. Wufei glared at Quatre as he stepped in front of the exit. ?Move.?
?Now, now, Mr. Chang?you will be of no use to anyone if you?re dead.?
Dorothy stepped from behind Quatre, placing her hand on his shoulder. She lingered beside him for a few moments and whispered something into his ear, which caused his eyes to widen slightly and an embarrassed cough to follow. Une?s demeanor immediately heightened to one of defense. Wufei seemed to struggle involuntarily with his rage and his curiosity as to why in the world Dorothy Catalonia was standing smack dab in one of the most secure locations within the Preventor?s quarters.
?What is the meaning of this?? Une managed to ground out, already feeling for her firearm. An amused smile came across Dorothy?s face as she lifted the side of her mouth, her lip gloss flashing.
?Calm down, Commander. I would have thought that someone in your position would understand the boundaries of propriety when it comes to having guests within your quarters. Or have I been mistaken?? she grinned, slinking across the room. She placed herself directly in front of Une?s desk and paused as she noted the remains of the laptop.
?Quatre?? Une ground out, glancing at him across the room. He smiled dumbly and let out a half-scared chuckle, then dropped it as Une?s look immediately turned into a scowl.
?I told you I would have a guest?? he managed to mumble, looking down at his feet.
?You didn?t tell me it would be Cruella de Vil.? She proceeded. Dorothy glanced at her, annoyed, but then replaced the annoyance with a coy smile.
?Enough of this!? Wufei bellowed, his patience clearly gone. ?Either you have something important to tell us, or I?m leaving to put as many bullet holes through Heero Yuy as I can. I am not waiting to hear you screw around with us.?
?Fine.? She countered, but did it in such a cool way that it made Wufei even angrier than if she had openly insulted him. ?Let?s get to the point then, shall when? I have information on Heero Yuy and the scientists who have been working on him. I can give you an approximation of what he is capable of and just how much man power it will take to take him down. And you,? she eyed Wufei up and down and snorted, ?my dear, are nothing. He would hear you before you ever even approached.?
?We know all of this already. We saw what he did to Elliot Benja. Sally went in this morning to check his vitals. He?s in a coma.?
Dorothy laughed, placing her hand over her mouth. Une glared at her.
?Elliot Benja is a pawn.?
Immediately, everyone?s attention snapped to Dorothy. She sighed and sat down in Une?s guest chair, holding her hand up and glancing at her perfectly manicured nails. Wufei closed his eyes and sighed, resigning himself to leaning back against the wall with his arms crossed. Une placed her hands on the desk and waited, none too patiently, for her to continue.
?The man is an imbecile. The only power he wields is within the confines of politics and economics. He knows nothing of war, nothing of science. He has no idea of what exactly Heero Yuy is capable of.?
?Then who should we be looking at here??
?Alexei Patrenko.?
?The doctor??
?That?s not exactly what I?d label him.? She stated, sitting up in her chair. She reached into her golden clutch and pulled out a small device. She flipped a switch on it, and immediately a holographic picture aligned along the ceiling of the room. Several images flashed by as she began to explain each one.
?Child prodigy, for beginners.? She stated, the first image of what looked to be a very young Alexei in a room full of medals and certificates, holding trophies in his arms. Surrounding him were what looked to be several other scientists with their hands on his shoulders, smiling. ?At this age, he was beginning to develop a cure for cancer.? She mentioned, her eyes softening slightly at the image. She clicked to the next transmission.
?Is that?? Wufei whispered, eyes widening at the screen.
?Yes. That is PD Enterprises, before Relena knew it was ever hers.? Dorothy stated. On the screen, Alexei was smiling and working on a conveyor belt, several other workers beside him. They seemed to be manufacturing something through the machines. ?Alexei has been brainwashed by those scientists ever since he was a child. Why they did not kill him when they attempted suicide, I do not know, but I do know that he?s producing much more than the Matriz ?rida in Elliot Benja?s plant. The idiot doesn?t even realize who he?s harboring.?
?And how exactly do you know, Dorothy?? Une said, methodically shifting her weight in an attempt to control her patience.
?Alexei Patrenko is my half-brother. He has been in contact with me since before Oz.? She paused to allow them to digest the information. Wufei abruptly sat down into one of the office chairs, tightening his fists. Dorothy crossed the room, the lights from the hologram flashing across her face, heightening the cat-like glare from her eyes. She handed Une the hologram device she had been holding.
?This contains much more than pictures, I assure you. Alexei and I were very close as children, but when he began to train under those scientists, his scientific genius began to take on a much darker side. I was ecstatic about it in the beginning, during the wars, even slightly during the coup d?etat with Mariemeia?but I have seen where it has taken him. He has lost his reasoning. The only thing he wants now is for this peace to be shaken, and eventually crumble. He wants to start life as humanity knows it over. A re-evolution, if you will.?
?But what does this have to do with Elliot Benja? Or Heero, for that matter? So he?s a scientific genius who trained up under the scientists who created the Matriz ?rida. That still doesn?t put enough on him for us to take him out??
?Don?t you understand?? she said, placing her hands down on the desk. ?Alexei cannot be ?taken out?. He has been using Heero as a weapon!?
?What??
She sighed. ?Alexei was the one who created the Matriz ?rida. The scientists only dispersed it into the atmosphere.?
??.Quatre?? Une spoke softly to him, his kind eyes looking sullenly up at her. ?Can you vouch for what she is telling me??
?Yes, Commander. I?ve researched everything she?s said. The DNA testing, Alexei Patrenko?s tax and medical records from working at the factory?everything.?
?I am afraid there is much more that needs to be dealt with besides attributing blame on the inventor of the chemical. Although this will probably hurl Relena back into office, with the full support of the people, there is the matter of what Alexei has been creating while he?s been working at Elliot Benja?s plant. Now that Elliot?s control over Alexei has been diffused?my guess is that Alexei will strike very quickly.?
?What do you mean ?diffused???
?Elliot is in a coma. If Alexei were to strike anytime, it would be now, when he has the largest amount of flexibility and power to wield over Elliot?s manufacturing plant.?
?But something went wrong. We just saw, Heero is obviously not reacting the way they thought he would. He just tried to kill Elliot. Heero is their biggest project, and obviously the most powerful??
?Yes. But Heero was not Alexei?s only project, Commander. Just the strongest. He had much influence with the disbursement of the chemical, but now that a woman has gotten pregnant for the first time in years?he is probably ready to bring some of his other ?projects? into the picture, in case we can figure out how it happened. How Hilde got pregnant, if she?ll let our scientists examine her. And we will figure it out. I have no doubt in my mind.?
?So, basically, we have to get Heero back.?
?Yes.?
?But?there?s no way we can, you just said. He?s too fast.?
?There was no way you could up until I placed that device in your hands.? She grinned, flattening out her billowing skirts. ?Heero is obviously confused. Up until now, he has obeyed their every whim. But something must have happened that triggered something in his mind. In all honesty, there is no reason why Sally should not be dead right now. Whose name did she say that made him stop??
?You are joking.? Wufei spat.
?Relena. You get her in the same room with him, and he will not resist us.?
?But how do you know??
?For an undercover Preventor, you are quite dull.?
?Dorothy!? Quatre cut her off, making his way to Wufei, who had already risen from his seat and looked like he would strike Dorothy in the mouth at any moment. She gazed coolly back at him.
?Une, this is ridiculous! She said herself that he was her half-brother. How do we know she?s not working with him on this? Why has she waited until now to tell us about it??
?I had to gain his trust somehow, you idiot. I could not suddenly blow my cover before I discovered just how deep this all went.?
?That is enough. Wufei, we now have a lead. We must organize this quickly. I want you to gather your highest ranked Preventors. We must track him before he discovers Sally?s camera and communication device.? Une turned to Quatre.
?Quatre, I want you to locate Relena and brief her on the situation. She must be prepared, and I do not only mean physically. Duo must accompany her. Do you understand??
He nodded.
?Tonight is the night of a change in tide, gentlemen. We must be prepared.?
---
?Girls, settle down. I have an important announcement to make.?
Mariemeia glanced around the room of girls surrounding her. Over the past week, she had grown to become very fond of a number of them. They all scampered back to their bunks as the woman who had spoken ? Ms. Elaine, their headmistress ? began making the rounds for curfew. Normally at this time of night they were all simply sent to sleep, but the way Ms. Elaine kept fiddling with her keys to the dorms told her something was up.
?I?m afraid I have some very disconcerting news. The owner of this establishment ? Dr. Elliot Benja ? seems to have been attacked yesterday. He is in a coma.?
Several gasps from the opposite end of the room led Mariemeia to roll her eyes. In the corner, Jodi and her group of clones looked like they were about to break into hysterics.
?I know you all must be concerned about what this means for us. No, you will not be going home?? she smiled, ?But I am afraid that the authority of supervision has been passed on to Dr. Benja?s assistant director, a Dr. Alexei Patrenko. He will be coming to us by the end of the week to begin a new series of testing on you girls. Rumor has it he is developing a cure?so, that is something we all have to look forward to!?
Several of the girls screamed with glee, others just began crying. Mariemeia pulled the sheets up to her shoulders and turned over on her side, an unexplainable chill running through her.
---
?Hilde, babe??
The blackness behind her eyes gave way beneath the slant of light that broke through, brightness assaulting her vision as she attempted to wake herself up. As she focused, wide, violet eyes stared at her, enamored and cheerful. Duo smiled down at her, running his fingers through her dark hair as she tried to come to herself. A dull throb in the back of her head caused her to grimace slightly, but then she smiled up at him, his eyes shining like amethyst beneath the sea.
?I got hit.?
He chuckled. ?Yeah, I?d say so. How many times am I going to have to tell you to stop risking yourself for me, you stupid fool??
She smiled. ?I figured you?d say something like that.?
His hand gripped hers harshly, and she realized that he was shaking slightly, even though he was obviously trying to make her feel better. He was also dressed in standard Preventors Special Forces gear, all black with a harness and holster across his hips, the black vest protruding off his chest.
?You know that?s so unfair for you to wear that here. You know it turns me on, so you shouldn?t tease unless you want something to happen right here and now, sexy.?
He laughed at her and slumped onto the side of her bed, tracing lines along her stomach. She stared worriedly up at him, placing her hand over his. He sighed.
?I have something to tell you.?
She fingered the tip of his braid absentmindedly as she stared at him. He was so adorable when?
?Hilde, we?re pregnant.?
She stopped, staring disbelievingly up at him. His hand squeezed around her limp one, her breath catching in her throat.
?H-how??
The look on her face pronounced that she was in slight shock, a cold sweat taking over her features. She had stopped breathing and had not yet inhaled. Duo immediately leaned over her and held her face between his hands, gazing down into her eyes.
?Hilde, look at me. It?s all right. You?re all right. The baby is fine. It?s really happening. The doctors can?t explain it, but it has happened. Look at me??
Her eyes seemed to swim around until he gently shook her, and then she looked directly at him.
??look at me. I love you. Hilde, I love you. It?s all right.?
The tears came unbidden, as they always do. They trailed long lines down her face and he kissed them away. She half-sobbed, half-laughed in his arms, her fingers bunching up the hospital bed sheets. After a few more minutes of him simply holding her in his arms, he leaned back and stared unsurely at her.
?Are you alright??
?Yes.? She answered, sniffing and rubbing the skin underneath her eyes. When she looked up at him again, he was staring sullenly down at her. ?What?s wrong??
?Tonight is the night we?re going to go to Benja?s factory and try to bring Heero back, whether he wants to or not. Relena is the bait, and I am going to be the one accompanying her??
She immediately latched on to his arm, clinging to him for dear life. Part of it broke his heart, and part of it made him want to jump for joy.
?I thought you would want me to go away when you woke up?? he said, looking down. She stared incredulously at him. ??I thought that maybe you would have thought it was a mistake.?
She pulled him back down to her and nuzzled her cheek against his chest, sitting up and wrapping her legs and arms around him in a death grip.
?Please don?t go. I love you?please don?t go. I can?t do this without you. It?s dangerous?? She looked helplessly up at him, and he could only look down into her eyes. ?Duo, it?s dangerous!?
?Nothing is going to happen to me. I promise. Hilde, babe, I?m sorry, but it?s time for me to go?? He pulled her arms off of him and placed them down into her lap. Her tears dripped down onto his hands and he paused, his concern for her written like words across his face. He leaned over and kissed her full on the lips, and after a while finally forced himself to pull away so they could both breathe. Her eyes had closed, and he leaned down next to her ear and whispered softly.
?I?ll find a way back to you. I always will. I promise.?
When she looked up, he was gone.
-----------------------
So...I totally didn't even get near the actual "Heero and Relena Come Face-to-Face" scene.
My bad!
But, at least you know I don't have writer's block and have plenty to write about, so it shouldn't take too long...
Hopefully...
