December 12, 2000
Sequel to 'Have You Ever...'
Standard Warnings and Disclaimers apply.
"Unidentified shuttle you are entering an unauthorized zone."
"Will you believe this bunch of shit?" Dev grumbled, swiping a hand through her short spiky bleach blonde hair. "This is the space ship Shadow Star," she said over the COM unit. "Requesting permission to come aboard."
"Request denied."
Devenley cursed as the cockpit door slid open. "Problems?" Jack asked, sliding into the co-pilot's chair.
"Not at all," Dev replied, fingering the COM unit again. "Any particular reason?" she asked.
"Who is it that wants to know?" a wryly voice shot back. "And why you want on my ship, huh?"
"This is Deven Behr of the Shadow Star, and god dammit, Howard, if you don't let me in I'm gonna--"
The voice on the other end laughed. "I thought that was you, Dev, m'girl. What you do to that ship, huh? I had her in tip-top shape. If I find out you put one scratch on her--"
"Star's fine," Dev smiled. "Actually, we just have some business to take care of with one of your passengers."
"Oh, really, and which one would that be?" Howard asked. "I've seemed to pick up quite a few lately."
"Heero Yuy."
Heero, Wufei and Trowa had meet in the shuttle bay--mainly because Heero had set down bare minutes after Trowa and the other boy had waited. They nodded to one another, looks passing back and forth between the three, but little was spoken other than a "Barton", "Yuy", or "Chang" in greeting.
Together, they made their way to the Cafeteria--because that's where Howard told them the other two members of their unit were. Obviously, though, the old man hadn't told the other two that they had arrived.
"Trowa!"
A blond ball of energy launched itself into the taller boy's arms. He seemed to expect it, however, in fact, was prepared for it, and a telltale--if small--smile played over his lips. "Hello, Quatre," he said softly, a hand burying into blond waves as two arms wrapped around him like a living band. Quatre continued to hold on to him, even when he turned to greet Heero and Wufei.
"Together again," Duo called, grinning. "Just like one big happy family." Something flickered in all five pairs of eyes. Happiness in a pair of blue-marine, but something more painful in the other four sets. "Well, it's great to see you all again, but if you don't mind, I think I'll head back to my quarters--"
"No."
The single monosyllable, not-surprisingly uttered by Heero, stopped the braided boy in his tracks.
"We need to talk."
Duo's violet eyes narrowed. "Them four deadly words, Heero."
Violet eyes met and held cobalt blues, and then Heero reached behind him, pulled something out, and tossed it onto the table. Duo looked down. "What is it?"
"Files. From White Fangs' databases."
Duo reached out to pick up the disk, holding it up. The COM unit beeped.
"Duo here, what's the problem, old man?"
"Yo, got some people up here who wanna see Heero," Howard's voice filled the room. "And they don't wanna take no for an answer."
Heero frowned. He had a good idea of who it was. By the look on the other's faces, they thought so too. "Who is it?" he asked anyway.
"Calls herself Dev Behr," the old man answered. "Should I let her in?"
"'Behr'?" Heero's frown deepened. How'd they get up here? Dev? That was one of the sisters, if he remembered right. "Go 'head. I'll meet her in Bay 29."
"Sure thing!" Howard called before closing the link.
"You guys stay here, look at that," Heero said, nodding towards the disk in Duo's hands.
"Whadda 'bout you?" Duo called after him.
"I'll be back."
"Yeah, more famous last words," Duo muttered as the door slid shut behind him.
When the Shooting Star set down in Bay 29, Heero Yuy was there waiting for it, however, he was not prepared for the load of Behrs that came tumbling down the gangplank. All seven sisters filed down; five of them he recognized from his previous... 'visit'.
"How's that arm?" was the first thing said, coming from Doce who had removed the bullet and dressed the gunshot wound in the first place.
"It's fine."
"We were disappointed not to hear from you, Heero," Kat said, pouting seductively.
"Jack said there was a chance you might not come back, but I just knew I'd see you again! And see! I was right! I love being right!" That was the girl, Carina, who practically attached herself to Heero's arm. He stared down at her--she was at least four inches shorter than him--and she smiled up at him.
He looked over at the others.
"That wasn't nice of you," Nita said. "I thought we had a deal." Heero didn't reply. "Well, whatever. We've come to retrieve the files."
"I'm sorry. You must know we can't give them over to you," a new voice rung out, capturing the girls' attention. Quatre walked in, Trowa, Wufei, and Duo behind him, and handed the disk back to Heero. "Some interesting stuff," he said, turning back to the women. "Perhaps you won't mind telling me why you want them."
Five women were immediately on guard. Trowa and Wufei took up casual positions beside the door. Duo came up beside Heero's other side, staring at the girl clinging to the Japanese boy. Nervously, she let go and stepped back until it was the seven sisters facing off with the five boys.
"Well, well, well. Isn't this cozy?" Manic grin in place, hands on hips, Duo rocked back on his heels. "I don't suppose you mind answering the question my friend here asked you. Just what do you want with those White Fang files?"
Eyes narrowed all around, but it was the hazel ones that spoke. "What was in them?" Jack asked.
"That all depends," Duo returned, still grinning.
"On what?" Katalynna yelped, annoyed.
Duo turned to her, his own violet eyes narrowing and turning cold. "On who you're working for and what you plan on doing with 'em, of course."
End of Part 15: The Devil's Game
Andrea Readwolf
Please send comments to: andrea_readwolf@hotmail.com