14-May-2000
revised: 11-Jul-2001
Continuation, AU, OOC, NC-17 (for the series), 4x1/2x1, Sci-Fi And as for the ?, at the moment, I've finished rewriting to part 8 + a side story and there are still 4 more to be rewritten and let's not talk about the new parts. Sheesh. I'm never gonna be finished.
Earth, San Francisco.
Trowa walked into the hospital room, his mouth tightening as he saw the blond man standing next to the bed, looking down at the threshing figure struggling wildly against the leather restraints, his hands extended into claws.
He placed a hand lightly on Quatre's shoulder and gave a reassuring squeeze, being careful to avoid the right arm in the shoulder sling. Quatre turned to face his old friend, an expression of relief plain on his face.
'Are you okay Quatre?' Trowa asked quietly.
Quatre nodded tiredly, trying to keep his injured shoulder immobile, and glanced back at the raging man on the bed.
'I'll be fine, the doctor tells me that the bullet went straight through the shoulder, and that I should recover in a couple of weeks.' He answered absently, his eyes still fixed on the snarling man who growled at him like a wild animal, his claw like hands trying to tear at him, even from his restraints. 'I'm not sure if I understand what happened though.'
Quatre turned his eyes back to Trowa, as he asked hesitantly, 'I know... that this man has worked with Sally and Zechs. Do you know why... did Zechs say anything about why Ryo Saneda would suddenly try to kill me?'
Trowa shrugged helplessly, wishing that he could make sense of this bizarre transformation in their former ally.
'No. I have no idea. I came as soon as I got your call. I did check with Zechs to see if he knew anything but he's totally baffled by this as well. I just don't understand why Ryo would come to see you all of a sudden. And you say that he mentioned something about having some information on Heero...?'
Quatre sighed and moved away from the agitated figure on the bed, narrowing his eyes as he noticed the way Ryo continued to push and struggle intensely, in response to his movements. He motioned for Trowa to follow him out of the secured room. Once outside, the two left the guarded room and walked together in silence until they reached Quatre's car.
'I asked you here because before he went crazy and attacked me, Ryo mentioned that he had been working for Sally Po. Then he started describing how he had overheard Wufei talking on the phone with Heero when he just pulled out a gun and fired. I got lucky, his first shot missed. But then I tackled him and tried to get the gun away from him and during our struggle, it fired twice, hitting me in the shoulder and Ryo in the leg. I did manage to get the gun away from him, but you saw what he was like in there. He went berserk and started to strangle me. If Rashid and my guards hadn't come running when they heard the first shot, I'd probably be dead right now.'
Quatre involuntarily rubbed his throat as he finished speaking, remembering the relentless, steel like fingers clamped around his neck and had squeezed, feeling the fingers digging into his soft flesh, until mercifully they were forced away by three large guardian angels.
Trowa lowered his eyes, his thoughts still occupied by the violent creature in the hospital, wondering how to reconcile that image with the description of the quiet man he had heard from Zechs.
'Zechs couldn't offer any reasons as to why he would act in such an unstable and irrational manner. And what makes it so puzzling is why? Why would he try to kill you?' He looked searchingly at Quatre, taking in the livid bruises on his neck, and the long reddened scratch on his cheek. 'This is the act of a crazed man. Do you have any ideas as to why Ryo would want to kill you?'
Quatre shrugged slightly, and shook his head, his lips pursed tightly as he tersely replied. 'No. I've never met him before today.'
'Actually, apparently you have.' Trowa continued as Quatre looked puzzled. 'Two years ago, at Epsilon. You were being held captive and a medic loosened your restraints. Do you remember?'
Quatre widened his eyes fractionally, 'so that's where I saw him.' He blurted. 'I thought there was something vaguely familiar about him but it was so long ago... and I didn't get a good look at his face. But then,' he frowned, wrinkling his brow in confusion, 'it makes even less sense for him to attack me. I heard from Heero that he helped him and Sally get away during that time... So... why would someone like that try to kill me? And there's something else Trowa. How did he know about Heero? I haven't even told Iria about him leaving as yet. As far as I know, the only ones who are aware of Heero's disappearance is me... and the Magnacs.'
Trowa considered this new piece of the puzzle carefully, and hesitated slightly before admitting, 'um... Ryo knew of your relationship with Heero through Sally, I'm afraid. I'd say that he knew enough to realize that mentioning his name would guarantee an interview with you. I'm not sure though how he would have such detailed up to date information on the status of your relationship. What exactly did he say?'
Quatre glared at his friend, 'I never took her for the gossiping type before Trowa. Why the hell did she discuss my relationship with Heero with Ryo?'
Trowa shrugged helplessly as he faced Quatre's accusatory eyes. 'I'm sorry Quatre, I don't know. If I had to guess, I'd say that she wasn't trying to discuss your relationship with Heero, it probably just sort of came up in the conversation. After all, he'd have seen that something was going on Heero, you and Duo at Epsilon and well...' he trailed off uncomfortably, 'I really don't know any details...'
Quatre scowled coldly. 'It still doesn't explain why he'd be trying to kill me though and I am kind of interested in finding that out.' Adding drily, 'I am rather fond of breathing and I do tend to get a little nervous when someone is that intent on depriving me of the rest of my life. Do you think you can investigate this Ryo guy further? Find out what his motivation is for joining Sally, how long he's been working with her and whether he has a history of going crazy once in a while? I just don't believe that for no reason, he took a violent dislike to me... and I really don't like the timing of his attack.'
Trowa nodded his silent acquiescence to Quatre's request. He felt uneasy about concealing what Zechs had suggested but felt strongly that it wasn't a good idea to tell Quatre that they suspected that Duo, or rather Project Epsilon, had something to do with this aberrant behaviour of Ryo. Especially when all they had so far were speculations and conjectures.
Los Alamo: Base for Project Epsilon
'You did what?'
Ikari winced painfully as Director Maxwell jumped to his feet, his violet eyes blazing with uncustomary fury.
'I just told you. I cancelled our appointment with Director Catalonia. I have no intention of visiting her or allowing her perverted servitors, masquerading as professional scientists, to poke around Amuro and Camille. If you want to visit her that's your prerogative but you can leave me and my children out of it.'
The skinny man did his best not to cringe away as Maxwell loomed imposingly over him, emphasising the superiority of his height and musculature. Shinji hated having to compare his weedy frame against the six-foot tall Director, and gritted his teeth, determined not to back down this time.
Duo glowered at the pale faced man, who stared back at him defiantly, beads of sweat starting to form on his forehead, and fought against the urge to plaster him to the ground. Much as he hated to admit it, he was going to have to give in.
His past experiences with the brilliant and erratic young scientist had taught him that when Shinji Ikari finally made up his mind on something, nothing sort of a miracle, was going to make him change. And right now, he was a little short on miracles. The thirty-three year old Doctor had a soft spot for the test subjects, and had a tendency to call them 'his children'. If he thought that there was a threat to their physical or mental safety, Ikari would fight, and fight fiercely for their protection. Duo knew that Camille had been at Ikari for the last two days about their upcoming visit to Project Omega and wasn't really surprised that the feisty youth had managed to convince the Doctor that Dorothy was a threat to him and Amuro.
After a long drawn out moment, Duo glared at Shinji, who tightened his lips and folded his arms defiantly as he waited for his decision, and gave in.
'Very well, Doctor Ikari. If you feel so strongly about this. I have no intention of forcing you,' he added swiftly as Shinji opened his mouth to protest, 'or your protégés, to visit Project Omega. I merely thought that it would have been in their best interests to be given the best care possible and since we don't really have anyone who specialized in the field of psionics at Epsilon... but,' he held up his hand in surrender. 'I'm sure that you are more than capable of coping on your own and we can always arrange for additional staffing if it became necessary. Is that satisfactory, Doctor?'
Shinji sagged with relief. 'Yes, thank you.' He whispered hoarsely as he wiped away his sweat with a handkerchief.
'Oh and Doctor.' Duo called out sweetly as Shinji hastily tried to exit from his office. 'Would you please tell Camille Vidan that I'd like to see him. Now.'
Duo returned to his seat and leaned back as he thought of the fiery tempered young seventeen year old. Camille had shown enormous potential as a pilot and was an asset to the project but his precocity in knowledge and skills were unmatched by similar development in his social maturity. It was well past time that young Mr Vidan was taught a little discipline, he decided.
Costa Rica: Base for Project Omega
Dorothy stared at her screen with interest, her attention caught by the striking handsome man with his unusual colouring, steel blue hair and golden eyes. He and his black haired companion were just disembarking from their private shuttle, secret couriers from Imonoyama.
She had organized this visit at the request of Relena, who insisted that the only way to peace was through absolute pacifism but she had also arranged for a private interview with the two envoys, after they concluded their meeting with Ms Peacecraft. Dorothy smirked to herself as she envisioned the look on Relena's face if she learned of the true reason why Imonoyama had so tamely agreed to send his representatives to Earth.
Not to talk of Peace, as she fondly imagined but to arrange purchase of new weapons, courtesy of the R & D departments of Omega, Delta and Epsilon. She chuckled as she thought of Wufei's reaction if he found out that his work at Delta was producing some very promising Biogenic Weapons, to be used in this conflict between the Colonies. She narrowed her eyes slightly as the thought of the black haired Director reminded her of yet another Gundam pilot, Duo.
She was pretty certain that the unexpectantly cunning, Director of Epsilon was unaware of her plans to sell his technology to Imperium but she still felt wary of him, unsure of the extent of his knowledge or intentions. His latest little stunt, cancelling the visit by Ikari and his subjects at the last moment, only increased her suspicions that Duo had his own agenda in this war.
She suspected that Maxwell had underlying sympathies for UFC and that he loathed very concept of the Imperium which re-established the old Feudal concept of a society. She wondered if he planned to give any active assistance to UFC and also if he had anything to do with the actions of the emerging terrorist group, apparently led by Sally Po, a former ally, who were targeting the twelve Projects of the Foundation.
'Excuse me, Director Catalonia? All your guests have arrived and are in Conference room.'
Dorothy thanked her receptionist politely and picked up the information file on her desk. She sternly reminded herself to look interested throughout Relena's interminable speech and also to check on how her newly assembled strike team was going with their hunt for Heero Yuy.
She started to hum lightly under her breath as she gloated over the thought of the enormous profits she would make thanks to the war in the Colonies. Relena just didn't understand. War was a part of human nature. Killing, an act as natural, as the act of procreation.
Dorothy agreed absolutely with the principle of creating Peace so that humanity could prosper. Just so long as, a segment was still allowed to continue in expressing its killing instinct as well.
San Francisco
Heero hummed happily as he focused on wiping the next stack of dishes. He had decided to bury himself in the crowded streets of China town. Every now and then, he got a job, mostly something to do with working with his hands. Sometimes, working as a mechanic, a taxi driver, and now, as a part time waiter and all around assistant in a Chinese Restaurant. The work wasn't too hard and it was nice. to be surrounded by people whose only concern was on the now and on fulfilling their simple needs.
War was a spectre that hadn't touched these people. To them... war was something that happened elsewhere... to other people. Heero found it rather restful... to think only about what he was going to eat next... playing games with the kids in his neighbourhood on weekends and... just hanging around, letting the crowd drown him out in their busy bustling and noisy chatter.
Crash.
Heero jumped, his eyes wide as he stared open mouthed at the three men, standing inside the hole they had made on the restaurant wall. He started to wipe his soapy arms on his apron automatically, when one of them pointed a gun in his direction. Heero froze, ignoring the panicked screams of the chefs and waiters, who scrambled away from him and out of the kitchen.
'Heero Yuy?'
Heero simply remained silent, staring calmly at the gun pointing directly at his face. He had no idea who these three men were or why they would be interested in him. He noted that they were wearing black jumpsuits and sunnies, with no identifiable markers on either their clothing or weapons. All of them were heavily armed, one with a bazooka, thus accounting for the hole in the wall. He couldn't help wondering why they didn't just knock on the door.
'Who the hell are you!'
Heero ignored the angry shout of the restaurant owner and immediately seized his chance and ran. The three men, in unison, turned their gaze on the fat man who shoved his way past the huddled crowd at the door. Deciding against trying to wedge his way through the crowd and not wanting to risk going any closer to the three men, Heero had only one option left.
He nimbly jumped over the kitchen counter, between him and the side door leading to the back alley and threw himself on the door, smashing his way through. He then swiftly darted into the building next door and started to run up the stairs.
Heero heard screams and more blasts, then loud pounding of footsteps that told him that the three men were now on the stairs and coming after him. He ran at the roof door at full speed and kicked his way through, then without hesitation, ran to the edge of the building and threw himself off.
Heero reached out desperately as he fell, grabbing hold of the hanging lines to reduce his speed and to direct his fall. Finally managing to land on all fours, with cat like grace. Without a glance behind him, Heero grabbed hold of a Honda Varadero that had been parked at the entrance of the building and sped off, ignoring the irate owner who came stumbling out of the phone booth nearby. He checked the fuel gauge carefully and relaxed when he saw that it was full.
Heero had no intention of hanging around when men with guns came after him. He couldn't help wondering who they were and who sent them but decided that his first option would be to get to a phone and to call for help...
End Part 3
Kat: Guess who he calls? :lol. Part 4 will be out soon.
Like tomorrow maybe. I have to get back to rewriting first. Ja neh.
Katana
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