01-Oct-2001
R. AU. OOC. Continuation. 4x1/2x1. (And a very *special* guest star - well, techically, you already met him but this time, you get a proper introduction, a little more on this at the end of the fic)
Dying...
I'm dying...
He looked down at his chest and felt the blinding hot agony of the knife thrust into his heart...
He felt his vision blurring and a small smile lifted the corners of his lips...
He turned his eyes on the man who had killed him and felt satisfaction...
The pure light in the blue green eyes dulling with despair and hatred...
And gave him his final gift...
Sweet doubts to poison the coming days...
He closed his eyes at last, and allowed the darkness to sweep over him...
His last thoughts of the boy with the big blue eyes...
"Remember me...
As you hold your love, remember me..."
Amuro ran frantically through the debris filled corridor, his heart thumping painfully with fear as he desperately reached out with his mind to try to find Heero. He was getting more and more alarmed as the silence pressed down on him, unable to detect the usual faint noise of nearby minds. He had never been so alone in his life.
He gripped the gun more tightly in his hand and turned the final corner and slammed to a halt.
Amuro stopped breathing as his eyes fixed on the red smeared wall in front of him. He had never seen so much blood in his life. He wasn't sure at first what he was looking at, and tried to gather his wits as he slowly moved forward, the gun held hand slumping at his side.
There was no sign of the red haired stranger who had accosted them earlier. Amuro looked at the broken floor, trying to steady his churning insides as he forced himself to look closer. And found the three men he had been looking for. He ran to their sides and saw Quatre's eyes flutter open, and helped him into a sitting position.
Quatre wiped the sticky redness out of his eyes and tried not to gag from the faint metal taste left by the small residue of the liquid that had dripped into his mouth while he had been unconscious. His head buzzed with pain and every muscle in his body ached intolerably.
'Are you... are you okay sir?'
Quatre grimaced painfully and coughed a little, before managing a nod in reply.
'What about..' He coughed again, unable to continue talking with his raw throat.
Amuro looked at the gore splashed man in concern, shocked by the change in the smoothly elegant golden man he had met on White Base. He shuddered inwardly as he wondered what had happened during the short time Quatre and Heero had left to try to help Duo, and then thinking of that terrible scream which still echoed in his mind, decided that he probably didn't ever want to know.
'Wait here.' He said in a shaking voice, 'I'll go and check on them now.'
Quatre felt a faint laugh tickle his throat and coughed again, and frowned as he tasted the bitter metal tang of his own blood in his mouth. He nodded again silently and leaned his head against the wall in exhaustion, amused by the young boy's earnestness. Gods, he wondered, suddenly feeling weary beyond his years, was there ever a time when he had been that young and innocent?
Amuro made his way back to where Heero and Duo lay, worried by the continuing silence that he felt from them. He swore softly under his breath as he realised that a large section of the wall had come down on top of them and that Duo had been pinned under its weight. He hoped that he could move it on his own and refused to consider what he might have to do, if he couldn't.
He decided to check on Heero first and pulled him gently out of the debris, stopping in confusion as he felt a sudden pull from Heero's left arm. He looked down and saw Heero's hand entwined with Duo's, their fingers wound tightly around each other. He lowered Heero to the ground and checked his throat for a pulse, and sagged with relief as his clumsy fingers finally found the faint pulsing beat. He looked at Duo and repeated the same process, biting his under lip as he lifted his director's head and saw the ugly gash on the side of his face.
Amuro started to swear under his breath as he realised that both men were alive. He looked back at the limp figure leaning against the wall and knew that Quatre was in no shape to provide any assistance. Amuro looked down again at the interlocked hands and got to his feet with renewed determination. He was damned if he intended to let a piece of wall stop him from accomplishing his rescue.
He started with the smaller pieces, clearing them away from the two bodies, moving quickly and surely. After creating a small clearing, Amuro looked around and narrowed his eyes in triumphant when he noticed a long metal bar sticking out of the broken wall. He raised his gun and fired in succession, until the bar glowed red at the base and he was able to wrestle it free. He then returned to where Duo lay and grunting with effort, lodged the bar carefully against the piece he wanted to move and started to apply pressure, thinking that he might use leverage to push it off the Director.
'Wait.'
Amuro looked around, startled by the scratchy whisper and dropped the pole, jumping at the loud clatter as it slammed against the floor.
Quatre had somehow managed to get to his feet and was staggering slowly to his side, looking down at the blood soaked Director and Heero.
'You aren't strong enough to push it off completely.' Quatre hissed harshly, his face betraying the sheer effort it took to talk, his voice reduced to a harsh raspy hiss. 'But, you can hold it long enough for me to pull Duo out of there.'
Amuro's eyes widened as he looked at the bent figure and he automatically opened his mouth to protest, then looking into the expressionless eyes, felt the protest dying in his mouth. He hesitated slightly and then nodded.
'I'll count to three and you pull him out.' He said quietly, hoping the other man knew what he was doing.
Quatre nodded again, not wanting to speak any further and hobbled to Duo's side, carefully avoiding the hand that was clenched tightly around Heero's. He grabbed hold of Duo's shoulders and gritted his teeth as his body trembled from the effort of moving.
'One.. two.. three.'
Quatre grunted in response as he willed all his strength into pulling Duo out and away from the rubble.
Amuro felt sweat beads roll down the sides of his face as he released the bar with relief, as soon as Duo was clear. He ran to where Duo lay in a heap over Quatre's body, and gently lifted him down to the ground, next to Heero. He drew in a sharp breath as he saw Duo's other hand, the one that had been hidden under his body earlier. The skin was burned and blistered and there were long patches of skin missing on the arm, exposing the raw flesh below, weeping with blood and pus.
'I can't treat something like this.'
Amuro's hand trembled and lifted away from Duo's body, unsure of what to do, and terrified of inflicting any more damage.
'Gods. This isn't fair. I rescued you. What am I suppposed to do now?'
Quatre opened his mouth to speak and was overcome by another coughing fit, he reached out with his hand instead and patted the young boy's shoulder weakly, trying to convey reassurance. He wanted to tell Amuro how proud he was of him, but felt his consciousness slipping as his head pounded from the exertion he had forced from his battered body.
'What in the world...?'
As Quatre closed his eyes, he thought he heard a very familiar, very welcome voice in the distance.
Amuro looked up with relief as he saw Wufei staring at him and at the three bodies lying near him, in shock.
'What the hell happened here?' Wufei asked brusquely as he ran towards the boy, 'and are they all...' he hesitated, looking at the state of the bodies with concern.
'They are alive, Wufei.' Amuro answered quickly, 'but they are in pretty bad shape. Especially Director Maxwell.' He added. 'We have to get them back to White Base, now.'
Wufei knelt next to Duo, and carefully examined the long gash extending from the forehead down to the middle of the cheek, he was worried by the shallowness of Duo's breathing and the cold chill he felt radiating from the hand holding on to Heero's. He had seen Quatre slump down just as he arrived so he was reasonably sure that at least one of them would survive the long trip back to White Base. He was most worried by Heero. He couldn't understand why he was still unconscious. He couldn't find any obvious injuries as in the case of Duo, and even Quatre. Apart from the dirt and blood, there didn't seem to be a reason why Heero would still be unconscious.
'You are right.' Wufei said at last, much to Amuro's relief. 'The mission is over. We are evacuating now.'
Amuro nodded and then stared at the three bodies again with concern. He couldn't help wondering how they were all going to fit in his NuGundam.
Wufei walked over to Heero and pulled up his friend into a sitting position. He shook the limp man, gently at first, but then a little stronger, and shouted out his name, trying to wake him. He cursed as Heero remained silent and turned his attention to Amuro.
'Wake him up.' Wufei barked curtly.
Amuro's eyes widened in confusion and he spread his hands in mute query. 'How am I supposed to that?' He asked at last as Wufei continued to glare at him.
'I don't know. But I'm sure you can do it. You can get through to Yuy's mind, can't you?' Wufei snapped impatiently as he thrust the unconscious man into the flustered boy's arms. 'You did it before. We need his help to get out of here. We can't carry three men to the shuttle bay with just the two of us. So I want you to wake him up. Tell him to get his butt back here and pull his weight. Otherwise,' Wufei's voice turned grim, 'we might have to make a very unpleasant choice.'
Amuro gulped, his brown skin paling as he understood the unspoken implication in Wufei's words. 'What about Quatre?' He blurted out, 'he was awake a minute ago. He might be able to walk if we help him.'
Wufei snorted, 'maybe. But even with Quatre awake, that still leaves us with one too many body to handle. Think about it boy,' his voice gentled suddenly, 'I'm not exactly in fighting fit shape right now, remember? And I doubt that you could handle Maxwell on your own, let alone try carrying him and Heero. So, that's our options. You wake Heero up, or we have to leave one of them behind.'
Amuro tightened his hold on Heero as Wufei's words sank in. 'I... I'll try.' He said at last, his shaking voice betraying his fear.
He looked down at the pale blood stained face and took a deep breath.
Heero..
He called out hesitantly, trying to stir some kind of a response from the cold emptiness that surrounded his mind.
Heero...
Please...
Shit. Amuro didn't know what he was supposed to do now. He gathered all his will and threw them against the darkness, trying to find him.
Heero...
Answer me...
Amuro searched blindly, not understanding how he could break apart the silent wall that closed him in.
Where...
Come back...
Please...
Heero...
He wanted to scream and rant and cry.
You've got to come back...
I can't...
I can't save him...
Amuro started as he felt a faint golden light shimmer into being next to him.
Heero...?
He felt his heart beat increase and then slow, and sagged from the dimming hope as he realised that the light didn't belong to Heero..
Who...
And even as he asked the question, he knew...
Amuro turned his attention back to the dark emptiness and again screamed with all his might...
Heero...
Heero...
He started as he heard his cry echoed and amplified by the golden light...
And saw a tiny light spark into being...
Heero...
He felt the tears streaming down his face as his heart was overwhelmed by relief... and... he felt confused.. by love...?
Amuro blinked the tears from his face and looked down at the face on his lap.
He smiled as his friend's eyes slowly opened and he saw the light return to the dark blue depths.
'Wha... what happened?'
Heero asked groggily, as he lifted his head from Amuro's lap, feeling disoriented and confused. The last thing he remembered was... and his eyes darkened as his mind shyed away from that memory...
'Wufei?' He asked in surprise, 'what are you doing here?'
'Saving the day.' Wufei answered smugly, his black eyes twinkling with relieved amusement. 'I'll remind you to be properly grateful. Later.' He emphasised the last word as the station shook once again under them. 'For now, lets just try to get out of here before everything blows.' He put his arms under Duo's body carefully, knowing that the only chance he had of lifting the bigger and heavier man was with a fireman's lift.
Heero grunted softly in response and got to his feet at the same time, not noticing as the cold fingers slipped from his opened hand. Amuro went to Quatre's side and provided the staggering man with his shoulder for support.
'I hope you parked close.' Heero murmured softly as he stared at the motley crew.
Wufei choked back a laugh and pointed to the open corridor behind him. 'My mobile suit is stashed just behind that area. You can come with me and help me carry Duo.'
Amuro put his arm around Quatre and said, 'and my NuGundam is about two blocks down. We'll join you outside the station.'
Quatre hobbled painfully, even with Amuro's assistance, a jabbing pain throbbing unmercifully in his head with every step. As he walked away from his friends, he didn't see Heero giving him a quick look, before lifting his hand and helping to steady Duo's weight across Wufei's shouder.
'We'll see them again. Soon.' Amuro said confidently, more to himself than to the tired man leaning on him.
Nagisa finished the preflight preparations on the shuttle and checked the chronometer. Sakurazuka had 3 more minutes. He checked the display of the hanger bay one more time, then, keyed in the command to bring the engines on line and open the hanger bay doors.
'I'm crushed.'
Nagisa smiled at the mock sulky voice coming from the side holophone.
'You are late.'
He answered coolly and continued with his preparations.
'I was picking up a little surprise...' Sakurazuka purred sweetly, his blue eyes unreadable as ever.
Nagisa shrugged carelessly and set the coordinates to his destination.
'You and Elaine should be able to come over any time you want to.'
Sakurazuka scowled and moved out of the way, allowing the monitor the pick up the bodies standing behind him.
'Elaine can only transport one other person at a time and as you can see...' he pointed to the small girl slumped in the arms of one of the men behind him. 'She's not exactly feeling her best right now.'
Nagisa hesitated and keyed the bay doors to close.
'You better get a breathing mask for yourself. I don't have time to restore the atmosphere in the hanger.'
Sakurazuka grinned and put up the breathing mask in his hand, 'I had a feeling you might be generous.' He gestured to the men behind him to follow and quickly moved to the shuttle door.
The three men, one holding a young girl in his arms, the other quickly adjusting a breathing mask over an unconscious man before slinging him over his shoulder, moved behind the doctor and entered the shuttle.
'You do realise that we just lost our margin for achieving escape velocity from the explosion?' Nagisa asked with a tight grin as he started the shuttle and it glided out of the hanger bay.
Sakurazuka settled into the seat next to him and chucked softly.
'What's the matter Kaworu? Is old age finally catching up with you?' He turned his head to look over his shoulder at the 'surprise' and flashed a charming smile at Doctor Nagisa. 'And here I thought you might want to thank me for the chance to catch up with an old friend.'
The small shuttle raced away from the looming shadow of the station, even as two bright dots burst through the battered outershell of the station on the other side and made their own dash for survival.
The grey metal of the station glittered dully from the pale starlight as it turned ponderously, gaping cracks pitting its once smooth surface.
As five dots of light blazed fiercely away from the station, a golden light spat out from its mid section and the huge object glowed briefly with dazzling light, before breaking apart and sending forth a shattering wave of heat and energy, rippling the nearby space with minor explosions, as it caught any objects too slow or or unable to move out of its path.
Of five, one dot was overwhelmed and briefly blazed with its own smaller light before fading into the darkness, spiralling out twisted metal parts. The remaining four continued in their flight, having managed to outrun the explosion and its aftermath.
Shortly after their departure, space rippled again, as a force of mobile suits arrived, only to bank sharply and scatter, to avoid the meteor shower created by the shattered fragments of the station. A powerful white mobile suit, rotated its head, its eyes gleaming ruby red as it scanned the debris for survivors.
And shortly after the arrival of the first group, a second group of mobile suits appeared, from a different direction and the quiet space was once again disturbed by dazzling rays of light that speared and cut through any object in their path.
Amuro looked at the man laying under his feet and sighed heavily. At least they were all alive, he reminded himself, unable to stop himself from adding the adjoining amendment, for now. And Sigma was gone. His first mission had been a success. So why did he feel so empty inside?
He looked at the battered suit following behind his NuGundam and prayed that it would hold on until they reached White Base. He was still amazed at how lucky they had been in getting out when they did. If they had delayed leaving a minute longer, they would have been caught in the firestorm and destroyed.
'I can't believe you managed to get to engineering before turning up to help me and the others Wufei. You are an amazing man.'
Wufei wriggled with embarrassment as the young boy's voice cracked slightly with enthusiasm and frowned at Heero, who grinned at him, amused by his discomfiture.
'That's because I didn't.' Wufei admitted grudgingly, keeping his attention on the instrumental panel, wishing that he was in Nataku instead of this clunky unreliable mobile that he had 'borrowed' from Sigma.
'Huh?' Amuro sounded confused and Heero chuckled quietly.
'I had nothing to do with the explosion. As you said, I didn't have enough time to get there and then to get to you.'
Amuro wrinkled his brow, 'but why did you come to me then? I thought Trowa told you to get to engineering.'
'He did. And I was.' Wufei answered shortly. After a while, he took pity on the puzzled youngster and elaborated further.
'I saw a flashing red light on my panel before I reached enginnering and when I acknowledged, I got the message that the station would self destruct within half and hour and that I, or rather,' he amended punctiliously, 'the pilot of the mobile, was to evacuate to a safe distance. At that point, I decided to place you and the rescue as a higher priority and went looking for you.'
He looked down at Duo, who lay unconscious on a makeshift stretcher, Heero sitting beside him to protect him from any jarring movements. 'And lucky for you that I did.' He mouthed silently at Heero.
'But... but...' Amuro was stuttering as a sudden thought occured to him. 'You didn't mention anything about the station blowing up when we left.'
Wufei swallowed an involuntary laugh and carefully avoided looking at Heero who was grinning at him. 'Well.. no. I didn't.' He said lightly. 'It wasn't necessary.'
Amuro glared at his helpless instrumental board, 'what do you mean it wasn't necessary?' He growled crossly. 'I was there and I think I should have been told. What if we hadn't moved fast enough? If I had any idea of the time constraint that we were facing...'
'You might have panicked and we might not have made it out of there in time.' Heero interjected quietly, his calm voice instantly smoothing Amuro's ruffled emotions. 'And just remember. We did make it.' He added quietly, his voice warming slightly as he continued, 'Thanks to Wufei... and you.'
Amuro blushed furiously as he heard the slight emphasis on the word 'you'. He felt a sudden glowing heat in his chest as he looked at the mobile suit following behind him.
Quatre stirred uncomfortably under Amuro's feet and bit back a rueful smile. Oh no, he thought, not another one.
Zechs looked at the floating debris before him, and the familiar wave of guilt, rage and helplessness swept over him. No matter what he did, where he went, it seemed that he was doomed to the bearer of death. He had come on an errand of mercy, to find and rescue the Gundam pilots and all he had managed was to get half of his force killed.
If only the leader of the squadron who had arrived after them, responded to his hails... Zechs thought bitterly.
There has to be another way...
He was so sick of killing...
He was beginning to wonder if he would ever be able to lead a life of peace...
Zechs commanded the remaining mobiles to form behind him and decided to return to White Base.
If the Gundam pilots had been on Sigma when it exploded, they were dead.
And if they had managed to leave earlier, which he suspected they did, the sheer tenacity with which the five youths had survived during the vicious wars on earth in 195 was a testament to their luck and their extraordinary abilities...
Then, Zechs trusted that he would see them again...
Either way, he was headed for home...
End Part 14
Kat: No, I didn't forget about Trowa and shame on you if you did. I wanted to save a couple of surprises for the final part of Minuet.
Katana
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