14-Aug-2000
Category: Experiment
Rating: PG
Pairing: 13x4
Disclaimer: Not mine, no money being made or sought here.
NOTES: All right.. most important note of all. This is *NOT* A Companions of Fate arc story. It's something completely on it's own. I've had this swimming around in my mind for a while now and it's just starting to slowly gel. I'm not sure how this is going to be recieved or how you all are going to feel about it. I'm just... taking the risk and sneaking out on the limb. Before anyone asks, the next CoF story will be starting on time.
In his dream, Wufei saw the mobil suit coming at Shenlong and went to dodge only to have lancing pain along his side bring him crashing back to reality with a moan.
"Hey, don't do that." Duo Maxwell's voice cautioned from somewhere above him.
Wufei gritted his teeth and waited for his broken ribs to stop complaining before he hissed out. "Thanks for the warning Maxwell."
Duo grinned down at the Chinese pilot as he helped Wufei settle back down in the pillow of his lap. "That's what I'm here for."
Wufei took a couple of slow, shallow breaths, finding them easier on his busted torso. The cool air helped clear his foggy mind and he opened his eyes, looking around the dark cell.
"We were outnumbered."
"Yeah. Badly."
"The others?"
"Lurking somewhere. Hey! He's awake." Duo shouted into the dark.
"Hn." Wufei recognized Heero's monotone answer.
There was a rustle and Quatre's worried face swam into focus. "How are you feeling Wufei?" The little blond asked, his features screwed up in concern.
"Annoyed."
Quatre's bright eyes clouded with obvious self recrimination. "Oh... I...."
"Shut up Winner. This wasn't your fault."
Quatre just gave Wufei a little smile and disappeared into the murk.
Wufei went to grumble but thought better of it as his ribs speared into his expanding lungs.
"Don't waste your breath Wu-man. Little blond has been kicking himself since we got tossed in here. Even Trowa's given up for the time being."
"They were trying to capture us, not destroy us."
"Yep. That was the fatal flaw. We didn't realize that everyone we were up against was ready to die if it helped further the cause of getting all of us into that trap."
"Why? How long have I been out? How long have we been here?" Wufei began to fire off the questions.
"Don't know. Erm... about 8 hours... about 8 hours." Duo answered, shifting his leg a little under Wufei's head, stretching at a cramp.
"Hn." Wufei muttered and tried to get his scattering thoughts to connect. What the hell was Oz up to. It made no sense.
Silence fell in the cell, broken only by Wufei's labored breathing. Even the normally talkative Duo was silent. The scrape of a keycard against the door lock, brought Heero, Trowa and Quatre quickly to their feet. The three boys automatically positioning themselves between Duo, Wufei and the door.
The light from the corridor speared their eyes and Quatre flinched before he could catch himself. Heero and Trowa met the belligerent stare of the Oz solider who filled the door, flanked by three men, holding guns trained into the cell.
"His Excellency wishes to speak with Wufei Chang."
Something, he would never be able to pinpoint what but something prompted Duo to close his hand over Wufei's mouth before the Chinese boy could draw in enough air to answer the hard voice. Duo looked towards Heero, expecting the Japanese boy to step forward but before Heero could move, Quatre walked forward.
"Very well, let's go."
Not wishing to be in the cell any longer then necessary the guard grabbed the small blond and yanked him out the door, closing it and locking it before anyone could think up a way to stop him. Duo blinked a couple of times, waiting for his night vision to return, yelping as Wufei sank strong teeth into the flesh of his palm.
"Damn it Wu-man! That hurt." Duo groused.
"What the hell were you doing Maxwell!" Wufei snarled, ignoring the way the vibration hurt his torso.
Duo looked up into the dark and shook his head. " Uh.. I don't know. Just seemed the thing to do at the time."
From somewhere over by the door a soft, "Hn" came from Heero. Trowa was silent.
Quatre was also feeling a little numbed by his own action as he stumbled forward. Trying to keep one's balance with one's hands bound while someone took great delight in shoving you between the shoulderblades at any provocation, was a bit tricky. The brightness of the base lighting hurt his eyes and he lost his footing as the result of a particularly hard shove, stumbling into a door.
The Oz solider laughed and quickly toggled a switch plate causing the door to slide open before Quatre could regain his balance and the little blond tumbled through the door onto...soft carpet. Gritting his teeth, Quatre pulled his knees forward under his chest, pushing awkwardly with his hands at the floor. The heavy manacles encased his entire forearm from elbow to wrist and chafed the back of his hands.
He heard the rattle of a weapon from somewhere above him and braced himself to feel the butt end of a rifle land between his shoulders when a smooth cultured voice sounded languidly from the far side of the room.
"Why do you feel the urge to strike a downed enemy Captain?"
Treize Kushrenada asked the tone in an almost curious manner but the Oz solider froze immediately.
"Your Excellency. You asked for the Gundam Pilot Wufei Chang to be delivered to your quarters sir."
Quatre kept still as a mouse. He desperately wanted to look up but some instinct kept him down against the carpet.
"I do believe I remember my own orders, thank you Captain. Now, you were going to answer my question." Treize's voice never rose in pitch or tone but Quatre could feel the unseen men behind him snapping to a state of near terrified attention.
"He is a Gundam Pilot sir."
"Yes, I am aware of that. He is also bound and on his knees. Do you still feel threatened by him? Striking him is no challenge, merely a meaningless cruelty. I do not sanction meaningless cruelty nor do I stomach cowardice. Report to Lady Une for disciplinary measures." Kushrenada never raised his voice.
"Yes your Excellency."
"You are all dismissed."
"But..."
From his place on the floor, Quatre did not see the expectant look Kushrenada gave his men. He did, however, feel the swish of air as the door closed behind them. He was contemplating his next move, when cold steel slid along his cheek, under his chin. The naked blade pressed firmly against his jaw, encouraging Quatre to raise his head or suffer a cut.
Quatre traced his eyes along soft, highly polished leather boots, white breeches, fitted waistcoat, and frothy cravat up to the aristocratic features of the man who stood above him. Ice blue eyes studied him from beneath forked brows a couple shades darker then to neatly styled brown hair that always looked a touch more auburn on the monitors. Quatre shifted his head a little so that he could rest his chin against the flat of the sword blade.
Treize studied the young man's features. "Well, one thing is for certain. You are not, Wufei Chang."
Treize quickly snapped the sword away from Quatre's neck and the Arabian jerked a little as he tried to keep from taking a header into the floor. Treize turned calmly and walked towards his desk.
"When our people began making their reports, I found it highly unlikely that the only son of the very vocal pacifist Master Winner was a Gundam Pilot. I see that I should have kept a more open mind."
Quatre listened to the soft metallic shhhniinnkk of the sword being returned to it's scabbard. He frowned a little and sat back on his heels, watching his captor. He felt... fear but also a sense of curiosity. Before him stood the man that he and the others tested themselves against daily. Granted, it was not usually Treize himself but he was the supreme commander of the Oz forces and a wily opponent. Quatre felt himself intrigued.
For his own part, Treize found himself thrown by the presence of the Winner heir. He had expected Wufei Chang. Had expected to continue their fight from the months before. Treize made a mental note to give his commanders faces to go with the Gundams. He was not amused that his Captain had been so gullible not to mention blind. Treize frowned inwardly. He had been given a report that one of the pilots had been brought in injured. He did not believe that the young dragon who had faced him on his own terms that night would have allowed a comrade to take his place. Not unless Chang himself was incapacitated.
Treize let himself focus back on the young man in front of him. Bright turquoise eyes were regarding him with a wary curiosity. 'Interesting' Treize thought to himself. He looked over the boy as a whole. There was nothing remarkable about him physically beyond a very pretty face and a slender form. He didn't look like a solider, in fact he looked almost delicate. Lady Une was more heavily built. Looking back into the eyes, Treize once again found himself caught by the quick intelligence there.
'He's a Gundam Pilot, Treize. None of them are fools.' Kushrenada reminded himself.
Still, Treize felt something in himself recognize another strategist. Intrigued, Kushrenada felt the need to explore his suspicions.
"Welcome to Oz facility Victoria Five, Quatre Winner." Treize used his most polite, yet haughty tone.
He was not surprised when Quatre's chin lifted a little and the small blond answered in equally polite, well bred tones. "Most kind of you to extend the invitation Treize Kushrenada. I apologize for blowing up a third of your ground forces on my way in."
One forked brow lifted slowly into Treize's hairline and he had to fight back the smile that threatened. This could have promise.
"I suppose these little mishaps must be expected. By all means. Please." Treize motioned with his hand for Quatre to rise.
Quatre took a moment to get his feet securely beneath him before he pushed up. His skin tingled the awareness he always felt just before he went into battle. Getting his stiff knees locked into position, he lifted his head looking directly over at Treize. He could tell that the Commander of Oz was playing with him and he was in no position to do anything other then go along with the game. Treize could have given up the decoy at the start and sent him back, forcing the injured Wufei to attend.
Quatre couldn't let that happen. He'd failed to protect Wufei once already. He'd failed to protect his team. He would't fail again, even if it meant playing games with Treize Kushrenada, a master of the art.
Treize watched the thoughts flash across too expressive eyes. He almost smiled pityingly at the young man. Quatre Winner's face was still too open and naive to be any good at court games. Yet, Treize admired the determination he saw in the set of the young man's jaw and body. He recognized a leader's determination to protect his men in Quatre's stance. Treize found himself suddenly eager to test that determination.
"I expected Wufei Chang. He and I have unfinished business." Treize remarked in affable tones, leaning carefully against his desk.
Quatre, flexed his kneecaps, trying to get the stiff joints to loose without actually squirming in place like a guilty school boy. "I must again apologize for disappointing you." Quatre fought his natural urge to demand medical attention for Wufei. He would not win this battle through showing the impetuous of emotion.
Treize mentally chalked a point up for the blond boy. He could see the struggle Quatre was having with himself. "Accepted. Though perhaps you will assume his place? I had hopes of a chess game." Treize drifted gracefully away from the front of his desk, exposing the chess board that sat at the edge.
Quatre paused, uncertain. Treize watched closely, reading Winner's body language. He turned and walked slowly around the desk, setting the sword behind his chair. Leaning forward, he rotated the chess board on the smooth surface of his ink blotter so that the white pieces faced Quatre.
"I'll even give you the opening advantage."
Quatre locked his back teeth together. He wanted to get Wufei, medical attention.. immediate medical attention. He suddenly felt impatience with the game. His slender form trembled with the tension for a moment before he could force himself to relax. He was in no position to push the Commander of Oz. He had no advantage.
Walking forward, praying his knees didn't buckle, Quatre approached the desk. He looked down at the chess set. It was a handsome, handcarved board with lemon and rose wood pieces. The pieces were antiques, shiny with the natural polish that came from much use.
Reaching down, Quatre caught the edge of the board and slowly rotated it back around so that the rosewood, black, pieces sat before him. His bright eyes lifted from the top of the board, directly into Kushrenada's ice blue glaze.
"I'll play from this position."
Treize's features never changed but inwardly he rocked back a little. The little blond had taken the game back into his own control and had done so from a dangerously inferior position. Treize felt a flash of heat tighten his chest. It had been a long, long time since someone had so adroitly surprised him. In fact, the last man who had done so... also had platinum blond hair.
"Very well."
End Part 1
Laekin
Please send comments to: seregill@aol.com