07-Apr-01
Title: T'ien Lung Ge (Celestial Dragon Song)
Authors: Laekin and bonnejeanne
Category: Action, Adventure, Romance, ANGST
Pairings: 1x2, 3x4x5 (Combinations there of)
Rating: R (Adult Situations)
Disclaimer: Not mine, no money being made or sought here.
WARNINGS: LEMON. Angst. A very young Original Character and at least one heartrending scene with dying children.
NOTES: What is being posted here was written by myself and Laekin together, just as everything else in the Companions of Fate series. The plot is hers, with a few small contributions by moi; she writes for Quatre, Trowa, Duo and T'ien. My contributions are confined to Wufei and Heero and some brainstorming. The writing sessions for this were between October 19 and December 6, 2000.
Heero stepped back and looked up, first catching Duo's eye. The braided boy could see there were a number of things moving in the depths of those Prussian blue eyes, which Heero made no attempt to hide from his lover. Then he glance back around at the others.
"Have you called Noin and Zechs?" he said.
Wufei nodded, having done so while the interrogation was taking place.
Heero acknowledged with a slight dip of his head. "She says the satellite will be at LeGrange Point 88-C57. We need to go fast and with complete stealth."
Quatre was still standing a good distance away. The young blond found himself with an armful of squirm as T'ien was trying to get down and to Heero. "Wufei, do you think Sally will authorize the use of one of the Preventer's shuttles? Like what you used that time with the hijackers?" Quatre managed to get all that out with a few ooffs and oafs as T'ien turned himself completely upside down then back right side up.
Trowa found himself watching the little boy's antics with a quirked brow and a sense of profound amusement.
Wufei's mouth pulled to one side in an ironic impression of a smile. "Sally will authorize almost anything at this point. Her honor debt is starting to get ridiculous. I think when we complete this mission I should do something for her, to let her know it is time to let go of that."
Heero walked over to Quatre meanwhile, signing to T'ien. ~Behave. Or I won't take you with us.~
T'ien automatically stilled in Quatre's arms and his little fingers flew. ~You 'will' take me with you then?~ Yes, all that squirming had been a desperate bid to get over to Heero and demand that he be allowed to go also. Dark, intelligent eyes flashed with an almost desperate need to attend the mission, though it would normally be the last place someone would want a six year old.
Heero nodded shortly. He did not want to put the child in harm's way, but he understood very well the boy's desire to finish this. T'ien was not an ordinary child. He deserved Heero's respect as well as his love and the Japanese boy did not reserve either in the case of this little dragon.
T'ien studied Heero's face, then he nodded in return and relaxed. He knew that Heero's promises were as good as written law. As such the little guy settled back down against Quatre's shoulder, heaving a soft sigh. Quatre's inexperienced arms moved with instinctive grace to securely cradle the little boy against his chest and shoulder as he studied Heero over the top of T'ien's head, uncertain of what just happened but knowing it obviously calmed T'ien.
"You'll have to teach the rest of us that sign language," Quatre requested softly, giving T'ien's hair a soft brush with his one hand.
Heero glanced at Quatre. "It's based on the standard used on Earth since before the Colonies were constructed. I found records in the general library files. I'll send you the listing." He paused and continued to focus on Quatre. "Arigato - thank you. You found Dorothy. If we find the satellite where she said, I owe you."
Quatre studied Heero's bright blue eyes and then gave his head a shake, his voice soft and gentle. "You, of all the people in this universe, don't owe me any debt, Heero Yuy." His turquoise eyes were almost bottomless windows to his young soul, a vulnerability that was shared with that very rare few.
Heero met those eyes for a moment then nodded. "Thank you, then."
Quatre returned the little nod, then he looked down at the top of T'ien's head. Tilting his own head a little he blinked. "He fell asleep..." Quatre said almost wonderingly.
A flicker of concern moved over Heero's face before the impassive mask returned. He reached out for the relaxed little form and gathered T'ien onto his shoulder so Quatre could move more freely. Having heard Quatre's question to Wufei and the answer, Heero was in effect leaving the bulk of the prep in Quatre's hands. He glanced very briefly at Trowa, but did not know how to express his thought, which was one of concern for the tall soldier, without delivering an inadvertent slight, so he stayed silent. Instead, he moved to stand close to Duo, meeting the braided boy's eyes, silently asking for any reactions. He knew he didn't have to ask, Duo was usually very forthcoming but it was something he felt.
It was very very subtle but T'ien relaxed even further when Heero took him. The little boy curled trustingly into Heero's arms and sank deeper into sleep. Trowa continued to stand quietly, watching T'ien. Something about the little boy helped calm the rattle of nerves in Trowa's stomach. Memories dredged up by Dorothy's words. Trowa focused on T'ien and on the simple reality that he was standing, free and safe in hanger, not tied to a chair, facing the next horror dredged up by a sick mind.
Duo stood a little bit away from it all. He watched Quatre cross over to Wufei to start making preparations, then turned back to focus on his koi as Heero approached. Duo was quiet at first, just reaching up to stroke T'ien's hair, then he focused on Heero's face.
"What did she say to you, love?"
"Hn," Heero expressed a combination of annoyance at Dorothy and a bit of troubling in his heart. He kept his voice low as he answered. "She told me there were things on the satellite that would 'break' Quatre. Information about his father. I don't know why she was so careful to be quiet about it. She seems to want to hurt him a great deal, but..." Heero shrugged.
Duo chewed on the side of his mouth, his violet eyes going dark and stormy. "Hn." He turned away from Heero and moved around in a little circle. "Wouldn't surprise me much..." Duo muttered, almost as if talking to himself.
"If the information is accurate, he deserves to know," Heero said softly. "But if it is as disturbing as she says..." Heero looked at his lover with a hint of helplessness in his dark eyes. "Duo, koi... moral judgments are not my strong suit."
Duo stopped and looked at Heero, his own features just as confused and torn. "Heero... I don't know what to tell you. He deserves to be given the chance to *not* repeat the mistakes his father made. From what I've picked up... Master Winner was doing some pretty fucked up shit while truly believing he was doing the *right* thing. I mean..." Duo paused and rubbed at the back of his head before trailing his hand down to grab hold of the tip of his own braid in that telling gesture. "We had the scientists fucking up our minds... he had his Dad."
Heero nodded, accepting the words. He decided to put any decisions about the information Dorothy had given him on hold for the time being.
Trowa sat in the shuttle just behind Quatre, with his head in his hands. Whose bright idea had it been to let Duo pilot with Quatre co-piloting? Whose? Trowa peeked through his long fingers towards Wufei, then back to where Heero sat with T'ien. Which one of them let this happen... WHOSE FAULT WAS THIS!!!!
"You're too close to that freighter..."
"I am not."
"Yes, you are... Duo you're only a couple hundred miles off his tail!!!"
"Quatre, calm down, I am fine!"
"You're going too fast to be that close."
"Listen! I am not going too fast..."
"DUO!!!!"
"YEEP..."
The shuttle suddenly lurched hard to the side, dipped down, then accelerated.
"See... see... you were too close."
"I was fine till you started to distract me! Besides, what was that asshole doing slowing down past an acceleration buoy"
"Duo... Duo you're getting way too close to that transport shuttle."
"Quatre! So help me, do you want to fly? Do you want to fly? Here, you fly the damn thing."
The shuttle dipped once again and the two continued at each other.
Trowa looked over at Wufei with an expression of, *If we don't separate them, I'm killing both of 'em.*
Wufei looked back, attempting to cover his amusement and not entirely succeeding. At one time the bickering would have had much the same effect on him that it was having on Trowa, but he had begun getting a little enjoyment out of watching Quatre get ruffled and, consequently, bossy from time to time. Duo's attitude was something they all knew and accepted, why Quatre rose to the bait... it could only be because he enjoyed it.
Trowa quirked a brow at Wufei's obvious amusement. The shuttle never dipped or turned in a way that would place it or its passengers in any sort of danger but the squabbling continued unabated. The two boys in the front throwing numbers at each other in true pilot's talk, having measured distances, speeds, break times, turn ratios and the rest of it down to the millimeter or the millisecond.
The two did seem to be egging each other on, Duo baiting the little blond and Quatre jumping right for it in spades. Seeing no help coming from Wufei, Trowa looked back towards Heero for assistance. He also found that he just liked looking at and watching T'ien, though so far Trowa had been surprisingly discreet at keeping a physical distance from the child.
Heero allowed the road show to continue for a while - hey, he'd learned to tune out, or appear to tune out, all kinds of distractions over the last few years. When they got nearly halfway to their destination, however, he moved forward with T'ien and tapped Quatre on the shoulder, indicating with a jerk of his head that he wanted the co-pilot seat.
As Quatre got up to move back to Heero's seat, Trowa waited till the small blond was heading just past him, then reached out and swatted him with a very solid "thwack" right on his pretty little ass. Quatre yipped and jumped, spinning to look at the offender who was once again sitting very proper in his chair, looking half asleep with his arms crossed. Unless someone saw it, you couldn't blame Trowa for that swat.
Heero settled into the co-pilot seat. He and Duo had already talked extensively with T'ien, trying to put together an approach plan that would take the satellite by surprise. Heero wanted the small one's sharp eyes up front. He knew that T'ien might notice things none of the rest of them would.
Wufei met Quatre's outraged glare and shrugged. He then casually placed the fingertips of one hand against Trowa's arm. If the green-eyed boy acknowledged by looking over, he'd get the rarest of all beasts - a wink from the Chinese pilot.
Trowa peeked shyly over at Wufei and he actually smiled at the site of the wink, his green eyes brightening beautifully. Quatre caught the exchange and mock huffed at them both.
"Fine, see if either of you are getting anywhere near my ass for a month." Though primly spoken, the jewel-like eyes also twinkled with humor and a touch of joy at his two lovers.
"You mean we'll have to sleep on the couch... together?" Wufei murmured softly. He considered it and then finished, "...okay."
Trowa deadpanned in a voice that would make Heero proud. "Horrors."
Quatre snorted. "You two are incorrigible."
Wufei smothered an actual snicker. "You throw us both out of bed... you get to sleep alone... even *I'm* not that stiff-necked."
Quatre suddenly peeked over the back of Wufei's chair, resting his chin just over the Chinese boy's shoulder so that his soft breath puffed right in the other boy's eye as he purred. "You stiff, anything else?"
That forced a hand up to physically stop the laugh that wanted to burst out.
Quatre soft chuckle could be heard in Wufei's ear a second before the little blond placed a soft kiss right behind the earlobe. Sitting back, Quatre exchanged a look and a wink with Trowa, who unabashedly curled his fingers in amongst Wufei's.
T'ien perched on Heero's lap and attentively watched the screen ahead. He'd lean forward a little and with a look to Duo asking for permission, would adjust this dial or that lever, silently altering their course discreetly. Instead of the exciting entrance Heero and Duo enjoyed the first time they came to the satellite, this time the small shuttle approached a large cavernous hanger.
T'ien made a couple of last adjustments and the shuttle drifted to the far right of the hanger, aiming itself for a very small side ramp. T'ien turned and looked apologetically at Duo, signing.
~It's very narrow, I know, but there are less people manning this smaller strip. It's almost never used but there is a design flaw in the doors that leaves this part open as well as the main hanger.~
Duo looked at the measurements and his brows lifted a little. "Holy shit, you can barely land a postage stamp in there."
T'ien's mouth quirked and he looked at Heero and shrugged. It was his best idea.
Duo's blew out a breath and took hold of the yoke. "Okay guys, let's hope I'm as good as I think I am, or this trip's gonna be real short."
Trowa's face remained impassive, though he braced his body just in case. Quatre leaned back in his own chair, no smart quips or backseat driving coming from him now, nothing to distract Duo.
Up in the pilot's chair, Duo's violet eyes focused with a laser like intensity as he aimed the shuttle for the hanger.
Heero glanced at his partner and settled back with T'ien firmly ensconced on his lap. "Hn." he said softly, then with every appearance of complete relaxation and total confidence in Duo's skills, he closed his eyes as if this would be a nice time for a nap.
Duo appreciated his lover's confidence, though he still felt the pressure as he threaded the needle. Good grief, what had they been parking in here, scrap metal? Still, the little shuttle didn't so much as scrape its paint job as it squeezed into the small hanger, landing with barely a bump.
Duo leaned back with an explosion of breath. "Whew... still the greatest!" He grinned over his shoulder at the rest of the team. "All righty, we've come in for a landing, the air temperature outside is probably pretty damn cold and the land is hostile but I thank you for flying Duo Airlines. Captain out."
Quatre rolled his eyes and stood up, heading for the back compartments of the shuttle where they had stowed their gear. Trowa got up to help the little blond.
Wufei equipped himself quickly. There were disturbing feelings deep inside at this mission but he kept them so deeply buried that it was like having the original Chang Wufei from the Gundam days on this one.
Heero unstrapped and got up, and pulled a small set of straps out of the gear storage. Slipping them around his shoulders, he hoisted T'ien and showed the child what the arrangement was for. It wasn't exactly a back pack or carry harness for a small child, and yet it was. It was very abbreviated and the straps were breakaway, so T'ien could get out of it fast, but it enabled Heero to have his hands free.
T'ien put his hands on his hips and cocked his head to the side, giving Heero a very direct. ~You're joking~ expression. He then lifted his chin and his features sets in an expression that was very Wufei-ish and very firmly, ~Not in a million years.~
Heero shrugged. ~Fine.~ he signed. ~If we have to run, you better keep up.~
~I did the last time didn't I?~ T'ien responded, not really smart-ass but more matter of fact.
"Hn." Heero made the noise the child could not hear. He did his best to keep T'ien from seeing the deep fear he was covering. Turning to pack extra clips into his pockets, he simply determined that if anything went wrong, his body would be between the boy and anything harmful.
What was sometimes forgotten, because often T'ien himself wished to forget, was the fact that along with the acceleration that was killing him, T'ien's mental abilities, specially when it came to military or fighting matters were also enhanced. That the boy could calculate body weight, speed, agility and the dampening effects of his own weight to those finely toned systems in the young man he'd come to adore with a nearly blind and unconditional love. T'ien was determined to pull his own weight on this mission, not make Heero, or Duo or any of the others carry him.
Giving a little nod, T'ien moved towards the front of the shuttle, looking over the cockpit controls.
Still in the back of the shuttle, Trowa stood, arms crossed, leaning against a wall. He was already equipped, weapons tucked into convenient spots on his black clad body. His head was tilted down, so that his hair covered over half his face, obscuring the deep scowl he wore. He was watching Quatre finish equipping himself. The small blond had the long dark leather coat he'd worn as FC, loaded with the latter's weapons. Quatre's quick nimble hands were busy loading and chambering his gun.
Trowa stood racking his brain. He knew that Quatre had used his knives when he'd gone to the 4th with Duo but he couldn't shake the feeling that he hadn't seen Quatre use a gun since before he was shot. Trowa gave his shoulders a shake, forcing himself to lose the tension he felt creeping through his limbs. The situation was not ideal, for any of them, but something about the mission made Trowa feel particularly edgy.
Duo simply put a double shoulder harness on over his bright red turtleneck. Though his team mates were dressed in dark or dull colors, Duo still stood out like a firecracker. He did concede a little and pull a leather short jacket on over his shirt, reaching down to tuck a knife into a stealthy pocket stitched into his right boot.
As they prepared the debark from the shuttle, Wufei managed to place himself next to and behind Trowa. "What is it?" he said, for the green-eyed boy's ears only.
Quatre was up ahead with Duo, close to point. The hanger was basically empty, giving the five some time. Trowa stood, eyes scanning the area restlessly yet thoroughly. "Something about this mission feels off. Wufei. From how I feel personally, for myself... to the fact that I can't make myself differentiate between lovers and partners. I keep trying to block it all out, like I used to do... but I can't seem to forget, he hasn't picked up a gun in over 10 months, since before he was shot and I don't feel 100%."
Trowa took a long slow, even breath as if he was trying to center himself, reaching for something that was dancing just beyond his fingers' touch. The soldier's focused calm. Had he finally shed that ice? Ironic.
Wufei listened to Trowa's words as well as the tone and expression. "You want to abort?" he asked in a neutral voice. If Trowa said Yes, Wufei would pull the plug, regardless of what Heero or anyone else said.
Trowa stood perfectly still, his eyes still laser sharp on the doors and alarms, making certain that they weren't tripping anything. "No," he answered calmly. "But for the first time in my life, I want something other than another battle."
Wufei released a breath in a sigh that was inaudible but could be felt by Trowa, so close was the Chinese boy. After a moment he placed his fingers lightly against the back of Trowa's neck, with infinite gentleness, though his face remained masked. He leaned slightly closer - he was already pretty damn close - and said calmly, "And I am praying for the first time in my life that I will not be required to be the instrument of justice, for made-humans whose veins are filled with Chang blood."
Trowa rocked, very discreetly, back into the touch of Wufei's fingers and though they were supposed to be focusing on the battle, his hand dropped back till his fingers could very gently touch Wufei's thigh in a silent recognition and physical support. His head tilted down towards the hanger floor.
Quatre and Duo had descended to the concrete and both were moving towards the doors that would lead to the rest of the satellite. They moved with an easy, deadly precision that spoke of the time they had spent as partners in the past. Quatre had a slight lead, with Duo just one step off to his right. Both boys had drawn their weapons, the guns resting against their right thighs as they moved.
Trowa took a long slow breath, once more filling his lungs with air that he seemed to need desperately. His green eyes focused on his smaller lover, drawing strength from his image as well as the touch of Wufei's hand. Trowa closed his eyes for a brief moment and when they next open, they were once again filled with purpose.
He turned that look to Wufei and gave a subtle nod.
"Let's do this, koi."
Wufei returned the slight nod, falling back fractionally to move at Trowa's heels.
Quatre slid up against the doorframe, peering around the corner before slipping through. Duo followed just as easily. Trowa gave a little jog to catch up to his team-mates as they moved out of the hanger and into a holding room. Little T'ien moved with just as much grace and ease as the older boys. His elfin features set in an expression of deep concentration as he took in not only the input from his eyes but also ears and nose.
As they exited the hangar into the holding room, cover was plenty and both Quatre and Duo lead the way, ghosting from crate to crate as they closed on the single exit to the room. As they came up to the door, Quatre was reaching up to work the lock switch when T'ien darted quickly forward to stop him. The little boy stood in front of all five young men and his small fingers danced in the air.
~Once we exit this room, we'll need to split up. I think two can handle the mercs who will be in and around the control room. Most of that force will be there. They don't like to mix around in the back of the satellite.~ T'ien's little mouth turned up wryly. ~Said 'we' give them the heebee jeebees.~
Heero nodded. Then his hands moved. ~I want you to go with the group that takes out the control room,~ he told the pint-sized warchild.
Duo blinked and turned to drop to the other side of the door, motioning to Quatre to stay in position for the moment. T'ien looked at Heero flabbergasted. Then the little boy drew himself up to his full height, which came to about the upper part of Heero's abdomen... tops... his dark brows pinned together in an expression that was very Chang-ish as his chin popped up. Crossing his arms T'ien shook his head hard. His arms lowered then so he could *talk*, fingers flying.
~Uh huh. That wasn't what we discussed while going over mission parameters on the shuttle. I go with you and Duo to find the scientists and the rest of the children like me. I know all the ins and outs of those labs and where they keep all the information as well as most of the codes to their computers, what *I* don't know the others will and they won't trust you, they won't talk to you, they will talk to me. I .. Am... Going.~
The last three 'words' were punctuated with a firm nod of his head as the child faced Heero eye to eye... so to speak.
Heero dropped to one knee quickly but there wasn't the slightest detectable hint of any softening in his eyes or expression. Once they'd stepped out of the shuttle, he had slipped completely into Heero Yuy/Perfect Soldier mode - so completely that it hadn't been noticeable until any of them looked at him. His Prussian blue eyes met T'ien's with a glance of steel.
~In that case you had better be quick about taking over the control room,~ Heero signed. ~From there you can contact the others and find us as well. I don't have time to persuade you. It's time to follow orders.~
Duo, silently prayed that T'ien would follow orders. The little boy was so good about respecting Heero and respecting Heero's decrees. A direct order should have the effect necessary. Should. T'ien looked into Heero's eyes his own gaze remained rebellious for a long beat, then it softened, gentled, looked a touch sad.
Then with the speed of a small snake, the boy whipped around, he sidestepped, as if heading towards the door but instead angled so that his small body slipped in between Quatre and Trowa. Though Trowa twisted and made a grab, T'ien had obviously calculated for this and he ducked his small form down into a roll, getting just beneath the taller boy's reach. Bouncing upwards he aimed for a set of crates, careening up them with surprising speed and skill. In fact he looked very much like a small Heero Yuy in his ascent.
Duo looked over at Heero and in a matter of fact tone spoke. "You certain you didn't contribute some DNA material somewhere along the way?"
T'ien stopped on the top of the crates, up near the ceilings. One look at the ceiling would prove that there was no way it would sustain the weight of even Quatre, but a small T'ien should be light enough to use it as a passage way. T'ien's small fingers danced quickly.
~Sorry... I'm sorry... but I have promises I made also.~
Heero's eyes stormed over for a brief second. Then he shrugged. ~Fine. Go your own way, come with me, go with Quatre. I won't be angry. But I'd hoped you would trust me.~
He stood and checked his weapons, watching the boy.
T'ien looked miserable. He hated disappointing Heero, loathed it in fact but he remained on the top of his crates, by the ceiling. His dark eyes never left Heero's form, as the older boy straightened and began to check his weapons, then T'ien's quick eyes darted over towards Wufei.
He didn't ask Wufei to interfere, or intervene in any way but his expression was eloquent. ~I gave my word... my honor... am I wrong now?~
Wufei read the dilemma. He also suspected T'ien missed the Japanese boy's concession and knew Heero would not repeat it. His lips pressed together slightly. Heero did nothing without a reason. He did not understand the reasons behind this sudden change of plans, but shuddered at the thought of second guessing the Japanese boy. He remembered too many times in the past when Heero's motivations had been dark to everyone else, only to turn out inescapably correct after the fact.
'I don't know,' his eyes replied to the boy. Then he silently mouthed a few more words. 'He can be trusted with honor.'
T'ien remained on his crates, poised like a wild thing. He was not raised to work well with a team. He was more solitary in nature and as such, he did not respond readily to *team* orders. At the same time, he had also been programmed to respond immediately and without question to a superior's order. All the factors were conflicting and his little body trembled with the need to shout, or vent. A need that would never be fulfilled by his silent throat.
Heero saw the conflict and responded quite simply. He beckoned. ~Come with me.~
Ultimately, T'ien's military training was already in motion. You did not jeopardize the mission, and T'ien realized that with his very indecision he was doing just that. He had made his bid, and had failed by stopping and turning around. Indecision was deadly. Lowering his head, the little boy just as nimbly scrambled back down the crates, coming back to where the older boys stood. He stopped, standing sort of beside Trowa, just off to the side of Quatre, his hands down by his sides and his features calm and professional.
~Alright, how do we proceed?~
Heero walked over and took T'ien's hand, leading him back to where Duo was waiting. He looked at Quatre.
"Can you and Wufei take the control center?"
Quatre nodded, then looked towards Wufei to confirm.
Wufei nodded his head once.
Heero looked at Trowa. "I could use you with us."
Trowa exchanged a quick look with Wufei and Quatre then nodded his head. "Hn."
Heero tapped T'ien on the top of his head. ~Lead.~
T'ien ducked forward, keying open the holding room door and opening it to the corridor just outside. He carefully checked both ways, listening as well as looking, then quickly darted through the open doorway and down the hall towards the right. Duo exchanged a long look with Heero, before following the quick-moving child. Trowa paused, waiting to see if Heero wanted him to proceed or bring up the rear.
Heero met Duo's look with a steady one of his own, Then flickered a brief glance at Trowa and stepped forward.
Trowa nodded, minutely and dropped in at Heero's heels. Once the first team was through the door and down the hall onto another corridor, Quatre repeated the check and slipped on through, heading off to the left, moving silently and confident that Wufei would be right behind him. His agile mind was already supplying him with the map T'ien had drawn of the satellite, plotting the quickest path from where they were to where they wished to be.
Wufei stayed close enough to Quatre to be in his shadow, until they made it to areas where the two could travel as two halves of the same quickly-moving whole.
For the most part, Quatre moved to avoid confrontations for the time being, preferring to duck aside of passing people than confront them. As T'ien had described, they mostly ran into scientists and other civilian types. It wasn't until they were within two sections of the control room that they started to encounter the mercs. Quatre continued to hold off on direct confrontations until they were firmly ensconced in merc territory, then he exchanged a quick glance with Wufei.
Wufei met his look. He flicked a finger at his chest suggesting that he move up. He did not want to use weapons, the sound of gunfire would bring the station down on them, but taking out soldiers quickly and hand-to-hand was his personal specialty.
Quatre knew he didn't have to like it but he nodded his understanding of Wufei's plan. He'd stay out of the way, trying to move forward as he could, unless Wufei got into trouble.
Wufei moved forward methodically, staying out of sight until he was within reach of his opponents, then attacking with flying feet and hands, making it almost an exercise in perfecting combat technique. As good as he had been during the war, the intervening time had not decreased his skills, practicing every day had only smoothed and sharpened them. From a remarkable prodigy to a master warrior, he was at the peak of his form.
End Part 6
Laekin and bonnejeanne
Please send comments to: seregill@aol.com or bonnejeanne@yahoo.com