25-Apr-2004
Revised 26-Apr-2004
Yes. REVISED. While some of the basic movements are the same, there were details I didn't include and glossed over and bits that should've been clearer that weren't. Not sure why I didn't do so well, in hindsight, but I think it has more to do with the rather overwhelming aspect of having the biggest damn fight scene I've ever tried, and not having a single POV to anchor it. Unlike in Drums, where I knew everything was Heero's POV, here... whew. So much, so little time! But hopefully this will make more sense, and move everyone through the chapter with less questions. So, from the top...
Title: Tetractys: Netzach, IV
Author: Sol 1056
Genre: Semi-AU, AU-in-AU, Drama, Sci Fi
Pairings: 4x5x4, 1+2+3, 1+R, various others
Rated: R for the time being
Archived: fanfiction.net and gwaddiction.com
Warnings: Violence, language, adult situations, butchered scientific theory
Archiving: Ask permission for each story separately, please.
Critiques: Always welcome, especially constructive.
"Quatre."
The bed sheets rustled, and Quatre flipped over on his back with a soft grunt.
"I know you're awake."
"Yeah." Quatre rolled over on his side again, facing away from Wufei. His voice was hoarse. "I can't say I'm sorry enough. What else do you want?"
"I'm not... " Wufei stared at the ceiling, and tightened his hold on the blankets. "I'm not going into battle with you if ZERO is still in Sandstone."
Quatre's body was still for several seconds. "It's an---"
"It's a lot of things," Wufei said, flatly. "The only thing that comes to mind, though, is evil."
"It's a system," Quatre protested, but the response held no conviction. "It didn't take aim and fire, I---"
"If I'm going to stay at your side," Wufei replied, choosing his words carefully, "then right now I need to believe that without ZERO, you never would have fired on the hospital... or shot down Trowa."
"I wouldn't have."
"ZERO goes."
"We could destroy every instance of ZERO in this world, and the next four," Quatre whispered. "But we can never bring back all the people I killed."
"No, we can't. But you're still living. You still can find a way to keep going, to make up for it."
Quatre sighed, but didn't turn over. "I could live my whole life and not make up for it."
"Your death would achieve even less." Wufei shifted, clasping his hands behind his head.
"Perhaps---"
"And if you died... " Wufei unlocked his hands, and lowered one to rest gently on Quatre's shoulder. "If anything happened to you... "
Quatre didn't reply, and the room was silent after that.
Duo grabbed the bedside lamp and threw it. The lamp hit the gunman in the head, and Duo was out of bed instantly, his lungs on fire from the thick yellow smoke. Duo grabbed the gunman's wrist and snapped it across his knee. The gun hit the floor and skittered under the bed. Duo snapped the gas mask, yanking it from the man's face. When the gunman fought back, Duo clasped both hands to the man's head, braced his weight, and twisted.
The man's neck snapped, and he fell backwards.
Immediately Duo was shoving the gasmask against his own face, breathing deeply for several heartbeats. Holding his breath, he scrambled through the billowy smoke to Trowa, and slapped the gasmask on Trowa's face. He dragged Trowa's body to the window, undoing the locks with trembling fingers. Duo pushed the window open, and lifted Trowa up, pushing him halfway out the second-story window. Duo watched the gas pour out over their heads, and gasped as cool morning air filled his lungs.
Perhaps three minutes exposure, Duo figured. He waited until Trowa's shaking had subsided. Gently pulling the mask from Trowa's face, he tilted Trowa's head to look. The eyes were glazed, the lips bluish, and tears leaked from Trowa's eyes from the stinging gas. But he was breathing, and his fingers clutched at Duo's shirt.
"Water," Trowa managed to croak.
"We'll get some," Duo mouthed. His throat burned. Putting the gasmask back on, he went back to the bed, shoving the gunman's body under one bed, and retrieving the gun from under the other bed. Shoving the gun in his jeans, he grabbed their boots from by the door, and their jackets. Quickly he dressed, then returned to the window where Trowa clung to the windowsill. It was awkward, but he finally managed to get Trowa's feet in the boots and get them laced and tied. Throwing Trowa's black coat over his shoulders, Duo helped Trowa out the window.
"On count of three," Duo said.
"Three," Trowa replied, and let go.
They crashed into the bushes below the window. Duo was up immediately, helping Trowa to his feet. Trowa coughed, his hand over his mouth, trying to suppress the sound.
"How'd you know?" Trowa rubbed his eyes and gave Duo a puzzled look.
"I had a dream of Heero singing," Duo said, and managed a grin. He coughed, as well, feeling the bitter taste of the gas still lingering in his throat. His eyes were burning, and he blinked rapidly, trying to get them to focus on the gray world of pre-dawn.
"Yeah, that would wake anyone out of a sound sleep," Trowa replied, straight-faced. "Come on, then, we've got Gundams to rescue."
The light was still low enough they could stay close to the shadows, but in another half-hour, Duo knew, they'd be visible to anyone. Steadying Trowa, he kept them to the shadows, making their way to the warehouses, three blocks away, that housed the Gundams awaiting destruction.
The knock came at seven-forty-eight. Zhiyi bounced on the step, grinning as Noin unlocked the shop's back door and let her in.
"Mommy says all clear," Zhiyi told her, and dashed up the stairs to the command room. Noin was a few seconds behind her, arriving to find Zhiyi settled in at the secondary desk, headphones on, and flipping through the frequencies.
"Wing, report," Zhiyi said.
"Wing here," came Heero's voice. "Heading out the front door with Lachesis."
"We'll be at the palace in five," Une said. Her 'com system was wired, but they were using the frequency for Heero's embedded 'com.
"Luce," Zhiyi whispered, hitting mute on the system. "When does everything start?"
"On Nataku's call," Luce answered, paying more attention to the map, and the markings for the official route from the jail to the courtroom. She was moving through the frequencies, trying to pin down which one the Foundation was using for confirming clearance along the route. "Found it," she whispered, and turned to Zhiyi. "Relay. Caravan heading for Ridderzaal, currently on Den Haag Centrum A12. ETA, estimated, ten minutes."
"Got that," Zhiyi replied, and repeated the message perfectly.
"Roger," Po answered. "Visual confirmation of caravan. Merging onto A44."
"Wing, reporting in," Lena said, then laughed softly. "Talon. Sorry, Wing."
Heero's only answer was a disgruntled sound, and Lena laughed again.
"Silence on the line," Une snapped. "Little dragon, word?"
Zhiyi looked up at Noin, and pointed to the headphones. Noin nodded, one hand raised as she listened.
"02 and 03 confirmed, on board second vehicle," Noin reported.
"Everyone, get in place," Zhiyi announced. "02 and 03 are in second vehicle."
"Courtroom doors opening," Une said. "We're going in."
"Caravan passing this point," Po cut in. "Just turned onto Korte Voorhut, and now they're out of sight. Following. Atropos out."
Heero waited for the security guard to wave him through the gate. Une followed, her heels clicking on the marble floors, and Heero breathed a sigh of relief once they were through. Une shot him a look as they filed into the courtroom, taking up seats on the third row. A number of people saluted to Une, who nodded absently as they passed. The room was being packed with military and civilian personnel. Most of the invitees and witnesses were high-ranking members of the Foundation and the aristocratic circles, come to see the sentence passed on two of the biggest thorns in the Foundation's side. Guards were stationed along the walls, between every window, watching everything. There were closed-circuit cameras up in the ceilings, and Heero casually glanced up, taking a half-second to twist each of the cameras to point away from his location.
"Third row, not bad," Heero murmured, in a barely audible tone that only the 'com would pick up. Une shot him a look, and he narrowed his eyes at her. Settling into the bench, he leaned back.
Now it was just a matter of waiting for the tribunal to arrive.
Lena ejected the magazine, checked it, and slammed it back home again. Doro glanced over, an eyebrow raised, and Lena gave her an apologetic smile.
"Your habits drive me bonkers," Doro said, snorting. She grabbed the two extra magazines, shoving them into her coat pockets. "Hey... gimme your knife?"
"Sure." Lena reached down, tugging her jeans up and pulling the knife from her boot. It had been Duo's, years ago, and he'd given it to her before leaving for space. That last trip, the one he didn't come back from... she shoved the thought away, and realized it no longer hurt. Somehow, knowing there were probably a million other Duos out there, in other worlds, made her life's losses suddenly seem... not acceptable, she thought, but... manageable. She flipped the knife around, and handed it to Doro, hilt-first.
"Thanks." Doro took the knife, and pulled her hair around. Taking a deep breath, she held up the knife, then froze. She steadied her grip, closed her eyes, and again her hand froze. "I... "
"You sure about this?" Lena placed her hand over Doro's, gently.
Doro nodded, her eyes still closed.
"Okay." Lena held onto the knife, over Doro's hand, and carefully guided the blade. Three sharp whacks, and the hair was chopped crudely at shoulder-length. The rest was in Doro's hand, a thick sheaf of white, spilling over. Lena pried the knife from Doro's fingers, and shoved the knife back in her boot.
"Thanks," Doro said. Turning, she climbed up on Sandrock, opened the hatch, and threw the hair in. Closing the hatch, she hit the locking mechanism and climbed down again. She adjusted the mike around her neck, hitting the button. "Sandrock, checking in. Let's go get our girls."
"Hey, Doro," Lena said, sliding into the driver's seat of the small sedan. "Do you think we should tell them about the boys?"
Doro blinked, then grinned. "Oh, I don't know. Maybe we'll let them enjoy the surprise."
"Assuming they don't kill us for the shock." Lena sobered. "Hilde... she's never quite been the same, after Duo... "
"Yeah. It's not like we're going to have a lot of time to debrief them," Doro pointed out. "And how do you put it, anyway? Hey, we managed to bring over all five Gundam pilots from another world... and oh, you'll be fighting side-by-side with them in the next few minutes. Brace yourself."
"Hm." Lena considered that, pulling out of the airport's work hangars, and into the main stream of traffic heading for the highway exit. "Damn this whole thing for being so tight on the time. If Cat gets pissed, it's not like we'll be able to duck her knives."
"True." Doro leaned back in the seat, and fiddled with the shorn ends of her hair. "Feels weird. Feels like I just lost thirty pounds, and didn't have to stop eating chocolate, either."
"Sandrock, Talon." Zhiyi's words broke into their conversation. "Where are you?"
"Heading across the Sudhoeffen," Lena replied. "We'll be joining the party as soon as we find a parking space."
"Screw that. Park on the damn sidewalk if you have to," Doro scoffed. "Getting a parking ticket is the least of my worries right now."
Meiran waved to the man, and he nodded. The workers began dismantling the trucks in the alleyway, the crates of vegetables and chickens quickly taken down and carried off towards the market. Meiran looked up as the man approached.
"05," he said, gravely, offering his hand. "Sven."
"Wish I could say it was a pleasure," she answered. "We're on a tight schedule. Are they going to---"
"Two down, third being opened now," a man stopped by to say. He had a crate of chickens, squawking angrily, and the man grinned at Meiran before following the other workers. They were all wearing yellow roses, either as buttons, or earrings. One woman had a yellow rosebud in her hair.
"Should be all clear," Sven told her. "There's no risk of retaliation from the other Gundams, either."
"No risk?" Meiran frowned, watching Wufei and Quatre out of the corner of her eye. They were busy in the cockpit of Sandstone, but at the hastily grabbed breakfast on the way into the city, they had seemed more comfortable. She wasn't sure; perhaps it was simply their pre-mission behavior taking over, pushing out any emotional issues until there would be time to deal. Meiran dragged her attention back to Sven. "What are you talking about?"
"My sources reported there were two mechanics, turncoats, who'd sold out to the Foundation and were helping them understand the Gundam systems," Sven said.
Meiran's blood ran cold. She reached up, checking her mike system, and hit the button. She was pretty sure it had been on. Was that the off button? Was that---
"---And I sent in a man this morning, who's undercover, to make sure they were eliminated," Sven continued.
"Eliminated," Meiran whispered.
"What?" Quatre stood up from Sandstone, but his voice was carried by the 'com system. There were two circuit boards in his hands, and he nonchalantly broke one over his knee as he waited.
Meiran blinked, realizing the system was on. Quickly she reached up, shutting it off. "Sven, explain yourself."
"I had the two mechanics taken out," Sven said. He frowned. "What? You don't honestly want your Gundams used against you, do you?"
"Used... " Meiran's jaw fell open, and she closed it with a snap. "Two men? A tall man with reddish hair, and another man with a long brown braid."
"Yeah." Sven frowned. "They gave a presentation last night to the military on the basics of Deathscythe and Heavyarms."
"And?"
"They were supposed to continue with their explanations this evening, after the trial," Sven said. "I couldn't allow that, and I knew the Fates would want---"
"What did you *do*?" Meiran leaned into the man, and he backed away despite the fact that she was more than a head shorter than him.
"Poison gas, followed by shots to the head," Sven said. "My man's not reported back, but---"
Meiran belted Sven in the jaw. He went down with a solid thump, and she considered kicking the body, the fury boiling in her blood. Then the moment passed, and she swayed, spun, and ran for Sandstone.
Someone shouted behind them, and Zhiyi whispered something over the 'com. Meiran hit the switch on her throat piece, listening.
"Courtroom is being filled, caravan is twelve blocks away," Zhiyi said.
Wufei was climbing out of the cockpit, and Meiran looked up, knowing her mouth was open, but couldn't find words. Wufei looked down, his face drawn and tired, and threw down a collection of circuit boards. They clattered across the cobblestones.
"I heard Sven," Wufei said. "I heard... " He sat down heavily, on Sandstone's chest, next to Quatre.
"They were alive," Quatre said, his blue-green eyes blazing. "I began this... all of---"
"Winner." Wufei sighed. "Sven just said they were mechanics... they had everyone fooled, even the rebels." Wufei stood up, and ran a hand through his hair, then retied the ponytail, releasing the band with a quick snap. "I refuse to believe that one man with a poison grenade and a handgun would take down my teammates."
Quatre frowned, but the corners of his lips began to quirk. He glanced up at Wufei, and a reluctant smile began to sneak onto his face. "It would take more than that, wouldn't it... "
"You blew Barton out of the sky, and he survived," Wufei pointed out. His shoulders were slumped, and to Meiran, Wufei suddenly seemed much older, and much more exhausted. "I'm willing to believe---"
"Tribunal's entered," Zhiyi broke in. "Caravan is six blocks."
"Later," Meiran told Wufei and Quatre, belatedly snapping into action. "Sandstone, get in and get ready. You're point. Shenlong, you're with me. Move it, men."
"Aye," Quatre said, automatically. Wufei jumped down from Sandstone, and headed for Shenlong.
Meiran sighed, and bolted for Nataku, yelling at the men to finish unloading. I'll put you both back together, she told Wufei and Quatre silently. One way or another, I will, I promise.
It had taken thirty minutes for the entire courtroom to assemble. Twelve judges sat along the walls, in their military regalia. Most were older men, some of whom Heero recognized from Treize's imperial court. Time was now imperative; they had to strike the tribunal before the prisoners arrived, but after everyone was present. Heero toggled the switch, twice. It was taking everything he had to stay low, not draw attention, but to look like yet another military assistant toadying to Commander Une. He wanted to stand up and scream, torn between laughing hysterically at the conversation he'd overheard, and just getting up and walking out.
What's the point? He asked himself. They were alive, and I didn't know... and now I've lost them, again. I wish I could be like Wufei. I wish I could believe---
"Roger," Zhiyi's voice came over the 'com. "Relaying... Oh-eight-hundred-hours, and eighteen minutes. Everyone's in. Talon, Sandrock, get ready. Sandstone, Shenlong, Mommy---"
"Little Dragon," came Meiran's warning tone.
"And Nataku!" Zhiyi corrected. "Everyone in place?"
Heero toggled the 'com switch. Une glanced over and he nodded, without looking her way. She tensed, almost imperceptibly.
Po's voice broke in. "The caravan's pulling up in front of the palace."
"Wing's in place," Zhiyi replied. "Clothos says, Atropos, do your stuff."
"Sure thing, babe," Po's voice came back. A second later, an explosion rocked the 'com, and Heero grimaced. The windows rattled in the building, and Une nodded to Heero. That was their cue.
He focused, and tore the guards' guns from their holsters. All went flying, but four guns came straight for Heero and Une. Heero reached up, catching two neatly as the other two landed in Une's lap. He shoved one down the back of his pants. In the same moment, he ripped the closed-circuit cameras from the walls, and the electricity arced, sparks flying. He slammed all the doors shut, locking them. The lights exploded overhead, and he laughed malevolently, watching the guards scramble for their guns. Some of the guns had skittered under the benches; others were thrown with such force they were embedded in the plaster walls.
People were already on their feet, reaching for the doors, crushing each other in their panic. Heero began throwing chairs and tables across the open courtroom floor. One by one he lifted the benches and slammed them against the walls, not caring if people were still on them. He reveled in the knowledge that it didn't matter any more. The world was light, groundless, gravity an unbearable false hope. He leaned back, tucking the gun into his armpit as he crossed his arms, his gaze barely moving as he proceeded to destroy the room. People were thrown against the wall, against each other. Une waited next to him, unmoving, even as various objects went over her head.
"Don't miss anyone," she reminded him calmly.
"Fuck off," he told her, and laughed. "I'll do this my way. Enjoy the show. It'll be the last room I destroy, Treize," he muttered. Vaguely he could hear Wufei, then Zhiyi, yelling for him to explain. There were more explosions coming from outside, but Heero didn't care. The twelve judges were huddled under their desks, unable to flee their high bench seats. Every time one of them moved to make a break for it, Heero slammed a chair, a desk, or even a guard at whomever made the attempt.
The room's chaos was dying down. Broken and bruised bodies lay everywhere in the shards of the furniture. Heero leaned back, and nodded to Une.
"Go for it," he told her. "I'll cover you."
"Fine," she said, and raised the gun, racking the slide before getting up. Stepping primly over the moaning bodies, she aimed the barrel downward. The few people who tried to get in her way, she shot. After that, the rest lay still, their faces pressed against the floor, trembling as she passed.
Heero sat and watched as she made her way up to the high bench and down the line, shooting each military official in turn.
"First and fourth "First and fourth caravan vehicles in flames," Po reported. "Going to lookout over the square." Thirty seconds later she was back on the line. "Squadron of Yang in the fifth and sixth trucks."
"Roger that," Meiran replied. "Beginning distraction now. Talon?"
"In place," Lena yelled, and slit the throat of one of the guards who'd evacuated the fourth truck. Lena kicked the body away from the knife, rubbing her thumb across the back as she spoke into the 'com system. "Get their attention, would ya?"
"No problem," Quatre said. A second later, there was a roar of jets and Sandstone flew up from the marketplace, landing in the square in front of the administrative palace. The Gundam leveled its gun on the third vehicle in the caravan, aiming the beam cannon. "Gimme the clear!"
"Clear!" Doro shouted. The two women turned around, bracing themselves against the door of a shop, and waited. Behind them, Sandstone fired, and the vehicle shot up into the air, twisting around. The tank caught fire, exploding in flames. Shrapnel rained down on them, as Doro sheltered Lena with her body. A heartbeat later they pushed away from the building, turning to see the second vehicle swathed in smoke as the third truck in line lay on its side, still burning.
Doro glanced at Lena, Flicking her bloody fingers twice, Doro responded with a hand flash and darted into the street, between the third vehicle, and the second. Doro eyed the lock, then backed up, pulling out her gun and firing. The lock shattered, and Doro yanked the door open with her left hand, firing three times, hitting the guards point-blank.
"About fucking time," Hil said, holding up her shackled wrists. "Feet, too."
"Talon!" Doro yelled over her shoulder. "Picks!"
"On it," Lena said, joining her. She shoved the knife into her boot and handed Doro one of the lock picks, and the two women worked furiously to get Cat and Hil free. Their shackles were bolted to the van's chassis.
"What's the plan," Cat said, rousing. Her right eye was blackened, and there was a cut across her jaw.
"We get you out, and then get you to the Gundams," Doro said. "Done." She yanked the shackles off Cat's feet, and handed Cat the picks. "Hold that, you can undo the rest on your way. Talon, status?"
"Almost," Lena said. "Fucking stupid ass... " Her mutters died away as she concentrated.
"Come on, come on," Doro whispered.
"Nice hair cut," Hil observed, over Lena's head. "That new?"
"Uh... " Doro frowned at Hil, who grinned lopsidedly.
"Clear now!" Lena hollered.
"Come on," Doro cried, helping Cat down from the back of the van. Hilde and Lena were right behind. Doro kept her gun out, shooting two guards crawling from the wreckage of the third truck. "Come on, come on, come on!" Cat stumbled on the curb, and Doro caught her by the elbow, leading the way down the alleyway.
"Clear! Sandstone, take 'em out!" Lena yelled, bringing up the end of the line.
Sandstone fired, and the second vehicle exploded.
Po followed the action, as the twelve Yang sat up from the remaining caravan vehicles. Behind them, she sighted four figures running. One with red hair, one with black hair, a third with short white-blonde hair, and the fourth was unmistakably Lena. Po grinned at the sight of the red bandana in Lena's back pocket, then paused, moving the binoculars back to the third. It took a second, and she realized it was Doro. Po lowered the binoculars, confused, and was thrown to the side as one of the Yang's return fire went wide, hitting the building next to her.
"Ma'am!" One of the rebels yelled. "We've got to get out of here!"
"Moving," Po yelled back. "Atropos, taking cover," she said into the mike. Something caught her eye in the distance. "Clothos, off to the northwest, looks like another fight---"
"Location?" Zhiyi asked. "Wait... Clothos says there's action by the warehouses in the northwest quadrant. No noise on the 'com... "
"It looks like Yang," Po replied. She ignored the man tugging on her arm, trying to focus the binoculars to see. "Three... four Long... and holy shit," she broke off. "Yes, I know," Po snarled to the man, yanking her hand free. "Zhiyi, I think---"
One of the Yang fired its cannon. The building exploded, and Po's voice cut off with an abrupt scream.
The explosions from outside rocked the building, and the glass in the windows rattled. Along the windows facing the front court, Heero could see orange and red lighting up the windows, the flames arcing into the sky. Beyond that, Sandstone was standing, framed by the fires. Nataku and Shenlong had just landed, and the three were standing back-to-back, ready for the approaching Yang.
"All clear," Une said. There was blood covering her legs, and some had splattered onto her face.
Heero nodded and stood, unlocking the doors. They blew open, revealing a line of soldiers, guns aimed at the doors. With one flick of his mind, the soldiers were thrown backwards, their guns discharging at each other instead of Heero and Une. He was impressed that Une didn't even flinch, but followed just behind him. As they passed, he calmly took aim and fired into the forehead of every soldier they passed.
I don't care anymore, he thought. If you live, if you die, I don't care.
"Six Long approaching from northwest," Zhiyi relayed, doing her best to keep her voice steady. "No answer from Atropos," she reported, and rubbed her eyes with the heel of her hand.
Focus, she told herself sternly. Mommy is counting on you.
Noin was flipping through the frequencies, listening in on the pilots, then on the soldiers, then on the line the Yang squadron was using. Zhiyi had the headphones covering one ear to listen to the exchanges on the 'com, the other uncovered to catch Noin's rapid-fire reports. "Six Yang down, Nataku at ninety percent. Sandstone took direct hit. Sandstone's up again," Zhiyi told Noin.
"ETA for Long is five---" Noin cut off, suddenly, listening intently. She turned, her eyes wide. "Deathscythe Hell and Broadarms just appeared. Approximately two clicks distance. One Long down... "
"Deathscythe Hell and Broadarms," Zhiyi repeated. "Attacking Long. Assumed on our side."
"They're---" Quatre's voice was cut off with a grunt. "Damn it---"
"Got your back," Meiran said. "Watch your two o'clock, Shenlong!"
"On it," Wufei said. "Where are the Long?"
"Delayed," Zhiyi said. "Trowa and Duo are---"
"What?" Meiran screamed. "They're alive? Would someone fucking make up their mind? Alive, or dead! Pick one!"
"Shut up and fire, Mei!" Wufei.
"Alive?" Heero's voice was a whisper, almost lost in the explosions and backfires coming through the 'com.
"Wing down, and we're out of here," Une yelled. "Where's Atropos?"
"Don't know," Zhiyi told her. "I haven't---"
"All four, clear," Lena shouted. "Almost to base. Minor injuries, but able to join in the fun."
"Need you here," Meiran yelled. "When those Long--- Hey, watch---" Another explosion rocked the 'com.
Zhiyi flinched and instinctively covered her head. "Mommy?"
"Fine! Do your job, dragon!"
"Yes, Mo---Nataku!"
Noin turned, shouting another report about the Long, and Zhiyi nodded.
"Deathscythe Hell's gone down," Zhiyi said into the mike. "They're outnumbered by the Long. Can you get 02 and 03---"
"Six blocks, north-west of market," Noin called, pointing to the map. "I'm guessing a warehouse."
"Warehouse, near A44 and Westerhoffen," Zhiyi said, squinting at the street names. "Somewhere around there. Get 02 and 03---"
"Sending start-up commands now," Noin said, hitting a series of keys on the nearby laptop. She waited, then glanced over her shoulder at Zhiyi with a nod. "Clear. Systems checking going now, will be live by the time---"
"Scythe and 'Arms coming back online," Zhiyi said.
"Rerouting," Doro replied. "Warehouse," she grumbled under her breath. "Could you be a bit more vague?"
"Damn it!" Quatre broke through. The scream of jets filled the 'com. "Watch it, 05."
"Get out of the way of fire," Wufei snapped. "Yang, behind---"
"Got him," Meiran shouted. "Wing, Lachesis, get clear---"
"Clear," Une said. "We'll meet up with you later. Lachesis over and out."
"Roger," Zhiyi said, and made a mental note. Those two were safe. Now it was just the battle. In a few minutes, Noin would be telling her to leave, too, and she braced herself, checking through her knowledge of the mission, wondering if she'd missed anything.
"02 and 03 dropped off," Lena reported. "Now heading to base, will come back as backup."
"Hurry!" Wufei grunted, and Zhiyi flinched as another explosion echoed through the 'com.
"Foundation reporting loss of prisoners," Noin reported with satisfaction. "Assuming dead."
"02 and 03 are clear," Zhiyi told the Gundam pilots. "No chasers."
"Roger that," a new voice broke in. "Glad to be back! Okay, buddy, let's kick some fucking Foundation ass."
"Hil!" Zhiyi sat up straight, clapping her hands in excitement. A laugh from Noin made her sober up, and she dutifully settled down. "Deathscythe Hell and Broadarms are fighting south-east of you. Deathscythe Hell is down---"
"In our sights now," another woman said.
"Cat!" Meiran's voice was relieved. "Take out those Long and get out of there---"
"Ten Ma, on their way, called from Rotterdam," Noin said.
"Roger," Doro said. "Taking Talon. On our way."
"I'm in Sandrock," Lena added.
"Ten Ma incoming," Zhiyi relayed. "Brace yourselves."
"Get out, now," Quatre interrupted. "All Yang are down. Clothos, take the dragon and get. We can handle it from here."
"But---" Zhiyi looked over at Noin, who shrugged and tore off her headphones. "Okay, Sandstone, we're---"
"Two minutes," Meiran shouted. "Move it, kid!"
"Yes, Mommy!" Zhiyi didn't wait, but yanked off her own headphones. Noin grabbed her by the hand, and the two split. Barreling through the doors, they bolted down the hallway and down the stairs, into the back alley. Zhiyi threw herself into the Jeep, clambering across the driver's seat to land in the passenger's seat, Noin right behind her. Noin started the Jeep and it jumped forward, gears grinding as they caught. A split second later, the building exploded behind them, destroying all evidence of their passage.
Une pulled over on the side of the road, on a hill overlooking the city. Getting out, she leaned against the railing and studied the blasts in the distance. A number of buildings were on fire, and the black smoke billowed up to the sky. Farther away, a second set of smoky fires indicated the fight between the two 02s and 03s, and the remaining Long. The dragon-suits could be seen spiraling and twisting in the sky, broken by quick flashes of Deathscythe's beam scythe. One Long went sailing downwards, crashing into a fiery ball.
The Foundation has to got be shitting bricks by now, she thought, with no little satisfaction. She absently wiped at the dried blood across one cheek, and thought of the fact that she'd just murdered the majority of the tribunal. Ten years, she whispered to Treize's ghost. Ten years.
Heero had collapsed outside the back exit of the administrative palace, and it had taken Une and two rebels to get him to the waiting car. She'd stalled as long as she could, but Po had never appeared, and Une had been forced to leave as the Yang entered the fight with the three Gundams. She kept hoping Po was just injured, not seriously hurt. Po had always had the devil's own luck, Une reminded herself.
Une turned to see the man in the back seat, slumped over. The sounds over the intercom were scratchy, fading in and out, and she knew she was at the farthest edge of the system's range. Une turned, taking one more look at the scorched city below them.
"So this is hell," she murmured.
"Come on," Trowa urged, a coughing fit wracking his body. He kicked at the foot levers, and hit the button for the Gundam to transform into bird-shape. Hooking Deathscythe Hell with one of Broadarm's grapplers, he let out on the jets. He twisted the throttle, gritting his teeth as his hands refused to react. He coughed again, the bitter tang of blood flooding his mouth. The engines screamed at the extra weight. Deathscythe and Heavyarms were finishing off the last of the Long, and Trowa lifted up, carrying the disabled Deathscythe with him.
"Broadarms," one of the women said, over the main Gundam secure frequency. "Where the hell are you going?"
"Anywhere," Trowa whispered. He blinked several times, unable to get his eyes to focus on the panels swirling in his vision. He coughed, but couldn't get his hands from around the throttles to wipe his mouth. "Retreat," he said, louder. "Disabled---"
"Identify your---" the woman swore under her breath, and Trowa could hear Heavyarms' Gatling repeat fire several times. "Identify yourself," the woman repeated. "How do you know how to---"
"Call me Trowa," came the response. He tried to inhale, and choked on the blood in his throat.
There was a pause on the lines, and the woman repeated, softer: "Trowa?"
"Yeah," Trowa said. He wanted to say more, but it was taking everything he had to keep Broadarms level, hovering over the battlefield of the warehouse quadrant.
"Doro put you up to that?" The woman sounded mildly irritated. "I'll get her later. For now, I'm going to take it on---"
"For pity's sake, get those idiots out of here," another woman broke in. "Send them to the ship! I can't deal with these Long while you chatter, woman!"
"Fine," the first voice said. "Five clicks offshore, ship waiting. Sending you location now---" The rest of her words were lost in another explosion coming over the 'com.
"Roger," Trowa said, blinking his eyes rapidly until he could read the information on the side panel. "Hey, Duo," he whispered over their embedded 'com, but there was no answer. Trowa let Broadarms dip, then pull up, jiggling Deathscythe Hell, and he was rewarded with a heavy cough over the 'com, then silence. Trowa lowered his chin, and took the deepest breath he could manage, then pointed Broadarms towards the ocean. He twisted the throttle, biting back a moan at the pain in his muscles, and kicked Broadarms into high gear, leaving the smoking city behind.
"Covering exit," the second woman said, over the main frequency. "Last Long down."
"I still want to know who's flying that Gundam," the first woman snapped. "Not a funny joke, you bastard! Damn it, Hil, watch it. Got your back---"
"Okay, everyone, clear out," Lena broke in, on the main frequency. She sounded almost satisfied. "We'll deal with the rest, and keep them occupied until you're out of radar range."
"You'll what?" Quatre sounded annoyed. "No, way! We're---"
"Come on, Sandstone," Meiran shouted. "Temurah, you stubborn asshole. Bird-mode! Move it, or I'll shoot you down myself!"
The roar of several jets at once filled the comm system. Trowa managed to unclench one hand long enough to mute the main frequency, and silence filled the cockpit as he watched the ocean whitecaps smooth into a rolling gray beneath his Gundam. The only sounds in his ears were that of the jets under his seat, the blood pounding in his ears, and Duo's labored breathing over the 'com.
Heero sat up with a groan, and blinked several times before realizing he was alone, in a car, parked somewhere on the side of a road. He looked around, squinting as he saw Une standing by the railing, looking over the city. The roar of explosions in his ears had woken him, and he brought his knees up under his chin, wrapping his arms around his legs.
He felt useless. He wished he had Wing.
Numb, he listened to the static, picking out what he could at the edges of the intercom's range. It sounded like Wufei, Quatre, and Meiran were confirming their departure, followed by two more women whose voices he didn't recognize. Then a phrase came across the line, surrounded by unexpected silence, and Heero sat up straight, shocked.
"Ten Ma," Lena's voice said. Her tone was strangely neutral. "Beam cannon disabled. Thirty-five percent operational. Beginning self-destruct sequence now."
"No," Heero whispered, aghast.
"On my count," Doro replied. She also sounded preternaturally calm.
He beat against the car door, his fingers scrambling to find the lock. He couldn't get anything to work, his mind twisted away from him and nothing felt solid. Almost falling out of the car, he writhed on the ground, unable to get a purchase. His hands fell against the car's door, and he used it to haul himself to his feet. Une came running, as he managed to stand up.
"Sandrock," Heero said, gasping. "Self-destruct---"
"What?" Une's face went white.
"Surrounded," he added. "Ma... "
The rest of his words were cut off with a resounding explosion. It shook the car, and Heero was stunned to feel Une immediately cover his body with hers. The aftershocks rolled over them, and Une was twisting in her crouch to look, as the city flared up with a massive brightness, lighting up the gray skies into a blinding glow. The power required to detonate Gundamiam would take out the entire squadron of Ma, he knew, along with at least four city blocks. The flames shot up, sky-high, and he could barely see a single Gundam lifting off, beyond the billowing smoke. The Gundam transformed, and Heero watched it, knowing it to be Talon.
Une turned, gasping. "Doro... gone... "
"No," Heero said, his voice sounding as though it were coming from a hundred clicks away, underwater. Everyone, gone. Everything, lost. "Doro was in Talon. Lena self-destructed so Doro could get out... "
"Oh, my god," Une whispered.
End Part 16
(:./sol/tetra16)
