Title: Integrating the Heart
Author: AstroKender
Pairings: 3+2, 13x5, 4+R (don't kill me!)
Rating: Umm...shounen-ai?
Warnings: None in this part.
Spoilers: None
Notes: This is an AT fic...everything went like in the series, cept Treize didn't die, the war didn't end, and Zechs is still trying to kick everyone's @$$ ^_^
Disclaimers: I own nothing...not even my computer. So obviously GW isn't mine. Don't sue.
"Hey Tro! Nice accommodations, huh?"
"......"
Duo looked around the cargo hold with interest. Yeah, right. He could tell now that this was going to be a very uncomfortable trip. Crates of various supplies completely filled the hold, giving the two pilots only a small space in the corner. So they sat there, across from each other, with their knees hugged up to their chests. Within five minutes, Duo was already shifting uncomfortably.
"How much longer are we gonna be on this thing?" He asked his silent partner.
"Twelve hours and fifteen minutes."
"Aw, man!" Duo shifted again, accidentally kicking the Latin boy in the shin. "Oops, sorry."
Trowa sighed; he had a feeling this was going to be a very long trip. Thankfully, though, he came prepared. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a very battered deck of playing cards.
"I brought some cards, if you want, to pass the time." He congratulated himself on making those indigo eyes brighten.
"Trowa you're a lifesaver!" Duo leaned over and gave him a quick hug.
Trowa smiled. Yes, he was very glad he brought the cards. They gave Duo something to do, and Trowa could be content just watching the braided beauty. This trip could turn out interesting,after all.
"C'mon Tro! Let's play strip poker!"
Very interesting...
So far, they had managed to sneak into the research facility undetected. The barren corridor stretched out in either direction. They hadn't seen even one guard. Despite the simplicity of the mission, the two pilots began to feel uneasy.
"Why aren't there any guards?" Trowa asked himself.
"Probably cause there isn't much to guard in this hallway." Duo spoke up from where he was checking his weapons.
Two pistols, a dagger, and enough C-4 to level the base, were slipped into the braided boy's various pockets, hidden from view. He loaded his rifle and held it at ready, glancing down in each direction.
"We'll have ta split up."
Trowa jerked his head up from checking his own weapons. He didn't like this. He didn't like this at all. He forced himself to ignore the voice in his head that was screaming; it's a trap! The Latin boy acknowledged that Duo was right. They would never find the new-whatever-it-was without covering both the north and south corridors. He sighed.
"Fine. I'll take the south, you go north." He walked up to Duo, making sure he was listening. "If you find anything, radio me immediately. Understand?" His green eyes were clouded with worry.
Duo smiled softly and leaned up to give Trowa a quick peck on the cheek. "I understand, don't worry so much." He started down the hall. "Be careful, Trowa."
The HeavyArms pilot watched his beloved turn around the corner, before turning and starting down his own hallway.
"Be careful, mi amore."
Trowa started down the corridor, all senses alert and screaming at him: Something isn't right! There were doors all down this hall, all unlocked. Nothing seemed to resemble anything like a research facility. He was just about to turn around and head back to Duo when, out of nowhere, twenty White Fang soldiers appeared, fully armed.
"Throw down your weapon and surrender!" The captain shouted.
Well they haven't killed me yet, so there is still a chance... Trowa fired a few wild shots into the group. He then turned and ran back down the hallway, desperately trying to get to Duo. He pulled out his radio.
"Duo! It's a trap! Get out of there!"
A bullet pierced the pilot's arm, forcing him to drop his radio. Five soldiers appeared in front of him. "Surrender now or die. The Professor only needs one of you."
With a sigh, Trowa lowered his gun. He was beaten. He just hoped he had warned Duo in time.
Duo crept down the hallway, carefully checking each door he came to. He sighed when he carefully opened a door to find...a closet. I wonder if Trowa's having any better luck. The braided pilot moved with uncanny silence as he made his way to the last door. If this wasn't it, he'd have to try to catch up with Trowa. But the God of Death was in luck; this one was locked.
"Bingo."
Duo reached behind his ear and pulled out a slim wire. This combined with a special magnetic card Heero had given him allowed the one time thief to silently bypass the electronic lock. No need to tell the world we're here. The door opened with a soft swish.
Duo held his rifle at ready as he entered. It was pitch black in the room. Duo peered through the gloom and thought he could make out numerous electronic devices lining the wall. He was sure this is what they were looking for. He was about to reach for his communicator when Trowa's tenor bellowed through it.
"Duo! It's a trap! Get out-"
"Trowa..."
Just then, the door behind him slammed shut with a bang. Duo frantically tried the handle, but it was locked. A bright light shined on the cornered boy, freezing him in place. A figure slowly stepped out of the darkness.
"Greetings 02. We have been expecting you." The figure raised a gun and fired. Duo dropped his own gun with a clatter and slumped against the door.
"God preserve us." He whispered, feeling the first effects of the tranquilizer.
The figure laughed. His voice mocking Duo as the pilot slipped into unconsciousness.
"But, there is no God. Only the God of Death."
"Winner-sama, there must be some way to peacefully deal with my brother."
Quatre turned and glared at Relena. They had been over this a hundred times now. How could she be so thickheaded? The other representatives murmured in agreement with their "Queen". They're all idiots!
"The only way to deal peaceably with your brother is to put a bullet through his head."
There was a collective gasp from the council. Quatre was not known to speak so harshly. He looked at Relena and saw her fighting back tears. The blond pilot sighed and stepped over to her.
"Forgive me, Relena-sama. That was uncalled for. I've just been... worried, lately." He bowed his head.
Relena seemed to understand. She stood up and called the meeting to a close. As the World Nation Representatives filed through the door, their Queen made her way over to where Quatre was slumped on the divan. She placed her small hand on his in sympathy.
"They're not back yet?" It was more of a statement than a question. Nothing else would ruin the pilot's calm facade.
"No." He whispered. "It's been two weeks. The base was reported destroyed but..."
"I'm sure their okay, Quatre." Relena patted his back in comfort.
Quatre seemed to pull himself together. He stood, offering a hand to the blond woman.He gently embraced her and kissed her cheek.
"Thank you, Relena, for understanding."
Relena smiled and shyly brushed a lock of hair out of Quatre's beautiful aquamarine eyes. Their wedding was scheduled for next month. Although not a marriage of love, they both admired and trusted the other, making the marriage of convenience into something more tolerable.
"Of course I understand. I'm worried about them too. You have to call me as soon as they return!"
Quatre smiled. As heir to the most influential family in space, it was a bold move for him to propose to the Queen of the World. Relena immediately understood his reasoning. Their union would unite the earth with the colonies, hopefully ending much of the conflicts occurring in space. He only regretted that it couldn't be done sooner...and it couldn't be for love.
After assuring Relena that he would contact her the minute he heard anything and promising to "say hi to Heero" for her, Quatre made his way to his limo, shaking his head. Relena loved to tease the stern Japanese boy. She had long ago disposed of her childish fascination with Heero. She was forced to grow up when she became the Earth's representative. But that didn't mean that she had stopped tormenting the stoic pilot every chance she got.
Rashid opened the door to the black Lincoln for the exhausted boy. He then joined his young master in the limo's comfortable depths. He sat across from Quatre, carefully pouring some tea. The big hands carefully handed a cup to the Winner heir.
"Thank you, Rashid." Quatre sat back and watched the scenery pass by.
"Quatre-sama. Master Chang called while you were attending Miss Relena's meeting. He told me not to interrupt you but asked that you called him as soon as possible."
Quatre brought up his view screen, wondering what WuFei could need that interrupted his time with Treize. After a few rings, someone picked up.
"Treize-sama?"
"Greeting Quatre Winner. I'm afraid WuFei is indisposed at the moment." The comment was given entirely strait faced. Quatre blushed.
"Oh! Ah, I was just curious as to what he wanted, but umm, I'll call back at a more convenient time."
"Not at all, Winner-san. WuFei was just going to inform you that we found out something about what they were tinkering with on the moon base."
"You found something?"
"My contact told me it had something to do with the Zero System." Treize's eyes darkened.
Quatre felt his heart leap into his throat. Zero system? Things were more serious than they thought. The Zero System was dangerous. Chill bumps ran up and down his arms in remembrance of what the foul system was capable of. He shuddered.
"Then I'm glad that Trowa and Duo succeeded in destroying the base."
The image on the screen nodded. "As am I."
Quatre hesitated. "Have you...heard anything?"
"We've had no word from either Barton or that baka, Maxwell." WuFei's robed form appeared in the screen. "Forgive me, I was showering."
Quatre bit his lip. "I see..."
"They haven't reported in yet?" WuFei asked.
Quatre shook his head. "They haven't even showed up on L4. If they had, my men would know about it."
WuFei frowned darkly. "This is all that idiot Maxwell's fault. Trowa wouldn't be careless enough to let us sit around and worry about them."
Quatre smiled inwardly as WuFei continued to rant about Duo. He knew the Chinese pilot was upset and that he was taking his frustration out on the absent American. Deep down, he was probably worried sick. An urgent beeping interrupted Quatre's musings.
"Hold on a minute, WuFei. I've got another call." He pushed a button and Heero's face popped onto the view screen. The Japanese pilot looked like hell. Dark smudges lined his Prussian eyes and his hair was more mussed than usual. Those dark-blue eyes bored into Quatre's.
"Heero, what's the matter?"
"Home. Now." The link was cut.
"That was quick." WuFei observed. "Who was it?"
Quatre looked at the image of the Chinese pilot, eyes troubled. "Heero." He saw WuFei lean forward.
"Is it bad?" Sloe- eyes demanded the answer be no.
"Whatever it is, it's not good."
Heero paced the hall, waiting for the Winner heir to return home. WuFei was taking Trieze's private shuttle and should be back within the hour. So there was nothing to do but wait. The Wing pilot slammed his fist through the wall in frustration. He hated waiting. He was a man of action, and disliked this helpless feeling creeping into his chest.
Suddenly, the door slammed open and Quatre came running through. The blonde grabbed the startled boy's shoulder and started firing questions at a speed that would make Duo proud.
"Where are they? Are they hurt? Did you talk to them? Why haven't they contacted us?"
Heero pulled irritably away from the Arabian. He inhaled deeply, trying to calm his jarred nerves. When his spoke, his voice did not stray from his normal monotone.
"I suggest you get packed. I contacted Howard and got us a shuttle. We're going to Outer Space. Tonight." Not trusting his voice further he turned and left the startled boy.
Hold on Duo.
Trowa rose to his feet as a figure was thrown into the cell. If you could call it that. He thought irritably as he surveyed the transparent walls. Their test subject was not going to go unmonitored. The banged boy knelt swiftly beside his fallen companion. He gently pulled Duo's head onto his lap and began to soothingly stroke back the other boy's hair.
"You okay?" He whispered. Loud noises would cause Duo even more pain.
Violet eyes fluttered open and shut tightly once again.
"Hai. Just have one hell of a headache." He tried to grin but failed miserably. Violet pools peeked at Trowa from behind dark lashes.
"What are we on?"
Trowa's arms tightened imperceptivity on the braided boy. Green eyes hardened.
"Twenty-four percent."
"Ah." Duo's eyes shut tiredly and he rolled over, burying his head into Trowa's stomach.
"I wish Heero was here." He murmured against the soft fabric of the Latin boy's turtleneck.
Emerald eyes closed in anguish as the sting of tears threatened. Trowa let them fall. I'm sorry Duo. I failed. I couldn't protect you. Heero wouldn't have let this happen. I'm worthless... He forced himself to talk past the lump in his throat.
"He'll be here. He'll stop them."
Duo sat up slowly and gently wiped away the other's tears. Trowa felt soft lips brush against his. With a sigh, Duo pulled back.
"I'm glad I'm not alone." The braided boy wrapped his arms around the silent pilot. Trowa hugged him fiercely, determined to ignore the voice that kept screaming in his head: Worthless!
Worthless...
End Part Four
(:./astrokender/integrate4)
