Disclaimers: I don't own em, I'm just messing with'em. AU, angsty, eventually some yaoi, maybe?
"Let me get this straight. This place used to be a super-secret lab of Doctor J's, where he performed an important experiment years ago."
"Aa."
"And now it's swarming with OZ soldiers who are planning to get all this equipment and info and stuff of Dr. J's."
"Aa."
"And we're supposed to go in there, get the stuff first, and get back out before all the mobile suits arrive."
"Aa."
"Do you realize this is completely INSANE?!"
"Hai."
"Okay, just making sure we're all on the same page. Let's kick ass!"
"Oi, Heero, where's this place at? Seems like we're in the middle of nowhere here." Duo observed loudly, the wind whipping at his hair as their motorcycle sped down the road. They'd left the last town behind quite a while back, and the twisting road had led them deep into the forest. Heero grunted softly in lieu of a reply, and turned quickly onto a smaller dirt road. Fresh tire tracks marred its surface, evidence of OZ's presence in the area.
"Visual contact in thirty seconds," Heero announced, swerving to avoid a large rock half-buried in their path. Duo looked ahead expectantly. "What the heck?!" he exclaimed, eyes bulging. "Heero, you've gotta be kiddin' me!" His partner did not reply.
Ahead of them was a small cottage, set back in the trees. The walls were made of large round stones, and ivy crawled up its sides. Flower gardens decorated the front yard, now wild and overgrown from years without tending. It was quaint; it was charming; it was certainly not what one expected to be housing a top-secret lab. Duo fought the urge to burst out laughing as Heero brought the bike to a halt, several hundred yards from the house.
"The preliminary force is inside, securing the location," he announced calmly. "Perimeter guards should be in the woods nearby. We need to hide the bike before advancing." Duo hopped off the seat, searching the area. "Sounds like a plan," he nodded. Reaching into his pocket, he retreived his small radio communicator. "Oi, Quatre, how you doin'?" he asked, depressing the button. His friend's voice came back, quiet and scratchy. "All set, Duo. I can be there within two minutes, and your Gundams are ready for Autopilot on your signal, if you need them."
"Yosh'! We'll keep ya posted, Q!" Duo announced, turning to Heero. The silent boy had already efficiently hidden the motorcyle in the underbrush. "Iku zo," he announced. Together they swept toward the house, keeping to the shadows, silent even on the dried needles and twigs carpeting the ground.
<Can't shake this feeling, man...> Duo mused as he crept toward the door, gun in hand. <Just something in the air... One thing's sure, though... Shinigami's sure looking forward to getting some action. Things have been way too calm lately. Heh. Never figured myself for an adrenaline junkie.> Crouching near the doorway, he stuffed his gun in his waistband and reached into his hair, withdrawing his lockpicks and a tiny vial of oil. Heero remained behind him, keen eyes narrowed and watchful.
In moments, the door was open. Duo retrieved his gun and slipped inside, swiftly scanning the area. Nodding to Heero, he moved forward. His partner joined him inside, glancing quickly about, reorienting himself.
<I know this place,> Heero thought suddenly. He frowned. He couldn't remember ever being here, or when it would have been. But the feeling of familiarity would not go away. Acting on instinct, he moved to the right, into a small hallway. Duo followed soundlessly, watching their backs as he went.
<There. The bedroom. That's what we're looking for.> Heero moved forward confidently, then froze against the wall near the door. Incredibly faint sounds were coming from inside, sounding somewhat hollow, like an echo. Duo was unaware of them; they were far beyond the range of human hearing. Swiftly, he pivoted into the doorway, pistol ready. Inside the small, dusty bedroom, the bed had been tilted up to lean against the wall, and underneath, a large metal trapdoor was held open by pistons.
Heero inhaled sharply. This, too, was familiar. And he could hear the OZ men inside, moving around. Metallic echoes rang through the room, softly. Heero turned to Duo, meeting his eyes and nodding once. <I'm going in.> Facing the trapdoor, he jumped into the blackness within.
Duo stared after Heero had disappeared, startled by the Wing pilot's sudden leap. He could hear Heero's sneakers touch ground softly a moment later, and he shrugged. <Well, here goes nothing.>
Then he stepped forward, into the dark.
End Part 4
(:./madcat/separate4)
