25-May-2000
Real life has been getting -completely- in the way of my writing, but I finally managed to squeeze out some time to write something. Figured I had to pick up somewhere, and it was probably better to do it a bit at a time. Will probably add to this chapter later; it is kinda short after all.
C&C appreciated, as always.
They watched intently the replay of the recording of the battle. "Here, right here," Heero tapped a button causing the video to slow to half its speed. "His heart rate accelerated and brainwaves fluctuated wildly at this point.
"I don't get it," Wufei remarked after a minute or two. "Nothing we've witnessed is even remotely out of the
ordinary.""Maybe we should watch it again," Heero said with the patience of the truly stubborn as he hit the 'Stop' button, then the 'Rewind'.
"Maybe we should approach this problem obliquely," Duo fiddled absent-mindedly with the end of his braid. "We've watched this five times and we're not any closer to unraveling the mystery." He began to nibble on his braid, violet eyes distant. Heero reached over and tugged the braid away, but Duo only cast him a reproachful look. "I'm thinking."
"Think with your mouth close."
"Heero, how smart is your computer?"
"Fairly smart," Heero said cautiously, immediately wary of the unholy gleam of pure genius in the violet eyes. Duo was dangerous when his natural intelligence got the better of him.
"Smart enough to analyze the results of Trowa's brain scan at the moment of his distress, and separate it into its finer components - perhaps tell us if the fluctuations began in the audio or visual or -"
But Heero had already grasped the direction of Duo's thought process, and his fingers were already flying over the computer keyboard, entering a rapid sequence of commands. Then he leaned back, watching the screen intently as the computer churned out the results, both on screen and on paper.
"Here!" Duo triumphantly lifted the piece of paper from the printer and slammed it down on the table. His finger traced an area shaded a deep violet, indicating extreme activity on the pictorial representation of Trowa's mental activity. "Right here is where it started."
Wufei stared at the piece of paper, dark eyes growing wide as he began to draw on information he had once studied... once known. "The auditory center. Trowa was reacting to something he -heard-!"
It was half an hour later when Quatre returned to their company. "Found anything yet?" the Arabian inquired in his usual soft, well-modulated voice as he settled gracefully into a chair. Duo cast him a hard look. Quatre looked drained, utterly exhausted, but Duo recognized the determined gleam in the blue eyes and the se t of his mouth. The Arabian was simply -not- giving up.
"How is Trowa?" Wufei's question diverted Quatre's attention only briefly.
"Resting. He managed to keep the panic under control this time, but probably only because he knew it was coming. Still, it was almost more than he could handle. Whatever it was frightened him deeply and badly. Have you found out what it might be?"
"Right here," Duo nodded towards the screen. "Listen."
There was a brief moment of silence as the video replayed. Quatre's eyes narrowed. "This is when you managed to crack into the OZ communication channel briefly. "
"Exactly! And we think that it's this voice - it can't possibly be the words because those are words and commands we've all used before - that sets him off! The voice of the commander of that OZ mobile unit. Then Mr. Heero Computer-Nerd Yuy hacks into the OZ networks, searches operations and personnel files and..." Duo paused for dramatic effect. If he had been standing up, he would probably have struck an equally dramatic Michaelangelo-esque pose. "And. Guess. What. He. Finds. Out?"
"Can I have the story without dramatics please, Duo?" Quatre asked, just a little plaintively.
"He's Captain Leroy Travis," Wufei picked up the story as Duo settled down in false meekness under Heero's hard, warning stare. "He has served OZ for just a little over two years. Prior to that, he was leader of a mercenary unit on L3."
Quatre blinked, eyes wide with surprise. "L3?"
"And leader of a mercenary unit," the Chinese pilot confirmed. Dark eyes assessed Quatre carefully.
"That's it, isn't it?" the blond-haired Arabian said quietly, his eyes distant and introspective. "He's one of those who hurt Trowa once before... "
The quiet voice contained no anger, yet there was just the subtlest hint of deadly violence in the calm tone. Duo cast Heero a brief, side glance, and that sing le glance held understanding and consensus. They would stand behind Quatre all the way, however insane and dangerous his intentions and plans.
The frighteningly calm, quiet voice continued. "We will hunt down this Captain and deliver him up to Trowa. Trowa can have his revenge, and then he will know then that there is no longer anything to fear... "
End Part 8
(:./danyale/true8)
