08-Nov-2000
Disclaimer: I do not own the Gundam Wing characters, nor am I making
any money from this. The ideas of a Confessor and Mord-Sith are
borrowed from Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth novels without
permission.
Warnings: Angst AU Shounen-ai
Pairings: 1+2 3+4
Halas, Sank Kingdom
Quatre had just received the news that Heero and Wufei had arrived. He had spent the entire week planning the upcoming mission and was all set to go. But first he had to get through the hardest part, breaking the news to Heero that Duo was alive. He knew from experience that a professional, detached manner was best when dealing with Heero Yuy.
A small noise drew his attention to the doorway and he turned. It was Queen Relena.
The petite blue-eyed queen stepped into the small sitting room where he was waiting and smiled encouragingly. Her tawny hair was pulled back in a simple yet elegant twist. The dress she had chosen for the day was a light blue with white accents. The only adornment she wore was her crown.
"Paragon is bringing them up," she reported. He put on his best 'diplomatic' face but she easily saw through it. She took his hand and squeezed it. "You will do just fine. Remember, they are your friends. Together you will get through this." She smiled kindly at him. "I see that you are going to take this opportunity to test your diplomatic skills."
He smiled back at her and nodded, swallowing in a vain attempt to get some moisture in his dry mouth. Walking to the small table, the Queen poured him some water out of the waiting pitcher; then she handed to him in an ornate metal cup.
"Here, this is a good prop. If you need a few seconds to gather your thoughts, just take a sip. It also helps not to have a dry mouth when speaking." She sat down in a chair in the corner. As the ruler of the Sank Kingdom, she had every right to be there. Privately, she felt her presence might aid Quatre in his difficult task.
"Thank you, your majesty."
Quatre sipped the water, willing his hand not to shake. The blond mage knew he was unduly nervous and tried to reassure himself that there was nothing to fear. But in the next instant he nearly dropped the cup when Paragon ushered the two dusty soldiers into the room. The gray-haired man then left them to talk in private, closing the door behind him.
"Major Heero Yuy, Chang Wufei, it's good to see you again," Relena greeted them, smiling with pleasure. Both the soldiers bowed to the Sank Queen. Quatre was grateful for Relena's presence and was happy to let her break the ice.
When Heero and Wufei straightened up, Heero's cobalt gaze centered squarely on Quatre, clearly waiting for their orders. Quatre inhaled deeply, trying to calm his racing heart.
"Heero, Wufei, it's been a long time. I'm glad both of you are well," Quatre greeted his friends. He knew he was stalling and from the look Heero gave him, the major knew it as well. But Quatre decided he would not be rushed.
Wufei grinned, glad to see Quatre again. "Winner, I see that the easy life seems to agree with you," he commented, half teasing.
The blademaster was right. Quatre remained small and slender, and a few wisps of his blond hair still fell into his large blue eyes; but there was an air of confidence about him now that had replaced his insecurity. Quatre had been a mere novice magic-user when he first teamed with Heero, Wufei and Trowa. But he had grown up fast in their presence. He had also managed to master his skewed magic, and as a result was now one of the most powerful mages in the Midlands.
Quatre's High magic had become tainted when he and Duo had combined their magics to combat the minotaurs in the King's Gorge three years ago. They hadn't realized that Duo's Wild magic was incompatible with Quatre's and the resulting explosion of power had nearly killed their entire group when Quatre lost control of the spell. Some elements of Duo's magic had tangled with Quatre's, leaving the young mage's power forever changed.
The combination of High and Wild magic turned out to be an incredible power boost, but it had taken Quatre a long time to master his new power again to the point of using it without fear of inadvertently destroying innocent bystanders.
The blond mage grinned back at the blademaster. "Wufei, I think that I'm not the only one who is enjoying an easy life. Didn't you take a teaching job?"
One black eyebrow rose as Wufei stared skeptically at Quatre. "Easy?" he snorted a laugh. "Teaching 20 new soldiers every six weeks how not to hack themselves apart, let alone their comrades, is not considered easy, my friend." Wufei glanced around the room, noting the absence of the tall ranger who was usually never far from the blond mage's side. He figured Trowa's absence had something to do with the upcoming mission.
Quatre's grin grew wider. He was starting to relax a little. Then he looked at Heero again. The major was watching their exchange with barely-hidden impatience. Mentally, Quatre sighed. He knew he had to get down to business.
"Please, sit down," he gestured to the remaining chairs. Wufei and Heero, both tired from the long ride, chose a seat and accepted cups of iced water that Quatre poured for them. After they both had sipped politely, Heero spoke.
"What's the mission, Quatre?"
Quatre studied the dark-haired soldier for a minute. The past three years had taken their toll on Heero Yuy. Physically, he was still perfect. His slender frame was pure muscle. He carried himself with the same no-nonsense air that declared 'purpose'. Thick dark hair that refused to obey a comb tumbled over his forehead and into his eyes. But those eyes were changed, Quatre decided. There was something burning behind the cobalt gaze. Something almost haunted.
Quatre inhaled, and then let the breath out slowly; he had decided to start the briefing by taking an oblique approach.
"We have been keeping an eye on Odin Lowe to make sure we will be prepared for the next time he tries to invade the Midlands. By 'we' I mean Trowa and myself. Howard requested that we be assigned to the Intelligence division several months ago. You don't know this, but Trowa has been in Erudin for some time now, gathering information for Treize." Quatre paused to take a sip of water, mentally thanking Relena as he gathered his thoughts.
Neither Heero nor Wufei commented. Each was content to let Quatre finish before they started asking questions.
"A few months ago, Emperor Odin Lowe conquered the two kingdoms of Kunark and Faydwer after three years of fighting. The troubling part is that he was able to achieve this without the use of his army. We didn't know how he had accomplished this; Howard and Treize concluded that the Emperor had come up with a new weapon, but were unable to confirm their theory. Finally, a few weeks ago, Trowa was successful in discovering the weapon. General Treize feels it is of utmost importance to deal with this threat as soon as possible. Our mission is to go to Erudin and eliminate the weapon before Odin Lowe has a chance to turn it against either the Midlands or Oz. We will be going undercover to gain access to the Palace. I will be posing as a diplomatic envoy. The two of you will be my escort." Quatre finished his briefing but knew that the hardest part was still to come. He took another sip of water.
"What is the nature of the weapon? Is it magical?" Wufei wanted to know.
"Yes, it is definitely magical in nature." Quatre drew a deep breath and took the plunge. "It is a Confessor."
Wufei's eyebrows crawled up to his hairline as he absorbed that little piece of news. Heero became stiller, if possible, however his cobalt eyes blazed with ice and his knuckles turned white as he held the cup of water.
"A Confessor? I thought that race became extinct when Duo died," Wufei commented after a moment's silence. "I guess Treize missed another one."
Quatre shook his head, bracing himself. "No, Duo is the last one."
"Is?" Wufei questioned, stunned. He sat looking at the blond mage as though he was crazy. Quatre didn't blame him; he had felt the same way upon hearing the news. "Are you telling us that Duo is still alive?"
The young mage soberly nodded. The silence in the room was deafening. Quatre let the stunning news sink in a moment. He sipped some more water while surreptitiously watching his former comrades. Heero hadn't moved an inch. The blond actually looked to see if the major was still breathing.
He was.
"Duo is still alive," Wufei repeated in wonder, trying to get past the shock.
"Are you sure?" Heero spoke for the first time; his voice was flat. Quatre looked at Heero, desperately trying to keep his 'diplomatic' expression in place. Heero needed a strong friend right now, not one that wanted with all his heart to take the cobalt-eyed young man in his arms and reassure him that everything would be all right. That would be a lie in any case.
"Yes, Trowa spoke to him personally in the Palace of Light. Later, he was able to confirm that Duo, acting on the Emperor's orders, touched the king of Kunark with his power. Then the King, as Duo's slave, signed an official surrender. The Emperor had Duo repeat the same maneuver in Faydwer," Quatre explained.
"Wait a minute, why would Duo help Odin Lowe?" Wufei demanded. The shock was wearing off a little and the thought process starting up once more. It didn't make sense that Duo, who had supposedly given his life to stop the Emperor's plans for domination, would suddenly be helping him.
"Trowa said Duo didn't recognize him. Sally Po believes that what happened at Bitterroot may have affected his mind in some way. With the sheer amount of chaotic magic Duo had unleashed, it was entirely possible he was caught in some sort of backlash."
Again silence filled the room as the two soldiers struggled to accept what they were hearing. Wufei thought about what the mission would do to his friend. He knew that there had been some sort of relationship between Heero and Duo, though Wufei had never discussed the subject with anyone. He suspected Quatre had known about it as well. He searched for alternatives that would be less painful.
"If that's the case, why do we have to kill Duo? Couldn't we just go to Erudin and bring him back?" Wufei genuinely liked Duo. The blademaster had spent much time with the braided Confessor, teaching Duo how to use a sword. It was then that Wufei found out how much he liked to teach. Until that point, all his focus had been on his performance and how to improve it. After Bitterroot, Wufei approached Treize and offered to show the soldiers how to become better at swordsmanship. Treize, knowing how good Wufei was, had gladly accepted his offer.
The prospect of killing Duo made him very uncomfortable. The thought that Heero would be a part of it sent a dagger of fear for his friend through his heart. Heero had survived these last three years only because of his indomitable will to complete his missions, not because he had wanted to live. On every mission that Heero had gone on since Bitterroot, the dark-haired soldier had taken ridiculous chances as if he were tempting fate. Looking back on it now, Wufei understood that Heero had been actively trying to end his life without committing suicide.
Wufei knew without a doubt that if Heero were to complete this mission, the dark-haired soldier would find a way to die and, this time, would succeed.
Heero didn't move throughout the exchange. He just sat in his chair, holding his cup of water. There was no expression on his face, but his eyes frightened Quatre.
"No, Treize made it very clear that Duo has to be eliminated. He is too much of a danger to the Midlands to be allowed to live, especially now, since Odin Lowe has had him for such a long time. We aren't sure how much of an influence the Emperor has had on Duo." Quatre had already argued about this with Howard. There was no leeway in their orders.
"If Trowa is already in Erudin, why doesn't Treize just have him kill Duo? Wouldn't that be easier?" Wufei asked. He didn't want to endanger Trowa, but he wanted to spare Heero.
"Trowa is of more value at this time as a spy than as an assassin. We can't take the chance that he might be caught. Odin Lowe will inevitably try to invade the Midlands again and Trowa will be needed to give us any information on the Emperor's plans." Quatre and Howard had talked about this too.
Quatre looked back and forth from Wufei to Heero, who still hadn't moved. Quatre was beginning to get seriously worried.
"So we have to go to Erudin and eliminate Maxwell," Wufei mused, not liking the idea at all but knowing he'd have to accept it. "How?"
Quatre grimaced with distaste. "I have been thinking about that. From what we know about the nature of Duo's power, there are some things to keep in mind. Physically, getting too close to Duo is the greatest danger. All he has to do is Touch any one of us and the whole mission will be over. Given that, it would seem that long- range weapons such as arrows or a thrown dagger would be the best option. One point in our favor is that Duo cannot be healed by magic. Therefore he cannot recover from a mortal wound. However, the population of the Palace numbers somewhere near a thousand at any given time. Odin Lowe would be very careful about who his prize pet mingles with while unsupervised. Undoubtedly, he has Duo guarded very carefully. So, though it is safer to eliminate Duo with a ranged weapon, the chances of it succeeding are rather slim."
Wufei listened intently. He preferred to have Duo die a clean death with honor rather than getting stabbed in the back like some worthless criminal. Heero didn't move.
"Another thing to keep in mind is that though he cannot be healed by magic, it cannot hurt him either. That eliminates any direct damage attacks that I can cast on him. Plus, any magic used in the Palace is strictly monitored. Chances are that a dampening field would be thrown up before I could finish the spell."
Quatre could hardly believe what he heard himself saying. His voice was so calm and rational. He sounded like he was talking about the weather rather than planning an assassination of a former friend. He sipped his water and continued.
"I think a fast-acting poison would have the best chance. There would be no magic to alert the Palace security systems, nor would there be any obvious bloody knives. It would be painless, neat and effective." Quatre discretely wiped away the sweat on his forehead. It was the best plan he could devise. All he needed now was Heero's approval. The blond mage looked at the major, then at the blademaster.
"Do you have such a poison?" Wufei asked.
"Yes, I have obtained some fruit of the Jatropha."
Wufei's black eyes widened as he recognized the rare, deadly plant from his native homeland. The nuts from the tree were especially dangerous because they tasted so good. Anyone who ate them would want more, not realizing the true nature of the nuts until they started having difficulty breathing. By then it would far too late for any remedy.
Wufei considered the plan, looking for flaws, but Quatre had given a lot of thought to his reasoning and Wufei could not find any faults. He nodded once, he would go along with the plan and at this time had nothing to add.
Then Heero moved at last. He put his cup down and stood up. He walked to the door, pausing as he put one hand on the handle to open it. He spoke two words in the calmest monotone Quatre had ever heard.
"Mission accepted."
Heero opened the door, strode out into the hall and was gone.
Relena, who had sat silently though the whole meeting looked sympathetically at Quatre. She stood up and, nodding to Wufei, who rose when she did, turned to the blond mage.
"We'll help you get ready to go. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask." She leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on Quatre's cheek. Again, she nodded to Wufei and started to the door.
Quatre and Wufei bowed as she left the room. Then Wufei turned to Quatre, whose attention was focused on something else. The blond mage walked over to where Heero had been sitting and picked up the half-empty cup. He could see deep dents in the sides from where the cobalt-eyed soldier had gripped it. Wufei shook his head when Quatre held up the cup for his inspection.
"I have a bad feeling about this."
Quatre nodded solemnly as he put the cup down.
Heero strode down the hallway, looking neither right nor left. His compact body moved with the unconscious feral grace of a plains cat. But, under that grace, he was as tense as a bowstring. His muscles quivered with pent-up energy, thus the need to move.
Duo was alive.
He walked past guards and castle staff. He didn't acknowledge any greetings; he never broke his steady, measured pace like a hunter stalking his prey. As his body struggled with his tension, his mind struggled with the deep shock. As a defense, he fell back on his training. He had a mission to plan. He had a purpose.
Duo was alive.
And it was Heero's mission to eliminate him.
The analytical part of his mind was already deciding what supplies they would need, the best route to take, alternate routes, back-up plans and strategies for completion of the mission itself.
He never considered what would happen after the mission was complete. Never once did he plan for the return journey. He had no intention of returning. His enjoyment of life ended three years ago, leaving only existence. He had wondered why he had continued to live since then. On every mission he offered his life to death, and each time it was rejected. Now he knew why he had lived. He had to complete this particular mission.
There would be no more missions after this one. Heero would make sure of that.
Heero found himself entering the stables. The scents of hay and horses and leather filled his lungs as he inhaled. The sounds of rustling hay as the horses ate and the occasional stamp of a hoof were the only sounds he could hear. He picked up a brush lying on a trunk and made his way toward the stalls. A soft nicker greeted him as he opened Wing's stall door and entered. The tall colt pushed against Heero's chest with his soft muzzle. Heero automatically reached up and brushed the thick silver forelock out of the colt's large liquid eyes. For a long moment he stared into those eyes that seemed wiser than the young stallion's true age. A sense of peace that always accompanied the moons' shade colt permeated through his body.
Heero moved to the colt's side and raised the brush up to Wing's neck and started to work the silver coat. The brush glided over the silky hair, removing any dust and dirt that had accumulated during the journey, making the silver seem almost gilded.
The repetitive motion helped ease the tension from his body as the presence of the young stallion helped focus the tangle of thoughts in his mind. He started sorting through the jumbled emotions as he unsnarled the long mane. Strangely, this reminded him of the time he had brushed Duo's hair when the Confessor's broken wrist had hindered Duo from doing it for himself. It was here in this very castle that Heero had realized that he had deep feelings the braided Confessor, even though he had refused to acknowledge them until after they had crossed the storm barrier.
Duo was alive.
His mind kept returning to that one fact.
Duo was ALIVE.
A part of him wished desperately that it was a joke, a lie, anything but the truth. Another part of him was trembling with fear that it might be a joke, or a lie, wanting desperately to believe it was the truth.
He didn't know what to think or what he should feel. He stared at the long mane in front of him, but the silver seemed to be overlaid with chestnut. He blinked, shaking his head to rid himself of the illusion. His breath was coming in short gasps as he fought for control of his thoughts and emotions.
'Dammit soldier, get a grip' he ordered himself sternly. The colt turned his head, looked at Heero, and the cobalt-eyed soldier found some reassurance it that steady regard.
A soft, feminine voice from somewhere in the mists of the distant past had told him once, 'Trust your feelings'.
He grabbed that thought and clung to it like a drowning person will cling to a rope.
His mission was to eliminate the threat that Duo posed to Oz and the Midlands. He didn't know what would happen when he saw Duo again, but he decided to trust his feelings. If he felt that killing Duo was the right course of action, then he would do it.
Heero realized that he had been standing still, his fingers gripping the silver strands of mane like a lifeline.
Dammit.
Forcing himself to focus on his task again, he returned to planning the mission.
End Part 3
(:./annabell/sith3)
