21-Feb-2001
Disclaimer: I don't own GW. I'm poor. So get a soul and leave me alone. This story is for entertainment only. It has violence, blood (hey I suffer..so do the charaters!) something that might be considered yaoi, and other things that might offend. If you can't deal, don't read.
Duo awoke feeling relaxed, warm, and comfortable. Smiling, he stretched like a great, lithe panther. However, the smile slowly slid from his lips as he remembered the facts of his world. All the other pilots were dead; murdered though no one believed him. The killer also claimed Zechs and Une among his victims. The cycle of death had once more worked its way back to him. Just like all the other times in his life. A look of profound pain haunted his violet eyes.
The covers were suddenly pulled back and his window shade opened, causing the sun to shine happily into the room.
"Damn it, Quatre." The young man groaned. "You are too fucking cheerful in the morning." What might have been laughter flitted softly through the room.
Something unseen seized Duo's legs and yanked him off the bed.
"Heero!" The living man yelped. "Are you trying to kill me?"
Again soft sounds filled the room.
"I don't have to go to work today! I told you that last week."
Duo's hips were suddenly pulled back and his legs thrust apart, a clear out line of hand on his hips.
"Insatiable," he moaned. The soft sounds were repeated. "Fine, I'll take a shower."
The longhaired young man made his way to the bathroom, seemingly oblivious to the many strange occurrences taking place around him. The bed stripped itself while clean sheets floated down the hall. In the kitchen, the refrigerator opened and invisible hands removed a carton of eggs and some butter. A pan floated to the stove, which was then turned on. As Duo bathed, breakfast cooked with no one there.
The cameras recorded everything and Hilde sent a live feed straight to Relena and Noin's offices. The last living Gundam pilot really was being haunted. Nothing else made any sense. So the claims of murder were still in the realm of possibility. The young woman sent a message recommending Duo receive immediate protection.
A sudden flicker near the windshield of her van was all the warning the Preventer got before a dark figure threw open the sliding door and came at her. Hilde got the impression of great speed and strength, but that was all. Then nothing existed outside the darkness.
Inside the house, Duo stepped from the shower a towel riding low on slender hips. The dining room table held a plate of bacon and eggs. A mug of coffee just to the right of the plate. Violet eyes lit with real joy at the sight.
"What would I do without you guys?" He murmured quietly.
Sitting down, Duo began to eat. A prickling along the back of his neck set off deeply ingrained instincts and he threw himself sidewise toward the middle of room and out of the chair. Spinning around, he saw three men dressed in black, faces covered with ski masks. All three held guns point directly at his heart.
"Very good, Duo," The biggest man said. Duo dubbed him the leader. "You haven't lost your touch."
The three men were slightly spread out, making it harder to get all of them at the same time. Two were giants, at least as big as Rashid. The former pilot dreaded finding out how much of them was really muscle. The smallest man was still over a foot taller than Duo and outweighed him by at least fifty pounds. This was going to be a tough fight. Very tough.
"Who are you? What do you want?"
"Neither is something you need to know." The leader calmly stated. "All you need to know is that you are coming with us. Now."
"I don't know who sent you, but they should have warned you." Duo smiled coldly. "I kind of have a problem with authority." He finished the sentence already moving.
Ducking low to avoid any bullets, Duo struck the closest and smallest man with his shoulder and vaulted past him. Cursing loudly, the other two pursued him. The American knew his best chance was to get away; at least get into public. His death was not going to be written off as an accident or suicide. He owned the others that much.
He made it to the door and threw it open only to be met with a solid punch to his stomach. Gasping for breath, Duo collapsed to the ground. A hand sank into his hair, forcing him to look up at his assailant and dragging him from the door, which was closed behind them. A tall, arrogant looking man stared down at him. The young fighter memorized the face. Pale skin, ice green eyes, aristocratic features, long dark blond hair.
The other men quickly reached him and Duo's hands were crossed and tied behind his back with a plastic tie; something he couldn't pick or break and far too generic to give him any clues to the men's identity. His ankles soon followed. These guys were prepared. The chances of escaping looked dismal.
"Almost as much trouble as Heero," the new man said so quietly, Duo nearly missed it.
"You killed them?" Violet eyes flashed with sudden fury. "You're the assholes?"
His outburst earned him a backhand from the aristocrat.
"You will not address us in such a manner, Duo." The man's voice was cultured and smooth. "The knife."
The last was directed to the leader of the thugs who drew a three inch long, serrated blade from his boot.
"A little blood and your braid will stop anyone from searching for you." The pale man drew the sharp edge along his captive's thigh slicing flesh with ease. The three men in black laughed at the sight of red slowly trickling down the troublemaker's leg. All four aggressors ignored the strange breeze building around them.
"Who the fuck are you," Duo demanded, struggling to get free and avoid the weapon. "Why the hell are you doing this? Where do you get off calling me Duo?"
"The fly doesn't ask the spider questions, Duo." The blond whispered in his ear. "It just dies."
With that, the man place the blade just under the former terrorist's left ear.
"We need him alive!" The biggest guy yelled desperately and then all hell broke loose.
A tornado formed near the door tearing the knife out of the green-eyed man's hand driving into the wall with such force it came out in the next room. Objects floated on the wind and flew at the men. What felt like hands tore at their clothing, driving them from the helpless home owner. Soon they could see nothing through the debris surrounding them.
"What's going on?" Thug number three tried to yell over the wind's noise.
"It doesn't matter," The aristocrat was yelling. "Get Duo. It is past time to leave."
Just as suddenly as the wind had started, it died. Various things fell to the floor, making the room visible again. In the center of it floated the still bound Duo, his face twisted in rage.
"I-I-It's true," the biggest thug stammered. "They were right. It really is Him!"
Terror took over the man's features and he once more pulled his gun.
"No you fool!" The aristocrat screamed, the calm he oozed finally broken.
He was too late. The panicked killer managed to fire two rounds before something that looked like a conglomeration of their past victims swallowed him. All any of them could see was a gray shadow where the man once stood; a shadow that was fast becoming red, blood red.
"Run," the blond man ordered. "Return to headquarters."
The remaining pair fled, followed closely by their cultured partner. Behind them, the cloud slowly dissipated, leaving only a smug on the carpet. The damage, however, had been done. Lying on his face,arms and legs still tied, lay Duo. A small crimson stain slow spreading outwards from his chest and head. A scream of agony and rage echoed through the house. Five blocks away people heard it and were afraid. Something terrible had been loosed on the world and deep in their souls they knew death was no longer a thing to be feared. No, it was something to pray for.
End Part 2
Phoenix
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