Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Appleseeds ❯ Episode 8: Friend or Foe? ( Chapter 8 )

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Gundam Wing.

Episode Eight: Friend or Foe? (January 1, 280 AE)

“The Preventers have taken a highly classified captive into custody. Are the twins both accounted for?”

“Yes Grandpapa, they are lying low for a while. I have informed them that Midek is most unhappy with them.”

“My sources at Preventers are having trouble gaining access. Use the girl to find out what you can.”

“My thoughts exactly Grandpapa.”

~*~

Heero watched intently as Sally checked on her patient, his left hand pressed firmly against the observation window. The figure on the small hospital cot lay unmoving; his face obscured by an oxygen mask. Sally stood at the foot of the bed, examining the tablet monitoring her patient's vital readings and making small adjustments to the medical equipment lining the entire side of the room.

Wufei exited the small lab next to the makeshift hospital room and noticed Heero's stiff posture and tense expression. Stepping next to his colleague, Wufei gently cleared his throat and tried to ease the tension in the air.

“I guess that would be the infamous `tail' those hysterical rookies described in their report,” Wufei smirked, gesturing at the dishevelled braid trailing out from under the covers and hanging just inches above the floor.

“Their report should not be taken at face value; the rookies were untrained and unprepared to deal with the situation. Their responses of fear and panic no doubt caused them to see things that were misleading,” Heero replied blandly, his eyes never leaving the small room.

Wufei sighed in exasperation. “I was merely trying to lighten the mood Yuy. We successfully completed the mission yet here you are acting as though we had failed.”

“He almost died Wufei.”

Wufei mentally cringed when Heero used his first name. Obviously Heero was more distraught than he was letting on. “Well he didn't and Sally's got him stabilized and on his way to recovery.”

“He stopped breathing!” Heero stubbornly continued to berate himself. “I tackled him too hard and broke his ribs and punctured a lung!”

“And as I'm sure you'll recall, Trowa re-inflated his lung and got him breathing again. We brought him back here where Sally successfully repaired the damage to his lungs and ribs.” Wufei patiently reminded him. “He's now getting treatment for his pneumonia and he's going to be fine.”

“He's right you know,” Sally agreed, exiting the small hospital room and removing her surgical mask. “Don't beat yourself up Heero. The subject suffers from low-bone density and early onset osteoporosis; his bones are so brittle that it was inevitable that they would break in a fall. Other than a few other minor injuries and deficiencies caused no doubt by the environment he grew up in, the patient is remarkably healthy.”

“Duo.”

“I'm sorry?”

“His name is Duo,” Heero repeated, gazing at the prone figure on the bed once more.

“We don't know that yet for sure,” Wufei cautioned.

Heero ignored Wufei's comment and finally turned to face Sally. “What's the prognosis?”

“Well, he's severely emaciated and malnourished so I have him on a specialized IV drip that will provide him with all the necessary vitamins and minerals plus hopefully increase his body mass. I've started him on a bone growth stimulator to treat the osteoporosis I told you about earlier, as well speed up the healing of his ribs and a compound fracture in his right wrist. He'll have to continue treatment with the growth stimulator for a few months but he should be able to recover normal bone density. The other major concern is the pneumonia but he's already responding favourably to the penicillin. I expect him to be mostly recovered within a week or two.” Sally smiled gently at Heero.

Heero nodded mutely and returned his gaze to the small hospital bed. “Why is he restrained?” he asked, indicating the straps tethered to the bed frame that disappeared beneath the blankets.

“You can't seriously be asking that Yuy,” Wufei scoffed at him. “He's a hostile captive.”

“He was only trying to defend himself,” Heero argued.

“Maybe,” Sally interjected. “But we don't know how he'll react when he wakes up.”

“Not to mention that he is astonishingly strong despite his weak state,” Wufei added. “He practically severed your hand in two!” he exclaimed while gesturing at Heero's bandaged right arm currently resting in a sling.

“Speaking of which, would you like me to take a look?” Sally offered.

Heero shook his head. “No, Trowa already stitched it up. My hand should be fully operational in a few days.”

Sally sighed. “I'll take your word for it. In the meantime, now that you've been briefed on the patient's status, go home and rest. And no more unauthorized independent investigations! If you think something requires investigation, contact one of the others. Do I make myself clear?”

“And none of that `I'm fine' crap” Sally cut Heero off as he opened his mouth to speak.

Heero nodded in defeat. “I'll go rest in the dorms.”

“No,” Sally admonished firmly. “I said go home and I mean it. I know that you're planning on sneaking out of the dorms and coming right back here to monitor the patient. Leave that to me, he's safe and on the road to recovery.” Sally pulled a wickedly sharp needle out of her pocket, “Now, are you going to run along home like a good little agent or do I have to sedate you?”

Shoulders slumped, Heero reluctantly made his way down the hall and towards the building's underground exit.

“Was it necessary to resort to dishonourable threats?” Wufei grumbled.

“He wouldn't have gone home otherwise. As for you, you march your cute butt down to the dorms and get some rest.”

“Woman!” Wufei growled. “How many times must I tell you? Do not demean my physical attributes with ridiculous adjectives!”

Sally winked playfully before stifling a yawn. “Fine, fine. I need you to switch shifts with me in six hours, acceptable?”

Wufei nodded curtly before turning on his heel and marching towards the dorms, a light dusting of red blossoming on his cheeks.

~*~

Relena stifled a yawn as she exited the private library of the Parliament building, the first official meeting for the forming of the new government finally over. Next to her, Relena's foster father chuckled, his soft brown eyes crinkling with mirth.

“Quite boring isn't? Nonetheless my dear, tradition and formal procedure play a very vital part in politics. If we lose order, all that remains is confusion and chaos.” Vice-Minister Darlian explained.

Relena nodded. “I understand father, it will be comforting to know that you will be with me every step of the way.”

Darlian smiled down at Relena. “And it will be a joy to have such youth and vitality joining our ranks.”

“Vice-Minister Darlian!” Duke Dermail's booming voice echoed across the foyer. “I'm glad I caught you before you left. I have some administrative matters I would like to discuss with you if you don't mind?”

“I'm sorry dear,” the vice-minister smiled apologetically. “Duty calls. Perhaps Dorothy would accompany you to lunch?” he asked, glancing to where Dorothy stood at her grandfather's side.

“I would be delighted Vice Minister,” Dorothy replied, stepping forward to take Relena's arm. “We'll have a lovely lunch out on the patio, won't we Ms. Relena?”

Within moments Relena was whisked out to the enclosed patio and was nibbling on fresh cucumber sandwiches. Across from her, Dorothy feasted on plate of fresh fruit, a mischievous smile playing along her lips.

“It seems as though you are the new darling of the political world Ms. Relena. I wouldn't be surprised if you are appointed as a minister in the new government.” Dorothy commented, her forked eyebrows waving slightly in the breeze.

Relena dropped her sandwich in surprise. “Don't be silly Dorothy, this will be my first year in politics, I couldn't dream of becoming a minister.”

“Don't be so modest Ms. Relena. You were born into this world, the beloved daughter of both the Peacecraft and Darlian families. The people look to you with hope; you're the supreme symbol of peace. And now, you have the opportunity to lead the new generation into an era of freedom and prosperity. You wouldn't want to let them down, now would you Ms. Relena?”

“Well, if you put it that way, I do have a responsibility to the people…” Relena considered, warming to the idea.

Dorothy smiled in victory. “And what an illustrious leader you would become with a knight by your side, the hero of the people! Nothing would lift the people's spirits higher,” she suggested slyly.

“Oh yes,” Relena breathed. “We would make a splendid couple wouldn't we?”

“And we already know he holds you in the highest regard Ms. Relena. Alas, he has the soldier's mentality,” Dorothy exclaimed dramatically, “he does not believe himself worthy of your affection. He will continue to admire you from afar if you do not give him an indication that the feeling is reciprocated.”

“Oh,” Relena breathed softly, her eyes taking on the dazed sheen of infatuation. “I never thought of that… perhaps he is a little shy. Actually, that makes sense when you think about the berries…” Relena trailed off in thought, her imagination happily painting an image of a love struck Heero pinning for her love.

Dorothy smirked inwardly while pasting on an expression of concern. “Speaking of which, I've heard some very disturbing news. According to a friend of Grandpapa's, Heero was injured while subduing an extremely dangerous criminal.”

“Oh no!” Relena cried, her blue eyes widening with dismay. “Is he alright? And what criminal? Was it an S.A. member? Or perhaps one of the UNDIS he was referring to earlier?”

“I don't know Ms. Relena.” Dorothy wore a suitably unsettled expression. “Perhaps Heero would be the best person to ask? I'm sure he would be delighted to hear from you.”

Dorothy nimbly speared another slice of fruit with her fork. “Oh, and don't mention the berries. I think it will disconcert him to find out that you know. It can be our little secret.”

“Yes, of course,” Relena nodded absently, her mind already miles away.

~*~

Sally dropped wearily into the chair next to the small hospital bed. Her eyes scanning the array of medical equipment once more, she turned her attention to her tablet.

`Only three more hours until Wufei takes over,' she thought to herself with a wry smile. `Hopefully the patient won't wake up while he's in the room'. While she wouldn't mind waking to his stern countenance, Wufei was hardly a comforting beside figure. Chuckling to herself, she focused her attention on the scrolling results of her lab work.

Sally didn't know how much time had passed before a soft tapping at the observation window drew her attention away from her work. Glancing up, she saw Noin smiling tiredly and gesturing into the small room. Sally nodded in response and pointed at her surgical mask and gloves.

Noin entered a moment later, mask and gloves in place. “Are we in the clear?”

“Yes,” Sally replied with obvious relief. “It was touch and go for a while. If Trowa hadn't prevented his lung from collapsing, we might have lost the patient.”

“The patient? Not the captive?”

“Hippocratic Oath: everyone I treat is a patient, regardless of any affiliation or status,” Sally intoned firmly.

Noin nodded. “Where are the boys?”

Sally laughed at that. “It's funny how we still call them that, even though they're all grown up now. Besides,” she added wryly, “we're not that much older than them Lu.”

Noin grinned unrepentantly, “Old habits die hard. And this new job is definitely making me feel old.”

“The hazards of dealing with morons all day I suppose,” Sally commented dryly. “Trowa and Quatre went home to rest, Wufei is napping in the dorms and I had to threaten Heero to get him to leave the building. If he followed orders, he should be resting at home as well.”

Noin sighed dramatically before turning her attention to the figure on the bed. “Tell me more about the subject. He still looks like a kid!”

“Patient,” Sally corrected patiently. “And his looks are deceptive. I estimate he's between 23 to 25 years old.”

“About the same age as our boys,” Noin remarked with surprise. “He looks so small though…”

“I thought so too when I first saw him,” Sally continued. “I think he's about the same height as Quatre or even Wufei, he tends to hunch in on himself so it's hard to tell. Still, his environment hasn't been kind to him. He's grossly malnourished and underweight. Looking at the analysis of his DNA, he should be much taller and broader around the shoulders but I assume lack of nutrition stunted his growth.”

Noin hummed absently as her eyes roved over the figure on the bed once more. Spotting the length of hair hanging off the side of the bed she stiffened. “That's not a tail is it?”

Sally snorted with laughter. “You really have been spending too much time with over-imaginative rookies. No, I assure you, that's not a tail but a ridiculously long braid of hair that is attached firmly to his head.”

Noin rubbed at her temples. “It's official, I'm going insane.”

“Should I go fetch the straight-jacket?”

“Not a bad idea.” Sobering, Noin asked in a more serious tone, “How were the boys when they came in?”

Sally solemnly thought back to the hours previous when the elite agents had rushed down the corridor towards her, Trowa in the lead, carrying the limp form dressed in dark rags. Behind him came Quatre ushering an ashen-faced Heero who clutched the bloody mess of what was once his hand. Quatre, looking a little green around the edges, monitored Heero to make sure he was keeping pressure on the wound while also glancing worriedly at his other two comrades. Wufei brought up the rear muttering about recklessness and idiots who trailed blood all over the floors.

Trowa had then efficiently laid the unconscious figure on the bed and guided Heero towards another small medical room. Wufei had fetched a bucket and mop and proceeded to clean up the blood while still ranting under his breath. Quatre had watched his fellow agents settle into their respective roles before rushing off to report to Noin. By that time, Sally was too preoccupied with saving the patient's life to take anymore notice of her surroundings.

“Sally?”

“Sorry, just a little lost in thought just now.” Sally apologized and continued hastily before Noin could voice her concern. “The boys were their usual selves. Heero completely ignored his injury, Trowa was calm and efficient, Quatre rallied them together and Wufei ranted and raved. I thought Quatre already made his report?”

“He had to send me a virtual report, I got called away to go over security measures for the opening of parliament. They're starting to select members of the new government.”

Sally scoffed. “What happened to a democracy? Don't we get a say in who our future leaders will be?”

“The affairs of the colony are too delicate for a democracy right now.” Noin raised her hands in surrender. “Their words, not mine!”

Sally sighed deeply. “I just hope the Darlians and Noventas will retain their seats in the government.”

Noin nodded in agreement. “I'm terrified that Dermail might be named the new Supreme Minister. I'm 100% positive that he was one of the shadow leaders of the S.A. We just can't find a shred of proof that ties him to the S.A.”

~*~

Heero jolted awake to the sound of the alarm siren on his vidphone. Leaping out of his bed and across the small room, he hurriedly answered the phone.

“Yuy.”

“Heero!” The display blinked to life and Relena's pretty face filled the screen. “Oh good, you're home!” she exclaimed happily.

“Relena?” Heero faltered for a moment before pushing his surprise aside, “What's wrong? What happened?”

Relena blushed as she took in Heero's shirtless state. “I was calling to see if you're alright,” her eyes strayed to Heero's bandaged right arm. “Oh no! You're hurt! Is it serious?”

“It's fine,” Heero replied curtly. “Relena, what's the emergency?”

“Emergency?”

“Relena,” Heero griped the edge of the small desk, inadvertently flexing his powerful muscles, “I gave you this code to contact me during emergencies only. What is the emergency?”

“You did?” Relena's gaze drifted to watch Heero's rippling muscles, a glazed look entering his eyes.

“Relena…”

Relena snapped back to the present. “I'm sorry Heero, I didn't realize. You have to forgive me though, I was so worried!” she cried, wringing her delicately manicured hands. “I heard that you had been injured while subduing a dangerous criminal and I just couldn't rest until I talked to you.”

“I'm fine,” he replied tersely, “now if that is all…”

“No wait, Heero! The criminal, you apprehended, was he S.A.? Or the UNDIS you were worried about?”

“That's classified.”

“Oh. Whoever he is, I hope he's brought to justice and executed.”

Heero's jaw clenched. “I thought you were against war, violence and killing.”

“Oh I am,” Relena declared with great confidence. “There is no place for criminals in our new world. And he attacked and injured you! You, who brought peace to the colonies! He must pay for his heinous crimes!”

“Peace is merely the temporary result of war,” Heero intoned flatly, “and injuries are part of being a soldier. Since there is no emergency-”

Seeing that she had somehow upset Heero, Relena scrambled to return to his good graces.

“Wait! Heero, I also wanted to thank you. It was very thoughtful of you to send me those berries. They were delicious!” Relena flashed her most charming smile.

Heero's eyes narrowed slightly before cutting the line.

Back in her study Relena tried to calm her racing heart. `He was just startled that I knew about the berries, that's all,' she reassured herself. After a few more deep breaths, she smiled dreamily to herself as a rosy blush tinted her cheeks. She had new material for her daydreams; daydreams that would now include a dishevelled and shirtless Heero Yuy.

~*~

Wufei looked up from his reading as Trowa entered the room, surgical mask in place. “Back already?” he asked.

Trowa shrugged, “You know Quatre, he can't rest when there's a puzzle to be solved.”

Wufei nodded his head in agreement. “What riddle is he working on now?”

“How he,” Trowa tilted his head towards the unmoving figure on the bed, “managed to get to L1.”

“It is a perplexing puzzle,” Wufei agreed, “Although I am sure that his cloaking device had a large part in it. What happened to that and the other devices we found on his person?”

“Heero had me send them to Howard.”

“Was that wise?” Wufei inquired with a slight frown.

“Heero seemed to think so. And I think Howard knows more about this matter than he is letting on.”

“So I'm not the only one that doesn't believe his `soft-hearted and clueless old man' act?” Wufei asked in amusement.

Both agents ceased their amiable conversation when the figure on the bed began to stir and mumble under his breath. Soon his movements became more frantic and his ramblings grew in volume.

“No… go away… lil' mother… get away from the pups! No, no… leave `em alone. Lil' mother, I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry… do you forgive me?”

“Should we be worried?”

“No,” Trowa replied calmly, “he's just running a low grade fever.”

“Hmph,” Wufei snorted. “Whatever it is, he's being noisy. He obviously hasn't been trained in maintaining silence.”

“He obviously hasn't received the same training we have. Considering his background, it would be amazing if he received any training at all,” Trowa quietly stated.

“Either way,” Wufei persisted, “his mad ramblings may reveal something about his personal history and give us some clue as to how he managed to get here.”

~*~

Duo was caught within the throes of a nightmare. Menacing shadows were chasing him down the tunnels, cackling madly as they brandished their claws at him.

“Come here, pretty pretty,” they hissed.

“Yes, we want to play with the pretty pretty!”

Sprinting into an open plaza, Duo stumbled to a stop as the blood froze in his veins. There crouched in the center of the plaza was the creature from the gardens, his long limbs splayed like a crouching spider. Hanging from his grotesque mouth was the body of lil' mother, struggling feebly as blood dripped down her tail. Below her, scattered at the creature's feet, was her litter of pups, their lifeless eyes staring blankly at him.

“Mmm… tasty…” the creature drawled, swallowing the rodent whole and licking the blood off his lips.

Duo staggered backwards as a scream rose up in his throat. `No!' his panicked mind yelled, `Shinigami wasn't supposed to take them!' The small rat and her family were the first companions he had had in months; they didn't deserve to die because he was lonely!

“Get away you freak!” he screamed at the top of his longs. Tearing himself away from the gruesome scene, he fled, begging to be freed from this nightmare.

With a gasp his eyes snapped open and he awoke.

He awoke to an even greater nightmare.

Standing at the end of his bed was the unmistakable tall, lanky and long banged figure of one of the S.A. Liberators' elite.

“Pierrot!” he wheezed in pure terror.

AN: Pierrot, for those who are curious, is the sad and tragic clown found in a lot of European literature. His most famous form might be as the clown in the folksong “Au Claire de la Lune”

A big thank you to any readers still sticking with this story!