Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Colonist Labour Camp no. 125 ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: Do I look like I own Gundam Wing to you? Ok, I am Japanese, but no. Seriously, I do not own the Gundam boys, and I certainly have nothing worth suing me for. ^^

Rating: R for safety, but this may change later.

Warnings: Um, good question. Shounen-ai/yaoi, violence, general cruelty all round. Language, angst (can't do without the angst!), OOC (I try my best, but sometimes they just slip out of character…), um… I think that's it. I'll be adding to this list as I go along, probably, so keep an eye on it people!

Pairings: Ooh, secret. ^_~

Author's notes: Well done, Bombayoni! You picked up on it. I honestly didn't mean for it to turn out like that as I think I said in Chapter 1, but yeah… Oh, and Treize isn't the OZ dictator. ^^ You shall see…

Thewarriorkai, my faithful, wonderful reviewer, thankyou very much. I didn't mean to make 1 Noin, but she might as well be, eh? ^_^

UPDATE: Noin is now 09, as she should be ^^;; Sorry about the lapse on my part.

 

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Metalwork was an extremely welcome change for 05. True, it was considerably hotter, but it wasn't nearly as monotonous and he actually got to sit down. So he was glad.

 

The whirring machines operated smoothly, with barely any clunks disturbing the lulling rhythm. A person working here had to have strong presence of mind to ensure that they didn't get drowsy from the heat and soothing sounds and make a (possibly fatal is the overseeing officers spotted it) mistake, or even fall asleep.

 

It was lucky then, that 05 was a master at controlling his own mind.

 

Receive the small, flat piece of metal from the conveyor belt behind his seat, turn around, put the metal in a vice, turn a lever to the side of the vice that brought down a heavy anvil-like object which bent the metal, take the metal out of the vice, drill two holes into one side, one hole on the other, throw the metal onto another conveyor belt in front of him where it would be carried off for the next process. And repeat until you are almost in tears from boredom and tiredness.

 

It was hard to guess, but 05 and those around him were making engine parts for Virgo mobile dolls. Or suits, or whatever. 05 wasn't a mechanic and never had been, so he wasn't entirely sure what his bits of metal were for, but they definitely went in the engine. Or at least, that's what Lieutenant Colonel Septem (1) had said.

 

Looking up, 05 suddenly spotted strawberry blonde hair twisted roughly into two pigtails, resting over the shoulders and down the front of a woman sitting not opposite him, but about four places away from the person opposite 05. He frowned and turned his head, straining to see the person's face which was being obscured by machinery. In the end, he managed it by ducking his head so low that it was almost on the table.

 

His suspicions had been correct; the woman was 4988. She looked immensely tired; there were fierce shadows underneath her ice blue eyes and her face was pale and gaunt. It was entirely possible of course that she generally looked like this due to the labour etc, but 05 suspected that she had been up most of the night taking care of 77, and his heart warmed. 04's trust was well-founded, it would seem.

 

05 glanced over his shoulder, then around him, making sure that he wasn't being watched by any of the officers. Then he nudged the person next to him. Ducking his head conspiratorially, he said as quietly as he could whilst still being heard over the machines, “Pass the message on to 4988, the woman with blonde pigtails opposite 6610; how is 77 doing?”

 

The man next to 05 nodded and turned away from him to the young boy on his other side and, like 05, checked around him for OZ before muttering the message. And so it was passed on until 05 saw it reach 4988, who ducked her head so that she could see 05's face and vice versa. Then she smiled reassuringly and mouthed, `She's going to be fine.'

 

05 bowed his head in a gesture of thanks and respect as best he could before resuming work, feeling a little better.

 

He worked solidly without any distraction until just before 1:00, the time the overseeing officers got their lunch break and were replaced with new officers who'd just had theirs. The colonists didn't get a lunch break, which naturally contributed enormously to fatigue. They did get a break at 3:00 for forty-five minutes, in which most of them would eat the food they saved from breakfast. Then it was back to work until 8:00 pm.

 

But as the overseeing officers were being relieved, 05 spotted 4988 getting up and walking towards the exit. She said a few words to the officer at the door before exiting, leaving behind her a lot of puzzled colonist workers.

 

05 frowned. Was 4988 allowed a lunch break because of who she used to be? Surely not?

 

White sparks exploded before his eyes as he was whacked on the back of the head with something heavy; 05 assumed it was a gun. He swore angrily at himself for staring and stopping work without realising it.

 

“See something you like, chink?” the officer who'd hit him growled.

 

“Apologies,” 05 said as submissively as he could with the rage he felt bubbling inside him. Bastard racist OZ, thought they were so bloody superior…

 

“Apologies what?”

 

05 blinked once in confusion before realising his second grave mistake. Shit, he really wasn't on top of himself today. “Sir. Apologies, sir.”

 

He was abruptly yanked up and out of his seat by the front of his shirt. 05 took a single deep breath, then relaxed himself as much as possible, making sure there was a sorry expression on his face, and blanking out his thoughts.

 

“Getting a little rebellious, huh?” The last word was punctuated by a rough shake. 05 was grateful that he hadn't been hoisted into the air; at least with his feet on the ground, he could brace himself and take the worst of the shake out by following the movement of his upper body with his legs.

 

“No sir.” 05 had briefly considered not replying, in case it was a rhetorical question, but he decided that that might just make the situation worse if he was wrong. At least if he replied and it had been a rhetorical question after all, not much harm could be done other than the officer thinking he was stupid. Which would bite at his pride, but wouldn't do any real damage.

 

“Maybe you need a little reminder of your place here?” the officer asked, grinning sadistically.

 

`Blank mind, blank mind, blank mind…' 05 chanted inside his head. “I'm sorry sir. It won't happen again.”

 

“Yeah, it definitely won't…” the officer replied darkly. He started to drag 05 away from the machines towards the exit, an anticipatory grin on his cruel face.

 

“Lieutenant Sedeci.” The calm, aristocratic sounding voice sounded clear even above the noise of the machines.

 

The officer holding the front of 05's shirt spun around faster than 05 thought possible of the bulky man. “Sir!” he said, coming smartly to attention.

 

“Where are you taking the boy?” 05 spotted the man talking; it was the tall Colonel who had been escorting the boy with a braid along with Corporal Trant. The man was making his way over, walking straight-backed and proud. To 05's profound disappointment, there was no sign of a limp.

 

“He was being rude and refused to obey orders,” Lieutenant Sedeci replied smoothly.

 

`What orders?!' 05 thought indignantly.

 

“Oh? And what orders were these?” the Colonel asked, almost as if he had read 05's mind.

 

“He… I asked…” Lieutenant Sedeci spluttered. 05 would have smirked if the situation wasn't so grave. “I requested that he pick up a piece of metal that he dropped. He refused.”

 

`Liar,' 05's mind snarled.

 

“Ah. I see.” The Colonel turned away and 05's heart sank. Not that he had expected help, but still…

 

Lieutenant Sedeci smirked at 05 maliciously and hissed, “Thought you were gonna get away with it, chink? No such luck I'm afraid.” He started to pull 05 towards the door again.

 

“I'll deal with him.”

 

If anything, 05 felt worse. He had been relatively confident about his chances of survival at the hands of Lieutenant Sedeci; He knew at least five others who'd `attended' a torture session with him and survived, not too badly hurt. Lieutenant Sedeci wasn't a hardcore sadist, like Corporal Trant was for example, he just liked to watch fear on other people's faces and know he was the cause. But this new, completely unknown Colonel… He was a different matter altogether. 05 had absolutely no idea or way of knowing what he would be like.

 

“Yes sir. Of course, sir.” Lieutenant Sedeci released 05's shirt, an ugly look on his (already ugly) face. `This isn't over,' that look seemed to say.

 

“Come here,” the Colonel beckoned. 05 did so, dread settling in his stomach like lead. He stood beside the tall, blue-eyed Colonel with his eyes fixed firmly on the ground. “Stand up straight,” the Colonel commanded. 05 stretched himself up straighter. The Colonel sighed and 05 wondered wildly what he'd done now. “I meant hold your head up.”

 

05 almost frowned but remembered not to at the last second. He complied, keeping his gaze straight ahead of him so that he still wasn't looking the Colonel in the eye; the officer was a good six inches or so taller than him.

 

“Hmm,” the Colonel said, in an `I-suppose-that'll-do' sort of voice. “I was watching you working just before Sedeci came over to you. You didn't drop anything, did you…” he checked the number sewn onto 05's dark purple-blue top, “4505?”

 

“No sir,” 05 replied carefully, aware that he was walking a very fine line indeed. One wrong word could send him toppling.

 

“I didn't think so. Don't stop working to stare, though,” the Colonel said, his voice turning sterner suddenly. “Understood, 4505?”

 

“Yes, sir,” 05 answered, butterflies fluttering hopefully in his stomach.

 

“Good. Back to work, then,” the Colonel said. He spun gracefully on his heel and walked towards his post at the front of the room.

 

05 blinked, knees threatening to fold on him. That was… what? `Back to work'… that was it?! No torture session, no execution, not even a solitary detention?!

 

05 hurried back to his seat with as much dignity as he could muster, grateful when he got there that his knees didn't give out.

 

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“And… he just let you go? Just like that?” 04 sounded utterly incredulous.

 

“Yes,” 05 nodded earnestly. “I know it sounds hard to believe, but…” he shrugged.

 

04 took another mouthful of food and chewed thoughtfully, a little frown on his gentle face. He swallowed and said, “What was the Colonel's name again?”

 

05 shrugged. “How am I supposed to know? I don't know.”

 

“Arenada, or Shrenada, or something like that,” 03 chipped in quietly. “Some of the officers near me were discussing him. But the machines were too loud; I couldn't hear them properly.”

 

“Wow, 03 actually said more than two sentences!” 47 cheered sarcastically, grinning at him. She was pulling idly at her short purpley-black hair; not natural, of course. It was dyed. Her original hair colour was apparently dark brown, or so said 09. She should know, 03 supposed; they'd gotten their hair dyed that colour together when they were still living free. Though 09's hair leaned more towards dark bluey-black rather than purpley-black… Anyway.

 

“Shut up,” 05 retorted, knowing that his best friend wouldn't bother to reply.

 

03 nodded in thanks at 05, eating his nondescript rations slowly. Today's dinner menu was Chewy Green and Brown Things that Taste Vaguely like Meat and Vegetables.

 

“See?” 47 said triumphantly. “He usually doesn't say anything!”

 

“We've been over this twice,” 04 said firmly, but it was obvious that he was trying not to smile.

 

“So? It's fun to tease him! Betcha anything he likes it,” 47 laughed. A little too loud.

 

“You there, girl!”

 

“Oh, shit…” 47 whispered, fear blossoming on her face. 09 took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly.

 

“Stand up!”

 

The entire room went silent. Most stared hard at their food, a few watched the scene in trepidation.

 

47 swallowed and stood up, adopting the familiar head-down stance. 09 gave her hand one last squeeze, then let go.

 

A large officer that 03 didn't know the name of but had seen around stalked over to their table. He stood behind 47 and paused, almost thoughtfully, before suddenly backhanding 47 so hard that she fell sideways, catching the metal bench with her hip and letting out a very small cry of pain. She got up shakily, wincing and trying hard not to rub her jaw where the officer had hit her.

 

“What was so funny that you had to disturb our conversation, bitch?” the officer sneered, evidently enjoying himself.

 

“Nothing, sir,” 47 replied meekly, eyes wider than normal.

 

There was a crashing sound as the officer (a Captain, 05 could see now) banged his fist on the table, hard.

 

47 bit her lip and forced herself not to flinch.

 

“So you just laughed for no reason? No reason at all?”

 

“N-yes, yes sir,” 47 said, hastily changing her answer midword.

 

“Hmm. Then you are obviously insane,” the Captain said, looking quite smug with this `revelation'.

 

“I…” 47 bit the sentence off, deciding that it would be best not to reply to that one.

 

`Shit. Shit. This is it. This is it, 47's dead for sure.' 05 tried not to think such negative thoughts, but it was so hard. And it was the probable truth anyway.

 

“Do you want to be sane again? Do you want us to help you?” the officer asked, his tone turning sarcastically gentle, dangerously kindly.

 

“No, no sir! I'm fine, sir!” 47's voice climbed a semitone or so higher.

 

`Don't panic! Keep calm, and don't fight!' 05 commanded her inside his head, but of course it had no effect whatsoever.

 

“Hmm. Well, they do say that the insane often don't want help when they need it most,” the Captain mused, mock thoughtfully.

 

`Nonononononononono, please, Nataku, God, anyone!' 05 pleaded desperately to those who weren't alive on his friend's behalf.

 

47 gasped as she was grabbed roughly by the top of her arm and pulled roughly way from the table. “No…” she whimpered, utter terror on her pretty face.

 

“Oh, yes,” the cruel man hissed back at her. 05 and the others could only watch numbly as the German girl was dragged away, whimpering in earnest now. Two other officers followed the pair out of the canteen, slamming the door behind them and cutting off any noise from outside.

 

A tear slid down 09's cheek and she covered her face with her hands.

 

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(1) I know Septem's a General in the series, but in my little world there's only one General; the OZ dictator. And it sure as hell ain't Septem!

 

Sandy: Hmm. Wufei was right. It's about 6 pages…

Wufei: I told you so, you silly shojo!

Sandy: Hey, if you're going to call me anything like that then I prefer onna, thankyou very much.

Wufei: Fine, fine.

Sandy: HA! Now it's seven pages!!

Wufei: Author's notes don't count!

Sandy: Oh, whatever. Well, anyway, it's longer than usual and it's mainly Wufei-centric. Just thought I'd throw in a little something for the Wufei fans out there. ^^

Quatre: And still hardly anything done on her favourite character.

Sandy: Don't worry, that's definitely coming next chapter. ^_^ Please review, it'll make me very happy and I'll get the next chapter out sooner! And surely you can guess who the mysterious Colonel is by now…? Well, if not, that's ok. It's not actually all that very clear, I suppose… I did give you a HUGE hint though! Come on, how many characters have a name sounding remotely like what Trowa said…?!