Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Gundam Wing: Next Generation ❯ Gundam Wing: Turbulance ( Chapter 7 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Disclaimer: I do not own gundam wing or anything associated with it. I do however own Cassidy 'Cassi' Noin, my friend BM owns Kaito Barton and Ryastarling owns Meg Maxwell, so please don't take them without permission.
Special notice: Thanks go out to BMK and Rya for helping me with this.

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had been a couple of days since Meg had gone off with Kaizer for the soul purpose of protect her two friends, and a couple of days since Kaito had carried Cassi from the burning wreckage that was her faithful gundam Night Strike. The said gundam was currently in the repair bay beneath the Sanc Palace, where the technicians and their parents were trying to repair it, along with his own suit and Neo Wing 0. Kaito currently hated that suit, as much as he hated Kaizer and that was a lot of hate for him to carry on his shoulders.

He was currently sitting in a chair by Cassi's side in the Sanc Palaces medical bay. She'd been unconscious and barely alive when they'd arrived a couple of days ago, and she'd been on a drip, a breathing mask and constant surveillance by Sally for those couple of days. Her condition thankfully hadn't worsened, but it didn't get any better either. Her mother had as thought been very upset by her daughters current state of health, but at least she hadn't been pacing like a worried mother hen.
"Cassi," he whispered for what must've been the dozenth time. "I know you're stronger than this, come on pull through." Whether Cassi heard him or not he couldn't tell, but he so hoped she could.

He got up and walked over to Sally's desk.
"I'm going down to the hanger," he told her. "It's getting uncomfortable in here. Let me know if there's any change."
"Sure," Sally smiled sympathetically. Kaito nodded his gratitude and left the room. Sally sighed as she glanced over at the blue-haired teenager, hoping there would be a change for the sake of those who cared about her if not for her own sake.

Kaito headed down to the hanger to look at the three mobile suits, his only need a few tiny adjustments and had been fixed an hour after it had arrived, but Wing 0 and Night Strike were in bad shape. Wing 0's cockpit door was bent every which way, and the arms crack and dented. He turned and looked at Night Strike, and it made him sick to his stomach. The usually pretty black and silver suit was scorched to near murky black/brown in places, and in some places there was no colour left at all. The shield was dented all over the place, the arms were practically hanging off their joining wires, her main weapon was practically snapped in half and lying at the supported suits feet and in general the whole thing was in as bad a shape as Cassi was.
"Hi Kaito," Hilde called as she walked over to him with Heero. "Come to see how the work's going?"
"Yeah," he responded dryly.
"Well your suit as you know is fine, Wing 0 can be completed in another day or so, but Night Strike...well..."
"Is completely destroyed," he finished.
"Some of it is salvageable," Howard told him as he walked up to them. "But Cassi will still need a new gundam all together. Dr. H is coming over with Night Strikes specs, but he won't be here till this evening."
"How is Cassi anyway?" asked Hilde.
"No change," Kaito responded as if repeating something he'd been saying for a long time.
two looked at him sadly. Everyone had been hoping that there would be some kind of change for the better by now but there prayers hadn't been answered. Cassi wasn't only a gundam pilot, she was someone they all cared so very much about.

Kaito looked to the ground for a moment and shook his head. He was worried about Cassi and everyone knew it. He'd barely left her bedside after all, "She'll be ok. I know she will. She's just taking her time to recuperate. That's all."

The two adults nodded and Hilde placed a hand on his shoulder, "Besides, deep down inside she knows she needs to help save Meg and we all know how much Cassi hates to miss being right in the middle of all the action."

Kaito chuckled and nodded then glanced at Heero. Heero had never exactly been the optimistic member of the team and this wasn't an exception. He didn't look convinced in the least that Cassi would get better.

Kaito scowled at him slightly then sighed, "I wish there was some way we could find Meg. But something tells me that Kaiser person isn't one to be secretive. He's probably left a trail that a toddler could follow but I don't want to leave Cassi to go and find it."it would be a good idea if you started," Wufei told him as he approached the small group. "I know you want to wait till Cassi shows some sign of improvement, but truthfully kid that isn't going to happen straight away. You only have to look at that wreckage behind us to see that."know that," Kaito retorted promptly. "It's just I don't think I can do this on my own."Pilots aren't meant to need help from anyone," Heero told him sombrely. "If you'd been a pilot when we were, you'd have seen that."well I wasn't was I?" Kaito snapped. "I'm a pilot now, and having worked with the girls for as long as I have i've grown to rely on them and trust them both. Now one's in a coma of some kind and the other's missing."calm down please," soothed a gentle male voice as Quatre, Rashid and Miss. Noin approached the group. "Arguing won't find Meg and it won't help Cassi recover."
of the others smiled quietly, trust Quatre to be able to appear and easily quell a situation like this. Kaito felt much calmer now that he'd got what he'd needed to off his chest, and having Quatre around helped. The former pilot of Gundam 04 radiated calmness and kindness, so it was hard to be irrational around him. Sighing he turned and left the room, leaving Quatre and Miss. Noin to try and calm the atmosphere.
walked out of the base and into the fresh air, taking a deep breath of it. It was an early afternoon air, cool and clean thanks to the area the Sanc Palace was in. His thoughts travelled to Meg as he walked around the grounds, listening to the birds sing. He wandered where the heck she was and what she was doing, but he still figured she had a good reason for going off with Kaizer and that he had to trust her.a newspaper was slapped down on Kaito's keyboard, he looked over and saw Mariemaia standing there.
"What do you want?" Kaito asked.
"I heard the little red devil was missing so I thought you might need some help finding her," Marti Maria said.
"We don't need your help," Kaito snapped.
"Fine then i'll take this newspaper back," Marti Marie said and Kaito grabbed it and looked at, then gasped. The headline was FAMOUS BILLIONAIR HOLDS BALL IN SISTERS HONOR. In there standing next to the Kazier was a young women dressed in a long dress.
"Meg!" Kaito said.he muttered and glanced up at Mariemaya with a sigh. She might have gotten Meg into some trouble before but it was obvious she hadn't meant to though she still had an aura of trouble around her, "Thanks.

With that he turned and headed back towards the palace doors to head in and get his motorcycle. He had a ball to prepare for. It was to be held tomorrow and he needed to find himself a way in or an invitation. He just hoped Meg was ok.
"Huh you shall meet Meg soon," Marti Marie said and left.

"What on Earth are you doing?" asked Miss. Noin as Kaito strode into the base quickly.
"I've got something to do," Kaito responded and disappeared up the stairs and into his temporary room at the Sanc Palace. Some of his things were there courtesy of his parents, which included a suit and several other things. Opening the small wardrobe he dug out the suit, which was in a clear plastic covering and looked it over. It would have to do, but he still needed an invitation and it was then he saw it, sitting on the bedside table in the room. The envelope was white with embossed gold lettering, inviting him to the ball, but where had it come from? Too busy to worry about that at that present time, Kaito hurriedly sorted his suit out and got ready to go out in the next couple of hours.

It was hard to believe that in those couple of hours waiting for the right time to start getting ready and to go out, that it actually took him a while to do everything he needed to. Heading downstairs, he tried to sort out a means of transportation. It was coming on late evening by then, and he'd luckily talked Pagan into driving him there, although he insisted that it be in a plain vehicle and not the pink car that belonged to Relena. He'd also gone to see how Cassi was and to tell her that he was going to try and bring Meg back, although he didn't know whether she'd heard him or not.
"Here we are Mr. Kaito," Pagan told him as he drove up outside the building where the ball was being held. "Have a good time ok."
"Thanks," Kaito responded dryly as he left the car and headed up the stairs. The drive had been long, quiet and boring, but at least now he had something to do.

He walked up the stairs and towards the door, where several men stood.
"Invitation," one of them said gruffly. Kaito drew it out of his pocket and placed it into the man's hand, and after studying it carefully he nodded to the teenager. Kaito strode into the room and down the grand staircase. The room was decorated very brightly, with amazing colours. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and decorations hung around the walls.
"Now, where are you Meg?" he wandered aloud.ball was enormous and so many people in dresses and tuxedo's. Soon however the music was beginning and Kaito soon got lost in the number of people, trying to find Meg was like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

Suddenly the music stopped.

'"Attention," A voice said, "Can I please have everyone's attention,"

Everyone turned and Kaito saw a man standing in a black tuxedo he recognized as Kazier standing before the crowd on the stairwell that lead to two large white doors.

"May I introduce your hostess foe this evening," Kazier said, "my sister Megan,"

Slowly the two doors opened and Kaito's breath was caught in his throat. There coming from the door was Meg, her long red hair was tied back in a tight bun. She was wearing a long white flowing tube dress (like Mya from the princess diaries 2) and around her neck was a large necklace dripping in a water fashion of diamonds.

"Whoa," Kaito said and suddenly his voice was stuck in his throat.

'Welcome everyone to my coming out party" She said, 'I would like to thank my brother for a wonderful party and everyone for coming to see me, now let the dancing begin!'

Meg slowly walked down the stairway and the dancing had begun.

Kaito found himself in an English waltz where everyone was switching partners, suddenly he found himself dancing with a familiar red head.look beautiful even though you totally don't belong here," Kaito said coolly with a slight smirk as they danced, "What the heck is going on. Why are you going along with that freak? I can't believe you'd even lie about him being related to you."Meg asked looking confused, "I don't know what your talking about...I don't even know you."

"Meg are you alright?" Kazier asked walking up towards her.

"Yes brother i'm fine it's just this man claims to know me," Meg said.

"Ah Kaito, Meg id like you to meet Kaito we met under unusual circomstanceswhy don't you go and see to our guests my dear sister" Kazier said and Meg slowly walked away.

"You B$#@!@& what did you do to her?" Kaito growled.

"I didn't do anything in fact she doesn't remember being a pilot at all," Kazier said, "All I had to do was manipulate her"

"You cold hearted deamon," Kaito growled.

"Now enjoy the party," Kazier said and slowly started to walk away, "Oh and give my regards that to that other lovely pilot if she's alive that is."muttered several obscene things under his breath before once again wandering around the large ballroom, and once again he was searching for Meg. She was being pretty elusive that evening; so even if she didn't remember being a gundam pilot her old skills were still there.

Meg had actually slipped off outside and into a garden, a garden of amazing size that could rival that of the Sanc Palaces biggest garden. The red head wandered around quietly, her fingers brushing across tall flowers and stonewalls and the occasional statue. Even though she knew she thought she didn't know Kaito, she still felt deep down that she had met him before and that they had been quite close. She also had thoughts of another person she felt as if she knew, a person not that much younger than herself. At first Kaito's image flashed into her mind, shortly followed by the image of a young girl with blue hair and matching eyes that seemed to hold a calmness in them. Yet she felt that hidden beneath those exteriors, lay two bold and brave souls that fought for what they believed in. Her head began to pound the more she thought about it, as it had the last few times when strange memories had invaded her mind.
"So there you are," a male voice said, interrupting her thoughts. "You're a hard one to find."

Meg turned around to see Kaito standing behind her, smiling politely. He approached her and gave a short and polite bow, before addressing her again.

"I should apologise for earlier," he told her, trying a different approach to his last one. "I thought you were someone else. You see I have a friend called Megan to, and you look so like her that I thought you were her. Me and my friend Cassi used to call her Meg for short."
"What happened to this Megan?" Meg enquired as she motioned for him to follow her to a stone bench. The two sat down and Kaito sighed, trying to look like he was remembering.
"It was just a few short days ago really, the three of us were teammates. Cassi was trying to protect Meg from something and got hurt, Meg then disappeared and we haven't seen her since. Well I should say, I haven't."
"Why only you?" Meg asked.
"After the accident Cassi slipped into a deep coma and has yet to wake up. That's why I have a favour to ask of you. Since you look and sound so much like Meg, I was hoping you could come and talk to her. Maybe that would wake her. They were best friends you see."
"I don't know if I could help," Meg told him as she shook her head.

Kaito frowned, both his approaches hadn't worked. He was just going to have to try it the gundam way, the harder way. Grabbing Meg's wrist he pulled her off the stone seat and around the back of the mansion till he saw the parking lot, all the time ignoring the red heads objections to the way he was dragging her along. As soon as he neared the spot where Pagan was waiting in one of Relena's unique cars, he turned to Meg and looked her in the eyes.
"Forgive me Meg," he told his friend and swiftly clipped her at the joining point of her neck and shoulder. She fell unconscious into his arms, and he levered her gently into the car.
"That was a little bit uncalled for of a lady," Pagan told him as he started the vehicle and slowly drove out of the parking lot.
"Pagan, if there's one thing I know," Kaito told him as he placed a seat belt over the girl. "It's that deep down, Meg is NOT a lady."
"Where do you wish to go?"
"The Sanc Palace," Kaito responded. "I'm going to put her in the medical bay with Cassi and stay with her, maybe I can bring her round. Could you radio ahead and tell Sally, and ask the others to keep Duo out of the way."
"Yes sir," Pagan responded as he lifted up a receiver radio cand called ahead to inform the others.

Back at the ball, Kaizer was looking for Meg, but couldn't find her anywhere.
"Jerin, where's my sister?" he hissed to a young soldier guard at the main door.
"I have not seen her sir," he responded promptly. Hmm Kaizer wandered as he turned and looked around. I wander if Kaito had anything to do with this
Meg opened her eyes slowly she could hear the sound of a monitor of some sort. Sitting up she found herself in a sick bag and suddenly she saw the unconcious figure of a young girl.
"Where am I?" She asked and slowly started for the door, looking down she saw she was still wearing the same dress she wore at the dance.

The dance suddenly she remembered the young manwhat did her brother say his name wasoh right Kaito. Slowly she turned back to the young girl and felt sorry for her misfortune.
She opened the door and lifting up her gown she walked down the hall to try and find a way out. Slowly she looked into a kitchen and saw a Chinese man sitting there.
"Oh your up," Wufei said and looked at her up and down, "God if Maxwell saw you in that getup he'd die of a heart attack'"
"Where am I?" She asked, "I demand you bring me back to my brother now!!!"
"Sorry no can do," A voice said and they turned to see Kaito standing there.
"Youyou kidnapped me how dare you!" She growled and suddenly reached under her dress and unstrapped a gun from her leg and held it up, 'Bring me back or I swear I will shoot you where you stand and i'm a very good shot for a girl!!"I know," Kaito grinned. "You may not believe this Megan, but you're just like me and that girl you were sharing a room with all night. We're what you call gundam pilots. That's why you're so good a shot as you say you are. We're trained for it, me, you and Cassi."Yes, that's what you said that girls name is" Meg stated quietly, her hand trembling slightly.right," said a light voice as Quatre walked in to get some breakfast. "Cassidy Noin is her full name, but she's more fondly known as Cassi. She's been out cold for several days."kidnapping is only a term used when you're ACTUALLY kidnapping somebody," Wufei observed calmly as he drank some water from a glass. Meg stared at him in disbelief, what was he and the other two talking about and why did she suddenly feel like they were telling her the truth?
lowered her gun and stared at them, and suddenly she felt dizzy. Reaching out to steady her, Quatre helped her to sit down just as Kaito approached and knelt down in front of her.I know this is going to be too much for you, but what we say is true. We're your friends, and we really want you back."
"Oh yea she's Maxwell's alright stubborn to the point of stupidity" Wufei said.
"Hey watch what you say China man," Meg yelled, "And you...you how could you ohhhhhh I ought to shoot you right now!!!" Meg held her gun up to Kaito's head.
"You may deny it but you are who we say you are," Kaito said.
"LIAR!" Meg screamed and suddenly Kaito knocked the gun from her hand. Meg suddenly out of pure instinct kicked Kaito in the leg, Wufei suddenly grabbed her from behind but she broke his grip and punched him in the nose. Suddenly in the mist of all the commotion a gun went off.
"Enough," Heero said as he lowered his gun, "Duo is on his way and I doubt he'd like to see Meg wearing that."
"Huh what's wrong with the way I dress?" Meg asked.
"It's umm well a girly," Kaito said.
"GIRLY I'LL SHOW YOU GIRLY!" She screamed and threw a chair at Kaito.

Everyone quickly left the kitchen as Meg had another tamprum where Kaito was the target of everything not nailed to the ground.all of this, the loud crashes and screams echoed down the corridor, grabbing the attention of anyone close enough to hear it. This included Duo, who was making his way towards the kitchen with Hilde and Miss. Noin, who'd dragged him out the night before.
"What in God's name?" asked Hilde.
"That sounds like Meg," Duo commented. "Why do I have a feeling I may not want to go in there yet?"
"Because 1 you may have a heart attack," Wufei responded as he approached him. "And 2, because she's throwing everything around but the kitchen sink."
"Kaito's trying to talk her around," Quatre told them. "But he's kind of, err...not having any luck."

As they talked, the noise reached another pair of ears. A pair belonging to a certain blue-haired teenager, who had till then been literally comatose. The heart monitor peaked slightly, and the girl's eyes fluttered open. She'd never experienced one of Meg's tantrums, but somehow she felt that the noise belonged to her best friend. Looking around Cassi wandered why she was hooked up to monitors and a breathing mask, but then everything came flooding back to her and she groaned in pain. Removing the mask, she carefully sat herself up, supporting herself on one arm.
"Ok, that is going to hurt in the morning. Staring down at the needle in her arm, she winced, had she really been in such a state? She reached down and carefully removed it, but a slow trickle of blood began to seep through her skin and she hurriedly grabbed a paper towel near by to stunt it.
"I really have to try not to try and get myself killed," she muttered to herself as she swung her legs around so that they were dangling over the edge of the bed.

Getting up, Cassi stumbled across to a table and grabbed a bandage, haphazardly strapping it over her hand in place of the paper towel. Still not having totally recovered, she tried to walk on her own and stumbled several times. She neared the door and fell against the frame, and seconds later a hand tried to steady her.
"Cassi!" it exclaimed. "How in the? Why are you?"
"Sally, please..." Cassi pleaded as she steadied herself against the older woman. "Tell me, is that Meg?"
"Yes, Kaito brought her back, but she's kind of...throwing things at him."
"Can you walk me down there?" Cassi asked.
"No way," Sally argued. "You just woke up from a coma, you're not in any condition."
"Please," Cassi pleaded again. Sally sighed, and hooking Cassi's arm oevr her shoulders, walked her down towards the kitchen.

By that time, Meg had thrown practically everything in the kitchen besides the said kitchen sink, and several of the things twice. Kaito had dodged everytime, accept when she'd thrown a few spoons, which weren't exactly that dangerous. By then, the others had returned and were trying to restrain the girl, but she was strong for her age and size.
"Damn it Maxwell, I don't care if you do have a heart attack!" Wufei cried. "Give us a hand would ya!" Duo stepped into the room, and indeed the sight of his daughter in a dress did shock him, but he didn't exactly have a heart attack. Instead he stepped forward and attempted to help both Wufei and Quatre restrain her.
"Megan Maxwell!" he cried sharply. "Stop it this instant!"
"Please listen to him Meg," a weak voice called, breaking through the anguished cries of the others as Meg managed to elbow Quatre in the stomach.

The voice was soft, unlike the others and turning round Meg's eyes fell on her best friend. Cassi was leaning against Sally, and the look in her eyes said she knew what was going on. Her long blue hair was sweat locked, obviously from the strain of walking even with help.
"Cassi!" Kaito quipped as he headed around Meg and to her side. He slid his arm around her waist supportively, and she nodded to him out of gratitude.
"Meg, Sally told me what happened," she told the red head. "I know you don't believe it, it's not surprising after what Kaizer told you. But I urge you, please believe us." She reached up and around her neck, and drew a necklace from beneath her top. It was the same necklace Meg had given her about a week ago. She looked at it for a few minutes, before ripping it from around her neck.
"You gave this to me," she told Meg sedately. "Now i'm giving it back, it's not me who needs it at the moment, it's you. You're in more danger than you think. Your mother gave it to you, so that should mean something." She threw it to Meg's feet and with a pained groan her legs buckled beneath her, and it took both Kaito and Sally to support her.looked the charm as she picked it up, something was almost familiar about it. Slowly she looked at it and then at them, suddenly a smirk appeared over her face and suddenly she looked at all of them.
"Run," She said and held herself tightly as her body jerked violently.
"What?" Duo asked.
"I AH!!!" She screamed as suddenly she fell to the floor and Duo slowly walked over towards his daughter and suddenly she looked up and her eyes were gleaming a dark golden colour.
"What the?" Duo asked as suddenly she jumped so high she broke threw the roof and as they looked up they heard an inhuman growl and footsteps running along the roof.the!" Kaito shouted as he stared wide-eyed at the large hole in the ceiling. A shiver went up his spine as he thought about the creature they'd met in the Oz base last time they were there. The fear of what they could have done to his friend with their scientific knowledge was overwhelming, "We have to find her NOW!"

With that he turned and ran out of the kitchen and headed down to where the gundams were being kept. He knew she was heading back to the base as they had probably imbedded a control chip in her for just this sort of occasion.
"I should have known," he muttered, "Why would that freak have let me get so close to her if he wasn't positive that there was no way I could get her away from him?" He stopped in the middle of the hall and punched the wall not noticing as blood dripped from his knuckles as he pulled away and took a deep breath.
"There's no time for self loathing at the moment, Kaito. I have to find Meg," he muttered to himself as he turned and continued towards the gundam holding area to pick up Shadowarcher. Kaiser was going to pay, he'd make sure of it.made his way down to where he kept his gundam when he stopped at the stairs there in a torn dress was Meg laying curled up on the ground.
"Meg?" Kaito asked and carefully approached her.

Suddenly he stopped Meg was laying there curled but she was different. She looked to be in pain and Kaito suddenly saw her body take a violent shake and Meg let out a horrible scream and suddenly fell in a bowing position. Then she went still, Kaito watched as she looked up and gasped her eyes they had no pupil they were totally black in colour and her expression went chills down his back. That's when Meg hauled a dagger from her dress and stood quickly up slashing at Kaito. Kaito cursed and jumped back narrowly avoiding the blow and narrowed his eyes and sending for a fight, control Meg. Don't you dare let that freak control you."

Meg didn't seem to be listening and if she had heard she didn't seem to care. She charged at him again with the dagger slicing the air in front of him, catching his shirt slightly, and preparing to strike again.
"GET A GRIP!" Kaito shouted as he leapt at her knocking her to the ground and sending the dagger sprawling across the floor.stood back her hand on her head and slowly tripped and fell to the ground.
"Ohwhat...what happened?" she asked and suddenly rose her head and her eyes saw Wing 0.

Kaito watched as she got up and started to stare at Wing 0.
"This gundam...wing 0," she said and suddenly a flood of memories of a battle and people yelling her name came crashing down on her.Kaito asked slowly walking towards her half expecting her to turn and jump him in an attempt to either kill him or get away. He sighed and put a hand on her shoulder, "Please tell me you remember everything. I don't know how much more of this I can take." He smiled slightly as she turned to look at him.
"I don't I remember so much blood and violence," Meg said, "What's happening to me Kaitowhat...what did he do to me!!" Meg then started to cry upon Kaito's chest, he slowly placed his arms around her body.
"He kept calling me his little experiment," she said, "Kaito I remember you somewhat but wing 0...so many voices..." Kaito had forgotten that he'd left Cassi's side in order to go after Meg, which had left Sally trying to support her alone. Cassi despite her diminutive size was still pretty heavy, especially when her legs were trying to support her body weight, despite the fact they were weak and trembling. Even though that was so, she was still trying to regain her balance.
"Cassi," Sally told her gently. "You've got to get back to bed, you haven't totally recovered yet."
"No," Cassi argued. "I need to know if Meg's ok first."
"I still don't understand the fascination with companionship between pilots," Heero commented.
"The fascination is we met and learned about each other before we took on the full role of pilots," Cassi told him. "If it wasn't for the bond we have, we wouldn't be doing half of what we do today."
"That's weak talk," Wufei muttered.
"No," Cassi said shaking her head. "It's not weak. It's stronger than you think."

Managing to gently pull away from Sally, Cassi reached for the wall and leant against it for support. Seeing that Cassi wouldn't give in till her concerns were put to rest, Duo walked over and taking hold of her arm, hooked it over his shoulders.
"Come on then, they're down in the hanger." That said he gave her a hand down to where the gundams were being kept.looked down at the crying Meg who he held tightly as the others entered the docking bay unnoticed to him. But Meg eyed him and her grin hidden by the tear stained shirt curled.
"I just," Meg said and slowly pulled his head closer to her lips. Kaito blushed heavily and suddenly he heard the sound of a gun cock.
"No!!" Cassi screamed.

BOOM

Kaito fell and Meg stood there a gun in her hand and her eyes blank again as she looked up to the former gundam pilots and her eyes fixed on Cassi.eyes were wide with shock, she was standing in the dream Meg had told her about not so long ago. She knew what would be coming next, and she knew she couldn't let Duo get in the way. Struggling to make sure she stayed balanced on her own two feet, she managed to unhook Duo's arm and push him away from her. Duo stumbled as he was pushed several feet away from the blue-haired teenager, who was now struggling to stand up properly.
"Cassi, what are you doing?" Hilde cried just as Cassi's mother came in with Howard and Rashid.
"Exactly what I know has to be done," Cassi responded momentarily glancing back at her. She took a steadying breath and turned her eyes back towards Meg, who had her gun pointed directly at her.
"You know it's going to happen," Cassi told her through gritted teeth. "So do it Meg, fire."

She didn't expect Meg to hesitate or tremble, but eventually after steadying her hand and nerves the red-haired pilot fired. Cassi stumbled as she did, so the bullet simply hit her in the shoulder, but she was thrown to the ground from the impact and landed heavily on her back. Blood began to seep from her shoulder as she lay there and unfortunately because of her current state of health, she was once again rendered unconscious, along with Kaito who was bleeding from his side. Duo seeing his daughter shoot Kaito and then Cassi suddenly he watched as Heero launched foreword with his gun and jumped down the steps shooting at Meg who dodged to the side.
"Cassi!!" Noin cried and bent down to Cassi.

Heero shot at Meg as he hit the ground and she dodged again and fired at Heero almost hitting him in the shoulder. Suddenly Heero fired again and hit the circuit breaker...as the two exchanged shots they didn't even noticed that the breaker was sparking and suddenly within seconds the entire left side of the underground base was on fire. Heero was gonna fire again when a wall of flames surrounded Meg who screamed. Meg looked around as the fire surrounded her and her eyes suddenly returned to normal and she started to scream.
"Help someone help me!" Meg screamed as the flames licked at her skin. Trowa narrowed his eyes as he stood a ways off from the others. He growled slightly as he glanced at his son and Noin's daughter then turned to look at the flamed that kept Meg separated from them. One part of his mind was urging him to turn and leave and let her die after what she'd done but the other part, the stronger part, knew that she hadn't been in control and that Kaito would never speak to him again unless he tried to do something to help her. With his mind finally at a decision he knelt down slightly and took to the air doing his usual acrobatic twisting and landed on the other side of the wall of flame just a few meters away from Meg who was franticly backing away from the fire as far as she could get. He looked at her for a moment with a look of pity in his eyes. He'd known about the accident and how her mother had died. Duo had explained it and had asked them not to mention anything to Meg about it should it send her into a fit of anger or depression. He then nodded calmly and walked over to her slowly as to avoid startling the redhead, alright. I'll get you out of here. You just need to calm down and follow me. I promise we won't go near the fire. There's an air shaft over this way that we can use to escape."
"O...ok" Meg said her voice shaky.

Trowa looked her she reminded him of a scared child, and she was trembling as she took his hand. Slowly Trowa lead her towards the air vent when suddenly the fire became wilder and Meg clutched to Trowa's shirt like a scared child her entire body was trembling. Meg was scared of fire enough to make her cry or even do something stupid. Right now Meg was scared out of her wits everything was so hot and she suddenly remembered a house burning and the hot flames licking at her skin. Meg started to cry.be ok, now go Meg. This airshaft will lead you outside. I want you to wait for me outside. I'll be right behind you. Just don't go running off on me," Trowa said holding her comfortingly before ushering her into the tunnel and away from the heat and fire.
Noin gently lifted her unconscious daughter off the ground, cradling her small frame against her as Duo and Wufei tried to carry Kaito. It took both of them and their full strength to do it, as Trowa's son was a big and heavy teenager. They carried them out of the base as the wall of flames continued to envelope the base, the equipment and the three gundams. Luckily Sally had thought to contact the preventers fire service and they were soon on their way.
As the large group of technicians, workers and pilots stood outside and watched them fire fighters trying to put out the blaze of fire, they turned their attention to Cassi and Kaito. Cassi was still unconscious, but Kaito was awake. His eyes surveyed the area around him as he lay in front of Sally. She was checking him over for any more injuries, although the only one she could see was the bullet wound, which she needed to get fixed up.
"Cassi? Meg?" he asked weakly.
"Meg's ok in a sense," Sally told him. "Cassi hasn't been so lucky. She's got a wound to her shoulder and her earlier condition isn't helping her any."
"And neither is her mother," Quatre complained as he tried to stifle the blood flow from Cassi's shoulder. "Miss. Noin please, I can't stop the bleeding if you won't let me near her." With a stifled sob Cassi's mother let go of her daughter, so Quatre could try and keep her from dying.

Meg stood near by watching, tears in her red eyes and tear streaks on her face. Kaito was awake and talking, so she figured that was good, but then her eyes fell on Cassi. The blue-haired teen, who was meant to be her best friend was still unconscious, having lapsed back into the state she'd been in only hours before. Quatre had stopped the bleeding, but she'd be out again for a while.closed his eyes for a moment. He couldn't believe Meg had done what she'd done. He'd always expected her to have a stronger will. He just prayed to god that Cassi would be ok and vowed that if anything happened to her there'd be hell to pay.

He could hear Meg's sobs from a ways off and shrugged them off. Right now he didn't care what she was going through. Cassi had already been in critical condition and then she'd come along and made it so much worse. Something in the back of his mind told him it wasn't her fault but he ignored it as the anger burned inside him.took ages for the preventers with some help to quench the burning Sanc Kingdom base, which thankfully hadn't got any further across the building. The medical bay was no where near that area of the base, so had thankfully survived the flames although there was some smoke damage to the outer walls and door, but it was safe to house people. Gently taking Cassi from Miss. Noin's arms, Quatre easily carried the comatose girl to the medical bay to be treated. Sally would have to remove the bullet Cassi had been hit with first, as her condition was far worse than Kaito's was at that moment.

It didn't take long as they didn't have to waste time anathematising her, and the removal was relatively simple.
"She's lucky she stumbled," Sally muttered as Quatre helped her sew up the injury to Cassi's shoulder. "If she hadn't that shot would've done more damage."
"I know," Quatre nodded. "I just wish she hadn't tried such a thing in the first place."
"She did it because from what she said, she had to let it happen."
"I know, I heard. I just wish Meg's will had been strong enough to keep it from happening." Sally nodded as she spied the door move slightly. Miss. Noin peered in dressed in a green hospital outfit, and Sally simply gave her a nod and a thumbs up. Miss. Noin nodded and left the room.
"How is she?" asked Wufei quietly.
"She'll be fine, I hope," Miss. Noin responded. "I guess they'll move on to Kaito next."

They did move on to Kaito next, as one of Sally's aids had put him under just previous to them finishing with Cassi. Kaito had watched them remove the bullet lodged in the girl's shoulder, before the anaesthetic had been put into him. Please be all right, he thought to the girl. You're too strong to die THAT easily. Sally and Quatre moved onto Kaito straight away, this wouldn't take long, hopefully.the next couple of days everything around the house was pretty quiet. But Meg had roamed about the base like a ghost, a shell of her former self. Duo had lent her some of his clothes and he watched his daughter slowly drift along them not saying a word for 3 days. Duo felt like he was going to crack he wasn't use to Meg being this silent but then Meg had never done something like this before. Kaito ever time he saw her, she would look away with a look of shame and she didn't even pass by the hospital wing anymore. Meg slowly walked into the kitchen where she poured herself some milk, observing the kitchen she saw Kaito sitting there drinking his mourning coffee. Kaito looked up, his rage had built ever since 3 days ago and Meg, just seeing her standing there ignoring him made him even angrier.
"Why wont you talk!!" Kaito yelled and Meg slowly looked over, "Look at me at least Meg!!"
Meg turned and looked at him blankly, as if he wasn't really sitting there in front of her. This only made Kaito angrier and not wanting to look her in the face anymore, picked up his coffee and left the room, leaving her alone.

In the hospital wing, Sally was keeping a close watch on Cassi. Despite what they'd thought she was doing better than expected, her vital signs were stable and stronger than before and occasionally she'd twitched her fingers in response to someone's voice, when they asked her to, so that was good. Her mother had stayed there for hours everyday with her, while the others simply poked their heads around the door.
"Cassi," she heard Miss. Noin whisper for the dozenth time. "Please move honey, please."
"Noin," Sally soothed. "You've sat there for three straight hours, go and get something to eat or get some fresh air ok." Sighing Miss. Noin nodded and getting up left the room.
While she was gone, Sally went to check Cassi's pulse. As she thought it was stable, and her breathing was fine. She was just turning away when the blue-haired teen groaned, and turning back she saw Cassi open her eyes and look around her.
"Cassi," she whispered in relief, and leant over her. "How do you feel?" Cassi groaned again and tried to say something, but it was hard with the breathing mask on, so Sally cautiously and gently removed it.
"You feeling any better?" she asked softly.
"A little, although it feels like my own gundam attack me."
"Well, at least you still have a sense of humour," Sally laughed lightly. "Do you need anything? Water possibly?" Cassi nodded slightly.
"Where are Kaito and Meg?" she asked.
"Around, why?"
"I want to see them." At this point Sally paused, but seeing the pleading look in Cassi's innocent blue eyes, she sighed and replaced the breathing mask.
"I'll be back shortly," she told her and left the room, being sure to tell her colleague to keep an eye on Cassi, while she went to find Kaito and Meg.this time Kaito had finished his coffee and was down in the hanger working on his gundam's systems, though several of the technicians muttered that his current mood would just end in him causing damage to his gundam.

Sally sighed as she walked into the hangar and glanced at him, as he worked in the cockpit trying to keep his mind off of everything that had happened in the past few days. She calmly walked up to the base of the gundam and looked up at him.
"Cassi's awake. She asked to see you."

Kaito stopped abruptly, got up and jumped down from the gundam nodding quietly to Sally and heading to the medical wing leaving his work half done for the technicians to complete for him which was a relief to them. He walked into the medical wing several minutes later and walked into Cassi's room only to see Meg sitting silently beside Cassi's bed. He narrowed his eyes slightly and turned to leave not seeming to care if they noticed or not. He knew it was stupid to be mad at her but he couldn't seem to help it. He also knew, that if he stayed near her for too long he was likely to do something really stupid that he'd regret later on.sat in a chair next to Cassi smiling gently.
"Please forgive me Cassi," She said, 'Please I understand if you wanna punch my face in or anything but...." Suddenly Kaito suddenly came in.
"Kaito," Cassi said and she could see Kaito was angry...not normally angry but raging angry.
"I'll just go," Meg said in a low tone that was unusual for her and Cassi grabbed her arm.
"No stay," Cassi said.
"Yeah you "Should" go!" Kaito snapped.
"No," Meg said and sat back down, "If your going to be that way...i'm staying right here."muttered something and left the two girls alone walking down the hall calmly and heading towards his room. His head was starting to pound again. It had been doing it a lot in the past few days and he figured it was stress related.
stared at Meg quietly, what had she done that had made Kaito so angry? Then it hit her, it was because Meg had shot her and Kaito didn't know the true reasons. Looking up at Meg she tightened her grip on her friends arm, staring at her.tell him," she urged. "I don't want to see you two fighting for no reason."I shot you," Meg stated. "For goodness sake it's all my fault you're in this condition. You tried to protect ME from Kaizer and you almost went down with your gundam, then I let him turn me and I shot you. Dear Kami it's all my fault."no it's not," Cassi told her. "It's not your fault. Please tell Kaito, please, for me."
looked quietly at Cassi, as the injured girl continued to stare up at her from her bed. Despite what Cassi had done in the last couple of months, her eyes showed innocence. Meg shook her head quietly, she couldn't face Kaito not like this. Cassi turned her head away as Meg shook her head, and the girl felt her friends hand release her arm. Either she was getting tired and needed sleep, or she was disappointed in her for not trying. Cassi turned her head away and stared at the far wall, before speaking to Meg again.Meg, if not for me but for yourself." She then paused for a moment, before slightly groaning and twitching her fingers.you find Quatre for me?" she asked. There was something Meg could do. With a nod she left the room to find the former pilot of gundam 04.
wandered the corridors, knowing Kaito's room would be after finding Quatre. She found the blonde pilot sitting in the main lounge of the Sanc Palace talking to Miss. Relena.she stated quietly. "Err, Cassi's awake and wants to see you."sure thing. Excuse me Miss. Relena." Relena nodded and getting up, Quatre left the room, walking around Meg to do so. Now all that was left was for Meg to try and talk to Kaito, and she was dreading it.
strode down to the hospital wing and gently pushed the door open. Looking in he saw Cassi was awake and was staring at the ceiling quietly, but as his footsteps sounded on the floor she turned and looked at him. He could see tear streaks on her face, she was upset and he knew he could bet safe money that it was because of the friction between Kaito and Meg. They'd all felt it, they were angry and upset at each other and perhaps Kaito felt it the most. Cassi he noticed as he walked over and leant on her bedside, was the only one of the three who thought it would be better to let it go.do you feel?" he asked gently.and well enough to clobber the next person who starts off a conversation with me with that sentence," Cassi responded weakly. Quatre chuckled.what is it you wanted to see me for?" he asked. It was then he saw all traces of innocence and humour leave the blue-haired teens eyes, and a serious shine took their place.want you to help me arrange a trip for me to one of the colonies," she told him. "Colony 107."Quatre enquired in surprise. "You're not in the best condition to travel you know."will be shortly, but I can't stand the tension at the moment," Cassi told him. "I just want to leave it behind to recover better. I have family on my dad's side on colony 107, I can stay with them, all I need is a way to get there."
sighed as he looked into the girls blue eyes, hoping he would find some trace in them that said she was kidding, but there was none. Cassi, he realised, was deadly serious. you sure?" he asked again, although his tone suggested he was going to help anyway.Cassi nodded slightly in response. "Will my gundam be ready to go with me, just in case?"gundam has to be rebuilt," Quatre responded shaking his head. "You'll have to go without it." Cassi nodded in understanding as he got up and headed towards the door.she called before he left. Quatre stopped and turned to look back at her. "Don't tell anyone else, besides Dr. H ok."Quatre responded. "Although I do wish you'd change your mind." That said he left the room and headed down the corridor. He so hoped Cassi would change her mind, but the look in her eyes and the tone in her voice, said she wouldn't be doing that at all.meanwhile was in the choking bear hug of Relena.
"Choking...not breathing," she gasped.
"You look like a cute little doll," Relena said, "I was told you were wearing a dress so I got it and my tailors fixed it up what do you think..?

Meg slowly backed with a happy grin on her face as Relena pulled out the long white dress from a box.
"Uh I think i'll stick with my normal clothes!" She said.
"Try it on" Relena said Suddenly everyone could hear screaming and Kaito ran into Relena office only to start laughing.

There was Meg wearing the long white dress with her hair up in pigtails and big red ribbons.
"Don't you dare say a word," Meg growled.... "Devil women will be made to pay...."Look. Ridiculous!" Kaito laughed leaning against the wall for support and bringing his hand to his mouth as he attempted to stop laughing. Finally he stopped and grinned at Meg, think that's pay back enough for what you did... almost. Just one sec." With that Kaito left the room leaving Meg there confused yet slightly relieved that it seemed her companion had forgotten about their little feud. Her eyes went wide, however, when he returned with a camera and smirked at her, "DON'T YOU DARE!" Meg lunged at him, but by then it was too late and Kaito had quickly taken the picture and side stepped to avoid the collision as Meg tripped over the dress and fell to the ground. He stifled another laugh and shook his head as he walked up and brought his hand down to help her up.
"I've been a real jerk. Do you forgive me?" he asked growing serious all of a sudden. Meg, however, just glared at him and yanked him down with her muttering something about not forgiving him till she got her revenge.
"Give me that camera!" She cried and they rolled along the ground till Meg managed to pin Kaito to the ground.

Meg suddenly found herself blushing Kaito was so close she could feel his breath on her face.
Blushing again Kaito suddenly felt odd his face was turning bright red.
"Ahem," A voice said and both looked up to see Quatre standing there.
"Oh!" Meg cried and got off Kaito in a hurry
"Nice dress," Quatre said in a chuckle.
"Huh?" She asked and stomped off, "I'M GOING TO CHANGE!!!" As Meg went to change she passed Cassi's room where she was laying asleep. Slowly she walked in and took the pendent from her neck.
"Goodbye Cassi" She whispered as she put the pendent in her hand. 'I'll never bother you again....until I know what Kazier did to me...i'm not safe around normal people"

Slowly as Meg left the room Cassi opened her eyes slightly.
sighed slightly and glanced at Quatre, this'll all work out somehow? Because I'm really starting to doubt it. Kaiser knows exactly what he's doing and we have very few clues as to what that is. It seems so easy for him to manipulate us. I'm just worried that in the end we're all going to end up killing each other." Quatre sighed slightly and put a hand on the young pilots shoulder, the friendship you three have I doubt he could ever accomplish that. You three are too strong even though you might not believe it. I can see how much you three care about each other even when you and Meg were being controlled."
slowly opened Meg's room door, he had been worried about his daughter she had missed super which was unlike her and he was worried she might be getting sick. She had started to act normal and was still laughing inside after the dress accident with Relena. Slowly he opened the door and found it empty, her bed was made the dressers and drawers were all open and all empty.
"Meg?" Duo asked and walked right into the room and found a piece of paper laying on the pillow.

It read:

Goobye everyone...I will bother you no more or put you in no more danger

"Meg" Duo whispered and slowly sat down on the bed as Kaito came in.
Kaito looked at Duo's expression as the former pilot looked over at him and immediately knew that Meg had done something stupid again. He narrowed his eyes and walked over as Duo held the paper up for him to read.
"Damn it!" he growled as he turned, dropping the letter to the ground, and stopped at the door, "Don't you worry Duo. I promise you i'll bring her back. This is partly my fault anyway. I shouldn't have been so cold towards her."

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