Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Gundam Wing: Next Generation ❯ Gundam Wing: Christmas Trouble p1 ( Chapter 12 )

[ 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.notice: Thanks go out to BMK and Rya for helping me with this.
- - - -had been nearly a month since Treize had revealed himself to the three young gundam pilots and the members of the Sanq Guards. Kaito had woken up the day after the incident and apologized for putting himself and them in danger and had given them some nice news in telling them of Treize's 'new found injury'. Sally had taken care of the three's injuries and everyone was now searching for Treize, even though Christmas was drawing near. Quatre had spent the last few days trying to lighten everyone's mood and bring some Christmas cheer to the overly stressed team, but no matter what he did, it still didn't seem all that much like Christmas in the Sanq Palace.

Kaito was currently alone in his room, seemingly staring at a stuffed bear that Relena had given him last Christmas, to his dismay and disgust. He took several deep breaths as he eyed the brown creature and let all the tension and negative feelings flow through him as he practiced his gift. He quietly remembered what Sally had said after his last checkup. She'd done blood tests and showed him his old ones and new ones and explained that his blood was no longer 'normal'. She even admitted that it was barely even human anymore. She also stated that she thought his new powers might be due to this 'change' or at least may be the reason they surfaced. He growled at the thought. If the new Oz had caused these powers he'd have to thank them by showing them just how useful they could be. A moment later there was a ripping sound and Kaito sighed as he glanced at the Bear which had been ripped in half, when his intent was only to lift it into the air. Hearing a knock on his door, Kaito turned his head.
"Yeah," he asked nochalantly. The door handle turned and Cassi appeared in the doorway. She leant quietly on the door frame, eyeing him quietly before eyeing the destroyed teddy. fun?" she asked blankly. Kaito simply grunted in response. He looked at her as she toyed with a loose strand of her hair, Quatre had been pushing the christmas spirit upon the three teens the most. He could see he'd managed to get to Cassi, somewhat anyway. A small hairclip with a bobble of tinsel was clipped into her hair on the one side, it seemed that despite Cassi's 'reluctance' to get close to any male adult, she seemed to be connecting to Quatre. Hey they weren't that different, both were quiet half the time, both highly sensitive and both kept people together.turning us all into walking christmas trees or just you?" he asked with a slight smirk.it got him away from me," she responded quietly. Kaito sighed slightly as he stood up, walked over to the headless Teddy, grabbing both the body and the head and walked over, dropping it into the garbage can, at least I don't have to look at that freaky thing every time I open my closet."

To his surprise Cassi barely cracked a smile, if her lip even quivered in the slightest amusement he couldn't see it. wrong bluebelle?" he asked.big," she responded as she toyed with the hair clip. "Christmas just never seemed that big a deal to me." Kaito could see a look in Cassi's eyes that he'd never seen before as her fingers toyed with the tinsel bobble.on," he muttered. "Let's not let Quatre's efforts be totally in vain." He grabbed her wrist, shut his door and dragged her down to the main lounge where Quatre was putting up a tree, mostly by himself. Heero was with him, but the adult was reading as if the decorations didn't matter. Kaito smirked slightly as he wandered over to a box of decorations and snuck up behind the oblivious Quatre with a long strand of garland. He waved Cassi over and made a circular motion with his index finger as he passed the other end of the garland to her. Cassi forced a smile this time as she took hold of the garlands other end and with a nod Kaito slipped around one way and she went the other, effectively tangling the blonde adult up with the garland.the?" Quatre cried not fully comprehending what was happening. The garland fell loose as the two younger pilots dropped the ends, leaving him looking like half the room he'd decorated. Heero cast a glance at them out of the corner of his eyes, muttered something and returned to reading.glad someone has finally got a bit more Christmas spirit," he laughed lightly as he unwrapped the garland.just joking around," Kaito responded as Cassi just shrugged. Quatre grinned and tweaked the hair clip in Cassi's hair.makes you look pretty," he muttered.don't say that," Cassi muttered as she gently brushed his hand aside.
the look of spirit in Cassi's eyes just vanished? Kaito didn't get it. Just a second ago she'd been close to smiling her usual smile, now it was gone. Quatre seemed to sense it to and picked up a baubal to hang by a smaller garland, not making eye contact with the girl. Cassi now in a more somber mood than before, turned and sauntered out of the room just as Meg wandered in.Cassi," she greeted, but was greeted by silence. "What's eating bluebelle?"Kaito shrugged.
Kaito sighed slightly as he watched the blue haired teen walk out of the room. Why had her mood changed so quickly? He then glanced over at Quatre who had busied himself with decorating the tree, seem to know what's wrong with her. Care to fill us in?" Quatre shook his head in response, he wasn't going to answer and continued decorating.
"Quatre please..." said Meg as she walked around the sofa. "I know Cassi pretty well, but i've never seen this side of her before." Quatre stopped what she was doing and turned to look at the two, before glancing at Heero. The other adult just looked at him out the corner of his eyes, without a word.I put that clip in Cassi's hair," Quatre told them. "I'd intended to give it to one of my many sisters, but I thought she might like it instead. She got a little upset and i'm surprised she didn't refuse it. I asked why and it turns out that ever since her father was killed, Cassi hasn't bothered with Christmas. She told me it was the first thing she'd ever got from any male adult for a long time." He hung another baubal on the tree and picked up another.consider Cassi like a daughter to me, we're very much alike, but...I won't hurt her. Not a chance. Don't tell her I told you this, the last thing Cassi needs is to be bothered by her past."
Kaito sighed and nodded and Meg let her gaze fall to the ground. Cassi was important to both of them and neither could believe that they hadn't thought of that. Of course it would be hard to enjoy christmas when one of your parents was gone forever. Meg knew exactly how Cassi felt as she had and often did feel the same way during the christmas holidays.
"Maybe we should leave her for a while," Kaito suggested but Meg shook her head and was soon heading out the door after the other girl.
Cassi had disappeared to where she could try and get some alone time, as right now that was what she really wanted. She knew someone would come to see if she was ok, Meg most likely. She leant on the safety rail of the flat roof top she was standing on, allowing the cold December wind to blow through her hair. 'Father' she thought as she stared out across the Sanq Kingdom. 'I love you and I miss you, I wander if you know how much I do. Well you always did know me better than most, so I bet you do. Listen to me, moping around at Christmas when I have something to be grateful for. My friends are great, mom's as she normally is and Quatre...well...I don't know. How can anyone take your place?'

She sighed as she looked across at some workmen as they walked across the carpark. Another cold and sharp blast of wind hit her in the face, whipping her loose hair up. If she wasn't careful she'd have a time getting the knots out, but she didn't totally care. She figured something though, Meg would understand her the most here although her loss was slightly different to her own.slowly arrived on the roof and opened the door to see Cassi standing there.
"Hey Cas you alright?" Meg asked and the girl turned her head to see the red head. "I'll leave if you wont me to...just that you've been distant lately and i was wondering if you would help me with something."
"With what?" Cassi asked.
"Taking down all that mistletoe before Miss Queen of the World got back," she said, "Heero told me to burn every last one I find."
"No thanks Meg," Cassi drawled out as her friend walked across to join her. Cassi didn't notice Kaito hang back to watch, and went back to staring out across the palace grounds. The wind whipped her hair again and twitched strands of Meg's, then again it was in a braid so that was all it would do. bothering you bluebelle?" she asked. A momentary frown crossed Cassi's face, she didn't like the nickname, but since a lot of her companions used it now, she put up with it.much," Cassi responded as she twiddled her thumbs. "Christmas just doesn't seem so special to me, or hasn't...till now."Quatre made up your hair," Meg stated and Cassi nodded. only trying to be nice you know," Kaito motioned as he approached carefully. "He really cares about you."know he does, but in this line of work things like that can get you killed," Cassi murmured. "I already lost one father to this war before it even began, I don't want to lose another."listen," Meg said and took the girl in her arms, "You have us, we're your family Cassi your like a sister to me heck my dad even starting to think my mother had had another kid and didn't tell him." She looked at Cassi and smiled.

"Me and Kaito will be with you whenever you need help, and we'll never leave you specially me heck what would you two do without me around?"
"Have a better chance of living longer?" Kaito offered with a big smirk on his face. Meg released Cassi and with a playful laugh she punched Kaito in the arm, and began chasing him across the roof and towards the door. Quatre who'd managed to finished with half the tree, decided he needed a break and had gone for a walk. He didn't know he was being watched though, although he could sense something strange in the air.

Cassi chuckled and shook her head in amusement, her sedate blue eyes glistening in the light. Maybe i'm being stupid she thought as Meg tackled their male counterpart. I have a great family in them now. I know you understand papa. I know it Laughing she walked across the roof and passed them, smirking at the two.
"You two love birds going to come down then, or should I leave you in the private love nest?" Grinning she hurriedly took off and ran off down the stairs and into the building as the two looked directly at her.
"Hey!" Meg said and blushed heavily as she got up, "Wait for me we still gotta burn all that mistletoe." She noticed Kaito wasn't buding and she ran up.
"Come on or Heero is gonna have our hides."
"Yeah, yeah i'm coming," Kaito muttered as he got up. "Cassi likes to tease us doesn't she?"
"Cassi's just being Cassi," Meg grinned as they jogged down the stairs and into the main building. "I like her for it, it's better than having her moping around like goodness knows what."
"Agreed." Both saw Cassi smile at them as she reached up and plucked some mistletoe from an archway.
"Come on then," she grinned. "We have a whole palace to check." Kaito and Meg nodded and got to work on the arches and doors and anywhere else Quatre had put mistletoe, and he'd used a lot.
"Yuck," Meg groaned as she plucked another piece. "Quatre is way too into this."

Elsewhere as Quatre walked outside, he stretched his arms and yawned tiredly. Maybe he should bully the kids into finishing the decorating for him, yes that sounded like a good idea. Stopping as a cold wind blew past him, he looked around himself. He wasn't alone, he could tell. Now his old senses were at their peak again, nothing was going to get by him. He was alone though, not great odds in his mind. He started to walk again, blowing on his hands to warm them up. Cassi edged into his mind as he moved, what he'd said was true, he cared for her as a daughter and since he had no kids of his own that was a big like.
"Yet she's still so afraid," he whispered momentarily closing his eyes. "Maybe Meg and Kaito will help her out of it." He'd barely gone a few steps forward when a light footstep caught his ear; he turned sharply and looked around.
"I know someone's around," he spoke up. "Show yourself. I swear if it's you playing a joke Duo I will strangle you with your own hair braid." Yet no one answered and he started to get nervous.
"Wufei?" he asked carefully looking around. "Miss. Noin? Milliardo?" His eyes turned from the side to in front of him, a big mistake. At that point he was grabbed roughly from behind, his arms restrained behind his back.
"Let go!" he cried trying to free himself. "Let go!"
"Sorry," a cold voice retorted, and Quatre felt like he knew it from somewhere. "You're coming with us." Quatre struggled harder as a cloth was placed over his face, but shortly afterwards everything went dark and he fell limp in his captors arms.
"Take him to the base," came an order. "I'll make sure the children know."

Meanwhile Cassi who'd been sitting on Kaito's shoulders in order to reach a big piece of mistletoe, felt a shock flood her chest and with a gasp of alarm she choked and fell from the boys hold, landing hard on the floor.
"Cassi?! Are you alright?" Kaito asked quickly as he whirled around and knelt by his companion. He tensed, however, when he saw the look of shock and fear on the girl's face. Something was wrong, is it? What's wrong Cassi?"
Having heard the noise, Meg had come running with Hilde close behind her. Hilde had been steadying a ladder for her to get some mistletoe down, when they'd both heard Cassi cry out. When they arrived they found her cradled in Kaito's arms, tears trickling down her face.
"What happened?" asked Hilde between gasps for breath.
"Cassi had an empathic surge," Kaito explained, translating what Cassi had told him moments before. He gave Meg a thoughtful look before continuing.
"It's Quatre."Meg and Hilde looked stunned before Hilde asked in the calmest tone she could, though her voice quivered slightly, you know what happened? Any idea where he is?"
"Last time I saw him he was decorating the tree," Kaito murmured in reply before glancing at Cassi who was still sobbing and shaking. Whatever it was, it had to be bad, or perhapse it was just the bond the two shared that made it seem so much worse to Cassi. They all knew how much she cared about the blond haired x-pilot.
"I'll go and tell the others," Hilde muttered to Meg, who simply nodded as she turned and ran off. Meg asked softly as she knelt beside her and rested a comforting hand on her arm. "Are you going to be all right?" Cassi turned her head slightly to look at her, tears drying on her face. knew it would happen," she muttered as she tried to stand on her trembling legs. Kaito supported her with his arm.knew it, getting close to anyone in this life is just asking to get your loved ones killed!" Cassi cried. "Darn it!" Pushing Kaito aside she walked up to a wall and punched it furiosly.not true Cassi," Kaito said calmly as he walked up and put a hand on her shoulder. Meg also walked up and took Cassi by the hand and turned her to face her. She glanced at the blue haired girl and smiled, still have us don't you?"
"Yeah and how many times have I nearly lost you because of this war?" Cassi cried as tears fled down her cheeks again. "How many Meg? Kaito? Tell me!" Wiping her eyes with her sleeve Cassi tried to compose herself, she seemed to find it harder than normal at the moment. Turning she walked away from her friends.not losing anyone else," she stated and took off down the corridor.are you going! Meg yelled.going outside to look around," Cassi yelled back. "And if OZ or even Treize are behind this, i'll find out and don't try to stop me when I do." That said she grabbed her jacket off the hook by the door and ran out the door.Kaito shouted and was about to run after her when Meg grabbed his arm and shook her head. The red head then smiled at him and calmly headed after Cassi. Kaito sighed, she was right of course. Meg was always better at calming the younger pilot.
eyes scanned the area around her, being trained as a pilot had enhanced her senses. She looked everywhere in seconds, when she suddenly heard a whooshing sound, something was coming through the air. Turning she caught the boomerang as it hurtled towards her, and whirled around to see where it had come from. Seeing nobody she took the slip of paper off as Meg and Kaito caught up with her. They watched her read the note and tense up, her eyes glowing viciously. She scrunched the paper up a hiss escaping her throat, a hiss that sounded vaguely like the word Treize to her friends. what is it?" Kaito asked as he took the paper from her hand and read it. "Pilot 04 is ours, come to the Youkon in Canada if you want him to survive for Christmas. Treize. Why that...!"has had it," Cassi growled out as she headed towards the hanger. "I'm going to hit him so hard he'll still be feeling it by next Christmas."you're not going it alone," Kaito warned in a no-nonsense tone. "We said we'd always be here for ya and we're not about to back out now."but keep up," Cassi muttered.Meg said and walked behind Cassi, "Come on slow down...you're never gonna find Quatre that way..hey will you stop for a moment!!"
stopped and turned to stare at her friend, eyes aflame with fury, like nothing Meg had seen in them before.she barked. Meg saw a glare in Cassi's eyes she had never seen before in her friends eyes.
"Cassi," she said, "Just come inside whoever took Quatre is probably long gone by now...we'll organize a search party."
"To heck with search parties!" Cassi literally snapped back. "The note says clearly where he is, so i'm going there and i'm going now."be walking right into a trap," Kaito muttered, afraid to get any closer to the girl. Cassi snapped at him slowly. "I'm not a little girl, I thank you two for always being there for me, but I CAN look after myself to. You stay and organise a search if you want, but i'm going to Canada and i'm taking Amazon. If you decide to come you know the route."wasted no time in storming off, the pair had never seen her like this before. She was like a girl possessed, nothing was going to stop her this time around and even though it was clearly a trap she was obviously not going to simply stand back and leave Quatre in it.never felt like slapping common sense into her before," Meg muttered as Cassi disappeared into the hanger. "I always thought it would be her hitting me, not the other way around."Kaito nodded.roared into the hanger when suddenly Meg jumped in front of her.
"I'm not here to stop ya," Meg told her. "I'm here to join ya...little chance of success and large chance of death..heck what are we waiting for let's get going." Cassi nodded as she walked over to her Gundam and put her foot in the foot hoist. She was hoisted up as Meg followed with Deathscythe Angel, having decided to give it a run for a change. Kaito had just stood where he'd been standing, shaking his head in disbelief.two would risk their necks for anything," he muttered. "Better go to make sure they don't get killed."girls were already activating their suits engines by the time he arrived and headed towards his own suit.good, you're coming along for the fun?" Meg asked over the radio as the two waited for him.if it's only to keep you two from walking into certain dsetruction, then yes."see Cassi I told you he was a big softy." Cassi chuckled slightly as their gundams left the hanger.at the Canada base, Quatre was slowly waking up. His head was throbbing with a painful headache, and his arms felt weighted and sore. Looking down he found arm gauntlet cuffs on his arms and he sighed, great he hadn't been in this situation since he was a kid.awake I see," a voice called over the intercom of the room. "Remember me Winner?"Quatre growled out. "What do you want with me?"came the simple reply. "You're just bait."want the kids," Quatre snapped as the whole thing dawned on him. "Well I wouldn't count on them falling for this little fiasco."I don't know," Treize's voice laughed lightly. "Seems according to my contact they were all for coming after you, despite the risk to their own lives. Especially Miss. Noin's pride and joy."Quatre whispered. I did it. Soon enough my revenge will be taken."glared around the room as the intercom went off, echoing with the sound of Treize's sharp laughter. Rubbing his head, Quatre prayed the kids would be careful, especially Cassi.I can't see anything," Meg said as they flew over the Youkon is a horrible blizzard. "I love snow but not this much." Meg looked at her radar and still wasnt picking up anything, she sighed and looked over at a gages when suddenly her gundam gave a suddenly twirl.
"What the?...Guys I think I have a problem Death Angel's boosters are freezing up..come on baby don't do this to me."
"You've barely...used Angel t...last few months," Cassi told her over a static filled radio line, so Meg could just about make out what she was saying. out...if it won...take it."way."yo...suit holding ou...Cassi?" Kaito asked. "Mine's...engines are juddering..."the cold, our suits aren't...used to it..." Cassi muttered. "Something we should...sort out later. Mine's fine...ough, i'm transferring...energy from any unused...tem to keep...engines warm, but...that won't last for lo..."we nearly...there then?" asked Meg's static covered voice. tell...my radar...scanners can't penet...rate the blizzard," Cassi responded.can...mine," Kaito concurred. "We're flying blind..."Meg groaned as she tried to heat up her suits engines.let's... put it this way... if we crash into...building, we'll know we're...there," Kaito half joked. He heard both girls sigh in resignation over the radio and chuckled.been...bad influence on you..." Meg chuckled and suddenly her scanners started to pick up something. "My scanner...st be on the fritz..."
"Why?" Cassi asked.
"'Cause i'm...picking up reading li...MS but there's hunder...of thousands of them," Meg responded.
"That's impossible," Cassi quipped as she ran her fingers over her scanning controls. "I'm certainly...picking anything up. Are you sure...not just big...snowflakes Meg?"
"Cassi, my scanning...ipment may not be work...properly right now, but it's not...THAT disfunctional," Meg countered. Cassi laughed lightly and ran her fingers over her scanner controls again, the clicking sound barely reaching her ears over the screaming noise of the blizzard around them. Hang in there Quatre she thought. We'll be there as soon as we can

Cocking an eyebrow at the strange readings SHE was now getting, Cassi ran them again.
"I'm getting...faint reading," she told them. "It's big...tever it is."
"A building? An MS?" Kaito asked. "I'm...not picking anything up."
"I'm not sure... but if I crash in...it, you're to blame." Double checking again Cassi brought her suit to a halt.
"It's a building...scanner reading's are bounding...off some kind of antenna."
"Maybe that's wh...been giving you such odd readings," Kaito called to Meg. "It may be reflec...back against us to confuse us."
"Maybe."
the snow started to clear up and the pilots gasped there over them was a giant base stretching for at least a mile wide in length and weith and it was over 20 story talls. But below them surprised them even more.
"Hundreds of them," Meg gasped, "No Thousands of MS gees Treize must be planning something really big..Look Wing 0." Looking over they could see macanics working on Wing 0 putting some sort of strange new armor over it's slim body.
"What are they doing to it?"
"Meg, now is not the time to be worrying about that thing," Cassi stated firmly. "It's a hunk of junk that brings nothing but trouble."
"That hunk of junk has saved our butts you know," Meg countered.
"Yeah, saved us from what it's got us into..." Cassi retorted as she took her suit closer to the ground.
"Now's not the time for bickering," Kaito informed his companion's matter-of-factly as he to headed towards the ground.

Cassi lowered her suit onto the snow covered ground a little ways off and looked around as the technicions turned to see who the arrivals were, and several of them ran off quickly. She smirked to herself. Yes run she thought coolly. Show how big a coward you all are She heard Meg and Kaito land just to her sides, before her eyes darted back to what was going on before her. There were enough suits here to create a war bigger than the one they were already fighting.
"Maybe we were expected," she muttered.
"Maybe, just maybe?" Meg commented. "More like we WERE."
"I sure hope Treize doesn't think his tin cans can stand up to us," Kaito muttered. "Although I don't know if even WE could stand up to all that forever."
"We'll have to see won't we?" Cassi stated. "I know one thing, i'm not running away from that bleached blonde pretty boy."
"Yea I guess so" Meg said and suddenly started to shake. "I..feel...something is wrong..." Treize was standing there in the snow as the icy chilled wind blew by him. Meg couldn't stop her body from shaking now and she was screaming in pain.
bit her bottom lip, eyes fixing on Treize.keep Meg where she is," she told him. "I'm going down to have a talk with Treize."you nuts or just incredibely brave?" he asked as he walked Shadowarcher over to Death Angel.i'm alive afterwards...you'll know." Cassi retorted as she opened her cockpit doors. Checking her gun and holstering it, Cassi lowered her gundam to one knee and jumped out onto it, before jumping to the floor. Standing up she walked towards the blonde leader and stared up at him, she had to as he was taller than her.well, well," Treize chuckled. "I was expecting company, but not such pretty..."it Treize," Cassi quipped cutting him off. "I didn't come here for a nice chat. I came here for Quatre and if the need arrises, to take you down. Now tell me where he is, or i'll use my suit and blast this whole place and you into the next decade."can try little flower," Treize smiled. "But you see, as long as I'm alive so is he and maybe you'll find him. Kill me and well...you'll lose him."seem so confident," Cassi stated. "But confidence can be just as dangerous as it can be helpful."like a true gundam pilot," Treize joked. "You kids have no idea in all honesty do you? You're just following in your father's footsteps or mothers in your case."are you saying?"saying that you have never faced war like your parents, you've never been close enough to experience the taste of war, not properly anyway. I doubt you ever will."underestimate us," Cassi told him her hand resting on her gun. "Are you willing to do that."willing to do anything if you must know..." Treize grinned as he forceably took her hand and kissed the back of it. "You'll learn that in time."snatched her hand away and wiped it on her jacket, making a mental note to clean her jacket later. Treize turned and walked away from her, just as a few of the suits eyes lit up. Cassi looked up at them, were they going to fire on her?make you a deal," he stated. "I'll allow you and only you, to enter my base. Make it to where Mr. Winner is and free him and you can go, if you fail to survive then everyone one of you will die. How does that strike you?"popped open the cockpit of Death Angel and then gasped, Meg was twitching in pain her head burried in her legs, her hands bleeding becuase she had torn at her own flesh cutting herself and and clothes.
"Ah I see Miss. Maxwell has finally started the final stage," Treize said.
"Final Stage?" Cassi asked and remembered the mutations in the base where Meg was bitten.

Suddenly Meg looked up at Kaito her eyes were yellow and like a cats and suddenly she jumped out of the gundam like an animal and let out an inhuman cry. Her body was curved now like a cats and her mussels were all buldged out and her clothes were starting tear as her leg mussels buldged out.
"Yes," Treize said, "Here!!" Suddenly Meg sprung beside Treize and he petted her messy red head.
"Sick em," Treize said and pointed to Kaito.
couldn't believe what was happening, she had known in the pit of her stomach that this would happen, that something would damage their friendship again, but she'd been too afraid to voice her fears. Cassi hated herself for being so quiet, for being so stupid that she'd let Meg turn into...whatever she'd turned into. She watched as Meg attacked Kaito, who'd since jumped down from Death Angel's cockpit door. The red head knocked him to the ground violently and the two began a rough and tumble fight across the snow, with Kaito trying to defend himself. Cassi now realised that Kaito was trying not to hurt Meg, that's why he wasn't fighting back. Her hand twitched to her gun, which was still holstered in its holster. She had to save Quatre, that much was clear, but she couldn't let Meg hurt Kaito. It wasn't Meg's fault and she knew if Meg ever survived what had happened to her that she'd hate her for her next move, for the rest of their lives. Turning sharply and much to Treize's surprise, Cassi pulled her gun out and fired a single shot into Meg's side, or what looked like it anyway.
"I'm sorry Meg," she whispered as her friend screamed in pain. Blood left the wound and trickled down her friends body.

Kaito turned and looked at Cassi, who still held the smoking gun up. A look of sadness glistened in her eyes, and her hand trembled.
"Kaito, don't hold back," she shouted. "If push comes to shove shoot her."
"I can't!" he cried.
"I did..." Cassi stated and turned to Treize. "I accept your challenge, on one condition. If I find and free Quatre. You give me the antidote to what is inside of Meg. No double crossing." Treize stared at her for a moment.
"Very well. You have my word and that is my bond to our deal. Find Quatre, and the antidote that'll heal her for good is yours." With a nod, Cassi took off into the base.

It was huge, so to find Quatre she'd have to think like Treize, not something she wanted to do, but it was her only choice. Without a moments hesitation she shot down several corridors, as if she knew where she was going. Meg, Quatre, hang on
lay in the snow as it turned red around her, Kaito watched as she growled and looked up at him and collasped in the snow breathing heabily.
"K..,Kaito..." she whispered. Kaito stepped foreword when Meg's face looked up.
"End it," she whispered and suddenly attacked Kaito again with a furious slash across his chest. Kaito shook his head and jumped away, wincing slightly at the pain that raked across his chest, which was now bleeding slightly,
"I won't hurt you. I can't. Don't make me hurt you Meg. Please." He sighed slightly and walked towards Meg who looked as if she'd attack again. He stopped just inches from her and closed his eyes, really am the weak link in this team. No matter what happens, I don't think I'd ever be able to hurt either of you." Meg looked at him and suddenly she backed away and her body fell to the ground as her muscles returned to normal and her breathing become harsh.
"Stay...stay away from me," Meg said and suddenly ran off into the snowy plane and disappeared in a snow drift.
"Meg?!" Kaito called as she ran off then narrowed his eyes before turning to look at Treize. His eyes held something in them that almost made the older man shiver. He spoke as he slowly stepped towards the man, "You hurt my friends, manipulated us, kidnapped one of our mentors. What made you think that you'd get away with it without a fight? What gives you the right to use people like you do? What, because you've got the money? Because you've got the skill? The men who will follow you to their graves? What is it? What makes you think you're so much better then the rest of humanity? You know what? I don't care, because I know that you're no better then anyone else, in fact, you're worse. You're nothing but a coward hiding behind your moble suits and your army. Well I don't see your army or your moble suits coming to your rescue now."

And Kaito was right. Treize looked up and saw that the moble suits weren't even powered up. He glanced at Kaito and narrowed his eyes,
"I wouldn't try anything if I were you, boy. Keep in mind, that your friend's well-being also lies in my hands. If you kill me, then you won't get the antidote." Kaito narrowed his eyes at this and turned to glance at one of the moble suits which suddenly went flying backward as if hit by some unseen assailant. Kaito then turned back to look at Treize, "Keep in mind, that if you don't keep your word, then I will kill you."
Meg ran she couldnt believe she had just attacked Kaito..how could she. She fell to her knees crying and bleeding.
"I just want to end it all..." she cried out to the wind and she hugged herself to keep warm but her torn clothing wasn't enough to keep her warm she started to shiver. She tried to get to her feet again but found the bullet lodged in her side was burning even worst then it already had been a second ago. The wind suddenly tore apart the elastic in her hair and it tossed her red hair into the air freeing it from the braid.
"I just wamt to end it all" she whispered again before closing her eyes in the red snow covered ground.
Kaito glared at Treize for a few more seconds before turning and running in the direction that Meg had gone. He followed her footprints in the show till he saw her shivering form in the snow. He ran up and grabbed her around the shoulders, rubbing her arms to keep her arm, "Meg, tell me your ok."
Cassi wandered the many corridors of Treize's base looking for Quatre, her gun sitting in her hand. She was down to five bullets now, but she had a few spares in her pockets. She'd learned by now never to let yourself be caught unarmed. Cocking the end of her weapon she slid down a corridor, her eyes settling on a single guard a few feet away. Sliding up she hit out and hit him in the neck with her hand, effectively knocking him unconscious.
"I won't kill you," she muttered stepping over him. "I don't have the time."

The corridors seemed endless and there were a lot of guards, Trezie was a careful man that was for sure. Stopping at one particular point to avoid being seen, she found herself in a bay that looked like it was reserved for imprisonment.
"Ah, the prison area," she muttered. "Good." She slid over to the doros and checked them, most were open and unguarded, all except for one. A single guard with a rifle stood before one door.
"Soldier," she stated in an authoritive voice as she walked up to him. "Is this where the former pilot of 04 is being held?"
"Why yes mam..." he began as he turned to her, but he barely had time to say anything else as Cassi shot him. He fell to the floor as Cassi holstered her gun and bent down by his body. She took the keys from his belt and placed them into the lock, clicking it open.
"Quatre?" she asked pushing it open. "Please tell me you're in here."
"Yes Cassi..." he responded as he got up and stepped into her vision. "You had fun I see." He nodded at the guard as he said this, and Cassi simply shrugged as she placed anthoer key into his cuffs and unlocked them. They fell to the floor with a clatter.
"Come on, we're leaving," she told him.
"You alone?" he asked.
"Just about..." she confirmed as she led the way out, making sure to watch out for any enemies along the way.
suddenly groaned in pain and Kaito smiled as she opened her eyes.
"Meg say something," he pleaded.
"Ouch," she said and chuckled under her breath.
"That works I guess," Kaito chuckled smiling at her before helping her to her feet, "Lets get you out of the snow and into your gundam before you freeze to death. Hopefully Cassi's reached Quatre by now so we can get out of here."
"Cassi!!" Meg cried, "You have to go and help her!!"
"You mean us right?" Kaito asked.
"No I just attacked you Kaito," Meg said, "Urg damn Treize."
at the base and nearly out of it, Cassi had led Quatre out without a problem, probably because the guards were still out cold from when she'd gone in.hit them hard," Quatre observed.like they didn't deserve it," Cassi muttered as they arrived at the exit door. She holstered her gun and readied it, she didn't trust Treize, whether she had his word or not. She pushed the door open and stepped into the snow, waving Quatre out behind her.home free," she motioned noticing the empty suits and Treize standing on his own in the freezing weather. His cape whipped around him as he stood there, as if he'd frozen to death on his feet.being careful, Cassi approached him with her gun at the ready. I did what you stated," she told him. "Now, you uphold your end of the bargain." Thinking that Treize hadn't heard her Cassi went to speak again, but the man turned his head and looked down at her, before turning completely around. His eyes fell on her and Quatre, before a small smile crossed his face. well I guess I underestimated you three," he told her as he put his hand in his pocket. "I underestimated Meg, she's got more resilience than I thought. I underestimated you, you've got far more skill than I thought and Kaito, well...he's stronger than I thought. I'm a man of my word, here..." Cassi reached up as he chucked a small vile of sky blue liquid to her. She caught it and looked at it, it looked awful.antidote?" she asked, as if seeking to confirm it.Treize responded as he headed off towards Wing 0. "That's the PERMANENT antidote for your friend. I see that I don't need to mutate you to fight against you. I thought you were weak and I was mistaken."and Quatre watched him as he disappeared into Wing 0's cockpit and sat down, fastening the safety harness. be warned Miss. Noin, you have yet to win this war and I will find another way to fight against you. This time, it will be honourable." He closed the cockpit, activated the engines and left. Cassi watched him go, eyes unblinking as if she couldn't believe what he'd just said. She looked back at the vile in her hand as Quatre rested his hand on her arm. She looked up at him and forced a weak smile.least you won this battle," he assured her. "Not very many can claim that."know."meanwhile was being laid inside Death Angel slowly cursing under her breath as Kaito treated her injury.
"I'm gonna..Cassi...Qu...Quatre," Meg said as they came towards the gundam.
and Quatre approached the gundam side by side, talking to each other. Neither Meg nor Kaito could understand what either was saying, but Cassi seemed to be in a far better mood than she'd been in earlier. She must've been as she was smiling, albeit a weak smile.are you both all right?" Kaito called down as he stepped out of Death Angel's cockpit.Cassi called back as they stopped. "How are you and Meg?"Kaito joked and Cassi and Quatre heard Meg groan in response. "Meg's injured from that shot Cassi and is a bit cold, and i'm fine."to know you still look out for each other," Quatre motioned. "And what shot?"err...shot Meg," Cassi told him her eyes falling downcast to the snow covered ground. knew Quatre must have been giving her one heck of a confused look about then, but she couldn't bring herself to look into his eyes. Instead she lifted her head and looked at the vile of blue liquid before closing her fingers around it.she called up as she threw the vile to him. "Give that to Meg. It's the antidote. It'll stop this from happening ever again." Kaito caught hold of the vile, uncorked it and offered it to Meg, who, thankful that it would help her, swallowed the whole thing in moments.Cassi made her way to her gundam, she had something to do before she left and she needed a few things to do it.are you planning?" Quatre asked as he walked to catch up with her. "I'm going to put an overload chip on a handful of these suits," Cassi responded as she jumped onto the knee of her gundam then into the cockpit. "No point leaving them to be used." She returned with a handful of small charges and walking over to the suits, selected a few and attached them.can detinate them from a safe distance and it'll blow them to bits, but we must be far away when they blow. Quatre nodded in response as Cassi made sure the suits would all be destroyed, although she was sure she'd have to destroy a few herself.Kaito!" she called as she got into her suit. "I know you're helping Meg, but you'd best get into your suit and help her out of here, those things are going to form a crater when they explode."hope they will," Quatre told her as he joined her in her suits cockpit. Cassi nodded as she fastened her harness and waited for Kaito to make sure that he and Meg were safely secured in their suits, before she took off.three suits moved to a good safe distance, with Kaito's supporting Death Angel. Reaching for her detinator, Cassi pressed the button and a massive explosion followed as the numerous suits went up in flames.fireworks display," Meg muttered, still somewhat groggy from her experience. two head home," Cassi told them. "I'll stay here and make sure those suits are mostly gone."that," Kaito confirmed. "Come on grandma."till i'm better," Meg drawled out.can't wait for you to try," Kaito retorted as they left.hid a grin and stifled a chuckle as she flew her suit back towards the base. Most of the suits were in pieces, having had the explosions ricochet off of each other. The remaining ones needed a few short swipes with a weapon and they'd be useless.be glad to get home," Cassi told her passenger as she swiped her beam saber through them. "I need to shower Treize's energy off me."be glad to," Quatre motioned. "I've never missed being around the Sanq Kingdom so much." Cassi turned and looked at him as she turned and activated her suits boosters, her eyebrowse arched.need peace and quiet in my old age," Quatre laughed as Cassi headed to catch up with Meg and Kaito.wouldn't say you're old," Cassi commented.take that as a complement."was a complement."sighed as she saw Kaito and Meg way off in the distance, she had wanted to catch up with them, but guilt over shooting Meg even though she knew it had been necessary kept her back.something wrong bluebelle?" Quatre enquired, wandering if it was ok to chance using her nickname himself.just..." Cassi began. "I just can't believe I shot Meg."couldn't have helped it obviously," he told her. "I know I don't know the whole story, but even I can see that."well, maybe I should find other ways to fight. I'm a grade 2 blackbelt for goodness sake."know, but sometimes there are times when you have no choice," Quatre told her as he put his arm around her shoulders and hugged her. Cassi leant slightly back into the hug, she hadn't realised how much she needed the comfort of a father figure right now. Feeling her suit sway a bit because of the gusting wind outside it, she moved out of the hug and turned the controls a bit to steady it. sighed slightly. This war was taking so many lives and changing so many others, for the worst in most cases. He then smiled thinking about the little blue vile and what had been in it. He hoped to god that Treize had been honest and that it would help her, and not make it all worse.
seeing the Sanq Kingdom up ahead and the waiting hanger bay in the ground, he sighed in relief and took his suit down, taking Meg's with him. The doors above their suits closed and stayed shut, whilst the one for Cassi remained open.you all ok?" asked Hilde as she came running. "You left so quickly, we barely had time to..."fine," Kaito drawled out as he left his suit.Cassi and Quatre?" asked Miss. Noin.Cassi wanted to get rid of some enemy suits," Meg muttered as Kaito helped her from her suit.a soft rumbling they turned to see Cassi gently bringing her suit into the hanger, landing it neatly on its feet. The clamps closed over it to keep it up, and the upper latch closed. She opened the door for Quatre to get out, whilst she removed her safety harness.are you ok?" Heero enquired as the blonde jumped off the cockpit door.fine Heero," Quatre assured him as Cassi stepped out of her suit and somersaulted to the ground at his side. "Thanks to the kids."biggy," Cassi shrugged.Duo came running down and first eyed Meg who Kaito was helping along.
"Meg!!" He screamed and looked her up and down, "Your shot!! Are you ok? Should we call a doctor..should I?"
"Dad it's alright Cassi shot me," Meg told him, "No big."
"NO BIG!!" Duo yelled, "You were shot by your bestfriend i'd say that is a big thing!"
"Rather her shoot me then anyone else," Meg chuckled and turned to Cassi, "No hard feelings k?"
"Come on," Kaito said with a smile, "We can't have christmas without you now can we?" He grinned mischiviously after saying that, "We can get rid of you after that."
"Not if we get rid of you first you little trouble maker," Wufei's voice said from behind the brown haired pilot. Kaito turned to look at the other pilot and yelped as something was shoved into his face. It turned out to be a cream pie.
and Meg both burst out laughing as Kaito coughed and spluttered and pushed the can the pie had been in, off his face.you can't deny it," Cassi told him through a fit of laughter. "You've had that coming for a long time."Kaito groaned. "Of all the..."on Meg," Cassi laughed as she helped her friend to walk. "Let's get my bullet out of you. Then maybe we can err, enjoy ourselves a bit more this Christmas."Meg laughed. "We ok?"we're ok," Cassi grinned. "Listen, if you promise not to go off like you do anymore, I won't go shooting you again, deal?"said something," Miss. Noin accused looking at Quatre. "What was it?"Quatre responded. "Absolutely nothing. Kaito groaned slightly and whipped his face off with his sleeve before heading off to get cleaned up and join the others, all the while, scheming for his next 'attack' on old man Chan.
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