Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Lean On Me ❯ Allies or Foes? ( Chapter 16 )

Authors note: Me again. On to chapter sixteen we go! Well, this certainly is turning into a long story, and I haven't even gotten to the climax yet…hmmm…. I wanted this story to be a long one, and I guess it will be…Goodie!

Disclaimer: Must I right this again? I write it in every chapter! Er, rather…

Chapter Sixteen

Riley glanced at her watch again and groaned. "Aw, cummon, Jake. Today of all days you just had to be late."

"Kind of reminds me of you," Duo commented from his leaning position against the brick wall of a restaurant. "You're never on time, either."

Riley glared at him. "Neither are you, Maxwell."

For once, Duo didn't reject to being called by his last name, for he noticed a ruggedly handsome man wearing a bright red shirt running across the street toward them. He raised his eyebrows questioningly and looked at Riley. She smiled at the man who stopped in front of her. "Jake, it's been too long," she greeted giving him a hug.

The man smiled crookedly and returned the hug. "Definitely. Well, you certainly are getting prettier the more I see you." His eyes began to look her over.

Riley snorted and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, as in turning into a thorny rose, perhaps." She noticed what Jake was doing and suddenly remembered all the cautious feelings she had had against Jake before, and they were easily returning.

Jake looked around, not noticing Duo watching him closely. "Did Vienna not come with you? Normally the two of you are inseparable."

Riley folded her arms across her chest. "Actually, she couldn't make it. She's kind of…locked up in something at the moment." She wasn't lying. Vienna probably was locked up in something, like a prison cell.

Jake shrugged. "Too bad. So, what did you call me for on such late notice?"

Riley smiled. "We can talk about that later when we get inside the restaurant, but at the moment I would like for you to meet my friend, Duo Maxwell."

Jake looked at Duo and stared at him suspiciously. "Have we met before?" he asked cautiously.

Behind Jake, Riley shook her head madly at Duo. He noticed it but didn't look as if he had. "No, I don't believe we have. If we have before, I would have most certainly remembered you."

Jake nodded. "Right, and how did you come to meet Riley?"

Riley stepped forward. "Let's be going inside. I'm hungry, and we have much to talk about."

Jake shook off the suspicious feelings he had against the young man and switched back to his regular self. He smiled. "Yes, of course." He walked to the restaurants door and held it open for Riley. She walked through and then turned around to wait for Jake and Duo. Duo, expecting Jake to continue to hold the door open for him, was about to walk through when Jake turned and stepped inside, letting the door go. Riley noticed and slapped the door open again just in time to save Duo from hitting the glass. She smiled at him apologetically and mouthed a `sorry'. He frowned at Jake and shrugged it off.

Riley and Duo walked into the foyer of the restaurant to find Jake already flirting with one of the waitresses. Riley rolled her eyes.

"Please tell me he isn't one of your old boyfriends?" Duo asked in her ear.

"Far from it," Riley replied through gritted teeth.

"Right," Duo muttered. He stayed back as Riley went to get Jake. I don't trust that guy, he thought. Something about him isn't right.

--***--

Vienna was tossed into her prison cell in an exhausted heap. She grunted as her weak body hit the cold and rough concrete floor. She lay there as the soldiers walked away laughing. She was shaking uncontrollably and her muscles were tired and weak. She sighed faintly and cracked her eyes open. She knew where she was, but she couldn't get her vision to focus. She weakly reached up and rubbed her eyes. She used what energy she had left to put herself in a sitting position, and dropped back against the concrete wall. She tried to recollect what had been going on for the past five hours, but it all seemed to slip away before she could catch it. In defeat, she let her head drop back against the wall. She felt herself falling asleep, but the sound of someone hitting the gate brought her back to reality. Right then she didn't care who it was, but whoever was interrupting her sleep would be in big trouble.

"Vienna, are you awake?" a quiet voice called from the other side of the bars.

Vienna opened her eyes and rotated them so she was looking at the interrupter. "Yes, Jack, though I wish I was asleep right now. I feel as if I've worked my butt off, but I don't remember a blasted thing."

Jack nodded. "Yeah, I know. You'll feel like this until your body gets accustomed to the control device."

Vienna's eyes popped open and she looked squarely at Jack. "That's why I'm so tired?"

He nodded. " Yes." He went on explaining. "When the device takes over, it flows through your veins and such so it can completely control you. Nothing different really happens to your outer appearance, except for your eye colour."

"My eye colour?" she echoed.

Jack nodded. "Yes, take a look." He removed a small mirror from one of his coat pockets and held it out to Vienna. "Look at your eyes."

Vienna reached out and took the mirror. She held it up so she could look at her eyes. She gasped and her eyes widened. She looked closer in the mirror until all she could see in the mirror was her left eye. "Oh my gosh! My eyes are green! Is that possible?"

"It is if you're under that device's control. Don't worry. Your new eye colour fades within the hour after your brain gains control of your body again. Something in the currents causes it to change. That's the only way any one can tell if you are under the device's control or not. If your eyes are a colour other than brown, then your friends will know to stay away."

Vienna frowned and handed him back the mirror. "This is too weird. How about you explain to me exactly how the device works."

"Raphael is calling it the M.C.D, standing for Mind Control Device. He obviously lacks an imagination," Jack added in. "Anyways, the M.C.D is hooked up to the main computers where Raphael and Katana can easily reach it. Now, the way it actually works is simple. On the side of it there is a control panel that looks like your typical keyboard with a small screen above it, set into the framework of the machine. To actually gain control of someone, that person has to have a disc inside them that is programmed to connect with the device, otherwise it won't work. Each disc, and there are only three that are working, have a different code that needs to be logged into the machine's memory before it can actually connect with the disc. Once that is done, you press a button and the device sends out readings to the disc. When the disc and device connect, the disc will send brain waves to your brain, which basically causes it to shut down and let the device take control.

"Now that your body is taken over, whoever wants control over you just has to slip a band on their wrist. The band is just like any other bracelet you may have. It snaps right on. But, whoever wears the band is the only person who can command you about. Anyone without it can't do anything to you. They can yell at you to do something and you won't do it. When no one is wearing the band but the disc and machine are still controlling you, you act like any other human being. Walk around, eat, do whatever you want basically, but once the band is put on someone's wrist again and they tell you to do something, you'll drop whatever you were doing before to do what they command. "

Vienna nodded, trying to soak it all in. It was all adding on to the large headache she already had.

"Also, there is a turbo button you will need to know of. If they ever use turbo on you or Riley, both of you are in grave danger. The turbo will double your strength and speed from what it is without it, which makes you far from stoppable. Since you are being overworked far beyond normal, when the connection is cut, you might be so overworked your heart just can't take it. It can give out and you will die. It may not happen, but your chance of living after being on turbo is a 4 of 10 chance."

She closed her eyes. "You've told me all the negative thoughts, so tell me: is there any other way, other than turning off the M.C.D manually, that anyone could break the bonds between the disc and device?"

"None that I know of, but we haven't tested that yet, and I know they never will." He suddenly smiled. "You sure gave Katana a hard time, though."

"What do you mean?" Vienna wondered.

"When Katana programmed the M.C.D. to make contact with the disc inside you, she expected it to take control over you instantly, but it didn't. You're stronger mentally than physically, and so when it tried to make contact, you fought it with your mind. You struggled with it for almost five minutes. Katana got mad at me and demanded to know why it wasn't working. I simply told her that some people are stronger mentally than most and that these few can fight against the connection from actually happening. You were one of those few."

Vienna rubbed her forehead. "So, this is a good thing then?"

Jack shook his head. "If they put you on turbo it isn't good. A person, such as yourself, who is stronger mentally, normally is a bit weaker in strength. If a person like this is put on turbo, their chance of surviving after is 2 out of 10, rather than 4 out of 10."

She dropped her head into her hands, suddenly weaker. "What about Riley? Is she the same way?"

He shrugged. "I doubt it. From what I've noticed, you are much smarter than she is. Your intelligence level is over twenty times higher than hers. Your way of thinking is far advanced than it should be. It may be the same, if not higher, than that of the Gundam pilot Heero Yuy."

Vienna's eye's widened. Higher than Heero's? That was almost impossible!

"I should be going," Jack said suddenly. "Someone is bound to be searching for me. I'll come check on you later. And so you know, I'm planning on sending some information out to your friends, so they will know about what's going on with you. I'll bring you some food later."

Vienna nodded dumbly. She had much to think about.

--***--

A cold glass of soda was slid across the table to Riley. She caught it and waited for the waitress to leave. The waitress lingered a bit longer than she should have, considering the fact Jake was flirting like crazy.

Duo cleared his throat loudly, hoping to get Jake's attention. Jake ignored him. Duo looked at Riley in frustration. She sighed and rolled her eyes. "He's always like this," she whispered to him. "Sometimes he's even worse."

"Worse?" Duo snorted. "He can't get much worse."

Riley raised her eyebrows. "Oh, yes he can. Sometimes he gets a little touchy, and then-" She trailed off. "Now do you see why I brought you, though?"

He nodded, glaring at Jake. "Why do we need his help if he's nothing but a big rat?"

"He always knows everything about anything, so I figured he may know something about the World Rebellion."

"And are you sure we can trust this guy? He isn't against us in any way, is he?"

"I don't think so. He's never worked for any group that was against us."

Duo nodded. "Okay then. Try to get his attention. The other's won't wait for us forever."

"Yeah." Riley kicked Jake under the table in the shin. He grunted and glared at Riley sharply. She smiled sweetly at the waitress. "When we're ready to order we'll call for you."

The petite waitress nodded and hurried away.

Jake frowned. "What did you do that for?"

She glared back at him. "We don't have time for you to make all the women swoon all over you."

He smirked. "You haven't yet."

Riley nodded. "And I never will, so drop it."

Duo could sense her anger rising quickly and he could easily see why. This guy was getting on his nerves as well. Jake crossed his arms on the table and stared evenly at Riley. "Fine then. What do you want to talk about then?"

Duo frowned. This guy acts as if I'm not even here. He seems to focus only on Riley.

"We have some questions for you," Riley started.

"Ask away," Jake replied. "I have all the time in the world."

Two hours later, Riley decided to call it quits. They had gotten all the information out of Jake as they possibly could, and it wasn't much at all. She stacked their plates and checked the price of their bill. "Okay, everyone chip in your amount," she said. She and Duo put their money together and Duo reached out to take Jake's.

Jake shrugged. "I don't have any money with me."

Duo rolled his eyes and paid Jake's amount due; he put all the bills in one stack. He waved the waitress over and gave her the money. "We better be going, Riley. The other's will start worrying soon."

She looked at her watch. "Yeah, you're right." She smiled at Jake. "It was nice seeing you again, Jake. Thanks for your help."

He returned the smile. "Sure. Maybe we can get together later?" he hinted.

"I have ton's of things to do," she said quickly. "And I'm not even sure how much longer I'll be in town, but I'll be sure to get together with you some other time."

"Okay then," he said, standing to his feet. "I'll take your word for it."

Duo also stood. Riley did likewise. "I'll be seeing you around, Jake," Riley said.

Duo forced a smile at him. "Maybe we'll meet again," he said politely.

Jake's face darkened. "I'm sure we will," he said with a menacing tone. "I'm sure we will."

--***--

Katana strode down the hallway of the World Rebellion's headquarters in the Arctic, a smirk fixed on her face. She neared the main office where her leader, Raphael Baltimore, was at that moment. She double-checked to make sure her weapon was there before pushing a button beside the door of the office.

Above the door a small camera fixed on her for a moment before the doors opened, signifying Raphael had admitted her. She stepped inside and smiled warmly at the man standing behind his grand oak desk.

Raphael smiled, his dark brown eyes staring at her. "Hello, Rosco. I thought you had gone to the base facility in space."

Katana clasped her hands behind her back, dangerously close to a metal object tucked into the waistline of her pants. "I had planned on it, but something came up."

Raphael raised his eyebrow. "Such as? Nothing should be keeping you from a job I assigned."

Katana's hands grasped the metal object and removed it from the waistline of her pants, but she kept it hidden behind her back. "I know, sir, but there have been a change of plans." She began walking forward to the desk slowly, closer and closer. Raphael didn't notice that her smile was more venomous than ever before.

He frowned. "Then would you mind explaining what these change of plans are?"

She looked around leisurely. "Is this room soundproof?" she asked nonchalantly. She already knew the room was, but she wanted to remind Raphael of the minor fact.

Now Raphael was more confused and hesitant than ever. "Yes, why?" He felt his hands instinctively going to the pistols on his desk.

With a flash, Katana had a gun in her hand, aiming it at Raphael's head. "If you even try to reach for a weapon, I'll shoot."

Raphael pulled his hand back, glaring at her. "Come on, Katana, what is this? Put that gun away. You and I aren't enemies."

She snickered. "Oh, I'm afraid we are," she said. "As I said before, there has been a change in plans, and you just didn't make the cut. A new leader is needed; a person who knows what she is doing."

"Katana, killing me won't get you anywhere. Everyone will know about this. They'll come after you."

Katana clucked her tongue. "Tsk, tsk. I'm afraid you're wrong. No one will be coming after me." She began to circle around the desk. "As you said minutes before, this office is soundproof. Not to mention the fact everyone thinks I'm gone. No one will hear the shot, no one will hear you beg, and no one will guess it was me. To everyone in this base, I am on a shuttle flying to one of our other main bases." She smiled, cocking the gun. "I'm afraid all your hopes are down the drain, sir. No one will help you."

Raphael stared at the gun warily and then at her. "I knew you were blood thirsty," he growled angrily.

"Hm. You forget power hungry," she said. She placed the barrel of the gun against his temple. "So bye-bye to your short lived power, and say hello to the new leader, Katana Rosco."

-------

The bright yellow taxi pulled up to the front gate of the Peacecraft estate, and Riley pushed the left passenger door open. She stepped out and shut the door behind her. Duo came around from the other side and went to the taxi driver's window to pay their fee.

While Duo was paying and chatting, Riley was gazing around her casually. The trees overhead were bare from the winter weather, and no birds could be seen from where she stood. She folded her arms across her chest, a cold breeze picking up. She sighed and noticed the puff of air that appeared as she breathed out. Suddenly, she noticed in a tall bush the faint color of red between the branches. She acted as if she had not noticed, but her eyes were watching from the corner of her eye. The color moved slightly, and then she caught a quick glimpse of what might have been a hand. She frowned. Someone is over there, watching us, she thought. I'll bet it's a Rebellion soldier. She shook her head. It can't be a soldier. They wear uniforms that are black, not red.

"Ready to go in?" Duo asked her.

She nodded, smiling. "Yeah. I was just waiting for you."

They walked inside together through the gate. As they passed through, Riley glanced into the bushes and saw that the person was gone. She sighed inwardly. She had been hoping to catch him and ask him a few questions. To her surprise, Duo took her hand and pulled her quickly to the door. He didn't let her hand go until they were inside and the door was shut. She looked at him, her gaze questioning. "What did you do that for?"

He looked through a window next to the door. "Someone was watching us. I'm not sure whom, but I have an idea. I wanted to get you in here just in case."

"You saw him too?" she asked.

He looked at her. "You saw him?"

She smirked. "I may not be a Gundam pilot, Duo, but that doesn't mean I'm not capable of caring for myself."

He let the curtain drop back over the window. "I know that."

"Riley!" Solo yelled, running out of a door nearby. He jumped into her out stretched arms.

"Hey buddy. What've you been doing?" she asked him.

He smiled. "I've been helpin' your brother and Heero like you told me to."

Duo ruffled the boy's hair. "Aren't you the little helper?"

Duo and Riley set aside their thoughts about the intruder outside and went to see the others. Heero was still on his laptop, Quatre and Trowa were looking through newspapers they had found in Relena's office, and WuFei was nowhere to be seen.

Trowa looked up at them when they walked in. "Where have you two been?"

Riley set Solo back down on the floor. "We met up with an old friend of mine. I thought he might have heard something about the Rebellion. He's one of those people who hangs out in bars and knows just about anything that is talked about."

"Did he have any information?" Quatre asked.

She shook her head, dropping down onto the couch. "Nothing that we didn't already know." Solo crawled up onto the couch next to her.

Duo leaned against the doorframe. "Did you guys find anything?" The three boys shook their heads.

Riley sighed. "We're getting nowhere," she mumbled.

"Is there anything I can help you with?" Relena asked, walking into the room smiling.

Riley glanced at her distastefully before closing her eyes. "If we can't find anything, the very idea that you will is a complete miracle."

Relena glanced at her. "Actually, I have helped out Heero many times. Isn't that right, Heero?"

At his laptop, Heero grunted. Relena took that as a yes. She smiled. "See?"

Riley rolled her eyes. "Relena, forget it. If we need your help, we'll ask for it."

"Alright then. I'll be up in my office if you need me." Riley stuck her tongue out at Relena as she walked away.

"Relena isn't that bad, Riley," Quatre said. "She's quite nice if you get to know her, but you aren't giving her a chance."

Riley opened her eyes and looked at Quatre quizzically. "Whose side are you on?"

Quatre shrugged. "No ones. I'm just saying that Relena isn't the little miss perfect you take her to be."

Riley snorted. "She's rich, she's a pain, she's a sad little puppy dog, and she acts to darn goody-goody. If you ask me, all those reasons are good enough to dislike her. Plus, she won't leave Heero alone. I guess I should tell her he's taken."

Heero looked at her sharply, giving her one of his death glares. She just laughed. "Don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about, Yuy."

Solo looked up at her. "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing you need to worry about, Solo. It's nothing you would understand quite yet."

-------

From outside the window, standing in the shadows, he watched Riley laugh as she watched a young man with a braid chase a young kid around the room. He continued to watch as the young kid squealed and jumped onto Riley's lap. She held him tight and pretended to ward off the kid's `predator'. A small smile crossed his face. "This could definitely be very helpful information."

-------

Katana kicked her feet up on her new desk and smirked. She gazed around the office, dwelling in her victory and promotion. Lying at the base of the swivel chair lay the dead body of Raphael, whom had a pool of blood surrounding his head. A large bullet hole was in the center of his temple, from which the blood was coming. She glanced down at it, causing her smile to widen. She had always hated that man, and now her revenge against him was complete. Now, there was only one other person she had to take care of. Oh, how she couldn't wait for the day when Vienna would meet her doom.

The feel of her cellular phone vibrating against her hip caused her to abandon her thoughts and answer the phone. She smiled when she heard the voice of one of her spies. "What do you have?" she asked.

She heard a low laugh before he replied. "I think I have the answer to your problem. What if I was to tell you that we have a connection that would bring both Riley Barton and a Gundam pilot into your very hands?"