Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Sandrock was no more ❯ Chapter 7 ( Chapter 8 )

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Chapter Seven

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"It was a strange sensation." Mathew was explaining to the Doctor, "It was as if I was feeling the pain of another. It was a deep sense of sorrow, of loss. Loneliness…" He trailed off, his hand went to his heart, "It was someone who was close to me… but it wasn't Robin."

"Interesting. Would you say that the closeness would be distance or relationship?" The Doctor asked.

Mathew thought, "Both…The strength of the feeling felt as if it was just down the street… the source of the feeling felt…familiar? Like someone who…" The blonde boy shook his head, "I'm sorry, I don't know how to explain it."

"Well, it seems to have passed, and despite that you felt overwhelmed, it seems to me that this has happened to you before."

"I don't recall if it has or not." The boy apologized.

"It's okay. I'm going to prescribe these pills and they'll help with any other discomfort."

"What do you think it was, Doctor?" Robin spoke up for the first time.

"Well, the blood tests, scans, and x-rays that we did showed him to be absolutely normal. He's in picture perfect health aside from the blindness and amnesia. My guess, and mind you this is just a guess, is that he has a sort of sixth sense."

The girl scoffed, "Are you serious? I thought those type of things only existed in comic books."

"Oh, yes. I'm quite serious. My sister had a sixth sense that allowed her to see the future."

"She was psychic?"

"No, more like an oracle." The Doctor looked at the boy, "He's empathic. I'd bet money on it."

"But not your reputation or career." Robin noted dryly.

The Doctor sighed, "No not my reputation or my career. The medical field does not recognize these sixth senses as fact. They would never acknowledge it, and would ridicule the doctor who brought it into light. That doctor would never be able to work in medicine again."

"You sound as if that has happened before." Mathew whispered.

"It has. The doctor who recognized my sister's gift went through exactly that."

"I'm so sorry." The boy offered.

"I was too, but she said that it was fine." The Doctor shrugged. "She actually is researching the theory. I talked to her a few weeks ago and she was very happy, despite what was done to her."

"Well that's good." Robin smiled.

"Yes." The Doctor turned his attention to the boy in front of him, "So anyway, Mathew, that is my guess although I can not make an official diagnosis. However, I want you to come and see me if it gets worse though, alright?"

The boy nodded, as Robin helped him get to his feet.

"Take care, now."

"Thank you, sir." The boy shook his hand.

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"Well that went well." Robin said cheerfully, as she and Mathew walked out of the hospital towards their apartment. The blonde boy just nodded. "What's wrong?"

"I was just thinking…" The boy started, "If what I was sensing really was from someone who was close to me, both in distance and relationship, then…"

"You might not be as far from home as you thought." Robin finished for him, a sad smile on her face.

"If that's true, then why haven't they been looking for me?" Mathew stopped walking.

"Maybe they have been. You said that the feelings were of sorrow, loss and loneliness. It might be that they feel that way because they can't find you." The girl tried to reassure him.

"Maybe…" His train of thought drifting off, his unseeing eyes staring at nothing in particular.

"Come on Mattie!" Robin exclaimed suddenly grabbing a hold of his arm, "Let's go do something fun!"

"Like what?" He laughed as she dragged him down the street.

"You'll see!" She squealed with delight.

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Relena frowned as the two girls became suspiciously silent when she entered the room, "Dorothy, I wasn't aware that Miss Catherine would be here as well."

"I'm sorry, Miss Relena. It must have slipped my mind." The blonde cooed.

"So what is it?" Relena demanded, "What was so important it couldn't wait?"

Dorothy batted her eyelashes as her grin spread across her face, "I thought you would like to know of our progress in destroying the Gundams, Miss Relena."

The former queen's frown deepened, "Dorothy, I believe that I aborted that plan of yours; the purpose having been defeated with the death of young Mr. Winner."

The blonde shrugged and flicked her eyebrows, "Why? Because of one little mishap?"

"Someone died, Dorothy." Relena snapped, disgusted, "That is not a little mishap."

"Miss Relena," Catherine approached, "The purpose of this plan was to destroy the weapons that could destroy this peace if put in the wrong hands. It's also to free the pilots from their bloody obligations, giving them a chance at a normal life. The death of young Quatre was indeed… unfortunate; however the threats are still present and must be dealt with."

"If not, then perhaps all of them, along with countless civilians may lose their lives." Dorothy purred.

Relena sighed. She desperately wanted the Gundams to be a thing of the past, but the pilots would never destroy them willingly unless it was with the intension of dieing as well. When Dorothy and Catherine had approached her with their idea, she had been hesitant. Human life was not an acceptable risk; however, they both ensured her that no one would be hurt as a result of their activities.

Then Quatre had died.

Relena had put an immediate stop to any and all plans. However it seemed as if Dorothy didn't care that the plan had been aborted. The blonde still did as she wished. Well there wasn't anything she could do about it now, "Very well, Dorothy, what do you have to report?"

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It was roughly eight in the morning, when Relena ordered that tea and Croissants be brought to her and her guests. They had been up the entire night debating Dorothy's plans and she was quite tired; however, she still had several meetings to attend before lunch.

"My Lady," The servant whispered when he delivered their breakfasts, "There are two young men here to see you."

The young ruler sighed warily, "Do they have an appointment?" The servant shook his head, "Did they give their names?"

"No, they did, however, say that they have a request from Hiiro."

Relena perked up immediately, "Please, show them in." She smiled, not noticing the worried glance that Catherine gave Dorothy.

"Well it's about time!" A loud voice complained from down the hall.

Dorothy rolled her eyes, `Great, it's that brainless idiot, Maxwell.' She smiled nonetheless as two of the Gundam pilots entered the room.

"Duo, Trowa, welcome." Relena greeted.

Catherine's eyes flashed, `Trowa…'

"Yo, milady- long time no see!" The braided boy returned, his grin ever present.

"Trowa, you look well." The former queen smiled diplomatically. The banged boy regarded her in silent indifference.

"Trowa, mind your manners." Catherine chastised.

Trowa's head whipped around, his emerald eyes glaring although his face remained an impassive mask.

Duo bit on his lower lip uncertainly as he watched his friend's reactions. He didn't relish the thought of having to restrain the taller teen, but if it became necessary…Trowa tended to be unpredictable despite the calm façade he always wore, mainly when Quatre and Catherine were concerned. So watch, Duo did.

"What are you doing here, Catherine?" The banged boy demanded coldly.

"I'm having breakfast with my friends." Catherine said wrapping the stoic boy in a rough hug, "And what, pray tell, brings you here, my dear little brother?"

"Catherine…" Duo tried to warn as Trowa roughly pushed the young woman's arms away.

"It's none of your business." He frowned.

The brunette huffed, "You've gotten so rude, Trowa!"

"Indeed." Dorothy smirked, "I doubt that he'd be lacking such manners if he lived with you."

Trowa sent the devilish blonde a hate filled look, "Butt out, Dorothy. These things don't concern you."

"Trowa, when will you come home?" Catherine demanded, "Honestly, this rebellious streak has gone on long enough."

Trowa's glare deepened and his fists began to clench reflexively.

"Uh, okay!" Duo said stepping between them, "Trowa, why don't you wait outside? I'll talk to Relena."

Trowa gave a curt nod before storming, as much as Trowa could storm, out of the room. To Duo's dismay, Catherine was close behind shouting at the banged boy to wait.

"So, Duo." Relena addressed, "I was told you have a request from Hiiro?"

"Hai," He nodded bringing himself back to his mission, "We're faced with…" He paused and scowled when he realized that Dorothy had remained, "Uh… a situation that has the potential to become a disaster. Hiiro requests that all civilians within a five mile radius from the Market District be evacuated immediately."

"Duo, that's over a million individuals." Relena frowned, "How much time is he giving me?"

"12 hours."

"12 hours! And where does he propose I put all of them?"

The braided boy pulled out a disc, "He suggested several of the old Alliance military compounds."

"Very well, I'll send word when it has been completed."

"Thank you." Duo turned to leave, "Ladies."

"Just a moment, Duo…" Dorothy called, "You know a Hilde Schubeicher, don'tcha?" Duo stopped. "Did you hear?"

"Hear what?"

"Apparently, her apartment caught fire."

Chills flooded down his spine, "W…W…Nani?" He twisted to face the creepy blonde.

"I'm afraid she was trapped inside." She offered mock sympathy, "I'm terribly sorry, she died in the infernal."

"Hilde…"

"How on earth did you hear about that, Dorothy?" Relena asked, "I haven't seen any news broadcasts about it."

"I have my sources, all of which are very reliable." Dorothy sipped at her tea.

"Duo, I am so sorry." Relena offered, "Were you very close with her?"

"No…not really…" Duo mumbled leaving the girls to their breakfast.

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Watching the braided boy leave, a sly grin crossed Dorothy's face, `Playing with other people's lives is such fun.' She thought, thoroughly pleased with herself.

"You are positively cruel, Dorothy." Relena accused.

"Perhaps, Miss Relena." Dorothy smirked, `Perhaps.'

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The braided boy stopped in the bathroom before he went to find Trowa. Duo didn't really know what to feel at this unsettling news. He glared at himself in the mirror. His violet eyes were watering but he refused to allow tears to fall. No he hadn't been very close to Hilde, she annoyed the Hell out of him, but… they were friends. She had been there when he needed help, a place to stay, a job… but it wasn't like losing Quatre… No, that was a different, deeper kind of hurt. That was one that still pained him. He didn't believe that Hilde's death would affect him the same way. He was glad of that, actually, Duo didn't believe that he could go through another loss like Quatre.

With a deep sigh and a resolve to deal with this later, the braided boy washed his face and left to find his friend, his carefree mask carefully in place. Some things were more important at the moment, and sadly, Hilde would not take precedence over the mission at hand. He would mourn later.

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The grounds of Relena's personal estate were massive. If Trowa didn't want to be found, there were plenty of hiding places available. Duo scowled, they didn't have time for Trowa to be playing hide'n seek with his `sister'. "TROWA," he yelled, "IF YOU CAN HEAR ME, LET'S GO, OR I'M LEAVING YOU HERE WITH HER!"

"Don't bother." A tearful voice mumbled next to him. The braided boy looked down at Catherine. She was sporting a nasty gash on her forehead and was sobbing miserably, "He's gone."

"Gone?" Duo frowned, "Damnit, what do you mean `gone'?"

"He's gone, he left… he took my jeep… and left."

"Oh, kuso." Duo groaned smacking his forehead with his fist.

Catherine looked up at him with sorrowful eyes, "Why doesn't he want to come home?" She asked, "I tolerated it when he was alive." She all but spat, "But with him gone, there is no reason for Trowa to stay with all of you. It's not good for him, he needs to come home. Home where he's safe and loved…"

Duo glared at her, "Do me a favor," he snapped, "Shut up and show me which direction he went." Startled, the woman complied, pointing towards town. Shaking his head, the braided boy headed off in that direction.

"You'll never have what he needs!" She shouted after him, "With us at the circus is where he belongs! He'll never be one of you! Do Trowa a favor and send him home!"

"Lady, you're crazy!" Duo shouted back.

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Mathew listened to Robin's giddy chatter. She was bubbling over with excitement of the evening plans she had made for the two of them. He wasn't so much listening to what she was saying as to the delightful sound of her voice.

"I thought that maybe after dinner we could go to the outdoor symphony hall!" She was saying as she crossed the street, "That conductor you like is directing the composures I like."

The blare of a car horn and the squeal of failing breaks were the only warnings.

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To be continued…