Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets ❯ Dark Hour ( Chapter 11 )

SECRETS 09: dark hour

 

The darkness of the night had seeped into his heart long ago. He'd done all he could for the war effort and then he'd aided those who wished to profit from the peace. Now he knew that they were to weak to do what was needed. He also knew that somewhere they were hiding. The children of those who opposed him. He could not be use who they were, but he knew they were there.

 

“Commander?” A door opened and light entered the darkness. A body was silhouetted against the light, a clear target should he so chose.

 

“What.” He was surrounded by idiots. No wonder the other base had been destroyed.

 

“The system is ready.”

 

He nodded, knowing that he could not be seen, and stood. “We'll test it now.”

 

He left the dark cocoon for the bright lab and moved toward the panel of circuits and lights. “Well.” He demanded the attention of the scientists, making them all stand at attention.

 

“We have been able to clear up a lot of the static the last system had.” Dr. Pulaski spoke hesitantly. The last man to have his position was now dead and he knew he had to make progress or join his colleague. “However the password protection of the original programming is still causing us problems. We hope to be able to break it within a few days.”

 

The Commander, a big man, walked around the system panel they had set up. His hair was black, pitch, and slicked back to lay against his head. His eyes were coal black and devoid of most emotions. He wore a suit and made several think of the comic book character - Kingpin- only this man wore black and his jowls were very pronounced. He was a killer, cold blooded and ruthless.

 

“What are you using in replace of the original programming?” His voice was gruff and brooked now argument. Men had died for doing just that and no one wanted to repeat that experience.

 

Dr. Pulaski swallowed and fidgeted briefly before gathering himself. “We wrote a short defensive program that seems to work just as well. It's not perfected yet but in a few more weeks we. . .”

 

“This system will be tested in two days, doctor.” The Commander stated. “And it will work as designed.”

 

Dr. Pulaski shared a quick look with his colleagues. It wasn't impossible but it wasn't probable. “It will work, but . . .”

 

The Commander's eyes cut into his, seeming to seek out his soul. The man's focus oozed evil intentions and death. His word was law and he meant what he said. That had been proven when he'd gain the position of Commander from their original leader. He'd killed him without a thought and declared himself their Commander. All who opposed him were quickly eliminated.

 

“Yes, yes sir.” Dr. Pulaski bowed hoped to move himself out of target range.

 

The Commander nodded and moved to his second. The man who had not come to get him. “I want all the information you can get on the Preventers responsible for the destruction of the base. They will be our first example.”

 

“Yes Sir.” This man saluted with a click of his heels and a gleam in his eyes. “On your desk by morning.”

 

The Commander nodded and returned to his dark room. He all ready knew who they were, he just needed confirmation. They had gotten out without the targeting system firing on them as they moved. They had either re-programmed the system or they knew how to circumvent the system. If that was the case then one among them is what he'd been searching for.

 

= = = = = = =

 

 

It felt weird to be back home after so long away. Luckily he had no pets or he would have been returning to a dead animal. Duo chuckled to himself at the thought of the cat he almost got. That animal would have met him with claws and teeth if he'd gotten it.

 

Shaking his head, he dropped his coat on the couch and headed for the kitchen. Gathering the makings of a sandwich and choosing a drink, he set about filling his stomach before thinking about the past few days. The others hadn't wanted to separate when Une had told them all to `go home.' He'd understood those feelings. He'd felt safer with them than he now did without them. Heero hadn't wanted him to come home, had almost forced him to go with him and Wufei to their shared apartment. Shaking his head, he had to laugh at their faces when he'd told them that he didn't want to be a third wheel during their little night passions.

 

It had taken Wufei three beats to get the dig and come after him with an indignant yell. He laughed as he'd been chased around the conference room several times before Trowa had grabbed his arm and pulled him into a protective hug, glaring at Wufei. Duo had laughed until he fell over and Wufei snorted, turning away.

 

Cleaning up his mess, he was about to go shower when the doorbell rang. Frowning, he checked the pep before throwing open the door with a yell.

 

“Trowa, dude, ya missed me all ready.”

 

Trowa frowned and stepped around the laughing braided boy. Dropping his duffle next to the couch, he surveyed the apartment before turning to face Duo.

 

“I felt that I needed to be here.” He said with a shrug.

 

Duo frowned. Then shrugged with a bounce and grabbed up the duffle. “Well, the spare room is always open for you guys, you know that.” Throwing the duffle onto the spare bed, he turned back to Trowa. “What did Cathy think when you told her you were coming here?”

 

Trowa shrugged and check the contents of the small kitchen.

 

“She thought it best I stick close to the office since there was a mad man on the loose.”

 

Duo paused, trying to decide if this was a joke or if the silent boy was serious. It was often hard to tell. With a shrug he opted for a joke and smiled. “Well, I like animals so if any show up feel free to talk all ya want.”

 

Trowa turned and faced the boy before speaking again. “You seem to be at ease with all this `talking to animals' stuff. Does it not bother you?”

 

Duo `hmm' before answering. “To tell ya the truth, it seems perfectly normal.” Duo shrugged as he accepted the soda Trowa handed him before falling onto the couch. “I mean, I've always been a little odd, but lately . . .”

 

 

“You haven't felt alone.” Trowa answered as he took the recliner. Sipping his drink, he looked Duo over carefully. “You never said what you really saw that day.”

 

Duo froze and tried to think of a quick way out of this conversation, but when he looked at Trowa he could tell that the boy wasn't going to let it go.

 

“When?” He hedged instead. Trowa gave him a hard look and Duo forced himself to take a breath. “When we woke I knew we were all different. I mean, maybe different is the wrong word. Maybe we were made right for once.”

 

Trowa watched as Duo seemed to focus on something within as he continued to speak.

 

“It was like I was seeing everyone for the first time. I mean, really seeing them.” Duo smiled a little. “Heero the great warrior, with sword and shield of glowing gold. Wufei, the dragon, more healer than warrior but his wife sees to the strength of his battles. Quatre, the pure soul of immortality. Trowa, the elf master, speaker to animals and keeper of charms. Usually pixies have nothing to do with elves, but she follows you wherever you go and does what she can to keep the animals in line. Heero's little warrior is so sweet, she looks so innocent but you can tell that she knows so much. Quatre, our gentle heart, holds all the answers to all the questions but he doesn't know it yet.”

 

“Duo.” Trowa spoke quietly almost afraid to break the spell Duo's voice had woven.

 

“Wufei's wife tried to tell him that it was okay to be a healer, but he wanted so badly to be like the rest of his clan. He just didn't understand until it was too late how gifted he truly was.” Duo's voice began to shake. “Not all of his kind are given this gift, his was a true calling and he was afraid of it. Now he uses it but he hasn't embraced it yet and he needs to. Has to. We all have to seek the other side of ourselves before we can go on.”

 

“Duo.” Trowa set his drink down and reached for Duo's can. It had gone lax not long after he'd started speaking.

 

When Trowa's fingers touched his hand, Duo jerked and came back to himself. What had he been saying? “Funny stuff huh.” He tried to smooth before sitting up and rubbing his hands over his face.

 

Trowa kneeled down in front of Duo and slowly pulled his hands from his face. He'd known, somewhere deep down, that Duo knew about it all.

 

“Can you see me? Really see me?” Trowa made sure that Duo's eyes met his. He wanted the truth. A truth that only Duo would give him.

 

Duo meet Trowa's soft green eyes and saw the things that were there. Ancient things, things that the quiet boy probably only suspected and he nodded slowly. “I can see you.” he whispered.

 

Trowa smiled. A real smile, one that lit his face before leaning forward and kissing Duo softly on the lips.

 

“Thank you.” He sighed and stood up, moving over to the large picture window that dominated the living room wall.

 

Duo sat quietly, trying hard not to let his fingers touch his lips. He'd been kissed before but never by Trowa. The other guys had all kissed him in some way, brotherly, hurriedly, angrily, but none in gratitude. He watched as Trowa stood in thought, staring out the window, before he moved to stand behind his friend.

 

“Trowa, I'm sorry.” Duo sighed and wrapped his arms around himself. “I should've told you guys what had happened when I saw, but . . .”

 

Trowa turned and gathered Duo in his arms. “You have nothing to be sorry for.” He murmured, his lips brushing over the smaller boy's hair. “Come on, I'm tired. Let's go to bed.”

 

Duo let Trowa lead him into his bed room and they got undressed and laid under the comforter. It was really too early to sleep, but wrapped in Trowa's arms Duo felt peace again. Perhaps this was why Trowa really came over because he didn't want to be alone in the dark. Snuggling closer, Duo sighed and let sleep claim him and hoped for no dreams.

 

Trowa felt him relax and allowed himself the luxury of doing the same. Whatever had made him come here, he knew that it was his job to protect their braided menace; their soul. With a sigh, he allowed his brain to go and knew that soon Wufei would be joining them, they had all ready discussed it.