Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets ❯ past to answers ( Chapter 19 )

SECRETS 16: past to answers

 

Duo sat down next to Wufei, the dusty and flames making it difficult to see.

 

“Wufei?”

 

Wufei turned and nodded to the braided boy before heading toward the center. Duo stayed where he was, shadows were moving all around him, swirling like angry clouds. He took a few steps forward, only to stop when two shadows joined in front of him. This was going to be harder than he thought.

 

“Maxwell?” Wufei walked through the shadows, not seeing them, to stand before Duo. “Are you all right?'

 

Duo shook his head, his eyes darting around, following the roaming shadows. Wufei took the boy's hands and pulled him forward, only to have Duo stop and pull away.

 

“What?!” Before he could grab him again, Duo took off toward the far side of the crater. “Duo!”

 

Wufei took flight to catch up with his friend. Duo had stopped at the far side, near the twisted steel of some unrecognizable building and was digging. Wufei watched him for a second before he noticed that the boy's mouth was moving.

 

Setting down near him, he knelt down to help him and hear what he was saying.

 

“It's here. I know it. I left it here. It can't have been destroyed, he told me it would last through an atomic bomb.” Wufei watched Duo's hands as he pulled the dusty debris away.

 

“What are you looking for?” He asked softly, only to jerk when he saw Duo's eyes. The violet was just a ring around the outside while the iris had changed to a brilliant blue. “Duo?”

 

“He told me that it would last no matter what.” The braided boy spoke softly, his eyes locked with Wufei's. “I wasn't suppose to die here. He told me to lay the plaque and leave, but I got lost. I got lost.”

 

Wufei paused for only a second before finding not his own voice again. “It's all right, we'll find it.”

 

The braided boy nodded and together they began to dig again. It was only a few minutes later when they uncovered a flat piece of silver about a foot long and six inches wide.

 

“That's it. It survived.” The words were whispered.

 

Duo's hands closed over it and he hugged to his chest. “Thank you.” the voice whispered and Duo's eyes changed to normal.

 

“Shit.” He breathed and closed his eyes, before looking at Wufei. “That was so not fun.”

 

Wufei leaned back and looked Duo over close. “What was that?”

 

Duo shrugged. “Channeling?” He gave Wufei a small smile before looking at the piece he held in his hands. “What is this thing?”

 

Wufei helped Duo stand and looked at the plaque over his shoulder. It was plain on the one side, flat with the bubbles of the molding. As they flipped it over, they were surprised to find it engraved. Wiping it off, Duo held it so that they could get a good look at it by the light of the fires.

 

The picture was worth a thousand words. It was an engraving of an atomic blast with the date July 16 1945 ~Our darkest hour. There were no other words or inscriptions.

 

“What the hell?” Duo handed it to Wufei and took a step back. “What's that suppose to mean?!”

 

“Put it in your pack, we'll take it back to Heero.” Wufei handed it back to Duo then gestured for the boy to follow him into the heart of the blast. “This place will be unlivable for quite awhile.”

 

Duo nodded as he looked around him. His eyes adjusted to the darkness and the shadows roaming around. None of them tried to touch him and for that he was grateful. Standing on the rim of the large crater it was hard to imagine that there had once been a town center here. If it had been a park it was just a hole now.

 

“The worse parts of the war all standing here for us to see.” Duo murmured.

 

Wufei nodded. “I don't think we'll find anything of interest in the center.”

 

Duo nodded his head in agreement. He didn't want to venture down there. “So what now?”

 

Wufei looked around. There was really nothing to say what had once stood there. The land was completely decimated and what little ruin there was, was twisted melted metal. Nothing was recognizable and nothing ever would be.

 

“We go back.”

 

Duo looked around before taking in the stature of his friend and nodded. There really was no point in staying in a place where nothing was ever likely to grow for the next hundred years. “You think this was part of the plan? Make it unlivable, force the planet to look to the colonies?”

 

Wufei shook his head. “Can't be. The colonies are still recovering from the wars and can't help the planet with anything. They can't even sustain some of the people they have now. This was just a waste.”

 

Wufei took to the air and after a heartbeat Duo followed. He'd seen a lot of destruction in his lifetime, some he'd even caused, but nothing as needless as this.

 

~88888~

 

 

First removed the bodies from the Commander's office, there wouldn't be any left overs for the men this time. If he were a different type of man, he would be afraid of the darkness he could see within his leader, but he wasn't. He was a follower of strength and if that strength was sinister it meant nothing to him. Power was power and the more power; the more pay. He liked having that power lead him and if he was following orders; he had a purpose.

 

Stepping into the barracks, he looked over his men. There were thirty in all. Hardened criminally minded and willing to do anything, they had joined with the promise of money. They had found that their leader was a man willing to share some of the spoils he took, but he was the first served- always. They were warriors; soldiers; from both wars and more. Most had belonged to the more hardened gangs of L2 and L3, while others were mercs looking for a fight.

 

“Hey, boss man.” One yelled a greeting and the others simply nodded.

 

 

First let them call him that because most didn't know his rank; only his association with their leader. He was the one who gave the orders which came from their true Commander.

 

“What can we do for ya, boss?” Moses stood up and greeted First with a hand shake. “Are we on yet?'

 

First gave the man a firm hand and stepped back to look over all of them. “No. The Commander says we need to hit one more target before we infiltrate. He's waiting for something. Something big.'

 

Moses grunted and relaxed. He, as well as the others, were itching for action but they could wait for the big pay out.

 

“Until then, he's offered all of you a day on sight. Take what you want.” First smirked as the men yelled in glee. They would pillage the satellite they were on; the workers had no idea what was coming. This would work them into a frenzy to get them ready for the battles to come. “Be back by 0700 tomorrow and enjoy yourself.”

 

The men yelled, exchanging slaps and ribs as they rushed from the room. Moses was last and looked at First for a second.

 

“Not joinnin' in?” he asked softly.

 

First shook his head. “The Commander just finished up with a pair. Not sure if he's completely done or not.”

 

Moses `hmm'd then shrugged. “Need a hand for a hunt? Might be good to have meat here when he hungers?”

 

First smiled evilly. “Sounds good. Willing to go?”

 

Moses laughed and slapped First on the shoulder. “I like to hunt. Any and all or is it particulars.”

 

“Any, for now.” First smirked. “He'll have particulars later.”

 

Moses nodded and they both laughed.

 

 

A little something for all my loyal fans in the next chapter. >_<