Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Black Queen ❯ Fragmentation ( Chapter 7 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Violet_Nyte 
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Psychological / Drama / Angst | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 12.09.2002 | Pages: 4 | Words: 2.1K | Visits: 318 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Psychological / Drama / Angst | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 12.09.2002 | Pages: 4 | Words: 2.1K | Visits: 318 | Status: Work In Progress
LSE // 12-9-02
(The Black Queen - Chapter Seven: Fragmentation)
rated: PG13 - violence, language, content
shounen-ai/yaoi
Fragmentation
Even before I enter the room I know something is wrong. Someone is in
my room. It can't be Heero, because I just left him in the other room,
and I know Heero's presence anyway. If it was Heero, then it wouldn't
be wrong. Slowly, I creep past the door and peer into the room.
There. Back to the door is Amy, decently clad in jeans and a fuzzy
pink sweater that could only be Relena's.
"What are you doing?" I ask, bursting in importantly.
Amy whirls, trying unsuccessfully to hide what is in her hands. I
freeze, seeing the familiar orange and white bottle disappear behind
her back. "Those are mine," I say, eyes glued to the empty space on
the dresser. "You shouldn't look through my things."
As soon as the words clear my lips I know it's a mistake. The girl
frowns, taking me in slowly as she pulls the pill bottle out from
behind her. She holds it up, label facing me. Even though I can't see
the text, I know what it says. Take twice daily on empty stomach. Do
not mix with food or alcohol.
"These are yours?" she asks innocently, "But it says here they're for
a Mister Duo Maxwell."
I lick my suddenly dry lips, but my tongue's gone fuzzy. Too fuzzy,
like the sweater. Pink sweater. Think, think, think. "Are they? Then
they must not be mine. The pharmacist must have given me someone
else's prescription. Good thing I didn't take any!" I force a laugh.
"Nice try, but this bottle's nearly half empty."
I shrug, "Pharmacist must be crazy, wrong prescription and not enough!
Anyway, put them back where you found them. Unless you're a druggie."
Amy's eyes narrow. They're brown now that she's taken out the color
contacts. A soft brown. Without her thick mascara, her eyes are round
and large: innocent youth. "I'm not, but you might be. But, this is
Elavil. People usually don't try for a buzz off an anti-depressant,
so you must not be a druggie."
"Why were you snooping through my things?"
She ignores me. "Natalie told me about this guy, said he was a real
friend to her," Amy crosses the room until we're face-to-face. I'm
barefoot, and she's got on shoes with a heel, so we're just about
even. She can look me in the eye.
"He had violet eyes, she said, and the prettiest hair. Long, chestnut.
She said he always wore it in a braid."
"What are you talking about?" I manage to whisper. I can't feel my
skin anymore, everything's just numb. Natasha talked about me? I'm
pleased, et horrified, because Amy is looking at me. Looking. To my
core.
"Most unusual, she said, but a good friend. Do you know what his name
was, Helen Solo?" she said the name scornfully.
It's game over, and I'm out of quarters. "What?" I mouth, the words
too silenced to even be considered spoken.
"Duo Maxwell."
For a moment, we just stare at each other. Slowly, it dawns on me that
if Natasha spoke of me, then it means Amy will have to trust me all
the more. She knows I'm a friend. "Oh," I manage, "Caught me. Well,
don't tell anyone," I say, reaching out with lightning speed to
reclaim the pills. "I'm in hiding, so kindly don't ruin it."
To my surprise, Amy nods understandingly. "Natalie was in hiding, too.
She told me lots of things. Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."
"Thanks."
"Are you hiding from the same people Nata was?"
The fine hairs along the back of my neck slowly stand on end. "I...
don't think so. I don't know, who was Natalie hiding from?"
Amy pales, "I can't tell you. Bad people, though."
Please? I might be able to help her better if I know."
"Well..." she sighs, "all right. Have you ever heard of the Double
Phoenix?" When I shake my head, she goes on, "They were a small
fanatic group that formed shortly before the start of the war, but
they never made much trouble because they attacked Oz right off. Oz
pretty much annihilated them right from the start."
"So, this Double Phoenix...?"
"The leader escaped."
I frown, confused, "And now he's found some followers again? Why go
after Natasha? I mean, Natalie."
Her brown eyes size me up, as if judging me worthy of the secret.
"Don't you see? Nata is..."
Chaos.
------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
Type, type, click. Send.
Heero leaned back from his laptop with a yawn, stretching nimble
fingers until the joints popped. Using double encryption, several
different codes and only the most secure L4 channels, he'd sent a
brief summary to Quatre along with a few instructions. Of course,
there was always the chance the message would be interrupted, which
was why he avoided using specifics, especially regarding Duo.
He hoped Quatre dutifully deciphered the message. He had completely
forgotten to remind Quatre to feed the fish while they were gone.
Heero frowned suddenly, looking to the door. How long ago had Duo
left to take his medication? Maybe it only seemed longer because he
had been typing. Most likely, the baka had gotten himself lost en
route. Why Relena felt it necessary to maintain such an elaborate
residence, he would never understand.
Beep! went the laptop, a small notification box popping up. It was a
reply from L4, Quatre, which mildly surprised Heero because his
calculations made it improbable for the other man to have decoded his
message that rapidly.
Opening it and quickly working out the encryption, fingers flying
over the keys, Heero realized it was not a reply. They both must have
sent reports out at the same time.
"Hopefully this reaches you at your destination," the message
heralded. Good, caution was being applied. "There has been some talk
of violence up here, but the flames are loosely organized at best. I
heard that Peacecraft was meeting to discuss what measures should be
taken, if any. I am concerned, however, at what implications this
could have on your security. Guard well."
Heero sat back for a moment, studying the text. It came from the
secure L4 channels, but it wasn't in Quatre's style. Trowa, then?
Possibly, it fit the spartan style favored by the rational ex-pilot.
Quatre would be more...bubbly.
Ah, of course it was Trowa's. Heero had over-looked the obvious signs,
such as the encryption codes use of threes, a call back to Heavyarm's
pilot number. Heero had seen Trowa use the same subtle identification
a few times before, during the war.
Heero realized he was staring at the door and jerked free of his
mental wanderings. Duo should have been back by now. Calm down, he
chided himself, just because he isn't here does not mean anything.
There might have been an interesting clip on the vid-set. Duo might
have wandered into the gardens, the kitchens, a closet.
Still, Heero stared at the door, as if that would make the braided
baka appear.
Rising from his chair, Heero cleared his laptop's screen with a single
keystroke and let the computer shut down on its own. Before he could
take a step towards the door, a crisp, loud sound jolted through the
air to freeze him solid.
Once, twice, rapid succession, then a pause and a third.
Gun shots.
----------------------------------------------------------- -----------
Amy's big brown eyes are already clouding over in death, her features
frozen in a look of bewildered astonishment. At least, as much of her
face that isn't covered in blood, gore and fragments of her skull.
I stare down at her in shock, unable to figure out why she's dead.
Slowly, I turn my head to find the barrel of a gun aimed down at her
body. A third shot rings out, shattering my stunned mind like the
bullet shatters through her skull, obliterating the remaining
identifiable bits of her head.
Instinct make me crouch down and lash out at the same time, sweeping
one leg out to catch the murderer across the shin. My eyes are locked
on the gun as it falls to the floor. I reach out, neatly grabbing it
from the air. Instantly, I flip the weapon around so it's aimed to
the previous owner, who lays there on the floor.
It's one of the maids. "Get up," I order, voice cold. Mission
parameters: set. Objective: undefined; escape from hostile territory.
I feel nothing, and it is glorious. The gun is rock steady in my hand.
The maid doesn't move. She's dead, eyes glassy.
"DUO!"
I turn, snapping the gun's aim from the dead maid to the door. "Don't
move," I growl from reflex. It's all reflex now. Mission accepted.
The person obediently halts.
"What do you want?" I demand, gun aimed for the main's chest. One
false move and I am SO firing this sucker.
"Duo! Put the gun down."
"Why? Why should I listen to you? What leverage have you for
negotiations? Come in here, hands where I can see them. Shut the
door."
Obedience. Civilian? Possibility. Elimination? Acceptable.
The man's eyes shift from me to the dead girl at my feet, and then to
the maid. The girl's head has been shot. Did I do that? No, no
hesitation. If I did, it was for the mission.
I'm the only one with a gun, so it must have been me. The maid is
dead, too. I do not wonder why, because the answer is obvious. I just
don't know it yet, that's all.
For a moment, I'm not sure what to do. The shots will draw others. In
fact. I'm surprised only one interloper has appeared. Maybe no one is
home. Is this part of the mission? Escape, my mission is to escape.
It's giving me a headache, trying to think. I won't think just act.
Action.
"Duo..."
"Yes, yes, there are two!" I narrow my eyes at the man, "What's your
problem, why do you keep saying that? Is it a code word? Are you
trying to summon assistance? Keep quiet!"
His eyes widen. The eyes are blue. "Who are you?" he asks, studying
me as if I am some puzzling creature.
He is most obviously crazy, or in on this whole thing. "Who I am is
not important. The important thing is..." I don't know, I realize.
I don't know what I'm really doing anymore. Failure is not an option.
I lift the gun slightly, shifting my aim to the main's head.
I will simply have to shoot him.
Pain.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Author's Notes: Wah, I'm sorry I didn't get a chapter out over the
weekend! Instead, I pre-wrote even MORE papers! ^_^() I don't think
I'll even be able to compose this story straight into my precious GUN
(Grown-Up Notepad) Not that it'll be a problem... hehe! Winter break
is growing closer, but that also means end of semester testing. At my
school, classes are only 18 weeks long, but some are 9 week courses
(like Genetics...) which means I'll have a completely new schedule for
the spring. I can't wait!
Well that was random, sorry. Winter also means spiffy weather and my
brother's removal from my house, which is just uber-spiffiness for
all parties involved. One last surprise for the Holiday season...
IMPORTANT!! I'm going to take a TINY break from "The Black Queen" to
write a special Christmas 'fic or two. TINY break, you probably won't
even notice. I'll continue to write in the 'fic, it's just my next
post might not be a new chapter. Just to warn you. I'm trying as hard
as I can to keep up a steady chapter-flow with school and everything.
--Violet no Baka Mode!--
I don't mean to sound ingrateful, but I was greatly sad that I didn't
get any reviews on FFN for chapter six. I understand that a lot of
you, like me, are busy, but I just... well, I wasn't sure if anyone
had even read/enjoyed the chapter! ^_^() I'm sorry if I sound whinny
or inappreciative, and I'd just like to send an extra glomp to
everyone who has reviewed so far and beg all the rest of you to at
least drop a line or something, just so I know someone out there's
reading these. I'm really, really sorry for sounding so pathetic!!
Also sorry for how long I rambled on! ^_^() Whoops.
Feedback/reviews are very much appreciated!
copyright 2002 - Gundam Wing and characters copyright other people.
LSE - "Violet" (ManzokuBiscuit@aol.com)
Email me to join my Update ML!
http://violetnyte.fallenweb.net
(The Black Queen - Chapter Seven: Fragmentation)
rated: PG13 - violence, language, content
shounen-ai/yaoi
Fragmentation
Even before I enter the room I know something is wrong. Someone is in
my room. It can't be Heero, because I just left him in the other room,
and I know Heero's presence anyway. If it was Heero, then it wouldn't
be wrong. Slowly, I creep past the door and peer into the room.
There. Back to the door is Amy, decently clad in jeans and a fuzzy
pink sweater that could only be Relena's.
"What are you doing?" I ask, bursting in importantly.
Amy whirls, trying unsuccessfully to hide what is in her hands. I
freeze, seeing the familiar orange and white bottle disappear behind
her back. "Those are mine," I say, eyes glued to the empty space on
the dresser. "You shouldn't look through my things."
As soon as the words clear my lips I know it's a mistake. The girl
frowns, taking me in slowly as she pulls the pill bottle out from
behind her. She holds it up, label facing me. Even though I can't see
the text, I know what it says. Take twice daily on empty stomach. Do
not mix with food or alcohol.
"These are yours?" she asks innocently, "But it says here they're for
a Mister Duo Maxwell."
I lick my suddenly dry lips, but my tongue's gone fuzzy. Too fuzzy,
like the sweater. Pink sweater. Think, think, think. "Are they? Then
they must not be mine. The pharmacist must have given me someone
else's prescription. Good thing I didn't take any!" I force a laugh.
"Nice try, but this bottle's nearly half empty."
I shrug, "Pharmacist must be crazy, wrong prescription and not enough!
Anyway, put them back where you found them. Unless you're a druggie."
Amy's eyes narrow. They're brown now that she's taken out the color
contacts. A soft brown. Without her thick mascara, her eyes are round
and large: innocent youth. "I'm not, but you might be. But, this is
Elavil. People usually don't try for a buzz off an anti-depressant,
so you must not be a druggie."
"Why were you snooping through my things?"
She ignores me. "Natalie told me about this guy, said he was a real
friend to her," Amy crosses the room until we're face-to-face. I'm
barefoot, and she's got on shoes with a heel, so we're just about
even. She can look me in the eye.
"He had violet eyes, she said, and the prettiest hair. Long, chestnut.
She said he always wore it in a braid."
"What are you talking about?" I manage to whisper. I can't feel my
skin anymore, everything's just numb. Natasha talked about me? I'm
pleased, et horrified, because Amy is looking at me. Looking. To my
core.
"Most unusual, she said, but a good friend. Do you know what his name
was, Helen Solo?" she said the name scornfully.
It's game over, and I'm out of quarters. "What?" I mouth, the words
too silenced to even be considered spoken.
"Duo Maxwell."
For a moment, we just stare at each other. Slowly, it dawns on me that
if Natasha spoke of me, then it means Amy will have to trust me all
the more. She knows I'm a friend. "Oh," I manage, "Caught me. Well,
don't tell anyone," I say, reaching out with lightning speed to
reclaim the pills. "I'm in hiding, so kindly don't ruin it."
To my surprise, Amy nods understandingly. "Natalie was in hiding, too.
She told me lots of things. Don't worry, your secret's safe with me."
"Thanks."
"Are you hiding from the same people Nata was?"
The fine hairs along the back of my neck slowly stand on end. "I...
don't think so. I don't know, who was Natalie hiding from?"
Amy pales, "I can't tell you. Bad people, though."
Please? I might be able to help her better if I know."
"Well..." she sighs, "all right. Have you ever heard of the Double
Phoenix?" When I shake my head, she goes on, "They were a small
fanatic group that formed shortly before the start of the war, but
they never made much trouble because they attacked Oz right off. Oz
pretty much annihilated them right from the start."
"So, this Double Phoenix...?"
"The leader escaped."
I frown, confused, "And now he's found some followers again? Why go
after Natasha? I mean, Natalie."
Her brown eyes size me up, as if judging me worthy of the secret.
"Don't you see? Nata is..."
Chaos.
------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
Type, type, click. Send.
Heero leaned back from his laptop with a yawn, stretching nimble
fingers until the joints popped. Using double encryption, several
different codes and only the most secure L4 channels, he'd sent a
brief summary to Quatre along with a few instructions. Of course,
there was always the chance the message would be interrupted, which
was why he avoided using specifics, especially regarding Duo.
He hoped Quatre dutifully deciphered the message. He had completely
forgotten to remind Quatre to feed the fish while they were gone.
Heero frowned suddenly, looking to the door. How long ago had Duo
left to take his medication? Maybe it only seemed longer because he
had been typing. Most likely, the baka had gotten himself lost en
route. Why Relena felt it necessary to maintain such an elaborate
residence, he would never understand.
Beep! went the laptop, a small notification box popping up. It was a
reply from L4, Quatre, which mildly surprised Heero because his
calculations made it improbable for the other man to have decoded his
message that rapidly.
Opening it and quickly working out the encryption, fingers flying
over the keys, Heero realized it was not a reply. They both must have
sent reports out at the same time.
"Hopefully this reaches you at your destination," the message
heralded. Good, caution was being applied. "There has been some talk
of violence up here, but the flames are loosely organized at best. I
heard that Peacecraft was meeting to discuss what measures should be
taken, if any. I am concerned, however, at what implications this
could have on your security. Guard well."
Heero sat back for a moment, studying the text. It came from the
secure L4 channels, but it wasn't in Quatre's style. Trowa, then?
Possibly, it fit the spartan style favored by the rational ex-pilot.
Quatre would be more...bubbly.
Ah, of course it was Trowa's. Heero had over-looked the obvious signs,
such as the encryption codes use of threes, a call back to Heavyarm's
pilot number. Heero had seen Trowa use the same subtle identification
a few times before, during the war.
Heero realized he was staring at the door and jerked free of his
mental wanderings. Duo should have been back by now. Calm down, he
chided himself, just because he isn't here does not mean anything.
There might have been an interesting clip on the vid-set. Duo might
have wandered into the gardens, the kitchens, a closet.
Still, Heero stared at the door, as if that would make the braided
baka appear.
Rising from his chair, Heero cleared his laptop's screen with a single
keystroke and let the computer shut down on its own. Before he could
take a step towards the door, a crisp, loud sound jolted through the
air to freeze him solid.
Once, twice, rapid succession, then a pause and a third.
Gun shots.
----------------------------------------------------------- -----------
Amy's big brown eyes are already clouding over in death, her features
frozen in a look of bewildered astonishment. At least, as much of her
face that isn't covered in blood, gore and fragments of her skull.
I stare down at her in shock, unable to figure out why she's dead.
Slowly, I turn my head to find the barrel of a gun aimed down at her
body. A third shot rings out, shattering my stunned mind like the
bullet shatters through her skull, obliterating the remaining
identifiable bits of her head.
Instinct make me crouch down and lash out at the same time, sweeping
one leg out to catch the murderer across the shin. My eyes are locked
on the gun as it falls to the floor. I reach out, neatly grabbing it
from the air. Instantly, I flip the weapon around so it's aimed to
the previous owner, who lays there on the floor.
It's one of the maids. "Get up," I order, voice cold. Mission
parameters: set. Objective: undefined; escape from hostile territory.
I feel nothing, and it is glorious. The gun is rock steady in my hand.
The maid doesn't move. She's dead, eyes glassy.
"DUO!"
I turn, snapping the gun's aim from the dead maid to the door. "Don't
move," I growl from reflex. It's all reflex now. Mission accepted.
The person obediently halts.
"What do you want?" I demand, gun aimed for the main's chest. One
false move and I am SO firing this sucker.
"Duo! Put the gun down."
"Why? Why should I listen to you? What leverage have you for
negotiations? Come in here, hands where I can see them. Shut the
door."
Obedience. Civilian? Possibility. Elimination? Acceptable.
The man's eyes shift from me to the dead girl at my feet, and then to
the maid. The girl's head has been shot. Did I do that? No, no
hesitation. If I did, it was for the mission.
I'm the only one with a gun, so it must have been me. The maid is
dead, too. I do not wonder why, because the answer is obvious. I just
don't know it yet, that's all.
For a moment, I'm not sure what to do. The shots will draw others. In
fact. I'm surprised only one interloper has appeared. Maybe no one is
home. Is this part of the mission? Escape, my mission is to escape.
It's giving me a headache, trying to think. I won't think just act.
Action.
"Duo..."
"Yes, yes, there are two!" I narrow my eyes at the man, "What's your
problem, why do you keep saying that? Is it a code word? Are you
trying to summon assistance? Keep quiet!"
His eyes widen. The eyes are blue. "Who are you?" he asks, studying
me as if I am some puzzling creature.
He is most obviously crazy, or in on this whole thing. "Who I am is
not important. The important thing is..." I don't know, I realize.
I don't know what I'm really doing anymore. Failure is not an option.
I lift the gun slightly, shifting my aim to the main's head.
I will simply have to shoot him.
Pain.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Author's Notes: Wah, I'm sorry I didn't get a chapter out over the
weekend! Instead, I pre-wrote even MORE papers! ^_^() I don't think
I'll even be able to compose this story straight into my precious GUN
(Grown-Up Notepad) Not that it'll be a problem... hehe! Winter break
is growing closer, but that also means end of semester testing. At my
school, classes are only 18 weeks long, but some are 9 week courses
(like Genetics...) which means I'll have a completely new schedule for
the spring. I can't wait!
Well that was random, sorry. Winter also means spiffy weather and my
brother's removal from my house, which is just uber-spiffiness for
all parties involved. One last surprise for the Holiday season...
IMPORTANT!! I'm going to take a TINY break from "The Black Queen" to
write a special Christmas 'fic or two. TINY break, you probably won't
even notice. I'll continue to write in the 'fic, it's just my next
post might not be a new chapter. Just to warn you. I'm trying as hard
as I can to keep up a steady chapter-flow with school and everything.
--Violet no Baka Mode!--
I don't mean to sound ingrateful, but I was greatly sad that I didn't
get any reviews on FFN for chapter six. I understand that a lot of
you, like me, are busy, but I just... well, I wasn't sure if anyone
had even read/enjoyed the chapter! ^_^() I'm sorry if I sound whinny
or inappreciative, and I'd just like to send an extra glomp to
everyone who has reviewed so far and beg all the rest of you to at
least drop a line or something, just so I know someone out there's
reading these. I'm really, really sorry for sounding so pathetic!!
Also sorry for how long I rambled on! ^_^() Whoops.
Feedback/reviews are very much appreciated!
copyright 2002 - Gundam Wing and characters copyright other people.
LSE - "Violet" (ManzokuBiscuit@aol.com)
Email me to join my Update ML!
http://violetnyte.fallenweb.net