Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Violets, Braids, and Space Pirates? ❯ Chapter Fourteen ( Chapter 14 )

Title: Violets, Braids, and Space Pirates? (14 of ?)

Archived at fanfiction.net, mediaminer.org, and at Cali0cat's site, http://calic0cat.freeservers.com/ as Nightseer

Category: Romance, Fusion -Tenchi Universe

Pairings: Just friends for now, eventually 1x2x1, maybe 3+4

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I don't own GW or TU. I also don't own Urt from Outlaw Star or the idea for the Talent system from the Rowan series by Anne McCaffery.

Warnings: A few swear words, maybe a bit of sap and fluff here and there, the occasional drop of angst, my weird attempts at humor.

Spoilers: For Gundam Wing, not a one. For Tenchi Universe, probably

Feedback: Suggestions, comments, ideas, and even grammar and spelling corrections are all welcome.

"speech"

'thought'

Cabbit Communication:

/Ryo-Ohki to Duo/

(Duo to Ryo-Ohki)-rare but Duo will occasionally speak telepathically to her.

{Meow translations} -For when Duo's not around to translate.

Chapter Fourteen

Azaka and Kamidake watched as the large red ship landed next Ryu-Oh. Kamidake's lavender eye flashed as the log turned to his superior. "Sir, do you really believe he is a danger?"

"His presence is a possible danger." Azaka sighed, before explaining, once again, why they should be wary. "While Barton is typically an exceptional officer, calm and controlled, he is known for his explosive temper, especially once he's been challenged. And Mr. Maxwell has challenged his superiority repeatedly." Azaka's eye glowed steadily as he watched Trowa exit Yagami. The glow faded as he turned to his partner. "If he and Maxwell do fight you must make sure lady Hilde does not get involved. Understood? I do not want a repeat of the Maribo incident."

Kamidake's eye dimmed in shame. "Yes sir. I willkeep her safe." He quietly followed Azaka as they floated over to the sinking ship to escort the detective to the house.

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Heero snorted in amusement as he helped Duo carry his books out of the library. After grabbing twelve different books on religion, mythology, and Japanese history Duo had wandered into the fiction section. Five minutes later he came walking out carrying a stack of books that included all five Harry Potter books, The Just So Stories, and several books by Piers Anthony bring the grand total of books up to thirty. After spending thirty minutes convincing the other boy that he had quite a few Xanth books in his room Heero had managed to get the total down to eighteen books. Walking down the sidewalk he looked at the stack of books Duo was carrying and snorted again.

Duo looked at Heero as they turned right to head back to the park. "What?"

"Huh?"

"What's so funny?" Duo turned into the park they were in earlier and head straight to the picnic area. Heero shook his head, smiling. Putting his books on the table, Duo sat down on a bench. "Seriously, what's so funny?"

Heero shrugged as threw his bag on the table and sat down beside Duo. "Just the idea of you reading Harry Potter. I mean, you can do these great things, like flying and teleporting, and you want to read about some kid wizard. It struck me as funny."

Duo propped his head on his hands, looking confused. "I don't get it. Why is funny that I want to read about magic?"

Heero sighed before answering Duo's question. "To me, reading is a form of escape; a way to get away from things for a while. You know; experience and do things you normally can't do. But you're reading about a person who can do a lot of the same things you can do." He shrugged again. "I just think it's weird."

Duo rolled his eyes. "People also read about things they can relate to." He tapped a finger on the book in front of him. "This kid is really powerful, but he has to hide it. Hell, he can't even talk about it with his family. I can relate to that."

"You've had to hide your talents? Besides here, I mean."

"Of course. You think everyone out there," Duo pointed towards the sky, "has abilities and talents like Quatre's, the girls, or mine?"

"Not everyone, but it sounds fairly common."

Duo put his arms on the table, shaking his head. "It's no where near common. Talents like mine or the girls are extremely, extremely rare. People of Quatre's level aren't as rare but it's still not a common thing to find a level 10 empath Talent. And that's one of the weaker levels."

"You said talent like the T was capitalized. Why?"

"You really want to know?"

"Yes." Heero put his bag in front himself, crossed his arms on top of it and used it as a pillow. He had a feeling he was going to be here a while.

"Okay." Duo sighed as he turned to face Heero, going into lecture mode. "Power levels of Talents are varied and people with high power levels are rare, even when you're dealing with thousands of known worlds. So to make things easier some scientists came up with a way of classifying different power levels. [1] The scale goes from one to fifteen; one being the strongest and fifteen being the weakest. People who test between fifteen and eleven have extremely weak talents and their abilities are extremely unreliable. An empath or telepath who fit somewhere in that area would only be aware of vague feelings or thoughts of the people around them. They could sense a threat but they wouldn't know who or what it came from or who it was directed to. Talents like that tend to be extremely common and almost every person has it in some latent form. People who test in these levels with chi abilities tend to have even more unreliable talents. Chi or life force energy varies from person to person. Chi Talents in this range tend to see better in the dark or can occasionally produce electrical sparks when emotional. You still with me?"

Heero nodded. "What about people like Quatre? You said he's a level 10 empath."

"That's the mid-range; levels ten through six. Talents in this range have a lot more power. Telekinetics can shield themselves, Empaths can sense and sometimes influence emotions, and Telepaths can pick up thoughts directly. Chi Talents in this range can produce lights, heal themselves of minor wounds, occasionally produce weaponry, and a ton of other minor things." Duo pulled his braid over his shoulder, playing with it as he talked. "Talents in this range usually also have multiple talents."

"Like Quatre?"

"Yep. Cat is pretty stereotypical of this range. Overall he ranks as a level 7 mental Talent and a level 9 chi Talent. Separately he ranks as a level 10 Empath, but he's also a level 12 Telekinetic, a level 13 Telepath and a level 9 light chi Talent."

Heero shook his head. "Wait a minute, I'm confused. Quatre can shield. That's how he survived the crash."

"This is where it gets tricky." Duo smirked. "See, when you have multiple talents you can combine them. If you measure each of his talents separately that's how his levels come out. But if you combine them you can increase the level temporarily. When Cat mixes his empath and telepathy he comes out as a level 5 Empath. When he mixes his telekinesis with his telepathy he comes out as a level 9 Telekinetic. That's how he was able to shield during the crash." Duo put his hand over Heero's mouth. "And before you ask, no one knows why it works that way. It just does." [2]

Heero batted the braided boy's hand away. "What about you and the princesses? Where are you three on this scale?"

"We're in the high levels; one through five. I'm a level 3 mental Talent and a level 2 chi Talent. In Relena's case she a level 2 mental Talent and a level 3 chi Talent. We've completely mastered our gifts."

"What about Hilde? Where is she on this scale?"

"Hilde? Well, Hilde's weird. She's a level 1 chi Talent but she's a level 9 mental Talent. Normally people who test really high in one area will test really high in the other but Hilde didn't for some reason." Duo scratched his nose. "Sometimes I think she purposely did badly on those tests. I know Relena flubbed hers on purpose. Officially Relena is only a level 12 mental Talent and a level 10 chi Talent."

Heero's brow furrowed. "Why? I mean, wouldn't powers like that be considered an asset?"

Duo shook his head sadly. "No, they're not considered an asset. People with gifts in Cat's range aren't treated any differently than anyone else. They're safe. But people in my range are considered dangerous." Duo's voice was bitter.

"Why?"

Duo did a mental sigh. 'I should have known he was going to ask that.' "High chi Talents in my range can save thousands of lives by redirecting mud slides, doing mass healings, sealing hull breaches, or by controlling storms. But they can also kill thousands by specializing in lethal attacks to wipe out cities or by causing earthquakes and other natural disasters. Hell, a telepath in my range can kill with just a thought."

Heero's eyes turned dark and he tapped a finger on the table as he thought about this. "I would think people would want a ruler who could wield power like that. It would mean they could protect their people better."

"Power 'Ro. It all comes back to power. While both Relena and Hilde specialize in healing with their chi they can still be damn dangerous when provoked. Using the Jurai power as a back up energy source Relena could wipe out entire civilizations with just a wave of her hand if she was pissed enough. Hilde could wipe out planets using the Jurai power. People get scared when someone has that much power. Even when they're healers like the girls."

"I guess that makes sense. But Hilde? You think people would be afraid of her?" Heero shook his head, not able to picture ever being afraid of the cute, little prankster.

Duo pushed up the sleeve of his sweater, rubbing the jewel under his wristband. "I've seen someone killed just because of their power." Duo gave Heero a sad smile. "My mother was a level 1 healer Talent, kinda like Hilde. She used her gifts to heal people." Duo stopped rubbing his wrist and pulled his sleeve back down. He rested his head on his arms and starred down at the table, remembering. He blinked back a few tears before speaking softly.

"When I was five years old my mother and I were going to visit Quatre and his family on Altair. The ship we were on was attacked by pirates. After the attack my mother and another woman, Urt, were going around healing the injured. When my mother tried to heal this little girl her father freaked out and attacked her. He said anyone with that evil power wasn't going to touch his little angel." Duo rubbed his eyes on his sleeve. "He managed to stab her in the heart before the crew could pull him off. Urt didn't get there in time to save her or the little girl. Two people who shouldn't have died did; just because of his hatred. Trust me on this 'Ro, normal people fear people like me and the girls."

Duo closed his eyes and fell silent. 'They fear people like you 'Ro.'

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At the Masaki shrine Ryo-Ohki was lounging in the shade under a bench while the humans around her prayed (the visitors), bickered (Relena and Quatre), or swept up the newly fallen leaves (Katsuhito). Sighing, Ryo-Ohki tried to block out the voices above her as she thought about her and her human's new home. 'The food is good, the bedroom is cool, Quatre and Hilde are here and they're always fun. And I guess that Heero kid is decent. Not sure about that basket thingy he gave Duo though.' She shrugged, thinking about the evils of the basket. 'I kinda miss riding on Duo's head or hiding under his braid and apparently the basket makes me look cute.' The brown cabbit shuddered slightly. 'I despise being cute. Although I can carry food with me in that thing. I guess that balances out the cute factor.' She shrugged again. 'The best thing about being here is that Dorothy or Ken-Ohki aren't chasing us around all the time. So I guess this place isn't too bad.' Ryo-Ohki scowled when a pink shoe got a little to close to her hideout. 'Well, it's not so bad if you ignore the pink banshee. Someone really needs to pull the stick out of her ass.'

Ignoring the bickering blonds, Ryo-Ohki rolled over and scowled at the now upside down Katsuhito. 'He's a puzzle though. So far he has been really nice to everyone. Buying them clothes and supplies that were lost in the crash, giving them a place in his home and he's even welcomed them into his family. But…' Ryo-Ohki's ears flopped a little as she watched the priest say goodnight to some visitors. 'Something just doesn't add up with this guy. He certain that we're going to be here a while, he didn't freak the other night when I fazed through the door, and I swear I've felt an energy signature like his somewhere. Even Quatre said he felt something from this guy. But he acts like a null. [3] It just doesn't make sense.' She gave a frustrated sigh as she rolled back over. 'I guess I'll figure it out eventually.'

Once the last visitor left the sun was already setting. Ryo-Ohki stretched before walking over to the small shed where Quatre was putting away the brooms and other cleaning equipment. Hoping for a ride she donned her best innocent look and mewed at the blond. He smiled as knelt down to pick the small cabbit up. "Sorry for ignoring you Ryo-Ohki. I hope you weren't too bored." Quatre scratched her behind the ears as he began walking with Katsuhito and Relena down with to the house.

Relena glared at the purring cabbit. "I don't know how you can talk to that animal. It's not like it understands you."

The two men shared a look. With a shake of his head Katsuhito let Quatre know he had been there, tried that and it was now someone else's turn. The blond groaned softly. "Trust me Relena Ryo-Ohki understands everything said around her and to her. It's us who can't understand her."

{Damn straight!} Ryo-Ohki climbed up to Quatre's shoulder and hissed at the blond princess.

Relena froze when the cabbit hissed at her. She starred at the small animal glaring at her from her cousin's shoulder. For a brief moment she wondered if it would attack her before she realized Quatre and Katsuhito were already turning to take the path to the house. Running to catch up she reminded her self that it was just an animal and all animals could sense strong emotions. And she strongly disliked that rat. She shot her cousin a superior look before speaking again. "I still say it's just an animal. You and that braided twit give it way to much credit to say it's as intelligent as a human."

Katsuhito snorted at the girl's ignorance as he walked through the gate. I'll see you two inside."

Quatre watched the old man walk off into the house before he faced a stubborn Relena. "I'm going to tell you this one last time." Using his 'don't-be-an-idiot' voice Quatre tried to explain the simple concepts. "Don't piss Ryo-Ohki off. She is not an animal; she's a cabbit. She knows what you're saying about her. She will take revenge." The blond groaned when he saw the arrogant look on his cousin's face. He sighed in resignation as the girl ignored his warnings and walked past him and into the house. "At least I tried." He picked Ryo-Ohki up off his shoulder and cradled her in his arms. "Just don't do anything to mean to her, okay Ryo-Ohki?" he pleaded, looking down at the cabbit in his arms.

{I'll think about it.} She meowed up to him.

He groaned when he saw the look on her small, furry face. 'It's official. Relena's a goner,' Quatre thought as he opened the door and went inside. As he was taking off his shoes he heard voices coming from the living room. When he and Ryo-Ohki peaked around the corner they shared the same thought, 'Oh shit!' Quatre quickly ducked back into the entrance way and put Ryo-Ohki down.

Kneeling down, Quatre looked the anxious cabbit in the eye, projecting urgency and importance. "You can find Duo anywhere, right?" At the cabbit's quick nod, Quatre continued. "Okay, I need you to do me a huge favor. Find him and warn him about my partner. And stay with him and Heero. Thanks Ryo-Ohki." He scratched Ryo-Ohki one last time before she teleported off to her partner.

Quatre closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself. Opening his eyes, he stood up and straightened his clothes, pasted his best professional, meaningless smile on his face and walked into the living room.

"Hello Trowa. How's Yagami?"

[1] A little extra info here that's kinda relevant but I couldn't fit it anywhere. The scientists Duo referred to lived roughly five hundred years ago. The were hired by the Jurai royal families to determine who's family, the Winners or the Peacecrafts, had the strongest powers not including the power from tie to the Jurai trees. To measure the power of the two noble families these five men developed the system Duo described here. The Talent Scale played a major role in the council's choice of the Peacecrafts as the new royal family of Jurai. Another little note, the Galaxy Police don't have access to this classification system since it is a well kept secret. It is only known to the Jurai royal family, the Jurai nobles, the Jurai council, and the extremely wealthy members of the Jurai court. If you're wondering how Duo knows about this system Iria had Duo tested after he came to live with the Winner family.

[2] Duo's explanation of the Talent level system was very basic. The Scale is a bit more gradual. There really isn't that much difference between a level 11 empath and a level 10 empath. However there is a huge difference between a level 10 empath and a level 5 empath. Just remember, the higher the level the more power you have backing up your gifts. And the more power you have the more things you can do with those gifts.

[3] Null: someone who has little or no talent.

AN: Sorry once again that it took so long. Someone, who shall remain nameless, broke my glasses. It took a week for the new ones to get here. Oh well, I got my revenge yesterday morning before class. I hope she enjoyed the whip cream, silly string, bologna smiley face on her windshield. Anyways, hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. Please review and tell me what you think.

See ya later,

Kel