Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ War Inevitable ❯ The return of a hero ( Chapter 5 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The incessant chirping of the onboard vidscreen was what roused Wufei. A light sleeper to begin with, he had been expecting this call, and had only been dozing. Rolling effortlessly off his bunk, an easy feat when in an environment without gravity, he pushed off with his legs and floated directly to the desk and the chair accompanying it. As he slid in the chair, he raised the monitor, and the screen flickered to life.


" Wufei, " Lucrezia Noin said in greeting from her side of the screen.


" Noin, " Wufei acknowledged, " What news? "


Noin sighed, and it was a sigh of contentment; of happiness. " Quatre recieved enough blood in time. He's still hanging on by a thread, but the doctors expect him to make a recovery. He's going to be bed ridden for a couple of weeks though, "


Wufei closed his eyes as relief flooded through him. When he opened them, a slight smile crossed his face. " He's okay, though, and that's all that matters. Do you still want Sally and I to come to Earth? "


" Actually, no. " Noin said, and her expression became decidedly sober. " I have more news, and it's not good. A couple of hours ago, in his hotel room, Duo was shot. He's fine - " She held up her hand, interrupting Wufei's exclamation. " He was being overly paranoid and wearing body armor, and it paid off. He's pretty roughed up even though he was wearing it, and they're keeping him here at the hospital overnight to make sure he's okay. "


" Did he see who it was? "


" He saw someone, but wasn't able to make out any details. He got a couple of shots off, but he missed. He found a rifle and some carrying cases on the fire escape outside his window. Ballistics ran it through; the bullets match with the one that hit Quatre. Which means that someone has taken a contract out on their lives. And the only connection vetween the two of them is - "


" They're Gundam pilots, " Wufei finished grimly.


" Exactly. I think it's safe to assume, at this point, that someone has hired an assasin to take care of the five of you. "


" This hasn't been the first time someone has tried to kill me, " Wufei remarked dryly.


" No, and probably not the last, " Noin replied allowing herself an anwering smile. The smile faded, " Now all that remains is to find out who hired the assasin, and why. "


" I think I know why. You said earlier that Relena Peacecraft had been receiving more and more reports about dissent among the ranks of the Coalition and the ESUN. If someone wanted to start a war, they'd begin by dismantling the biggest threat, and that would be the ESUN. "


" Because of our disarmament policies, we're virtually weaponless. How could we pose a threat? "


" The ESUN is essentially the embodiment of the unification of space and Earth. Think of how many have rallied to aid the peace efforts. Weaponless or not, it is the organization that holds all peaceful nations together that will be the biggest threat to anyone who wants war. "


" Then why kill you Gundam pilots? "


" Because we defended the ESUN and Relena Peacecraft once before. It's only logical to assume that should the occasion arise again that we would do the same. Even without the Gundams, I think it's safe to say that the five of us are a force to be reckoned with. Whoever made the contract on our lives knows what we're capable of. "


Noin sighed in frustration. " Why does mankind have to repeat this over and over? We've come so far...."


" It's basic human nature, Noin. "


She briefly covered her eyes with her hand. Wearliy she looked back at the screen. " Given the situation, I think it's best if you stay in space for a while longer. When we catch this assasin, though, we may need you here on Earth to find and prevent any and all uprisings. "


Easier said than done, Wufei thought, but said instead, " Isn't that what Preventors are for? Sally and I will maintain our positions in this area for the time being. Please tell Quatre that I wish him a full recovery, and to Duo the same. "


" I will. " Noin promised. " Take care, Wufei. "


She switched off at her hand. Wufei closed the monitor and tiredly closed his eyes. Although he didn't always agree with the ESUN's preachings, he had finally accepted peace as what was needed. Now it seemed his suspiscions had been correct, and the realization saddened him. As Noin said, they had come so far, from the very ashes of a devestating war to the pinnacle of unity. He took consolation in the knowledge that Quatre was alive and would live, and he pushed himself out of his chair, out of his room and down the hall to find and inform Sally.







Duo had remained at the hospital until Quatre's sisters, along with a majority of the Maganac Corps, had arrived, and had left only after the blood transfusions had been made. He returned two hours later, staggering through the front doors. He was immediately looked at by a doctor, and after the removal of his Kevlar vest it was quite obvious how fortunate he had been to be wearing it. The blocked bullet had created an angry purple bruise that covered roughly one quarter of Duo's upper chest. The shot had been aimed directly for the heart, just as the one that had hit Quatre; the maximum killing zone. Duo was in pain, that much was obvious, but upon closer inspection the doctor discovered that at least one of his ribs had been cracked by the impact. After some persuasion by Noin and Dorothy, the hospital officials consented to let Quatre and Duo room together. Quatre was not yet concious, and likely would not be for quite some time. Depsite his loud protestations, the doctor gave Duo a healthy dose of painkillers. He lay now in a bed a few feet from Quatre's, his upper chest bound tightly by thick white gauze. Dorothy, having maintained her vigil for Quatre for quite some time, had returned to her hotel for some rest. Noin, looking haggard and pale, had opted to remain at the hospital, and sat now in the chair between the two beds.


" Did you talk to Wufei? " Duo asked thickly, struggling against the drowsiness of the powerful painkillers.


" I did. " Noin said. " He told me to wish you a quick recovery. I also told him what happened to you tonight. I told him to remain in space for the time being. "


" Good. No sense in giving our assasin all targets at once. " He was quiet for a moment, fighting to keep his eyes from closing.Noin? Could you get in touch with Trowa and tell him that Quatre's okay? And to stay with the circus? "


Noin nodded. " Of course. Let yourself sleep, Duo. You need it. "


Duo snorted sleepily. " So do you. Besides, " he said with a small grin, " I'm not tired. "


She found herself grinning back. " Sure you aren't. "


He chuckled, a soft exhale of breath. He turned his head to look at Quatre, still deathly white and hooked to a myriad of medical equipment. " I knew he'd make it. He's tougher than he looks. "


" He is, " Noin agreed. She took that opportunity to yawn, which caused Duo to yawn. After this continued for a few minutes, Noin began to laugh.


" Okay, I'm going to get some sleep, " She stood and stretched. She looked at Quatre, then back at Duo. " Will you be okay here for a few hours? "


" Hey, I'm the God of Death, " he said, looking insulted. " Plus, you have so many guards posted here. We'll be fine. Go sleep. "


" Okay. " She gave him one more brief farewell smile before turning and leaving the room, closing the door quietly behind her. Duo sighed and nestled his head into the rather flat pillow. He closed his eyes, lulled by the continous soft hum of machinery. He was without pain now, but his senses were dulled, numbed by the drugs he hadn't wanted. He hated feeling like this, hated the loss of clarity. Like this, he felt helpless, but there was nothing he could do about it. He let himself drift away, felt himself going deeper and deeper into the oblivion of sleep....


A noise brought him back, fighting through layers of heavy disorientation. He opened his eyes to see someone's back as they softly closed the door behind them. It wasn't Noin; it was too broad shouldered. He struggled to raise his head, and managed to croak, " Who - "


The person turned around.


Dup had enough energy to swear in astonishment.


It was Heero Yuy.