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- Chimera of Life -
Story Two: Probe the Psyche
~*~
Blood splattered on the
stage floor…
A spot formed and slowly
grew on Relena’s cream blouse…
Everything seemed to be in
slow motion as Heero moved to the middle of the stage while Relena numbly
touched her chest…
Heero grabbed for his gun…
Her shaking body lost
control and she fell on her knees. Slowly, Relena brought her hand in front of
her and saw dark red blood against her pale skin… The wound started to register
through her shocked mind.
The figure on the third
floor turned away…
Heero brought the gun in
front with eyes slanted in deadly precision, and pulled the trigger.
Once…
Twice…
Thrice…
The shadow jerked.
Excruciating pain created a
haze in her eyes and raw, throbbing needles started to prick her lungs. She
couldn’t breath… Her surroundings became distorted…
Relena collapsed.
Heero turned to her the
moment she dropped on her back. His wild eyes fell on her body, in the middle
of the stage, under the bright circle of light… No one else existed to him at
that moment but her. His mind had shut out everything around him.
The shadow tumbled over the
railing…
“MEDICS!!!” His anguished
cry was ripped from his throat as he ran to her and kneeled by her side… Afraid
to touch her, wanting to touch her…
She was breathing too
shallowly… She was grimacing in pain…
“Relena… Relena open your
eyes… Come on… Don’t…” His breath started coming in faster as he touched her
face and he couldn’t seem to focus… couldn’t seem to see her clearly… He felt
something create a trail down his cheek but he didn’t care. “Relena… dammit!
Open your eyes!”
She opened her eyes.
Everything seemed so clear one moment then hazy the next, but she could be
quite sure she saw tears fall down from Heero’s eyes… ‘You’re crying… Why?’ She
wasn’t sure whether she said it or not… But oh… her whole body had felt so numb
just a little while ago and now it’s in so much pain… She moved her heavy hand
to reach for his face just to wipe those tears away, even when her body
throbbed with pain that could drive a person insane… ‘Heero… Why are you
crying?’
He saw hands move over
Relena’s body… and it faintly registered that they were there to help. They
ripped her blouse open, her beautiful breasts for them to see, and he saw that
dark red-black hole just beneath her left breast.
He stopped breathing and
cringed. He wanted to cover her, but he knew he shouldn’t… He had seen many
people slowly die, had seen wounds that no ordinary person would be able to
take… but those wounds didn’t affect him the way her wound was tearing him
apart. He couldn’t look anymore and focused on her face instead. She seemed to
be struggling with keeping her eyes open…
From the corner of his eyes,
he saw her hand reach up to him halfway. He reached for it instinctively and
brought it to his face. He kissed it and tasted blood…
She blinked, trying to fight
off the darkness that seemed to swallow her vision…
Heero saw the diminishing
light in her eyes… It’s dull blue green now… dull eyes that met his watery
Prussian ones…
“Relena… Everything will be
all right…” His voice didn’t sound like it belonged to him as he stared at her
pale face while her opened lips gasped for air like a fish out of water…
Her body was lifted up and
Heero followed. He wasn’t going to let go of her… Never. He’s not ready to let her go… He followed
without a care about anything else but her… only for her…
Relena could barely see him…
She could barely breathe… Somehow… she knew that the bullet had gone through
her lung… His lips moved but she couldn’t hear… Is she going to die? If so… No
more secrets… Oh but she wants to tell him something… “Heero…” It hurt so much to speak… “I love you…” Then, it was as
if the last candle had been blown away by a cold wind and darkness finally enveloped
her vision…
Her voice didn’t reach him
but his eyes read her lips. No… Not yet… Not right now… “Relena… Relena open
your eyes…”
She didn’t…
He saw her breathe shallowly
once again… So out of synch… He couldn’t do anything!
“Relena, hang on… Please…
Stay with me… ”
Her body convulsed and his
heart seemed to be ripped apart as he leaned over her face to touch his
forehead against hers. “Fight, Relena… Fight like you’ve always done…” His
chest rocked with sobs as her hand slackened in his hold.
He shook his head. He won’t
accept this… Not her. Anybody but her. “Don’t leave me… Please don’t leave me…”
The strangled whisper reached deaf ears.
His feet followed the gurney
and he didn’t even notice that he had entered the ambulance, never noticed that
they stopped, and that they were already inside the hospital until he felt a
firm hand on his shoulder, firm enough to stop his cold, uncoordinated, shocked
body. “Please… stay with me…” His words were wrenched from his burning throat
as he stared at Relena’s pale face.
“Heero… let Sally take care
of her.”
Her hand slipped from his as
she was carried through steel double door… “Let me go…” He wants to follow her…
“Heero… You know that Sally
will take care of her.”
He knows that voice… but at
that moment… he couldn’t put a face… then he knew. “Une…” He turned to her.
Une nearly stepped back as a
blast of emotion tumbled from Heero’s dazed eyes.
“Sally… is… there?” He
seemed to be having trouble speaking… He couldn’t move his jaw right… He
couldn’t… feel right.
“Heero, didn’t you see her?
She told you that she’s going to look after Relena…” Une squeezed Heero’s
shoulder, trying to make him feel something…
Heero shook his head. “No… I
didn’t…” He turned away from Une… He didn’t see Sally… what he saw were gloved
hands, once pristine, now crimson with blood… What he saw was Relena’s face in
pain… What he saw was her clothes ripped apart and her skin covered in dark,
red blood… He glanced at his hand, the one that held Relena before he let her
slip away… It glistened like dark, liquid ruby under the dim hospital lights…
Blood…
Her blood…
Something snapped in him and
he lost it.
Une could only watch as
Heero punched and kicked the wall… as he grabbed a table from aside and toppled
it over… as he let his wild frustration loose while she held a stopping hand to
the guards in the area.
“Let him be.” More metal hit
the floor.
“Yes ma’am…”
She lost track of time… for
how long Heero’s paroxysm lasted… When he finally gave up, slumped against the
wall, and slid down, she moved. He placed his head in his hands and leaned down
while his shoulders shuddered… Une could barely believe the sobbing sounds that
came from his curled body…
The door behind her opened
and a hurried, gasping voice replaced the minute’s silence.
“Mother… I saw…” Mariemaia
stopped in her tracks as she saw Une’s stiff body some feet away from Heero’s
dismal one.
“I wasn’t able to protect
her…” His voice was muffled but the two women heard it…
“Heero, Relena walked into
the line of fire… You couldn’t have stopped her even if you tried.” Une
patiently, reasonably explained… She must get him calmed again… He’s too over
the edge…
Heero slammed his head
against the wall again and again. He doesn’t deserve her. “I wasn’t able to
protect her… I wasn’t…” How could he have let her down? He promised to protect
her… promised it to her and more so, to himself. Why did it have to be her? Why
couldn’t it have been him?! She made him realize so much… things he couldn’t
put to words…
His head was throbbing
painfully and he couldn’t seem to focus on one thought. Too much… The gunshot
repeated itself in his mind and he felt like screaming as he grabbed his head.
A priest bent over his
intoxicated body...
An understanding smile…
A firm, helping hand…
A guiding star…
A cross…
“God… please don’t let her
die… please… you shouldn’t…” He had never asked for his help before… but right
now, anything... anything for Relena.
More sobs escaped his lips
and Une saw how a strong man wept…
Mariemaia stared at Heero in
dismay. For the first time, he was showing signs of weakness at a time when
strength was needed!
A frown appeared on Une’s
face as she watched Mariemaia walk towards Heero then stop right in front of
him
“I’m sorry…” Mariemaia
whispered to Heero who was looking at her but not really seeing her… Then, she
leaned down and slapped him. Slapped him as hard as she could.
The unearthly glaze over
Heero’s eyes disappeared as he stared at Mariemaia in surprise.
She slapped him again. “You
did your best to protect her! Miss Relena willingly sacrificed her life for the
President! Nobody could protect her from herself, Heero! How do you think Ms.
Relena will feel when she finds you like this, moping around as if she’s
already dead! She isn’t going to die!” Mariemaia’s hands grabbed his shoulders
and shook him like a rag doll. “You hear me, Heero Yuy! She’s not going to
die!” She isn’t! She owed just as much to Relena as to her mother…
Une’s eyes widened at
Mariemaia’s outburst but before she could comment, she heard footsteps stop
just behind her.
“Ma’am.”
Une turned while Mariemaia
abruptly stopped her outburst then along with Heero, fastened eyes on the
soldier who just came in. They saw him hand Une a plastic bag.
“These were found on the
man’s body… Three bullets went through his head.”
Heero felt slight
satisfaction from the report as he stood up and walked to check what the man
gave Une. Mariemaia followed his lead.
“Twelve is dead and Seven
was wounded.”
Mariemaia and Heero stood
beside Une as she stared at the contents of the bag.
“Where were these found?”
Une asked as she studied the symbols on the golden buttons…
“On both sides of the
lapels, Ma’am… Almost like-”
“A soldier.” Une, Mariemaia
and Heero finished together. Une glanced at the man. “Anything else?”
“Yes ma’am… The assassin had
been declared dead for nearly three years.”
“Dead?” Mariemaia whispered
in slight confusion…
Une’s hands fisted. The body
of the man Wufei had sent back with their forensics team to check had the exact
background- he had been declared dead… What does this mean? “Gather more MO’s
on this man. I want you to report to me as soon as you can.”
“Yes Ma’am.” The soldier
saluted then left.
“Another secret war… another
secret army…” Mariemaia’s whisper reached Heero’s ears as she stared at the
pins… She had seen pictures of charred ones only yesterday… Charred ones from a
burnt warehouse… and from a body…
Une faced Heero. He needs to
know. “Another set, with these designs, were found on three bodies. Right now,
Wufei and the Intelligence Alliance are investigating the site.”
“Another army.” Heero
repeated Mariemaia’s observation, his thoughts finally cleared… He knew exactly
what he must to do, now… At least this was something he could understand… something
he knew so well…
Une saw his train of thought
and quickly shook her head. “No… Heero, don’t do it.” She placed a hand on his
shoulder but Heero just shrugged it off to face the metal doors that Relena
entered a little while ago.
‘Relena…’ He would like to
see her face before he leaves but if he will not act now, the trail will grow
cold… ‘I’ll be back… I promise…’ He turned and walked past Une and Mariemaia.
“Heero! Where are you
going?!” Mariemaia shouted. She could see purpose in his walk, but she couldn’t
bring herself to believe that he will just leave like this. Not when Relena was
fighting for her life! He can’t leave her alone again! “Stop! Heero, stop!”
“Heero! I command you to
stop!” Une demanded at the same time, her tone imposing respect and action.
Heero paused just as he
reached the exit. “Une, I do not work for you yet… I’m going to find them and
kill them… Every single bastard…”
“No!” Une cried out but
Heero already walked out of the double doors. She gave a short, frustrated
mental scream then faced her daughter. “Mariemaia, notify 05 to be alert for
01.”
“Yes, Mother.” Mariemaia
snapped into character and hastily ran out of the hall.
Une closed her eyes then
slumped against the pristine white hospital wall, suddenly feeling tired and
lost. “When will it stop…?” Why are men so stubborn?! She didn’t notice how
long it had been but Mariemaia’s ‘Mother!’ made her look up and frown at her
daughter’s troubled eyes.
“What is it?” Une frowned,
trying to keep her headache to a minimum.
“Mother… we just received a
message from Rascal… He needs your help ASAP…”
Une’s face paled and she
nearly staggered. Mariemaia quickly went to her side. “Rascal is… alive…? If he
needs our help now… that could only mean…”
Mariemaia nodded solemnly.
“Quatre Winner is in trouble…”
‘No! Not another innocent
life!’ Une straightened as guilt enveloped her. It’s her fault… She must go to
Quatre… It’s her fault he became involved… Trying to sort out her thoughts, she
started to walk out of the room. “Mariemaia, mobilize the troops in Quadrant
12. Notify Wufei of the change and Sally Po when she’s… finished. Get my jet
ready. If Wufei finds out any more information about the bombing yesterday,
send it to the HQ at Quad 12. I’ll contact the Intelligence.”
Mariemaia nodded as she
followed Une to the parking lot.
“Mother…”
Une stopped and turned as
she heard the soft voice. “What is it, Mariemaia?”
Mariemaia stepped closer and
then hugged her. “Please be careful.”
Une kissed her daughter’s
red hair then pushed her away to look at her… to memorize her features if
anything happens to her… “You know that I will always be.” She lovingly smiled
at her. “I have you to return to…” Then, with a slight squeeze on Mariemaia’s
shoulder, she turned away.
Mariemaia stepped back to
watch Une walk to her car then stop.
“Mariemaia, one more thing.”
Charlie had contacted her before she left her office, panicked just as a
brother should be… Zechs, well… he has a mind of his own, wherever he may be.
Wufei probably has no idea of what happened as of yet… Trowa… well, she doesn’t
know where he is right now. She will take care of Quatre but why hasn’t Duo and
Hilde showed up? Why haven’t they called?
“Yes, ma’am?” Her back
straightened as she awaited the command.
“I want you to be in charge
of informing Duo and Hilde about what happened to Relena. The mere fact that
they are still not here… that they haven’t contacted us… it could only mean
that they don’t know. With Arche after them…” She left her sentence hanging and
knew that her daughter understood. “Look for them.” Une stepped inside her car
and the red corvette revved to life, speeding out of the driveway in a hurry…
A single tear escaped her
control and fell down Mariemaia’s cheek, well aware of the hazards in the
Quadrant her mother was going to. Another tear fell down for her friends...
Then, she wiped it and straightened her shoulders. There are things to be done.
It wasn’t the time to lag.
{AN: I hope that you all
have enjoyed this as much as the first story. Heero is a complex character to
write about and it was hard to justify his maturity and, at the same time, old
habits to the ten years that he had been gone, but I hope that I was able
to. I have always thought of Relena as
strong, I just emphasized on her friendship with Duo and Hilde, also Wufei and
Quatre. For now, this is it. Who do you think is the next story going to
feature? Here is a quick preview, and… er, I’m having a bit of a writer’s
block, but I’m really trying my best to get over it- if I don’t post Quatre’s first
chapter by this week, gomen:}
“Good morning Quatre. I hope you don’t mind my intrusion.”
‘That voice!’ The
observation rang in his head. Then, his clear, aquamarine eyes showed complete
recognition. “Lady Une? Colonel Une?”
…
Quatre glanced out of his
jet window and saw the red carpet being laid outside. Garlands of flowers hung
from a shining metal stairway that was being pushed towards his plane while a
squad of soldiers marched in perfect synchronization…‘I’m here Une… I will try
to not let you down…’ He breathed in deeply, trying to ease his pounding heart.
He was nervous and that terrible feeling of anticipation was making his stomach
do the most sickening flips.
“Sir, we have arrived.”
From there, I can only wish you luck, Quatre.