A Reason for Living Part 21
Closure
Heero crouched behind the wide tree trunk to get his bearings. He checked the Walther's clip, snapped it back in place and cocked the next bullet in the chamber. The storm clouds had thin out and the moon shone in varying degrees of luster. The intermittent light filtered through the leaves and branches illuminating the forest in patchy shades of gray.
Agent 01 crept cautiously along ever mindful of the danger lurking among the wood's shadowy silhouettes. Each bough and branch tricked the vision, created the illusion of false movement. The hallucinatory mirages of light and shadow mingled into delusive shapes that stayed just out of reality's reach.
Readjusting his fingers around the Walther, Heero stopped beside a growth of shoulder-high shrubs. His ears listened to pick out various noises, to separate the calls of nocturnal creatures and the whistling wind from the human sounds of breathing or footsteps...anything that would reveal the object of his hunt. Now one united thought and purpose prodded 01. An unfinished agenda pressed him for a terminal judgment. Slowly he started again.
Septum, too, listened. Moisture beaded on his forehead. Swallowing repeatedly did little to relieve the nervous dryness in his throat. The Bolivian jungle had been as smothering. Suffocating. Claustrophobic. Cutting his eyes left, right then ahead he carefully planted one foot before the other covering each inch of the forest floor in slow, watchful steps.
*********
The helicopter followed the snaking road, its flight cutting back and forth above the forest's heavy canopy. "Do you see anything?" Duo asked anxiously.
Wufei shook his head in a negative response. "It's like looking for a gain of rice in a bamboo hedge."
"There!" Quatre exclaimed into his headset pointing down at the recently vacated cars.
The first flyover revealed nothing but the apparently abandoned vehicles. Circling lower reaffirmed the pervious conclusion of desertion. "Where could Heero be?" Quatre wondered aloud.
"And that son of a bitch depraved psychopath." Trowa finished his lover's thought.
Wufei reset the descent controls. "We're going in." he announced as the helicopter dropped from the sky.
*********
Don't ask Heero to explain how he felt Septum's presences. The feeling was more an intuitive perception than actual physical or conscious awareness. *An operative's sixth sense.* Howard often called the instinctual connection.
Heero stopped short. Just ahead an indistinct outline took on a substantial form. He straightened his arm; the Walter became a natural extension. The figure moved in halting steps, paused then started forward again. Thirty feet. The moon silently slipped from her cloudy veil. Twenty feet. Heero's finger constricted on the trigger.
Septum froze. Something inside his head was whispering, too. His own well-honed instincts were calling for caution. In Septum's peripheral vision a glint of moonlight on metal flashed to his right. The discharged Magnum shattered the tense silence. The shot reverberated keenly over the trees and repeated until its deadly echo faded into the obscure darkness.
Heero dropped to one knee as shredded leaves rained around him. The Walther returned the favor. The muzzle's flare momentarily lit up the night but in that instant Septum had again vanished into the diffused gloom.
No movement. The wind held its breath and the moon ducked back behind her fluffy curtain of clouds. The jungle had been hushed like this.
Agent 01shook off the nightmare memories. His strides were deliberate and focused. Each step, he was certain, reduced the separation to his objective. Septum wasn't far beyond his reach, he could feel it.
*********
Duo exited the helicopter leaning low to avoid the slowing blades. Quatre and Trowa, their pistols drawn and ready, flanked the worried civilian.
Wufei pulled an M16 rifle from under the pilot's seat and climbed out. "Stay here while I check out the area." he ordered.
Duo sank against the door. One last swish of air brushed over his head before the rotors clicked to a full stop. Any moment Duo expected to see Heero standing beside the cars that were wedged tightly between the road and the trees. He longed to see 01's reassuring smile and know that the awful mission was finally finished.
Then Duo sucked in a hard gasp and his heart pounded as the horrid vision of Septum, suddenly springing up from the bowels of Sheol, caused a numbing chill to race up his spine. "Wufei, be careful."
Wufei's search around the vacated cars was fruitless, then the Lone Dragon's observation training spotted a freshly trampled path disappearing into the forest. He waved to his counterparts, signaling for them to join him.
*********
A blur of motion ran across Heero's side vision. Fluidly he threw up a forearm just in time to block Septum's arm and deflect the Magnum's aim. The shot exploded harmlessly in the air.
Palming the Walther, Heero brought the automatic aside Septum's chin with sufficient force to knock him off-balance. A downward chop glanced over Septum's hand successfully tearing the 357 from the madman's grip.
Septum tottered backwards then regained his composure. A high sidekick, targeted squarely for Heero's face, whistled through the air. Heero twisted his torso managing to dodge the brunt of the impact but Septum's boot raked down his arm and jolted his wrist. The Walther flew free and joined the Magnum somewhere among the ground's thick, tangled vegetation.
Both men withdrew a few steps to regroup. "I thought I had rid myself of you." Septum panted as he struggled to slow his irregular breathing.
"It appears your thoughts have misled you," Heero stated displaying a thin-lipped smile. Cobalt sparks flashed over his enlarged pupils, " but we will finish this tonight." he promised.
Like twin cobras each man slid into his fighting stance, tensed his muscles and prepared to deliver a lethal strike. Septum sprang into action. His fist grazed Heero's cheekbone opening a gash just below his right eye, however, the "bloodletting" resulted in an opposite consequence and was quite contrary to Septum's intent.
Heero's repayment in kind split Septum's lower lip and sent sharp pain racing from his jaw line to his brain in less than a heartbeat. Septum swore in German and attempted a second kick but, this time, Heero was ready.
Ducking under the flying foot, Agent 01 rolled his shoulder then popped up to deliver a fierce blow to Septum's stomach. Not allowing a moment's recovery, Heero followed through with an uppercut designed to tear the homicidal psychopath's head from his body.
Septum grunted then went down like a felled tree. He hit hard on his ass and sat stunned while blood oozed from one nostril and a renewed flow of starlet stained his chin.
*********
A pistol's keen report caused the investigative quartet to jump in unison. There was a single shot then apprehensive silence. Allowing the M16's barrel to precede his observant action, Wufei peered around a tall pine. "Careful." he whispered so low that Quatre, Trowa and Duo more read the Lone Dragon's lips than heard the words.
"We have to find Heero." Duo declared tensely.
Wufei nodded, "We need the helicopter, there's no time for a lengthy ground exploration."
*********
The moon peeked out painting pale bands over the brownish leaves littering the ground. Like a thousand diamonds, droplets of dew shimmered on the grass. The Magnum's polished plating also glistened in the renewed light.
Simultaneously Septum and Heero scrambled to reclaim the lost weapon. Septum's hand touched at the same instant that Heero made a diving grab. As Heero leaped forward Septum drilled his shoulder soundly into Heero's midsection.
The powerful thrust caught under 01's ribs and drove his head into a tree trunk. Rough bark tore at Heero's scalp, his diaphragm forcefully expelled its air and his lungs collapsed like a deflated balloon. Septum planted his feet and shoved again.
There was a barely auditable "pop" along Heero's ribs then a flash of pain and white light exploded through his entire body. Sharp, hot fingers stabbed at his side. This sudden disruption of nerve endings and the crushing pressure precluded any countermove on Heero's part, instead the injured agent felt himself steadily slipping away into the black void of unconsciousness.
Heero's inner voice screamed, ordering him to move, urgently demanding some response, some reaction. However Heero was rapidly losing the battle to reclaim any measure of alertness. Dizzying dots floated before his eyes. His feet entangled in the tree's exposed roots and further hindered his fight to remain upright. Involuntarily, Heero felt himself slowly sliding into a seated position. Bending at the waist aggravated the piercing pain. Tightness wrapped around his chest. Each endeavor to inhale produced raspy wheezes deep inside his lungs. Restricted breathing depleted the oxygen flow adding to his queasy lightheadedness. Cold sweat soaked his body and chilled him to the core.
Heero had no delusions concerning the severity of his injuries. The faintness, he knew, was graver than the drugged stupor he had experienced that night outside of the lodge. He knew that he could not "sleep off" the debilitating lethargy. A gradual recovery was questionable at best and neither Duo nor his fellow agents would be there to help.
A seizing cough rattled through Heero's chest but his pain-dazed senses were beyond any stimulated reactions. Gazing up through watery eyes, he saw Septum standing over him. The diabolical sneer that Heero remembered from the jungle was fixed in place. .
The Magnum's hollow end took deadly aim, ready to deliver a final, fatal shot. "You are correct Herr Yuy, everything will be finished tonight." That same sadistic smile that haunted Heero's dreams spread across Septum's bloody mouth.
Septum's declaration held a cryptic promise. The sneer disappeared and an expressionless mask, complete with viciously cold eyes, stared down at the vulnerable agent.
Septum truly believed that Heero Yuy was at his mercy, helpless to delay the Grim Reaper's claiming. Unlike a cat, 01 had only one life and, in spite of Septum's previous failure to take that life, the opportunity was now ripe for the Japanese agent's termination.
A laugh laced with malice rose from Septum's throat. "But this way would be too quick." Heero's executioner stated, nodding at the pistol. "You have my word," he continued the terrifying taunting. His free hand moved to his belt. "I will do the same fine carving job on you as I did on Marquis Welige." he proclaimed as a long bowie knife cleared its sheath.
Heero's hand was also moving. It clumsily slipped into his pocket, groping for his last hope of redemption. Septum shifted his weight and leaned forward. The moonlight sparkled over the knife's razor-sharp edge while the 357 held it deadly vigil.
A throbbing percussion shivered through the forest. Abruptly an erratic wind rose up trembling the trees and churning up dust and dead leaves. Septum's head jerked upward, his eyes squinted through the thrashing turbulence. Then as quickly as the uproar began it faded away leaving behind an unnatural calm.
Heero's basic survival instincts kicked in. His training roused him into action. The oblong case was extracted from his pocket. Thumbing the latch release, the steel shaft locked in place.
Heero flattened the narrow knife beside his leg to hide it from Septum's view. Bracing his elbows in the sandy soil he pushed to stand up. Trauma from the sudden movement restricted his mobility. With extreme effort 01 reined in his wobbly legs and, with the tree's support, managed to remain upright.
Renewed sweating made Heero's skin clammy and his blurred vision threatened to return. "Concentrate." his mind ordered. "Remember how Wufei taught you to move outside of yourself. Let go and focus."
As the trees stilled and the forest floor settled back to normal, Septum returned his malevolent attention to the Japanese agent. Judging by the German's insane smile, he was obviously pleased by what he believed was Heero's futile attempt to stop his impending death.
Yes, 01's pathetic posture made the prospect of his demise even more appealing. "Come on, Herr Yuy," Septum taunted, "Can't you mount a better defense than that? You will make it too easy to kill you." he concluded in a hallow tone.
Disdainfully Heero locked his eyes with Septum's demented sight and offered no reply to the deranged barbs. He was determined not to give Septum one moment's satisfaction. There would be no pleas for mercy, no show of trepidation. By his silence Agent 01 proudly displayed his utter defiance.
"You may be silent now but you soon will be begging for a quick end." Septum declared with such diabolical delight that the words made Heero's blood run cold.
Septum lunged. Heero tensed, his muscles ached and his ribs registered painful objections. He had only enough strength to parry one attack...a single counterstrike was all his injuries would allow.
A large black shadow slipped overhead. Again thunderous currents whipped the branches and something akin to a pulsing heartbeat vibrated the ground beneath Heero and Septum's feet.
Once more the murderous maniac's interest was hastily redirected towards the treetops and the mysterious shape that blotted out fire-torched sky. Septum reacted too late to Heero's unpredicted charge. He never saw the knife, only a streak of silver.
A centered upward thrust set the elongated blade deep into Septum's chest. Astonished eyes stared in perplexed disbelief at the realization that fate's retribution for his lifetime of heinous crimes had been delivered.
A peculiarly odd smile flickered over Septum's pale lips as though there was some amusing aspect to his life ending in such a retaliatory manner. "Sic transit gloria mundi" he muttered. (Thus passes the glory of the world.)
A raspy gurgle rose through Septum's throat, scarlet seeped from his mouth then a sightless glaze clouded over his death-dulled pupils. A strangulated cough ejected a gush of blood and Satan's bastard-child pitched forward.
The last of Heero's internal reserves gave out. Exhausted, he dropped to his knees and shivered in a pain-induced cold sweat. He raised his head and his shocked-altered mind mistakenly told him that Septum's tottering was a second attack.
Heero defensively covered his head and tumbled sideways moments before his seemingly immortal foe's lifeless body struck the ground with a nauseating crunch as if all of Septum's bones splintered at once. Septum eyes held a frozen glare as his vacant sight gazed hopelessly at the unforgiving heavens.
Septum's knife that had been his preferred tool in his sadistic fascination with torture and death was gripped in his constricted fingers. Heero's blade that was the instrument of Septum's punishment remained embedded in the madman's cruel heart.
*********
Heero had been physically drained before but, this time, the overextended demands on his body and mind had a good hold. Winded, he willingly gave into the debilitating heaviness in his arms and legs.
Dull aches ran from one temple to the other. A warm, moist sensation gathered at his crown. An investagative hand came back tainted with sticky scarlet. The harsh wheezing in his chest was more acute and it hurt to breathe. Despite Heero's best efforts to coax his overtaxed system to cooperate, rolling onto his back was all he could manage.
The clouds had evaporated and bright pinpoints of starlight dotted the sky. A cool breeze, laced with a hint of smoke, gently fluttered through the treetops and feathered the leaves. The soft gusts touched his head and helped to soothe the throbbing. The unidentified rumbling was gone as well as the shadow that, like a great bird of prey, had commanded the night. Now all that Heero was aware of was the wind's peaceful whispers and the occasional hoot of an owl.
Heero lay perfectly still. Carefully regulated breaths eased the catching spasms in his lungs and loosened the tightness in his chest. For that moment, anyway, he was content to do nothing but gradually unwind his body, mind and spirit.
To Heero left the leaves rustled and he immediately knew that their shaking was not caused by the wind. A sharp crack proceeded the parting of branches. His first thought was to reach for the Magnum that lay next to Septum's bloody body.
Pushing up on his elbows sent pain racing across his ribs and a sickening wave quickly followed. Now Heero's second thought was to hope that whoever or whatever was advancing through the trees was friendly.
Chang Wufei burst from the tree line waving the M16 in what Heero considered to be a dangerous fashion. Trowa Barton and Quatre Winner, also acting in a reckless manner, flanked the Long Dragon. Cautiously Duo emerged, keeping a measure of safety behind the wild man with the rifle and the charging lovers.
Skidding to an abrupt halt, Wufei surveyed the scene before him in shocked surprise. "Damn!" he exclaimed, then added with a cocky grin, "I can't leave you on your own for a minute."
"What in the hell happened here?" Trowa wondered as he stared down at Septum's prone body.
Heero wanted to respond with a reply worth remembering...some cleaver retort but all he could muster was a grimaced smile and a moan.
Duo's breath caught in a startled gasp at the awful sight displayed before him. Was his eyes telling the truth? Had Septum really been sent to his final reward and his madness vanquished forever?
Hesitantly Duo walked towards Septum afraid that, at any moment, he would rise up once more like an exhumed vampire. But his concern for the correctness of what he saw and felt and the fear it inspired was swept aside as his stunned sight met Agent 01's pain-glazed eyes.
Duo more dropped than knelt by Heero's side. "Are you...all....right?" his voice quivered. He was both upset and relieved at the same time.
"I am now." Heero answered in short gasps for air.
Quatre stepped up beside Septum, "You are determined, Heero, I'll give you credit for that." he stated then gingerly prodded Septum's contorted body with his boot.
Heero turned his head and took one last look at the man who, for so long, had been the central figure in his quest for revenge. Septum...who had been the driving force to put matters right and patch the hole in Heero Yuy's soul.
Not only had 01's choices been guided by his private promises and, even though his objective to protect the lives of innocent people had been momentarily misdirected, Heero had never lost sight of his redemptive goal.
Duo also looked at Septum. He also recalled Heero's intuitive insistence to return to the lodge. He had asked Heero if what he deemed so necessary was worth his life. Heero's answer now burned in Duo's memory. "Some things are worth dying for."
Recent events had taught Duo all too well the meaning of those words. Money and power had been the "things" that Dorothy and Carter had decided were worth dying for. For Robert Baines, the need to know the truth had taken his life. And Marquis Welige, who finally saw the error of his actions, paid the ultimate price for his transgressions.
Lastly, pure evil...an all-consuming blackness of the soul, had driven Septum headlong into the final moments of his wicked existence.
With a weary sigh Duo eased down beside Heero and gently touched the gash on his cheekbone and traced the bruised welts along his jaw. "Is it over?" he whispered.
"It's over." Heero proclaimed. He had kept his promise to himself and to Duo.
TBC...
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