Reclamation Part 11
The first sentry went down like a felled tree. Wufei's perfectly executed sword hand chop sent his partner to sandy ground just as soundlessly.
Trowa dragged the limp bodies into a storage unit then joined his fellow infiltrators in the dimly lit alley.
Getting passed the first line of security had been simple. Even though Wufei and Trowa were equally skilled in many forms of swift and silent elimination, they weren't so foolish to believe the reminder of the team's journey would be made without challenge.
Trowa took the point holding his pistol snugly against his chest. Also armed with a similar weapon, Quatre kept the middle position.
Wufei served as rear guard. A larger caliber SR42 assault rifle was his choice of defense. And if pistol shots were deemed too loud to maintain the rebel's secretive trek, the katana hanging from his belt was more than adequate to finish the job.
The lateness of the hour aided the trespassers in their unobserved movements. As Trowa had discovered during his previous "visit" overall security, whether Alliance or OZ, was woefully lacking in any degree of diligence.
It was common knowledge most OZ soldiers didn't generate much brainpower. In fact it appeared that the dumber the better was the criteria as far as the bottom ranking troopers were concerned. Add boredom and a cocky attitude and it was easy to see why the Resistance, despite their meager resources, continued to gain ground in their fight for freedom.
Trowa flattened against the wall and cocked his head around the corner. Again the early morning hour seemed to be on their side as the rear entrance was undefended.
With a hand gesture he motioned for the rebels to advance. A lock pick bypassed the latch, the trio slipped into a narrow hallway.
Steel reinforced doors, each bearing a number, lined either side. Of course as luck would have it the trespassing trio had entered the detention area on the higher numbered end.
"Damn!" Trowa swore as he read 25 on the nearest door. "Cat stay close to me." he whispered then started forward in carefully measured steps.
Wufei glanced over his shoulder, readjusted his grip on the rifle and fell in behind Quatre. "Keep your guard up." he instructed as his ebony eyes darted from side to side. "It's too quiet for my taste."
Trowa turned slightly peering over Quatre's head. "I thought you preferred the quiet."
"I do but in this case a lack of noise could mean trouble. You know the tiger is always silent before it pounces."
Trowa shrugged then gave Quatre a quick wink. "Pouncing sounds nice, doesn't it?"
A rosy blush heated up Quatre's cheeks adding a hint of color to his usually pale face. "Trowa please." he whispered, keenly feeling the hot flush in the hall's cooler temperature.
Trowa couldn't pass up the opportunity to tease his lover. "You're a witness." he directed his statement to Wufei, "You heard him begging for it."
Before Quatre could register further protest Trowa planted a kiss on top of his blond head. "Have patience lover." he whispered into the silky tresses.
To an outside observer the playful exchange might seem strange considering the seriousness of the situation since each Cluster member knew all too well the gravity of their mission.
Trowa's teasing wasn't meant as frivolous foreplay but as an attempt to lessen Quatre's worry for Heero and Duo.
Wufei understood there was a method to Trowa's madness so he played along just for the hell of it. "Sounds like he's hot to trot."
Although the good-natured taunting did seem to temporarily ease the tension, nothing short of rescuing his brother and the stray, who had obviously captured Heero's heart, would alleviate Wufei's fretful fear.
The slamming of a door brought the teasing to an abrupt halt. Three black-clad intruders scurried around the corner.
Trowa and Wufei crouched on opposite sides of the intersection. Quatre ducked behind his taller lover and, despite his efforts to keep up his brave facade, he shuddered in the gloom.
Boots struck the tile floor; the footsteps resounded with a metered tapping that grew louder by the second.
"One man." Wufei mouthed the words across the opened space.
Trowa nodded then pointed to Wufei thus granting him the honor of handling the lone trooper.
Closer.
The footfalls now echoed over the walls.
Wufei eased the rifle onto the floor, reared up on his haunches and with cat-like grace steadied his balance. Muscles coiled like a spring. Energy was transferred to his legs and power to hands that were deadly weapons in their own right.
A few more feet.
Suggestive of the aforementioned tiger the Chinese Cluster leader prepare to pounce on his prey. "Come on you bastard." Wufei willed the lone sentry to move within striking range.
"Commander." a voice called from the furthest end of the hall.
The footsteps fell silent.
"What is it Captain Baker?" a husky voice asked. The baritone tenor was so near Wufei could almost feel the breathy words that carried the question.
"You have a call from Senator Dermail."
"I'm too busy to make polite conversation with that old man." the phantom voice declared, "Tell the Senator I'll contact him in the morning."
"But sir, he says it's important."
The resulting pause seemed to last forever. Wufei cut his eyes across the way and maintained his ready posture.
"All right tell him I'll pick up in my office."
Steps sounded again but this time they were moving away.
In unison the three rebels dared a peek at the retreating Commander. All that could be seen as the elusive figure melted into the shadows was a blue uniform and a mane of platinum hair swishing from side to side.
"Merquise." Wufei growled out the despicable name. "I swear on my heart we will meet face to face and then you WILL taste my sword."
The intruders into OZ's lair crept forward once more. Determination showed in their sure steps, resolve controlled their body language and the fire of revenge flashed in their eyes.
*********
Duo struggled to keep Heero sitting upright. He'd discovered that allowing him to lie on the floor, even using his lap as a pillow, caused Heero's breathing to deteriorate into raspy wheezing.
Duo debated if he should call a guard in hopes he could persuade the watcher to at least give them water and a blanket.
OZ's reputation for assault, especially the sexual kind, had already been proven and Duo was certain the abuse would not be limited to the Command Staff. "No," he murmured, "calling attention to either of them was not a good idea."
"Besides," Duo sighed as he tightened his embrace of his partner, "our suffering will all be over in the morning."
He knew it was only a matter of time before the Lightning Baron would return for his second dance and Duo would be ready for the brutal psychopath.
Heero was failing fast. He was chalky and clammy and each intake of air rattled in his chest. The bleeding had stopped but had it halted before too much of the life fluid had drained away?
If Heero didn't make it until morning Duo would have no reason to go on. He'd resigned himself to avenging his partner. It might be his last act but he would gladly perish if he could take that Son of Satin name Zechs Merquise with him.
When this ordeal was finally over, when Merquise had been sent to hell, then he and Heero could be together. Yes, death was a small price to pay if it meant holding Heero for eternity in heaven.
Heero moaned against Duo's shoulder. "Duo." The sound of his name was all but whispered on a sigh.
"I'm here." Duo answered tightening his hold. "Can you feel me holding you?" he asked wondering if his words or his touch were registering through the Cluster leader's fading senses.
Heero sucked in a labored breath then shuddered from the effort. "I have to go."
Duo swallowed to push his voice passed the emotional lump clogging his throat. "Where do you want to go?"
As soon as the question left his lips Duo realized how stupid it sounded, "We'll be home soon." he added hoping to ease the increasing anxiousness with a promise of an immediate departure.
Heero gazed up at the ceiling with an unforced stare. Duo placed a hand on his forehead to shield his eyes from the lone bulb's brightness. "Close your eyes." he urged knowing the glaring light was bad for the eyesight.
"Do you see?" came the odd question.
Duo followed Heero's glazed sight but saw nothing, only the locked door and bare walls. "What do you see?"
"Angels."
Now it was Duo who closed his eyes. "Oh merciful saints," he sighed as fear stabbed through his soul, "please don't take him away. Please if you must claim someone claim me." he begged as tears tracked down his dirty cheeks to fall silently on Heero's upturned face.
*********
"Number four. This is it." Trowa proclaimed leaning forward to make certain it was the correct door.
"Stand aside." Wufei ordered as he extracted a lock pick from his pocket. "Let's hope the bastards haven't changed their minds and separated them." he muttered working the pick in the keyhole.
When OZ invaded they'd taken over existing buildings as they had neither the time nor resources to construct their own. The Holding Area was merely a series of offices and the only modifications had been reinforcing the doors. But despite the strengthening, the locks had remained a weak link.
Once again the organization's haughty belief that they were untouchable had led them to another stupid mistake.
A click told Wufei the lock had been compromised. As the doorknob turned in his hand he held his breath. "If they are not inside..."
Quatre nodded at his fellow Cluster members. "They are there." he announced as an empathic tingle pulsed through his mind.
*********
"Do you see?" Heero repeated straining to get his feet beneath him. The cold sweat soaking his shirt caused a stronger shiver to course over his already quivering body.
"Heero you have to be still." Duo ordered using all the power he dared to hold his friend in place. "Shit," he swore under his breath, "where is all this sudden strength coming from?" he wondered even though he knew from past experiences that an adrenaline surge could boost willpower when the right persuasion was applied.
Heero continued to struggle. Mumbling something about "finding the light" he staunchly refused to listen or be still.
"See?" he kept repeating over and over again. Each time he wheezed out the question his eyes would temporally focus as if they were centering on something beyond Duo's field of vision.
Finally his false energy began to fail. Quivering, drenched in clammy moisture, he lost all ability to fight. Flopping in Duo's arms the young Cluster leader sprawled like a rag doll, arms and legs limp, head tiled at an odd angle.
Now every breath took more effort than Heero could muster. All Duo could do was support the failing partner and wait for the last hiss of air to flow over Heero's bluish lips.
"Heero please forgive me, please don't leave me." Duo pleaded.
Did the begging sound selfish? Was it fair to hold on when Heero was in such agony?
"Please," Duo implored lowering his head to align his tear-streaked face with Heero's vacant sight. "I've lost everything; I can't bear to lose you, too. I can't..."
The rest of Duo's words were cut off by the sound of hinges creaking.
Duo straightened, redirected his eyes to the opening door. "Merquise." He growled, feeling his entire body tense as the devil's name hissed over his lips.
Carefully propping Heero against the wall Duo slipped his arms free. Bracing on his hands and knees he leaned closer and placed a brushing kiss on Heero's cheek.
"For your sake," he whispered pushing back stringy bangs from Heero's forehead to reveal glassy eyes held captive by hallucinatory delirium. "This night that fucking demon will die."
Planting a hand on the wall to steady his standing up, Duo fought the faintness that the vertical rearranging produced. "It's better this way. Now I can win our freedom."
A deep breath supplied enough oxygen to shore up Duo's legs and allow him to take a step towards the door. Braced for the final battle, he glanced back at his partner. "I love you."
Light from the hall brightened the bare walls. A lone figure materialized from the blinding backwash.
Duo balled up his fist, cocked back his arm and let his best punch fly at the haloed silhouette. It was not merely physical strength that guided the punch but an avenging power borne from his promise of protection.
However the sudden forward movement had the opposite effect. Instead of landing a solid punch Duo's totally off-balanced strike sent him pitching towards the floor.
An arm sprang from the shadows snagging the falling form. Instinctively Duo struck out at his perceived assailant but his weakened blow only glanced off the intended target.
"HEY!" a startled voice exclaimed.
A blur of motion was all Duo could see as he succumbed to a sturdy case of vertigo.
Another voice joined the first. "It's all right."
The optical haze veiling Duo's eyes gave only a vague impression of the person who announced the reassuring proclamation.
Duo blinked twice before the full aspect of a face became clear. Wide eyes canopied by blond bangs held a soft gaze.
"Quatre?" Duo questioned his foggy sight's interpretation.
"Trowa?" came the next uncertain inquiry as emerald eyes confirmed that the tallest Cluster rebel was indeed responsible for saving Duo from a nasty collision with the concrete floor.
"How..." Duo began a heartbeat before everything went dark.
*********
Bathed in a broad band of light, Heero appeared to have shed his mortal coil.
Wufei's heart skipped a beat at the sight of his battered brother, face white and body slumped at an odd angle.
His feet made the short trip to Heero's side of their own accord. His knees didn't register their impact with the hard floor. Wufei didn't hesitate as he wrapped his arms around his younger sibling.
"Heero."
His heartsick calling seemed to fall on deaf ears.
"No." Wufei whispered upon finding no evidence that Heero even knew his was there. "Heero look at me?" he urged with increased volume, hoping to coax at least some reaction.
In Wufei arms his brother flinched as a sharp intake of air spurred his scattered senses from their clouded confusion. Glazed eyes wandered back from whatever held them spellbound then gradually his dull blue orbs settled on a familiar face.
Dry lips parted but garbled noises replaced the words.
"Don't try to talk." Wufei urged wiping beads of cold sweat from Heero's brow. "I'll get out." he promised with urgency.
Wufei slid one arm under Heero's shoulders and the other under his hips. Using his larger frame and muscular build he easily lifted his fallen brother. Fortunately, he failed to notice the dried blood that had stiffened Heero's trousers or all hell would've broken loose.
Struggling under Duo's lax weight, Quatre transferred the braided man to Trowa who lifted his frail cargo and fell in line behind Wufei.
Armed with the rifle, Quatre took the point. As worried as he was about Heero and Duo he knew he couldn't help them until everyone was back in the Cluster's sanctuary.
If they got caught or killed the worry wouldn't matter so the rebel's first priority was escape.
Finding the corridor vacant Quatre used the rifle barrel to motion for the others to follow then mentally reviewed their escape plan.
"End of the hall, turn left, three hundred yards to the outside door. Meet up with the squad waiting in the forest. Wufei and Heero, Trowa and Duo will ride with the Medic in the truck. I'll follow on the motorcycle."
Finally he made a promise of his own. "By Allah's protection we will be home before dawn."
Wufei shored up his hold on his brother whose face looked even paler in contrast to his black shirt. As much as he wanted to check on Heero, he and the others could not stop.
One hundred yards, the end was in sight. An outside door materialized from the dim light. "It won't be much longer." he promised counting on Heero's stubborn nature to keep him one step ahead of the Grim Reaper's icy embrace.
Quatre paused by the door listening for sounds from the other side. Closing his hand around the knob he dared to let out the breath that until that moment he didn't realize he was holding. The knob turned, the door moved back. A rush of damp night air wafted through the crack.
A snap froze everyone in place. The unmistakable sound of a weapon being cocked echoed over the walls. Immediately a second click confirmed that the weapon was not alone.
Slowly Quatre pivoted on his heels to find the dreaded noise's source. Two solders armed with high-powered rifles had taken sure aim at the retreating trespassers.
Trowa's weapon was in his belt and his hands occupied with Duo. Wufei was in the same quandary as Heero blocked both pistol and sword.
Quatre alone was in the position to defend his comrades however the already trained rifles had the advantage. His weapon's firepower was quite deadly but was Quatre's skill and reflexes fast enough to drop the soldiers without risking his brothers-in-arms lives.
A standoff!
Quatre drew in a breath and made the only decision he could---surrender.
TBC...
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