Reclamation Part 12
The soldiers prodded their captives like cattle hopefully not to the slaughter. Stripped of their weapons the Cluster rebels walked in two groups down the dim hall. Duo had recovered enough to move under his own power. Refusing to leave his partner he walked beside as Trowa carried Heero. They kept one guard's attention. Quatre and Wufei had been taken aside and under the watchful eye of the second OZ lackey walked a little behind the others.
If Heero had been able to take care of himself the trip down the hall would be happening, not by any upright means. The insurgents would have either overcome the guards and escaped or died in the attempt. In the latter case fearful soldiers would be delivering five lifeless bodies to Merquise and suffering under his violent wrath for depriving the phycho-Commander of the pleasure of torturing them before putting them out of the misery.
It was early morning but Wufei was certain that they would not be locked away until a more reasonable hour. No, the prodded prisoners were too valuable to wait; Merquise would want to see them now. Finally the "parade" halted in front of a door bearing with a simple sign that said Commander. The lead soldier knocked timidly at first then with more force.
No invitation to enter came from the other side. The sentries exchanged anxious glances as neither was sure what to do. "Try again." one instructed more afraid of Merquise's anger should he not be informed about the new captives.
Another, louder, knock. Faint noises could be heard beyond the closed portal. "What?" a voice demanded in an irritated tone.
"I have prisoners you need to see." the knocking soldier announced. He deliberately decided not to mention that the gathered group had been apprehended during a rescue attempt that almost succeeded. After all why risk a great amount of trouble and possible painful retributions.
"Come in." was grumbled in the same annoyed fashion.
The opened door revealed Commander Merquise dressed in silky gray lounging pants and a pale blue tee shirt that enhanced the rippling muscles across his chest. Soft cloth shoes had replaced his knee-high boots. His silver hair, tied back in a loose ponytail, shimmered in a single lamp's muted light.
Somehow without his OZ uniform Zechs Merquise didn't seem quite as dangerous but the Cluster rebels had learned that looks could be deceiving. Merquise was still unpredictable and extremely volatile. It would be a very deadly mistake to forget that his rabid psychosis could erupt at any time
A mixture of surprise and pleasure showed in the Commander's steely eyes as he studied the detained quintet. Then his hardened sight fell on the Japanese youth being protectively cradled in Trowa's arms. A thin-lipped smile graced Merquise's lips as he remembered his claiming.
"It appears he wasn't as tough as he acted." Merquise stated nodding at Heero's lax form. "Put him down." he ordered.
Trowa glanced at Wufei. Wufei nodded telling Trowa to follow the order. Gently he lowered Heero to the floor and slid his arms away. Before Heero settled completely on the patterned carpet Duo slipped underneath to let his partner's head rest in his lap. A low moan was the only response to the transfer.
"Still trying to protect the whore?" Merquise sneered tilting his head downward, "I hope you do a better job than you did before." he added to rub salt into Duo's wounded soul.
Duo poised his mouth readying a bitter reply. He intended to tell the bastard exactly what he thought of him and what he could do with his smart-ass comments but a stern glare from Wufei told Duo to keep his acidic insults to himself. The time for words had passed, now actions were the answer and the reply would not be long in coming.
"Cut the small talk." Wufei demanded letting Merquise know by his tone and attitude that he was the group's leader and the Commander would deal with him.
Merquise paused studying the Chinese man whose veins were obviously filled with piss and fire. "All right this is how it is going to be. You will give me information or you will regret not cooperating. Is that simply enough for you?"
Ebony orbs bore into Merquise with a resolve that would not be defeated. "You are a fool to believe that you hold any authority over me. I answer to no one especially the Alliance's lapdog." Wufei stated bluntly leaving no room for misinterpretation.
"I see the desire for punishment is not limited to the two beautiful boys." Merquise proclaimed casting a lecherous look at his forced lover and the braided boy who had failed to save him. "Maybe you need to be reminded of my authority." he stated stepping closer to Duo and Heero. "Private, your rifle." The soldier immediately handed over the weapon then replaced it with a pistol drawn from his belt holster.
Merquise leveled the rifle's slender barrel at Heero's chest. "This one is no longer good for anything so he will be eliminated first." he announced with malice as cold as the blood pumping through his hollow heart.
Without pause Duo laid over Heero using his body as a shield. "If you kill him you will have to shoot through me."
Beside Trowa, Quatre sucked in a quick breath. "No." he whispered as his empathy told him that Merquise had every intension of pulling the trigger. Wufei was clearly the leader and Merquise was only interesting in the highest-ranking officer. The other underlings were only a means of persuasion, pawns to be used as he saw fit. One dead rebel, or two, it made no difference as long as he got what he wanted.
Hatred boiled inside Wufei. A deep-seeded loathing that wanted to wrap around Merquise's throat and choke the lunacy from his lustful body and deranged mind one drop of life force at a time. But as much as he wanted to extinguish the Commander's fiery madness, Wufei knew that the dousing would have to be carefully put into motion. The unpredictable madman plus two equally armed soldiers would have to be handled with the greatest of care.
Merquise's finger tightened, the rifle quivered from the tension. Duo closed his eyes concentrating on Heero's heartbeat so he would not hear the crack of the deadly discharge. He whispered a prayer for his and his comrade's safe journey into the next realm. Just as reverently he expressed his gratitude that Heero's clouded mind was not aware of his impending death.
"Any last words for your traitorous collaborators?" Merquise asked his voice husky with murder. "Don't you at least want to beg?" he hissed putting all the sarcasm he could into the mocking question.
"You offered yourself before." he reminded Duo of his pervious attempt at sexual persuasion, "Your whoring won't save your friend but it might save you, that is if you are good enough to make it worth keeping you alive."
Duo would not be taunted by the insane Commander who had slipped beyond any rational reason. He would not beg, would not give the unbalanced bastard one moment of satisfaction. Duo had long ago resigned himself to death. He knew it was only a matter of time before he failed to outsmart the Soul Stealer. His regret was not for his demise but for Heero. Because of Heero's determination to save an undeserving street rat now his guardian would share Duo's fate. Duo squeezed his eyes tighter and braced for the end. "Heero please forgive me."
*********
A dozen plans and possibilities raced through Wufei's mind swirling into a sucking whirlpool. He knew if he didn't sort out the correct strategy, pull the right answer from the watery depths, the last saving solution would drown with him. The rifle was trained and Merquise showed no sign of changing his mind. In fact he seemed pleased with the prospect of sending the two "Betrayers of the Cause" to their eternal rest.
Wufei forced the mounting doubts aside and did what had served him well in the past...he followed his instincts. Swallowing hard to shore up his nerve Heero's brother found his voice. "Merquise." he called deliberately putting a demanding tone in his voice.
Merquise did not react, giving no indication that he heard his name. Wufei's heart skipped a beat. He had to make the OZ executioner listen before it was too late. Maybe a little insolence would get Merquise's attention. All it could do was make him mad and, hell, he was already over the edge so what was the worse that could happen? If Wufei didn't stop the planned slaughter he and his friends were dead anyway.
"COMMANDER!" he shouted displaying his own authority as leader of the Cluster. "You will listen!"
The barrel drooped but not enough to clear the targets. Merquise looked around locking his wild eyes on the brazen Cluster leader. "How dare you challenge me!" he growled angered by the Chinese man's audacity.
A single word bounced inside Wufei's head. *Challenge.* Merquise would like nothing better than a challenge. The Commander's cocky attitude was positive proof of his need to validate his great leadership and fighting skills. His frequent sexual references were yet another method used to brag about his manhood. If Wufei could get Merquise to go one on one, if in the process the fight distracted the guards perhaps he and his fellow rebels could turn the tide.
"You are either very brave or very stupid." Merquise declared as an angry cloud settled over his entire countenance, "No you are neither," he decided, "you are crazy."
Wufei locked his angry eyes with the Commander's anything but lucid sight. "Would you like to find out how crazy I am?"
"How do you mean to show me?"
"A challenge, man to man." Wufei replied loudly so everyone could hear, so the OZ soldiers and rebels alike would know that the Cluster leader had flung down the gauntlet. That a verbal symbol of defiance had been presented to the great Commander.
Now Wufei had him. Merquise could not deny the challenge, not one issued by a lowly Resistance rebel who could never be his equal. To save face in front of his soldiers meant he had to accept the dare. However no fight was worth the effort without the promise of a victorious reward.
"Very well." Merquise agreed narrowing his eyes until he viewed his challenger through thin slits. "But there should be a wager, something to make the fight more interesting."
"What do you propose?"
A full smile flowed over Merquise's face, "If you win I will let you and your comrades go free. If I win you will tell me anything I want to know. Do you agree?"
Wufei tiled his head as he considered the terms. "Why should I trust you?" There was no point in mincing words since he and the Commander were both pass the point of polite conversation.
"You have my oath as an Officer of OZ." Merquise answered truthfully. He might be crazy but he took his position with OZ seriously. It would go against his Officer's Honor to break his promise even if it did mean letting the rebels go.
Wufei cut his eyes at Trowa and Quatre then redirected them at Duo and Heero. His brother had begun to stir in Duo's arms. His eyes were open but Wufei was not sure that Heero's sight or his mind was focused enough for him to understand what was happening. Glancing back at Trowa the taller rebel nodded letting Wufei know that he had complete faith in his decision. Likewise Quatre let his azure sight convey his total trust.
"I agree."
"There is no room for proper combat here." Merquise indicated with a sweep of his hand, "Our arena shall be outside where natural laws, not man's rules, will keep the score." he proclaimed. "Private, take my opponent and his comrades to the clearing behind this building. As soon as I am properly attired I will join you then we will see how you measure as a man."
Wufei bowed from the waist in a show of respect. Merquise was his enemy but he was deserving of a soldier's honor. "I will be waiting."
As Trowa carried Heero and Duo kept his watch at their side, Quatre fell into step with Wufei. "Can you trust Merquise?" Quatre questioned.
"I am not sure but I have no other choice." Wufei replied putting all his focus into the last chance he had to save his brother and his friends.
TBC...
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