Something's wrong, shut the light
Heavy thoughts tonight
And they aren't of snow white
Dreams of war, dreams of liars
Dreams of dragons fire
And of things that will bite
-Lyrics to 'Enter Sandman' performed by Metallica
Crimson Bonds Part 79
"I'm going to kill him," Lady Une gritted through her teeth. Her rage bubbling over, her fangs peeked out past her lips as she crushed the Christmas card from Australia that she had saved along with every card sent to the family from their fellow Senate representatives. "The son of a bitch even had the nerve to taunt us with this little gesture. The damn clue to our mole was right under our noses this whole time."
Treize was momentarily taken aback by his wife's uncharacteristic display of anger and swearing. Smirking in amusement, he closed the distance between them and rubbed her arms. "We have him, my dear. For now, that's enough until we decide how to go about this," he soothed. "Believe me, I am as irate over this betrayal as you are... but we have to tread carefully before he is properly handled."
Nodding, Zechs stated, "If Dobson gets wind that we're onto him and he warns Septum, he'll kill Anna and we may never see Duo or Solo again. And with the appeal proceeding over the registration laws due to begin in less than forty-eight hours, we'll have enough attention on our backs as it is. So, we must proceed as though we know nothing."
Were her body able, Noin's face would have been red with her own frustration as she snapped, "I know that's the right move, but what I wouldn't give to take care of Eric myself right now. That bastard's been in our home countless times, smiled and hugged us before and after every session in Congress, called us his friends..." Throwing her arms overhead, she shouted, "And he's been working against us all along!"
Her husband held his hands up as he frowned deeply, "We have to look past our own personal feelings for now and worry about our extended family first, love. We have the advantage now. Eric's not getting away with anything here. Now that we know he's the mole, you'll be able to focus your mindreading ability on him so that we stay two steps ahead until out friends are returned home safely."
Shoulders sagging with a deep sigh, the short-haired Vampire relented, "You're right." Leaning against Zechs as he pulled her up against him, she snorted, "No wonder you're the Speaker for the Vampire Council. You can talk anything down." Merquise snickered by her ear.
Taking her cousin's words into consideration, Lady Une also settled her surge of emotions. With a frown, she asked her Chosen, "How should we go about this development when it comes to the appeal? If there is another round of pressure put on our allies to slant the vote against us, how do we go about stopping it?"
"As Zechs said, we act as we would have had we never found out about Dobson," Khushrenada answered. "Those who came to us about how they were blackmailed have assured us that they would cast their ballots as they, and only they, decide, without any outside influence. That is how it always has been and always should be. I do not want there to be any doubt around the legitimacy of this vote... even if that means the law is upheld as it is."
His family nodded their heads in agreement to the sentiment.
The corner of his mouth curling up, Treize nodded firmly back with a quiet, "Good. Now, let's send out the sketches that Relena scanned in to us to every Preventer agent. Make sure they know that we are all on high alert to move as soon as we have the location of Septum Millers' lair."
Swallowing roughly, he concluded softly, "And keep praying that we get to Duo and Anna soon. These next few days and how we handle this are going to decide their fate."
* * * * * *
Damien materialized in the western stretch of the McDonnell Ranges. The rain had finally come to a stop and dusk was setting in, making a consistent blanket of dimness that had settled through the entire Outback.
Eyeing one of the many gorges between the series of tall mountain slopes, he studied the banks of wide lake and ancient trees for any sign of where his prey may have run off to. Sniffing at the scent of blood, he lowered himself into a crouch and shifted the dirt at his feet.
A few fine stones that turned over revealed dried, deep crimson droplets.
The corer of his mouth smirking, the self-titled Hunter of Hunters righted himself and scanned his surroundings once more when a stray bullet sailed just past his right temple, grazing it in the process.
A trail of his own blood floating on the wind behind him in a perfect line in droplets along with a couple of his dark hairs.
Gold-and-brown eyes narrowing, the Infected's fangs snapped into place as he ducked his head just to the right in the direction that the shot was fired past the thick cover of trees. A second bullet sailed through the air with a loud 'pop' and ripped along the short sleeve of his brown T-shirt, leaving behind a long cut in his muscular bicep.
His challenger was fast. Damien had to give him that credit. Millers certainly delivered when he promised to provide him his best match yet.
Following the general lines from the blasts, the Vampire fixated on one particular boab tree in the center of the group on the opposite bank of the lake between them. Through the winding branches and long leaves, he made out a tall boab that had been sheltered from the rain beneath an awning of stone high above from the slopes. Lying flat along one of its taller extensions was none other than his prey. Eyes narrowed at him, the Hunter raised a long laser rifle to take aim. [1]
At the same time the explosive round filled the air, Damien was darting forth over the water in a blur of himself in a headlong charge for his target. When he reached the thick stump of the tree, he smiled up with a glint of blood lust in his gold-ringed eyes that locked onto the mortal. "How unfortunate for you to have missed," he half-purred as his frightened meal scrambled to climb onto his feet.
Gripping handholds within the massive tree trunk, the Infected climbed rapidly up the plant while evading what rounds Broderick struggled to get out while he scaled up as high as he could. "You certainly have proven yourself a better opponent than your friends," the immortal grinned while lengthening his reaches to mount limb after limb. "They didn't last nearly as long as you. Not one of them was able to take me by surprise or leave so much as a bruise on me."
Dawson panted heavily as he came to the last branch strong enough to support his weight near the top of his shelter.
Resorting to just his hand pistol, he fired off three rapid shots. Damien easily switched his position to duck away from them before he was just beneath the Hunter with an exclaimed, "And now the game ends!" At that, he took hold of both the living's feet and the bough they stood on over his head.
"With any luck," Broderick smirked. Dropping down, he reached to his weapons belt and removed the long hunting knives at his hips. In one swift blow, he buried the sharp blades into the wrists of his attacker, plied through the bones and penetrated the branch to bind them fast against it.
Screaming in agony and shock, the Vampire subconsciously opened his hands. Freed from the tight grip, the Hunter leapt down to the next limb and used a thick line rope from his remaining supplies to tie his violently shaking opponent's feet tight to the branch. Howling with rage, Damien threw his suspended body back to slam against the living and knock him off balance.
His loud cry was cut short when his back crashed against the ground, Dawson heard and felt the crunch in his right shoulder. Moaning in pain from the apparent break, he crawled back to his feet while his good arm wrapped around so he could apply pressure to the damaged shoulder socket. Slowly lifting his head up to appraise his enraged attacker, he was not about to risk any more bullets or further injury by climbing after the beast.
Instead, he moved for his pack that he had hidden amongst the larger rocks at the base of the tree and removed a pack of matches. "No," the deep voice many yards above him murmured. A dark smile spreading across his face, the Hunter peered up to the enlarged pair of eyes watching him. Damien shrieked, "NO!"
Fumbling in opening the box, Broderick managed to free one with his less effective left hand and struck its head against the dry stump. At the brilliant ball of flame that ignited, he continued to stare up at his panicked enemy and tossed the match into a gaping hole in the base of the tree.
Between the especially hot season and the lack of water that reached the secluded, covered boab , the tree took like kindling. Using a half dozen more matches to help the fire grow and spread that much faster from every open spot, the living stepped back when the entire base of the tree was burning, he smirked back at the writhing Vampire.
Saluting with his good hand, Dawson called over the rising roar of the flames, "See you in Hell, pal. It's been fun." Not waiting to watch the flames reach his challenger, he sealed and gathered up his pack to sling it over his left shoulder. Keeping his back to the boab, he winced at the ache wracking his entire body from his fall and walked off as quickly as he could for higher ground.
"This isn't over!" Damien screamed, the fire stretching up to lick just below his trapped feet. Glaring dangerously at the departing mortal, he continued to try and rock his wrists free as he vowed in a shrill yell, "This isn't how this game ends! You'll see me again real soon!"
As he continued to walk off through the gully, Broderick muttered under his breath, "Yea, yea, yea."
* * * * * *
Heero stared at the sketches that were taped to the large whiteboard that he and his family had been using for their notes related to their mission. Focused on the image of Mark Barnett, his ire boiled over in thinking of how the Hunter had assaulted his sister. Though Emma was not aware of the details around the assault, she was perfectly keen on how stricken Anna was after the attack that Broderick had stopped.
It didn't take much for Yuy or Chang to figure out that he had attempted to rape her. Few things shook the Irish Infected the way that memories of Donnie and his lizard-like friend who had forced themselves upon her did.
Mentally adding Barnett's name to the men and women he planned on thanking personally for their actions against his loved ones, Heero turned towards the round table that his growing team was occupying. With everyone present, they went over every little detail and item that they knew when it came to the investigation... most recently concluded with the recanting of Wufei's vision.
Like Quatre, the rest of the lot immediately agreed that Duo was under incredible duress to have snapped the way he had. There was no fault put upon him for it, but only understanding and the decided pact to help him through his ordeal as soon as they had him safely back again.
But then, there was the other issue at hand surrounding the haunting prophecy.
"You never mentioned seeing Anna," the Japanese Original frowned deeply to his scaly brother.
Wufei took a deep breath and swallowed roughly as he shifted in his chair. "No," he murmured. Pausing to clear the thick lump in his throat, he lowered his gaze and stated softly, "She... was nowhere to be found." Relena and Quatre's bodies tensed, their eyes widened at the information while Trowa reached to squeeze his cousin's shoulder in reassurance.
his eyes blinking widely, Heero shook his head. "Why didn't you tell me?" he breathed. "Brother, you shouldn't have held onto that on your own all this time."
Raising his head with a sheepish smile as he met the gold-and-cobalt eyes watching him, Chang shrugged, "You had enough to cope with, with Duo and his condition. I know how dear Anna is to you, which is only made so much more so since she is carrying your babies." Raising a scaly finger, he added, "I know you've been silently guilting yourself for what she is going through ever since Septum discovered her pregnancy."
Yuy's mouth opened and closed for some counter argument, but he decided that there was no point in denying that. Swallowing roughly, he gave in and nodded shallowly when his emotions caused his throat to clench.
Leaning forward in his chair, Wufei propped his arms atop his legs and said quietly, "Heero... Anna loved being able to help you bring children into the world. In her mind, there were few greater honors than when you and Duo asked her to be your surrogate. No matter what she's enduring, I can say beyond any doubt that she wouldn't volunteer to face the same and tenfold for you. What's more, I'm eternally grateful for your little ones, their existences have preserved her own."
He sat back and folded his arms across his chest as he smirked, "So, there shouldn't be any regret or guilt on your part. And if I sense any bit of that, I won't hesitate to adjust those feelings with Fiona's empathic gift."
A surprised, soft burst of a laugh broke from Heero and a lopsided smile tugged his mouth. Rather than trust his words to express his gratitude, he walked towards the immortal warrior and held out his hand for a shake. Snorting, Wufei gently batted the offering away and got to his feet, pulling the Original into a tight embrace that they both needed. His eyes stinging with the threat of tears, his brother returned the gesture in kind.
Relena reached up to wipe a tear rolling down her cheek at the touching scene. Chuckling softly, Quatre wrapped an arm around her shoulders and held her against his side as he kissed her temple. A proud smile on his own face, Trowa ducked his head to conceal the surge of feelings that were rushing him.
Pulling back, Chang gripped Yuy's shoulders and vowed in a near whisper, "We're bringing them home. I can't go on thinking otherwise and neither can you. I never went into a battle or a mission assuming the worst and I'm not about to start now." With a deep, shaky breath, Heero nodded. "I didn't see Anna in that vision, but I didn't see anyone else for that matter," the Chinese Infected stated. "She, Duo and your babies will be fine."
"Yea," the Original sighed. Only this time when he agreed to such a sentiment, he actually believed it. Whatever it took, they were going to bring his husband, sister and children home safe and sound. There was no other possible outcome.
Relieved to see the change in him, Wufei released his shoulders and turned to the others at the table. "The only favor I ask is that my kids don't hear any of this when they wake up," he requested. "They think the world of the mother and I don't want them worrying more than they already are."
Barton replied with a firm, "Done. I'd like to keep this from Midi as well. She's already in a delicate state and fretting as it is. My hope is that she'll sleep through most of this or she'll have this whole place rearranged from top to bottom by the time we move on." His family and friends laughed quietly, but his request was accepted.
The sound of a bright chime filled the air, causing the lot to turn towards Relena as she fished out her cell phone from the pocket of her shorts. Reading over the text message, she announced, "Lady Une just received confirmations from every Preventer that they received the images of Carol's sketches. All are on standby."
"Well, that's some news," Quatre grinned. Eyeing his watch, he sighed, "I was hoping to stay behind to see Midi and the kids when they wake up in the morning, but we really should head back home to get ready for the big appeal." His wife nodded in agreement.
Heero asked, "What do you think our chances are of winning in a second vote?"
The Councilwoman frowned, "That much is anyone's guess. We have a lot of supporters, but a very good argument against what has already been made law will still have to be made. I have every faith that Treize will give it everything he has. It's the rest of the Council that I worry about. We've been surprised many times before."
* * * * * *
Meanwhile...
A new dawn had broken when Broderick opened his eyes. Through the mouth of his new cave, he could see hints of sunlight peering in between the lingering clouds from the previous night's storm.
He hadn't even noticed himself drifting off hours earlier when he had secured and bugged his temporary residence with alarms. The adrenaline high mixed with vigorous day and evening had apparently taken more of a toll on him than he realized.
Just the initial shift of his body when Dawson pushed his back off the wall that he was leaning against sent a shock wave of pain through his whole being. He felt everything from his aching head, crudely braced right shoulder, tender spine and all the way down to his feet.
Groaning, the Hunter pulled himself up with his good arm to get himself to his feet. With heavy steps, he shuffled over to the mouth of the cave to have a better look at the area around in the daylight to pick out what direction he would be heading next.
He had to keep moving. That was all there was to it. Keep moving until he found help.
When he reached the mouth of the cave, Broderick scanned the world several stories beneath him. For a breath, he took in the beautiful sights for the first time since he had been sent out to fend for himself.
The dark clouds were steadily rolling off to reveal clear skies while the peeking sun trickled its brilliance over the miles of sand and stone. Off in the distance, the wild animals that made the Outback their home went about their daily travels to add to the serene painting of a landscape.
Loathe as he was to have to leave the picturesque scene, the living knew that he had to get a move on while he still had daylight on his side.
But then, as he spun on his heels to collect his pack, Dawson froze as still as stone when something caught his eye. Slowly turning his head back to the wall beyond the cave, his heart stopped in his finding a piece of white thread that had been sliced in two. Its frayed ends drifted on the light breeze.
That thread belonged the last line of alarms that he had rigged to alert him of approaching danger. And it had been in tact, buried amidst the rocks when he last arranged it.
His lungs hanging onto the air that he had gulped, Broderick peered over the ledge where he stood. More thin, white chords floated on the wind by their severed ends. Five in total, each a few feet apart from the next.
All five that the Hunter had assembled. His only line of defense had been compromised.
Swallowing roughly, he closed his eyes. He had made the one grave mistake that no one in his craft should ever allow... he let his guard down.
"Fool me once..." a familiar, deep voice rumbled just above him from behind.
His head craning back, Dawson took in Damien's gruesome face and warped hands that took on the appearance of melted wax from his near death by burning.
And with one strong blow from the glaring Infected, Broderick fell into the open air.
* * * * * *
"I suppose we should be off," Relena told her husband. Pulling themselves up, she and Winner looked to Barton as the politician giggled, "That is if you wouldn't mind escorting us, of course."
Rounding the table, the Transporter snickered, "Of course not. You're no trouble at all, especially compared to what Aisley was when I delivered her to her to her cozy little cell."
An undignified expression falling on her, Peacecraft scoffed, "I should hope so! There should be no comparison at a-" Cutting herself off with a sharp gasp, her eyes grew and her hand flew out to grip Quatre's arm. "Broderick. He just came into my sight."
His own gold-and-onyx eyes growing, Wufei exclaimed, "Where?!" At that moment, he was able to pull open the same 'window' to her Seeing ability. With his scales paling a few shades in horror, he cried to his cousin, "Trowa, find Sally and get her here!"
Barton nodded, "On it!" He disappeared in a swirl of colorful light in the next blink of an eye.
Noting the urgency of the situation based off of his brother and friend's reactions, Heero was already on his cell phone, muttering into the receiver as it rang, "Comeoncomeon." At the pleasant 'Hello,' on the other line, he urged in a rush, "Crystal, Wufei and I have to go dark. Now!"
* * * * * *
"I have to give you credit," Damien smirked as he stalked towards his prone prey atop the long, stone ledge that he had fallen onto. Groaning, the bruised and bleeding Hunter shook as he tried to push himself up off his left side. Dazed from his abrupt slam against an unmovable floor, he shook his head to steady his vision.
Half-limping towards the mortal, the misshapen Vampire's fangs grew in. "You almost got me. The burns are going to take weeks to heal." Raising his arm, he revealed the sealed up, but ghastly gashes in his wrists. "This was a particularly nice touch." He sent a hard kick into his challenger's chest, knocking him onto his back with a pained cry.
The looming figure of an Infected balled his mutilated hands into fists, his fangs grew in with a hissed, "And now to end this."
* * * * * *
Crystal's voice called over the speaker of Heero's phone, "You guys are good to go!"
* * * * * *
Losing the fight to stay conscious, Dawson was kicking and dragging himself to the edge of the high cliff by sheer dying will until there was nowhere for him to go without falling to his demise.
Damien snarled as he descended upon the Hunter, his opened mouth lunging for the exposed neck when he was stopped mere inches from biting into its flesh. His whole body trembling, he gurgled and sputtered on his own blood.
Slowly lowering his head, he stared down at the green glow of a laser blade protruding through his chest when a pair of scaly hands appeared from behind to grip the sides of his face to twist his head from his neck.
Gaping up in disbelief, Broderick watched his would-be killer collapse lifelessly beside him. The edges of his vision turning to black, he caught one last clear sight of two beings standing over him, one holding up the brilliant curved blade of a long scythe and the other lowered a hood from his head.
Heero Yuy and Wufei Chang.
That was the last thought that the living was able to process before he drifted off into deep oblivion.
TBC...
[1] Boab Tree: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia_gregorii#mediaviewer/File:Boab_tree_in_February,_Kimberley_region,_Western_Australia.jpg
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