**Mention of NCS in this part
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me
-Lyrics to 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' performed by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole
Crimson Ties Part 97
Wufei moved for the round, high table at the center of the living room to have a seat where he typed at his opened laptop. Turning the light dimmer beside, Treize darkened the room so that the projection that was appearing on the wall across from the scaly Infected was displayed clearly.
Before the captivated audience, the glowing image of England and the small islands that branched off its shorelines was displayed. Once the image was perfectly clear, Heero rose from his recliner to step into the projection beam.
Raising his hand to circle it around the most northern stretches of the continent, the Original stated, "Duo is being held somewhere in these parts by the Orkney Islands, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the North Sea. I keep being led to the break offs of those masses, where the smaller and lesser known slivers are."
Tilly blinked widely as she took in the details. Staring at the map of her homeland, the lovely blonde rose to her feet and used her gift to walk through the tall table that stood between her and the image on the wall.
When she stopped opposite of Heero, she said softly, "I know of a few small, unnamed isles in that area that many tried and failed to make habitable. Most of those places are little more than rock and the materials that several had attempted te refine and produce dried up. And they're all far from any residences, several miles out te sea from the closest civilizations."
"All of 'em would be the perfect place te operate as Solo is without ever bein' disturbed," Perry noted aloud, a hand rubbing his chin as he looked on the projection. Turning to face his Companion friends, he stated, "That would certainly explain the visions some of ye had of looking out at te ocean, since there is little more than that te see at those locations."
Heero's eyes sparked with real life for the first time since his lover had been taken from him. This had the potential of being a huge breakthrough, if it meant that they would actually have where the Reformer had been taken.
Focusing back on the cluster of smaller islands on the map, the Original pointed to the smaller cluster of three that were the furthest east on the image. "Would any of these be where a refinery failed? There's definitely a building that I can clearly see Duo in as opposed to a cave. So there would have to be a very large facility that Solo's able to work with."
His jaw opening and closing before he could speak, Anthony's skin was notably more pale even in the dimly lit room. "Only one," he whispered, pointing at the largest and center island of the three.
"There's a rickety old oil rig and refinery where hundreds of engineers had worked before every effort to work the land there proved to be useless over time. Neither structure was torn down because the terrain would have made it both too challenging and dangerous to be attempted. They've been abandoned for decades."
Releasing a deep sigh, Yuy's arm fell to his side as replied, "That's where we're going, then."
Electricity shot through the whole room as the crowds standing and sitting around murmured excitedly at having their target. Several hugs and handshakes made their rounds between Infected and Hunters alike in anticipation and relief.
In the midst of those reactions, Lady Une's brown-and-gold eyes were fixed in determination as she turned to the three English Infected, asking, "Have any of you actually set foot there that you may be able to imagine the layout?"
From where he sat, Wufei's eyes lost their focus and grew with a soft gasp when the silent response entered his mind. Noin was on her feet at the same time that Perry nodded enthusiastically, "I have an old memory of the place... maybe a decade old, but I highly doubt that anything has changed much since then aside from a bit of aging to the facilities."
The mind reader smirked and gave her co-Commanders a firm bow in her head that she now had that image in her head from the moment their friend thought of it. More energy made its rounds through the audience.
Chang, however, was far more resigned... an almost nervous expression on his face and a fairness to his scales. Well aware of her husband's silent tell-tales of his emotions, Anna frowned deeply where she sat on the armrest of her brother's recliner.
This was not going to be easy. As fantastic as it was that they had Solo's location, it clearly was not going to be an easy spot to claim according to her lover's response to whatever it was he had seen. She swallowed past the thick lump of worry that filled her throat.
"I can draw up a sketch of the island in short order so that we can come up with a layout of how to best attack it," Lucrezia stated. "That way it will be easier for us to create a plan in storming the island."
No longer distraught now that there was a definite course of action to ending the war, Sharon beamed, "Then we'll be able to get to Duo and bring him home!"
Voices rose to express their own excitement over that sentiment. Quatre, Catherine and Trent exchanged wide smiles for their classmate's rescue. Doctor J and his fellow Hunters smirked and nodded to each other. The Companions and their Vampires embraced, the glow of their reassurance at having the braided hybrid that they had all come to have taken quite the shine to radiating from them.
It was... an incredibly moving scene for Heero to take in. And suddenly, the emotions that he had managed to hold back were catching up to him. Lowering his head, he cleared his throat and quickly stepped out of he room to try and pull himself back together.
Making his way to his back enclosed patio, the Vampire's cobalt-and-gold eyes began to shimmer before he set foot on the porch. With a shuddering breath, he stopped before the large windows to stare out at the meadow behind his estate and allowed the tears to fall freely. He was not there long before he sensed another presence walking up behind him.
Still staring through the window, he all but whispered, "I... never realized until now just how loved Duo is. The fact that everyone in there is more concerned about him than even stopping Solo..." When his voice cracked, he stopped and shook his head before be spun around and threw his arms around his sister and buried his head against her shoulder.
"We all absolutely adore Duo," Anna replied in kind through her own tears as she clung onto her brother just as tightly. Rubbing the nape of his neck, she just allowed the Original a chance to release the tensions that had been building in him without using her singing gift to alter whatever it was he needed to feel.
After a long silence between them, she took a deep breath and vowed by his ear, "We're going to bring him back, Heero. You still feel the bond between the two of you, so there is comfort in knowing that no harm is coming to him." The head against her shoulder nodded and the arms around her slight frame squeezed in appreciation.
There was another long silence as the siblings continued to hold each other before Yuy raised his head. Freeing a hand to wipe at his eyes, he rested their foreheads together and smiled sadly, "I love you so, little one. Thanks for being here for me."
Her head tilting, the redhead giggled, "Well, I was given specific instructions by my little brother to take care of you." The Japanese infected snickered. Charged or not, he had no doubt that she would have followed him regardless. Planting a quick kiss to the tip of her nose, he smirked as there was no more need for further words between them.
Midi appeared in the doorway, sighing at the sight of her cousins embracing. "I'm coming in," she murmured, a mist in her own eyes as she closed the distance between the chuckling pair to wrap her arms around them both. Trowa and Wufei entered the room, shared saddened glances and followed suit, making a family ring of an embrace with Heero at the center of it all.
Sighing, the Original rested his chin atop Anna's shoulder once more and closed his eyes to take in the security and support surrounding him.
Not normally one to be comfortable with such displays, this group hug from the members of his clan was not only welcomed, but most needed. Of course, there was the deep pain that there was one very key person missing from the moment. But considering all of the obstacles that he and this group of remarkable creatures had faced together, he had little doubt that they would overcome this dark time as well.
Duo would be back with them to complete their clan once again. Until then, there was an immense amount of consolation in having the love and assistance that would always be offered unconditionally from their family.
Once those arms finally began to fall away, Yuy righted himself and took in all of the faces around him. "Thank you," he breathed, a tiny but sincere smile on his face, "all of you." Warm grins replied along with shallow nods. It was only a natural thing for the lot to look after one another in such ways, giving everything that each of them could to any of the others in need.
Rolling his shoulders back, Heero righted himself and pecked his sister's lips before facing the rest of their family. "Alright," he smirked, sure and steady now that there was a clear course of action being taken in rescuing his lover. "Let's get back and see what we can do to get ready for the move in on Solo's hideout."
* * * * * *
The ten guards flanking Maxwell's cell came to attention at the arrival of three unexpected visitors. Blinking in surprise, the tall young man at the front and closest to the guests bowed his head respectfully, greeting, "Dorothy." The corner of his mouth curled up in a pleasant smirk as he addressed the youngsters at her sides, "Master TJ and Mistress Rachel."
Such were the endearments that all of the Others had for the children on account of both their unique abilities and Solo's fondness towards them.
"Hi," Teddy waved sweetly up at the officers, melting their hearts as he always would.
Raising his gaze back to the Seer, the lookout asked, "Can we help you?"
Dorothy smiled, "Actually, we are here on our Master's orders to interrogate the prisoner. privately. Solo is far too busy preparing for the ensuing battle to be bothered to ask a few questions and so he is setting us to the task for him." Hugging the beautiful Other's leg, Rachel nodded her head with that whimsical grin of hers when the guards peered back down at her.
A deep frown marred the man in charges' face. "That's odd because we're under very strict orders to not allow anyone close, let alone inside. I don't see how he would be comfortable with having the three of you alone with our prisoner," he commented almost hesitantly.
The reason for that nervousness was more than obvious. Everyone treated the Seer as though they were speaking to Solo himself, what with his clear favor of her over all of the Others. She was his most trusted and loyal being of all, nearly always by his side. To deny her anything one needed to tread very carefully.
Undeterred, Catalonia's lips curled further upward across her cheeks. "I understand," she replied. "I could always interrupt our Master to bring him here so that he may personally set the record straight. However, I was hoping to avoid that as he is not very likely to be very happy at being disturbed at the moment."
"You really don't want that," Rachel advised as she shook her head, voice filled with worry when the soldiers all looked down at her again. Everyone knew that the girl's word was as good as gold as she would always come out to inform whenever a lie was being told.
Swallowing roughly, the suddenly frantic guard met Dorothy's eyes and shook his head, "I'm sorry. I never meant to insult or question-"
At that, the Seer raised her hand to cut him off as she smiled politely, "No harm done, Ryan. You're just doing what you were ordered, the same as us. I understand your concern for our Master's wishes and I promise that there will be no mention of your initial delay."
Breathing a sigh of relief, the tall Other sagged where he stood. "Thank you," he replied quietly, bowing his head once again. Scanning his officers behind him, he commanded, "Make a way for them. Patty, have the door open as soon as they're ready to enter."
He looked back on Catalonia and told her, "We'll be right out here if the prisoner becomes at all hostile towards you."
"I have little doubt that will be needed, but that's very reassuring to know," Dorothy responded. Holding out either of her hands to her charges, she moved forward when their smaller palms slipped into hers. Leading the way down the corridor that was cleared out to them, she smiled to the soldiers stepping aside.
Within the cell, Duo heard the heavy beam that closed the door off grind in its removal. Pushing himself up from his crouch on the floor, he waited patiently to see who was coming to pay him a visit this time. Solo most likely. Meiran didn't seem likely to want to see him again any time soon after their little get-together.
But his violet-and-silver eyes grew with a sharp gasp at the unexpected faces that entered. Shoulders sagging heavily in his surprise as the door closed behind the Others stepped inside, the hybrid breathed, "Dorothy." Quickly gazing down on the little ones at her side, he whispered, "TJ. Rachel." Their mouths opening, the children blinked in their own shock at him.
A quiet laugh escaping him, Maxwell ran a hand through his bangs and sighed, "My God. We've all been worried sick over you, kids." The girl shivered and stared up at Catalonia, her tiny eyes still wide. Slowly lowering onto a knee, the Reformer asked the youngsters, "Are you two alright?"
Trying to hold onto her ire as to not be manipulated by her enemy, Dorothy straightened her back and demanded in a growl, "What right do you have to be worried about them when it was your precious Vampires that are responsible for what happened to them... to all of us, in the first place? How could you possibly understand any of their pain? You don't know the first thing about what we've all suffered."
"Well, I can relate to one thing that they've been through," Duo answered calmly, never taking his eyes off of the little ones that were now beginning to hide behind their guardian's legs. "I was an orphan, just like they were when they were attacked. So, I know a lot about feeling alone... unwanted... and just wanting a place and a family to belong to."
Rachel's eyes grew anew, blinking rapidly. TJ's head peered out more into the open, biting his lip. They exchanged glances between them before focusing back on the prisoner to silently urge him on while Dorothy held her breath in wait.
"My gift doesn't work on him," the girl frowned deeply, looking back up at her fellow Other. The boy shook his head to second the sentiment.
Her head lowering, Catalonia closed her eyes and muttered, "I had thought as much. But I had to try." Gripping their hands that remained in hers, she shot the captive a fierce glare and said, "I won't subject you to any more of this monster's lies. Forgive me for ever bringing you this close to such a disgrace of a creature."
Just as she was being ushered for the door, Rachel cried, "Wait! I believe him! He knew 'bout us bein' orphans! He wouldn't know that if they weren't looking for us!"
Practically wailing, TJ seconded, "Me, too! I believe 'im, too!" Dorothy swallowed roughly, reluctant to admit to even herself that she agreed with the children... that she also thought Duo was being truthful. With a deep breath, she stayed in her place and faced the braided Companion again.
Smiling sadly, the hybrid nodded to the smaller charges, "I might not be able to understand how scared you felt when you were attacked, but we do have some things in common. And I'm far from the only person who's been concerned about you ever since you disappeared. My family and friends have be praying and hoping for you." He chanced a glance up at the Seer, adding, "All of you."
"I still don't know how far I'm willing to fall for that," Catalonia huffed. "You're in pretty deep with the very monsters that took us away from our loved ones and our lives. There's nothing that you can tell me now that would make me think there's anything redeeming about any Infected in this world."
Duo chewed on the inside of his cheek before he tried boldly, "Then why are you even here? If you really feel that way, you wouldn't have come to see me with the kids if you didn't think that maybe there's more to what you think you know... more to what Solo's told you all of this time."
As if she had actually been slapped across the face Dorothy reeled back a step. Her wide eyes narrowed, but she had no immediate retort.
Because she couldn't deny that he made a very valid point. She had her doubts, her fears of what she had known up to that day. And she dared to tell herself that there was that tiny part of her that perhaps wanted to believe that there was good in Vampires. She had loved them at one time, after all.
Then, her anger returned and her face reddened with it. "I saw Trent," she hissed under her breath. "He was in your house talking with that... that Rosshe, who your so-called family helped save. So now, I'm going to have to fight my own brother when he gets here because he's taken to those Infected just like nearly every other human on the planet! He has no idea that it was a Vampire that took me away from him!"
Rising back to his feet, Maxwell cautiously weighed what to say next as to not set her into enough of a fit that she'd leave without hearing what he needed to tell her. "What did the Vampire who attacked you look like?" he questioned, his voice ever calm and friendly. Tilting his braided head, he shrugged, "You had to see their face at some point when you were attacked."
Completely taken aback by the inquiry, Dorothy shook her head in bewilderment. "They were," she began, only to stop herself when there was no clear image to be found right away. "I know that I had to have seen..." Once more, she cut herself off when there was nothing immediate to share.
Silver-and-clear blue eyes shimmering, she took a shaky breath and willed her memories back to that horrific experience that she wished to never return to. Try as she might, even at the most horrible images in her mind, there was not a single glimpse.
Trembling with her frustration and rage, she shouted desperately, "It all happened so fast! But there was nothing in this world other than a Vampire that could have assaulted me so quickly and brutally as that thing did! "
"Nothing else?" Duo repeated in the form of a question. "Have you ever seen first-hand what Solo's capable of? Did you ever witness how fast and strong he is? Never caught onto how vicious he can be when he's after something... or someone that he wants?" Gasping, Rachel and TJ wrapped their arms around their guardian's legs as they watched her with a light in their fear-ridden eyes.
Her skin paling, Dorothy demanded in a breath, "Don't you dare try to suggest-"
Not bothering to wait for her to finish, the Reformer pressed, "He sure got to you pretty quick to save you, didn't he?" There was no time for her to respond before he informed, "We saw the images of where the attack happened from the police report of your case that Trent fought to keep open. It was a pretty hidden spot... well out of earshot for anyone to hear you scream even at the top of your lungs."
Wincing, Duo continued, "I mean, what were the chances that without a Seer he just so happened to be around at that middle-of-nowhere stream that you always visited to have not only fended off a Vampire but to keep you from dying with what I'm just guessing was a promise to serve him in return?"
"I- I," Catalonia stammered, a thin line of sweat beading high on her brow. She could feel her slowed heartbeat pickup in her chest. How was it that her Master just happened to be as close to her as he had been? For all this time, she had been so grateful to still be alive when she so obviously would have died that she never really considered the situation more closely.
To the most treacherous line of discussion that he had to tread, the Companion asked softly, "You became his eyes after that. He knew the differences in the livings that he needed to be able to turn them and he told you how to find them, protect them because they were all in danger as you had been."
Swallowing roughly, he went on, "But you never actually watched how he handled those 'rescues,' did you? Because by then, you knew what he was doing. Otherwise, you would have demanded to know why he needed to take a handful of Others to help him when he was perfectly capable of handling Vampires on his own?"
Dorothy shook her head vehemently as tears ran down her face. "Please don't," she begged in a whimper. "It was for their benefit. Our Master had to hurt them for their own good. So much worse would have happened to them if they were off on their own... defenseless when the Infected knew what they could do... they would try to kill or claim those livings for themselves."
By then, Rachel and TJ had released her hands to hold onto each other as they cried silently. Very slowly, they moved away from the Seer and towards Maxwell.
So lost in her agonizing thoughts that she didn't notice until the Companion knelt back down to open his arms to them, the lovely Other sobbed at the terror they had in their eyes when they looked at her.
Violet-and-silver eyes shimmering for the little ones, Duo pulled them close and they melted against him while burying their heads in his shoulder.
"Please don't be mad at her for what she did, kiddos," he requested in a whisper when he bent his braided head towards them. "She was scared, just like you and all of the Others. Anyone in her shoes would have done the same, including you two." At that, the children sniffed and nodded against him.
Lightly turning his hands so that he could rub the back of their heads, Maxwell looked back up at the distraught Seer. "Every one of you is extremely unique from other livings," he commented. "...Only it's not just the fact that you can bring on special abilities when you're injected with a Reformer's blood. That rare quality comes from being tied to a Vampire... from being their Chosen."
Throwing her arms around her abdomen, Dorothy cried, "That can't be true! Don't tell me that we've all just been pawns this whole time!"
"I don't have to tell you anything more," Duo replied so quietly that his voice was almost lost. "You knew it the moment you first laid eyes on Rosshe, but you didn't want to believe it then. All this time since you acknowledged him, you haven't been able to stop thinking about him, have you?" The beautiful Other sank to the floor and pulled her legs against her chest, her whole body wracked with sobs.
"Oh... my... God," Catalonia managed between sharp breaths of air, reaching up with her shaking hands to press her finger tips against her temples. Her whole world as she knew it was crumbling before her.
What had she done? What in the world had she allowed to happen by being Solo's willing puppet? So many lives... so many innocents had been destroyed all because of her role in her bastard creator's game.
She wanted to disappear. She wanted to fly away from all of this agony and grief. She prayed and wish for everything to have been nothing more than a bad dream that she would wake from.
And the Companion's heart broke for her, knowing fully well what she was going through since he had been there many times over the last few months. Releasing the little ones, he crawled over to Dorothy and enfolded her in his arms. Instead of fighting him off, the Seer leaned heavily against him.
Clearing away the lump in his throat, Maxwell allowed his own tears to fall as he spoke gently by her ear, "Rosshe is an amazing guy. He's absolutely crazy about you and he hadn't even met you yet. He and Trent are already brothers and they're both doing everything that they can to bring you back home."
"Us, too?" TJ sniffled as he and Rachel clung to each other once again. "W-we'll have a home, too?"
Duo peered over his shoulder to smile, "Of course." Opening an arm, he waved them close and they all wrapped themselves in a group embrace.
A much more pleasant thought coming to him, the Companion smirked to the little ones, "Actually, I can think of a few potential adoptive parents that would love to take you in. You'd be able to live with them until you're of age to become Companions like me." Instantly, the dampness in the youngsters' faces faded away and brilliant grins spread across their faces.
For Dorothy, however, she continued to stare ahead at nothing as her eyes continued to spill over. Hugging her legs back to her chest, she shook her head, "What do I do now? How do I even look that... monster in the face?" She whimpered, "How can I ever make up for the things I've done?"
Cupping her face in his hands, Duo dried her cheeks with the pad of his thumbs. "First off, there's nothing for you to make up for, Second, we take things one step of a time," he said. "We can't risk him becoming any more of a threat than he already is, so it's business as usual until the reinforcements get here." Leaning in close, he declared slowly, "But you're not in this alone. I'm not going to let anything happen to any of you if I can help it."
There was no question that was the truth. Dorothy didn't need Rachel's gift to know that. Nodding, she went in for another tight embrace.
'One step at a time,' she thought in agreement to herself. 'Together.'
And God help Solo when the hammer came down.
TBC...
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