Author's Note: I'm going to say this at the beginning of the next few chapters, and then not repeat it again, okay? Just for the record, I DON'T do death fics. Please keep that in mind. Also, the House of Horrors was wonderfully tweaked by Kaeru Shisho, a woman with a wild imagination and awesome ideas!
Witness Protection Part 50
...and Hitmen
With Duo safely hidden behind the ticket booth, and my own body partially shielded by the gate, I watched the vehicle turn towards us and gradually decelerate. It pulled up about a hundred feet away, crosswise in the drive, and I tensed, prepared to jump for better cover at the first sign of weapons.
Then, the passenger door opened and a man got out--a man I didn't recognize.
I had the rifle trained on his heart in an instant. "Identify yourself!" I barked out sharply, edging further behind my cover, such as it was.
"Captain Po sent us!" he replied, holding his arms up in the universal gesture of surrender. "We're here to pick up Maxwell."
"Who the hell are you?"
"Agent Sims--FBI. Your Captain felt we could protect you better than her people could."
"Wrong answer!" I called out. "I was very specific about who she should send." I cocked the rifle loudly and deliberately. "Keep your hands where I can see them and have the driver and anyone else in there throw out their weapons and come out. I start shooting on the count of three!"
He shook his head. "Don't be hasty. We've got someone here who'd like to see you."
The back door opened, and another man got out, dragging a kicking, flailing body after him. It took me only a split second to recognize the auburn hair and slim figure, as Catherine struggled against the ropes binding her arms behind her, making noises of protest into the duct tape across her mouth, her face livid with anger.
"Fuck!" I blurted in horror.
"Jesus!"
I heard Duo's dismayed cry, and held out one arm to keep him back as he tried to dash past me. "Don't!" I cautioned. "Duo--you can't!"
He hesitated, straining against me. "Cathy--"
"Going out there won't help her," I said in a low voice. "Wait."
I glanced up at Chang without turning my head, noting with relief that he, at least, had stayed in position, though his face was startlingly pale. He didn't move, or give away his presence, but remained frozen, his gun trained on the men outside of the limo.
"What do you fuckers want?" Duo demanded, glaring over my shoulder at Agent Sims and the man desperately trying to control the struggling girl.
"Why--you, of course." Sims wore a perfectly unctuous smirk. "Duo Maxwell, I presume?"
"Let her go!" Duo cried, his voice laced with frustration. "She's not part of this."
"Jesus, Duo, let me handle this!" I hissed in an undertone.
"God--Cathy--" he groaned, stepping back so he was no longer braced against me. "Heero--we can't let them hurt her."
"We won't." I fixed a deadly glare on Agent Sims. "You know I can't hand Maxwell over."
"Ah--you'd better rethink that answer," cautioned the smug man. "Or this little lady could end up very, very dead."
"So will Maxwell, if I let you take him."
Another man had stepped out of the car, making the count at least three besides the driver--and I was willing to bet there was probably a fourth and maybe a fifth inside, with guns at the ready.
"I give you my word, we won't harm Maxwell," Agent Sims assured me.
"Your word doesn't mean shit! Your boss wants him silenced permanently. I doubt you'll even let him get as far as the limo before you put a bullet in his brain."
"Not true!" asserted the agent.
"You've already tried twice," I reminded him. "With all the bullets flying in those attacks, there's no way in Hell you expected to take him alive. Why should I believe you will now?"
"Plans have changed," came the smooth response. "Our boss wants to talk to him--about some missing property."
I spared a fleeting glance over my shoulder at Duo, who shook his head in bewilderment.
"Nice try," I told the FBI agents.
"I'm telling you--our boss just wants to talk to the whore. In fact, he promised all sorts of retribution if we don't bring him in alive. He's got something the boss wants."
"Duo?" I whispered.
"I have no idea what they're talking about," he hissed back. "I never took anything from Khushrenada. Unless he's looking for a piece of ass, I can't think of anything I have that he might be remotely interested in."
I did a brief double-take, catching a hint of something in Duo's voice. "Khushrenada's gay?"
"That or bi, maybe," Duo shrugged. "I just know Zechs went out of his way to keep me from meeting him--acted like he was jealous."
"Is it possible Merquise had something of Khushrenada's?"
"Jesus, Yuy--I don't know!" Duo blurted in frustration. "Zechs never gave me anything worth Khushrenada's attention."
"Time's running out!" Agent Sims called, gesturing to the man holding Catherine.
With a nasty leer, the fellow jerked the girl's arms up a bit harder, making her squeal in a combination of outrage and pain. She kicked at his ankles, causing him to stumble back a step, and he smacked the side of her head with a meaty hand, before pressing a gun to her temple.
"Stop it!" Duo cried, trying once again to push past me. "Take your fuckin' hands off her!"
I prayed he wouldn't yell for Chang to shoot the fucker, revealing my partner's position, though I have to admit to fighting the impulse myself. I had no doubt Wufei's sights were centered on the bastard's forehead, and that he could take him out without harming Catherine. But that left three or four other men who could finish the job before we got them all.
"Come out here, Maxwell, and we'll let the girl go."
"'Ro--"
"You know they're lying!" I snapped at him.
"I don't care!" he shot back. "I can't stand here and let them hurt her!"
Goddamnit! I couldn't see a way around this. If we didn't give Duo up, Catherine would die.
But if we did--Duo would die.
And while I valued his life above even my own, I knew he wouldn't accept the sacrifice of Catherine's.
"I have conditions!" I called out to the men at the car--stalling desperately. "First, you throw down your guns."
He opened his mouth, and I sharply cut him off. "Don't treat me like a fucking idiot! I know every one of you is armed. I want your weapons thrown out of reach, and all of you out of that car!"
"Will that convince you we want Maxwell alive--if we put ourselves in harm's way?"
"No--but it's a show of good faith." More importantly, it would give me a head start on killing them all, which was the foremost plan in my mind. I estimated I could take out at least one--or maybe two--before they got their guns back and took a shot at Duo. Not that they wouldn't have concealed weapons; in fact, I was certain they would. But they'd be harder to get at, and buy me a precious moment or two.
He nodded condescendingly. "Do go on."
"Next, you release Catherine. I want her walking this way before Duo will even start to come out."
"Is that it?"
"No--I want you to take me along with Duo--so I can see for myself he's not harmed."
"Sure--you've got a deal." Sims promptly pulled a gun from a shoulder holster concealed under his jacket and made a big show of tossing it several feet away. Then he gestured for his men to do the same.
"No!" Duo snarled, jerking away from me. "Damn it, Heero--no! You are not going out there with me!"
"I'm not going to just hand you over." I was watching the other FBI agents follow Sims' lead, tempted to curse when I realized there were not five, but six men, including the driver.
"You don't have a choice. It's my choice. My life." Duo half-raised a hand as if to touch my cheek, before realizing a gesture like that would reveal our relationship to our enemies. "How will you rescue me if you're their prisoner too?" he said in a lower voice.
"If I walk out there with you, I'll be close enough for a clean shot when they go for their guns. You know they've got them concealed; do you think there's a chance in Hell they won't kill you the instant they have you?"
"I'm hoping they'll hesitate just long enough."
"Long enough for what?"
He smiled slyly, patting a pocket. "Magic, Yuy. Magic."
I felt my eyes widen in a startled gape. "I thought you stuffed protein bars in your pockets!"
"At a time like this?" he teased. "Give me a little credit, love. If it doesn't shoot, cut, or blow up--it's of no use to me right now." His grin had that street punk edge to it once again, as if he were looking forward to wreaking a little havoc.
"God, I fuckin' love you," I breathed, feeling a rush of hope. Between getting them to partially disarm themselves, and having Duo provide a distraction, we might actually pull this off.
"Hurry it up!" yelled Sims impatiently.
"Keep yer shorts on!" Duo snarled back at him, glaring hotly. "You'll get what you want--when I'm damned good and ready. Yuy's not coming with me. I'll come alone. But I want your word that no one will get hurt! You'll let the others go."
"No one will get hurt," Sims called out dutifully, rolling his eyes as if fed up with Duo's doubts. "We just want you. Come along peacefully, and there's no reason for any violence."
"It's a deal then," Duo replied. He let his gaze roam my face as if memorizing every detail. "When I get over there, I'm going to try my disappearing trick. You be ready?"
"I will. Chang, too." I stole a glance at my partner, reaching to scratch the back of my head in order to flash a quick hand signal. Be ready.
I saw a quick nod of his head in response, and gave Duo a tight smile. "You know Sims was lying, right? You watch those guys--and when they go for a weapon, you move. Understood?"
"Completely. Don't you worry about my survival skills, lover. Just be ready to cover my escape, hm?"
"I am."
Duo drew himself up straight, tossing his braid over his shoulder in a contemptuous gesture. "Hey, fuckheads--I'm gonna come over there as soon as I see Cathy free and on her way here!"
We watched as they released Catherine's hands, and she landed a solid punch to the gut of the man trying to hold onto her.
I could see what Chang liked about that woman.
She was shoved bodily away from them, and yanked the duct tape off her own mouth, glaring back at the thugs who'd manhandled her. But then she began a steady, even walk towards Duo.
He flashed me a wink and a grin that didn't hide the stark terror in his eyes, and sauntered in her direction, making sure he didn't block my line of fire to the car and its occupants.
Personally, I was aiming for Sims, as he pissed me off the most. I hoped Chang had his sights on the bastard who hit Cathy, 'cause sure as shit, that man was going to die.
In spite of the fear I'd seen in his eyes, Duo put on an impressive show of bravado, walking with a slow swagger that made him look like a panther on the prowl. I could tell he was measuring his stride and the distance to the limousine, hoping to meet Catherine at less than the halfway point.
"Pick up the pace, Maxwell!" Sims called with a scowl. "It's a fair trade--so don't even think of doubling back!"
"I'm not," Duo snarled in reply. "I'm thinking of how much I'd like to kick your ass!"
Oh yes. His defiance was firmly in place, and I could tell by the tension in his stride and the way his glance flicked to his surroundings, that he was preparing to execute whatever crazy plan he'd cooked up.
I couldn't help thinking how great he'd have been as part of a SWAT team--his spontaneity made him incredible under pressure. Scary as Hell--but incredible.
When Catherine met him in the middle of the parking lot, she threw her arms around him in a crushing hug, almost completely concealing the motion as he slipped something into her pocket. He leaned in as if to kiss her cheek--but I saw his lips move in brief, whispered instructions.
Then the girl released him, running a caressing hand down his arm, and smiling fiercely when she felt the concealed knife. She gave a quick nod, and turned to resume walking towards me, her pace picking up just slightly.
Duo, meanwhile, kept walking towards the limousine with the same leisurely stride as before, his arms loose at his sides, hands curled casually around something I couldn't quite make out at that distance.
Sims didn't wait for Duo to reach him, but stepped out and grabbed his wrist, yanking him towards the car, even as Catherine darted the last few feet towards me. "Get him in the back!" he snapped to his thugs. "And kill the cops and the girl."
"Lying shit!" Duo spat furiously.
There was a flash of silver, and I saw him bury his switchblade up under Sims' ribcage, before diving into the back seat of the car.
Sims doubled over, sinking to his knees, and his men groped for their guns, as Chang opened fire, and Catherine pulled something from her pocket, flinging it to the ground hard. There was an impressive "pow" sound and a large cloud of smoke rose to obscure my view of the limo as the girl sprinted to my side.
I had just enough time to pull her behind cover before bullets began flying in earnest, and I pointed her in Chang's direction. "Get up there in the bleachers with Wufei! Stay close to him, no matter what," I told her. "I'm going after Duo!"
I didn't wait to see if she followed my instructions, trusting that the gutsy girl would do so without hesitation, but turned my attention back to the limo and the dissipating cloud of smoke. The men were taking cover behind the doors and returning Chang's fire with rifles they'd probably had stashed inside, though I was pleased to note Sims hadn't moved from his sprawled position on the ground. Nor was the guy who'd hit Catherine showing any signs of life, as he too was slumped on the gravel, courtesy of Wufei's fine marksmanship.
The car was shrouded in smoke, and I realized that during the confusion, Duo had used his own magic smoke bomb. But where the hell was he?
Then I heard a sharp whistle, and darted a look to the left, just in time to see him vault the stockade fence. Apparently he'd used the distraction to elude his captors and dash to freedom, and cover.
I slammed the gate closed, taking a moment to wedge the lock back into place, and then tore off at a dead run to find the spot where Duo had re-entered the park. I wanted him at my side again, where I could safeguard his life in person. Not that he hadn't done a fine job on his own--but I was getting tired of such close calls.
He careened around the corner, nearly colliding with me in his haste. "Shit, Yuy! You okay?" He ran his hands and his eyes over me at the same time, checking for injuries.
"Intact. You?"
"Yeah. How 'bout the others?"
"I sent Catherine to Wufei--he'll keep her safe. Meanwhile, you and I need to seek cover." I grabbed his wrist, stole a quick kiss to reassure myself those lips were still alive and warm, and then sprinted towards the places we'd explored earlier, ready for a cat and mouse game with our enemies. "We need a distraction. The bastards will be calling for reinforcements--" I began, stopping at the unmistakable sound of an explosion outside the gate. "What was that?"
"A distraction?" Duo smirked, giving me a devilish wink.
"You made a fucking bomb?" I demanded.
"Hey--Cathy had all the raw ingredients! And I wasn't sure smoke and mirrors would be enough, considering where we were going. I was actually thinking of the moose when I made the first one--"
I pulled him into my arms and kissed him hard. "You're fuckin' amazing, Maxwell!"
I wanted to tell him how much I loved him again, but I'd already said that when he'd told me about the smoke bombs. I didn't want him to get tired of hearing it.
Besides, we had much more to worry about. Depending on how many of our enemies had died in the blast, if any, we still had several shooters to dodge, and the added challenge of finding a vehicle in which to flee.
I heard a yell from outside the fence, meaning at least a couple of the rogue FBI agents had been far enough from the limo to survive the explosion. Then the sound of gunfire against metal alerted me to their attempt to get through the gate; I had no doubt they'd be successful.
Grabbing Duo's wrist again, I set off at a run, intent on evading the pending pursuit, and finding a good hiding place where we could make plans for our next move.
If Chang did as we'd discussed, he'd be heading for the control room, planning on using the in-house surveillance to help us keep track of our pursuers.
"Where we goin'?" Duo gasped out as we sprinted between closed-up booths.
"I'm taking you into hiding until Chang's in position."
"Position where?"
"Control booth." I tugged Duo into a narrow space between two boarded-up exhibits, pulling my gun and listening for pursuit over the sound of my pounding heart and Duo's quiet panting.
The slap of running steps echoed on the damp pavement, and then paused at the corner we'd just turned.
"Which way?" came a sharp, irritable voice.
"How the fuck should I know, Dewey? This place is like a maze."
"They can't have gotten far--Maxwell jumped the fence over by the roller coaster, and the cops and girl were near the gate."
"Maybe they split up--like we did."
"Yeah, but sure as shit one of the cops is with Maxwell. Would've taken them a minute to find each other. They've gotta be close."
Oh, God--if he only knew how close...
I heard the scratch and static sound of a walkie-talkie, and bit my tongue to keep from cursing aloud at how prepared our enemies were.
"Dewey here. We lost 'em somewhere around the gaming booths and concessions. Any luck with the girl?"
"Negative--bitch threw a fuckin' knife at Levine, and she and the Chink cop gave us the slip."
"Keep looking. Marsden and his crew will be here soon."
Fuck! They had reinforcements on the way already.
"Good. This was supposed to be an easy pickup--a coupla fat-assed detectives babysittin' the whore."
"Idiot. They already got away twice. If you believed K's bullshit about an easy job, you're a freakin' moron!"
"Fuck you, too! Jackson out."
"Dumbshit couldn't find his ass with both hands," muttered the voice I knew as Dewey's. "C'mon, Baker--it's up to you an' me. We find Maxwell an' we can retire on the money K's willing to pay."
"And tell Jackson to go to Hell, too."
"You take the left and I'll take the right."
I pressed back into the narrow space, feeling Duo's warm presence behind me, and his breath against my neck, even as I heard footsteps padding quietly closer.
Not good. If I shot the approaching man, his partner would be all over us. But if I let him get any closer, he was almost certain to see us.
I felt a tug on my sleeve, and Duo proffered a gleaming blade, eyebrows raised speculatively. I shook my head in reply. I wasn't nearly good enough with knives to make a clean kill at that distance.
Instead I pressed the knife back into his hand. "Think you can hit him from here?"
He frowned, and then nodded, and I switched our positions, allowing Duo in front of me, even though my instincts screamed with the desire to keep him sheltered by my body.
Seconds later, a man drew even with our hiding place, and Duo deliberately gave a quiet cough, making him turn sharply towards us.
"Fuck!" he spat, starting to raise his gun just as Duo threw a knife, taking him squarely in the throat. He dropped to the ground, clutching his neck and making a strangled gurgling sound before going still.
His partner apparently was out of sight, since there was no shout of alarm, or the pattering rush of feet.
Duo quickly peeked around the corner of the building and ducked back, giving me a quick nod. "No sign of his buddy," he whispered, drawing a slightly shaking hand across his face.
"You okay?"
"I--never killed anybody before," he admitted. "An' now I've done it twice in, like, ten minutes."
Why had that never occurred to me?
I tugged him close, though there was little time to spare. "Try not to think about it now, love. We've got a long way to go to get out of here."
"I know," he said shakily. "I'm okay. Just--I'm fine."
He pulled himself back together admirably, and we slipped from our hiding place, jogging away from the dead man, towards the end of the alleyway.
But before we got there, we heard the sound of machinery starting up and carousel music blaring from a distant speaker.
"Phase one complete," came Chang's voice over the loudspeakers located on poles at the end of each street.
"What's that mean?" Duo asked.
"He's powered up all the rides, including the remote tram that runs down the middle of the streets inside the park. It will provide cover noise for whatever move we make next--or possibly provide us actual cover as we change positions."
"If there's a phase one--"
"Phase two will be in five minutes," I explained. "At least, it will if Chang can hold his position long enough. He'll try to alert us to our enemies' whereabouts, and at the same time he'll start the roller coaster and other rides one by one. It will keep our pursuers busy jumping at shadows."
"And what will we be doing?"
"Evading them. Eventually, stalking them," I said with a feral growl. "Chang will be doing the same by phase three. I want every last one of them out of action before we leave here--and if possible, a prisoner or two to interrogate."
Duo cracked his knuckles and grinned wickedly. "I'm up for a little bad cop, worse cop."
We reached the end of the row and paused; to the right was the Tunnel of Love, and to the left the House of Horrors. Both were dark places we could hide from pursuit and hope for a chance to get them before they got us.
"Which way?" I asked quietly.
Duo studied both options, and I could see the quick calculations going on behind the big, indigo eyes. With the consummate instincts of a true street rat, he was assessing our chances at escape and evasion in either direction.
Then a shout of "There they are!" from behind us hastened his decision.
"Horrors," he said shortly, tugging me in that direction and breaking into a run. "There'll be wax dummies. The dudes behind us might be fooled into taking potshots at them and betraying their position."
"They might at that," I agreed, following readily. "Or we could pose as wax dummies and get off a few shots of our own."
He grinned briefly, a flash of white teeth, as we dashed inside the building labeled as "The most horrifying, thrill-a-minute experience of a lifetime." Then we were groping our way down a pitch black hallway, following glowing lettering along the walls that directed us to our "doom." When I grabbed a belt loop to keep within arm's reach of my lover, I heard a low chuckle.
"At a time like this?" Duo quipped.
"Any time, any place, Maxwell."
"This is the House of Horrors--not the Tunnel of Love, you know."
"It's dark and you're here; that's all I need," I teased, listening with half an ear for sounds of pursuit.
"God--you'll get me all hot an' bothered an' I won't be able to concentrate on the baddies."
"Sure you will," I replied in just as husky a voice. "You can multitask."
His soft laugh was warm and full of mirth. "I'll show you multitasking later, love. Fuck you clear into next week--"
I groaned quietly, remembering the first time he'd made such an offer. Now that I knew how great he felt--I was perfectly willing to acknowledge his comment wasn't idle boasting.
"The trial's next week," I reminded him. "There's no time for a demonstration."
"Then afterwards."
"It's a date." I pulled a small flashlight from my pocket, flipping it on to help guide us through the dark faster; we really needed distance between us and our enemies.
When we stumbled upon the loading area for the ride, minus an attendant to usher us in, I gave Duo a push towards the nearest cart. "Get in and stay low," I urged, glancing over my shoulder.
He obeyed without hesitation, and as I turned back, I realized he had one of the guns I'd given him gripped tightly, raised to cover me if anyone burst from the tunnel behind us.
Yeah, he was good under pressure all right.
Hearing the echo of voices from far behind us, I dove in next to him and hit the release for the cart, sending it rumbling off along the tracks accompanied by the sound of eerie music starting up.
A voice laced with evil mirth informed us via the speaker on the cart that "the management will not be held responsible for medical expenses incurred by those 'weak of heart' or dry cleaning bills incurred by those 'weak of spirit.'"
Apparently if we puked, peed ourselves, or died of cardiac arrest, they wanted it known they wouldn't take the blame.
The narrative went on, launching into a tale intended to induce fear and suspense in those eager for a chilling experience. "The Five Mad Scientists whose lair you are about to tour were once part of a secret military experiment--the Alliance's plan to create a new 'super-soldier.' In their insane quest for the ultimate warrior, they committed atrocities against man and animal alike--attempting to splice genes, attach robotics, and engineer synthetic life forms. They were willing to breed, create or construct their perfect soldier, no matter the cost. But in the end, their failures cost them their sanity and the support of the Alliance. Because of the danger they posed, they were disavowed and locked away from the world--forever trapped in their laboratory--forever needing subjects on which to conduct their bizarre experiments--forever unfulfilled. This park was built above the underground compound, and this ride will take you through the very heart of the Mad Five's stronghold. But be warned--if you stray from your cart, or are overtaken and pulled from it--you may never see the light of day again!"
Duo chuckled at the lame speech, and then pointed out the sign above the tiny opening our cart was about to pass through, which cautioned us to keep our arms and legs inside the cart at all times. "They've really got liability issues, don't they?" He flashed me a sly look. "Think they'd approve of shootouts on their little thrill ride?"
"Ask me if I care," I quipped back, turning to see if the bad guys had reached the loading platform yet.
And then the bottom dropped out from under us, and I nearly lost my grip on my gun as the cart plunged abruptly down a short, steep incline, seeming to pick up an alarming amount of speed on the way.
"Holy shit!" Duo blurted, one hand white-knuckled on the handlebar across the front of the cart. Then he gave a short, irrepressible laugh as we zigzagged around a series of sharp turns.
I suspected that the darkness of the ride, and possibly piped-in wind, made it seem as if we were going faster than we were, but it still took me a moment to regain my composure.
By the time I did, we'd slowed to a less frantic speed, and were passing the first exhibit in the House of Horrors--a grisly display, with a chainsaw-wielding wax dummy, and a half-dismembered corpse. I suspected live actors were used to add to the scene when the park was up and running--but for the moment, it was merely a gruesome still life, albeit one with recorded screams and chainsaw sounds.
"Lovely," Duo muttered. He eyed the chainsaw, apparently assessing whether it was a real, working one, and sighed unhappily. "Damned prop."
"Good lord, what would you do with it?" I demanded over the wails of pain from the loudspeakers. "Wait around for the FBI goons and hack 'em up?"
"It's a thought. But no. I just wondered if maybe we could--I dunno--drop a telephone pole on 'em or something."
I couldn't help the brief chuckle that escaped, or the image of Duo as a chainsaw-wielding vandal, even as our cart jerked to one side with neck-snapping speed and drew away from the uninspired exhibit, plunging back into darkness and accelerating. "No telephone poles," I assured him. "But I do plan to whittle down their numbers in any way possible."
"Thought cops couldn't do that shit."
"They're cops too, Duo. And they're the ones breaking the rules. We'll fight fire with fire." I frowned after mentioning fire, when I realized there was a hazy fog beginning to fill the tunnel ahead. Surely no one could have set the place on fire already!
"Speaking of which--I've still got a smoke bomb in one pocket and a real one in another," Duo told me.
"Save them for emergencies," I suggested, finally deciding the mist in the passageway was a special effect, rather than the work of our enemies. Then I was struck with yet another worrisome thought. "There's no chance of them going off by mistake, is there?"
"None whatsoever. There's a tiny cap to pop off and a trigger to press in order to start the clock ticking."
"And you did that in the back of a smoke-filled limo?" I asked, raising my voice to be heard over renewed howls and shrieks, as the cart bumped and jerked as if on a pothole-ridden street.
"I was workin' on it the whole way across the parking lot, Yuy. Trust me...it took a bit of doing. Why d'you think I walked so slowly?"
"I thought you were buying time for Catherine to get across...or maybe just showing off your ass."
"That, too," he smirked.
The track curved to the left, and as we rounded the corner, the automated lights came on, illuminating a very realistic and horrific rendition of a mad scientist's laboratory. An automaton played the part of the crazy doctor, holding a vial of nasty-looking liquid up to the light and then flinging it at another automaton who was strapped to a metal framework. Through whatever tricks of lighting and makeup, that automaton began to transform into a grotesque monster, snapping its bonds and lunging towards our cart.
Duo ducked in reflex, letting out a startled yelp before recalling it was all lights and mirrors--a complete fabrication. But when the robot flung a clawed appendage towards us and some of the gooey liquid splashed onto the cart, and my sleeve, I cringed back as well.
"Eww!" Duo protested, flicking gunk off his own clothing. "Too realistic for me!"
"Just be glad it wasn't fake blood--that would be even worse," I teased, dragging my attention away from the gruesome display and focusing on our enemies, who were somewhere behind us.
At least, I thought they were. I'd assumed at least one or two had followed us inside and pursued--though it was entirely possible they'd merely headed for the end of the ride to wait for us there.
That thought chilled me more than the frosty air blasting from overhead ductwork.
Chang's voice over the loudspeaker was a welcome interruption from the eerie music and sound effects, as well as my morbid musings--at least until I heard what he had to say. "Phase two under way. Two or three men on your trail, and reinforcements have arrived in an SUV. Estimate six more!"
There was a banging noise, and I heard my partner bark out instructions I couldn't quite catch, though I clearly heard Catherine's name.
"Phase three!"
And then the speakers went back to the pre-programmed music and sound effects of the House of Horrors.
Duo tugged at my sleeve. "Explain."
"They've located the control room. Chang and Catherine will have to move. They'll no longer be able to track our enemies with the cameras."
"But will the goon squad be able to track us?"
"Not if Chang does his job and disables the monitors before fleeing the control room."
"Fuck, I hope he does," sighed my lover.
As for me--I was wishing I had surveillance so that I could actually see what was happening to my partner. It was every man for himself now, and knowing that at least three of the original FBI guys had survived Duo's bomb and had time to call in their backup was not reassuring at all.
"At the next exhibit, let's ditch the cart and look for another way out," I suggested, pulling Duo closer to me as the ride sped up and we began a series of sharp turns in a maze-like pattern.
He didn't hesitate to cling tight, giving a nervous chuckle at the precipitous flight of our vehicle. "Don't hafta ask twice!" he assured me. "I think I'm gettin' carsick."
I smiled at his wry comment, and then frowned as I realized our twists and turns had made us double back so that we were about to face our pursuers virtually head-on, though on parallel tracks.
"Fuck!" I shoved Duo down, seeing a gleam of light on metal as someone in the approaching cart raised a weapon.
A shot glanced off the back edge of our ride, and I returned fire until we'd veered away again and begun a descending spiral.
"Straight to Hell!" Duo called, echoing my thoughts exactly as the cart gained speed.
And then the dizzying circle straightened, and we were swiftly approaching yet another staged scene.
"Time to get out!"
As the cart slowed and the animatronic figures began their "skit," both Duo and I jumped to the platform, ducking into the shadows outside the focused lighting, while our ride puttered on without us.
I ran a hand along the plywood backboard, feeling for a handle. "There's got to be an access door--for repairmen or actors--"
"Here." Duo pushed open a panel that led into a narrow access tunnel. "Think this leads outside?"
"I don't know--we're down pretty far underground I think. There'll have to be stairs or a ladder somewhere." I flashed a light inside, relieved to see a letter and number on the wall, marking the coordinates of the maintenance chute. "If we can find a map of the tunnels, I think I can pinpoint our location--"
Hearing the screech of metal wheels signaling the approach of another cart, I grabbed Duo's arm. "Let's go--"
Then I hesitated, as another thought crossed my mind. "Hang on a sec. You hide in the crawlspace, while I try to take out a couple of our friends back there--"
"You can't take them out alone. You don't even know how many there are," he pointed out.
Then he gestured to the metal table in the staged scene. "Looks like a live actor usually plays the part of the stiff. Let me fill in there--get their attention--so you can get the drop on them."
"I can't have you play decoy, Duo. You're the protected witness!"
"Yeah--and I'd like to help keep myself alive. Let me."
Before I could finish mulling it over, he'd darted across and grabbed a bottle of red liquid off the prop table, splashing it across his shirt. He grinned wickedly at me. "They don't know all their shots missed," he pointed out.
Then he draped himself across the table, his braid theatrically trailing over the side--looking very much like a fresh corpse in the eerie lighting.
As our pursuers' cart rumbled towards the platform, I ducked into the crawlspace, keeping the panel cracked open so I had a full view of both Duo and the tracks.
"Look! There--on the table!" I heard one man exclaim.
"Shit!" came a reply.
I watched two men jump from the cart to the stage, a bit disappointed that there weren't more. We really needed to lessen their numbers; and if Wufei was right about six reinforcements, there were still potentially seven enemies above ground waiting for us.
"Jesus Christ, Burke! I told you no shooting. Khushrenada wanted him alive!"
They were cautiously approaching the table Duo had sprawled across, their guns held ready.
"Why d'you suppose the cop left him like that?"
"The better to get the drop on you," I answered chillingly. "Lose the guns, boys."
I didn't really expect them to obey, and they didn't disappoint. Instead they spun towards me, and I easily dropped them both with shots to their heads. I wasn't playing around any more. This was a deadly serious game.
Duo sat up and looked wide-eyed at our dead enemies. "Wow. Nice shooting, Yuy."
"Nice acting," I replied, shaking my head.
Then it occurred to me that we could still jump in the slow-moving cart and ride back to the surface, avoiding the long climb through unfamiliar access tunnels.
"The cart, Duo!"
He moved fast, jumping in and holding out a hand. But even as I jumped after him, I saw his glance go past me and his eyes widen in horror. I instantly recalled Wufei saying there were two or three men after us. And apparently one had been smart enough to ditch the others before they pulled in at the exhibit, and slip up undetected.
"No!" Duo snatched the gun from his waistband, firing over my shoulder as I shielded him with my body.
I had no idea if he missed or not, as I felt a white-hot stab of pain in my right shoulder, sinking to my knees on the floor of the cart and dragging Duo down with me.
"'Ro? Oh shit--!" Duo pushed me to arm's length, eyes wide and terrified. "How bad--?"
"How bad--what?" I asked blankly, trying to catch my breath.
"You're fucking shot, Yuy!" His fingers brushed over my chest, and I looked down to see a spreading red stain seeping through my shirt.
"Well, shit." I sagged back against the seat, fighting a wave of dizziness as the cart careened around some more corners and towards the inevitable conclusion of the ride.
TBC...
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