Thirty-Six

Picking Up

      “Did you do that?” Suretta demanded.
      I looked up from studying my nails, “Do what?”
      “The explosion, Kaze. Did you cause that explosion?”
      “Why would I do that?” I feigned innocence, “How would I?”
      “Fuck! Nikki...Kaze...”
      “You didn’t tell them when your ‘envoy’” I made air quotes, “Would show.”
      “Why don’t you act right? You’re my prisoner.”
      I smiled, “No, Dear; hostage.”
      “Whatever.” she grated through her teeth.
      I smiled, “Let me see...” I touched my cheek below the gash, “I’ve pretty much lived with a Gundam pilot for almost five years now, not counting the time Daken had his coup...and you’re wondering why I’m not intimidated?” I smiled at Sam, “That’s impressive.”
      “Isn’t it though.” Sam agreed.
      “Take them to their cell.” Wester was pissed but couldn’t do anything about it.


      “Well.” I hadn’t been this annoyed in ages, “Shit happens. Times change. Things come up.” Hopefully Nikki understood that I understood and was annoyed with her.
      We had been in the study again when this call came.
      Nikki nodded slightly, smiling shyly, which meant she wanted forgiveness.
      Sam was sitting back, eyes closed, rubbing her temples.
      Quatre was focused on her.
      Suretta was pacing back and forth in front of the two, “I don’t understand...” she was mumbling to herself, “I sent him the orders yesterday...”
      ‘Computers...’ Nikki mouthed, studying her nails again.
      I hid my smile.
      I probably should have been exhausted. I hadn’t slept nor eaten since Nikki had been taken and the sleep I’d gotten for the three days before that was laughable.
      “Are you all right, Sam?” Quatre’s voice was concerned.
      “I’m fine.” Sam was fairly passive, still not opening her eyes.
      ‘Caffeine.’ Nikki mouthed.
      Quatre nodded.
      “Get a hold of him now!” Suretta yelled to someone off screen. She looked back to us, “When he does arrive, be ready.”
      I smiled coldly, “We will be.”
      “If he dies, they die.” she gestured to Nikki and Sam with her head.
      “He won’t die” Duo reassured her, “He might wish he had...” this was to me, “But he won’t die.”
      Quatre gestured for Suretta to continue with his right hand and something caught my eye, he was wearing Sam’s ring.
      “Like I told you yesterday. When my envoy...”
      “Ma’am...” a voice called, “The mobile doll programming has been changed...”
      Nikki was studying her nails again.
      The sound of fighting could now be heard in the distance.
      “What!” Suretta cried, running off screen.
      “They’re attacking each other...”
      “Over-ride!” Suretta cried, coming back on screen.
      ‘They don’t know how.’ Nikki mouthed, her eyes raising to mine and falling back to her nails, ‘Leave tomorrow for zero hour. Make sure.’
      As she was doing this, Suretta was standing in front of Sam, not noticing Nikki’s smugness, “We will continue later...”
      ‘We’ll be in a Taurus, but I’ll make it obvious.’
      “Fine.” I replied to Nikki, making it seem to Suretta. “We’re getting impatient, however. Too much longer and we’ll take things into our own hands. You might want to gain control there, before trying to assert it here.” only the last was to Suretta.
      We had been planning to leave at about noon.
      Why did Nikki want us to wait...again?
      It was only ten.
      Suretta had been wanting to know if her envoy had arrived.
      “I would think,” Duo noted to Trowa, “That a leader of,” he made air quotes, “‘Romefeller’ would know when her envoy would arrive...”
      I smiled, “Maybe he found some interesting recreation and was distracted...”
      “You must be Heero Yuy. You’re lucky; Nikki respects you. I wonder why...you seem to be the one who made that gash on her cheek...” Suretta’s tone was cold.
      That bit...I clenched my hands and teeth. “Yes. I am...and yes, I did...so if I can do that,” I ran my finger across my cheek in the pattern of Nikki’s gash, “To my best friend, imagine what I can do to an enemy.”
      She glared at me, but didn’t respond. “I will call when we find my envoy.” she said finally.
      The screen went blank.
      “She wants us to wait again!” Wufei was exploded, “I knew they would be trouble, Heero. Why did you have to bring them?”
      “Wufei, I’ve been pretty much living with her, or at least near her, in constant association with them, for the last five years. They,” I gestured to the screen, meaning Romefeller, “Have probably been following us the last two years, or close to. They would have gotten all four of them already if I hadn’t brought them. Then we’d be in deeper shit because we would have no one to leave with Relena, and Kat’s only military training came from Duo...”
      “Hey now...” Duo protested, only slightly annoyed.
      But I had made my point.
      “Is she worth it?” Wufei demanded, looking from Duo.
      I remembered our discussion when Nikki was reassigning the workers.
      “That, and more.”


      “Fuck, Nikki. I don’t want to think right now...” Sam was sitting on a step, hunched up and rubbing her temples.
      “I know. You don’t have to. Just be ready to walk when I say.”
      “Can’t you bring the doll here?”
      “That would be too obvious. Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
      “I know you know what you’re doing. But that would require an effort.”
      I sighed, “Sam...”
      “Shut-up.”
      I laughed quietly, sitting on a different step, listening to the chaos I’d created.
      More chaos was soon to come.
      If Heero had decided to listen to me, then the Gundams would show on my radar soon.
      So far, I’d re-programmed the dolls, each unit to attack this or that. Sent the envoy to L-2 and L-1, now he was on a trip to Earth...Programmed malfunctions into machinery, and erased...well, moved...key data...I’d left no trail.
      Wester, was running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off. I was sure she knew it was me, but at the same time, she didn’t...
      So why did I feel so numb? I was extracting my revenge...and ruining an old friendship...
      “Don’t cry for her, Nikki.” Sam’s voice was firm, “She abandoned you to the wolves.”
      I sighed heavily, “It’s not the wolves that are the problem...”


      “She said she’d make it obvious, so where are they?” Wufei was aggravated.
      “Look at that...talk about problems...” Duo muttered quietly.
      We were within sight of the Lunar Base, just out of reach of the radars.
      It looked like an ant hill missing half the ants. People were everywhere, intent on some task or another, oblivious to us.
      “Did Nikki do all that?” Quatre asked.
      “She probably started some chain reactions and controlled them.” I replied.
      “Do you think she knows we’re here yet?” Zechs asked.
      “Yeah. Her radar caught us before we stopped.” I replied, hiding my annoyance with the man. I knew it wasn’t his fault...but...damn...he had been too into it...even though he had a woman...he had been about to step it up...and Nikki...she had...she...
      I wasn’t too proud of my jealousy...
      It occurred to me that I probably should be directing that anger at Romefeller...they had taken Nikki. Taken her right out of the very place she was supposed to be safe in...I may as well have just left her at home...of course, she was supposed to be with me or one of the others constantly...
      “How do you know?” Wufei looked surprised.
      I smiled slightly, “She altered the beam to alert me. It goes around every ten seconds or so. Can’t you hear the beep?”
      There were varied murmurs of annoyance and confusion.
      The beep was getting on my nerves.
      “So she didn’t alter it for you, maybe she was rushed. I don’t know...”
      The beep was really getting annoying.
      “I’m going to contact her...”
      “No, Heero...” Trowa stopped me, “That would set off alarms. I don’t think she wants you to contact her.”
      “Can you hear this beep? It has to be the most annoying fucking sound...”
      Trowa chuckled slightly, “Heero, calm down. We only have a few more minutes, I’m sure she’ll signal. But in the mean time, stop letting the beep get to you.”
      I closed my eyes, rubbing the bridge of my nose. He was right. I was letting it get on my nerves. But it was something I could focus on. Something physical I could direct my anger at. Something physical, that is, other than him, Zechs, and Wufei... That’s where the real anger was coming from...Nikki was mine...only not...but she was...
      “You’re tired,” Trowa hadn’t stopped talking, “You haven’t slept for two nights. You’ve barely eaten anything. The woman you love is being held hostage...”
      I stopped, focusing on his screen, realizing that he had changed. He seemed to have realized that her favor had only been a favor and not any sort of commitment...he’d known it, of course...but she’d done him a favor...that sort of thing could get confusing.
      “Don’t try to deny it, Heero. It’s true.”
      I didn’t say anything. What was there to say? I did love Nikki.
      I nodded vaguely at him so he knew I was listening.
      Before I could find a reply, an entire building burst into flames near the center of the compound, and even though it lasted only a moment, it was very distinct.
      “That’s a very Nikki-Sam signal.” Duo commented, “They do enjoy fire...well, let’s not keep the ladies waiting, Gentlemen...”


      “How the hell are we going to manage this?” Sam demanded, looking over the interior of the Taurus doll I’d altered.
      The cockpit was very small.
      “Don’t worry, just sit there.” I pointed to a smallish space on the right side of the seat.
      “I don’t think there’s enough room, Nikki Darlin’...” her tone was sarcastically annoyed.
      “There’s room. Now sit before we get caught.”
      Not that it’d matter much with us in the suit.
      I didn’t point that out to Sam.
      She snorted in disgust, “Fine. Whatever.”
      Slowly she sank to the floor in the spot.
      I sat down in the chair, accessing the program I’d made for the base, “Ready?”
      “No, Nikki, I have to go pee...”
      I made a mental not to let her go a day without caffeine, let alone three.
      I pushed the button.
      Programmable bombs, being stored in a hangar near the center of the base, exploded. The buildings around us shook and alarms started going off everywhere.
      “Check the hostages!” Wester’s voice came over the intercoms.
      I turned the machine on and on pulled the head-set, “A little late for that, Wester...”
      “What were you saying about getting caught?” Sam asked snidely as the doors opened.
      “Don’t worry. The dolls have a delay programmed into them now.”
      “Gundams!” a different horrified voice cried, “They’re here!”
      I tuned to Heero’s frequency, “Just in time, Boys...”
      I took off.
      “Nikki?” Heero’s voice was...I’d never heard that tone before... “Is that you?”
      “Yes. Can you see me?”
      God...I’d never been so happy to hear his voice...
      “Yes. Why aren’t they attacking?”
      “I delayed them.”
      There was a murmur.
      “Yes, she’s talking to me...” another murmur, “Nikki, why can’t they hear you?”
      “I only have your frequency, Angel...”
      “Oh...well...use the secure line...”
      “Just don’t let them attack me...”
      “We know it’s you...Dolls!”
      I caught myself before physically turning to look.
      “Get behind our line, do you have Sam?”
      “Yes, I’m here.” Sam’s tone was snappish.
      I accessed the line and their pictures appeared on the screen next to Sam. I was only surprised for a moment to see Zechs.
      “Sam?” Quatre didn’t seem to notice me.
      I smiled, maneuvering behind their line.
      “Are you all right?” he asked her.
      “Not now, Quatre, we have some dolls to play with.” Duo cut in.
      “Fall way back, Nikki. That Taurus isn’t very distinct.” Wufei told me.
      “What, you think I can’t fight?” was my annoyed reply.
      “Don’t get all pissy.” Heero stopped us from arguing...it was that tone...I’d never heard it before, and I couldn’t remain annoyed because of it...
      The dolls reached us, if I hadn’t been behind, they wouldn’t be able to tell me apart.
      The dolls began filtering around to me.
      I began to destroy them.
      After a time, Wufei fell back to help me, then Zechs.
      “Nikki, move!” Wufei’s voice held part order, part request.
      “We don’t want to attack you.” Zechs clarified the matter.
      I knew they were right.
      “I hate being told what to do...” I didn’t say it to anyone in particular as I rose above the fighting.
      “Sometimes, it’s the only way to make a point with you, Nikki.” Duo informed me, “I don’t think he was trying to piss ya off, were you, Wufei?”
      “Not particularly, no.” was Wufei’s reply.
      “You’re managing nicely, Oh Great Knight...” I said at the same time.
      “You mean God, Nikki, Oh Great God...” Duo chuckled, “Remember, I’m the God of Death...”
      I smiled slightly, “Bringing death to soulless dolls...”
      He laughed, “Be they souled or not, Your Majesty, they’re dying...kind of...”
      Trowa chuckled, “You may want to feed your wolf when we get home...”
      “Trowa.” Heero’s voice was annoyed.
      “He hasn’t eaten in a few days...” Trowa ignored Heero.
      “Heero.” I reprimanded.
      “He was too worried about you to eat.” Quatre informed me, “Don’t lecture him. It won’t help.”
      I sighed.
      “Not to mention that none of us have really eaten...” Heero’s tone sounded...well, petty...
      “You guys...” I reprimanded them.
      “Hmm...and here I thought she’d appreciate our concern...” Duo acted as if I wasn’t there.
      “Oh hush.” I told him.
      “Don’t, ‘Oh hush.’ me. Show a little gratitude.”
      I rolled my eyes, smiling, “It’s not like you killed a bug or something...”
      “Hmm, that sounded a bit sarcastic...” Wufei noted, amused.
      I smiled, “Will nothing please you?”
      They exchanged glances, “No, not really...” Quatre answered me.
      “I don’t know, these suits are a bit buggish...” Duo muttered.
      “Well, maybe the truth...” Trowa added to Quatre’s, his eyes sweeping...probably the other screens...before focusing on me and grinning.
      I smiled larger, “Oh, thank you, My Warriors...without you, I would be lost...”
      They laughed.
      “I don’t know, Guys, that didn’t sound too horribly sincere...” Zechs was smiling.
      “You can do better than that...” Heero sounded like a teacher encouraging a student, and I saw his vague annoyance, it was gone almost instantaneously.
      I laughed, “Okay...really, Guys, I appreciate it. Thank you.”
      “You see,” Wufei spoke up, “That didn’t hurt too much did it?”
      “Oh...it killed me...”
      More laughter.
      “Can we leave yet?” Sam demanded.
      Duo chuckled, “Oh yeah, with all the commotion, I forgot we were attacking them...”
      “Homeward bound, then...” Quatre said, “Nikki, lead the way...


      Nikki led me into the study as the boys followed. She set me on the couch. Suddenly, Quatre was there, putting some pills in my hand, “Here, take these.” he told me, “They’re caffeine pills; two-hundred milligrams.”
      My mind focused on the word, caffeine. I swallowed them quickly, Quatre watched me a moment, but I didn’t really notice. When he stood and walked away, I watched him go, wondering...
      Nikki had been watching me, now she turned and went out of view. I sat back, closing my eyes again, listening vaguely to the sounds they were making.
      The pills would help, I knew, but where had he gone?
      “Sam?” My mind seemed clearer.
      I opened my eyes as the blond leaned over; he had tea. It was a very proper cup of tea, I noted absently. I accepted the saucer carefully with shaking hands.
      Something flashed as his gentle hands steadied mine. I focused on it, eventually recognizing it as my ring. I’d dropped with Nikki’s in the hallway.
      As I looked up to meet his eyes, his hands guided mine to set the tea cup on the coffee table. He sat beside me, continuing to hold my hands in his own.
      Smiling, he blushed slightly, and dropped his eyes to our hands. He pulled the ring off his own finger and slid it carefully onto mine.
      Smiling tenderly, I reached up to caress his face. After a shocked moment he turned his cheek further into my hand, kissing gently where my skin brushed his lips.
      My heart was beating faster and I couldn’t decide weather it was a rush of caffeine from the pills or adrenaline from the kiss.
      “Quatre...” I started.
      “Shh,” he leaned forward, pulling my face toward his. I closed my eyes in anticipation of a kiss which never came.
      “Quatre,” Heero broke in.
      My eyes snapped open as Quatre sighed. He squeezed my hands once more as he stood.
      “What?” Heero demanded of someone.
      Quatre disappeared.
      I sipped my now cool tea in silence.
      Suddenly, Nikki was leaning beside me, “Sorry ‘bout that.” she whispered mischievously, making a clicking sound with her tongue.
      “Mmm...”


      Sam’s caffeine withdrawal symptoms...I sighed heavily as I sat her on the couch.
      As I straightened, Quatre approached, holding a hand out. There were pills in it. I nodded, they were caffeine.
      He muttered something to her and she swallowed them greedily. He stood and headed into the hall, wordlessly I looked to Heero and he nodded for me to come to him, starting in my direction.
      I turned and walked to him, feeling relieved at his closeness. He was protection, he would help me forget the betrayal...
      Duo, Trowa, Wufei, and Zechs were moving around, I didn’t really notice.
      A while later, Quatre appeared carrying a cup of tea.
      Smiling slightly in his bearing, Heero leaned to my ear, “Him and his tea...” I barely heard his voice.
      “Sam?” Quatre said.
      Heero wasn’t paying attention to them, “Are you all right?” he asked me.
      Sam’s eyes opened as he leaned down, handing her the cup. Her hands were shaking and he steadied them with his own.
      I nodded.
      For a moment she stared and I realized at what, her ring. Where was mine...
      “Are you sure? How’s your...” he paused, then leaned forward and studied the gash.
      Sam looked up to Quatre and he guided the cup to the table, sitting down beside her he looked down, blushing slightly, and slid the ring onto her finger.
      “I hate to do it, but we need to go talk...” Heero still hadn’t glanced at them and was talking quietly into my ear.
      I pulled him closer to me, “Not right now...please...” I couldn’t make my voice work right...I just needed his warmth and comfort right now...he couldn’t leave...not yet...
      Sam’s hand reached up and gently lay across his cheek, at first he was shocked but then he turned his cheek further into her touch and kissed her palm gently.
      “I really don’t want to leave you yet...”
      “Quatre...” Sam’s tone was on the verge of breathless.
      I focused on what Heero was saying finally, “Just wait...” he couldn’t leave me right now...
      “I’m sorry...but...”
      “No...just wait...” I really didn’t want him to go yet...
      “Shh...it’ll be all right...” he muttered pulling me to him, I crushed myself to him, fighting tears, for some reason I couldn’t look away from my friends.
      “Shh...” Quatre told Sam, pulling her closer as she closed her eyes.
      “Quatre...” Heero started.
      Wufei turned to Heero with an exasperated look.
      Quatre sighed heavily and stood.
      He was confused, “What...”
      I sighed, nodding to Sam, not letting go.
      He finally glanced at her, then to Quatre who’d already moved away, then back to me.
      “Oops...” he muttered and I could tell he felt bad, then he glanced around the room, meeting eyes with Wufei.
      Wufei nodded.
      I still didn’t let go of him as he started to shift his weight, pulling myself closer.
      “Shh...it’ll be all right...” he ran his hand through my hair in a comforting way.
      They disappeared out the door, leaving Wufei as the guard.
      I stared after him a second, then glanced at Sam.
      I couldn’t help but smile slightly. I leaned over the back of the couch, “Sorry ‘bout that.” I whispered, making a clicking sound with my tongue.
      “Mmm.” was her reply.
      Wufei was watching us. I looked to him curiously, he had that inexplicable look again and I couldn’t continue to meet his gaze. His eyes were too interested...too sincere...intent...
      I hopped over the couch to sit beside Sam, “Do you accept the apology?”
      She mumbled something incoherently without looking at me and continued to drink her tea.

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Kyeian