Sixty-Five

Zero

      We talked for a short time after Wufei had explained to Sally what was going on. I wanted the straight story. Nikki needed some time to cry anyway.
      I made my way back to our room. It was silent. I shut the door behind myself and looked at her.
      She was sitting at the vanity with her diary in hand.
      She was writing in it again...that was a bit unnerving...instead of talking to me she had been writing in that...but, I had to keep in mind that we hadn’t been talking and things took time.
      “Are you all right?” I asked, noticing that she hadn’t cried.
      She sighed, set her pen on the page, and nodded. “Surprisingly, yes.”
      I crossed the room and crouched in front of her, “Are you sure?”
      She sighed, leaning forward against me, “I think so...”
      I wrapped my arms around her, “We could go into town and find him.”
      She shook her head, “No matter what I say, I can’t face him.”
      “I could end it for you and get rid of him.” I offered.
      She crushed herself a bit closer to me, “No...”
      I hugged her and we sat there like that for a while. I didn’t notice it at first, but then realized that she was kissing my neck lightly. I sighed, getting annoyed for some reason. I pushed her away and she met my eyes, shocked, “We need to talk about this.” I informed her.
      She nestled her head further into my shoulder and I hugged her and stood. I led her to the bed and turned off the light, laying beside her.
      It was nice to be able to return to something I knew...it almost seemed like we were in my bedroom...almost. But my room hadn’t had the vanity, was smaller, and the windows were different.
      We didn’t get to sleep until dawn colored the sky with the misty gray...dark but light.
      For some reason I was proud...we’d stayed up all night and hadn’t had sex.


      “Did he let anything slip about his base?” Quatre asked Kitty, sitting forward.
      She shook her head, “Not that I caught. He did tell me something that didn’t quite make sense...but he said Nikki would understand.”
      Quatre looked up to me for confirmation.
      I nodded.
      Sam sighed, “Him and his cryptic coding...it drove us insane. Nikki loved it, however. She liked the challenge of it.”
      I nodded.
      Heero had went to talk to Nikki and shortly there-after Quatre and Sam had returned. We had just finished telling the story and Quatre looked worried.
      “You can’t go out alone anymore.” he informed Sam, then looked to me, “I think we’ll go back one to one.” I nodded, agreeing.
      If Nikol was on the prowl, then he might try something.


      “You have a letter, Quatre...” I glanced up to the door as Nikki entered with a single envelope in hand.
      “Who’s it from?” I asked, sitting back.
      She shrugged, “I don’t know. It doesn’t say.” she passed it to me and sat on the desk.
      She had a habit of doing that...sitting on desks, that is...I’d noticed.
      I accepted it with a nod and flipped it around in my hand.
      Nothing special, just a plain white envelope with address of my homebase on it.
      I looked up to Nikki, “I’ll open it later.” I set it to one side and refocused on my lap-top. I didn’t want to be rude to her, but I needed to get this done. I would open the letter after she left. If it were a bomb I didn’t want it to endanger anyone else.
      She sighed and slid off the desk, then crossed the room to a couch, “I had a dream last night.”
      “Really?” I glanced up to her, “About what?” she was laying on her side on a couch, a pillow under her head, “You look tired.”
      She nodded, “I couldn’t get back to sleep after it.”
      Which explained why she was up at seven-thirty in the morning. It hadn’t occurred to me until now.
      “So what happened?”
      “It was partly something that happened a long time ago, and part my normal bull shit.”
      I smiled slightly at her, “Are you building up suspense?”
      She laughed slightly, “No. Just deciding on how to word it.”
      “Take your time.” I refocused on the screen again.
      “Be that way then...nyaa...”
      I glanced up at her again, she stuck her tongue out at me. I smiled and she rolled her eyes. I looked back to my lap-top.
      Suddenly the door opened again and Heero popped his head in.
      I glanced around the room, noticing Nikki was asleep and glancing at the clock, eight-fifteen.
      ‘Hey, what’s up?’ I mouthed, I didn’t want to wake her up.
      He shook , ‘Nothing, just trying to figure out where she went.’
      I shrugged, ‘I had a letter and she brought it in.’
      He nodded, ‘What did it say?’
      I shook my head, ‘I haven’t read it yet.’
      ‘Open it.’
      ‘I was going to wait ‘til I was alone...’
      ‘Is it a love letter from some long lost bed-mate, then?’
      I opened my eyes wide, ‘How did you know?’
      He grinned at me.
      I shrugged, ‘I don’t know who it’s from. I just didn’t want to possibly get someone hurt.’
      He thought about that and I tried focusing on my lap-top again, only, with him in the same room, it caused some problems. I wanted to talk to him, so I couldn’t focus. I gave up finally, looking back up to him.
      It occurred to me what part of the problem had been. He was watching me.
      ‘Problem?’ he asked.
      I wondered if he even realized what was happening. I shook my head, ‘You’re distracting.’
      He grinned, ‘And she’s not?’ he gestured to Nikki with his head.
      ‘She’s not staring at me.’
      He laughed silently, ‘I was wondering if it bothered you or not...’
      ‘Of course...’ I muttered.
      He grinned again.
      I shook my head, he evidently wanted to talk too. I saved my work and closed the machine, sitting back.
      ‘Giving up so early?’
      I rolled my eyes, ‘Shut-up’
      He laughed silently again, ‘Yes, Master.’
      I took a breath, shaking my head at him, ‘I’ve told you how much that bothers me. I’m no man’s master.’
      He stifled his smile and nodded, ‘Sorry, I forget sometimes.’
      I nodded, they all did. I didn’t know why, it wasn’t like it was a hard request... call me anything but master...call me lover before master. I hate being called master... We’d been over it time and again...all of us...why couldn’t they just...
      ‘Are you annoyed with us yet?’
      I smiled, ‘No. Why do you ask?’
      ‘We’ve been living off you.’
      I shrugged, ‘Yeah, you’re sorta...staying with me...’
      ‘I feel like I’m using you.’
      I shook my head, ‘For what? Money? I have no problems spending it on you.’
      He shrugged slightly, ‘I don’t know. It just doesn’t feel right. You’re arming our machines...repairing them...buying expensive gifts for our women...’
      I shook my head again, ‘Heero, if I felt at all put upon I’d ask you to leave or just stop doing whatever I’m doing. I like making them happy as much as you or Duo, it’s just that I have the financial means to do it at whim exstensively. I could buy you a house, if you’d like, or maybe buy her a diamond jewelry set.’ I smiled at his raised eyebrow look, ‘Yes, I know how conceited that sounds, but it’s the truth. I can, so I do. That’s all there is to it, really...’ I glanced at Nikki.
      He sighed, also looking at her, “If I die, take care of her for me.” he muttered quietly.
      We met eyes.
      “You won’t die.”
      “But if I die, take care of her for me.”
      I nodded, “You won’t, but if it eases your mind, I will. I swear to you.”
      He nodded, appreciating that, then stood, “I’m going to go check the next base.”
      I stood quickly, “But...”
      The last time he’d done that, it had caused some problems...
      Sound started in the distance...the sound of a Gundam starting. Heero and I exchanged a glance as the door flew open.
      Duo was standing there, looking a bit wild-eyed, “Where’s Kris?”
      Nikki sat up, waking from the sudden commotion. She blinked once, looking at us, then darted to my desk, picking up my radio, “Kris, get back here now!”
      “Sorry, Nik, but I’m going alone.” Kris’s voice came back patiently.
      “Kris, now!”
      There was slight laughter, “You’re not my commanding officer anymore. I’m doing this one alone. What harm will it do?”
      “Now, Kris, I’m not giving you a choice!” Nikki followed us as we started for the door.
      She did sound remarkably like an officer...
      Before we could reach it, Sally and Sam stood in our way, their radios on.
      Nikki looked them over coolly for a second as we stopped, then rolled her eyes, “Thanks for the warning. I’m glad I’m loved.”
      “Please, Nikki, you know you would have argued about it. Besides, you have other things to worry about.”
      “Nothing is more important than my friends.”
      I had stopped listening to her, though, so hadn’t realized that she’d given up on catching up and joined Sally and Sam near the door.
      “Move, now!” Heero’s voice was different than normal...full of emotion. He was scared. “Now!” he shoved Sam and Nikki out of his way, grabbing the handle.
      Sally hadn’t been in his way, and now stared at him, getting a deer in the head-lights look as we heard a machine take off, “She’s taking Zero!”
      Then we were all running towards where we had the machines hidden.
      “Don’t take Zero!” Nikki was sounding a bit shrill.
      I didn’t hear Kris’s reply.
      Zero was disappearing.
      Heero was uncertain as we reached the machines.
      “Mine.”
      Then Heero was climbing into Deathscythe and I was climbing into Sandrock.
      “Take mine, Duo.” Wufei called, “I’ll wait.”
      Duo nodded, as Trowa disappeared into Heavyarms.
      I wasn’t sure where they’d come from, I hadn’t noticed them joining us...that wasn’t important, though.
      We needed to stop Kris before the Zero system could gain control.


      I didn’t even think about the sacrifice Duo was making by letting me take his machine. It was faster than Zero.
      Kris had quite a lead, however, and I knew it would be a chase and plausibly a fight...especially if Zero got her quickly.
      Sandrock appeared behind me, then Heavyarms. It didn’t take long for Nitaku to catch up either. It didn’t take long for Nitaku to be even with me.
      My comrade’s images appeared on the screen to my left...that’s when it hit me that this wasn’t my machine. This was Duo’s...
      I over took Zero and slowed so she would to.
      Kris’s image appeared suddenly and she was furious, “What the hell are you doing!”
      “Kris, its Zero. Land now!”
      “Why? I’m touched that you care for my safety, really, but...” her eyes went blank as alarms sounded around her and they all caught up.
      “Kris!”
      She ignored me.
      “Kris!” Duo called, “Kris, Kris, Kris, Kris...don’t, don’t! Kris!”
      Nitaku came up beside me and the gun aimed directly at us.
      Another screen flashed on, but I ignored it. It was Nikki and Wufei.
      “Kris!”
      The gun started to warm up.
      “Scatter!” I called, “Surround her so that damned machine can’t focus on one of us. Disarm.”
      “Right.”
      “Nikki!” my eyes flicked to her screen, I sincerely hoped she was already on it...taking control of the machine...
      “Working on it. Working on it...you have blocks...”
      “I know...they shouldn’t be a problem for you...”
      The gun fired and Zero rose higher as we scattered further to avoid the blast.
      Never in my wildest dreams had I ever imagined I’d be fighting Kris...let alone in Deathschythe...against Zero...
      “Keep talking to her...you have to get to her...”
      “Kris...”
      There was a cacophony of sound as we all called to her, cajoling, ordering, and begging for her to stop.
      The entire time we were avoiding the guns, swooping in close and pulling away, causing no damage but setting off alarms.
      It didn’t take long for me to be sick of that damned gun...I wondered briefly if my enemies ever felt the same way...only, they didn’t know how to disarm me. Kris, on the other hand, had never flown Zero.
      I came in close to the arm, knocking the gun away, as Nitaku mirrored my movements on the other side to distract her.
      “Kris!” Nikki’s voice had changed more to panic, “Kris...Krystal!”
      It occurred to me that the gun was still in one piece, she hadn’t separated it...
      Without the gun, she was forced to pull the saber.
      “Kris!” I called.
      “Kris!” that was Wufei.
      “Kris!” Trowa.
      “Krystal!” Quatre.
      “Kris!” Duo.
      On some silent que, we all took a breath and called her name again.
      This time it seemed to have more of an effect.
      The saber dropped from her hand.
      “Please come back to us...” Duo whispered, “Please...”
      Kris’s eyes were blank as she looked around, then, as he said this, she focused on him.
      “What’s...” her eyes unfocused and she stared wide-eyed straight ahead.
      Suddenly she convulsed with shivers and curled forward.
      We all heard the sound of her retching and landed.
      I wasted no time, hopping from Deathscythe to the ground, grabbing the tow as I went. As I hit, I started running for Zero. The machine had landed and opened, the tow was out as I reached it, and I instantly started up as I noticed Duo behind me.
      I climbed onto the platform and dropped the tow for Duo to come up to.
      Kris was shivering violently and breathing hard. Her hands were covering her face and she was rocking steadily back and forth.
      “Kris?” I asked softly, “Are you all right?”
      She shook her head, “What was that...what was that...” I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her shoulders, she leaned against me, “How did I...Why...”
      “Shh...shh...it’s okay...that’s what Zero does...that’s why we said to stop...shh...”
      Duo was behind me and I stood, passing her over. She didn’t seem to be aware of that until Duo was holding her, then she collapsed into him, starting to sob. He led her out onto the platform as I sat back in the seat.
      “Damned machine...why’d you have to go and do that...” I punched some paneling, “Stupid piece of shit...can’t leave anyone alone...can’t even let someone fly twenty miles without setting in...piece of shit...” I reached behind the seat and pulled one of the towels I kept there out, dropping it over the vomit, continuing to mutter about it. It sounded odd until I thought about it...I’d slipped into Japanese. That was probably best, though, people didn’t need to hear my rant at the fucked up piece of shit.
      “Is she all right?” Nikki’s voice was concerned.
      I rolled my head to look at the screen, “I don’t know. She should be.” I used my foot to half-assed clean up the mess.
      I started to stand so I could check, but a wave of dizziness and nausea hit and I had to sit back again.
      “Heero!”
      I laughed, closing my eyes, “You don’t like hearing about it, do you, you karen machine...fucking worthless piece of shit...” Not being able to help it, I also leaned forward and vomited.
      “Heero! What’s going on...what...”
      I spit onto the towel and folded the edges over, “Don’t worry. I’m fine...”
      Duo leaned over and looked in, “You deserved that.”
      “Shut-up and move before I smack your ass with this towel.”
      Duo laughed and stepped away from the door, still holding Kris, who’d stopped sobbing.
      I tossed the towel out the door and grabbed another to finish cleaning it.
      “That’s really disgusting.” I muttered, “Can’t believe I have to clean this...piece of shit...” another wave of dizziness hit. “Oh knock it off.”
      Duo appeared in the door again, “So how are we doing this?”
      I looked at him, thinking, “She’s in no condition to pilot anything...” I started.
      “I’ll set it on auto for the house.” Duo decided, “Is that all right with you, Wufei?” he called past me, “You don’t mind your machine being on auto?”
      “No.” Wufei replied, “That’s fine.”
      “Let’s hurry up and get her home.” Quatre muttered.
      “Let’s hope we didn’t have a nice little show for Nikol...” Trowa muttered.
      I nodded as I finished cleaning the floor, then sat up again.
      “Let’s go.” Duo said. He was back in Deathscythe with Kris on his lap.
      I shut the door to my machine looked it over, I needed to pick up the gun and the saber.
      I sighed, why did she have to choose Zero?

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Kyeian