08:

The first explosions tore apart an entire wing of The Grand Ballroom, illuminating the night sky with brilliant sparks of white and red flames. The panicked and terrified screams of its occupants seemed trivial to the commotion outside the building itself. There was chaos and confusion amongst the people who tried to flee from the scene. There was no longer any distinguishing between the rich and poor, for in their quest to survive they all had one thing in mind – escape. The law enforcement officials and Organization soldiers looked as confused and helpless as the civilians. Their weak attempts to get everyone organized fell apart as another explosion sent people trampling over each other like crazed fans at a rock concert gone horribly wrong. In the confusion, several soldiers began to shoot at random, taking down anyone who looked like possible troublemakers. This in turn caused many civilians – mostly the protesters – to attack the soldiers, seizing their weapons or bludgeoning them to death with their fists or feet.

Treize, who had managed to flee the scene in time, cursed beneath his breath as he looked back at the burning building. A thunderous scowl filled his handsome visage as he realized that things were somehow slipping out of his control. He could only assume that the damned Opposition had set the bombs within the building and it killed him to know that his units had not been thorough in making sure that everything was secure. He glared at the young Queen sitting beside him in the limousine. Her eyes were still wide open but looked glazed and unfocused. Her mouth hung ajar, a thin trail of spittle running down her chin as if she were an imbecile. Her dress still had the morbid stains of her dead uncle’s blood and Treize could feel a small smile tug his lips at the picture she presented.

“Like a true porcelain doll,” he whispered, leaning close to place a soft kiss on her pallid and clammy cheek. “I think your brother will be quite pleased to see you. But first…”

He reached for the phone and punched in a few numbers, listened to the dial tone before the familiar voice of Zechs filled his ear.

“What the hell’s going on, Treize?” came the question before the General could even get a word in. “I just heard the news…”

“Forget the goddamn news,” Treize replied coolly. “I want you to send as many units as you can to New City.”

“But…”

“No buts, Zechs. The Opposition’s fucking with us and I think it’s time we showed them what we are truly capable of.”

There was a tense silence at the other end before a low ‘Yes, sir’ was heard.

“And Zechs?” Treize asked with faint amusement as he glanced at the silent Queen’s visage.

“Yes?”

“I would like my bed warm when I get back. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

He could almost hear Zechs’s questioning look at the other end and it was all Treize could do not to burst out laughing. “What about Agent 002?” Zechs asked coolly.

The inner laughter died quickly as Treize frowned in consternation. He had completely forgotten about the unit. “Oh, him. The useless unit disappeared in the middle of my speech…”

“He escaped?!”

“I doubt it,” Treize replied coolly. “He must have been caught in the explosion.” He honestly didn’t give a shit about the unit at this point. The young man had been good and obedient enough, but Treize had always felt that 002 had been going through the motions. He might as well have been making out with a real robot for all the enthusiasm 002 displayed most of the time.

“Well?” he snapped impatiently. “You sound like you’ve got something else to say, Zechs, and you’re really beginning to try my patience. I’ve had a long night as it is…”

“I apologize,” Zechs interrupted quietly, knowing full well he couldn’t tell Treize that 002 was still alive and well…somewhere. Apparently, Treize must have forgotten that all units were equipped with tracking devices and 002’s was still in effect. “I eagerly await your return,” he added with a small smile.

“Good. We should be arriving shortly.”

He hung up the phone just as the third and final explosion was heard in the distance. By this time, Treize was sure that the Grand Ballroom no longer existed and that, in itself, was inexcusable. He bit his lower lip hard enough to draw blood, eyes flinty with hate for the organization that was out to get him – to destroy him, to tarnish the image he had carefully nurtured and built for himself after all these years. He longed to meet their leader. To meet the man responsible for all of this, and when that day came, Treize would make sure he made him suffer. Suffer. Suffer! Suffer!!

He punctuated each word with a slam of his fist on the hand rest, hardly feeling the pain he was inflicting on himself.

__

Destroy it all. I’ve got to…destroy it all before they find out.

But for a long minute, Heero couldn’t get his feet to cooperate with him. His mind was still filled with all he had seen – information overload, one could say. Some things didn’t quite fit in the grand scheme of things. Like for instance, the destruction of the three colonies. It was clear that the Opposition really had nothing to do with it. Why would Duo want to bomb his own homeland and with him in it?! And yet there were publications and magazine clippings that showed some terrorist-type activities from the Opposition. So what was Duo really? A savior or a menace? It really was amazing to think that he had created such a tight-knit network of supporters with no one ever really knowing what he looked like.

They all follow him blindly. A mindless dedication…just like Treize…only he’s the opposite…or is he?

He shook his head rapidly, but no matter how much he tried to shake it off, the comparisons were still there. Treize and Duo were leaders of two of the most powerful groups in the solar system. Each had amassed great technology and armies all ready to do their bidding at the drop of a hat. Although they stood on opposite ends of the spectrum with their ideals and beliefs, it still didn’t stop them from being dictators in their own rights. Heero was sure that if he had met Duo Maxwell in the past, they would have hated each other on sight. He shuddered at the thought and closed his eyes, willing himself to remember the unit who had looked at him with kindness at some point during his stay at the facility. He wanted to remember the Duo that had agreed to be his friend, not this cold and yet passionate leader on the television screen.

A loud beep had him starting in surprise and his eyes darted towards the trapdoor, wondering if he had been caught already. However, the sound was heard again and it took him a second to realize it was his beeper. He stared at the device for a long minute, remembering the cold faces and blank stares he had seen in the nurses and doctors’ eyes at Howard’s bedside. He remembered the countless hours spent in the operating room, bent over human beings who would be turned into fighting machines. He remembered the sleepless nights, his dreams haunted by memories of his past and the horrors of his work. He remembered the old doctors’ sentiments, their hate for a program that was slowly eating away at their very souls. He remembered Trowa Barton and Quatre Winner, young men whose lives had been destroyed before their eyes, causing them to become drones of the program, willing to do anything to make up for the emptiness within their hearts. He thought of Howard, the Informant - a man who had risked his life to bring the truth to those who cared to listen, and had finally paid the ultimate price. He thought of Duo Maxwell, Agent 002, a man whose defiant violet eyes had made him question so many things from the moment they met. He thought of a friendship he had so longed for and which had been denied to him. He thought of a happiness he deserved and how Treize Khushrenada and Zechs Merquise had taken that away from him. He thought about his freedom. Duo’s freedom. Their goddamn freedom! And that no matter how much he tried to run away, he’d always be trapped in this world until his final breath.

Suddenly, and with a loud yell of rage, he hadn’t even been aware he was going to give; he flung his beeper against the wall and watched it shatter to pieces.

Fuck them! Fuck them all! I think it’s time I stopped being Mr. Nice Guy.

Breathing harshly, he began to search the room for the objects he’d need. Unaware of the cold look that had come into his eyes; his gaze fell upon the large steel trunk sitting innocuously in the corner. After several tries, it opened to reveal a treasure of rifles, handguns and grenades – more than enough to outfit a small army. He grinned at the sight and if anyone had come in then to see the expression on his visage, they would have considered that the man had gone insane.

__

The events of the last hour or so had gone by in a flash for Duo. From his meeting with the welcoming committee (as he called them now) at the Grand Ballroom to his current location – what looked to be an underground cave of some sort – Duo felt he had been whisked into the wackiest dramatic sketch ever created. He fully expected some doctor from the facility to walk in, unplug some switches and say ‘Had a nice dream?’ any minute now.

At the Ballroom, the burly guy had asked Duo to forgive him for what he was about to do. But they couldn’t take any chances since he was still officially a unit for the Organization. He had then proceeded to knock Duo out cold with a well-delivered chop behind his neck (it was a good thing they hadn’t touched his detonation button or it would have been an early exit for him) and now here he was sitting before a fire and staring into shadowed but eager faces all peering at him curiously. There must be at least twenty of them in the tight space and several others sticking their heads in from the outside. Duo couldn’t even remember being brought in here to begin with.

What the fuck am I? Your Jesus? Stop looking at me like that, he thought wildly as he noticed the sniffling girl sitting close but not too close to him. It was as if she was afraid of coming any closer for fear she’d combust into flames at his touch.

There wasn’t much in this underground lair of sorts. There was only the small but warm fire in the middle of it as well as several flyers and what looked like maps stuck to the walls. The entrance to the cave was covered with thick green canvas flaps and there was the undeniable smell of meat being grilled outside. His stomach growled and the girl giggled beside him. She was pretty if you liked the small, mousy type and she couldn’t be any older than eighteen. What was she doing in a place like this? What were they all doing in a place like this?

But you know, don’t you? You’re supposedly their leader. You looked after them because…because…

(They had nowhere else to go.)

He groaned and covered his face with an arm, trying hard to fight back the sudden well of emotions that rose within him. How he wished he could remember all of them. Their names, their faces…anything at all. But to him, they were supposed to be his enemies. He was supposed to kill them. They were supposed to be the menace to peace and freedom and yet…

“We know that we do not have much time,” the burly man suddenly said, causing Duo to lift his head quickly. “There is a tracking device inside of you and it is only a matter of time before they know where you are.”

“How did you know…?”

“We know everything about the units,” the man replied with a small but enigmatic smile. “We’ve been well-informed over the years. Luckily, we have a good surgeon on our side that will take care of you.”

Surgeon. Heero. Duo actually felt his stomach give a little flip flop at the thought of the young doctor being here to help him but he quickly squashed down his hopes as the burly man presented a much smaller man.

“Doctor Krakowski,” the man announced. “He was almost recruited by the Organization but he escaped with his family from the L4 colony cluster. You accepted him after he showed his credentials and he’s been a great help to our wounded soldiers since then.”

“It would be an honor to work on our great leader,” Krakowski said with a small bow. He still had traces of his Polish accent and Duo had to smile a little at how nervous and yet determined the guy looked. “Whenever you are ready, sir.”

Whenever I’m ready, huh? So that’s all it takes…just some guy to take away a few buttons and I’m back to being your leader? It ain’t gonna be that easy boys and girls. I still don’t know jackshit about anything.

Duo licked his lips and rubbed a hand across his mouth, trying hard to gather moisture into it. To be honest, he was plenty scared about this whole process. Perhaps a part of him was so used to the rigors of being a unit that his body and mind weren’t quite ready to let go of it just yet.

But the more you sit here and ponder about that, the more you’re putting their lives in danger, remember? Once they get wind that you’re no longer in the facility, they’re going to track you down to this place and all hell will break loose. Get your butt off the floor and do the damn operation!

He stiffened as he felt a hand on his shoulder and he lifted his gaze to meet the warm black ones of the burly guy aka current leader of this band of misfits. “It’s okay, sir,” he said quietly. “It’s okay to be frightened. What you’ve been through…none of us can even begin to imagine it. We will help you regain your memories again but until then, we will take things slowly.”

“What…what’s your name?” Duo asked as he searched the face desperately.

“Paul Sheldon, sir,” came the quiet reply. “I was actually your boss a long time ago at a salvage company but…” He shrugged and gave a soft laugh. “I am more than willing to be your follower until the day I die.”

(The dad I never had…)

Duo shook his head rapidly and rose to his feet, taking in deep breaths as if hoping it would keep his non-existent tears away. He watched as their eyes followed him, all still eager and hopeful, looking up to him as if he was their only source for survival. They needed him. He could tell. He could read their thoughts – a mishmash of confused images that had him squeezing his eyes shut for a brief moment. It all boiled down to one thing really. They were happy he had returned. Their hope would be restored and it was all upon his shoulders now. It was going to be a heavy burden but he was willing to take the chance.

“All right, doc,” he finally said as he opened his eyes to smile warmly at Krakowski. “Let’s do this.”

__

When Treize stepped into his apartment, he smiled softly at the sight of the lit candles placed around the living room. There was a bottle of his finest wine and three glasses set upon the coffee table as well as a plate of cheese and crackers for their consumption.

“Never miss a thing do you, my dear Zechs,” Treize murmured with a chuckle as he placed his burden upon the couch gently. A little color had come to the Queen’s cheeks but she still remained as immobile and as unresponsive as ever. Treize smoothed out her gown with a surprising tenderness. He peeled off her bloodied gloves and tossed them to the floor before placing her pale hands upon her lap.

“Hmm, perhaps we should take off this ghastly thing,” he muttered as he reached behind her neck to take off the heavy necklace. “I’ve got a much better one for you, my Queen.” He threw it into the fireplace, watching as the flames danced and flickered in protest at the sudden intrusion. Grinning, Treize rose to his feet and made his way to a large shelf which housed all the artifacts and souvenirs he had gotten from his travels over the years. He opened a small wooden box which revealed a much smaller but no doubt expensive necklace of white diamonds, sitting in a lining of red velvet.

“A gift from the deceased King of Sudan,” Treize said softly as he walked back to Relena to place it around her neck. “Oh, how beautiful you look, my Queen. How…gorgeous. It goes well with your eyes, don’t you think? Perhaps I should bring you a mirror? Yes?”

He rose to search for one, but froze at the sight of the man standing at his bedroom door. It was Zechs, who was now dressed in only a pair of tight black pants and not much else. His features were as pale as the girl on the couch and his eyes looked glazed…almost crazed even.

“Ah, Zechs!” Treize greeted, with outstretched arms as he approached the silent blond. “I see you’ve already seen our guest for the evening! Isn’t she simply breathtaking? I was hoping to introduce you in a more proper manner but I assume this will have to suffice for now. Come, come, don’t stand there like a zombie! You must be polite to our guest!”

He placed a hand on the other man’s wrist and pulled him gently, smirking at the low sound of misery that escaped Zechs’s lips as they approached the living doll. Zechs took in the sight of the young woman and slapped a hand over his mouth, fighting back the scream that threatened to escape his throat. He tried to look away but Treize would have none of it.

“Look!” he spat coldly, squeezing Zechs’s hand painfully while placing his other hand upon the blond’s chin. “Look at her! Isn’t she what you’ve always dreamed about? Your precious sister! Look upon her and your sin!”

“No…” It was a breathless moan of pain and suffering, like a dagger being twisted within his heart as he stared at the only woman he could ever truly love.

“Isn’t she what you dream of?” Treize continued relentlessly, eyes fevered with a heat that was close to being maniacal. “Admit it! You want her, don’t you? You long to touch her flesh again, don’t you? To feel her supple skin against yours, don’t you? You’ve yearned for her all these years and now she’s finally here again! Thank me, Zechs! Fall to your fucking knees and thank me for small favors!”

He shoved the soldier towards the girl, laughing as Zechs stumbled and fell into her lap with a soft grunt.

Oh, Relena…

He stared into her empty eyes, her pale cheeks and lips and did his best to stifle a small choked sob. He grasped her cold hands and buried his face upon her lap, trembling as he listened to Treize’s cold laughter echo within his head incessantly.

I’ll kill you. So help me, I’ll kill you someday, Treize.

“What is it?” Treize suddenly snapped coldly, forcing Zechs to lift his dull gaze to the frowning man who was now peering at the video conference screen. “What do you mean the informant’s house exploded?! Who is responsible for it?! Yuy?! Doctor Yuy?! That worthless piece of shit! I hope he’s been arrested…good! I’ll be down there myself to see him.”

He switched off the device and spun to face Zechs. “As if my night couldn’t get any worse, I now have to deal with a crazed member of my own personnel. I would ask you to do the dirty work, Zechs, but it’s obvious that you have your hands full.” He laughed – a short bitter sound as he made his way out of the apartment.

“Oh and one more thing,” Treize added as he opened the door. “When you do decide to make love to your sister, please do it anywhere but here. I hate the smell of cheap women after sex.”

Zechs groaned as he listened to that cold laugh again and as he buried his face within his sister’s lap, all he could think about was dying and taking Relena along with him. Anything was better than living in a world where they were judged constantly for something – a single mistake - that shouldn’t have happened years ago.

__

“How long has he been like that?” Trowa asked in a soft whisper as he walked into the observation room to stand beside Quatre.

“Almost an hour. He hasn’t said anything since then,” came the quiet reply.

They watched the proceedings in the Interrogation room, where Heero sat in a single steel chair in the middle of the large white room. There was a pool of blood around his feet, its red hue a stark contrast to its surroundings. His head was lowered and his hair, now matted with sweat and blood, shielded his eyes from view. His wrists were cuffed behind him and his ankles shackled to the chair and if it wasn’t for the slow but steady sound of his breathing through the speakers, one would have thought he was already dead. There was no one else with him and it wasn’t necessary. The Interrogation room was one of the most feared rooms in the facility. In here, wayward personnel were brought in to go through the most grueling mind search ever performed. If Duo’s mind ‘stretch’ had been a painful experience to undergo, then this was ten times worse. Many had claimed that some people went insane afterwards or simply began to bleed internally from the punishing process. The thought of one’s brain exploding was not something any looked forward to.

Trowa sighed and ran fingers through his hair. The evening had been one of the craziest yet and it didn’t look like it was going to get any easier. He just hoped that Treize wouldn’t ask him to get rid of Heero. It was bad enough with the assassination at the Grand Ballroom. That experience still left a bitter taste in his mouth. He glanced at Quatre and saw that the blond looked just as pale and a bit melancholy.

“I don’t…”

“Hmm?” Trowa asked quietly.

Quatre slapped a hand over his mouth and took a deep breath, forcing himself to regain his composure. “I don’t know how much more of this I can take,” he whispered. “I had to…to…”

Suddenly, Trowa understood. “You shot him?”

Quatre could only nod. He felt sick to his stomach. “Yes. They wanted me to kill him but I couldn’t. I just shot his leg and that’s it. I don’t…don’t know how much more of this…”

The door to the observation room flew open and Treize walked in, a thunderous scowl on his visage. Barton and Winner saluted smartly, their features now devoid of any emotion.

“What’s the situation?” Treize barked as he leaned over the console to stare at Heero’s lone figure through the thick glass.

“He’s refused to say anything, sir,” Quatre replied. “We’ve increased the level of pressure to his brainwaves and he’s still unresponsive.”

“A tough one, I see.” His jaw worked for a moment before he punched a button before him to speak into the microphone. In a pleasant tone, a far cry from how angry he really felt, he began to speak. “Good evening, Doctor Heero Yuy. Hardly a way for us to meet for the first time, is it? Unfortunately, this evening has turned out to be quite an interesting one and I’d like to ask you a few questions if I can, hmm?”

When Heero gave no response, Treize growled softly, forcing himself to continue. “Perhaps you’d like to tell me what you were doing in The Informant’s house and why you decided to blow it up?”

Heero didn’t even lift his head.

“Is he even still conscious?” Treize hissed to the officers in the room with him. At their nods, his temper flared, now knowing that Heero was deliberately ignoring him. “Doctor Yuy, let’s try to be civilized, hmm? We do not want to hurt you, after all, you are one of our most important personnel and you’ve done great work all around. Now, perhaps you should tell us why you would want to destroy the Informant’s house as well as attack some of your own comrades?”

“Answer me!” he bellowed when nothing was forthcoming. “You do know that all I have to do is press this button and it will be the end of your life! I have the power to take away your life, Yuy! Do not forget that!”

His harsh breathing filled the silence as Heero’s shoulders began to shake a little.

“What is he…?”

“Hahahahaha!” The occupants in the observation could only stare in stunned silence as Heero threw back his head and laughed – a wild, carefree sound that felt so out of place in his surroundings.

“Perhaps you’d like to share the joke, Yuy,” Treize said in a deceptively calm tone. Trowa and Quatre could see that it was taking all of Treize’s willpower not to smash something in front of him.

Heero continued to laugh for another long minute, before he managed to get himself under some form of control. He lowered his head to pin cold blue eyes on his unseen interrogators and in a voice that was as clear as rain, he spat out coldly. “Fuck.You.Treize.”

Trowa had to nibble the insides of his mouth to stop the laughter that would have escaped his lips while Quatre pinched his palms tightly to control his surprise and amusement. They watched Treize’s features darken at the insult but then noticed the small, cold smile that came to his lips as his fingers hovered over the dreaded button that would end Heero’s life.

“It would be a pleasure watching you die, Yuy,” Treize said softly. “Ah, and before I forget, that unit of yours, 002, was it? I’m sure you must have heard of the bombing of the Grand Ballroom. As it stands, 002 is yet to report for duty and oddly enough, his location is unknown. I think its safe to say that your precious unit is nothing more than ash beneath the ruins of that great building. At least he went with a good, long, hard fuck from me. Something he’s bound to remember in the afterlife.”

He laughed as Heero snarled and tried to lunge forward. “So that finally got to you, didn’t it? Interesting. If I had known 002 would have such an impact on your psyche, I would have done my best to rescue him. And now, it seems like I’ll have no further use for you, Yuy. Thank you for your hard work over the years. You’ll be a hard man to replace.”

“Wait!”

Treize looked at the hand upon his as if unable to believe that any mere mortal dared to touch him. He lifted his gaze to meet the cool one of Barton, a brow raised in silent question.

“Perhaps we should let him live,” Trowa said quietly as he withdrew his hand. He deliberately ignored the quick, shocked look Quatre threw at him. “He is, as you said, one of our most important medical personnel. Without him, many of our units will not be repaired in time for our future missions. It’s clear that the Opposition is beginning to gain strength and who knows how much damage we will suffer in the upcoming months. We are already low on staff, sir, remember that.”

Treize cursed beneath his breath, knowing full well that Barton had a point. He hated this feeling of helplessness, and the knowledge that his enemies were mocking him behind his back as he floundered around with a program which seemed to be disintegrating before his very eyes. However, he was a resilient man and wasn’t going to give up just yet. With Baudouin, Applegate and now Queen Relena out of the way, it was only a matter of time before L3 and Earth would fall into his hands. He began to laugh, a soft sound that gradually gained momentum until it seemed to bounce and echo off the walls of the room. It sent chills of fear down his companions’ spines.

“Fine, fine,” he said with a wave of his hand. “Let the doctor live for now. At least we got rid of that traitor, the Informant, and Yuy did us a favor eliminating all traces of the old bastard. However, my dear doctor, you will be put under strict surveillance from now on. Everything you do, say and even think will be known, do I make myself clear?”

He shrugged at the cold silence that greeted him and turned to smile warmly at his subordinates. “Come now, Lieutenants, no need to stand on parade all the time! What say you to sharing a glass of wine with me? You have both done incredibly good jobs tonight and it’s only fitting that we celebrate.”

Neither soldier wanted to, but they dared not decline the invitation for fear of incurring Treize’s wrath again. With inner sighs, they marched after their exuberant leader, but not before stealing another look at the lone prisoner, who they could now swear had tears running down his cheeks.

__

Duo opened his eyes slowly and quickly closed them as the bright lights filled his vision. He winced and tried to swallow, but felt something hard within his throat as if something had lodged in there and was refusing to come out. He wondered if Patini would show up today to act all smug again. Maybe this time, Duo would shove a fist down the bastard’s throat for doing this to him. He groaned and shifted restlessly, hoping they would at least let Heero stop by to see him. It wasn’t fair really. He had only asked to see the doctor to apologize but they wouldn’t let him do that. He tried to swallow again, feeling a hot sensation within his eyes.

Tears, Duo. They are called tears. Never shed them yet, have you?

And I never will anyway.

He shivered and curled onto his side, missing Heero’s company with an ache that would shut down his bodily functions if he wasn’t careful. Maybe it was better if he just shut down completely. What use was he anyway? He was only going to be a sex toy for Zechs and Treize until they got tired of him and threw him out and then what?

De-commission time, baby. Sayonara. Adieus and all that good shit.

“Is he awake?”

“I don’t know…perhaps…he has been floating in and out of consciousness for the past few days.”

Huh?

“Well, how long do you think he’ll keep sleeping like this? We don’t have too much time!”

“Be patient, Antonio. So far, they haven’t smoked us out yet. Krakowski managed to get everything out in time.”

“I still don’t like it. I mean…how do we know he’s not even a decoy! A spy! He can’t remember a damn thing, what good is he to us?!”

“Watch your mouth, Velasquez! I think I’ve about had enough of your attitude lately!”

“Don’t mind him.” It was a female’s voice this time. “He’s just upset that he won’t be in charge anymore.”

“Bullshit,” the one named Velasquez replied. “I’m as much qualified as Sheldon here and you know it. Who was in charge of the Gaea mission, huh?”

“So you got sent to one mission and you think you’re a leader, huh? Gimme a break.”

Someone lit up a cigarette. Duo had the feeling it was Sheldon.

“Yeah, well I don’t see you doing anything, Po. What have you and Lucrezia done lately besides sit around and look pretty…urgh!”

“You wanna say that again, Velasquez?”

“Let him go, Sally,” Sheldon said in a weary voice. He sounded old and tired and Duo felt his heart stir. This Sheldon guy must have been holding the fort while he was gone. It must have been hard for the guy at his age. “Where’s Noin by the way?”

“She went to West Point. They just got a shipment of food for the refugees and she’s seeing to their distribution. Maybe someone ought to be helping out instead of standing here bitching about things like a fucking girl.”

Someone growled, Velasquez probably. There was a tense silence, a light snort and then the flap of the doorway opening as the angry man made his grand exit. Duo felt a cold draft as well as the hearty smell of fresh coffee and his stomach growled. He hadn’t eaten in…how many days now?

“You can turn around now, sir,” Sheldon said with amusement in his tone.

His cheeks flushing with embarrassment at having been caught, Duo turned around slowly, opening his eyes slowly to get used to the light again.

“How long have you known?” he asked with a small smile.

“Long enough,” the woman named Sally Po replied. She was leaning against a table, dressed in the now familiar dark green fatigues all Opposition rebels wore. She had a shapely figure and a pretty, wise-looking face. Her light brown hair was done in two ponytails that came just below her neck, her brown eyes filled with warmth and yet that underlying look of adoration that Duo had come to associate with his ‘followers’. He coughed lightly and sat up slowly, wincing at a light twinge in his lower back.

“Sally,” he said with a nod, now looking a bit sheepish. “Paul…you guys wouldn’t mind fixing me a little breakfast would you? I am starving.”

__

They watched him wolf down three plates of sausages, baked beans and scrambled eggs, neither saying a word as he motioned for seconds and thirds. After his initial reaction to the food, which had been to vomit everything to the ground after just one bite, his stomach had gotten used to it quickly and to Duo, it was simply heaven.

“Hungry much?” Sally asked, barely able to stop her laughter as she watched him raise the jug of water to his lips to drink thirstily. Duo lowered it with a satisfied belch and grinned at her.

“You have no idea. I haven’t had solid food in almost…” He frowned and lowered his head as if in deep thought. “How long…” he swallowed tightly. “How long was I gone?”

“A year and three months or to be more precise, a year, three months, six days, and twelve hours,” Sally replied with a light blush on her cheeks.

“Ah…”

A year of my life gone…just like that. Goddamn it!

He suddenly lost his appetite and pushed his half-finished plate of food away from him to rise to his feet. “And how long have I been out?” He waved towards the bed, hoping he’d hear something like a day or two.

“A week,” Paul replied quietly and crushed his cigarette in an ashtray on the small table. “A very long week.”

At Duo’s questioning look, Sally explained. “Krakowski was worried that you wouldn’t make it. He did get rid of the tracking device and detonation buttons…” She watched as Duo reached out to touch the back of his neck and his lower back. “…but you were delirious most of the time and kept calling out for a Hero or something like that.”

Duo had the grace to flush. “But I’m fine now, right?”

“Yes, besides your bones which are still made of gundanium of course.”

“Ah, that.” Duo flexed his right arm, a small rueful smile on his lips as he felt the inner metal bones move beneath the layer of skin. “Never be able to get rid of that one that’s for sure. But you can tell Krakowski that he did a great job all the same. I almost feel human.”

“You are human,” Sally said quietly as Sheldon nodded in agreement. “You’ll always be human to us, Duo. You’re our leader and we…we…” Her voice broke and before he could stop her, she threw her arms around his neck to hug him fiercely.

Sally…

He returned the hug, albeit tentatively as if afraid he’d crush her if he wasn’t careful. He closed his eyes and inhaled her sweet scent, his hand reaching up to caress her hair gently. Oh, man but did it feel good to have a warm body to touch him like this. With Treize and Zechs he had always felt cold – so very cold. He let her cry, meeting Sheldon’s dark eyes which looked just as moist. However, the older man turned away and rose to his feet, not wanting Duo to see how affected he was.

“We should get you up to speed with what’s been happening,” Sheldon said gruffly. “If we hope to trigger something in your memory, it’s going to have to start with several basic things. Who you were. Where you were born. Why you formed the Opposition and our goals and objectives. I will introduce you to all your subordinates and followers later on today. You don’t have to remember every single one of them, but it’s good to know those on your side.”

He turned to look at Duo with a stern but kind expression on his face. “Remember Duo, we are not just a small militant or terrorist group like the Organization likes to paint us. We’re all over the world…and even in the colonies. The Opposition is anyone who knows what Khushrenada is up to and wants to gain back their freedom from his iron fist. He’s already eliminated all of the officials who have stood in his way and the last thing we heard is that the Queen is with him. Who knows if she’ll survive or not.”

“That’s why we need you back,” Sally finished, pulling away gently to wipe her eyes quickly. “You were the one who held everything together and made us one, Duo. Ah, if only Hilde was still with us…”

“Hilde?”

“Your girl,” Sheldon replied with a wan smile. “You two were pretty hot and heavy for a while but she was with you on L2 when it got hit with the bomb.”

“Howard told us that she had become a unit as well but…”

“Howard?” Good grief, all these names! They meant nothing to him and it was so damn frustrating!

“The Informant,” Sally replied weakly. “But he’s…he’s been…”

“He was finally discovered by the Organization and eliminated,” Sheldon added, a look of anger on his face for a moment. “But let us take things one at time, Duo. Hopefully and with time you’ll be able to remember some things from your past.”

He began to leave the room when Duo stopped him. “Wait…Sheldon. I’ll…I’ll come with you now. Like you said, we don’t have a lot of time and the more we sit here doing nothing, the stronger Treize gets right? I want to…”

Free Heero and kill that fucking bastard Treize for what he did to us…with my bare hands.

“…I want to do the best I can. I might be a bit slow at first but I’m a fast learner.” He nodded firmly meeting Sally and Paul’s eyes, which now seemed to blaze with a light that he hadn’t seen before. It looked like it was a combination of relief and joy but he could be wrong.

“Then let’s go, sir,” Sheldon said with a smart salute which Sally quickly echoed. It sent a flush of color to Duo’s cheeks, making him wonder if he could really adjust to being a leader again. For the sake of these people who looked up to him and hung on to his every word, he would learn to be strong for them. But most importantly he’d have to be strong for a young doctor who was still trapped within the walls of an organization determined to destroy them all.

Just give me a little more time, Heero. Just hold on a little bit longer for me.