Chapter 6 / 37
Written by Jessi Maxwell - send C&C to Megami_no_Remon@hotmail.com
A week had passed.
Treize was very upset. He had rigorously gone through all the security cameras that still worked and obtained only one poor photo of the person that had infiltrated the base. The image was distantly familiar, but he couldn't place it. Computer analysis didn't reveal anything promising either. // Oh, Milliardo...I do hope you're alright. I can't imagine whoever has done this would go to the trouble of capturing you if they wished you dead, but I do worry so... //
The general winced when another alarm went off a moment later. He immediately flipped to his security cameras, and it was easy to determine what had caused THIS alert, though it was hard to believe from watching. Treize had to replay the incident several times just to grasp what had happened.
Shaiyra had escaped. The thick steel door that barred his room had been smashed open. Treize watched awestruck as the door first started to slowly bow from a tremendous impact from inside the room. The bowing had increased until finally the door snapped free of its moorings and smashed into the opposite wall.
Shaiyra burst through the door in a swirl of dark shadows. For a moment, his form was definitely not human, though when he came in contact with the lights in the corridor the shadows quickly vanished, leaving him to hobble down the hallway as fast as his gunshot leg would allow.
// Take away the light and let him rest in the dark, indeed... // Treize scowled as he leapt up. He snatched up a rifle and headed down the corridor the security cams had last shown the silver-haired teen in.
Treize was fairly surprised when he turned the corner and almost smashed into Shaiyra, who had stopped dead before the doorways leading outside of the base. Treize immediately leveled his gun at the boy. "And just what brings you here, young master Shaiyra...?"
Shaiyra whipped around and gave Treize a trapped snarl before turning back and eyeing the doors with a mixture of longing and hatred.
// Why did he stop? He could have been out the door before I even arrived. // Treize eyed Shaiyra, then flicked his glance to the door. Bright mid-day sunlight streamed in the crack between the doors. // He cannot POSSIBLY be that put off by the light! //
The situation changed abruptly a moment later. The doors burst in as a pair of soldiers came rushing in to respond to the alert. Bright sunlight streamed in the open door.
Shaiyra let loose a bloodcurdling scream as the light hit him, dropping to the ground as surely as if Treize had shot him. Shaiyra clawed at his eyes, and Treize was alarmed to see them leaking blood. Even as he watched, before the doors swung shut, he saw the bones in Shaiyra's hands starting to warp and snap, breaking free of his skin viciously. Small rivulets of blood trickled from the boy's ears. The guards stared in dumbstruck amazement.
"Quickly, get him away from the doors!" Treize shouted, shocked. He was appalled at the damage Shaiyra had sustained, even though it had been no fault of his own. // I suppose he COULD be that put off by the light. At least I know what to do to keep him in line...//
With a sigh, Treize had him brought to another containment room. He kept the lighting dimmed, but was not about to make the mistake of letting Shaiyra have the full black he desired. Treize ordered his medical staff to tend the wounds and went to his bedroom.
With a weary sigh he sank back on his bed and eyed the ceiling. // So there is truth to what the boy told me after all...a shadow dragon. What am I to do with him?... //
~ * ^ * ~
"You should let me at least contact Treize," Zechs sighed after a while, eyeing Duo. "I have no idea where I am and there is nothing I can reveal to him."
"Then why bother contacting him?" Duo said with a suspicious frown, standing between Zechs and his laptop as if the injured bishounen was going to leap up and snatch it away.
"Because he'll worry. And even if he can't rescue me, knowing I'm in no imminent danger will ease his mind. We're...friends."
Duo squinted a bit before fiddling with the end of his braid, thinking. But the request seemed innocent enough and so he finally sighed in acquiescence. "Oh, fine...let me get a secure line set up so he can't trace you."
Zechs couldn't help but to smile a bit - Duo could easily have refused his request, but was good-hearted enough to grant it, despite the potential dangers, just to alleviate worries of his archenemy.
"Here, just push that button there and ya should be able to get through," Duo said, carefully trailing the laptop and its attached wires across the room and setting it in Zechs' lap.
Zechs eyed Duo for a long moment before speaking. "Thank you. I appreciate it."
Duo snorted and waved his hand as if to brush away the comment. "Eh, don't worry about it. Just make it quick...if the guys find out I've put a direct line through to OZ, they'll flip."
Zechs nodded and then punched the button Duo had directed him to.
~ * ^ * ~
Treize blinked fuzzily at the insistent beeping on his computer. He hadn't realized he'd fallen asleep. He quickly got to his feet and headed to his desk, running a hand through his hair and hoping he didn't look too disheveled. He barely restrained a yawn as he pushed the key to bring up his message. "Yes, wh.--! Milliardo!"
Zechs smiled slightly. "Hello, Treize. I can't chat long."
"Have you escaped? Where are you? Are you alright?" Treize asked hurriedly, his concern evident.
Zechs nodded. "I'm fine, and I'm not it any imminent danger. I'm a prisoner, true, but I'm being treated well and may be able to negotiate my release in the future. You needn't worry for me."
Treize let out a sigh, looking relieved. "I see..is there anything you can tell me that would help me get you out of there, Milliardo?...Anything at all? Or who captured you?"
"I'm sorry Treize. I cannot. I have to go. I just wanted you to not worry so much. I am not being mistreated and will be back eventually. Do take care."
Treize nodded and smiled faintly. "Thank you, my dear Milliardo. Be well. I hope to see you soon."
Zechs pushed the com off and then let Duo take the laptop back. Duo was eyeing him very suspiciously. "What...?"
"Milliardo, eh?"
Zechs winced a bit. "Ah...yes."
"Kinda strange for a pet name, isn't it?"
Zechs was quiet for a moment before speaking. "My birth name is Milliardo Peacecraft."
"Pea...holy shit, you're related to RELENA?" Duo asked, shocked.
"She's my sister. But I abandoned my right to the Peacecraft name and the Sanc Kingdom long ago. My path has brought me to war. I am not the pacifist my father wished me to be."
Duo sat down on his bed, lost in thought. "Wow. I never knew..."
"And what of you, then? Surely you must have a story with the way you dress and act."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Duo asked, sticking out his tongue briefly. "Eh. I was a war orphan. I was on the streets until the Maxwell church took me in and took care of me." Duo's voice faded out, and the pain was evident in his luminous violet eyes.
"I remember hearing about the Maxwell Church Tragedy," Zechs responded softly. Duo nodded stiffly.
"Yeah. I was one of the survivors. Maybe the only one." Duo heaved a deep breath, and then plastered a grin on his face. "But anyway, yeah, now you know somethin' more about me. I think I'll still call you Zechs, though."
"Fair enough." Zechs responded, closing his eyes, trying to forget the vision of the hurt he'd seen in Duo's eyes.