CHAPTER SIXTEEN: A Strange Dark Power

Wufei stared at Heero. 'Then we'll know?!' Was his First insane?

'No,' the voice in his head made him jump. 'I'm not insane, but there is no use worrying about the unknown. We'll just face it, Fire - and the Others are here. They can help if something bad happens.'

Wufei wasn't so sure he was right - he'd rather know what was going to happen ahead of time. He'd had too many bad surprises in his short life. The unknown held little appeal for him. Oh well, he supposed Heero knew what he was doing.

He turned his attention back to breakfast.

*

As soon as they were all done, his Others sat back and gazed at Heero, like they were waiting. Their First turned to Wufei.

"I'm going to try now."

"All right. What do I do?"

"Just relax. You'll feel it, when I borrow; just let your power go. I'll only take what I need. A boost to Speaking doesn't require much."

Wufei nodded, and moved to sit on the bed, beside Trowa. He didn't notice the looks Duo and Quatre gave their Third, or the hot blush that spread over Trowa's face. He was watching Heero as their First's eyes lost their usual intense focus, going hazy and dim. He waited, and felt Heero's presence in his mind again, felt the faint, questioning tug against his power.

He carefully released his control of it, waiting for something bad to happen.

Nothing did. He felt a small amount seep out, like the little bit he used when he was Warming food or iron. It made him feel peaceful, and a little drowsy; now he knew why his Others had been so silent, when Heero had borrowed from them on the journey here.

He felt no desire to talk, and less desire to move.

The only thought that went through his mind was that he hoped this worked; his Others seemed very eager to get in touch with their Commander.

Especially Heero - he could feel the wistful desire to talk to Zechs that Heero was feeling right now.

********(Traveling with an Army)********

Zechs was riding alongside of Lucrezia, chatting with his sister. He rode casually, one leg hooked around his saddlehorn, his posture lazy instead of upright. It was too early in the morning for strict military decorum; their General was riding in a similar position. He was teasing Lu about her latest conquest when a familiar presence flooded his mind.

He nearly fell off his horse.

'Heero?!' he asked incredulously, ignoring the worried look Lu shot at him as he sat bolt upright.

'Zechs? It worked!'

'Heero! Where are you; are you all right?'

'Yes! We're in Cordia Township - it's in the North.'

'I know it! Heero - you can't possibly be Speaking to me from so far away! Your power...'

'Is a lot stronger than it was!'

And Zechs mind was suddenly flooded with pictures of a rather nasty little village, a rather paltry little Gathering, and a rather lovely little Fire Talent.

'You found your Fifth?! Heero! That's wonderful!'

'I know! Where are you?'

'Between Dracon City and Nayzia Township, heading North. We're actually going in your direction; we should meet in a week or so.'

'And where are you going after that?'

'We've orders to engage the Enemy in the North - why?'

'I have something for us to do, if you can get permission.'

'What?'

Zechs eyes blinked as he was rapidly supplied with several memory sequences; by the time he was hearing Wufei explain that Harris had never sold him because he couldn't get enough to cover the fine, he was fuming.

'Oh, I don't think permission will be hard to obtain, if I may show this to the General?'

'Just... don't tell Wufei, when you meet him. Not until I have a chance to explain why I showed you.'

'I understand.' He shuddered, thinking of the sight of Wufei's father dying while his tiny son knelt next to him, his little face terrified and confused.

They were going to Haven Village if he had to sneak off in the dead of night.

He tensed when he 'felt' Heero start. 'Heero?'

'Zechs - I have to go!'

'Heero, what's wrong? Heero?!'

But his WarCraft Spirt was gone.

********(Cordia Township)********

Heero jerked and gasped, staring at Wufei.

His Fifth was staring back at him, but there was something off about his eyes.

And underneath the very strong power he could sense in his Fire Talent, he felt the stirring of something... immense. He blinked, but didn't cut off the connection.

Instead, he allowed his own Talent to dive down, going through the Fire Talent, noting in an absent sort of way that his Fire was every bit as powerful as his Water, Earth, and Air, and he knew they had unusually strong Talents. No wonder Wufei's candles always exploded...

The... other thing... hiding under Wufei's power was dark, but didn't seem evil. He studied it from every angle, but he couldn't tell what it was. It was like Wufei - felt like Wufei, had the same warm, rich feeling as his Fifth's mind when he touched it - but it seemed somehow older, more focused. It was liking brushing minds with an old, old Talent, one who had seen things he could never imagine.

He didn't understand...

Some instinct caused him to try and Speak toward the dark power. It stirred again in response, and for a moment he thought he saw a flash of light in its heavy center - it couldn't be eyes, even though that was his first impression. He moved even closer, wanting a better look, a better feeling.

Then he stopped, feeling Wufei suddenly become agitated.

'Heero...' Duo's voice spoke clearly in his mind. 'Hee-chan, come back. You're going too far. Come back.'

'Too far?' he asked vaguely, still mesmerized by the whirl of black power he was studying.

'Come on, Hee-chan. You're getting so far away, we can barely feel you. Come back, please... Wufei's really starting to freak out. We need you.'

He sighed and started backing away from the dark... thing. He noticed that it settled, covering itself with Wufei's warm Fire Talent again, until he could no longer see the slightest trace of it. He allowed himself to go back to his usual level of MindSpeaking, enough to sense his Others clearly again.

He was surprised when he felt their worry. He was back, shouldn't they be calm...

...someone else was in the room with them. He felt an alien Talent brush against him, another Spirit trying to see what he was doing. It was no Spirit he was Joined with, and yet it wasn't entirely unfamiliar.

Tania.

What was she doing in here? What was she trying to do? He didn't need her help!

He came back to full consciousness with a start, and glared at the Healing Spirit.

She was kneeling in front of him, looking worried. "Are you all right?"

He didn't answer her - his eyes went around the room, his glare intensifying when he saw Paulos, Gwenneth, and Greyso also in the room. His protective instincts flared hotly when he saw how close they were to his Others. Paulos, especially, was gazing at Trowa and Wufei with worry in his eyes, and looked like he might grab them any second.

Oh, well, maybe that was because Wufei was shaking so hard, and Trowa had his arms around him, trying to soothe him even though his own eyes were wild.

'What's going on?' he asked his Third, not speaking aloud. Not yet.

'You tell us!' Trowa sounded almost frightened. 'What was that?!'

'What was what?'

'That thing in 'Fei, Heero!' Duo's voice sounded again. 'We were all with you, when you saw it! What the hell was it?!'

'I don't know. Wufei? Do you know?'

His Fifth shook his head, his mind silent. His dark eyes were huge, and he was hanging onto Trowa's arms so hard his knuckles were white. It had to hurt, but Trowa didn't even seem to notice. He was stroking Wufei's hair gently, the other arm tight around the boy's waist.

If Heero hadn't already known they were Linked, he would have known now.

Duo and Quatre had been hanging onto each other, too - now they moved hesitantly toward their Fifth. Duo wrapped his arms around him from behind, while Quatre leaned against Trowa like he was trying to lend him some of his strength.

"'Fei... it's okay. Calm down." Duo spoke aloud, and the older Talents in the room responded immediately.

"What's okay?" Tania asked.

"Is it something we can help with?" Gwenneth wanted to know.

Greyso and Paulos just continued to look like they wanted to hug the four boys on the bed.

"It is none of your concern," Heero said sharply, and they all looked at him.

"Perhaps it is..." Tania started, her eyes going to Greyso. "Heero - we've been discussing things - we think that perhaps..."

"He is not our Council. We have our Council."

Tania looked rather pitying. "Heero... you're young. It could be only a Common Joining, you might not realize..."

Heero frowned. "I may be young, but I am not stupid. I know the difference between a Common and a True Joining. Didn't I know that Markin was Common-Joined to your Others? Why do you assume I wouldn't realize a false Joining so much closer to me?"

"Because you want it so badly." Her reply was instant. "It's easy to close your eyes to the truth when you are about to get something you very much desire."

"Good advice," Heero said coldly, "perhaps you should consider it yourself."

"What?" her tone was blank.

Heero just shook his head. There was to be no getting through to the woman; she was as stubborn as Sally when the Healer was after them to fix minor scrapes. Maybe it was just the way all Healing Spirits were.

Well, Zechs would be here soon. Then she would see that the link between them was strong. There would be no arguing with it.

"Heero - would you allow Greyso to test your Council Joining?" Tania asked softly, as sweetly as if she was asking if Greyso could borrow a copper.

Heero stared at her. "No! Our Council will be here soon - you can see for yourselves, then."

She frowned. "Your Council is coming here? Why? I thought you would try to go to him?"

Heero didn't like her use of the word 'try'. There would be no trying, if he decided to go and meet Zechs, they would just go.

"Our Council is also our Commander - he is traveling with a General whose orders lead him North."

Now Tania was scowling. "Your Council is a Commander?! Heero, you are much too young to be in the Army - your Council should know that!"

"We are needed," he said coldly, and stood to walk past her.

She leapt to her feet and tried to block his way. "Heero - now I really think this is only a Common Joining. You are a strong Talent; they probably just want you in the Army for a weapon. Let Greyso test the link, then we will all know for certain."

"I do not need the link tested to know. Besides, we cannot do such a thing without Zechs... without our Council present. It would be a blatant violation of any trust between us..."

"Oh, really," Tania sniffed. "You don't cling to the rules that much, do you? They're only safeguards - you don't have to follow them to the letter."

Heero was suddenly speechless with rage. The Rules were in place for a specific purpose - they were safeguards, true, but they were tested and proven as needed! If Tania thought they were so unnecessary... well, it no longer surprised him that she had been willing to Heal Wufei without one of his Others present.

Quatre spoke into the sudden silence. "We will not do such a thing. Zechs would sense any sort of test against our Joining; what would he think? We would never cause him any sort of pain, emotional or physical!"

Trowa and Duo just nodded. Wufei had hidden his face against Trowa's shirt, so they didn't know what his reaction was right now. Heero reached out gently with his mind, only to hit that blank wall that had so confused him before.

"Oh, I'm certain he won't mind like you think he will!" Tania said, her voice firm. "Just let Greyso try, and then..."

"No."

Every head in the room turned to look at Greyso. He was almost glaring at his wife.

"Greyso?!" She looked surprised, and hurt.

He didn't waver. "What they ask is reasonable, Tania. We can wait until their Council arrives. I know how I would feel, if someone tried to test our link without my being present. We will wait."

'But, Greyso..."

"We. Will. Wait." He said firmly, and turned to leave the room.

Tania huffed, and went after him, her eyes bright with anger. Paulos and Gwenneth sighed and followed. Heero caught a lingering feeling of disappointment from them. He felt sorry for them; they had probably been very happy to find their Spirit, sure that all their problems were behind them.

Well, at least Tania wasn't using them to earn money. She was just stubborn; everything would work out once she realized she wasn't going to get her way in everything. Even under his own anger, Heero realized her intentions were good.

But he had other things to worry about than Tania.

He sat down on the bed, and eased Wufei out of Duo's embrace, though he didn't try to break his grip on Trowa. His Fifth wouldn't look at him; he had to lift Wufei's chin and duck his own head to meet his eyes. "Wufei?"

"I didn't know..." he whispered softly. "I promise, I didn't know that was there."

"I know," Heero said, putting an arm around his shoulders and tugging him close. "Don't blame yourself."

"I should have known. That... that thing... I didn't know it was there, but now I know it's always been there. That... that doesn't make sense, I know, but..."

"It makes sense," Heero said solemnly. "And don't worry about it, Wufei. Maybe you just have another talent, beyond your Fire. Quatre is an Empath, you know? And I couldn't sense his Empathy until we Joined."

Wufei slanted dark eyes at the blond, who nodded. "It's true. I knew it, but only because Empathy is something you learn you have very early. If someone's extra talent is something else, they might not learn they have it until someday when they really need it."

Wufei was silent, obviously thinking that over.

Heero decided to change the subject slightly. "Wufei - how were you blocking me, a moment ago?"

"Blocking you?" Wufei looked mildly confused. "I wasn't blocking you."

"You were doing something - I couldn't touch your mind at all."

"I... was just meditating a little," Wufei frowned. "I... it's just something my father taught me to do... when I need to calm down. It helps." He stared at Heero, looking interested instead of worried. "You mean, when I do that, you can't tell what I'm thinking?"

Heero shook his head solemnly, and Duo hooted with glee. "All right, 'Fei-chan! Now you can drive Heero crazy! Just do that at weird times and he'll be all jumpy and..."

"Shut up, Duo." Heero said calmly.

Duo laughed. "Aw, c'mon, Hee-chan! Let 'Fei have a little fun!"

Quatre and Trowa laughed, and Wufei smiled. He shifted his arms a little, but it didn't look like he was planning to let go of Trowa anytime soon.

Duo noticed. "Hey, Tro, why don't you take 'Fei out for a little air? He's been cooped up in this room for two days."

Trowa nodded, and stood. He didn't let go of Wufei either; just moved his arm around his shoulders. Wufei did let go of him - mostly. He hooked his fingers in Trowa's belt again.

Heero sighed and stretched out on the bed. "Where will you be?"

"The wall, behind the inn." Trowa wasn't going to much further from his Others than that.

Heero nodded.

Quatre nodded.

Duo grinned.

Quite evilly.

"Good choice, Tro-man! Nice and private there, no one to overhear any little conversations. You know, deep, dark confessions and such?"

Trowa cringed.

Again.

********(Somewhere Else)********

"They are in Cordia Township."

"Ah, then they are still out of range to MindSpeak with their Council?"

"Yes, sire."

"Good. Prepare the horses; I wish to get there before he finds out."

"At once, sire."

"And see to it that the others are informed."

"Yes, sire."

Silence, then a voice, speaking to itself.

"Yes, yes, little Spirit Talent. A sad choice of Others, but we'll fix that, won't we? And we'll start with the weakest link... that new little Fire. Don't worry, though, my little Spirit. You won't miss him for long."