Disclaimer: I do not own the Gundam Wing characters, not am I making any money off of this endeavor. The ideas of the Confessor and Mord- Sith are from Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth novels and are being used without permission. The names of the locations are from the online game of Everquest. Warning: AU, Fantasy, Shounen-ai, Dark, Angst and Violence Pairings: 1+2 3+4 Yeah on and on it goes, calling like a distant wind Through the zero hour we'll walk... cut the thick and break the thin No sound to break, no moment clear when all the doubts are crystal clear Crashing hard into the secret wind You know the way it throws about. It takes you in and spits you out It spits you out when you desire to conquer it, to feel you're higher -Cuts You Up by Peter Murphy Mord-Sith! Part 6 The third arc in the Confessor Series "What's your name?" Quatre asked the young man with the braid standing in the center of the room as they waited for Wufei to come back. Duo looked startled, then sheepish. He nervously fingered the end of his long chestnut braid as he spoke. "Oh, sorry. I guess I should've introduced myself. I'm Duo Maxwell. I should tell you now that I'm a Confessor, but please don't let that bother you. I won't hurt you but I need some information. What's your name?" Quatre smiled in spite of himself. Duo could still talk a mile a minute. "I'm Quatre Winner and that's Chang Wufei." Quatre sat down on one of the padded high-backed chairs, trying to project an air of calm, unaware that he was unconsciously clutching the chair's arms. He watched Duo prowl restlessly around the room like one of the large plains cats, seeking escape from a cage. "Could you explain why you think that representatives from the Sank Kingdom would know General Treize?" Quatre began in an effort to stall until Heero and Trowa could arrive. Duo tossed him an amused glance from where he had stopped to contemplate a large painting of some long forgotten Emperor that adorned a wall. "Oz controls the Sank Kingdom. Queen Relena may want a peace treaty but any idiot knows that General Treize would take this opportunity to find out what the Emperor is up to." The blond mage didn't bother to argue with that, even though it was wrong. He would bet if Duo's logic went that way, then the Emperor would also be thinking along those lines. Quatre pushed aside that disturbing line of thought until later. Now he had a more immediate problem to deal with. He watched as the Confessor stopped at a potted plant and began to inspect the leaves. The blond mage smiled once again when he saw that Duo was examining him out of the corner of his eye as well. A small noise drew their attention when the fully clothed Wufei came back into the room bearing a tray of fruits, drinks and the glossy dark-brown Jatropha nuts. He offered a spell-cooled cup of juice to Duo, who nodded his thanks. "Why do you want to know about General Treize?" Wufei asked bluntly, his black eyes boring into the violet ones of the Confessor. The braided young man considered carefully as he sipped his drink. "Oz's leader is the one person in the realm that Odin Lowe truly fears." Quatre and Wufei exchanged a look of concern while Duo was distracted by the food. `Do you think Odin is going to make a move soon?' Wufei thought at the blond mage. `It certainly sounds like it from what Duo is saying,' Quatre answered, never taking his blue eyes off the figure in black standing by the table. They watched closely as Duo inspected the refreshment tray. Eventually, he selected a couple of nuts. Neither of them said a word. They all jumped as the door opened abruptly and Heero strode in alone. He was carrying a large book tucked under one arm, and quickly surveyed the room as he firmly closed the door behind him. Quatre frowned and mentally reached for Trowa. `Where are you, love?' `Outside the door, just in case someone decides to interrupt,' came the reply. `Good thinking,' Quatre thought back in approval, sending a wave of warmth along with it. `Heero's idea,' laughed the returned thought. `He also didn't want Duo to know all of us are working together.' Quatre had noticed long ago that Trowa was far more talkative using telepathy than he was aloud. Duo had frozen when the door was opened, half thinking it was some guard or Mord-Sith come to drag him away. When he saw it was Heero, his violet eyes widened in surprise. "You!" he exclaimed. For an instant Quatre's blue eyes lit up. "Do you know him?" If Duo remembered Heero, maybe they could talk him out of destroying Treize and perhaps even bring the Confessor back with them to Oz. Quatre's thoughts spun wildly with hope. "We met last night in the stables," Duo answered, not removing his violet gaze from the dark-haired soldier. Heero stopped about a dozen paces from the braided young man, as if he were reluctant to move any nearer. The air between them almost crackled with electricity as they studied one another. It was Heero that broke the stare-down. The cobalt gaze dropped down to where Duo was still holding a few of the poisonous Jatropha nuts. Duo followed his gaze and looked at them as well. With a shrug he put them back; he wasn't really hungry after all. Then Duo mentally shook himself and turned back to Quatre, getting back to the purpose of his visit. "Will you tell me about Treize?" Quatre glanced at Heero, and then looked squarely at the Confessor. "Why do you want to know about the General?" `Has he eaten any yet?' Heero asked Quatre. `Not yet,' came the reply. Heero resisted the urge to close his eyes in relief, even though it would have meant that the mission would have been accomplished. Duo licked his lips, all too aware of the three radically different sets of eyes on him. "I want to know if he is an honorable man." Quatre studied the Confessor carefully, and then he nodded. "Yes, General Treize is an honorable man. He can be very ruthless, but he only does whatever is necessary to keep his countries safe." Duo's smile held a bitter twist. Part of what the General had deemed necessary included wiping out Duo's own race. But that was beside the point. "So if a person were to ask for sanctuary from him, even though it might piss someone like oh, say, Odin Lowe off, he would grant it?" Duo unconsciously held his breath as Quatre considered the question. To everyone's surprise, it was Heero that answered him. "Yes." Heero had been taken aback by the question and, despite his efforts to control his emotions, his heart sped up just the tiniest bit. Duo turned back to Heero, his violet eyes held a sparkle of mirth as a grin tugged at his lips. "You can talk! I wondered." Heero settled for glaring at the Confessor rather than answering him, but the effect was offset by an echoing of the amusement in his own cobalt eyes. "Duo, are you asking for sanctuary?" Quatre asked softly, hope flaring in his chest as well. If Duo wanted to go with them, the blond mage would be the first to invite him. Now Duo grinned his old cheeky grin they had all known so well, but shook his head. "No, not for me. Treize made it very clear that my kind aren't welcome in the Midlands anymore." Duo left it at that. He ran a hand through his long sweaty bangs as he considered just how much he could tell them. He decided to go for it. "There is a group of young girls that are currently undergoing special training to become Mord-Sith. Actually, tortured is more the term I would use. If I can get them out of the Palace and Erudin, would you be willing to take them to Oz and to ask General Treize to grant sanctuary for them?" There was silence as the four Midlanders considered Duo's proposal. Quatre looked at Heero. He could feel Trowa on the other end of the telepathic link, listening intently. Wufei watched with undisguised interest, looking from the Confessor to the mage to Heero and then back to Duo once again. This was a better story than any bard could spin. If the blademaster had his way, he would be more than willing to rescue the children. But it wasn't his decision. The dark-haired soldier was in charge of the mission; it was up to Heero to say yes or no. Heero studied the violet-eyed Confessor. "What about you?" Duo shrugged. "I'll be OK staying here in Erudin." As long as the Emperor didn't know about Duo's role, the Confessor would be safe. It wasn't as though the Emperor could find out anything by reading his mind. "Why don't you come with us, Duo?" Quatre asked softly. "You would be more than welcome in the Midlands." At this point, the blond mage didn't care about the orders; he wanted Duo to come back with them. Duo smiled, but there was an uncharacteristic melancholy behind it. "You tempt me, Quatre, you really do. But there is no place for a Confessor in the Midlands anymore. You know that as well as I." "The fact that you're a Confessor makes no difference to us, Duo. You came to us in order to save some children. That tells us that you are honorable and kind hearted. We would be honored if you joined us." Heero didn't dare move as he listened to the exchange between the Confessor and the mage. With every fiber of his being he urged Quatre on, willing Duo to listen to the mage, and to be swayed by his words. Duo turned his back to them and walked over to the painting on the wall. Finally he spoke; his voice was slightly hoarse with suppressed emotion. "Thank you for the generous offer, and I do not doubt your sincerity. But the three of you, as open-minded as you are, are not the wider world. Do you remember that not even twenty years ago, there were Confessors in the Midlands? What happened to them?" Quatre looked at Heero, his blue eyes full of anguish as he swallowed and tried to form a reply. "Duo," he began. "What happened to them?!" Duo's voice cracked with bitterness and anger, as he demanded that the ugly truth be spoken aloud. "By the orders of General Treize, they were all killed," Quatre reluctantly answered. Duo whirled around and fixed a hard violet stare at the unfortunate mage. "Yes, by the order of General Treize, all Confessors were to be hunted down like animals and butchered. And they were. But he didn't do it all by himself. There were many people willing to carry out those orders. The people of the Midlands have always hated and feared the Confessors because we are more powerful than humans. Treize's orders just gave them an excuse. And you would tell me that though I am a Confessor, just because I tried to save some children, I would be suddenly welcomed in the Midlands?" Duo laughed; it sounded harsh and bitter, making the others wince. For a long time, no one said anything. Finally Quatre, yielding the point, murmured, "We do not live in a perfect world, Duo. I can't give you definite answers. Instead, let's work out a plan to rescue the children. What do you propose?" The blademaster and the soldier who had silently watched the exchange felt their hopes die like a newborn strangled by its cord. Now that it was very clear that Duo would never go back to the Midlands, they had to decide whether of not to complete their mission. But Heero decided that he would help Duo save the children, as a sort of balance for what he might have to do to the Confessor, if he decided to do it. Duo took a deep breath, trying to calm himself after the emotional outburst that had left his head pounding. Tiredly, he rubbed his violet eyes. "When are you planning to leave?" he asked. Quatre stood up and walked over to the table. He picked up his drink and took a sip, organizing his thoughts. "I have to meet with the Emperor tomorrow to offer terms of the peace treaty. If the Emperor is agreeable, we can probably leave the day after." Duo nodded. "OK, then. If that's the way it works out, I'll get the girls out of town tomorrow night and meet you in the hills. Do you have a map?" Heero went into his room and put the book down on a table. He then retrieved a folded map from his pack and rejoined the others, pushing the tray of food off to one side as he smoothed the parchment out over the table. "Here's where we'll be." Duo pointed to a place outside the city, next to a river. Quatre turned to Wufei. "Tomorrow, you will go into the city and purchase a wagon and supplies for our guests. Clothes and food and such. Take it to where Duo showed us and hide it as well as you can. Then come back here and meet us. We must be seen leaving together to avoid raising any suspicions." Wufei nodded. "How many are there?" Wufei asked. Duo looked over at the blademaster. "I don't know exactly, maybe six or seven. It depends on whether any have died since I was there last. I'll find out tonight." "How?" Heero asked. This sounded serious and he was worried about letting Duo something dangerous alone. A maniacal grin flitted across Duo's face. "They're being kept in the North Wing. I can sneak in and out since I know the layout. I've been in there few times." The humor faded, leaving a grim countenance behind. "I'll go with you." Heero's tone indicated it was an order, not a request. Duo shook his head. "Thanks, but you would only slow me down. It's pretty heavily guarded. It's better if only one person goes." "I'm going," Heero maintained, crossing his arms over his chest. He could be as stubborn, if not more so, than the braided young man standing across the room from him. Duo wanted to continue the argument, but it was getting late and the longer he stayed, the greater his chances were of getting caught. With an irritated exhalation, he capitulated. "Fine, but if you get caught, don't come crying to me." "When and where do you want to meet?" Heero asked Duo, who was heading toward the door. `He's coming out, don't let him see you, dear heart,' Quatre sent to Trowa. `Yes, dear,' Trowa thought back teasingly, making it sound like he was a beleaguered husband. Mentally, Quatre playfully `shoved' him. Duo thought for a moment. "Midnight. There's a tall willow tree in the Northwest garden next to the Palace. You can't miss it." He put his hand on the latch and hesitated, turning back to Heero. "By the way, what's your name?" "Heero Yuy," was the reply. "Ah, well, then I suppose you must live up to it." After a quick peek into the corridor to make sure no one was there, he slipped out. `Trowa, could you please follow him? I want to know where his quarters are,' Quatre thought to his lover. He `felt' Trowa's brief mental hug, then Trowa's mind turned to following Duo at a safe distance. Quatre walked back to where the others were staring at the map, lost in thought. "What happened to make things so complicated?" Quatre asked rhetorically. "Maxwell happened," Wufei answered in a weary tone as he straightened up. "Things tend to get complicated whenever he shows up. And by the way," Wufei turned to Heero who was still studying the map, "You could have mentioned that you saw him last night." Heero didn't answer. Wufei rolled his eyes in exasperation and went to gather up the tray of food, muttering about taciturn soldiers. `Heero' Quatre thought to the dark-haired soldier to get his attention. Heero glanced up, but remained mute. `Heero, what are we going to do about Duo?' For a long time there was no answer. Quatre almost repeated his question when Heero said out loud "I don't know." Meiran wasn't sure how she was going to escape. Luckily for her, the Emperor had been preoccupied with some pressing business and hadn't had time to send for her since their first meeting. She didn't mind at all being neglected by the Emperor. To try to come up with some sort of plan for the future, she had taken to wandering the Palace and its huge gardens. Of course she wasn't allowed to roam about without an escort of guards, but at least she wasn't confined to her rooms. The Faydwer princess had spent the evening in the gardens, meditating. Her guards watched in silence as she sat in a small alcove surrounded by orange trees. The fragrance of their blossoms was heavy in the humid air. As she meditated, the black-eyed girl thought of home, and her murdered father. She vowed vengeance on the person responsible for the late King's death. Odin Lowe's pet Confessor would pay. She was torn between deciding if escape or vengeance should take priority. Now she reasoned that as much as she wanted revenge, she needed to get away more. Finally, one of the guards signaled that it was time to go back. Reluctantly, she rose to her feet, the long silk skirt flowing around her ankles as she walked through the garden paths and back into the Palace once more. They made their way to the dining hall. Despite the obstinate mind- set she felt toward all things originating from the Palace, she was hungry. She knew she must keep up her strength, because one never knew when fortunate opportunity would arise. A loud smash of breaking glass drew her attention to an old servant who had dropped a tray of crystal wine goblets. Razor sharp shards of crystal sprayed in every direction. There was some laughter, but a few of the guards and other servants had come over to help clean up the mess. A guard with a strange sweeping bang was trying to wrap the old servant's hand in a clean white cloth that was quickly turning red. Without thinking, she moved to help. "May I see?" she asked. The two looked up and the guard took a step back. Gently she unwrapped the cloth and winced when she saw a long cut across the palm. It was very deep and, from the looks of it, several tendons had been cut. Maneuvering so her body was between the guard and the servant, she deftly healed the inside of the wound, leaving the outer bloody mess alone. It would scar but the aged servant wouldn't lose the use of his hand completely. Wrapping the bandage snugly around the man's palm, she patted his shoulder and stepped back, right into the guard whom she discovered had been watching over her own shoulder. Her black eyes widened in alarm. "Don't worry, my lady. I won't say a word," the green eyed guard murmured. She cursed herself for being an idiot, but nodded. She had no choice but to trust him. Finding she had lost her appetite, she headed back to her quarters, her `escort' at her heels. Heero still had no answer to Quatre's question when he entered the huge gardens. The twin moons where high overhead, casting two shadows as he crossed a marble ivy-covered footbridge, the tiny stream burbling quietly in accompaniment to the chirping of night insects. The Palace itself was reflecting the moonlight; it glittered cold and magnificent like a carving from an enormous glacier. He spotted the tall willow tree next to the mutely glowing wall. He glided over to it, looking under its arches of trailing branches for Duo. But on first inspection, it was empty. His cobalt eyes narrowed in irritation. "Right on time," a low voice murmured in his ear and it took all his legendary willpower not to leap in the air like a startled cat. He whirled around, and found himself staring into a pair of upside-down night-darkened laughing eyes. Duo was hanging by his knees from a low branch, grinning evilly, his long braid trailing like a rope just begging to be pulled. Heero resisted however, settling for glaring at the smirk and moved a step back so the Confessor could swing down. Duo looked Heero over, noting with approval the dark clothing, soft boots and absence of a sword. This was strictly reconnaissance; they were not going to the North Wing to fight. Duo raised an eyebrow. Heero nodded, he was ready. Like two shadows cast by the moons, they glided soundlessly though the gardens, following twisting paths overlaid with marble. Through white stone arches covered in climbing roses, across small streams filled with still goldfish, and under towering shade trees, they made their way. In other circumstances, it might have been quite romantic. Finally, Duo stopped. Raising a hand to signal to Heero, he pointed to another tree near the wall of the North Wing. It was a huge spreading oak this time. After a long, searching look at the windows, Duo sprinted forward; Heero stayed hot on his heels until they were shielded from prying eyes from above by the thick branches. Duo turned to Heero and, leaning up against the cobalt-eyed soldier, he put his mouth next to Heero's ear and began to whisper instructions. "We go in though the window. This will bypass the contingent of guards at the main doors. The only things we will have to watch for are random patrol guards. Once we are inside, do not say a word, no matter what happens. Sound carries in there like you wouldn't believe. Stay beside me. Any questions?" His breath was warm and Heero had to repress a shiver along his spine as he felt a flush from the nearness of the Confessor. Duo stepped back and looked at him inquiringly. Heero shook his head no. He licked his lips and motioned for Duo to go ahead. Duo nodded and, with the agility of a cat, leaped up and grabbed the first low branch, swinging himself up with ease. Heero followed close behind. The dark-haired soldier watched closely where Duo placed his hands and feet as he climbed. Soon, they were level with a third story window. Duo held himself absolutely still for a minute, listening with all his might for any sound that indicated the presence of a guard nearby. It was quiet. With a glance at Heero, he gathered himself and jumped across the narrow gap between the branch and the window ledge. Grabbing the windowsill, he hung there for another minute, before pulling himself up just enough to peek into the open window. Then, with a heave, he slithered though the window. Heero stayed where he was until he saw Duo's hand signal for him to join the Confessor. After Heero climbed through the window, Duo motioned for him to follow and quickly ran down the large marble hall. There was enough moonlight streaming in from the intermittent windows to see that the hall was empty of people. Duo ran straight to the end of the hall and pressed his back next to a set of closed doors, Heero was right beside him. For a long moment, they stayed that way, listening for any sound. Then Duo reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a tiny vial of liquid and a small cloth. With a few drops on the cloth, he wiped the hinges. Then Heero understood; it was oil in the vial. Duo was making sure the hinges didn't squeak. Heero nodded his head in admiration. Putting the vial and cloth back, Duo reached over and placed a hand on the handle of one of the doors, and slowly, ever so slowly, turned it. There was the tiniest click as the handle released, and then Heero understood what Duo had warned him about. That slightest of noises echoed alarmingly down the hall. Again, they froze, listening for any sign that would tell them that they had been discovered. There was nothing. Slowly, Duo pulled the door open enough to allow him to peek in. Then, once again signaling to Heero, he slipped though the door, pulling it shut after they got to the other side. They had entered another long hall. This hall was absolutely bare, save for doors at various intervals. There were no windows but softly glowing globes, lit by magic, cast a muted light. Together, they crept down the hall and stopped at the first door. Duo put a finger to his lips, and after again wiping the hinges, carefully turned the handle and peeked in. The moonlight streaming through the slit-like window illuminated the room enough to see a huddled form curled up on the hard floor. One. Silently, they made their way through the hall, checking each room. Some of the rooms held a small figure; some were empty. Soon, they came to the door at the end of the hall. The count totaled six. Duo was just about to signal to Heero to go back when he heard voices coming from beyond the door at their end of the hall. He pressed his ear against the wood. Scowling, he shook his head, unable to hear clearly. He was reaching for the handle when Heero grabbed his arm, glaring at him and shaking his head; the hinges were on the other side of the door, indicating it opened inward. If the door squeaked when Duo opened it, they would be caught. Duo shook his arm free and shrugged as he returned the glare. Then he nodded in agreement. They had been in there too long anyway, but he hated the thought that they might have missed a child. He was just about to signal to go back when the door at the far end of the hall, where they had entered, abruptly opened. Without hesitating, Duo turned the handle and dove through the door, only to immediately stop on the other side. His abrupt halt caused the dark-haired soldier to plow into him from behind, sending them both sprawling to the floor as the door started to swing shut behind them. It was lucky that the room's occupants were very engrossed in their activity; otherwise they would have been treated to a rather humorous sight: two young men, laying in a tangle of arms and legs, both with their mouths clamped firmly shut, trying to simultaneously out-glare each other and stop the door from slamming shut so they would remain unnoticed. Finally, Heero made it to his feet, and grabbed the door right before it clicked shut. Easing the door closed, he took a firm hold on the thick rope of chestnut and pulled the Confessor to crouch off to the side where some deep shadows offered meager protection. Anyone glancing in their direction would see them, but the tall, muscular man with light brown hair, standing beside a young girl and the older, more frail man sagging from manacles on his wrists chained to the wall above and behind him, were intent only on the painful lesson. "Now, Sansa, if you had put your lessons into practice, we wouldn't have to be here so late. Remember that you must never hesitate. Now, go do what you were taught." The tall man pushed the girl forward. As the pair of interlopers watched, the girl who looked to be no more than eleven or twelve, walked up to the man chained to the wall. Now that they could see better, Heero and Duo could see that the man had been brutally tortured. What had initially looked like shadows across his chest and abdomen were actually livid bruises. The girl, Sansa, held an Agiel in her hand. Heero noticed her arm was shaking, but her step was firm and determined. She stepped up to the tethered man and raised the Agiel to one of his ribs. They could hear the distinctive pop of the breaking rib despite the man's loud moan of agony. "Very good Sansa, the reason why the ribs are vital is because it will hurt the prisoner to scream, thus intensifying the discipline." The tall man patted the girl on the head, who promptly let go of the Agiel and it dangled from the chain attached to her wrist. "Now, we are going to do something a little more advanced. You know what the Agiel can do to a body, but now you have to learn the finer points of torture. One of the most excruciating pains that you can give is by placing the Agiel in the ear." Beside him, Heero heard Duo draw in a quiet breath. He resisted the urge to look at the Confessor; instead he kept all his attention focused on the gruesome spectacle in front of them. The man approached the captive, who looked on in terror. He turned to the chained man and spoke in cold contemptuous tones. "When she does this, do not move. If you move, it will damage what's inside your head. You may go blind, or be unable to move one side of your body. You may not even be able to talk anymore." The tutor motioned for Sansa to move forward. Now Heero could hear the chained man whimpering, pleading. "No, please Sansa. Please don't do this. It's me, papa. Please don't do this." The girl didn't seem to hear or care. She once again grasped the Agiel in her shaking hand and reached up and placed its tip in the captive's right ear. A scream unlike anything Heero had ever heard before rang through the room, echoing over and over again. Heero could feel Duo starting to shake beside him, but he still couldn't tear his eyes away from the obscenity he was witnessing. It went on and on. Heero couldn't believe how long the man just screamed in unimaginable agony. But he didn't move. Finally the tall man signaled to the girl and she took the Agiel out of her father's ear. The man collapsed, hanging by the shackles, sobbing and drooling. Heero noticed blood pouring out of his ear. Heero had seen enough. He knew if they didn't get out of that hell soon, he would lose what little control of his temper remained and he would start killing. The cobalt-eyed soldier looked at Duo, ready to signal to go back and immediately saw that they were in trouble. The Confessor's normally expressive violet eyes were flat and staring. His breathing was coming in hard pants, his mouth worked silently. Heero sensed the slender body next to his shaking with some emotion the dark-haired soldier could not name. Heero glanced back, making sure that neither the girl nor the tall man was looking in their direction, then grabbed Duo by the arm and dragged him to his feet, reaching for the door. His fingers were brushing the handle when it turned. Someone was coming from its other side. Holding the nearly catatonic Confessor in his arms, Heero pressed him to the wall right next to the door as the heavy wooden structure swung inward, effectively hiding them from the guards that entered, as well as from the girl and the tall man that had turned and looked in their direction. Luckily, the door stayed open this time. Duo was oblivious to what was going on around them, caught fully in the throes of a nightmare. He was shuddering violently now, and gasping but Heero was starting to make out some of his whispered words. "Screaming, they're dying! Stop! Please let it stop! Oh my god, I'm killing them all! No! Bringer of death" Duo's tortured voice was getting progressively louder and Heero began to panic. He grabbed Duo by his shoulders and shook him, trying to get him to snap out of it. Seemingly without awareness of his movement, Duo wrapped his hands around Heero's bare wrists. The violet eyes stared straight into Heero's, and didn't see him. Instead, they looked inward upon some nameless horror that only he could see. Heero was acutely aware of his personal danger. He was in mortal peril, not from the guards who were standing less then ten feet away, but from the soft yet firm grip of the Confessor's fingers that touched his skin. With instincts heightened by the threat of discovery, Heero knew if he did anything the slightest bit wrong, Duo would unleash his power and destroy him. The Confessor continued to tremble violently as he relived whatever horrifying vision had assaulted his mind and Heero knew it was only a matter of time before the guards would hear Duo and come to investigate. He tried to pull free of Duo's hands but the Confessor tightened his grip, immobilizing Heero's hands. The cobalt-eyed soldier had to silence his partner before they were discovered. Without stopping to think, Heero leaned forward and kissed the braided Confessor full on the mouth. At first there was no response, Duo's lips were stiff and unyielding as shudders continued to wrack the Confessor's slender frame. But gradually, the tremors eased and Heero felt the tight grip on his wrists relax a fraction. But before he could pull away, another round of shrieks from the torture victim rang through the silent hall once more. Duo stiffened again as the sound threatened to send the chestnut-haired young man back into the mental hell from which he had just begun to emerge. `It's the screaming,' thought Heero. `He can't take the screaming.' Taking advantage of the now relatively loose grip on his wrists, Heero raised his hands and placed his palms squarely over Duo's ears, burying his fingers in the thick chestnut strands of silk. He continued to press his lips against Duo's, even though the Confessor had ceased trying to speak. `Come on, Duo. Come back to me,' Heero urged voicelessly. Finally, he could feel the slender body pressed against his own began to relax, and Duo's lips softened. Breaking the kiss, Heero opened his eyes. It was then that Sansa's father must have lost consciousness, because the screaming trailed off. But Heero continued to hold his hands against the Confessor's ears, just in case. Duo's violet eyes had lost their blank, terrified expression, but it had been replaced with one of stunned surprise. Pulling back, Heero studied Duo carefully, looking for any sign that the Confessor would again lose control. But aside from staring at Heero in bemusement, Duo seemed to be on his way back to his old self. The horrible distressed look was fading from his violet eyes. Heero dropped his hands to Duo's shoulders, his cobalt eyes asking if the Confessor was all right. Duo nodded once, drawing in a breath, and then proceeded to surprise the hell out the dark-haired soldier by wrapping his arms around Heero and leaning his forehead against Heero's shoulder. "Are you done?" Heero nearly jumped out of his skin at a voice that sounded like it was right beside him. Then he realized that one guard must be standing directly on the other side of the door. He held his breath, and unconsciously pulled Duo closer. "Yes, we are finished. Come, Sansa." Footsteps echoed out of the room and down the hall as the door swung closed, exposing them once more. The tall man, the young girl and the guards had left. Now the only person in the room besides Heero and Duo was the battered man hanging senseless below the manacles. Duo looked up, and disentangling himself from Heero's arms, walked to the unconscious man. The Confessor studied the victim who had been tortured nearly to death by his own daughter. He stood staring, head cocked to the side, a contemplative look on his heart-shaped face. Heero just stood there by the door, watching as Duo reached out and touched the older man's swollen, bloody face. Silent thunder filled the room as Duo unleashed his power on the captive. The man woke up with a start and gazed at Duo with awe and reverence. "What do you wish of me, Master?" he croaked, his voice hoarse from screaming. "I wish for you to die in peace," Duo replied impassively. "Thank you, Master." The man closed his eyes and exhaled, sagging against the chains. He did not draw another breath. `Bringer of Death,' the Confessor mentally corrected the dead man. Then he turned back to Heero, who motioned that it was time to leave. Duo wasn't going to argue. He had a lot to think about and this was neither the time, nor the place to do it. The dark-haired soldier cautiously opened the door and peered out. The hall was empty. Together, they bolted up the hall. Halting at the door to make sure there was no one there, they exited back into the main hall and didn't stop until they were at the window near the oak. Duo jumped first, swiftly climbing down. Heero followed grimly. Duo had made no make eye contact on the way out. Heero was determined to get down to the ground and stop the Confessor before he ran off; he needed answers to some questions. They hit the ground at the same time. Duo turned to Heero and held up seven fingers, then flipped Heero a jaunty salute and turned, his slender body poised to run. Heero grabbed Duo's arm just as the Confessor tried to take off. The long braid whipped through the air as Duo was spun back around to face him. For a few seconds they stood eye to eye, neither willing to back down. Heero gritted his teeth as he realized that the danger of discovery was still great if they began talking. Listening intently, he heard something he needed and, still hanging on to Duo's arm, dragged the Confessor halfway across the gardens and stopped next to a small waterfall. "What happened in there?" Heero asked, keeping his voice pitched low. Chances were slim that they would be heard over the roar of the small falls, but he wasn't going to take any chances. "You saw a future Mord-Sith. That is how they are trained. Now do you understand why I want to get them out of there?" Duo deliberately misinterpreted the question. The Confessor didn't know for sure what had happened to him in that room, but he did know that he didn't feel like talking about it now. He tried to pull away from Heero's hand. Heero, however, had other ideas. "Not that. What happened to you?" Heero's words were clipped. Duo's actions in the training room had scared him badly. Not because they nearly had been discovered, but because there was something dreadfully wrong with Duo and Heero was powerless to help him. That fear came out as anger. But Duo didn't hear the fear; he only heard the anger. He bit his lip and shook his head, trying to keep a tight rein on his own temper. "I don't know! What I do know is that something is wrong up here," he tapped a finger against his temple. "All I know is it has to do with why I can't remember some things. And it hurts, Heero, it hurts like hell. But no one can help me." Heero frowned. Duo was explaining things, but he wasn't answering the question. He tried again. "What happened in there?" Duo squirmed, but couldn't get away; that cold gaze had caught him. Finally, he gave up and looked down. "I remembered something." "What?" Heero asked softly. From Duo's reaction, it hadn't been pleasant. Duo swallowed loudly, and shook his head. "No, I don't want to remember. Please, don't make me." Heero stared at Duo, waiting for him to go on, but Duo shut his mouth, refusing to say another word. The dark-haired soldier studied the miserable Confessor; absently he noted that it was getting lighter. The Palace was starting to blush with the first hint of dawn. Duo was trying to figure out how to get away from Heero when once again he felt the warning tingle behind his eyes. Shit! "I gotta go, now!" Duo violently wretched his arm free from the confining grasp. Heero, surprised by the suddenness of the jerk, let go. Duo had already darted back into the gardens before Heero started to give chase. The Confessor was fast and Heero had a hard time keeping him in sight. The mist was rising as dawn started breaking, obscuring the dark clad braided figure he was trailing. Soon, Duo was out of sight. Forced to slow down and look for a trail in the dew, Heero found he was back at the willow tree. He circled the perimeter of the area, looking for a trail leading away, but there was nothing. Backtracking, he went and examined the tree. On impulse, he grabbed the lowest limb and pulled himself up. He climbed steadily until he came level with a wide window. He listened for any sound, but it was quiet. He jumped the gap and landed with a soft thump in a crouch on the carpeted floor. He did a quick scan of the room and his cobalt eyes narrowed in fury at the sight of a tall brown-haired Mord-Sith standing above an unconscious Duo. Smoothly he drew a dagger from his right boot and let fly. The razor- sharp blade hissed through the air and flew straight at her throat. Casually, she caught the dagger by the hilt a hairsbreadth from her windpipe. Raising an eyebrow, she examined the blade, and then tucked it in her belt. Heero straightened up, ready to fight the leather-clad woman hand to hand if necessary. "I think before you try to kill me, we need to talk." Her voice reflected the ice in her eyes. Heero wasn't inclined to converse with the trained killer. But he stilled, waiting for her to get to the point. "Why?" he finally asked. "Because there are thing you need to know if you want to save yourself, your friends and the world," she replied calmly. Heero's cobalt eyes widened as the air around the Mord-Sith shimmered, and when the magic was done, a tall woman, with clear eyes and long brown hair that fell straight to her waist stood before him. She smiled at him as he recognized her. "My name is Middie, and we have much to talk about, Heero Yuy."