Alien in our Midst
-A GW Alternate Universe

part 2
---------------------------------

Emperor Typhon smiled, silver eyes gleaming with cold satisfaction.  "You
have done well, Captain," he said, idly tapping a finger on the arms of
his seat.  "Rest assured, you will be suitably rewarded for this."

"T-Thank you, your Majesty," the other man stammered, voice sounding tinny
with relief as it travelled over the comm lines.  "That is most generous 
of you."

"However," Typhon continued, a feral light entering his eyes.  "I want you
to keep a close eye on the perimeter.  We wouldn't want him getting away,
now would we?"  His expression promised a swift and painful retribution, 
if such a thing were to happen.

"Yes, Sire.  It will be as you wish."  Sweat glistened on the man's face,
visible even over the grainy vid.

"Oh, and Captain..."

"Sire?"  A nervous note entered the man's voice.  He had a feeling he
wasn't going to like what was coming next.

"I will be sending my son over to retrieve his bride.  Do extend him the 
proper courtesies while he's there, hmm?"

The captain gulped audibly.  Damn, he hated it when he was right.  The 
Crown Prince was notorious for his fondness for doing things no 
respectable man would even THINK of.  If he wanted his own people to 
remain unharmed, he had better bring in others to distract the sadistic 
young man.  "O-Of course, Sire.  We shall do our best to accomodate his 
Highness."

Typhon smirked, enjoying the other's unease.  "That will be all, Captain."

Bowing, the other man ended the call, mind already preoccupied with plans
to swipe some cannon fodder from the nearest colonies.  Typhon switched
off the communicator and rose to his feet, pacing over to the large glass 
windows that made up one wall of his room.  He eyed the twin worlds 
floating outside in triumph.   he thought, fingers splayed against 
the glass as if to grasp the two planets that spun lazily around each 
other.  

Chilling laughter filled the room.

* * * * *

The silver-eyed young man pushed his long, black hair out of his face, 
annoyance clearly visible in his expression as he turned to glare at the 
person who had so rudely interrupted his fun.

"What do you want, Father?" he growled, absently wiping his 
blood-spattered hands on the tattered remains of his latest toy's clothes.
"As you can see, I'm rather busy at the moment."

The Emperor's eyes flicked towards the young boy that lay in a shuddering
heap on the floor.  "Yes, I can see that," he said dryly.  "However, I
have some news that I thought might interest you."

Larvae lifted one elegantly arched brow.  "Really?  And what might that 
be, pray tell?" he asked indifferently.

Typhon shrugged, nonchalantly leaning against the wall.  "Oh, nothing 
much.  Just a little something about young Orcus' whereabouts, that's 
all."

"You've found him?"  The prince's eyes narrowed with sudden predatory 
interest.   "Where is he?" he demanded, callously kicking his toy aside as
he strode towards the other man.  The boy whimpered and crawled to a far
corner of the room, not wanting to get caught in the middle of the power
play between father and son.

"I THOUGHT that would get your attention," Typhon smirked.  

"Quit it with the games, Father," he spat, slamming his hands on either
side of the Emperor's head and leaning in dangerously close.  "Where is 
he??"

With a brief surge of Power, Typhon casually threw his son across the 
room.  "Watch it, pup," he said, calmly adjusting his robes.  "Kindly
remember who it is you're speaking to."  

Larvae staggered to his feet, angrily wiping away the blood that trickled
down his chin.  "Fine, I apologize," he ground out, visibly controlling 
himself.  "Now tell me where he is."

The older man shook his head sadly.  "Eighteen years of tutoring and this 
is what I get, a mannerless boor," he tsked.

"F-A-T-H-E-R!"  

Typhon chuckled, deciding to take pity on his son, who looked on the verge
of an apoplexy.  Pushing himself off the wall, he walked briskly towards 
the door.  "Well, come along then," he crooked his finger imperiously at
his heir.  "It's about time we brought your wayward bride home."

Muttering curses under his breath, the young man followed, glaring daggers
into his father's back.

In his dark little corner, the boy breathed a sigh of relief, thanking the
Gods for letting him survive for one more day.  As the mind-numbing terror
finally loosed its grip on him, the words the two men had spoken sank in 
and he gasped, eyes widening in wonder.  

Young Prince Orcus was alive!  

A smile bloomed on his lips, hope filling his heart for the first time 
since he'd been brought to this place.  This was wonderful news!  He must 
inform the Elders at once!

* * * * *

Several weeks later...

Duo grimaced, shuddering as he switched off the monitor showing the latest
victim in a string of unresolved murder cases.  The sheer terror and pain 
that was indelibly etched on the boy's face...God!  What kind of monster 
would DO such a thing??? (1)

He threw himself onto the sofa beside his partner.  "Na, Heero, who do you
think is behind all of those murders?"

Heero looked up from his laptop.  "Let the police worry about that, Duo.
WE have a mission to complete."

"Hai-hai, you don't have to remind me," Duo sighed in defeat.  Yareyare, 
Heero and his missions.....sheesh, the boy was obssessed!  "Still, though,
those murders are way creepy."  He shivered.  Somehow, the crimes felt....
PERSONAL to him.  Almost like they were linked to him in some way...  

Gah!  He was beginning to sound like Quatre!  This was just TOO weird.

Heero snorted.  "You're a Gundam pilot, Duo.  You're more likely to get 
killed by an OZ soldier than a serial killer.  Don't worry about it."

The longhaired boy sweatdropped.  "Gee, thanks, Heero.  That makes me feel
SO much better."

The other boy smirked.  "You're welcome."

Duo blew him a raspberry, then got up and walked over to the window, 
curling himself onto the padded alcove behind the curtains.  Despite the 
logic behind his friend's words, he still felt apprehensive, almost like 
that Damocles fellow. (2)

Somehow, he knew, things were going to change for him and his fellow 
pilots.  And he was DAMNED if he didn't feel that it was going to be for 
the worst.

* * * * *

Larvae stared down at the blue-green planet below him.  Somewhere down 
there was his bride.  So close....so CLOSE, and yet, still so far away.  
It had been WEEKS, and still NO sign of him...!  His hands clenched 
tightly, drawing a gasping wheeze from the boy whose fragile neck he held 
between them.  Small hands scrabbled at his, trying to loosen his hold.(3)

With a contemptuous snort, he tossed the boy aside, striding out of the 
room and heading for his own personal suite.  He threw himself on the bed,
folding his arms beneath his head as he glared at the ceiling.  Dammit!  
How was he supposed to find the boy on a planet with a zillion people???  

He let out a growl of frustration, tossing back his head and causing his
dangling earrings to brush his face.  He sat up, removing them and cupping
them lovingly in his hand.  

A pair of violet eyes stared mutely at him from his palm. (4)

So beautiful....

He closed his eyes, remembering that time fifteen years ago when he'd held
Orcus in his arms and marked him as his own.  The fear and pain in those
large amethyst eyes had been truly exquisite.....

His eyes shot open.  That was it!  The mark!

Quickly refastening his gruesome pieces of jewelry, he jumped out of bed
and made his way to the bridge.

Soon, Orcus would finally be HIS.

* * * * *

~tsuzuku~

(1) Gee, I wonder who it is....?

(2) Remember the story about the Sword of Damocles?  You know, where that
king fellow was eating with a sword hanging by a hair over his head?  
That's about how Duo felt....

(3) I guess that answers question number 1. ^_^;;;  Poor Duo....

(4) Ever wonder exactly what he did with Persephone's eyes?  *winces* ICK
factor!!!

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