Savor the Darkness

- Six -

“We are now in transit,” Wufei announces as he backs out of his parking space.

Quatre chuckles from the passenger seat and Wufei almost shivers at how dark that expression of mirth sounds. “I can see that.” There’s a slight pause and the humor vanishes. “And since you’ve already determined Duo is not at his home, I suggest we head for Zanoah.”

Wufei is too off-balance to conceal his surprise. After a brief hesitation, he asks very quietly, “What makes you think that’s where he is?”

“I believe this is the part where I tell you about my recent experience with the Bedouin,” Quatre says pleasantly.

Wufei forces himself to remain silent and accelerates out of the apartment complex.

“The easiest way to conceal a lie is between two truths,” Quatre tells him. “I am a vampire: truth. Duo is resistant to my empathy: truth. Duo is capable of protecting his friends through empathy...” Quatre pauses and lowers his chin in order to meet Wufei’s glance eye-to-eye. “Lie.”

Wufei’s scowl deepens.

“In order to control an empath using the techniques Duo learned,” Quatre explains, “he would have had to be an empath. But he’s not. And the Bedouin knew this. Knew long before they began tutoring him. And they knew what the result would be.

“You’re a Preventer agent, Wufei. You know as well as I do that there will always be those who are striving for the upper hand. Even after the United Sphere Disarmament.”

Wufei nods. Once.

“So if you were a power-hungry opportunist, what’s better than getting your hands on large amounts of contraband weapons?” Quatre pauses but doesn’t wait for Wufei to answer. “Getting your hands on a perfectly legal and unrecognized weapon,” he concludes.

“Duo,” Wufei summarizes.

Quatre inclines his head. “And myself.”

“What?” Startled, Wufei takes his eyes off of the road for an instant to gage Quatre’s sincerity.

“For the last six months, I have been hiding my true progress from the Bedouin. I have been fooling them into thinking that I am their ally, that I will happily dispose of their enemies out of loyalty and undying gratitude for all they have done for me. For this second chance at life.” Quatre snorts. “You’d be surprised at the anti-Preventer sentiment that’s out there.” With a dark scowl, Quatre tells him, “And I’m sure the Bedouin aren’t the only ones who would love to see the world’s strongest policing agency brought to its knees.”

Skeptical, Wufei demands, “Exactly how were they going to use you to accomplish this?”

Quatre arcs his brows. “I am a vampire,” he repeats very deliberately. “I have the power to kill. I am also an empath. I have the power to heal.”

Wufei says nothing.

Doggedly, Quatre demands, “Do you think you would have figured out that another human being was slowing draining you to the point of death over a period of months if Duo hadn’t shoved it in your face?”

Reluctantly, Wufei has to admit Quatre has a point. He addresses the other object of their discussion, “So why would they want Duo if he isn’t an empath?”

Voice softer, almost reverent, Quatre says, “Duo is very powerful even if he is ill-suited for empathic techniques. And your inquisition into exactly how he encountered and convinced Heero and Trowa to join him brought a lot of attention to him.

“That was why I couldn’t wait any longer. The Bedouin had planned that Duo would return to them. He’d have to in order to try to fix the imbalance that Owning Heero and Trowa was destined to cause. But then they found out that another agency had found out about him and was planning to... acquire him.”

“Not Zanoah...” Wufei mutters doubtfully.

“Yes. Zanoah.”

“But that’s a–”

“Preventers base. Yes. I know.”

A moment of silence echoes between them as Wufei tries to decide if he can trust this information. He wonders if he dares discount it, especially in the wake of his most recent vision. Reluctantly, Wufei turns his mind away from this for the moment and concentrates on rounding off their conversation.

“So if Duo isn’t an emapth, what the hell is he?”

Quatre smiles. “Amazing, Wufei. He’s absolutely amazing... Do you know what ‘astroprojection’ is?”

Wufei shakes his head.

“It’s the phenomenon of being able to separate one’s mind from one’s body during sleep and traveling across any conceivable distance.”

Wufei feels his jaw sag. “You’re... not about to tell me Duo can do this, are you?”

“No, I’m not,” Quatre assures him. “Astroprojection is not a recognized extraordinary ability. There’s actually quite a bit of debate as to whether there’s any validity in it. No, Duo doesn’t go outside of his body while he’s asleep. He’s capable of far more than that.”

Abruptly, Quatre shifts his approach, “Do you remember – during the war – how pathetically easy it was for Duo to infiltrate the enemy? How he had a natural gift for stealth ops?”

Wufei nods, wondering where in the hell this is all going.

Quatre shakes his head, bemused, “I can’t believe it took me so long to figure it out. Adding his natural talents at going completely undetected, his constant and unwavering energy, and his ability to resist my unconscious attempts to harvest that energy...” Again, a brief pause expands and Quatre takes a deep breath in order to mute his enthusiasm. “Duo could do all of that because he lacked one of the biggest factors that prevents successful stealth, induces exhaustion, and encourages empathic attacks.” Grinning broadly, Quatre asks, “Can you guess what it is?”

Wufei frowns. “I do not play guessing games, Winner,” he snaps even as he tries to formulate an answer to the riddle.

Quatre’s grin doesn’t falter. In a tone that is woven with both amazement and sobriety, he states firmly, “A body.”

“W... what?”

“Duo Maxwell is a dreamwalker.”

Frustrated at the sheer weirdness of this conversation, Wufei snaps, “I don’t know what that means, Quatre.”

Seeing Wufei’s uncomprehending frown, Quatre clarifies, “He does not require a body, Wufei. It’s, for the most part, optional. Instinctive, even. In some situations – like piloting a Gundam – it’s necessary. And for others – like stealth ops – it’s a hindrance.”

Stunned, Wufei simply concentrates on keeping his car traveling between the twin sets of lines on the highway. After several seconds, Wufei hears himself cough out: “You... you’re telling me... that... that... Duo can...”

“I’m telling you that Duo is not embodied like you and I are. I’m telling you that he could be the greatest thief, spy, and assassin in the entire world. I am telling you that he is, quite possibly the most sought-after weapon in the entire Earth Sphere. I am telling you that the Preventers want him very badly, if not for their own use then to ensure he doesn’t join one of the rebel factions. I am telling you that if Duo is on his way to Zanoah right now he is very likely walking into a trap. And,” Quatre concludes in a bleak tone, “I am telling you that Duo is completely unaware of what he is.”

And after an announcement like that, there’s really only one thing to say. Too bad Wufei had already used that particular four-letter expletive not two hours ago. He really hates it when he repeats himself.

Abdul gasps at the information spilling across the screen. He’s forgotten how long he’d been focusing on cracking the access codes. He is not sure of when last he slept. But what he reads now makes these paltry concerns completely fade away.

In an instant, he is up and running for the banquet hall. He passes several of his comrades along the route but doesn’t stop to answer their looks of vague confusion. He stumbles into the cavernous room and pauses long enough to catch his breath.

Before him, the wilted posture of their commander huddles over the various maps and communications printouts. “Sir!” he wheezes when his lungs allow him the sound.

Rashid turns in his seat and watches Abdul’s approach with apprehension.

“What have you found?”

“Quite a lot that explains Master Quatre’s escape,” he replies breathlessly. “And a bit more that suggests where he’s gone...” Suddenly taken with a coughing fit, Abdul spends several moments fighting for air.

“Where?” Rashid demands, looking like he’s on the verge of squeezing the information out of his second.

“Zanoah,” Abdul manages.

Rashid frowns. “The Preventers base? Why would he...?”

“He’s gone after Master Duo.”

For a moment, Rashid simply stares at Abdul while his sleep-deprived brain sorts through all of the data he’s been staring at for the past two days. Recalling Quatre’s engraved message left in the window sill of his room, Rashid stands up and calmly demands, “Show me what you’ve found.”

“Ma’am!”

“Yes, private?”

“We’ve just received word; Maxwell’s team has breached the outer perimeter.”

“Excellent. Are the teams standing by?”

“Yes, ma’am. The teams are waiting for your command.”

The messenger presents a headset to his commanding officer. Slender, manicured hands accept the device and, in a moment, it is settled in place. With the flick of a switch, the channel yawns open.

“All teams, be on the alert. Target is within Zone C. Move into position with all caution. Do not attempt to apprehend the subjects until they have crossed into Zone A. Subjects will likely be under cover. Corner and subdue.”

She watches as the green light for each extension blinks along the master console. Her orders have been received and confirmed. Her body taut with anticipation, she pulls up the security camera angles and studies the surrounding shadows for any hint of her quarry. The dreamwalker.

Although her entire body is schooled to appear perfectly calm, she is not immune to the rush of the hunt. She has been waiting for Maxwell to make his move – this move. She has been anticipating it. Dreaming of it. Tasting it.

“A dreamwalker,” she breathes, her breath puffing against the muted microphone arcing over her lips.

What an addition he will make to the game. Or, failing that, what a relief to know he will not be joining the resistance. The few experts in supernatural phenomenon she’d consulted had expressed concern over exactly how one would go about exterminating a dreamwalker, but she is confident she will find a way. Proving it becomes necessary, of course. She’d hate to waste such a valuable asset. But it will be a challenge convincing him to cooperate. She is well aware of Maxwell’s fierce independence – as a former Gundam pilot, he could be nothing else. Yes, he will most certainly be a challenge.

And she does love a challenge.

“Something tells me that you will be the greatest of them all, Duo Maxwell,” she murmurs, anticipation humming through her veins. “It’s your move, dreamwalker. Let’s just see what you can do...”

End of Savor the Darkness

Chapter Notes: “The easiest way to conceal a lie is between two truths” is, I think from a very early episode of The X-Files. I have a vague memory of it. Maybe. Also, I have never heard of a “dreamwalker” or any person being able to do what Quatre says Duo is capable of. Sorry I can’t point you in the direction of more interesting readings.

Author’s Notes: Ah, yes. This doesn’t seem to be finished, does it? Well, I’ve got a continuation in mind. Hopefully it goes somewhere. Feedback, including comments and constructive criticism, is what keeps me writing GW fan fics like this one and are greatly appreciated. So if you’d like to read a continuation, please let me know. Your enthusiasm is my enthusiasm. Thanks for reading.