The Last Beat

~L4 No More~





Quatre looked up as Trowa walked into the common room where Heero, Quatre, and Duo were waiting anxiously.



"How's she doing?" Quatre asked.



"How would you be if you were shot three times, had two broken ribs, fifty-seven bruises and sprained tendons, and were whipped for hours on end?" Trowa replied darkly.



"I'd be dead," Quatre said softly, sounding hurt. It wasn't like Trowa to speak to him like that.



Trowa's eyes softened. "I'm sorry, Quatre. That was wrong of me," Trowa said quietly. "She's...actually, she's healing remarkably fast. No trace of any scar tissue, either. She's resting now. Wufei's in there with her. He sent me to get some more warm water and fresh towels."



Heero and Duo watched this exchange silently. Trowa and Quatre had been acting strangely towards each other for days now. Heero was convinced that if they didn't sort out their differences soon, one of them was going to snap.



It had been three days since they had rescued Nefertari Wakara, however, even though she was breathing and had a steady pulse, she hadn't woken up once. Someone was always in the room with her to monitor her vitals and change her wrappings. Duo commented once that it was kind of ironic that the pilot of the Pharaoh Gundam looked like a 'goddamn mummy'.



Heero hated it when it was his turn to watch over her. He felt responsible for what they did to her and couldn't stop thinking that it should be him lying there, bruised and broken, not her.



Duo stood up and looked at Trowa. "I can take care of it, Trowa. You rest here for a while. You've done enough today, man."



Duo busied himself with the water and the towels and made his way down the hall.



***





Wufei was singing softly as he wiped Nefertari's smooth brow with a damp towel. He paused suddenly and screwed up his face in concentration. He'd forgotten the rest of the words. It was a lullaby his mother used to sing to him as a child. He barely remembered his mother, but he did remember her voice.



"Don't stop...its very relaxing."



Wufei started and looked down into Nefertari's intense blue eyes. "You're awake!"



Nefertari smiled. "Yes, I am."



Nefertari tried to sit up and winced at the pain. Suddenly, she remembered everything.



"Don't try to move," Wufei said, pushing her back down onto the pillows. "You're badly wounded."



"I'll live," she said, but laid still. Nefertari reached behind Wufei's head and untied his ponytail. Wufei's ebony hair cascaded around his face in silken waves.



Nefertari smiled again. "Much better."



Wufei smirked at her. "What is it with you and my hair?"



Nefertari ran a silken lock through her fingers. It looked like black water. "It's beautiful," she said simply.



"No," Wufei corrected. "You're beautiful. Bruised, broken, and completely beautiful."



They were quiet for a moment, and then Nefertari reached out and touched Wufei's cheek tenderly.



"Why are you here, Wufei?" Nefertari asked softly. "Why did you rescue me? Why are you taking care of me?"



Wufei supposed she didn't realize that all five of them were taking turns to care for her. But that didn't matter right now. Not this moment.



"It was the honorable thing to do..." he murmured in a low voice.



Nefertari laughed softly. "You and your honor, Wufei. I swear--"



Nefertari froze. Wufei's lips were on hers.



Slowly, she relaxed and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer.



Wufei planted both hands on either side of Nefertari's head, determined not to hurt her with his weight. His mouth moved on hers and he traced his tongue across her lower lip, asking for entrance. Nefertari opened her mouth slightly and sighed as she let the kiss deepen.



The kiss was long and...well, perfect.



Filled with everything they didn't tell each other, with everything they didn't know about each other.



Utterly and blissfully perfect.



***





Duo trembled outside the door with anger...and something else he couldn't quite put a finger on.



So this is what you call honor, huh Wufei? Duo thought darkly. Makin' the moves on a woman when she's wounded?



Duo gripped the bowl of water so hard it was a wonder it didn't break under his fingers. He would never forgive this.



Never.



***





Duo stalked into the common room and threw the bowl of water and the towels into the kitchen. The bowl shattered into a thousand pieces where it crashed into the far wall.



"Duo!!!" Quatre cried. "What's gotten into you?!!"



"Don't worry, Quatre. She doesn't need it," Duo muttered. "Trust me, she's got Wufei."



Duo turned on his heel stomped back out of the common room and disappeared down the hall.



Trowa arched his brows and looked at Quatre, who sighed and went to clean up the mess in the kitchen.



Heero stared after Duo. God, Heero thought. What is this girl doing to us?



***





Commander Deans walked into the board room where all of the officials of the Earthatorial Rebel Association were assembled.



Deans turned to his 2nd in command, Lt. Temple. Temple was a man in his mid-thirties with light-brown hair and light-brown eyes. "Is everything prepared?"



Temple nodded. "Yes, it's all been ready for three days now."



Temple pulled out a chair for Deans, positioned in front a camera. "You would have known that if you weren't playing footsie with some girl," Temple added sourly.



Yes, the girl from L3, Deans mused. I never did get her to scream.



"That's enough from you, Temple." Deans sat down and shook out his hands.



"All right," Deans said. "Let's do this."



Showtime.



***





Suddenly, every video screen on the Earth and the colonies flickered, showing the image of Commander Deans smiling pleasantly into the camera.



"Good afternoon, citizens," Deans began.



"We of the Earthatorial Rebellion Association would like to share our thoughts and feelings concerning the space colonies.



"The colonies have tried, on numerous occasions, to destroy the Earth. It's an unwise concept. The Earth is a delicate part of our solar system and the birth of mankind. Mankind is merely a blink in the existence of the Earth. It is unwise to destroy something we did not create.



"The colonies, however, we did create. The colonies are a nuisance to the Earth and to mankind. It is the opinion of the Earthatorial Rebellion Association that the destruction of the colonies is the best solution. In this way, mankind can start anew in evaluating what we owe to Mother Earth.



"However, the spirit of the colonies charms us, and we would like to offer them a chance to defend themselves. Chivalry must live on somewhere, I suppose.



"Therefore, we of the Earthatorial Rebellion Association would like to declare war against the colonies."



The image flickered to show the colony L4. With a white hot flash, the colony exploded. The colony was completely destroyed!



The image flickered back to Commander Deans. "Of course, we will understand if the colonies do not feel up to the fight."



Deans smiled into the camera and he leaned forward. "The colonies have three hours to respond."



Deans paused. "Have a pleasant day."



Then every screen in the galaxy went black.



***





Quatre stared at the TV in the common room. He let out a short, mirthless laugh and turned to stare at Duo who was looking at him with a stricken expression on his face. It was a hollow black sound that was filled with shock and despair.



Quatre ran his hands through his hair and put his head between his legs. Then he got shakily to his feet and started walking out of the room.



"Quatre..." Trowa said softly, his voice filled with concern.



Quatre whirled on him. "No! Don't you dare!"



Quatre laughed again. "Half my family just died...I need to be alone, or, I swear, I'm going to go insane..."



Quatre walked into the hallway.



Heero, Duo, and Wufei, who were also in the room, watched quietly as Trowa got to his feet and followed Quatre. The last time a family member of Quatre's died during wartime, it had been his father...and Quatre really did lose it. Some say it was the ZERO system and others say he had a temporary lapse in his inner psyche...whichever, a few thousand lives were destroyed because no one was able to calm Quatre in his moment of severe grief. The tension they all felt as they watched Trowa go after Quatre was electric. The last thing they needed was for one of them to lose their mind. Especially Quatre. As gentle and kind his personality was, his wrath was formidable and dangerous.



Trowa grabbed Quatre and pulled the blonde man against him.



Quatre began banging his fist against Trowa's chest. "Just like that...just because some psychopath...half my family...just like that..."



Quatre's knees buckled underneath of him as hot tears streamed down his face. Trowa slid with him onto the floor, holding the grief-stricken Quatre tightly to him.



"Just like that..."



Duo and Heero exchanged a glance, remembering what had passed between them after L2.



"I've never felt so fucking helpless in my entire life..." Duo murmured.



Heero nodded. He stood up. "I'm going to talk to Nefertari."



Heero walked out, leaving Wufei and Duo in an uncomfortable silence.



***





"I take it you've heard," Heero said.



Nefertari was sitting on her bed; hand on her forehead, staring at her laptop with a bewildered expression on her face.



Nefertari glanced up at Heero and her expression turned unreadable. "Come in."



"I didn't expect this," she murmured. "I can't believe Deans would actually..."



Her voice trailed off and she shook her head.



"So what do we do now?" Heero said, sitting beside her.



Nefertari took in a deep breath. "We wait."



Nefertari looked back at her laptop. "The colonies have to answer, right?"



***





An hour later, Nefertari's laptop flickered, and the image of the red-haired Commander Fai Chrissen showed, her green eyes glaring into the screen.



"We of the Colonial Rebellion Association," she said promptly, "Would like to inform the world, that we accept the Eathatorial Rebellion Association's challenge.



"Furthermore, we would like to counter that the Earth is no more than a glorified Resource Satellite and animal breeding ground. We have no desire to destroy the Earth; however, we will eliminate anyone who threatens the peace of mind of the citizens of outer space.



"Also, we, of the Colonial Rebellion Association, are requesting a cease-fire for two days.



"That is all."



The screen went black, only to flicker back to life five seconds later.



Commander Deans, looking thoroughly pleased with himself, leaned forward and smiled. "Request for cease-fire accepted. Cease-fire will commence beginning now and will last for a maximum of two days."



The screen went black.



Nefertari sat back, utterly confused. "Well, that didn't make any damn sense. Chrissen and Deans were together on the Resource Satellite outside L3, remember?"



Heero stared at her. "What else don't you know, Nefertari?"



Nefertari smiled sweetly at him. "I told you. Stop trying to figure me out. It's a lost cause, Heero."



Heero changed his tactic. "Do you think it was staged?"



Nefertari frowned. "Why would they stage something like that and blow up a colony?"



Heero stared at the laptop like it was going to suddenly spring to life and give him some answers.



"I don't know."



***





Dorothy Catalonia hurried down a hall of the newly reconstructed Sanq Kingdom palace. Prime Foreign Minister Relena Peacecraft had insisted on the reconstruction of the palace five years ago and handled most of her work for the Earth Sphere Unified Nation from here. The Sanq Kingdom had been considered the capitol for the Earth Sphere Unified Nation since the reconstruction of the palace.



Two years after the Barton Uprising, Relena had asked Dorothy to act as her advisor. Relena had come to the realization that she was completely one-sided in her mind-set for peace. Relena had thought it would be appropriate to ask Dorothy for advice, being as how Dorothy had a better understanding of how soldiers thought and felt. So, for three years now, Dorothy had been helping her compile speeches and other such things for the Earth Sphere Unified Nation.



However, despite her previous experience with war, Dorothy was having a difficult time figuring out the motives for the Colonial Rebellion Association and the Earthatorial Rebellion Association's decision to declare war against each other. So, for the better part of an hour, Dorothy had been strenuously pondering over a speech Relena was going to say in her address to the Nation, deciding, finally, that it was best to make it clear that the Earth Sphere Unified Nation had nothing to do with these horrendous acts and to plead with the citizens to take no side whatsoever, before this turned into a bigger mess than it was already.



Dorothy turned a corner and opened the door to the room where Relena was waiting backstage to address the Nation.



Relena, who was dressed somberly in a grey pin-striped suit and white undershirt, turned and regarded Dorothy seriously.



"Do you have it?" Relena asked her.



Dorothy handed her the speech silently and waited as Relena read it through.



Finally, Relena nodded. "Very good, Dorothy. My thoughts exactly."



Under lighter times, Dorothy would have beamed at Relena for the compliment. However, she merely inclined her head and turned to the man standing at the curtain. The President of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation, Mr. Bailen Tudor, a former soldier himself, was addressing the Nation at the moment.



The man at the curtain turned to Relena. "Ms. Peacecraft, you're on in ten seconds."



Relena nodded, organized her papers, smoothed out her suit, and walked out onto the stage.



"...and now," Mr. Tudor was saying. "The Prime Foreign Minister Relena Peacecraft Darlian."



"Thank you, Mr. President," Relena murmured to Mr. Tudor. Relena walked up to the microphone and blinked against the hundreds of cameras flashing at her.



"Citizens of the Earth and of Space," Relena began. "The Earth Sphere Unified Nation and the Representatives of the Colonies want to make it very clear that we have nothing to do with these Rebel Associations or their war. We are doing everything in our power to put an end to their terrible organizations and their ridiculous war. I promise you, the recriminations for both Rebel parties involved will be severe.



"I want to urge all citizens to take no part in retaliating against these organizations or against the Earth Sphere Unified Nation. I repeat, we have nothing to do with this fruitless war. As always, we take a firm position in our quest for total pacifism.



"I want to add, on behalf of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation, that our deepest sympathies go out to the citizens who lost loved ones in the destruction of L2 and L4. As we speak, the Earth Sphere Unified Nation is setting up organizations around the world and the colonies for the wounded and grieving. You may look to the Representatives of your respected Nations for details of their whereabouts.



"Again, I urge you to take no part in this war. It will only result in more loss of life and more lost loved ones.



"Furthermore, I want to remind you, on behalf of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation, that these Rebel groups are no more than terrorists. The goal of a terrorist is, coincidentally, to strike terror into the heart of the general public. The Earth Sphere Unified Nation urges you to not succumb to this fear because it will only fuel their desire to make more horrendous acts of terrorism.

"Thank you very much for your cooperation. I'll take your questions now."



Relena blinked as hundreds of voices assailed her ears. She raised her hand and pointed at no one in particular.



"Prime Foreign Minister," a female reporter began. "How can you be certain that the Colonies will not retaliate against the Earth with the same force and fury that the Earthatorial Rebellion Association used against L2 and L4?"



"That's a valid question. I cannot. However, we must not succumb to our fear. Preparations are being taken to safeguard the Earth and the colonies from further acts of terrorism," Relena answered. She paused. "Also, we are not certain that the Earthatorial Rebellion Association is responsible for the demise of L2."



"Prime Foreign Minister," someone else said. "What are the Preventers doing to stop this?"



Relena smiled wearily. "Everything within their power, I assure you."



"Prime Foreign Minister!" Someone shouted over the din.



"Yes?"



"Is it true that a gundam was seen outside of L3?"



"That is a rumor," Relena answered evenly. "It is unconfirmed."



"Is it true that the former gundam pilots are back and working along side the Preventers," the reporter persisted.



"The Preventers are doing everything in their power," Relena repeated evasively. Heero... "That is all for now. Thank you for your time."



Relena turned and walked off stage. Mr. Tudor resumed the microphone. "Now if you will all direct your attention..."



Relena leaned against the wall backstage and looked tiredly at Dorothy.



"You did very well," Dorothy said softly. "You did very well."



***





Nefertari watched as Relena walked off stage and was replaced by the President of the Earth Sphere Unified Nation from her laptop. She glanced at Heero, who staring hard at the screen.



"You care for her, don't you?" Nefertari asked quietly.



Heero looked at her but said nothing.



"Well, if I were you," Nefertari said, swinging her long legs off of the bed and standing up. "I'd go to her. Someone out there is not going to like the fact that she's urging the populace against fighting to protect their homes."



"That's not what she meant," Heero said, averting his gaze as she shrugged out of her wrappings, but not before noticing that the whip marks on her back were healing cleanly. Trowa was right, Heero thought. No trace of scaring whatsoever.



Nefertari laughed. "People are stupid, Heero. They believe what they want, you know that."



Nefertari hissed as she clasped her bra into place and tugged her shirt over her head. Nefertari slipped into her skirt and tied the green sash over her hips.



Heero looked back at her as she walked over to her boots and began putting them on.



"You're leaving," Heero said. It was a statement, not a question.



"Yes, I am." Nefertari gathered up her laptop and turned to Heero before walking out of the door.



"You guys can use this place for as long as you like," Nefertari said. "It's hidden well and has plenty of resources."



Heero watched her go, unanswered questions burning in his dark blue eyes.



***





Quatre watched half-heartedly, as Nefertari got into the Pharaoh gundam and took off, from where he was seated in the transport shuttle's cockpit.



Quatre turned back to the shuttle's computer. He was trying to get a hold of Noin at the Preventer's Headquarters at the Rennell base.



The computer screen flickered and the image of Sally Po popped onto the screen.



"Sally?" Quatre wasn't sure what to make of this. Sally was in Noin's office.



"Noin's away right now," Sally explained. "She said to expect you contacting us."



A dark expression fluttered over Quatre's features. He didn't think he could take any more of people feeling sorry for him. Quatre had forty-nine some odd sisters and it was a widely known fact that half of them had resided on L4.



"I'm so sorry, Quatre..." Sally began.



"I don't want your sympathy, I want some answers," Quatre interrupted her. "What are you guys doing over there?!"



"Its hell in a hand basket over here," Sally answered. "Noin and Zechs are off trying to find the location of the Earthatorial Rebellion Association Base. Lady Une's on her way to the Sanq Kingdom to help Relena in keeping the general population calmed down. I've got the lucky job of trying to put order into chaos down here."



Sally shrugged. "We're actually relying on you guys a lot to get us information..."



Quatre slammed his fist down. "We don't know what's going on, either! Every time we think we're getting somewhere, something else unprecedented happens!"



Sally nodded, completely understanding. "We need the WP, Quatre."



Quatre laughed sarcastically and thought of Nefertari who had just disappeared. "It's inaccessible. Trust me."



Sally was quiet for a moment. "What's the deal with that girl and the gundam?"



Quatre smiled helplessly. "She's apparently feeling much better. Nefertari just took off in her gundam. I have no idea where she's going."



Sally thought for a moment. "While she's gone, you guys should commit to a thorough search of her safe house. Someone's giving that girl orders. Find out who she's working for--by any means necessary. That girl may be the key to unraveling what the hell is going on out there."



Quatre shut his eyes. By any means necessary...



"I understand," Quatre said.



"Good," Sally replied. "Get some rest, Quatre. You look like hell."



Self-consciously, Quatre glanced down to see if he had all his buttons buttoned. He didn't, but at least the buttons that were buttoned were in the right button holes. "Fine. Over and out."



Quatre reached out and cut off communication.



The migraine he hadn't felt for days was coming back full swing.



By any means necessary...



He needed a coffee...now.



***





Quatre had just relayed the conversation he had had with Sally Po to Heero, Wufei, and Trowa, and was busying himself with making a pot of coffee. Duo was no where to be found.



Trowa got up from where he was perched on the couch and went over to Quatre. Trowa placed a hand on Quatre's.



"No coffee," Trowa said to him.



Quatre looked at him quizzically.



Trowa tugged on his hand. "Come on, let's play chess."



Quatre stared at him a moment, then allowed Trowa to lead him over to the chess board.



Wufei watched them silently, thinking of Nefertari and what had passed between them the day before, and picked up a book. He thumbed through the pages and began to read.



Heero was thinking about what Sally had said about Nefertari. By any means necessary...



Heero stood up and went in search of Duo.



***





Heero found the braided man slumped against a wall in a random, dimly-lit, and bare room. Duo was halfway through a bottle of straight vodka.



"I didn't think you were the type to drink by yourself," Heero said as he sat next him.



Duo laughed softly. "There are a lot of things you don't know about me, Heero."



Duo poured Heero a glass, handed it to him, and stared into the clear liquid in his own glass. "Every bartender on L2 knew my middle name."



Heero glanced at Duo. "Do you even have a middle name?"



Duo thought for a moment, then laughed again. "No, I don't think so. It was a figure of speech, Heero."



"Oh." Heero knew Duo was an orphan, much like himself and Trowa. However, it was Heero's opinion that Duo suffered the worst childhood of all three of them.



"Who'd've thought that the God of Death would turn into a loser alcoholic?" Duo raised his glass to Heero's. "Cheers."



The two men drained their glasses in silence and Duo reached over and refilled them.



"So what are you going to do?" Heero asked Duo.



Duo stared hard at the vodka bottle. Then, putting it down, he glanced at Heero and swirled the liquor around in his glass.



"I'm going to look for the Earthatorial Rebellion Association."



"That's what Noin and Zechs are doing," Heero said. "Do you think you'll have better luck?"



"Luck? Naah." Duo drained his glance and sighed as it burned down his throat. Duo refilled his glass and stared at the vodka label again. "I'm thinking I'll start with the basics. Wolfgang's a German name, right? I'm gonna go to Amsterdam and start my search there."



Heero smiled. He loved how Duo's mind worked. Always had. Even in his drunken state, Duo's thoughts were quicksilver and practical.



Heero picked up the bottle, looked at the vodka label, and then back at Duo. "You always get your ideas from the liquor you drink?"



Duo laughed. "Not always, Heero. Not always."



Duo cast a sidelong glance at Heero. "So...you gonna run off to protect that Relena girl?" Heero always did. If he wasn't trying to kill her he was trying to protect her like it was his life's mission.



Heero shrugged. "It was actually Nefertari's idea."



Duo became very quiet. He hadn't forgotten the revelation he'd had on the rescue mission--that there were too many similarities between Heero and Nefertari for Duo's peace of mind. Duo didn't think it was fair, the way Heero had been trained as a child, almost robbing him of his humanity. Duo could only surmise that Nefertari had been trained similarly. If Duo ever found out who had robbed Heero and Nefertari of their childhoods, he'd rip their hearts out.



Duo also hadn't forgotten what had passed between Wufei and Nefertari.



Duo's fingers curled in anger. She never even said 'thank you' for rescuing her--to any of them.



As if sensing his thoughts, Heero looked at Duo. "Are you jealous of Wufei?"



"What?!" Duo drained his glass, gulping it down like it was precious air. Duo refilled his glass. "Why would I be jealous of anything Wufei does or doesn't have?"



"That's just it," Heero replied evenly. "I don't believe Wufei actually has Nefertari."



Duo stared at Heero. "What do you mean?"



"Nefertari's a smart girl," Heero said before draining his glass and refilling it. "And she is, in fact, a woman. I believe she's doing everything in her power to get us to trust her."



Heero took a sip. "We all know that Wufei has a soft spot for strong women. Look at the way he gravitated to Sally Po."



Heero looked at Duo. "Nefertari must have realized this and used it to her advantage. It may have been her way of snagging Wufei."



Heero smiled faintly. "I honestly don't think she's figured you out yet, or she may have used her wiles on you."



Duo blinked. "What do mean, 'figured me out'?"



Heero smirked. "Please, Duo. Everyone knows you're used to women swooning at your feet."



Heero face turned thoughtful. "Or she may have been wary because of your loss of Hilde."



Heero looked away. "She may be smart, but she's not evil."



Duo glanced at Heero, shocked. "I distinctly recall you considering her a possible enemy."



"Enemies are not always evil, Duo," Heero said softly.



Duo shook his head. "Man, oh man. Nefie usin' the ladies' charms. Shoulda seen that one comin'!"



Heero looked up at Duo seriously. "Don't let Nefertari cloud your judgment."



"You either, man."



Heero nodded and stood up, handing his glass to Duo. "I'll see you around."



Duo grinned up at him. "Is that what you came in here to tell me?"



Heero nodded.



Duo shook his head. Heero either didn't know him at all or he knew him too well. "All right, man. See you around."



Heero turned to leave but was stopped at the door by Duo's voice. "Hey, Heero!"



Heero turned back to look at the braided boy who was grinning at him like a maniac. "What?"



"Don't go gettin' yourself killed, or nothin', you hear me?"



Heero smirked. "Whatever."



Heero turned, and left.



"Man, oh man." Duo was shaking his head. "Man, oh man."