Gundam ShadowStalker

Quatre sighed. Damien had put up such a fight against going stay with his Aunt Mary. In the end he conceded the battle, but not before spending time with Zane. The two were nearly inseperable, which should have made him happy, but for some reason it irked him greatly. Jealousy definately was not a feeling he was used to. Sometimes his young nephew went to watch the man train and Zane would play with the boy when he finished.

His departure led to the raven haired man shutting himself up in the guest room, only coming out three times a day. For meals and his regular workouts. He remembered asking Heero a few days ago how the rubdowns were going.

The Perfect Soldier gave him a blank stare, said," He pulled a gun on me," and walked away.

Now Duo was making death threats of his own, which were ignored, and they all slept with a weapon at hand. Yet the man never attacked them, spoke a sentence at most, then went about his business. One could cut the tension with a dull spoon it was so thick. Trowa tried his hand at getting the man to cooporate with the massages, but returned with the same results as Heero. Wufei didn't even bother.

" He might actually shoot one of us if we continue to pester him," was the Chinese agent's wise words.

Sally came by once during the week to inquire about her patient's progress. When she was given the report, she rounded on them, and went to 'straighten his ass out'.

Zane led the pale, shocked doctor out of the door moments later and instaled a lock on the inside of his room. They didn't see him for the rest of the day. When asked the only explaination she gave was," He threatened to throw me out the window of a two-story house."

No more visions of the past occured and they made no leeway with the silent man. If it were him, Quatre wouldn't feel quite so hospitable towards his 'keepers' either. That, however, did not mean he had to isolate himself in that small room constantly. The phone rang and he answered it with another sigh. " Winner Residence....Just a moment, sir."

Whoever this man was wanted to speak to Zane, but no one outside of Preveter's top generals should know where he resided. He knocked softly on the door and waited. It opened, the pilot giving him a questioning glance when he was handed the phone. " An older gentleman wishes to speak to you."

" Hello?"

" Ah, Shadowhound," Zane paled at the rusty, cracked voice. " How is my Gundam treating you? I understand that you were finally captured by Preventers, what a pity."

Slamming the door in the blonde's startled face he growled," What the fuck do you want?"

" Don't speak to me that way, boy," F yelled. A pause. " It's a shame, really, that you cannot visit your friends when you are guarded twenty-four seven."

He frowned. " Are you insane? Both of us know full well that I don't have friends." Only associates and people he used for missions. No one to be held as a weapon against him...unless...." No," he whispered.

" Oh, but of course you have forgotten the Johnson family so easily. They are right here if you wish to speak to them."

" Zane," Brenda's fearful voice trembled over the other side. " Zane?! Please help us, their hurtin' Markus and Derek!"

" Tell me where they have you Brenda!"

She sobbed. " I dun know! W-we were blind-folded..don't hurt 'im ya bastards," a child's screams echoed horribly in his ears. " No! H-have...mercy, please!"

" Where are you," he shouted. No answer came and he panicked. " Brenda? BRENDA!"

F's malicious made his blood run cold. " Let them go, F! They have nothing to do with this!"

He tsked. " Yes, but I am going to make you suffer, Zane. You should have never went against me and now you'll find out why. If you want to save them, you know where I will be...if they are still alive when you get here," the young mother's cry of pain and F's gleeful chuckle were the last things he heard before the line went dead.

Panting he tossed the phone against the wall with a vicious howl. " Damnit!"

Zane took a deep breath and tried to calm his racing heart. Juggernaut base on L-7 was F's hide out; he was keeping them there. But he didn't have ShadowStalker nor another air craft that could carry him into outer space fast enough. Markus...

Packing all of his weapons quickly Zane wrapped his fist in a shirt and punched through the window. It shattered neatly and he jumped just when the pilots burst into the room. Not missing a beat Duo took off after him, followed closely behind by Heero, and the others ran downstairs. They reached the backyard just in time to see the braided pilot tackling the sprinting figure to the ground and roll.

Snarling Zane aimed his gun at Duo's head. Everyone froze at the fear glazed golden brown eyes. What had spooked the man enough to risk being shot when he tried to escape?

" Why now," Duo asked, his breath coming in small gasps. " Why try and get away now when you've had the entire week to do so? Where ever your going your not getting there without killing all of us and you can't do that, can you?"

The hammer cocked. Heero tensed, went for his gun, but stopped at his lover's raised hand. Duo stared calmly into those feral, wild orbs and said again," Can you?"

His hand began to tremble, but Zane couldn't pull the trigger. It felt like his finger was frozen and no matter how hard he tried it did not budge. Instead he grit his teeth angrily, punched the man in the face, and backed away.

They were ready for him to bolt again and Duo stood rubbing his aching jaw. It was like dealing with a frightened horse, backed into a corner, ready to bolt at any given time. Quatre was pale, his hand gripping his heart; he could feel the overwhelming fear, sadness, and anger the man strongly projected. " Who was it that called you earlier, Zane?"

His nostrals flared, hands clenching and unclenching, and he roared," I don't have time for this bullshit!"

" Then make time," The onyx eyed Asain shouted back. " Because your not moving from that spot until we know what's going on."

" Who was on the phone?"

"...F..," he finally answered.

Trowa made his way toward the man. " And what did he want?"

Zane fled. Heero brought out his gun and took aim. " Don't shoot!"

" He's escaping Winner, we must take him down," Wufei said, pulling out his own pistol to fire.

" No," Duo stood infront of the two guns and frowned. " We'll follow him. Something about this isn't right, and we can take out two birds with one stone."

" Find this F and bring them both into custody. Let's move."

----

Her screams were like music to his ears, F thought giddily. Soon Zane would come and bring back his beloved creation. Then he was going to suffer. " Keep the woman alive," he instructed one of his men. " I might change my mind and use her for an experiment later."

" Ya dirty fucker, let us go," Markus yelled, struggling against the chains. They had just gotten home from a picnic when Juggernaut officers pounced on them.

Now he was tied to a large metal pillar, rusty chains attacked to his skin by large hoops. Brenda screamed again as one of the goons thrust viciously into her. Another was using a knife to slice up her beautiful skin, taking strips of bloody meat from her back and thighs.

Tears filled his swollen eyes at the sight of his son's lifeless body. Those bastards stuck hooks into his eyes and pulled until they popped out with a sickening squelsh. His little fingers and toes were pulvarized slowly with a hammer and they all laughed at his shrieks. Finally they set him on a table and let a huge cement roller crush his tiny frame. He could still hear his pleas for them and the snapping of bones. Then the cries stopped.

Markus wretched when he could see his wife's face. Her mouth was split open in a grotesque smile and both of her nipples had been cut off. He glared at the old man standing before him and lunged furiously, only to be held back by the hooks and chains.

F laughed along with the other soliders at the man's pathetic attempts. " Don't worry, old boy, your next."

---

Zane knew he was being followed and didn't give a shit. Time was running out and he only hoped he wasn't too late. He swiftly took out the two Juggernauts waiting by the doorway and ran inside. Flicking on the light in the basement he eyed the rows upon rows of mobile suits. Only half of them were ready to use and he unlocked one. A strong hand stopped him and he glared into cold perussian eyes.

" Once this is over with you will explain," Heero snapped.

With a nod he was released and Zane booted up the suit. It wasn't as deadly as his gundam, but it would get him there faster than a space shuttle. Five different mobile suits trailed after him as they shot into space.

" O2 here. This is so wicked! It's been so long since we've been in a suit that I'd forgot what it felt like!"

" Roger that, 02. Frequency system is green 01," Quatre chuckled at Duo's excitement. He felt pretty good as well, the Aries gliding smoothly under his control.

" Affirmative, 04. All systems go?"

Wufei snorted. " This is nothing compared to our gundams, but they are well made machines."

Trowa calmly flew off to the side, keeping a steady hand when they started to break through Earth's atmosphere. He could feel all of his war-time habits coming back and he smirked. " 03 waiting for orders."

" Ooo, you sound positively dangerous T," Duo laughed brightly, zipping the mobile suits every which way. " Hey 07, you copy?"

When no one answered Trowa spoke. " He means you Shadowhound."

Zane stared at his console in confusion. " ..07?"

" Yes. Back when we were still fighting Ozzy boys, we used numbers. That way they had no clue who we were if they managed to tap into our radio frequency or vice versa. Since your a g-pilot, you gotta have a number, dude."

Quatre smiled. Even from here he could feel Zane's confusion and...acceptance? " Since we already have an 06, 07 is appropriate for you."

" I wonder how smexy Zechy's doing with his pink wearing devil of a sister. Last I heard she had him dress in all drag. I feel sorry for the poor guy; those thongs must hurt like a sonofabitch!"

" Duo," everyone groaned and Zane bit back a laugh. When they weren't guarding him like a prison, he actually kind of liked these weird men. His mirth died when they rapidly approached L-7. " Orders 07," this came from Heero.

" We will land Northeast of Juggernaut HQ. There is minimum to no cover else where and the forest will hide the suits."

" Do you realize this could be a trap." It wasn't a question.

" Not 'could be', it is. Look for a male, brown hair, about 6'4'', around 34 years of age. A woman with blonde hair, around 32, 5'8'', and a dirty blonde haired child. Their names are Markus, Brenda, and Derek Johnson."

Brittle silence. Then a growled," You knew this was a trap?"

" Hey, you didn't have to come with me," Zane lashed out. " If you don't like it, then go back to Earth."

Duo rolled his eyes and sighed. " We've gone into traps before, 05, so take a chill pill. Are they civilians?"

" Yes. Land there." They did so and jumped out of the mobile suits. Zane rumaged through his pack quickly and took out two dark objects. " Here. This should do the trick."

Quatre stared at the C-4 bombs with wide eyes. " You had bombs in our house and didn't tell us?! I let my nephew handle that bag," he bit out.

" Do I look stupid to you," at their thoughtful expressions he shook his head. " Don't even answer that. I know my way around explosives, alright, and Damien was in no danger. To hook them up, just plug the red wire into that left socket. It is set for five minutes, so that's all the time we have once you put them in place."

Heero studied the tiny black boxes with a professional eye. " You made these?"

He nodded, still digging around. " Yup. Had some spare time and a few leftover parts."

" And you were going to go in, rescue this family, and blow it all up in five minutes...alone," Wufei couldn't help but shake his head. " If we had known you were this suicidal, we would have left you at the hospital."

" I will set up one of the devices, but I need directions," Trowa said and watched as a blue print was pulled out of the bag.

Zane smirked and tapped the paper against his head. " Way ahead of you," he rolled it out and they all crowded around. " F knows I'm coming, but he doesn't know that you are here. This is where the sick asshole does his experiments, so the Johnsons are there. I want you," he pointed at Trowa then Duo. " And you to get inside the West and North wings of the building."

" Why there? The bombs will only blow up that section of the place, not the entire thing."

" Normally you'd be right," he agreed. " But F has fule stored on the North side along with very flamable mobile suits parts, in this room." he cirlced said room his a black marker. " This hallway connects the two, but once the fire spreads, the bomb on the West side will detonate. When it does, propane tanks from under the building will heat up quickly and...boom."

The two quickly scanned the blue prints and nodded. They quietly snuck into the compound and no alarms or gun shots were heard. " Good. I need one of you to stay by the front door and wait for me. Carrying three bodies is not something I can do. I have a uniform you can use, just keep the name hidden from view."

Quatre took the outfit and began to change. " This is rather small," he said after fighting to get to get the shirt over his shoulders. The pants were almost over his ankles and Zane sweat dropped.

" Sorry I'm not as tall as you, string bean. Just stick to the shadows and no one will notice, I guarantee it. Chang, Yuy, I need you two to circle around and come through here. I want that fucker F, even if I need help to get him."

" A man with a mechanical eye shouldn't be too hard to find," Wufei stated confidently.

" You'd be surprised at how quickly that man can disappear," Zane shook his head and stood. " Good luck and I'll be back."

" What are you going to do?"

Zane put on his base ball cap and grinned viciously. " I'm going to get them out, of course."

----

F's smile widened when the metal doors opened and Shadowhound finally appeared. " Welcome back, boy. Now where is my gundam?"

Zane tried to hold back the bile that rose in his throat threatening to choke him. A hand, feet, legs...all parts of Markus were hanging by chains on a pillar. The only thing not ripped apart was his torso and head. Those brown eyes were closed and he staggered toward the body. Whimpers made their way through the heavy smell of blood clouding his mind and Zane spotted Brenda.

She bled profusely from her privates, both eyes swollen shut, her mouth sliced open and upwards. He moved toward her only to freeze when a bullet landed near his feet. Smiling F trained the pistol on him and waggled a finger. " Not so fast, Zane. First, you tell me where my gundam is, then I might let the woman go. I find it incredibly funny that the child pleaded for you and his parents when he died."

Desperate eyes found Derek's flattened body and he lost it. He whipped his mouth and contained grief that threatened to consume him. So young, too young to have been tortured so brutally, to die before he had the chance to grow into a young then old man.

" Z-zane.." Brenda whispered brokenly and he went for her again. The bullet grazed his cheek this time, drawing a thin line of blood.

" My gundam, boy."

" It's outside you mother fucker, now let her go!"

" Be my guest," F vanished behind a door. Zane started forward when ten Juggernaut guards came out of different hiding places. They all waved at him brightly before the fight began.

He ducked the bullets and let his feet carry him to a metal table which he over turned. Using that as a shield he returned fire, taking out two of the men, and the rest split up.

He reloaded and fired, getting another one, before he felt the cool metal of a gun pressed against his temple. " Drop your weapon."

Zane tossed it away from him and stood, hands held in the air. The man, Barker if he wasn't mistaken, led him to the center of the room. Seven remaining officers gathered around him, some smirking and others jeering loudly. " I've waited so long to do this," a fist sank into his gut.

Falling to one knee he got back up and recieved another punch across the face. Feet and hands plowed into his body. Just went he heard the hammer click, soldiers started to fall. Heero and Wufei were effectively taking out the targets and no one lived. " It looked like you needed a hand," Chang pulled him to his feet.

" Thank you, " he grimaced in pain as his leg nearly gave out from under him. He was positive it was now broken because of the scuffle. Pushing it to the back of his mind he limped to the barely breathing young woman. " Oh, sweetheart, what did they do to you," he whispered sadly, running a hand through her blood matted blonde locks.

Blue eyes slitted open and she tried to smile. " Ya...finally came...t-they killed...ma babi-es..," she coughed roughly, blood trickling down her chin.

" I know and I'm sorry I got here too late," he bowed his head with shame. A soft hand craddled his unwounded cheek and he looked at her tear streaked face.

" Don't...ya g-go...and blame yaself...I'm...so glad...y-ya tried...tire-ed..."

Zane searched for a spot so he could lift her without much pain, but she turned her head to the side and rasped," 'M...diein'...Zane...bring t-them to me...ple-please?"

Nodding, eyes blurry with tears, he gently picked up Derek's body and laid him next to her. As she stroked his flattened head, weeping harshly, he unhooked Markus and carried him to her side. Both of her hands ran down the parts she could reach and she smiled. " ...Thank..you..Ma-markus," she choked on a sob." Loved you...like the sis-ter...he never had....l-like the bro...ther...he once kn-knew...we...all love y-you..'Dra..."

He tried to smile for her, but he couldn't. It didn't matter now. Biting down hard on his lip he whispered, " And I love you all and always will. Rest now, Brenda, and go see your loved ones." He leaned forward and pressed a bloody kiss to her forehead.

Her chest rose, fell, and didn't rise again. Numbly he grabbed a white sheet and covered their bodies with care. With clenched teeth he walked away slowly, like a dieing man on his last legs, and left the building.

His space heart throbbed mercilessly and Quatre gasped when Zane appeared. He and the other two were already waiting by the mobile suits. Emptiness surrounded him, filled with numb pain, a keen self-hatred, and bone-aching sorrow so deep that he wanted to cry. Darkness, icy cold darkness, was starting to creep into the man's heart and he reached out for him.

The pilot side stepped his hand and sat on the ground facing the building. Moments later two dark figures streaked across the lawn and
Duo whooped joyfully. " Bombs are ready to blow at any time...what," he stopped, seeing Zane's lifeless eyes and sagged.

Fire erupted through the compound, explosions making the ground tremble, and they all watched as the building turned to ashes. He stood slowly, shrugging off the hands that tried to help him, and went into the cockpit of his suit. The six took off, leaving a light trail, and a destroyed building in their wake.

---

" What happened out there," Duo asked softly, stretching out on the living room floor.

Zane hadn't said a word to any of them. Just limped up to his room, locked the door, and turned out the light.

Wufei sighed. " The onna was still alive when we got there. The man and child were dead, one pressed flat by a cement roller and the other with his limbs ripped from his body," at their horrified looks he continued wearily. " It was her dying wish to remain with her loved ones and he honored that."

They were all silent. It was no wonder that the gundam pilot had blank, dead eyes. Hurrying to save the people you care about only to behold their damaged, broken bodies must have felt like a knife twisting in his gut.

Heero spoke up. " The woman, before she passed, said something rather strange."

Everyone turned to him questioningly. " She said,' Markus loved you like the sister he never had and the brother he once knew,'.....Any ideas as to what that could mean?"

" None," Trowa said, cocking his head to the side. " Brother, I can understand, but sister? How can a man be like a sister to another man?"

" Maybe she was delirious from pain," Quatre suggested quietly.

" Somehow, I seriously doubt it."

-----

Ooooo, the G-boys are wondering now. -Laughs...and then weeps.- I can't believe I killed of Markus! D; -Shoots self.- I loved him! Ah well...Hope everyone enjoyed this angsty chapter.