//italics//

Part 12

Heero watched as his lover was secured to the chair, the hated mask firmly in place. He watched helplessly as the scientist turned on the machine and Duo jerked. Heero felt himself shaking with rage.

"We'll do this gradually." The Professor called to Dr. J. "We'll up the increments every couple seconds." Noin turned away sadly. She did not want to witness this.

The Japanese boy watched his life strain against his binds and his own fingers twitched, aching to help. He could see the consol from here, could see the percentage rise.

//68...//

//70...//

//72...//

The Zero System dragged Duo from unconsciousness. It held him, trying to invade the braided pilot. Trying to invade his very being. Duo fought back viciously, but he was already weak from the last session. He could feel himself slipping away, inch by inch. //74%...//

//"Not now, baka. This is important."//

76...

//"Go amuse yourself elsewhere, Maxwell!"//

78...

//"Music is soothing to those who are troubled."//

80...

//"Come on, Maxwell. Let's get you cleaned up."//

82...

//"You should be more careful."//

84...

//"I came...to apologize.//

86...

//"Ai shiteru, Duo."//

88...

//"I didn't make you. Death made you.//

90...

//"Ai shiteru."//

"NNNNNOOOOOOO!!!!" Duo screamed in agony. His arms ripped free from the restraints. Suddenly the mask, along with the chamber, shattered into a million pieces. Duo slumped forward and lay still.

Heero heard his lover's screams and snatched the knife from a startled Quatre. Running up to the cell wall, he bashed it, hilt first against the chamber. Using both, hands, he put his whole strength into it, pounding like a madman.

Quatre struggled to his feet in alarm. Heero had gone crazy! He looked frantically at his companions, but they were immersed in the drama unfolding outside the cell. He prepared himself to stop his friend, alone.

The glass cracked. In the exact moment Duo's chamber shattered, Heero broke through the cell.

WuFei saw Yuy break through the cell. They were free. With a vicious battle cry, The Chinese boy followed Heero through the hole. He started for the fleeing scientists, but something stopped him. Quatre looked up at him, eyes watering.

"Duo..."

Trowa forced himself to move. He couldn't take his eyes off of Duo's still form. A loud moan came from his left.

"Noin?"

The dark haired woman struggled up from the floor. "I'm okay. What happened?" But Trowa ignored her, continuing to approach his koi. //The God of Death can't die...//

He reached Duo just after Heero. He watched as the Japanese boy ripped through the remaining restraints to free his lover. Trowa helped him ease Duo to the ground, a mutual truce forming due to the circumstances.

Duo lay unmoving.

Quatre and WuFei kneeled beside Heero and Trowa, beside the braided boy. They all watched as Duo took shallow heaving breaths. Tears tracked down their faces in relief.

"Guys! Watch out!" Noin shouted.

Trowa looked up to see twenty soldiers rush into the room. He attempted to rise, but fell back down. He was too mentally exhausted to put up any resistance...He didn't have to.

"Enemies..." Duo jumped to his feet, immediately awake. The others watched in amazement as their injured comrade wrought instant death to his attackers. Using only his bare hands, Duo killed soldier after soldier, Dodging bullets and blows as if he knew they were coming beforehand. The boy's motions were a blur until he killed the last guard, crushing his windpipe.

Duo grabbed the startled Noin and slammed her against the wall. Noin eyes widened as she saw a bloody fist aimed strait for her head.

"Duo! Don't you recognize me?" The fist paused.

"It's Noin, Duo." Quatre pleaded. "She's a friend."

Noin watched the white pupils dilate. "Noin? Lucretsia Noin?" The dark haired woman nodded frantically, frightened at the monotone voice and the implications it brought. Duo's eyes went distant and he released Noin, dropping her to the floor. He stepped over her as if he didn't even see her. He looked around sightlessly.

"I know you are there." The sepulchral voice intoned. "I sense five presences besides my own. You will help me escape. Or you will become my enemies."

Behind him, Heero's eyes died. His lover was gone. It was time to destroy his body...and then himself. He opened the knife. Duo whirled around to face him but Quatre beat him to it. The blonde threw himself at the Japanese boy.

"Don't do it, Heero! Duo's still in there!" Heero looked at the tense form of his once-lover in disbelieve.

"What?"

"I can still sense him." Quatre was weeping. "He's crying and afraid."

Heero dropped the knife and took a step towards the braided boy. "Duo?" The American turned and took a couple of steps away.

"You weren't supposed to exist. You shouldn't be in here." Duo seemed to be talking to himself. "So if they are your friends, they will help me. I have to kill the scientists and Zechs Marquise."

"Duo! No!" Noin cried. He wheeled on her.

"I am not Duo. I am Pilot 02. And all of you are coming with me."

Chapter 13

Shin Kidousenki Gundam Wing © Sunrise, Bandai, and Sotsu Agency.