Dissonant Chords
By: Spooks
~ ~ ~ ~
02 woke up precisely thirty seconds before young 03 stopped the truck. Instantly alert, the scientist deactivated his electromagnetic belt and slithered on his belly to the edge of the tarp. Just as the truck halted, 02 slid out from underneath the heavy fabric and crawled under the flatbed of the truck. He stayed in a painful crouch until little 03 started uncovering the Gundam. When half of the tarp was drooping and pooling on the ground, 02 edged around it and into the cover of the surrounding trees.
Soon 03 had his HeavyArms uncovered and ready for battle, the truck now concealed with camouflage netting. As 02 observed, the young pilot checked his watch then climbed up into the cockpit. A few moments later, just it had happened before, 03 took off, the Gundam lifting up and disappearing in a hot flurry of boosters and exhaust. In approximately five minutes 03 would rendezvous with the high-speed air transport he had acquired for the mission, part of his attack strategy.
02 left his hiding spot, setting up a communications array quickly and efficiently. Even as he heard resonating explosions and saw the bright aerial evidence of the distant battle, he tuned into the various transmission frequencies being used by both Oz and the Gundam pilots. Tapping in immediately to the particular wavelengths, he listened to the battle as it unfolded, his heart seized in anticipation as he heard that loaded phrase:
"Mission accepted."
The aftermath of the distant detonation was the longest time of 02's miserable life. He heard 04 mutter as he suffered from his natural empathetic talents, he heard 03's wise words, he heard Marquise tell the pilots to leave. Apparently his raid on those soldiers had been successful, the reinforcement from the nearby base were mysteriously absent. 02, satisfied that he had listened to everything of importance, quickly packed up his equipment and concealed himself again.
Morbid foreboding filled his mind, he was consumed totally by thoughts of Wing's destruction. If the pilot had survived the blast, then his mission was almost complete. If 01 had died, though, he'd have to try to find some other way to ensure the salvation of the future. It was not a prospect he wanted to consider.
03 returned fairly quickly, and 02 was pleased to observe a limp 01 clutched in HeavyArms' massive right hand. Quickly 03 secured his Gundam to the bed of the truck, and 02 was almost horrified to see that he didn't pull 01 out of the grasp of the mech. In fact, little 03 didn't even cover the Gundam with the heavy tarp. 02 had to act quickly; this was an unexpected deviation. If 01 was still alive, traveling under such conditions could conceivably kill him.
Fairly bursting from his hiding spot, 02 climbed onto the back of the flatbed of the truck as 03 entered the cabin of the vehicle. Waiting until the engine roared to life, the scientist crept up the side of the Gundam's body, being sure once again to stay in the blind spots of 03's mirrors. Successfully maneuvering himself up and onto the chest of HeavyArms, 02 activated his electromagnetic belt only when he was lying prostrate next to the still body of 01.
Carefully, 02 assessed the boy before him. 01's eyes were wide and staring, his pupils tiny pinpricks of black surrounded by large blue irises that shone dully in the darkness of the early morning. Snapping his fingers in front of 01's face, 02 observed no reaction. The scientist felt for a pulse and brought his ear right next to 01's nose and mouth, feeling simultaneously for a threading heartbeat and listening for an exhalation of breath.
02 smiled faintly as a sighing sound came from the motionless 01. Pulling back, he looked deep into those blank eyes, feeling a strange wash of emotions flood his senses. 01 was alive. Suddenly the battered pilot started coughing roughly, his slender frame racked and shaking with sickly rattles. Alarmed, 02 opened up his small first aid kit. Smoothing back the dirty brown bangs from 01's forehead, 02 felt the cold sweaty skin. Not good.
Mission in jeopardy.
Must fulfill objectives.
Must get 01 to more stable surroundings.
Now.
02 made his decision.
Deactivating his belt, 02 clamored over the top of HeavyArms, completely unconcerned with the speed of the moving vehicle. He jumped down from the Gundam, and rapped hard on the back window of the truck's cabin. Bracing himself, 02 was prepared for the sudden screeching halt as 03 slammed on the unwieldy vehicle's brakes. In less than five seconds, 02 found himself staring down the short barrel of a handgun.
He laughed cruelly and snatched the gun out of 03's hand. "Don't worry about me. I won't hurt you. 01 needs to be stabilized."
Young 03 blinked at his empty hand for a moment, then shifted his gaze to the boy still held in the grip of HeavyArms. Immediately he moved for the cockpit of the Gundam. A bare second later, 01's body was released into the waiting arms of 02.
"Who are you?" Little 03 asked coldly, glaring at 02.
"That's not important. 01 must be stabilized immediately," 02 responded in an equally frigid tone.
For a long moment 03 stared at the scientist. Then he nodded, striding to the cabin of the truck and returning a moment later with a blanket. "Here, wrap him in this and bring him inside the cabin. I'll pull off somewhere further down the road, where it will be safer for us to hide."
02 nodded, cooperating with the young soldier. A few minutes later they were making a temporary camp in a small clearing. 02 lay 01's trembling and battered body on another thick blanket that 03 provided. Working together, the two managed to stabilize 01, tending his wounds and giving the teenager injections to ward off possible infection and sedating him into a deep rest. As the tranquilizers channeled through his system, the boy soldier's eyes finally closed. Lastly, they injected 01 with painkillers so that if he awoke, he wouldn't be in agony.
Young 03 turned to 02. "Talk. Who are you? Where you sent by S?"
"Actually, in a way, yes," 02 answered, contemplating whether or not to tell this young version of his dead comrade the truth. Considering the options, he decided that the more information this little soldier had, the better he'd be prepared to deal with the future. Besides, 02 suspected that no matter what he said, it wouldn't matter to the time stream. Almighty time had a way of repairing itself, and 02 was beginning to feel a tad foolish to think that his mere presence would rupture the very fabric of the universe.
The arrogance of the living dead, 02 reflected, was astounding.
"Explain," 03 demanded, pulling another gun out and aiming it at 02.
"I was the second Gundam pilot, Duo Maxwell. In my timeline, 01 died when he self-destructed, pierced by debris as he was projected forward by the fierce explosion. You, 03, were captured trying to dig his body out of the wreckage. You were paralyzed, your spinal column severed and your legs rendered completely useless," 02 spoke coldy and concisely, noting the flicker of horror in the young soldier's eyes at the mention of the being disabled in such a way.
"Continue," 03 asked, his voice betraying only the barest traces of morbid curiosity.
"The rest of the surviving pilots banded together to rescue you. Your Gundam was destroyed. Maxwell was captured and broken, his Gundam also lost. Before long the war was over; Oz and Romefeller victorious. 05 lost his hand, and 04 was scarred terribly. We became scientists as the years progressed, becoming numbers instead of letters," 02 paused his emotionless speech to gauge little 03's reaction. Having never met 03 when the man had been complete, he was surprised how purposefully unresponsive the boy was. The 03 he had known had been the calming influence of their group. Strange how pain can change a person.
"You haven't finished. How is that you are you here now? How do I know you aren't lying and will kill us as soon as I drop my guard?" 03 demanded, his voice hard and sharp. So the boy was affected by the story after all, he was covering his confusion with blank rage.
"We built a time machine of sorts. After years of work, it was finally ready. I came back to fix things," 02 completed the necessary information quickly. If this young 03 was as astute as his older self had been, he'd consider 02's words then ask questions after he had measured every perspective for himself. 03 had been nothing if not thorough.
A few silent minutes passed as the young soldier thought about the scientist’s words. Finally, the boy lowered his arm, placing his firearm in a hidden holster. Wordlessly, 02 tossed back the gun he had confiscated from the pilot earlier. 03 caught it and tucked it away.
Then the questions began, just as 02 had predicted.
First 03 started on the finer details of 02's past, dwelling particularly on the crippling and 04's scarring. After attacking 02's story from every possible angle and finding no discrepancies in the data, 03 stood and paced back and forth across the small clearing for almost an hour, his long legs working in the dark of the early morning. Halting in mid-stride, he turned and glared down at the still-seated 02.
"Okay, your story is damn good, I'll give you that. You'll understand, though, that I need some sort of proof. Tell me something else, something unrelated to your mission. Convince me that you and I were comrades," 03 demanded.
"Very well, 03," 02 replied, glaring up at 03 even as his hands fluttered over the sleeping 01, checking on the soldier. "You and 04 spent time together, and in that short time you became intimately acquainted. 04 could not sit comfortably for a week. Need I go into more specific detail?"
"No," 03 responded, his eyes flashing dangerously. "And do not call me 03. I may not have a name of my own, but I am not a mere number."
"Fine, nanashi," 02 answered.
"Look, call me Trowa Barton. It's my code name," 03 said, one eyebrow twitching.
"I know. By this time, Barton, your spine had been broken. Did you know that? It should have happened hours ago," 02 responded, his voice full of malicious glee. So the child was going to be difficult? Fine, 02 could deal with that. It would be his pleasure.
"Thank you for sharing your information," Barton snapped sarcastically, the cold man's stare and attitude finally wearing thin.
"You are ever so welcome, Barton," 02 responded in an equally sardonic tone, his voice becoming artificially pleasant as he continued. "Need I tell you exactly how your little blond looked when his eye was burned out of its socket by searing acid? I was there, you know. I smelled the burning flesh and watched it steal a large portion of his humanity. Do I need to explain to you exactly how your friend 05's muscles were melted right of his hand even as he was electrocuted inside his Gundam's cockpit? How he had to pick melted tissue and fat from the instrument panel even as his stump healed into a patchwork of nerve shattered scars, the result of his own humiliation when he had amputated the charred bones? Do I? Don't get contrite with me, Barton. I've seen far more than you could ever imagine, you told me so yourself. My existence is forfeit now, and I refuse to take your irreverence. You should show some respect for your elder."
02 stopped his tirade abruptly, shocked to the core that he had let this mere child evoke such strong irritation. Anger was coursing through his veins like a virus. Clamping down on his emotions, 02 reasserted his control, slamming it down like iron shutters, burning him inside. Such outbursts were detrimental.
He had suspected it before, but now he was certain that he was degenerating. Sixteen days were left, if he was this weak this early, then he might have to terminate his life prematurely. He could not risk damaging 01 with his errant emotions. That would be an unforgivable crime and could endanger the mission.
"Are you okay?" Barton asked quietly.
"I am of no consequence. Care for 01. I will observe until I am satisfied that you are competent enough to ensure his survival," 02 replied, his voice frosty.
Barton just nodded. "I may require your assistance."
"You may have it," 02 bit out, now having to make an effort to be curt.
"Good. Stay with him while I travel to the nearest town for supplies. It is about a mile to the east. I will travel on foot. I should be back within a few hours," the young pilot said, his voice calm.
Perhaps 02 had been wrong in his initial assessment, this boy might be as proficient and wise as 03. Already he realized that 02 would not hurt the injured 01. Perhaps this 03, Barton, could be trusted. Time would tell.
"Acceptable," 02 responded, his voice not as harsh.
The pilot departed quickly, disappearing into the trees. 02 was left with 01. They were alone.
For the first time in ten years, 02 felt like crying. He was losing himself. Again.
What was wrong with him? He was a scientist! He was in control! Long forgotten shame and affection be damned! With the violation erased from history, he felt his guilt and fear fading, replaced only with that inkling of fondness. Young 02 was no longer sullied by the actions of 02's timeline…and now 02 felt his mind start to split. 01's body had been both pleasurable to his younger self and the very death of him, but with the life in 01 the possibility of the violation was erased. 02 felt his mind whirl. 01 was not a corpse. It couldn't have happened. Those angry emotions were fading. Time was repairing him.
02 did not like this development.
Letting a small growl of rage escape from between his clenched teeth, 02 desperately tried to hold onto his hatred, shame, guilt, and anger. They were what had kept him alive and motivated for so long, he was almost afraid for them to leave him. But nevertheless, the emotions started to purge themselves from his psyche. The memories remained, but the intensity faded. He became more and more numb as he lost the only driving force he had left. He became a shell once more, stewing in his own self-loathing at losing his control.
01 groaned, jolting 02 out of his reverie.
Instantly pushing his desperate thoughts to the back of his mind, 02 leaned forward, hovering over the smaller form of 01. 02 had to stifle a gasp when 01 opened his eyes. The scientist berated himself for having such a reaction.
"Duo?" The blue eyes focused on 02, a tiny smile drowsily creeping onto his battered face.
"No, I am 02," the scientist replied softly.
"Duo," 01 repeated, fading back into unconsciousness.
02 sat and stared at the sleeping boy. Ten years passed in the blink of an eye.
A long time.
~ ~ ~ ~
A few hours later Barton returned, carrying a pack loaded with food, medical supplies, and provisions. 02 was momentarily taken aback when he saw the young pilot had brought enough food for all three of them. Quickly turning off his surprise, the scientist informed Barton of 01's brief awakening. Of the words the boy had spoken, 02 said nothing.
By afternoon 01 had not stirred from his sleep. A sudden thought occurred to 02 as he contemplated his situation. A theory about his influence on the time stream had been brewing in his mind, and with Barton's help, he would be able to test it.
"Barton! I need you to use HeavyArm's surveillance equipment to record me doing something. Will you?" 02 asked, his voice starting out harsh and ending almost softly.
"Perhaps," Barton replied. "I trust you with 01, but I do not trust you with anything else. What will you do with the recording?"
"I will destroy it after viewing it. I think that perhaps you will believe my history after this experiment has been completed," 02 replied, unable to stop a sinister smirk from sneaking onto his countenance. Quickly he eradicated the expression.
"We'll see," Barton replied, vaulting easily up to the cockpit of his Gundam, the mech having been liberated from the truck for routine maintenance earlier that day.
02 watched the limber climbing with strange curiosity. The boy had been either walking constantly or jumping acrobatically all day. 02 felt a strange fascination every time the boy reassured himself that his legs were whole, and the easy leaps up to the cockpit of HeavyArms were just another display of the magnitude of 03's lost grace. Soon after Barton had disappeared into the cockpit, a faint thrum of energy coursed through the mech as the green eyes glowed with artificial life.
"Ready?" 02 asked, staring blankly up at the machine.
"Go on," Barton's voice rang out from an external speaker, the volume barely loud enough to be heard in the hush of the forest clearing.
02 walked around the campsite, picking up things and putting them down in random places. He scuffled his feet deliberately, making tracks in the dirt and underbrush. Finally, he took his shoe off and laid it precisely down on top of a bag.
"Done," 02 called up.
A moment later the cockpit door opened and Barton stepped out. "You wanted to see the data?"
02 took the implicit invitation and climbed up the Gundam. As soon as he had joined Barton by the cockpit entrance, the pilot pointed a gun at the scientist. "Try anything and I will shoot you."
"Whatever makes you feel comfortable is fine. Will you be planning to watch the surveillance footage with me?" 02 asked impersonally. "If so, it would be easier to download it onto a smaller device and view it on the ground."
Barton blinked, then nodded.
02 jumped down from the cockpit, landing carefully on the uneven ground. He was sure to protect his still-shoeless foot as he landed solidly in a crouch. A few minutes later Barton also leapt down, rolling forward easily and vaulting to his feet with an added flip, a showy landing filled with unnecessary acrobatics. 02 mentally scoffed, then scolded himself for being affected by the boy's implied joy at being complete.
Setting up a portable vid-screen, the man and boy watched the recording. On the screen wind blew harshly, rearranging the objects the scientist had moved. Not once did the man appear, nor did the shoe he had placed on the bag. Nowhere was there evidence that 02 had been recorded at all. The tape ended.
"How is that possible? I saw you move those things. Your shoe is still on top of that bag. Why it didn't it show up? How come you didn't show up?" Barton inquired quietly, his jaw clenching as he ground his teeth together, the impossible thoughts circling in his uninitiated mind.
"Just as I suspected," 02 replied, retrieving the footwear and putting it back on. "I cannot influence the time stream. All record of me will cease when my deadline expires. This is truly favorable news."
"Expire?" Barton asked.
"Yes, I will cease to exist in approximately sixteen days," 02 answered simply, no emotion in his voice.
"How can you live with that knowledge?" Barton probed.
"Nonexistence is better than the fate I would have suffered if 01 had died on that battlefield, if I had not made modifications to his explosive pack," 02 stated.
"What could be so bad? Duo, is that your name? Was it worse than what happened to me, Quatre, and Wufei?" Barton asked quietly.
"Duo does not exist anymore. I am 02. And what happened to me was something worse than I could have imagined in all my wildest and most horrifying nightmares and speculations," the scientist replied, his voice freezing to hardened ice. He did not want to speak of these things.
"Rape?" Barton asked, his voice suddenly hushed. It was as though the volume on the world had been turned down.
"In a way, yes, but it was much worse than that," 02 whispered fiercely. The memories were assaulting him, and he felt that strange duality of mind as his logic fought against his emotions. It couldn't have happened now! He had fixed it! 01 was alive! His thoughts were a quiet roar.
"I'm sorry," Barton replied. "I won't ask you again if you do not wish to talk about it."
"Thank you, Trowa," 02 said, his voice almost too low to be heard.
It was silent as the young pilot watched the broken scientist. "Why don't you take a short walk, get your mind together? I will watch over 01."
02 nodded, then slipped away. As soon as he was out of sight and out of earshot, he crumpled to the ground. What was happening to him?
~ ~ ~ ~