See Part One for Disclaimers

Part Nine

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>>dream or flashback<<
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Wufei felt something ice cold on his back as he suddenly became painfully conscious.  Sym noticed his open eyes and frowned at him.  "Be still.  I'm a nurse, and I'm going to bandage your leg."

The Chinese boy snorted derisively.  "I can bandage my own leg.  I don't need help from some woman."

"I don't doubt it, but it would make me feel better if you let me be of some use.  I feel like it's my fault that you're hurt."

His brows furrowed slightly in annoyance and confusion.  She's nothing like that Kemerov woman.  "You're fault?"

"You wouldn't have even been out here if it hadn't been for me.  Such a proud warrior as yourself shouldn't have to be wasting his time playing bodyguard.  I'm sure you've got much more important things to be worrying about."

Nothing at all like Kemerov.  This woman knew her place.  "You are correct, but, I follow my orders.  I was told to protect you; it is not your fault."

"Really?"  She brightened up perceptibly, shyly batting her eyelashes.  "Coming from you, that means a lot.  Now, if you'll allow me, we can bandage your leg and get going."

"Proceed." He said magnanimously.  Yes, this woman had been taught the proper way in which to treat her superiors.  It was so refreshing to see these days.  Wufei remembered what he'd been thinking before slipping into a semi-conscious haze.  Who shot me?  He looked around a little, keeping his head still so as not to distract the woman; no one seemed to be nearby.

Sym finished the bandaging job and called out towards the front of the vehicle.  "All right, we're done."  Trowa and Heero appeared beside Wufei, ready to carry him inside the jeep.

The Chinese boy pushed away their hands as they attempted to pick him up.  "I can walk." He snapped, but when he tried to stand, he found it extremely difficult.  Still, he was able to manage it and began to hobble forward.

Trowa and Heero both shrugged and moved to get in the truck.  Wufei paused to catch his breath and beckoned to the woman.  Sym scurried over to stand before him, resting her eyes at his chest.  Wufei was pleased.  "I am Chang Wufei, of the Dragon Clan."  He even managed a slight bow.

"I am Sym Novaya." She said, bowing deeply.  Rising, Sym gave him a shy smile.  "I am honored to meet you."

Wufei said nothing, only nodded.  This woman is worthy of my respect.  As she held the front passenger door open for him, the boy got inside.

"Thank you, Sym."

Blushing, Nurse Novaya hopped in the back seat between Heero and Trowa.  Settling down in his seat, Wufei felt calm and at peace for the first time in months.

*      *      *


When they arrived back at the Bodaybo base, Kharik was there to greet them once again.  The Russian noticed Wufei's injury and put in a call to the infirmary.  "It's a gunshot wound to the lower right leg.  And send a stretcher.

Wufei heard Kharik's last few words and opened his mouth to protest, only to be silenced by a stern look from Heero.

"Kharik!"  An ecstatic voice from behind momentarily startled the man.  He turned to find a very tall, very happy woman.

"Sym?"  He had to be sure, the two looked so much alike.

"What do  you think?" she queried, rushing into his arms and burying her head in his shoulder.

Kharik held her like that for a long moment; before releasing Sym, he whispered in her ear, "It's good to have you back.  I've missed you."  They broke the embrace and now stood a few feet apart.

"You couldn't have missed me that much; Muya was here."  The humor in her expression was clear.

"As anyone will tell you, Dr. Kemerov is a poor substitute for you.  The woman has the incredible ability to annoy the hell out of anyone she's around."  Kharik tried to keep his manner as light as hers, but he was serious; Muya Kemerov was able to get along with very few people.

"That's odd; I've never had a problem with her."

"You know you've never had a problem with anybody.  And you know why too."

As the stretcher for Wufei arrived, Sym excused herself.  "I'm sure they'll need some help." She said, nodding towards the base.

The two stepped together for one last hug.  "I meant what I said before, about Muya; there's no way she could ever pass as you."

Sym warmed with the compliment and said, "I'll see  you later."  With that she was off, accompanying Wufei and the medics inside.

"We need to discuss the pick up."

Kharik recognized the boy's voice at his left.  "Mr. Yuy.  Yes, my orders are to give Muya three days to obtain her objective."

"My orders are to arrive at the pick-up point in approximately 64 hours from now."

"It would seem, then, that everything is in order.  I have arranged quarters for you and your men.  Oh, and they're serving afternoon meal in the East Hall about now, if you're interested."

"Hn."

"I'd be happy to show you to your rooms."

"All right."

Seeing that the boy wasn't about to let the others in on this, Kharik marched over to the truck where the other three pilots were all lounging around.  "We've got rooms for you all.  Follow me."

Duo seemed surprised.  "I didn't know we were stayin' that long."  Quatre visibly brightened at the news, while Trowa, on the other hand, was suspicious as usual.

With the four boys trailing after him, the Lieutenant remembered one last thing he needed to tell them.  "Oh, regrettably, we only have two spare rooms.  We'll have to squeeze three of you into one of the quarters."

Quatre look at Duo, shaking his head no.  The American only shrugged, indicating there was nothing he could do about it.



*      *      *


As soon as they'd gotten the room situation straightened out, Heero headed for the East Hall, hoping to catch the tail end of the afternoon meal.  Walking down one of the base's many maze-like hallways, he tried to calm his frazzled nerves.  I didn't want to end up sharing a room with Quatre and Duo, but there was no choice; it just ended up that way.  Heero really didn't trust himself too much when it came to the American; he'd even made sure he didn't sit next to Duo in the car.

The Japanese boy finally arrived at the hall, somewhat relieved they were still serving.  I haven't eaten since we left home yesterday morning.  Heero accepted a tray full of unintelligible food from the server and found a seat back in one corner.

Hmm, I wonder what this is, exactly.  He assessed that the objects were fully edible and began eating.  It was very plain and tasteless, but satisfactory.  Heero felt a hand on his shoulder and rotated in his chair to find Muya's double smiling down at him.

"Mind if I join you?'

"Sure, go ahead."  This would give him the opportunity to find out more about the woman.  He had thought she would converse with them in the jeep on the way here, but, as with the last half of the trip to Syul 'dyukar, the return trip had been silent.

Sym sat down opposite of him and to the right, so they were diagonal from each other.  "I was afraid they'd have stopped serving the meal by the time I got over here."

"How's Wufei?"

"He's fine, nothing to worry about.  Luckily, the bullet didn't lodge in his leg or hit the bone."  She seemed genuinely happy the boy was okay.  She's very caring.  I hope she didn't act like this when she was under cover, or they're going to know right away that something's up with Muya.

"You're not very much like Dr. Kemerov."  It was a simple statement, but one that could be easily misinterpreted.

"My name's Sym Novaya; I'm a Colonel here in The Organization."

"Not a doctor?"

"No, and Muya's not a soldier, either.  Different talents."

"You call what we do a talent?"  Heero seemed stern and ill at ease.

The Colonel frowned, wanting to put the boy at ease with her.  "You mean killing?  No, that's not a talent; some are better at it than others, but that's like saying some people make better victims than others:  it's nothing to be boasted about.  I was referring to my ability to carry out a mission."

The Japanese boy couldn't help smiling slightly; he had her cornered.  "Missions which usually involve killing."

Sym looked down at her tray to hide her own upturned mouth.  She looked into his eyes challengingly and said, "Not always."

She won't concede defeat easily.  How very soldier-like.  "It's been my personal experience that, when any sort of military-trained people are involved, someone's going to get killed."

Still holding his gaze with her own, Sym shook her head.  "In a battle, soldiers always have to be prepared to die.  Of course there are going to be casualties, but..."

Heero interrupted her argument.  "No, that's not what I meant.  I was talking about civilian casualties."  Heero's mind showed him random pictures of destruction that he had caused, finally lingering on Marshall Noventa's plane as it exploded in a fiery demise.

Sym was about to continue speaking when she clutched her head with both hands and cried out softly.  "Ahhh..."

Heero forgot about his disturbing thoughts, turning his attention back on Sym.  "Miss Novaya, are you all right?"  He had remained seated, but was ready to come to her aid.

She seemed to relax a little.  "I'm fine, really.  Just a little headache.  Believe it or not, I have a very high pain tolerance, Heero."

Heero made no response, briefly wondering who had told her his name.

"Well, I've got to be getting back to duty.  They don't give you a moment's rest around here."  She grinned, reminding him of Duo, and finished her thought.  "My kind of place."

As Sym left the table, Heero let the wide smile that he had been suppressing escape.  My sentiments exactly.



*      *      *


Trowa lay on his bed, arms folded behind his head, staring blankly at the ceiling.  They had just delivered Wufei to the bed opposite of his, ordering the Chinese boy to get some rest.  Trowa found this highly amusing; he knew Wufei took orders from no one other than Heero.

"So, are  you the one who shot me, or Yuy?"

The tall boy was a little surprised by the question but, of course, he didn't show it.  "Isn't it irrelevant?"  Trowa could hear chuckling to his right.

"Not to me.  If Yuy shot me, I can understand him not saying anything.  But if it was you, then I'd like to know why you didn't..."  The boy paused for a long moment, not sure how to continue.  He finally seemed to find the words.  "I consider you a friend.  I know you consider me one too, but it's not something you feel comfortable saying.  And I accept that, I always have.  I am very content to have my one-sided conversations with you.  But, I would have thought...I expected some sort of any apology."

"It's still irrelevant."  I am sorry, but I thought you understood me.

Wufei tried to turn over to face him but failed, so he directed his gaze back at the ceiling.  "Maybe so, but just humor me."

"I shot you; it was a miscalculation on my part.  It is regrettable."  Wufei, that's the best I can do.

The Chinese pilot smiled.  "Okay, apology accepted."

Trowa was glad he wasn't wrong about Wufei.  He does understand.  A knock on their door startled them both.  Slowly rising, the tall pilot went to the switch on the wall and pressed a green button, causing the door to slide open.  "Yes?" he asked, recognizing Muya's double, who had slipped back into her Organization uniform.  Colonel Novaya. he read her nametag.

"Mr. Yuy asked me to bring you to the lounge; he needs to speak with you."

Trowa eyed the woman suspiciously, then said, "Just a moment" and closed the door.  The green-eyed boy grabbed his jacket out of the closet.  As he passed Wufei's bed, the Chinese pilot called out, "Where are you going?  Who's at the door?"

"Heero wants to see me."

"What about?" he intoned skeptically.

Trowa just shrugged, exiting the room.  Wufei let out a long-suffering sigh.  "I thought you'd say that."



*      *      *


Sym led him along a, for once, brightly lit hallway.  They came to an entrance and keypad.  The Colonel nimbly punched in her access code, explaining the security to the boy.  "It's for officers only."  Who let Heero in then?

Upon entering the area, the first thing Trowa noticed was the absence of Heero.  "Where is he?" he shot out accusingly.

As the door slid shut behind her, Sym took a few steps toward the boy.  "I'll have to admit to a little white lie.  Heero didn't want to see you, I did."

Not really feeling threatened, Trowa relaxed a little.  "The need for deception?"

The woman pouted ever so slightly.  "I didn't think you'd come otherwise."

"While you're probably right, I'm here now."

"Wonderful.  Let's sit down."  She led him to one of the room's many comfortable sofas.  "That's better." She chirped.

Trowa was becoming annoyed.  "What did you want to see me about?"

"Well, I've had a chance to talk to all of the others; I just wanted to get to know you a little."  Sym sounded so innocent, so pleading, that many people would have found her endearing.  Trowa, however, was not amused one bit.  This is ridiculous!  And this woman claims to be a soldier!

"I haven't got time for this."  Not really true, but if she can lie, so can I.

"Please, just for a moment." She begged quietly.  Even though it shouldn't have been able to, a drop of pity found it's way into the boy's heart, and he relented.

It can't hurt, I guess.  "For a minute."


This perked Sym up immeasurably.  "Oh, thank you!  Let me introduce myself; I'm Sym Novaya."

"Yes, Colonel Novaya."

"I see you can read." She laughed uncomfortably.  The little joke was lost on Trowa.  "And you are?" she prompted.

"Trowa Barton."

"Are you related to Dekim Barton?"

"No, I took his son's name for lack of a better one."

She looked away from him, and then back.  "I see."  Sym paused for a moment, hoping the boy might say something, and then laughed at herself for not knowing better.  "You're a friend of Mr. Chang's?"

The boy pondered the question, then said, "He seems to think so."

"And you don't?"

Trowa stood up, having had his fill of the interrogation.  "There's very little place for friendship in our line of work.  You should know that."

The woman was a little taken aback, and then a puzzled look came over her face.  "You..."

The boy was already at the door, exiting.  Closing her eyes and hanging her head, Sym spoke into her chest.  "He..."