Chapter 24: A Pacifist Labyrinth

Those better have not been real bullets, Maxwell, or....

The honorable part of Chang Wufei, the noble Dragon Clan warrior he claimed to be, did not like this part of the plan. After all, running away and leaving that woman for "dead" (literally and figuratively) was not exactly his idea of honor.

But desperate times called for desperate measures--and Sally could take care of herself. That was something that Wufei both despised and desired in Sally Po. Her strength---but that is for another story.

Wufei trots up the steps, taking the "indirect" approach of karate-chopping only two guards unconscious as he flips off the wall beside them. And then he presses both hands on a certain panel of a certain floor in a certain room. He double knots and ties to a wall unit's secured girder, a length of rope and, as per instructed by his strategic planner, like a jelly bean, he without hesitation, plunges headfirst down the dark chute it reveals. Rope in hand, Wufei dives forward into the unknown blackness.

Down...down...down....

Supposedly, this led to a secret passage to the underground shelter that was, thus far, sealed off. Quatre R. Winner, as planned, was already down there and awaiting Wufei's arrival with the length of rope that they'd both climb back up.

Quatre was only sure it was Wufei Chang from the sound of his familiar voice coming from the dusty man exploding from the secret chute. And it was uttering such cuss words that Quatre was taken aback. His pale head blushed from ear to startled ear.

"Whose damn weakling idea was it to have me #*!@? with a blooming rope just because the noisy as hell elevator would arouse suspicion, dive into a #*!@# hellhole of a damn pacifist weakling castle to save a bunch of Peacecraft flunkies anyway?! DAMN!!" Wufei was so angry to have been dragged into this whole, stupid pacifist mess that he could spit. In fact, he could scream injustice that would ring throughout the entire empty underground shelter complex surrounding him in the stark darkness.

Oh, never mind. I'll make all those weakling terrorists pay dearly.

Wufei's evil eyes gleam maliciously in the darkness at the "fun" thought of chopping off a few heads--or fingers, at least.

After all, I did manage to sneak my sword along today.

"Good job. Let's get going, Wufei." Taking the rope and securing its length to the steel post he had just hammered into the ground (as quietly as possible) Quatre was almost fearful to interrupt Chang Wufei when he was so terribly angry at the world. But Quatre R. Winner had a mission to accomplish and so he could face anything--anyone--if only to rescue his fair princess, like a knight in shining armor. Dorothy Catalonia's beautiful face flashes through his determined mind.

7:48 PM C.E.T

With the terrorist's 24 hour deadline clocking down to less than 1/2 hour--27 minutes, 23 seconds to be exact--Quatre checks his synchronized watch for yet a dozenth time this hour since he and Wufei had started down this long, dark corridor within the underground basement. While they were making good time, even in the total darkness on foot, (They didn't dare switch on the underground lighting system. The sudden energy spike might cause some suspicion up above that they didn't need.) Quatre was still a little anxious about their timing. There were only 27 minutes...and 03 seconds left for he and Wufei down here, Trowa and Duo upstairs and Heero, still outside, waiting at the ready--to save both the hostages and a big chunk of Northern Europe from nuclear fall out if all went wrong today.

But it isn't going to go wrong. It just couldn't. Not with all five of our hearts understanding and at peace with one another and what we must do!

Chang Wufei did not sound like he had a peaceful heart. Well, right now, anyway, as he continues to swear under his breath. Still shaking the soot and dirt from he orifice of his angry ears.

"Here!" Quatre stops them both short on their silent trek with a halting hand. "The indicators are a bit touchy from all the high voltage that once was used down here, but if my calculations are correct and the maps are precise, we should be directly below the palace's main drawing room. Considering the areas you specified as under heavy guard and considering the amount of people taken hostage, that room must be the one Miss Relena and others are being held in."

"How can you be so sure?" Wufei asks. He had to give credit to the man if he was right about this. There was more than a hundred catacomb like paths in this underground network that even the most trained map reader and guide would find difficulty tracking down such a precise target so succinctly in such a short time.

"My heart tells me I'm right." Now that spacy, dreamy response was not what Wufei was looking for. Technical jargon about the indicator, yes. Even ideas, theories, superior hearing range, something, anything, but not "My heart tells me...."

What is this?! A tactical advance or a carnival show?!

Wufei wasn't too sure anymore.

"According to the interior maps, there is a large ventilation duct in the east end of the drawing room. We just have to climb our way up to it. Are you ready?"

Winner comes prepared....

Wufei had to admit it. Quatre produced 2 mini grappling hook devices from his stocked up service belt and hands one to Wufei.

"Why not?" Wufei grunts aloud as the Winner heir shoots his device straight up. With a tug, he knew it had grasped hold of something and Quatre is up and scaling the steep enclosure.

A shrug later and his Chinese compatriot is right behind him.