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"Crisis"Written By: Artemis Disclaimer: Gundam Wing and its characters are
copyright to Sunrise, Bandai, Sotsu Agency, and associated parties.
I make no money with this fic. Rating: NC 17 Warnings: yaoi lemon including rimming, angst,
violence, language, reference to past NCS involving a minor, death,
angst. Pairings: 6x2, 3x4 Summary: Sequel to Interfacing: Regained. GAIA
prepares to go into space and announce itself to the world; Duo and
Zechs' relationship goes through its own crisis. "Crisis "
[Will this inquisition never end?] Treize looked back somberly. [I can handle Milliardo's anger...] "Was I supposed to win her trust by the sheer magnetism of my personality? She was exceedingly wary of me, understandably. Your sister had about as much warm regard for me, Zechs, as your friends there do. I knew you would be upset, but it would upset you more if Relena did something foolish like, oh, follow your little band into outer space or something, if she didn't have the full truth of what was going on. The personage of Zechs Merquise means nothing to her. But Milliardo Peacecraft does." Zechs waited, measuring Treize's words carefully. [Interesting - 'Milliardo Peacecraft' means more to my little sister than he does to me...] Treize took a deep breath, continuing when Zechs didn't respond to that. "She already has influence on the world stage, Zechs. Many nations have started to listen to what she has had to say about peace. Romefeller, under the leadership of your great-uncle and his friends, will be eager to listen to her as well. She needs to be informed... of everything." "You can't protect her from destiny," Heero unexpectedly spoke up, looking at nothing, but when the blond man's glance flicked over to him, he met his gaze. "Relena is important. I don't know how or why. Treize is right; she needs to know about you." The Lightning Count and the Perfect Soldier held each other's gazes for several seconds. The temperature in the room went back down. Treize looked stunned that a Gundam pilot should come to his defense, especially that one, but as yet he kept silent. He would have to see how Zechs responded to the challenge from one of his own. "Zechs," Duo said, softly, cringing at the obvious coiled tension of his lover's body. [Should I touch him? Can I touch him?] he wondered, not knowing if Zechs was wound too tightly to be approached or if he'd be uncomfortable having Duo show his feelings in front of Treize... [Oh, hell, I don't care! This is my Wolf!] "Zechs," he said again, placing his hand on his lover's forearm and squeezing lightly. "Hey, it's okay. Whatever you're feeling... it's okay." "Duo's right," Quatre chimed in, grinning at how his friend was trying to comfort his lover. "Maybe you'd like to tell us what you're thinking?" Zechs tore his gaze away from Heero's when he felt his lover's touch. He didn't seem to have heard Quatre. He looked down into the wide, earnest, cobalt eyes. Immediately the tension seemed to bleed out of him. [It doesn't matter... he's telling me it doesn't matter... it's all right...] "Relena is important..." Zechs echoed faintly, then seemed to recover his composure. Taking a deep breath, he nodded to Duo, then to Heero before he looked back up at Treize's image on the screen. "I understand. Very well," he murmured, bowing his head. "I've entrusted my sister's protection to you, Treize. I will trust you to share with her what you deem necessary. Forgive me for being over-protective." "Understandable," Treize replied quietly, relieved. [Did I really see what I thought I saw? That little punk of a pilot... he's the one. Astonishing. No one has ever been able to handle Milliardo like that when his temper has reached fever pitch...] Duo sighed with relief and squeezed Zechs's arm again before releasing it. "Maybe now you can talk to her?" Duo whispered to Zechs. He knew how much it hurt him not being able to talk to her. Not being able to share her growing up with her. [They've lost a lot not being together... but at least they get a second chance.] "Zechs," Noin said, interrupting the tender moment. [Oh, Duo... you *are* good for him.] "Relena was surprised, of course, but eager to meet her big brother. Maybe you could arrange a time..." "Yes, soon. In another day or so," Zechs replied, then glanced over at Duo, sighing. "Thank you," he whispered, then managed the barest curve to his lips in a smile for his bright little treasure. Treize fought down an impulse to say something that wouldn't likely be welcome... yet. [I've got a way to go with all of them... Someday I'll tease Milliardo mercilessly for taking up with that unholy terror at his side...] Instead he inquired, "Has the Committee decided when to announce GAIA to the world?" "I think it should be very soon," Quatre said, knowing that the alliance's grace period for getting ready for the world stage was up. "We're ready to show ourselves," he said and looked around the table. "Yeah, time to come out of hiding," Duo said, with some intensity. Though it was more his style to come out with his thermal scythe blazing, he knew that's not how GAIA would handle it. [We're a peace-loving organization,] he reminded himself. "Have you decided on a spokesperson?" Noin asked, looking to Quatre, though she didn't want to assume. "Well, I'd rather it wasn't me, Miss Noin," Quatre said, and looked to the others for consent. "I know you elected me as the chair of this committee, but it could endanger my family for our enemies to learn of my involvement in this... just yet." Duo was surprised by Quatre's decision. He had just assumed all along that his friend would speak for them. "But you'd be perfect," he said, staring with worried eyes. "Thanks, but I still have to think of my family." "And Quatre's reason is exactly why I cannot fulfill that function either," Zechs spoke up gravely. "Besides, I am well-known to Romefeller and OZ as a soldier. They will not easily believe I have turned aside from my military career. Although Relena will have influence on the peace efforts, I'd rather she was not formally one of us... and for that reason, Milliardo Peacecraft must remain invisible." [Though I am absolutely *not* going to wear that damn mask again...] "I agree," Heero murmured. "But when you think about it, there's a bigger problem. We Gundam pilots were instructed never to show our faces. We're anonymous and inconsequential; that's how we've worked, how we've gotten things done. I would hate to lose that just to present a face to the world." "I'll do it," Sally said, speaking up for the first time since the start of the meeting. She'd been more than content to listen to the exchanges and watch the tension build and subside in the room, but now they needed her help. When everyone turned their eyes on her, wide with surprise, she decided to explain. "Well, if you're looking for a face no one will know... or a person who won't be hurt if their identity is known... then I'm your man, so to speak," she said with a chuckle. "I mean, look, I've got no connections to OZ and my only connection to you Gundam pilots is from working with Wufei for a time." "And it'd be great having a woman represent us," Duo said, excitedly. "That whole thing about GAIA being the goddess of the Earthsphere and all..." "That's right," Quatre said, looking down the table to Sally. "Maybe our message would be better received coming from a woman." "I like it," Zechs murmured, joining the others in agreement. "I think you'll do an excellent job, Sally. It's also perfect to have a medical doctor representing a peace organization." "See, you've got something to do here after all," Federi quipped, teasing her. "Then it's settled; I'll speak on behalf of GAIA," Sally said, smiling. [This will make Wufei's head spin...] "Thank you... all." "Thank you, Miss Po," Quatre said, smiling back at her. "It's wonderful of you to volunteer. We couldn't have asked for a better spokesperson." "Well, I haven't actually done anything yet," she said with a chuckle. "Heh," Duo snorted. "We know a good thing when we see it." "Congratulations, Doctor Po," Treize spoke up, nodding a bow to her. [And how fortunate I was able to arrange for the Princess of Sank to receive information about an ex-Alliance doctor-turned-rebel and a Gundam pilot which she would use to direct them down to Antarctica... this doctor is the perfect compliment to the coterie of pilots around her.] "You'll do well," Zechs added, smiling. "Thanks, Sally. So all that remains is to decide when to make our announcement." "I think," Heero commented, "that the timing needs to take into consideration that OZ in general will likely react in some way to the news from Bremen. They may rebel against Townshend and the new order, or they may embrace it. We must consider how our announcement will affect OZ." Zechs nodded in agreement. "Indeed, if the announcement of GAIA's presence follows closely on the heels of the news from Bremen, it could cause quite a stir in OZ around the world. They could challenge us even if simply out of frustration. On the other hand, if we wait until OZ has had a chance to assimilate the changes, we could have an easier time of it." "I don't advise that you wait," Treize murmured, seeming to examine the gloves on his hands folded in his lap. "If OZ erupts into anarchy, GAIA will need to step in and subdue the OZ forces who rebel." [Now, let's see if they mean what they say...] Everyone looked at Treize, surprised. [*Subdue* the OZ forces?] more than one of them thought. "And if we do that we'll become exactly what we've been fighting against," Quatre said, firmly, putting his fist on the table. "We are a peace-loving organization... surely there is another way." "Yeah, we could take out their mobile suit storehouses and weapons caches... that'd slow them down," Duo said, in agreement. He knew they couldn't continue to fight in the same way any longer. If they did, the war would never end and he and Zechs would never find that peaceful life they were hoping to share. Zechs was looking at Treize narrowly. "You weren't serious, were you? We are no longer in the business of subduing forces." [I was right; things have changed a great deal indeed. Interesting...] "You're right - all of you," Treize replied gravely. "Let me rephrase that; we may need to assure the security of the nations of the world. Of course, that make take a wide variety of forms." He nodded at Duo, a show of respect. "Certainly eliminating weapons is preferable to eliminating people." [That was a test,] Heero thought, frowning. [Damn you, Treize, don't you *want* us to trust you? "I'm glad you agree," Quatre said with a nod. [I don't think Treize is sure what we're about yet. I'll have to talk to Zechs about keeping an eye on him...] "I do see your point about acting... soon. Perhaps we should consider introducing ourselves to the Earthsphere in the next couple of days? We'll have to sit down and plan exactly what we want Miss Po to say." A bit more discussion ensued on the topic, and it was agreed to make the announcement in two days. When it looked like the meeting was about to break up, Treize cleared his throat. "Excuse me..." "Something else, Treize?" Zechs asked. He'd been about to say something to Duo; now he turned to face the screen again. Treize looked... amused. "I believe you have had a visitor lately, a Gundam pilot by the name of Chang Wufei..." "You know about Wufei?" Sally asked, shocked by Treize's name-dropping. "Has something happened to him?" "Ah, an acquaintance of yours as well, Dr. Po?" Treize replied, unruffled. [So, Relena didn't figure out where she got her information...] "No, nothing has *happened* to him. I contacted the boy while enroute to Sank in order to ask him to do a favor for me... since I allowed him to live after I defeated him in our duel of swords." He chuckled. "Anyway, he was going to refuel in Stuttgart and was planning to find a way to outer space. I think I've convinced him to stop by Bremen first, especially since I knew of an HLV carrier he could steal fairly handily..." [So that guy's heading to outer space, huh? I guess we haven't seen the last of him yet,] Duo thought as he listened with interest to Treize's little games. [Playing on Wufei's sense of honor... Hmm.] "And what sort of favor did you ask of him?" Sally asked, feeling protective of her friend. Treize was suddenly very serious. "Although the data on the mobile dolls has been destroyed, a number of prototypes still exist at the Foundation's chief engineering facility on the outskirts of the city. I asked Wufei to take out that factory for us." [Us, I said 'us'...] [Oh, I'll bet that went over well,] Heero thought but did not say out loud. Since his apparent support of Treize's decision regarding telling Relena about Zechs, Heero had been regretting his lapsing into his usual objectivity. [He's making it very difficult for us. This one needs his wings clipped badly...] [Your little dragon... you just couldn't resist, could you, Treize?] Zechs wondered. His finger was tapping again. "Whoa, he really did that... 'coz you asked him to?" Duo asked, clearly baffled that Wufei would do anything that anyone asked of him. [He was so against working in a team... Hey, maybe he's got a thing for...? Nah!] "You asked him to take out a factory and he did?" Sally asked, all at once appalled and completely surprised. "Um, not exactly." Treize recalled his conversation with Wufei. [Such a challenge, my dragon...] "Of course he insisted on checking into the factory first to see that I was telling him the truth. He said that if he determines that the factory needs to be eliminated, only then would he do it. I imagine you'll be hearing something tomorrow." "Yes, we'll watch for information on that, but...," Quatre said, pausing to frame the rest of his thoughts. He didn't want to seem ungrateful for Treize's involvement, but it certainly was apparent the man very well did whatever he pleased. He looked across the table to Zechs and then back up at Treize. "Now that you've joined us fully, it'd be better if such things were handled through appropriate channels. Maybe you could inform us of potential targets." Treize gaped at the little blond for a moment, his lips parting in surprise. [He's serious...] Zechs leaned forward, stabbing a finger on the table for emphasis. "What Quatre's trying to say, Treize, is that we can't have any more of these little manipulations of yours. You've done well, and our path is clearer now because of today's events, but your role now, Treize, is to teach my sister how to use her influence well. You wear our uniform now... you are one of us." His voice grew quiet, respectful. "You must therefore place yourself squarely under the command of this committee, Treize. Are you prepared to do that?" Treize looked at each member of the Committee in turn. The little blond, seemingly delicate but determined and intelligent... the pilot who'd tried to commit suicide, so fierce and immovable... the doctor, as much a fighter as any of them and a seeker after justice... the control tower commander, quiet but committed fully to working smoothly with the others... his own protege, now attempting to fit in... the punk of a colonist, Ganymede with a braid, possessing the strange juxtaposition of identities as the God of Death and his friend's lover... and finally Zechs... Milliardo. His oldest friend who'd sorely challenged him this past month or so... [They have the grace of God,] Treize mused, feeling more peace in this situation than he'd expected. [And I do not.] "Yes, I place myself under your command. I will take your orders... and not pursue my own agenda. So help me God." Then Treize Khushrenada, former Commander-in-Chief of OZ, stood and saluted the GAIA Leadership Committee, looking at no one in particular as was proper. [That's more like it,] Heero thought, feeling something within him uncoil a little. [But I'll kill him myself if he subverts Relena in any way... or undermines our authority again. This one will be watched.] [He really did it,] Zechs thought, amazed. [And... I think he finally means it.] As one, Zechs, Noin, Lance and Federi rose to return the salute. Belatedly Quatre and Heero stood, not saluting, but standing in respectful acceptance of the man's promise. Sally, too, stood, smiling. After a long second, Duo, too, leapt to his feet, though he moved to stand squarely beside Zechs, arms crossed over his chest. The ex-OZies broke the salute together, and everyone relaxed. Suddenly, Duo gasped and covered his mouth with his hand as he stared wide-eyed at Treize. "Oh, my God!" he said, and then took his hand away and looked down at his uniform and then back up at Treize's. "I just realized I'm wearing the same uniform as Treize Khushrenada! Somebody tell me this is just a bad dream!" The assembly broke into laughter, even Treize, which had the good effect of dispelling any remaining tension. (tbc)
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