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"Endangered"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, sap Pairings: 6x2, implied 3x4 Summary: The pilots must separate to talk with
various colonies on behalf of GAIA. "Endangered" 14)
[This guy is nuts,] Wufei thought as he peered around the mockup of a Gundam cockpit into which he'd been strapped, scowling as two of Trant Clark's OZ thugs fixed electrodes to his forehead and scalp. [And dangerous. Bad combination.] Wufei was as yet fairly calm on the outside, though supremely irritated inside. [Even if Treize got my message, there's no guarantee that he'd even call GAIA here in space, much less do anything about this stupid situation I've gotten myself into. I wouldn't blame him if he did nothing.] He wriggled, but the pilot harness was tight, and Trant had it locked to boot. [Damn, this *is* so stupid...] As the two soldiers finished and backed off, Trant leaned over the top edge of the panel before Wufei, regarding his captive impassively. "Now it's probably occurred to you that it would be useless to resist cooperating with my little project here," he murmured. When the onyx gaze of the little pilot glared at him, he looked back benignly. "Yes, you've guessed it." He pressed a button on the panel before him, and a tiny window was displayed showing a team of Tauruses... targeting the L5 colony that Wufei called home. "Of course, if you merely do as I say and run all my simulation tests, no harm will come to your colony." "You asshole," Wufei snapped tightly, "do you really think I'm going to fall for that? Harming a colony will jeopardize OZ's position in the colonies! You're not going to do that for the sake of testing a mobile suit!" Indolently, Trant raised an eyebrow, amused. "Is that so? Well, that may be true for my inept and pathetic rivals on the other side of this fortress. But as it stands, I have no stake in the colonies and really do not care what they think of me. The True OZ will rule them by domination of our superior mobile suit fleet, not by the false diplomacy that Lady Une employs." "You're nuts!" Wufei bit out, beginning to understand just how dangerous Trant Clark really was. [He doesn't care about the colonies? Is he for real?] Trant chuckled. "Whatever. It doesn't matter to me what you think of me at all. Now... perhaps you need a little more obvious persuasion..." He punched another button to open a radio channel. "Hestian, you there?" "Yes, sir," crackled a voice. "We're in position as instructed, sir!" "Good," Trant muttered. "Fire once on the colony, Hestian." Wufei suddenly strained against the harness. "No!" "Yes, sir!" Hestian responded. A moment later, Wufei stared in horror as a Taurus mobile suit fired at an edge of the defenseless colony. "NO!" Wufei cried. [Master Long! My colony!] He could imagine the panic and frantic scramblings of the people and those in charge of shoring the colony's spaceworthiness as they worked hastily to seal off the breach in the hull. "The colony is in need of repair! Any more and..." "And?" Trant interrupted, leaning closer to peer into the anguished face of the little Chinese pilot. "So, I think you see now that you must do my tests, yes?" Frustrated and angry, Wufei sagged back into the pilot's couch. "Yeah. Fuck you, Trant. I'll do your stupid tests." Trant smiled, enjoying the feisty attitude as well as the helplessness of his captive. "Very good, Chang. Now let me explain a bit more about what we're doing." "Anything else, sir?" Hestian asked. "No, that's fine, Hestian," Trant replied. "Stand down." He left the channel open, then looked back at Wufei again. "Where was I? Oh, yes. Well, we've already examined the data from your Gundam, so it was a simple matter to set up this simulation to your specifications. Saves time, very handy. Now the Zero System will tap into your brain waves, Chang, and it will - ah, how shall I say? - it will show you your future." "My...my future?" Wufei swallowed carefully. [He *is* mad... how can a cockpit system do that?] "Your future, Chang Wufei," Trant repeated smugly. "At least that's what the specifications claim. While I have tried this out a bit myself, I did not allow the test to go on very long. Hence my need for more data, you see. And there is no better test subject for this thing than a Gundam pilot." His smile broadened, though Wufei noted sharply that the smile did not extend as far as the man's eyes. There was a markedly disturbing coldness there that Wufei didn't want to think about very much. "Now," Trant added, "the Zero will also augment your combat abilities, making you invincible. Useful, eh?" He chuckled mirthlessly. "Yeah, handy," Wufei muttered, but he was still thinking hard about the whole future thing. He really wasn't at all sure he wanted to see his future or whatever this thing thought might be his future. It was fairly likely not to be a very good future, involving probably his death and the destruction of his colony, possibly also the triumph of OZ over GAIA. [I wish I could talk to Treize about this,] he mused as he examined the response action of the controls under his hands. [Or Heero. Even Zechs. One of them might have an opinion about this Zero System that would be good to know right now...] "Begin the simulation, Chang," Trant was saying, retreating from his perch in front of the cockpit panel. "Wait, ah..." Wufei gulped. "How many tests will you be needing?" Trant's expression went completely blank, giving Wufei a chill. "As many as it takes. Of course you'll also be testing in the real thing as well." "The... real thing?" [Oh, ta ma de, don't tell me he...] Another mirthless, chilly smile. "Wing Zero. You'll be piloting the Wing Zero in the final tests. Of course I'll have complete control over your actions. You'll only be able to fire upon targets I've selected. But it's critical I get this data. After I get two full sets of data, then I'll be ready to safely pilot the Wing Zero myself." Wufei felt a surge of panic within. Trant's pronouncements were getting more and more alarming. "Two... full sets? Safely?" The gaze Trant Clark cast at the Gundam pilot could have been the gaze of a dead fish, for all the ice and death it contained. "We'll be getting another test pilot as soon as we can manage it," Trant replied. "And I never promised that it was safe to fly." That said, he turned and retreated to his own panel a few feet away where he'd watch the data coming in. [Oh, NO,] Wufei thought, cold seeping into his veins. [He's aiming to capture another Gundam pilot!] The implication that the Zero System would likely harm his psyche was not something he was ready to contemplate. [I just want to get this over... Treize, I hope you got my message...] The simulation began.
Less than an hour later, Wufei was deposited on the floor in a retaining cell. Someone roughly fed him a half glass of water, then he was left alone, the cell door locked. Wufei was... twitching, his thoughts chaotic... and his throat hurt from screaming. That THING - the Wing Zero - had shown him... had shown him his future... the future that he'd embarked upon because he'd rejected the others and abandoned his colony... He'd seen terrible things - Peacemillion exploding into a massive nova... his fellow Gundam pilots captured... his own colony destroyed, his clan choosing to lay down their lives rather than be taken over by OZ... The Zero System had been relentless, not showing him the face of his enemy as Trant had claimed, but the awful results of his own decision to stay apart from the others, eschewing GAIA for his own lonely quest. And Treize... he'd seen the proud ex-commander-in-chief of OZ formally executed, having been recaptured by new OZ forces flooding the Earth after the squashing of GAIA in outer space. Zero had blamed Wufei, that much was obvious. The five Gundam pilots had needed to remain a united entity under the mantle of their GAIA alliance, that much was now clear. It was too late for him... for them... of that he was certain. The last image had been the worst, though Wufei had already been screaming for some time. He'd seen Duo Maxwell lying in an OZ prison, naked and face down, his body covered head to toe in bruises, and from his buttocks... a thin trickle of blood... Wufei's mind had gone black. He had had no awareness from there on of his actions, Zero's movements or attacks, or of Trant's abort of the simulation. Now that he was awake, the memories relentlessly played back. But now, finally, there was a seed of doubt in his mind. [How can that machine see the future? Or has some of that already started? What's going on out there?] Clearly he had no way of finding out in here. Taking a few deep breaths, he sat up. His arms were sore as if he'd been tensely gripping the mobile suit's controls for hours... and he may well have done just that. [I must get control of myself,] he thought, resorting to his own mental disciplines. [I must calm down...] But though he was considerably more himself an hour later, he found a wetness in the corner of one eye. [I hope that guy - Duo - is all right... and Treize...]
Upon reaching Peacemillion, Zechs strode immediately to the bridge, not even diverting to see the new Tallgeese II - his new mobile suit which had arrived at Peacemillion from Earth that very day. His mind was turning over for the hundredth time the strange message he'd received: "WK from PM - RK is coming". Translated: "White King from Peacemillion - Rose Knight is coming". [Why are you leaving my sister's side... is she ready? Has something happened on Peacemillion that I don't know about? Or... elsewhere?] And as usual, his thoughts centered back on his beloved. [Are you all right, Duo? You and Heero must be all right...] Tallgeese II... would have to wait. Sally Po, on duty on the bridge, straightened and turned when she heard the distinctive boot clicks. "Zechs, man, am I glad you're back," she murmured with a sigh, a hand on her hip as she regarded the tall blond man. "I really wasn't forward to dealing with him myself." Zechs reached his colleague and shook her hand firmly. "Dr. Sally, good to be back. So why is Treize coming to outer space? What's been going on down on Earth?" "Nothing unusual on Earth," Sally replied, then moved aside so he could join her before the monitor screen which now revealed a handful of hard points of light making their swift way toward Peacemillion. Just then two more members of GAIA entered the control room. "There he is," Noin murmured to her blond companion as if to reassure him. "Zechs, you're back," Quatre said with great relief. Seeing the older man returned safely to Peacemillion meant there was one less person to worry about, and one more mission complete. Soon they would all be together again. Turning, Zechs smiled, then shook Quatre's hand when it was offered. "Glad you two are back as well," he replied, grinning as Noin's turn meant a quick hug. "Everything go all right?" "Better than all right," Quatre said with a bright grin. "My father and I resolved our differences... not that he approves of my battling OZ, but he was very pleased to hear of my efforts with GAIA." Noin slipped her arm around Quatre's shoulder and gave it a squeeze. "Quatre was very brave to face his father. Maximillian Winner is a formidable man. And we were able to convince him that GAIA is right for L4." "That's wonderful," Zechs replied quietly, smiling his approval. "Quatre, I was confident you could come through for us. And knowing my Noin, she was a great support as well." "Miss Noin was definitely a calming presence," Quatre said, smiling up at the woman. "But what about your mission, Zechs?" "You're back in one piece, so can we assume things went well with your meeting with the Alliance?" Noin asked. Zechs took a deep breath. He hadn't given even Sally much of a report yet, having rushed back because of Treize's departure for space. "Yes, exceedingly well," he answered, turning slightly to include Sally in his response as she was standing just beyond them. "It turns out they were hoping to convince us to allow them to join GAIA! Unfortunately, we got caught in a sortie with OZ Tauruses." He looked directly at the Peacemillion co-commander. "Perry, Lance, and I fought with them in the White Tauruses. I'm afraid OZ has discovered our presence here in outer space though we made certain they could not track us here. I left Lance at D-120 to work with Gwinter Septum on the assimilation of those Alliance forces into GAIA." "But did OZ realize they were fighting GAIA?" Quatre asked worriedly. His heartbeat had quickened from Zechs's debriefing. Though they all knew it was only a matter of time before their presence in space became known to OZ, they had been counting on a little more time. The tall blond pilot bowed his head. "I was not revealed... but the United Earthsphere Alliance did announce to the enemy before I could get an enzyme jamming code in place that they were fighting with GAIA. You could say Gwinter Septum forced my hand, though I was already prepared to bring them into our own alliance. I think... because of my history of exacting revenge against the Alliance, they were concerned that I would reject them anyway, though I cannot fathom what in my behavior might have given them that concern. Perhaps they were just making sure." "Then OZ knows we're here," Quatre said with a little gasp. Zechs shrugged. "We can talk about this more later. Sally, how soon will Treize be here? And what do we know of his intentions?" "His shuttle should be arriving any moment," Sally said, glancing back at the monitor briefly. "As for Treize's purpose in coming here, I think you may be the one to shed light on that for us, Zechs." She took a deep breath to maintain her composure. The news of Wufei's capture had greatly disturbed her. "Wufei has been captured by OZ and I believe Treize means to rescue him. I had no idea my young friend had made such an impression on the former leader of OZ." "Wufei's been captured?!" Zechs exclaimed, stunned. "What could they possibly want with him?" Then his expression changed to one of indignation. "What, does Treize think we would not rescue him? We already have a man in place, and I'm sure Trowa would learn of his presence." He turned away, frowning. "I don't understand it... and I have no idea why he..." He trailed off, shaking his head in bewilderment over his friend's behavior. There seemed to be some... connection... between the former commander-in-chief of OZ and the pilot of the Shenlong Gundam. [Does Treize have feelings for the Chang boy?] Zechs wondered. [Treize, you daft old fool, do you even know? You've decided you were holding a torch for Lady Une, but are you really? Are you instead succumbing to the charms of another of our wonderful, pure little pilots? Have you been infected with the same disease I have? Though if this is a sickness, I would indeed wish it upon you, my friend...] He suppressed a chuckle. Chang Wufei was utterly nothing like Duo Maxwell. The Chinese boy was stiff, stubborn, suspicious, and utterly humorless. [And I thought the God of Death was a challenge...] he chuckled to himself. [No, Treize old man, you can keep your precious dragon. I'll take my feisty Dancer every day of the week...] "There's been no word from Trowa in two days," Sally was saying, looking at Quatre. "Last we heard, he was running tests on a new mobile suit. Maybe that's why OZ wanted Wufei... as another test pilot," Quatre said, trying to shake off the bad feeling that was gripping his heart. "And what about Heero and Duo? When did they last report in?" Noin asked, picking up on Quatre's unease. "Just this morning," Sally said, reaching over to replay the saved visual recording. The image of Heero Yuy appeared on the screen. The boy looked as intense and focused as ever. Heero's report was, as expected, succinct. "We've met with three of five cells of the local resistance here in the L2 cluster, and are preparing for a larger meeting in a couple days. We picked up a tail after our last meeting, but Duo and I shook it off easily. Yuy, out." The image of Heero stepped back, but the recording didn't end there. Next Duo jumped into view, looking as if he was intent on adding to the report. "Yeah, what Heero just said, and if you talk to Zechs..." he said, his large blue eyes sparkling, "...tell him I miss him." The boy looked over his shoulder and then turned back to the screen with a sly grin on his face. In a near whisper he added, "If you see him before I get back, you have my permission to give him a big kiss for me." As Duo began chuckling, obviously pleased with himself, the message ended. "And that's the report from our L2 team," Sally said, barely holding in a chuckle of her own. "Duo..." Zechs whispered, feeling a warm flush go through him, seeing his bright, ebullient lover even for a moment on a monitor screen. He swallowed, his throat suddenly tight with emotion. Quatre looked up at the tall blond, sensing his intense, though near silent reaction to seeing his lover again. [It's like when I saw Trowa... I wasn't prepared, and I missed him so much.] He reached his hand out, but not to touch Zechs, he was reaching for Noin, wanting the woman to do something. "The kiss?" he prompted, once he'd gotten her attention. "Me?" Noin asked, mouthing the word. But it took her only a moment to see that Quatre was right. Of course, it had to be her. She was Zechs's best girl friend and had known him far longer than anyone else here. She stepped closer to Zechs and gave him a warm smile. "Well, what do you say?" she asked, taking one of his hands in hers. "We can't disappoint Duo, now can we?" "Hmmm?" Zechs murmured as Noin turned him to face her. He flushed as he realized what she was up to. "Ah, well, just a little one... it's not like I can kiss you here, um, like I would him..." He managed a wan smile before he bent to give her a firm peck on the lips. As Zechs's lips touched hers, Noin grabbed him by the lapel of his GAIA uniform and pulled him toward her. The result was a bit awkward, but a little more in keeping with Duo's wishes. "Not bad, Zechs, not bad," Noin said, blushing and laughing as she stepped back from him. "Very nice," Sally said, smiling at her embarrassed friends. "Now I can honestly report to Duo that you've received your kiss." "That should start Duo laughing again!" Quatre added with a little chuckle. [Duo, you little delightful devil,] Zechs thought, turning his head to hide his expression. Then he took a deep breath, recovering his composure. "Sally, ah, how far out is Treize yet?" "Right," Sally said, turning back to the monitor. "He's cleared for landing and should be docking in exactly two minutes and thirteen seconds." "I think we should be there to greet him," Quatre said, straightening his posture slightly. "Then let's be on our way," Zechs replied, gesturing for the others to precede him. [Treize... what do you think you're going to be able to do here?] he thought as they left the command center.
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