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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" 15) Exactly on schedule, the four carriers from the Sank Kingdom on Earth docked at Peacemillion. Treize Khushrenada called the bridge for instructions on stowing the ten Taurus mobile suits and his own suit, Epyon, gave a few orders to the group leader, Micha Fonitale, then made his way out of the carrier. [This is my first actual contact with another GAIA force,] he mused soberly. [I wonder if any of those little pilots are here. This could prove a delicate matter...] To his relief, the first person he saw waiting for him was Zechs Merquise. [At least there's one friendly face... and there's Noin. Is that... Quatre Winner?] "Treize," Zechs called out in greeting. "Welcome to Peacemillion." Taking a deep breath, Treize walked up to the welcoming party. "Zechs, at last..." He sighed with more relief than he'd expected to feel, and realized he'd been dreading this encounter. "Good to see you in person finally. Been too long," he added, shaking hands with his former subordinate. After the old friends had gotten their greeting out of the way, Noin took a step forward, extending her hand. "It's good to have you join us," she said. "Thanks, Noin," Treize murmured, shaking her hand as well. "I suppose it's about time." She wanted to comment on how well he looked despite having been left in charge of Zechs's sister, but in light of the circumstances she thought she had better not. "Sir, may I introduce Quatre Winner, pilot of the Gundam 04 and leader of the GAIA leadership committee." Treize looked down at the slim, young blond and smiled. "Quatre, I am very glad to finally meet you," he responded, extending his hand. "I am honored." Quatre felt the large hand clasp his firmly and held his breath. Treize was definitely larger than life; tall and broad and handsome, the man exuded charisma with his smooth speech and trained politeness. And yet Quatre felt more at ease than he had expected. He cleared his throat and said, "Thank you, sir, and welcome to outer space." "Thank you, Quatre. I confess I've been eager to come to the front lines." He gave the boy a disarming smile, turning a little to include the other two. "I thoroughly enjoyed working with Zechs's little sister, but I have missed being a little more... active." Zechs had been studying his friend as Treize greeted Noin and Quatre. [He's certainly putting on maximum charm,] he noted, wondering. [Hiding his feelings... as usual.] "We're not really very active here, either," he commented. "Shuttling around talking to this and that colony group is a somewhat boring way to make peace, but it seems to be working." Abruptly Treize dropped all pretense of charm, gazing at his friend intently. "Then you do not intend to go rescue Chang Wufei from OZ's clutches?" he inquired, his voice low and tense. "I have no intentions at this time whatsoever," Zechs replied evenly, returning the gaze with equal intensity. "We only just learned of this unfortunate event a few minutes ago. The Leadership team has not yet discussed any course of action. I am only returned myself from a mission, as are Noin and Quatre." "As you may be aware, Wufei is not a member of GAIA," Quatre said, and then seeing Treize coil at the words hurried to modify that statement. "But he is a fellow Gundam pilot and someone who longs for peace. Perhaps you could sit down with us and discuss what options we have." "Discuss..." Treize breathed mostly to himself. His instincts told him to demand that they do something NOW, but his logic and good sense told him that he needed these people and that they were expecting him to be a member of the team. He wasn't even on the Leadership committee of GAIA, and had no business pressing ahead with an agenda of his own. Yet he'd left Sank unexpectedly with no explanation. [They're wondering about that impulse,] he realized, glancing back at the young Gundam pilot. Resolutely he straightened. "Very well. But if you don't mind, I'd like to talk to Zechs first. It's... personal." [Milliardo, my dear friend, perhaps only you can understand what drove me here...] [Something personal? Concerning Wufei?] Quatre wondered as he looked between the two men. He could still feel the tension rolling off Treize, but he hoped that talking to Zechs would put the man at ease. "Of course you should speak to your friend," Quatre said, nodding. "Contact us when you're ready to meet," Noin said and then she and Quatre left. Treize gestured toward the exit. "Do you have an office or something where we can talk, Milliardo?" Zechs glanced over toward the carriers. Ignoring the question, he asked instead, "So, you brought us more Tauruses?" The former OZ leader just stared at his oldest friend. "Milliardo..." Then he sighed. "Your instincts are still sharp as ever... and you do know me all too well, old friend." Zechs looked down at him, his _expression impassive. "So, you did bring more than Tauruses..." Treize gave him a wan smile. "Come, I'll show you." Moments later, Zechs gaped at the massive Gundam being rolled out of the carrier's belly. "You... built a Gundam..." "I call it Epyon," Treize murmured, looking over the dark green mobile suit. "You should have seen what color I was going to paint it..." "You've been working on this since shortly after GAIA came to Antarctica," Zechs snapped, a hand folding into a fist. His prodigious mind was swiftly cataloguing details as he studied it. "This is revolutionary..." "Yes, it is," Treize admitted proudly. "It transforms to bird-mode, too, just like Gundam 01." Zechs was trying to keep his composure, though the sight of a new, unreported Gundam from their maverick GAIA colleague had shaken him. "When were you going to tell me?" Treize wet his lips carefully. [He's going to freak when he learns what else I've brought... or maybe I should keep that back. I think I'd better...] "I'm telling you now, Milliardo," he responded evenly. But the other man was back to staring at him intently as if trying to stab a hole into his mind through the daggers of his eyes. "Milliardo?" Treize inquired softly. [He hasn't changed... though it's most disconcerting to see his eyes again in person... I really thought... since he has this relationship going...] "You didn't come here to space to bring me a Gundam," Zechs stated in a lowered voice. "This is about that little Chinese pilot, isn't it? Why, Treize? Why him?" Treize closed his eyes briefly and stiffened, restoring his composure before speaking. "I cannot expect you to understand what I can barely understand myself, Milliardo," he replied solemnly. "All I know is that one such as that cannot be used by OZ against us or the colonies." He looked up at his friend again. "You know as well as I do that those five Gundam pilots possess some sort of magic... their purity of character and spirit is a drug that gets in deep into our soldierly hearts, appealing to us on many levels. They represent what is best and noble about humanity. For such as that we fight, Milliardo. For such as they we are prepared to sacrifice much." He glanced away. "You must know what I am talking about. I know how obsessed you were with the pilot of Gundam 01... and you yourself have fallen in love with yet another one." [Their purity of spirit... a drug?] Zechs thought, stunned to hear it stated as such. [I wasn't obsessed with Heero... or was I? Is that it? Does Treize yearn to save Wufei so he can fight him again like I sought to continually battle against Heero? Then this isn't love like what I have with Duo... it's something entirely other, the respect and admiration for one's equal... and the personal challenge each represents to the other, the ultimate challenge of one warrior against another. I admire Heero... but I no longer have any real interest to fight him. But then we've established our equality on the battlefield. Duo, on the other hand...] He straightened, frowning. "Heero Yuy and I are friends who respect one another as equals, as soldiers," he replied slowly. "Is that what you feel for Chang Wufei? Or do you perhaps feel something like what I have with Duo Maxwell? I'm deeply in love with Duo, I admit. He completes me in so many ways... So, which is it, Treize? What has truly driven you to fly to Wufei's rescue?" "If this was Heero Yuy captured by OZ, would you not do this?" Treize asked, frowning. "Heero can take care of himself," Zechs retorted. "As can Duo, in case you intend to ask that next." He knew an internal quiver at the thought, but Zechs would not allow himself to even think about such a possibility. "And certainly I would think Wufei can manage himself just fine as well. Answer my question! Why did you set out to rescue Wufei?" He immediately knew the answer as soon as Treize paused. [He doesn't know! Is he really still thinking he's got something for Lady Une? He hasn't really thought this through.] "Don't answer that," he said quickly, looking beyond his friend to the Gundam Epyon again. "I don't suppose it's important that you know the answer to that right now. So... what are you going to do, Treize? What was your plan?" Treize took a deep breath, grateful for his friend's insight. He truly did not understand why he was driven to rescue Wufei. He'd told himself it had everything to do with that Gundam pilot magic he'd spoken of... that he could not stand by while OZ imprisoned that bright spirit. Perhaps that was it... perhaps it was something else. "I will take my Gundam and confront OZ directly," he replied firmly, his resolve surging forth again. "There must be some there who will hearken to my call!" The ice blue eyes narrowed at him. "If you do this, Treize Khushrenada, do take off that uniform first. You cannot do this as a member of GAIA, for we cannot approve of such a rash measure. This would seriously set back our efforts here in outer space and the progress we have made. What has made GAIA different from OZ and the United Earthsphere Alliance is our stance of non-aggression. We refuse to bully our way into the colonies and take them back from OZ's control. That would make us no better than the others!" There was a twitch to Treize's jaw and a decided glint in his eyes. "You *have* changed, Milliardo," he muttered. "Or perhaps reverted to your pacifist origins - is that it? Has Milliardo Peacecraft, that being you've discarded for so many years, come back to the fore? Or is this what love has done to you?" Zechs glared at the other man for a fraction of an instant, then his fist lashed out, catching Treize squarely on the jaw, sending him flying. Then as Treize scrambled to get his senses back in order, blinking against the sharp pain in his jaw, Zechs stood over him, hand still folded into a fist. "You've got a decision to make, Your Excellency. I suggest you do it as soon as possible!" The use of the old title surprised Treize, who lay there on the ground gaping up at his intense friend. Then he started laughing. "What's so funny?" Zechs demanded, scowling. "You... and me, mostly me," Treize replied, chuckling. "Damn, you're so fast... those famous lightning reflexes... and I supposed I deserved that." He extended a hand and allowed Zechs to pull him to his feet. Brushing off his uniform, he looked up to see his friend still scowling at him. "You *have* changed... and you haven't. What I have to remind myself is that you yourself possess that same magic as those other little pilots." "What?" Zechs asked, bewildered. But the sting of anger was fading. Treize smiled disarmingly. "I mean that, Milliardo! Ah, my old friend..." He clapped the taller man on the back. "I guess I'm still a pompous ass... still playing that old role, eh?" Zechs gave him a wry snort. "You have your moments. So, you're going to do this with us... or fly off on your own? You do realize that everyone already thinks you've done far too much of the latter already." "Yes, and I realize that sort of thinking is unfair to GAIA and our mission," Treize sighed. He fingered his jaw, which he was realizing was going to be sore for a while, probably would be sporting a bruise soon. "I'm not used to working as a member of a team... and apparently I need to shed some old habits immediately. Ah, Milliardo - you do make a good case for restraining my impulses. I promise, no running off." "That's good," Zechs breathed in relief. Treize waved at the exit. "Now, if you don't mind, I think I'd like to go somewhere on this fabulous ship where I can sit down. I think when you knocked sense into me you might have dislodged a few of my senses at the same time." Zechs smiled finally. "Good to see you again, too, Treize." He led him off then, the conversation turning to his sister's trip to Bremen. But in the back of his mind, he still puzzled over Treize's words. [Magic... me?]
The meeting lasted ten minutes. When it was over, Treize found his way to the quarters assigned to him and went inside to process the decision made by the GAIA Leadership Committee. [They're *not* going to move against OZ,] he thought for already the hundredth time. [They're not going to rescue Wufei... and I am not allowed to either...] Treize whirled abruptly and slammed his fist into the door he'd just closed behind him. A stupid move, for it hurt only his knuckles. But the pain felt clean and he'd needed some sort of release short of screaming in frustration. It had been decided to contact Trowa to have him attempt a rescue. It was not known which OZ faction had the Chinese pilot. If it was the Fore Faction, then Trowa likely already knew about it and may have even been in contact with Wufei. [That was supposed to reassure me,] he thought, gritting his teeth as he tried to calm down. What was most unexpected had been Zechs's adamant insistence that Treize remain on Peacemillion instead of leaping to Wufei's rescue. Of course Treize understood all the arguments presented, and a rational portion of his mind even agreed with them, but something odd and uncharacteristic about him - centering in his heart - had ached to defy the GAIA leaders. He fingered his jaw, which was plenty sore. [Milliardo...] Unfortunately, it was Treize's past rash behavior that was most likely at fault for the Committee's firm line against him now. [I have to earn my way into their trust even now,] he mused darkly, leaning back against the door. [Even with Zechs... and that hurts most of all... but I have to prove myself trustworthy. I have been foolish...]
"And it is for this reason," Lieutenant Trowa Barton explained smoothly to Colonel Une in their morning meeting, "that I agree with Lieutenant Nikol about securing a Gundam pilot to test the Mercurius while I pilot the Vayeate. We cannot measure the full potential of our new weapons without adequate testing." [He's... agreeing with me?] Nikol wondered, hiding his shock. Une pushed her glasses up her nose and peered at her juniormost lieutenant. "Very well," she replied flatly, then looked to her second. "Nikol, you say you have information from our observers in the colonies that a couple of Gundam pilots have been spotted in the L2 cluster, presumably meeting with rebels. You may proceed to capture one of them." "Leave it to me, Colonel!" Nikol declared, throwing a glare at Trowa who merely looked back benignly. It still rankled in Nikol that he wasn't permitted to test one of the new mobile suits. Une removed her glasses then smiled at Nikol. "Of course you will be sure that the Gundam pilot comes to no harm, Nikol," she said, her voice altering to her sweet Lady Une tenor. "We do want him to arrive in one piece!" "Of course, Colonel," Nikol murmured, trying to rein in his impatience. [There she goes again...] "He should feel honored at our invitation!" "We'd make sure he couldn't sabotage our efforts here," Trowa added, relieved to see "Lady Une" appear. "I'm sure I can get him to cooperate." The woman laughed lightly. "I have every confidence in you, Lieutenant Trowa!" She flounced her hair playfully. "Don't you think Trowa's doing a great job, Nikol?" "Stellar," Nikol bit off. "Look, this is really critical. Now that we know that GAIA is indeed in outer space, we must be ready to move against them at any time." "Yes, yes," Une replied, waving him off. "Well, Trowa, when the Gundam pilot gets here, please bring him in to meet me, won't you? I've always wanted to meet one of those boys!" "Certainly, ma'am," Trowa replied. [I hope it's Heero... the two of us could do a lot of damage on this Barge...] A couple minutes later, Trowa was returning to his post when his pager beeped softly. He stopped to check it, and was shocked to see the identifier: "Q04". [Quatre!] If Quatre was contacting him directly like this, some emergency must have come up. Immediately he turned around to head for his quarters. After setting up the necessary GAIA security enzymes on his computer system in his room, Trowa downloaded the text-only message and decoded it. It was short, as expected, but shocking nevertheless: "OZ HAS WUFEI. ATTEMPT RESCUE IF POSSIBLE. RK IN SPACE ON P. L, Q." "Wufei? Here?" Trowa muttered to himself, shaking his head. [But I know for a fact we don't have him. Then it's Trant! But... why? What would he want... with Wufei? And... RK? Oh, the Rose Knight... and what the hell would HE be doing in space?] Trowa checked his security again to be sure it was still tight. The enzyme coding fortunately prevented detection of the transmission altogether, but one couldn't be too careful. He typed the message: "WUFEI NOT HERE..." There was a sharp knock on his door. Hastily Trowa hit Send and shut down the system. "Come in!" he called a moment later. It was Lady Une, still holding her glasses in her hand. "Trowa, I wonder if I could have a moment of your time? I thought you'd be heading back to the bridge, but you weren't there..." Trowa gave her a tiny smile. "Ma'am, sorry, I needed to shut down my computer." She smiled winningly. "You're so careful with resources, Trowa. Well, will you walk with me to the bridge then?" [At least it's Lady Une, not the Colonel,] he thought, noting her bright smile. "I'd be very glad to... Lady." As Trowa walked with Lady Une, who'd only wanted to thank him for going along with Nikol's idea, he couldn't help but think about his lover. "L,Q" was how he'd signed the short note. [I love you, too, Kitten. And this means you're back from L4! I hope it went well... I hope you and your father got along. I wish you could tell me all about it...] (tbc)
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