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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" 21) After Heero and Trowa had gone, the door locking behind them, Duo looked around the tiny cell and frowned. Could he really content himself with staying in here when he knew damn well the action was out there? He walked to a corner and slumped down on the floor. Bringing his knees up and wrapping his arms about them, he set his chin down and stared at the door. It was too quiet in here and he really hated being out of commission. It was not doing GAIA any good to have one of its key players locked away. [Heero and Trowa just wanted me out of the way. I'm a decoy,] he thought, resentfully. [OZ will be focused on their new prisoner instead of watching those two.] Heero had made a good case for Duo staying undercover as a prisoner, but it probably had more to do with Heero's warped need to safeguard Duo than about their mission. Oh, yes, Duo had noticed and tolerated Heero's mother-hen routine on L2, but now that Duo was locked away he could not help but itch for freedom and a little independence from his mission partner. "He thinks I'm safe here," Duo said with a little snort. "I wasn't on Barge five minutes when those bastards attacked me." And now that Duo knew there were no cameras or listening devices in the cells he was sure it wouldn't take long for the line to start forming. Hell, they'd probably even post signs, "to cop a feel of a real-life Gundam pilot, the line starts here." He shivered. He hadn't been kidding about needing that shower. The last thing he wanted right now was the memory of those slimy hands on him and the probability of more. Zechs had taken such care that last morning they were together to make sure Duo was branded by his touch, and now that touch had been tainted. Duo bit back a sob. This was not how it was supposed to be. He should have been returning to Zechs's side any day now. The mission on L2 had been looking up, and surely Zechs was already back on Peacemillion, sleeping in that big bed all by himself. Now it looked like Duo would be here for days, even weeks, just because Heero and Trowa saw some advantage to keeping Duo in a cage. It suddenly occurred to Duo that he could take matters into his own hands. He could attempt an escape... he was damn good at them... and in the process take the Mercurius. That was part of the plan anyway, right? He'd be back in Zechs's arms by dinner, leaving Heero and Trowa to take down OZ from the inside and giving GAIA the advantage of a new mobile suit. "As a prisoner OZ would expect me to try to escape," Duo reasoned as he got up. And he had told Heero he would steal the Mercurius when the time came. And that time was now. He fished into his braid for the wire pick he kept hidden there on missions. Thank goodness Trowa had left him uncuffed. In moments he would be racing down the corridor, easily overtaking the unsuspecting guards at the entrance to the cell block and well on his way to freedom. Stepping to the cell door he inspected the locking mechanism, but just as he was about to work on it he heard someone approaching. It could Heero or Trowa, but more than likely it was an Ozzie. He quickly stepped back, tucking the pick in his braid once again and crouching down on the floor ready to spring into action when the opportunity arose. [Heero's just gonna have to understand... I can't just sit here.] When the door slid open, Duo gaped. His visitor was the last person he expected to see. [Lady Une?] Resting a hand on her hip, the commander of the Fore Faction of the OZ Space Force looked down on the boy on the floor, noting with interest his coiled attack pose. "If your defensive posture is for me, Gundam Pilot," she murmured dryly, "you needn't worry. I have no intention of harming one such as you." "What makes you think it's a defensive posture?" Duo retorted as he slowly stood. [Let her think that *I* might harm her,] he thought with some glee. But he would not attack now, she was alone and he was actually curious to see if she had changed as much as they said she had. Besides, he was confident he could escape anytime. Une bent down to regard the slim young man with renewed interest and widened eyes, her _expression closer to a delighted smile than an actual smirk. "Well, you *are* the dangerous one, then," she replied, noting closely that he was still poised for anything. "I suppose I should be frightened, though I'm quite capable of defending myself if need be. Strangely, I can't seem to feel any animosity toward you, though I certainly did once upon a time. You're 02, aren't you? The pilot of that Gundam with that... thing." Duo bristled. "I'm the God of Death and that *thing * is a thermal scythe and your worst nightmare!" he exclaimed, his hands curling into fists. This lady was deceiving. She looked feminine, but her words were calm and calculating. "And I definitely feel animosity toward you!" "Siberia... yes, of course," Une murmured, sighing as she straightened. "Yes, you are indeed my worst nightmare, Maxwell, but far more than that - you're the incarnation of the pioneer spirit of the colonies... and I'd be foolish not to respect that or treat it well. Well, let me apologize for Siberia, then, not that I expect it to matter to you if I do. I don't expect it will change your regard for me any. No matter, I apologize. And, if it would not offend you too terribly, I would like to talk with you for a bit." Duo's eyes widened as she spoke. Did she really respect him? And was she actually apologizing? [Can't be. She's just messing with me.] "Apology NOT accepted!" he said, lifting his chin defiantly. "And if you wanna talk I don't think I have a choice, so go ahead and do your best to mesmerize me with your OZ fairy tales." [What fire... I haven't a single soldier who burns like this one... except maybe my Trowa Barton,] Une thought, regarding Duo with astonishment. [And perhaps that new one, too... I'm right about them all being Gundam pilots, I know it...] "I hope to change your mind about me someday, Maxwell," she murmured thoughtfully. "And our 'fairy tales', as you call them. You see, I long for peace in the colonies as much as you do. It's different now than I thought it would be. Once we thought we would force the colonies to manufacture mobile dolls in order to subjugate the citizens of the colonies... but there will be no more mobile dolls. That dream died on Earth." "GAIA has seen no reason to believe that OZ is interested in peace," Duo spat. "And if you want peace so badly, why haven't you declared it?" "Good point," she countered with a smile. "As you might be aware, OZ is having... internal problems... which prevent us from doing just that. And as GAIA has only shown itself here in outer space a few days ago and briefly at that, we are hardly ready to ally with them for the peace of the colonies. Once that organization is more out in the open, well, then perhaps we can make our way to peace together. That's prudent, wouldn't you agree?" "Oh, so you've captured me to find out more about GAIA?" Duo asked, even though he knew from Trowa that he was needed for tests on the Mercurius. [Let's see what her story is...] Une could not hold back a smirk, though she hoped it looked more like a winning smile. "We captured you to help test the Mercurius mobile suit, Maxwell," she explained, "though since you've plainly verified the Gundam Pilots' involvement with GAIA, then of course I would like to learn more about that organization. Not, perhaps, as our enemy, but... a potential ally. At least in theory." Internally she was nearly holding her breath with anticipation. [Will he bite on that? Is that too audacious a suggestion? I know Nikol is staunchly in favor of OZ's original program in space, save for production of mobile dolls, but the bottom line is that OZ on Earth has changed... and the Romefeller Foundation has as well. Where, oh, where are His Excellency Treize Khushrenada's ideals in all of this turmoil? And where is Treize? Why can't he call me to tell me what to do here?] [OZ an ally?!] Duo's eyes widened. His contempt for OZ ran deep, despite having it somewhat tempered by Zechs who had served that organization for many years and whom Duo loved with every fiber of his being. But to think that this lady would stand here and talk of peace with the history of OZ's atrocities still fresh in his mind was just too much. "We'll take you down before we ever ally with the likes of you!" he exclaimed, hastily. Maybe that was not the sentiment of his colleagues, but at this moment he was on his own and feeling increasingly claustrophobic. [I need to get out of here!] [Of course you should feel that way,] Une mused sadly. "Yes, I suppose from your perspective, Mr. Maxwell, that is a ridiculous notion. So you're saying that GAIA's intentions are to fight OZ, to 'take us down'? For if you do that, then GAIA is no better than OZ, is it? If your way is to continue this useless war... that's what you want?" Duo growled, not liking these mind games at all. Yet he could not resist playing along. "We wouldn't have to fight if you'd leave the colonies... give us back our freedom!" His hands curled into fists once again as his control began to slip. [What's she doing? Does she want me to hurt her?] The anger pouring off the young pilot hit Lady Une like a slap in the face. "Oh, no, we're only trying... to... trying to help..." Suddenly her sadness and bewilderment at the venom in the slender figure coiled before her was all too much and she began to tremble. "Trying to free the colonies... it's a new time... of peace..." She stumbled back abruptly, hands before her as if to ward off a potential attack. "I... I shouldn't have come... sorry, I'm so sorry..." she gasped, then spun around and ran out, the cell door clanging shut with a loud clamor behind her. Duo charged the door, slamming his fists against it as it shut and locked. "Damn you! Let me out of here!" After kicking the door several times in frustration, Duo slumped against the wall again. [What the hell was that? She actually sounded like she wants peace... like she wants the colonies to be free? Who am I dealing with here?] The encounter had flustered Duo enough that he did not want to risk an escape just now. He needed to think this out a bit more, and if possible talk to Heero or Trowa about the unstable woman who was in charge of a hell of a lot of firepower. "Geez, I'd hate to see her when she's off her meds," he said with a little chuckle and then sat on the cell floor... waiting.
Diverting a few minutes from going to check on the Mercurius and Vayeate mobile suits, Heero and Trowa ducked into a spare office and closed the door. Immediately both Gundam pilots went into action, Heero to secure the room and search for listening devices, Trowa to set up a portable transmitter to contact Peacemillion. Neither had to remind the other about the possibility that Zechs Merquise would launch an attack, single-handedly if need be, to rescue his lover. "We're clear," Heero muttered a minute later. "How are you doing?" "Ready to send," Trowa murmured, taking a deep breath. "You know, Heero, I think we need to make this a two-way... I'm not sure just telling them Duo's okay is going to be enough reassurance for Zechs. My last message was pretty terse. I'd told them Wufei wasn't here... and that's it. When did you talk to them last?" Heero leaned against the wall, his arms folded tight about himself, unable to fully look the other man in the eye. "When I reported Duo was captured. They told me about Treize - did you know he was in space?" "Yeah... but if he'd started a war or anything even we would have heard about it," Trowa retorted sardonically. "That one doesn't do anything small. Anyway, I think we need to risk a two-way." "I agree," Heero responded with a terse nod. "And I'm going to make the call. I chickened out before... but I should be the one to talk to Zechs. This is my responsibility, Trowa. Besides, it would be good if you went to the bridge and made sure no one is paying close attention to the internal sensors. Create a diversion or something." Trowa looked over at his friend soberly, then came over to him, laying his hand on the other's arm. "Heero, you don't have to do this... and we're expected in the construction bay." The deep Prussian-blue eyes held his gaze, unflinching. "Trowa, I have to face Zechs over this. I'm not going to be a coward. I'm the one he should be angry with." "Heero, no," Trowa whispered, his voice dropping softer. "You're not thinking straight." For a long minute Heero looked back into the earnest, concerned green gaze regarding him closely. Then he lifted his free hand and placed it over the one on his arm. "Trowa... all right, but I still want to call this in. Two-way. Go to the bridge and distract the communications officer." Trowa smiled. He lifted his hand from the other's arm but squeezed Heero's fingers briefly before releasing his hand. "All right, Heero. I'll do what I can, then come back here to get you. Don't go wandering around the ship, okay?" "Sure thing," Heero replied, bewildered by the other's gesture. "Good luck." "You, too, Heero," Trowa responded with a quick smile, then he was gone. [He... held my hand,] Heero thought, wondering. [Trowa...] Then he put in the call to Peacemillion.
Nikol straightened as his personal nemesis walked onto the bridge of Barge and strode confidently over to the station of the intelligence officer. "Barton," he snapped, "what are you doing up here? I thought you were showing Lowell the new mobile suits..." Trowa did not even glance in his direction. "I told him to unpack," he murmured, then leaned over the station to speak in a lowered voice to the officer. [Right,] Nikol fumed. [And just what are you up to now, Gundam pilot?] "What are you doing? Answer me now, Barton!" As usual, the other's rough tone didn't phase the test pilot any. "I've asked Mariko here to do a security check on Lowell... just in case." [Serves this guy right - this ought to confuse him...] "What?" Nikol stomped over, astounded. [Just what do you have planned? You're up to something, I know it...] Trowa straightened while Officer Mariko checked her database for information on one Officer Odin Lowell. "I just want to be sure about him," he replied, a challenging note in his voice. Past Nikol, he could see the communication officer swiveled to face them, interested in the tug of war between the two rival lieutenants - just as Trowa planned. Of course the man did not see the blinking light indicating an unauthorized communication on board ship. A few levels below the bridge, Heero was calling the flagship of GAIA.
Treize Khushrenada, himself uneasy with the knowledge that Chang Wufei was a prisoner of OZ, had landed the unenviable job of... monitoring... one volatile Zechs Merquise whose lover was also a "guest" of OZ, though apparently not of the same faction. No one else on Peacemillion knew Zechs like Treize did, his oldest friend. And no one else dared to risk setting Zechs off any worse than he already was. "Eventually you'll wear a path," Treize observed drolly as he sat at leisure on the bridge of Peacemillion, watching his friend pace the floor. He'd given up hope of making Zechs stay in his quarters or even do anything except work on his new mobile suit. As yet Zechs hadn't done a test ride of the Tallgeese II, much less with the Zero System, but that was scheduled for an hour from now anyway. So the two of them were lurking on the bridge, hoping for word from their men undercover on Barge. "Then let there be a path," Zechs muttered sourly, then finally came to a gliding stop before his friend. "You must be dreadfully bored, having to watch my every move," he added in a retort. "I promised to not go tearing off to Barge, didn't I? Have I ever broken a promise, Treize?" Treize smiled, though he didn't go as far as chuckle at his passionate young friend. "No, Zechs, you have not. Although there was that time in London when you tried to weasel out..." The radio sounded with an incoming call. Zechs was at the station in two steps, his boots snicking loudly as the magnets in the soles pulled away. "I'll take it," he said to the communications officer, who yielded his seat hastily. Zechs slid into the seat and opened the channel in one smooth move. "Peacemillion," he responded, immediately noting that the call was indeed coming from Trowa Barton's secret radio aboard Space Fortress Barge. But it was not Trowa's face that appeared on the screen. "Heero...!" Heero gave the screen a terse nod in acknowledgment. He was not in the least surprised to see Zechs take the call. And he'd steeled himself already for this encounter, prepared for all the venom the man before him could unleash for his part in Duo's capture. "Zechs. I'm risking a two-way to speak to you personally. Duo's fine; I've seen him." He'd added that last in a rush as his previous words had already caused the blond to go pale. "Keep talking," Zechs replied, scowling. "I want to know everything." Behind him, Treize now stood, his hand on the top of Zechs's chair though not touching him. He could nevertheless feel his friend's coiled tension. "Of course," Heero responded. "He was apparently captured for the purpose of being made to test the Mercurius, one of the two new mobile suit designs that the Gundam scientists are building for Colonel Une. Trowa's already been testing the Vayeate, as you know. Duo is being kept under custody meanwhile. I've checked the security and he's fine there." Zechs narrowed his eyes at the image on his screen. "Why aren't you testing the Mercurius yourself? You're wearing an OZ uniform -you've infiltrated into the ranks like Trowa?" Heero could also feel Zechs's frustration and worry; it made his own heart clench in worry. [I've got to protect Duo... I've got to...] "That would have been too obvious. I forged orders placing me here as a computer specialist to assist the Gundam scientists, not as a test pilot. I'm going down there in a few minutes. Trowa is running interference on the bridge so we can get this message through to you." "Thank you," Zechs replied gravely. "I do appreciate this. What are your plans?" Taking a deep breath, Heero nodded. "Trowa and Duo will, at some point, be able to steal the two new mobile suits. It might be when the Aft Faction makes some move. We have no communication with them, apparently, but the stalemate between the two factions is not going to last indefinitely. It seems reasonable that Trant will make a move, possibly soon. That will be our chance. I don't know if there are any connections left in the computer network on this ship, but I'm going to see if I can hack into the Aft group's computers, find out what's going on there, foil them if I can." "Very good, Heero," Zechs murmured, relaxing. It was obvious that the Gundam pilots were more than capable of handling things on Barge without outside help. And if the Fore Faction valued Duo as a Gundam pilot as it seemed they did, then he would be safe on Barge. "Thank you; I know you're doing all you can there." "I'll do whatever it takes, Zechs," Heero replied a bit forcefully. "This is my responsibility, my mission. Duo will be safe. We'll take down OZ smoothly and all be together again, forging that peace we have all dreamed about." Zechs nodded. [He's so fierce...] "Understood. Meanwhile it looks like all we can do here is stay at the ready to assist if things should come to a battle. You Gundam pilots now are our chief players on this field." At the entrance to the bridge, Quatre Raberba Winner stood listening, his entire body tense. [I should be there... I should be fighting with them!] But he knew only too well, though it made his heart ill, that he could not leap into the fray any more than Zechs could... or Treize. [I must believe my Trowa will return to me safely,] he thought, sagging against the wall beside the door. [Just as Zechs must trust his Duo will be safe... but, damn...] "Accepted," Heero murmured, then glanced up at the man standing at Zechs's shoulder. "Treize," he acknowledged him, "we don't know anything about Wufei. He must have been captured by the other faction. I'm sorry." Treize nodded firmly. "He is strong. If he's needed like I think he is, it will be difficult, but... he is strong, stronger than I in many ways. I have no doubt that he will weather this trial well." "Heero," Zechs broke in again, narrowing his ice blue eyes, "tell Duo... tell Duo for me that I have every confidence in his strength. Please, tell him that." [And he knows the rest... how deeply I love and cherish him. But he needs my confidence now... and so do I.] "I will tell him, Zechs," Heero replied with a firm nod. "I think... he may have been worried there could have been a... strong response to his capture." Quatre shoved off from the wall and began to approach the communications station. [I have something for him to tell Trowa as well...] Zechs gave him a half-sardonic grin. "There might well have been! But I was... prevented from my rash impulses. Thanks to Treize's devious ways. But you might not want to share that with Duo, Heero." He sobered. "I don't want him to worry... and I know he doesn't want me to worry, either. I'm... trying." "That's all you can do, Zechs," Heero replied a bit fervently. "I will see that he returns to you safely." "Thank you, Heero," Zechs replied with a little smile. "I'm glad you're there to watch over him for me. Thank you." Quatre laid a hand on Zechs's shoulder; at the touch, Zechs glanced up to see the young GAIA leader with a tense look on his face. Nodding, he slid from the seat and allowed the boy to sit, moving to stand beside Treize. "Heero," Quatre began, leaning forward, "I have something I need you to tell Trowa as well." "Of course, Quatre," Heero replied. Though time was getting critical, he knew now that these little relationship needs were very important to the mental and emotional well-being of his colleagues... and they all had to be at their mental best to face OZ. "Tell him..." Quatre's voice broke a little, but he continued on firmly. "Tell him I believe in him. Tell that to Trowa for me, please." Heero nodded, feeling again a twinge of warmth as he looked back at the perceptive, sensitive boy on the screen. "I'll be glad to, Quatre." "And one more thing, Heero," Quatre persisted. "I believe in you, too." The simple little affirmation from his newest friend went straight to his heart. "Quatre..." "I mean, that, Heero. You're important to me. Now, go with the blessings of Allah... God... whomever. We're all sending you our regard and support, right guys?" Unknown to the three at the comm station, others had come up behind them as well. "You got that right!" Sally called out. "Here, here," Noin chimed in, followed by Howard's enthusiastic "Go get 'em!" "Right, Quatre," Zechs chuckled. "Good luck, Heero!" "We'll be ready for anything here," Treize put in, leaning over Quatre's shoulder. "Go with God, Heero Yuy." The unequivocal support of his alliance threatened to shatter the composure of the Wing Gundam pilot, but Heero maintained it with an effort before the monitor. "Thanks, everyone. We'll keep you posted. Yuy, out." Once the channel had been closed, however, Heero doubled over, his face in his hands as the emotion swelled over him. [Quatre... believes in me! I'm important to him. I'm important... to all of them...]
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