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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" 7)
Not ten minutes after boarding the shuttle that would take him to Colony D-120, there came a call from Earth for Zechs Merquise. To his surprise, it was Eric Meiser, a GAIA engineer that had stayed behind at Barclay Base, GAIA's original base on Antarctica. "Hello, sir," the tall red-headed engineer greeted him with a little warmth. Though Meiser had gotten over his crush on the taller blond pilot, he still felt a strong loyalty to him and a fondness. "I have a report on your project." "Yes, thanks for calling, Meiser," Zechs replied, relaxing as he fiddled with the shuttle controls; he was piloting it himself. "How are things going?" He was glad for the distraction; it would keep him from thinking about missing Duo. Since Treize had sent them the full files on all the Gundams, the GAIA engineers had determined that Zechs's Tallgeese could use even more updating. Also, tests had shown, to everyone's surprise except perhaps Noin and Meiser's, that Zechs's own reflex speeds had grown dramatically since piloting the Tallgeese... meaning that this mobile suit would soon be obsolete for its pilot. So Zechs had quickly designed, before leaving for space, a new mobile suit with even more impressive weaponry than the original Tallgeese. "Ahead of schedule, sir," Meiser reported, looking pleased with himself. "In fact, except for the cockpit system, the suit is finished. It could be sent to you in a few days." "That soon!" Zechs exclaimed. "Well, that is marvelous news. Obviously you've devoted a lot of time to this and added extra workers? Good man; I wasn't expecting it to be finished for a month or two. I'm leaving now for the D-120 colony, so the timing is excellent." "The cockpit system is nearly finished as well. It's been easier to design according to your personal statistics, allowing for a comfortable margin of continual improvement," Meiser added smugly. "This way, you're the only possible pilot for that suit." "Yes, I look forward to seeing what you've done with it." Zechs met the man's glance with a somewhat wistful look. He'd hoped to do the cockpit design himself, but he'd promised the rest of the GAIA leadership committee that he would leave it for the engineers on Antarctica, though Zechs was more than capable of his own design work. Zechs had been particularly fascinated with the Zero System file, which they'd received along with the files on all the Gundams from outer space. That cockpit system design was revolutionary, even controversial, as it interfaced directly with a pilot's brain waves. Zechs was itching to play with it, see what it could do, but he'd promised not to develop the Zero for his new suit. Still, he'd idly dabbled with the design on his computer. The new mobile suit's cockpit design would instead be a hybrid design based on Wing Gundam, the Taurus, and the Tallgeese's original design. It would adapt to Zechs's increasing speed of reflexes. Meiser blinked. "Yes, sir," he responded. "We've also made the adaptations you suggested to the pilot's harness system for the faster speeds that will be possible." He smiled. "You'll be the fastest thing in space, sir!" "I'm just being prepared for anything," Zechs murmured, demurring. "Very good, Meiser, you're living up to your own reputation again. I appreciate all the time you're taking to do this for me." "Anything, sir," Meiser gushed, then cleared his throat, pinking. "Ah, yes, sir. I'll call Peacemillion when we're ready to send the Tallgeese II your way." Zechs wasn't sure why, but he'd grown fond of the silly suit name, fond enough to keep it for the next version. "Thanks, Meiser." "Good luck with your visit to the D-120 colony!" "Thanks, I'll do my best. Zechs, out." After closing the circuit, Zechs sagged back in the pilot's chair and folded his arms over his chest, closing his eyes. [Duo... my little love, my Dancer... is gone from my side...] He himself had changed so much, Zechs knew, since that bold, bright spirit, his fierce, indomitable "God of Death" blew into his life not even two months ago. Duo Maxwell, orphan, survivor of Alliance atrocities, Gundam pilot and soldier, had touched the heart of this broken veteran who at age nineteen hadn't been young since he had been six years old and had witnessed the destruction of his family and country. Duo had sparked him back to life, enabling Zechs to hope at last for peace and an end to war. But that end, despite the astonishing success of the push for peace on Earth by the revitalized Romefeller Foundation and the new GAIA group, was still far out of their reach. OZ's Space Force was still very dangerous, hence the need to upgrade his mobile suit. Right now, however, GAIA representatives must talk and negotiate, not fight. And that necessitated separation. [He won't be in my bed tonight,] Zechs mused. [I won't be able to hold the braid, tease him with it... make him writhe with pleasure...] He groaned suddenly, grimacing with inner pain as he bowed his head. He folded his gloved hands tightly into fists. [Anything could happen... anything! What if... what if I never see him again? How will I go on?] Zechs Merquise knew that answer. Without Duo, he had no reason to hope for peace. There was the Sank Kingdom to go back to, and he supposed he could, but there would be no enjoyment for him to rule that country. Not without his Dancer at his side. Suddenly his head came up. If any had been there to see, they would have been dismayed by the ominous glare in his eyes, hard and unforgiving. [OZ, you will be defeated,] he thought, finding his focus again... on the enemy. [You are not needed in outer space. I will not allow you to harm my Duo or any of these bright spirits. This... I vow...]
Lieutenant Trowa Barton finished his post-mission shutdown of the Vayeate's systems, his mind half on the too-brief conversation with his lover. [Quatre's strong,] he thought worriedly, trying to convince himself. [It shook him to see me - damn! I have to trust that he'll be okay... trust the others. Noin is very sensitive... she'll watch over him, won't she?] Idly he thought of someone else that he wished could stay close to his lover. [Heero would be a steady presence for him,] he mused as he activated the cockpit door. [I hope they can become friends...] "Is there a problem, Lieutenant?" Lieutenant Nikol shouted impatiently as he looked up at the emerging figure above. The new, hotshot pilot seemed distracted. His test had run a little longer than Nikol had liked. [I don't trust him...] he thought bitterly. He had instantly disliked Trowa the moment the boy had set foot on Barge, but Colonel Une had reacted just the opposite, saying something about Trowa being their salvation. "Just being thorough, Nikol," Trowa replied mildly as he emerged onto the cockpit door, his helmet under his arm. The use of the man's first name was a reminder that they did in fact hold the same rank, though Nikol was clearly second-in-command here. "You wouldn't want the Vayeate to be in anything other than mission-ready condition, would you? Valuable time would be lost doing what I just did now." He activated the lift and began his descent, still not looking at the irate officer at the base of the mobile suit, though he could picture him very well, especially the glaring dark-brown eyes and fists. Nikol narrowed his eyes dangerously at the other young man as he reached the floor. "I don't know what cozy position you held on Earth, but here I expect you to be 'thorough' faster," Nikol said sharply. [He thinks he can hide behind protocol... I'll have to watch him more carefully.] "Now... tell me about the test. How did the Vayeate react?" Touching down precisely, Trowa released the lift cable then smartly saluted his superior, keeping the professional manner the man expected. "Sir. The Vayeate reacted perfectly to all maneuvering and attacking tests." As Nikol nodded, he fell into step with him as they walked together out of the hanger bay. "The new beam cannon is of course exceptionally heavy, but an adequate pilot should be able to adjust to the imbalance." [After all,] Trowa thought smugly, musing upon his own mobile suit's massive Gatling gun assembly, [the Heavyarms was aptly named indeed.] [Adequate, indeed,] Nikol thought as he glanced sideways at the little upstart. He was sure that remark was directed at him. "I'll need to review the test data, but you seem to have concluded the tests adequately," he said, stepping through the hangar doors into a main corridor. "But just remember... your usefulness has its limitations." Trowa handed over the disk with the mission data. "I don't agree, sir. There will never be a time that mobile suits will stop requiring upgrading and improvements. Not if we want to stay ahead of the enemy." As he said this last, he raised his eyebrow and tilted his head slightly, the wry gesture tacitly reminding Nikol of the closer enemy - Nikol's rival, Trant Clark. "As for my 'usefulness', we'll see what Colonel Une says about that." "What I say about what, Lieutenant Trowa?" came a pleasant, feminine... and unmistakable... voice. Both officers hastily turned to face their commander as she approached. "Colonel Une, ma'am," Trowa greeted her with a salute fractionally swifter than his companion's. "We were apparently discussing my... usefulness." "Oh?" Une inquired, looking astonished. She was dressed for one of her meetings on a colony, wearing a smartly tailored dress suit in a rich burgundy. The conservative cut, matching low heels, and her softly feathered shoulder-length brown hair lent her the appearance of professional dignity and stability. Without her glasses, of course, her countenance was less severe-looking. "Usefulness? I can't imagine why that would be a subject for discussion, Nikol. Our Trowa is invaluable to our purpose in outer space, you know." [So, he's a coward and a manipulator, too...] Nikol thought bitterly as he watched Une's eyes light playfully on the young Trowa Barton. "A soldier's usefulness is always relevant, Colonel," he said, and then looked to Trowa briefly before returning his eyes to Une. "I'm sure Lieutenant Barton would agree." The corner of Trowa's mouth curved slightly into a smile. "I defer to our commanding officer's determination, Lieutenant Nikol," he replied smoothly. [Walked into that one, you did. I play the game better than you do and you know it...] If Colonel Une had not been present, Nikol would have put the new pilot in his proper place... as the subordinate and unwelcome transfer that he was. Instead, he just ignored the young man's last comment. "Colonel, things are under control here. The tests on the Vayeate are complete. I'll review the data and report to you when you return from your meeting." "Oh, yes," Une replied vaguely, fingering a lock of hair. Her glance slid from her second to the stiff young pilot at his side. [I need to speak to Trowa,] she mused. [I think Nikol is right that he's a Gundam pilot. But I need to find out what makes him so special...] She looked back at her second again. "Nikol, I am very grateful for your concern, more than you know," she said warmly, flashing him a smile. "It eases my mind that our operations can be so well managed while I am away." "Thank you, ma'am," Nikol said, a bit flustered by the unexpected warm response. "Then I'll await your return." With that, the career soldier saluted his superior once again, was not surprised when she did not return the salute, and then turned to go. He sensed immediately that the troublemaker Barton was not following. Nikol turned back. "Lieutenant Barton, you're excused." "Actually, Nikol, I require a bit of Lieutenant Trowa's time," Une replied, a gentle touch to the older man's arm to soothe him. She knew well of the rivalry between the two pilots and wished Nikol could accept the young expert as she had. Then she blinked and for a moment Colonel Une had returned. "Please excuse us, Nikol," she said with a bit more bite. "Lieutenant Trowa, you're coming with me." Smartly she turned on a heel and strode away, expecting to be followed. Trowa felt the other man's eyes hot on him, the burning jealousy evident. "Yes, Ma'am!" he replied quickly, and avoided returning Nikol's glare as he stepped to the Colonel's side to accompany her. Barge's Fore Faction second-in-command could not help but gape. [What's going on here? Does Une have a thing for this kid?] The thought sent a chill through him. [Over my dead body...]
Silently the undercover Gundam pilot walked down the hallway beside the commander of the OZ Space Force. [What does she want with me?] Trowa wondered. Since coming on board Space Fortress Barge, he'd seen clearly how Lieutenant Nikol felt about the conflicted Lady Une. The man was protective and solicitous of her beyond what was required as the second-in-command here. Considering the Colonel's usual state of mind, Nikol's efforts to keep Une from cracking any further were the reason the OZ Space Force was functioning at all. "Trowa," Une spoke abruptly in a conversational tone, "I don't believe you ever told me what mobile suits on Earth you've tested before coming out here to space. Your skills are so excellent that I'm sure you've worked on the most advanced models." She did not look at him, but stared straight ahead as she walked. Fortunately, Trowa had had a chance to study the OZ mobile suits while traveling to outer space. But even better, he had a surprise for her. "Well, of course I'd worked on the Leo, the Aries, and the new Tauruses," he replied promptly. "But the suit I really wanted to test was the Tallgeese. Of course, it wasn't like Zechs was going to let anyone near that suit once he'd claimed it." He shrugged. "I suppose there's no chance now." Une looked over at the young pilot, astonished. "Have you seen the Tallgeese?" [So he has fought against Zechs, it seems, since he knows his name... I wonder which Gundam he piloted?] "Sure, at Lake Victoria," Trowa replied, affecting nonchalance. "I was finishing some work on their complement of Tauruses a few months ago when Zechs was there. It was after that Gundam pilot guy blew up the cadet's dormitories." He snorted. "You don't approve?" Une raised an eyebrow at the surprising young man. "Stupid to blow up pilots. He should have targeted the Tauruses," Trowa muttered. "What about the Gundams?" Une asked coolly. "Haven't you ever wanted to pilot one of those?" [Now let's see... will he reveal himself?] To her shock, Trowa shook his head. "Nah, their design was based on the Tallgeese. I'd rather fly that first." She nodded, but frowned, not sure she understood. "I see... well, no one knows where Zechs is, it seems. I presume he has that suit with him still..." [Does she know that I'm a Gundam pilot?] Trowa wondered, bewildered by her line of questioning. It certainly seemed like she was suspicious and was trying to steer him into revealing something. [I must divert her...] "Well, I don't care if the guy is dead or alive," he replied, shrugging. "And the Tallgeese is a moot point anyway, now that we have the Vayeate and Mercurius." [Hmmm...] "I suppose you're right, Trowa Barton." Then Une stopped and turned to face him, studying what she could see of his face. "Trowa..." He halted and glanced up. "Ma'am?" Une studied the boy's cool green eye peeking out from the open side of those long bangs. [He *is* a Gundam pilot, I just know he is... but it may not be wise if I let him know that I know. Perhaps I can support him in his mission somehow. Clearly he isn't here to blow up Barge or he'd have done it already. So then... what? Why *is* Trowa Barton here?] "Just... be careful." Nodding to him, she turned smartly and continued down the hall. [She knows... doesn't she?] Trowa wondered, feeling a chill.
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