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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" 8) [It's built,] Trant mused to himself, leaning indolently against an observation window, his back to the inky dark of space outside Barge. [Testing it is going to be a bitch.] He'd taken it out once already, this monster he was calling Wing Zero, named for the Zero cockpit system. When the first hallucinations began, he aborted the test immediately. [Need more info... need the right kind of test pilot,] he repeated his frequent mantra of late. [Need... a Gundam pilot...] Abruptly he pushed off from the window and stalked over to the communications console in the lounge. Opening a channel, he called what passed for the Aft Faction control room. "Fenton, this is Clark, are you there? " "Yes, sir!" the officer on watch sharply responded. "Get an update on the Taurus patrols for me, then call Hestian on L2-C145. I need him to alter his assignment there. I've got a new order to add to what the patrols are doing." "Yes, sir, I'll get right on it!" Glowering over at the window, Trant muttered to himself, "They're out there... somewhere. I know they've gone to space, now that Earth is quietening down. My people are watching the rest of OZ - now they can just watch for Gundam pilots as well..." Sighing, he swung around and departed the lounge, heading for his control room. "Sir, I've got Hestian," Lieutenant Fenton reported as soon as his superior walked in. "We've activated the Taurus network, and all pilots are standing by." "Good work, Fen," Trant sighed, then strode to the radio. "Hestian, this is Clark." "Yes, sir," responded a blond man on the tiny viewscreen. "Fenton tells me you've got new orders?" Trant smiled unpleasantly. "A refinement to your orders. All of you have been watching OZ's activities as well as the activities of the colonists, and you have indeed come upon rebel activity as we'd hoped. I need you now to concentrate on finding a certain kind of rebel... say, a Gundam pilot?" "A pilot or a Gundam, sir?" Hestian inquired, puzzled. "The pilot of a Gundam," Trant repeated. "He is needed to test our... product." He'd told his people about his project to build a new weapon, but except for his handful of engineers, it wasn't generally known that it was a mobile suit. Although with this admission, there weren't many other conclusions to make "Yes, sir," Hestian replied, impressed. "Well, it will be an interesting search. You know, of course, that it is suspected that the Gundam pilots have aligned themselves with GAIA, as extraordinary as that may seem. It's even been said that the 'G' in GAIA stands for 'Gundam'. That organization reportedly has taken over an old OZ battleship called Peacemillion, but no one has seen it." "Then you have a lot of looking to do," Trant returned firmly, frowning. "Don't think GAIA is going to sit on their collective duffs out in space! They're going to have to convince the colonies to abandon their deals with OZ, and that will be very difficult. I don't look to them to even use their Gundams or whatever reported weapons they have. Those pacifists just want to talk a lot. Like those old fools from the Alliance who got themselves killed." "Yes, sir," Hestian responded, though he raised an eyebrow at the mention of Marshal Noventa and the other Alliance generals whom Treize Khushrenada had managed to have the Gundams kill off at New Edwards. Noventa had been widely respected. Trant Clark evidently believed they'd been too optimistic and unrealistic and had walked into OZ's trap. "So you're expecting the Gundam pilots to be roaming the colonies, perhaps contacting the rebel organizations we've already located?" "No 'perhaps' about it, Hestian," Trant retorted. "They *will* show up. Your task is to secure one of them and bring them to me." The 'your' was understood to be collective, the instruction an order to all listening. Out in space, a pilot was thinking about a sighting he thought he'd made of an unknown vessel out near the L5 colony 0200. [That could be one of them,] he thought, and turned his Taurus around, bent on returning to that area. At the same time, he contacted his group leader, who hastily gathered another ten mobile suits and followed. If it was a Gundam the pilot had sighted, it would take a strong group to defeat it enough to extract the pilot. "Yes, sir!" Hestian saluted smartly. "We'll get you your Gundam pilot, sir!" He grinned at his superior, who smiled back. The core of Trant Clark's faction was made up of young pilots like these, who were disappointed that there were not going to be any more mobile suit manufacturing and probably not in the colonies anymore. They were proud of the swift, new Tauruses, and saw themselves as the OZ of the future - fast, sleek and deadly. They held nearly all of the Taurus complement in space, having left the older Space Leos for Colonel Une's group. [Soon I will have one,] Trant thought, returning the salute smugly. [He will give me the data I need to learn how to pilot Wing Zero... and then we will be invincible!]
Maximillian Winner stared blankly out of the window of his corporate headquarters on L4. His mind was stuck on one thing... regrets over his only son. Months had passed since Quatre's fiery departure from the L4 Colonies, and now early this morning Quatre had sent him a message stating he was making a visit. "What could we possibly have to say to each other?" he muttered aloud, still feeling the bitterness over their argument. Part of him was very much relieved to hear from the dear boy, but the memories of their last encounter were still fresh in his mind. Quatre had turned against the Winner pacifist ideals, stolen a Gundam, and rushed off to Earth to fight OZ. The elder Winner could not help but wonder what he had done wrong to make his son go so far astray from the values in which he had been raised. At two o'clock precisely, Master Winner's secretary informed him that his visitor had arrived. Seconds later, the door to his office opened and Quatre was standing there, as small and gentle in appearance as he had always been. "Father," Quatre said in earnest. Maximillian nodded, and gestured for his son to enter. "You look well, Quatre," he said, conversationally. "Thank you... as do you," Quatre said, watching as his father went to sit behind his desk without so much as a handshake. [Then I was right to think that he hasn't forgiven me,] Quatre thought with a little ache. So much in the blond boy's life was now right... Trowa and GAIA... that he had foolishly hoped this meeting would put the rest of his life to rights. "I was surprised to hear from you," Master Winner said. "But it is good you feel you can come home." [Oh!] Quatre's eyes widened with hope. "Yes, this is my home. You and my sisters are never far from my thoughts." His father nodded thoughtfully. "Of course you must know that they miss you terribly. You were always the favorite," he said, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Quatre smiled more easily. "More like the favorite toy. They used to dress me up in girls' clothes!" "And what other kind of clothes would girls have?" his father asked, in good humor. They laughed together and Quatre could feel that his father was genuinely happy to see him. But still there was tension. "So, you've come to put things right between us?" Maximillian Winner asked, implying that an apology was expected. "Father," Quatre began tentatively, "I am glad you have welcomed me, but I don't want to deceive you in my purpose. I am not here to apologize for what I did... but I hope you can understand why I went to Earth. Why I had to take that Gundam." "You've come all this way to tell me what I already know? I can never understand how a son of mine could turn his back on peace." "No, father! I want peace!" Quatre exclaimed, his cheeks pinking in anguish. "Then what are you doing to bring about that peace, son? Fighting only begets more fighting. That's the coward's way... it takes intelligence and patience to truly form a lasting peace." "I know I've disappointed you," Quatre said, lowering his head. "When I left I was very sure of myself... sure that my way would bring about the peace we both desire." He looked up again to find his father staring at him intently. "It was not easy for me to fight... not because I'm weak, but because I do believe in your ideals. That is why I joined with others who also want peace, who have been fighting OZ just like me. There is strength in numbers." The man's gaze slipped away on hearing the name of OZ. "Quatre," he said, looking back at his son, "you may not be aware of this, but there are people on L4 who want to cooperate with OZ." "Cooperate?" the boy asked, wide-eyed. "But what about freedom?" "Freedom will come in time... peace is our first priority," the older man said, as if he understood the colonists need for cooperation. "As much as I would like to throw off OZ's control, it is just too great, and their representative Lady Une has been very convincing." "No, father!" Quatre said, standing up. "OZ is only interested in controlling us! They'll use the colonies for weapons manufacture." The man took in a great breath of air at his son's reaction. He was still so very emotional. "They want peace not weapons." "But how can you trust them? They've used the colonies before." The elder Winner shook his head. How could he make his independent and rash son understand? "People are tired of this war, Quatre, and many of them blame the Gundams for its longevity." [They blame us!] The boy swallowed hard. This was the issue that had initially torn them apart. "Things have changed now. There is an organization that can defeat OZ and give the colonies their peace... and their freedom!" "Are you speaking of GAIA?" Master Winner asked. "Yes, you've heard of it?" "I saw the broadcast when that woman announced its creation. What do you know of them?" "I am a member of GAIA... all but one of the Gundam pilots have joined... and even ex-OZ personnel. We are devoted to making a peace... without fighting if we can." "Do you mean you've abandoned your Gundams?" the peace-minded man asked, hopeful. "No, Father, but only as a precaution. OZ is powerful. GAIA is working towards peace through negotiation and the creation of alliances, but we have kept ourselves well armed in case we are attacked." The older man frowned. "You cannot be a pacifist on your own terms, Quatre." "I understand this, Father. But I have faced OZ before... they are not anxious to lose control and when they are cornered they do not hold back in a fight. I know it's not true pacifism... but it may be our only hope." [Zechs would understand my dilemma... his father was a pacifist, too.] The man stared at the boy a moment. He looked so grown-up standing there, telling him of his efforts towards peace. "You have obviously thought about this a lot." "Oh, I have, Father!" Quatre said, and then looked to the door. "I've brought someone with me. Another member of GAIA. May I invite her in?" Master Winner looked to the door and then back at his son. "Yes, I think I'd like to meet your colleague," he said, anxious to see with what sort of people his son was cooperating. Quatre went to the door and gestured for Miss Noin to join them. The woman came into the large office and immediately walked over to Mr. Winner, who was now standing, and shook his hand. "Father, this is Miss Lucrezia Noin. Miss Noin, my father, Maximillian Winner." "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Noin." "Thank you, sir, and you." The three sat down and Noin was asked to explain her association with Quatre. As briefly as possible, Noin detailed how GAIA had been formed and how it was largely due to Quatre's vision. Mr. Winner was pleased to hear of his son's efforts even if GAIA was not his ideal of how a peace-seeking organization should be run. "GAIA is now in the process of seeking alliances with colony representatives. By joining together, the colonies will finally have a voice," Noin said, very convincingly. "And do all your members feel this strongly?" Maximillian asked. "Oh, yes!" Noin said, excitedly. "We've made progress on Earth already. The OZ forces there have been infiltrated by people sympathetic to our cause." "Now if we can get the colonies to join with us, OZ will have something to fear. They'll finally have to listen!" Quatre said confidently. "And what about your weapons? Won't OZ see GAIA as a threat? And if the colonies join with you... then OZ will attack us," Maximillian said, still cautious of giving his support. "GAIA's fire power will only be used if the colonies are attacked," Noin said. "We are determined not to become like OZ and wield our power over everyone." "The Gundams will be a deterrent to fighting. If the colonies ally with GAIA, then OZ will know they have a force behind them. They won't be so quick to make demands," Quatre explained. A small grin appeared on his father's face. "Negotiating power," he said, nodding. He was not entirely convinced, but he did see that these two had a powerful belief in what they were doing, and his son seemed to be making constructive efforts towards peace. "And what happens after OZ backs down? Who's in control then?" "The colonies, of course," Quatre said, matter-of-factly. "You know that I would never belong to an organization that had anything other than the freedom of the colonies as its goal." The smile on his father's face grew. "I do not completely agree with your methods, Quatre, but I am beginning to see that GAIA may be the answer." "That's wonderful!" Quatre exclaimed, moving towards his father. "You won't regret allying with GAIA. We're working very hard towards peace. We have members visiting the other colonies now, and one of us is working undercover to get information on OZ's plans." [Oh, Trowa, you'll be so happy to know that I won my father over!] "It does sound like you're all working very hard," Maximillian said and noted that his son was now holding out his hand... an offering. "That'll never do," the older man said, smiling, and then took his son into his arms. Quatre wrapped his arms around his father and sighed deeply. "Thank you, Father," he said, as his eyes became moist with tears. "No, thank you, Quatre," his father said, pulling back to look at his son. "You were very brave in coming here and I am proud of your work with GAIA." Quatre smiled brightly and then Maximillian requested that they go over the details of their alliance. The new allies spent the next couple of hours discussing how the L4 colony could work with GAIA to bring about the peace. It was the first time Quatre had truly felt equal to his father. But even more importantly he could feel the man's love and pride for him. Despite their philosophical differences, the Winner men were finally working together.
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