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"The Preventer Special Ops Vignettes"Written By: Dùlin
Archive: This arc is archived on this site with permission. Do not reproduce it anywhere without permission. Disclaimer : Gundam Wing ? Not mine ! Not mine
! *whines* Why ? Rating: Mostly PG for the moment, for bad words, ratings may come up in future vignettes. Warnings: Original Character POV, bad humour, some yaoi implications, and slaughter of a paramilitary organization. Probably some violence and language as the arc develops, but nothing too heavy. A tad angsty too, but really, I'm doing this for fun and relaxation so be prepared for anything. Pairings : rumored, hinted at, implied, drooled upon 1x2, 3x4, 5xS and 6x9 Spoilers: probably some for the whole series Notes: This story is set as a canon continuation beginning in AC 201. The five G-boys, Zechs and Noin are all Preventers and elite members of the famous Special Ops. They are also instructors for the newest members of that elite team. The series will not really deal with personal relationships strictly speaking. It will follow the point of view of several OCs, with some exceptions, and mostly deal with how people would react to working with the boys. And mostly, it is supposed to be at least a bit funny. *runs away from her angst muse* Thanks : Karina, Cozzy Bob, Winged Kitty, MORgan,
Deb, Sakusha, and everyone who reads.
The Preventer Special Ops Vignettes Vignette # 7
Vignette #7 – Checkmate, part 1 Today is our first Strategics and Command class. I talked with Marco and Anna a bit when we ran into them in the locker room. This is about the only place where we actually do run into them, since we have no idea what they do on missions, and they're some times gone for days. My point is, they made funny faces when I told them we had that class soon. "Well …", Marco said. "Good luck." "What's wrong ?", I asked. "Nothing's wrong", Anna answered. "Winner's just weird, but he's probably one of the best CO I've ever seen." "Yeah, but he's definitely weird", Marco emphasized. "My year, about half of the class had a nervous breakdown after the first hour with him. He usually is the one that rejects the most people." I didn't quite know what to think after that. I mean, sure, I've understood pretty fast that Blondie was more than he let on. I just have no idea how much more he is. There's whispers around that he was the strategist of the Gundam Pilots, and that he is the only one among them to have fully controlled that horror that they called Zero system, to the point that he didn't need it anymore to fight. And yet, Anna says she'd be ready to entrust her life in his hands. I only had a glimpse at what he can really do in our first Close Combat Class. I wonder what it's gonna be like to be taught only by him. ***** It takes us a while to figure out where we're supposed to meet him. Up until now, our training locations have been exotic and foreign. So imagine our surprise when we discover a regular classroom with all the single tables and chairs, the whiteboard, and a desk up front. That is, we are surprised by it until we suddenly see that our trainer is actually perched on top of one table. In front of him, perched in a similar fashion, is Agent Dorothy Catalonia. They are both staring at the chessboard between them, shooting little smug glances at each other every now and then. Agent Catalonia is a celebrity here, but the kind of celebrity that you'd rather not meet in a deserted corridor, if you see what I mean. That girl is younger than me but she gives me the creeps. She works in the Intelligence Network and is probably one of those `invaluable assets' that Colonel Une insists on having working with her even if they're not supposed to be old enough to be working in any kind of government agencies. None of us actually know which side she was on during
the war, which makes it quite difficult for anyone to know whether
we should like her or dislike her. Not that she would give a damn
about it anyway. She is one scary woman when she wants to, and she
absolutely doesn't care whose feathers she ruffles. One day, when
I was playing guard Winner looks up, notices us and frowns, before looking at his watch and chuckling. "Allah, look at that, I completely forgot the time ! Come on, class go ahead and take some seats, we're just three moves away from finishing this anyway", he says, waving his hand over the chessboard. Catalonia raises an eyebrow. "Three moves, Quatre ? Are you quite sure, dear ?" Winner looks down at the board again, frowns, then, he grins wolfishly and moves a bishop. "Sorry, my mistake", he says smugly. "Checkmate." Catalonia gapes at him, looks at the board, then up at him again, before she starts laughing. Note to self : never do anything that might make Catalonia laugh. She is scary. "Why, you little minx, you are right !", she exclaims. "That's twice in a week you beat me. I have to get back to you at some other time, I'm afraid, though", she adds, with a look to us. "By the way, any chance you're going to send me some of those handsome young things ?" Winner laughs too and shakes his head. "You'll have to check that with Trowa, Dorothy. I'm in charge of choosing officers, not Intel Agents." I think we all kind of blanch when we learn that those of us who might make it into Infiltration could end up working with her. I hadn't thought about that, but it makes sense, I mean, infiltration is often used for intel gathering, ne ? "I want to get in the bomb squad", Dinah whispers into my ear. "I suck at intel gathering", Pete adds. "I really do." "Yeah, well, I'm a pilot", I cut in under my breath. Catalonia is smirking at all of us. "In spite of the legends that run those halls, I never ate anything that resembles a human being before. Nor do I intend to in the near future. But I could do with a few good subordinates. Quatre, honey, you have to learn to sacrifice your pawns so that your offensive game can get better." "You know I don't like that, and anyway, it's always better to concentrate on your strong points. Besides, I won, didn't I ?", Winner says, with an adorable smile and a bat of his eyelashes. Catalonia laughs again. "That you did. Have a nice class. I'll see you around." **** We all seem to breathe more freely as she leaves. We get settled while Winner looks at us, leaning on his desk, his arms crossed on his chest. He is wearing his training suit, like the rest of us, which is a bit strange since our classroom looks like one college room. But he doesn't seem to mind at all, so I would be stupid to complain, even though it is definitely strange to be sitting here in those form-fitting suits that are mostly made for physical exercise. "Okay, first of all, do not let Dorothy spook you. I assure you that she is someone very sweet and a good person to have at your back … when you know her." "Yeah right", Pete whispers derisively. Winner's green-blue eyes flicker towards Pete and my friend shuts up with an audible clap. Still, Winner doesn't comment nor throw Pete out, but his face is disapproving. "Let me be very clear. My mission in this training is to find out those among you who have the potential to make good officers and commanding officers. At the end of the evaluation period, only ten of you will make it into the Special Ops. Out of these ten, only one or two will make suitable officers during actual operations." He begins to pace between tables, giving us all long searching glances as he goes. "Being an officer is difficult. It takes a lot on you, because people's lives can depend on your every decision. You have to make the right decision at the right time, and it's not always easy. You have to be ready to do some stuff that you would not have considered because of your team. Being an officer is a great responsibility. And I am not ready to give out that responsibility to people who could get the agents I've been working with for years in danger." He goes back to the front of the room. "I am probably going to sound very harsh, but most
of you will never set foot in this class a second time. This program
has a severe selection and my decision is final. There will be no
need to argue or take your case to Commander Peacecraft if I decide
you are not suitable to make a good officer. People can be good soldiers
and There are some dissatisfied grunts, and I know where those come from. There are thugs everywhere, and unfortunately, some people that got in are part of that category. They view the Special Ops only as a way to achieve a higher status and order people around. I am almost sure that this quite innocent-looking blond man will throw them out faster than lightning. "Okay, now who ever was in a commanding position ?" Alone of my friends, I raise my hand, along with about fifteen people in the room. When I was a rebel, I was in charge of the whole transport division of my group. No one ever told me if I did a good job or not, though, we didn't really have time for that kind of little congratulations. "Good. Now I would like you people to please go out and come back here at 1500 hours. I'd like to test out your fresh comrades first, then I'll get on with you." **** I decide to run a few miles and then go to the gym and exercise while waiting for Pete and Dinah. I understand that Winner would want to detect new potential first. It's not because you've never been in a commanding situation that you wouldn't be good at it. On the contrary, it's not because you've been in a commanding situation that you did a good job. "Oi, what's a pretty thing like you doing here and sweating all over the machines at that time of day ?" I almost let the weight I'm lifting escape my grasp when Maxwell suddenly appears out of nowhere, grinning. I get up and salute, but he waves it away. "Hey, leave it, I'm not on duty, but apparently you are. Aren't you supposed to be in class ?" "Captain Winner divided us into two groups, and I'm in the second one. I have to go back at 1500 hours." "Where is everyone else ?" I shrug. "I don't know, sir. I heard some of them talking about going out for a drink." He smiles at me, and I wonder if I am imagining the little flame dancing in his eyes. "But you came back here to train. Dedicated to your job, huh ?" "Dedicated to my friends, sir. They're in the first group." "Oh. Are you scared that Cat is gonna shred them to pieces ?" I blush a bit, and he laughs. "You know", he says, "we're hard on you for your own good. You'll thank us one day. See you `round !" And he waltzes out with a wink. I sit back and use my towel to wipe the sweat off my face. I was a bit tense before, but now suddenly I have a feeling everything is gonna be okay. I look up again when someone opens the door, and I see Yuy entering the gym and looking around, as if he was searching someone. He spots me and I get up again, but just like Maxwell, he waves dismissively before getting in. I take my water bottle and drink a bit. He looks like he'd like to say something, but doesn't really know how to do it, maybe because I'm a girl and a trainee. So I decide to help the poor guy out a bit, and please, do not repeat I said that. I mean, he is an amazing agent and all, and very intimidating, and it's really weird to discover that in real life, sort of speaking, he actually looks shy when talking to people he doesn't really know. Not that he looks like an outgoing person. Not that I ever imagined him actually having a life outside of Headquarters either, but he doesn't spend his life there, ne ? "Captain Yuy wa sumimasen. Tasuketemo ii desu ka (1)?" He jumps a bit as he hears me speaking Japanese. "Captain Maxwell wo sagashiteru (2)." I smile and point to the other door. "Asoko he ikimashita (3)." I don't even have time to finish my sentence when said door bursts open and Maxwell comes in again. "Sorry, Hee-chan ! Forgot I was supposed to meet ya in here about five mins ago, I'll make it up … Oh, you're still there ?", he adds stupidly when he sees me. "Yeah", I answer just as stupidly, and I'm a bit surprised to see Yuy glaring at Maxwell, and shooting weird glances towards me. Now what did I get myself into again ? "Uh, let's move that somewhere else, Heero, shall we ?", Maxwell says a bit nervously, toying with the end of his braid. "Have a nice day", he adds for me as he drags a decidedly grumpy Yuy outside. "You too, sir", I answer but I am not sure they even heard me. I sit back down on my bench, and rub the bridge of my nose. Why do I get the feeling I just witnessed something I wasn't supposed to, even if I have no idea what it is ? TBC (1) Excuse me, Captain Yuy. Can I help you ? |
