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"The Agency: Meeting of Souls "Written By: Karina Pairings 13x6 [eventual], 5xS, 3x4, Others undecided at this time. Warnings: Extreme Alternate Universe setting. Unbetaed, Aussie spelling and grammar, not much else in the early chapters though it will involve murder, stalking and possibly some colourful language down the track. Some Out Of Character depictions are unavoidable considering the alternate universe setting. Rating: M [In Australia that would be mature adult 15+] Not sure with the new rating system about international ratings. Rated for violence and language and adult concepts. Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. That's about as plain as you could say it. Summary: The world took a very different turn with the acknowledgement of psychic abilities and training of select psychic individuals enlisted in elite fields such as law enforcement and politics. A grading system for the strength of psionic abilities was developed and those who were the top of the elite have been dubbed Prime Talents and are highly sought after. Elite institutions have been developed to mark, train and employ individuals with useable psionic talents. The colonies of canon Gundam Wing do exist in this fic and were constructed before the psionic system was founded. With the advent of psionics in open use in society younger people are appearing in positions of power as they are awakening to their abilities earlier and are highly trained in their fields of expertise. Archive: Gundam Wing Universe [gundam-wing-universe.net]
//…// Thoughts Many thanks to ShenLong for betaing this chapter.
Chapter Twenty Seven Treize considered the pristine grounds surrounding him with something frighteningly close to contentment, soaking in the restful aura that permeated the gardens. Though he was well aware the feeling of peace and tranquillity was a carefully managed, and quite artificial atmosphere, he never the less ached for it. The quiet, the sense of solitude and restfulness was what he needed and even knowing there was a killer and stalker, who might be one and the same person or not, loose on the grounds of the University complex could not take away from the ease offered to his threatened shields. If he could just enjoy a few undisturbed hours in this restful, shielded environment he could work wonders with the stressed protections surrounding his mind. If. Always a horrendous word and one a professional investigator was too familiar with. “I meant to ask earlier, have you mentioned the last conversation you had with Ms Bloom to Commander Une?” Yuy queried. //I will need to request Gabriella assist me further with deep level damage control. She will crow a little, of course, and tell me what a fool I have been to permit things to deteriorate to this stage, and she will inform me in pointed language that she trained me to use my brain and most likely follow it up with some reference to cutting loose the apron strings too soon; but she will get the job done. I can put up with her ‘holier than thou’ attitude; she is a dear, if graced with a somewhat annoying personality in the long term. I will have the time off I have requested, but I have no intention of going anywhere while there is danger here.// Chang had basically accused him of having a sexual interest in Zechs Marquise, an accusation tantamount to rape in the select telepathic community where a private desire remained private unless it should be brought to the attention of others by inappropriate behaviour. He had done nothing wrong, made no improper advances and certainly had not pushed his interest on another. Telepaths were required to work to a strict set of rules and protocols. Yes, he was interested; he would have to be dead and rotting not to be. He was homosexual, he made no attempt to disguise the fact and yes, he was also sexually frustrated, but he was not intending to involve the younger man in his problems. He had been dealing with sexual frustration for years and he was no brash and horny teenager. “Excuse me?” He was aware, though he had not informed any one else, particularly not Chang or his superior, Anne Une, that Zechs Marquise was also attracted to the male sex and that there was potential for a relationship between them. He knew it, Zechs knew it and so did Gabriella. It was potential that simply would not, and could not, be acted upon at the present time; not until the trouble at the Tsuberov campus was sorted out to his satisfaction. Further more, any potential relationship with Zechs Marquise would need to wait until the younger man concluded his tenure at Tsuberov. Two consenting adult Primes engaging in a relationship of a personal nature would not draw the kind of attention and objections that would break over their heads should they express interest in each other whilst Marquise was still a student. The tenants of propriety must be adhered to if he wanted any sort of long term relationship, whether his desired partner should be Marquise or some other person in the future. “Mr. Khushrenada?” Gabriella knew of his interest and the returned interest of the student. For the sake of propriety Gabriella, in her official capacity as a Prime and one who was officially registered as his mentor, would monitor the situation so that no individual could accuse him of improper intentions. There was time, after all. He was not after quick gratification but something else. Something more that a feel good interlude. In his courtship of the blonde, and he would pay court to the younger man, Gabriella would be his staunchest ally and toughest critic. He shuddered to think of the suggestions she was sure to have regarding his courtship activities, but her heart was sure to be in the right place. He resented Chang’s implications of impropriety in his work and was only too aware of how others might see the situation, should he spend too much time hunting out excuses to interview Marquise. Most annoying of all was knowing that had he been heterosexual, and Marquise chanced to be a woman, nothing would have been said, but that simply was the way it was. Unfair. He needed to be particularly aware of everything he said and did when in the younger man’s company, and to permit Gabriella to scan any and all conversations they might have. He would not have any chance of a future relationship jeopardised by a misplaced word, or misunderstood action. “Treize?” But first there was the task of identifying the stalker and his target. At the moment there was speculation that the target was one of three individuals. If the infatuation of the stalker was not wealth oriented, then Marquise and Maxwell were equally as viable target material as Quatre Winner. Somehow he had to determine who was the actual target, and that might impact on the murder; it might even offer some clue as to the identity of the murdered man. “Treize? Earth to Treize, come in please.” His partner’s somewhat sardonic tone, accompanied by a fleeting touch to his shoulder and his empathy reading a flash of frustrated amusement, dragged his attention back to his immediate surroundings. He looked to Chang, unable to hide his consternation at the interruption, or the touch and its rather unwelcome intrusion into his thoughts. “Yes?” Chang sighed, exchanging a somewhat amused glance with Yuy. “I don’t know where you have been for the last few minutes, and I have no intention of speculating about it, even to myself. Agent Yuy has been attempting to attract your attention. Have you spoken to Une concerning your earlier session with Catherine Bloom?” Ah. Real life could be such a bore sometimes, and his partner had a nasty habit of bringing the ravening beast called reality to his door. “Where I have been, Chang Wu Fei, is right here,” He wafted a hand around, indicating the general area; rather surprised to see how close they were to the dormitory building. “soaking up the atmosphere, of which I wish I could enjoy more. I will thank you to keep any speculation concerning myself under control and preferably leave me out of your thoughts entirely. Pray focus your attention on the case, if you please.” At his partner’s wince Treize drew a steadying breath and sighed, a fleeting sense of shame visiting him. That had been more than a little harsh and his guilt was the cause of it. Chang had no idea where his thoughts had been wandering, he was a kinetic talent, not a telepath and certainly nothing Chang had said could be considered an accusation. His guilty thoughts about thinking of the younger blonde had gotten his hackles up and he really aught to apologize. “My apologies, Wu Fei, that was entirely uncalled for. I am afraid I am a little snappy this morning and I should be more disciplined than to take my temper out on you. I apologize.” Wu Fei, he guessed, would assume he knew why his partner was snappish and associate the appearance of the sassy mouthed Prime with his temper. A fleeting vision of Gabriella passed through Chang’s public mind and amusingly enough it featured horns and a long sinuous reptilian style body. The dragon Gabriella almost caused Treize to laugh out loud, but with it he sensed a flash of bitter harsh reality; the knowledge of why the Gypsy Prime was present in the city. “My fault,” Chang murmured, offering up a formal bow to emphasize the apology. “There is no need to apologize, Treize. We are all stretched a little tight at the moment with the turn this investigation is taking. Have you spoken to Commander Une?” He needed to drag his thoughts from his own sorry fate and concentrate more on the case. He could not court Marquise until he sorted his shields out and rehabilitated his life, providing the groundwork for what he hoped would be a solitary life to become something much more satisfying. Before he began to express his interest there were a great many things to do, and people to be seen and the matter of stalkers and murderer must be settled. Somehow he needed to bring his partner of work to the knowledge and acceptance that he desired a partner out of hours who was just as male as Chang Wu Fei’s out of work partner was female. It was best to be thoroughly professional about this, both he and Chang, and it was not as though he was a love struck teenager. He was a professional investigator, a man who could focus on the needs of the moment, explore the depths of a person’s mind and emotions and plan out exemplary strategies. He really needed to act like it occasionally. “I took the opportunity to inform Commander Une on a number of matters pertaining to the case, including my previous dealings with Catherine Bloom. After consultation it was decided that on my next interview with her I shall see how far I can push Ms Bloom. The shield set in place is strong and it may be that I will require at least one further session to make the breakthrough. I have no intention of endangering the young lady’s sanity, and strategic delays in the probe will give Ms Bloom the chance to rest and recover strength. I should be able to push a little harder against the block than was safe during our last encounter. If I consider it necessary I will garner dispensation for a hard core scan and break the block under controlled conditions.” He already had a good inkling of the psychic strength of the person who had set the shield, and he was not hopeful of a quick and clean breakthrough. While he was sure the perpetrator was new to his skills, and largely untrained, the renegade psi appeared to have a natural aptitude for such intricate work and had sufficient depth of power at his command to set the shields deeply in the woman’s psyche. He would make a formidable opponent in a face to face confrontation. Given the Winner heirs involved in the case, Treize had little doubt he would be given consent by the powers that be to push hard to gain whatever information Catherine Bloom did not know she held. It might be nothing that would assist them, the woman might not have noted anything of worth, even on a subconscious level, but the perpetrator of the crime had seen fit to initiate the block, and if nothing else, setting it had saved her life. Which opened up further questions, he reflected, but there was no time to speculate now. He could only hope for some vital clue, perhaps even the glimpse of a face when he broke through the block. He sensed a sudden spike in his partner’s emotions. An uneasiness and hesitation and chose to wait as they neared the dormitory building. What ever it was that was bothering him Chang would open up about eventually, and as it happened he did not have long to wait. As they stepped from the lawn to the driveway in front of the building he felt Chang firm his resolve. “Might I enquire as to the current whereabouts of Prime Gabriella?” Treize grinned, Wu Fei clearly wanted to be assured the woman was nowhere near their immediate vicinity and a quick glance at Yuy revealed a smirk that mirrored his own amusement. Treize was quite sure his partner would experience a need to be aware of the location of the Prime at all hours of the day and night, purely in the best interests of self preservation. The woman knew how to make an impression. Treize determined not to tell Chang until he was in a particularly bad mood with his partner, that Gabriella was developing a liking for him. The Prime would undoubtedly go out of her way to impress upon him, whether by her very presence or from long distance, his need to keep a close guard on his tongue. It was just the way Gabriella was, determined to keep her ‘children’ aware of the tenants of propriety and good manners at all times. ‘Smokeless Dragon’ was, Treize feared, destined to become Gabriella’s pet name for Chang Wu Fei. “To be honest, Wu Fei, I am not exactly certain where she is. I expected to see her prior to coming here this morning but I received a message informing me she will be out of town for a day or two. The message stated that I should know, after all this time, how to reach her should I require her invaluable assistance. She was inordinately pleased with herself last night, and after our departure from the University she took great pains to inform me we would need to talk at a later time. Before she left my apartment she said something about requiring her beauty sleep before visiting with an old friend. I assume she is looking up said friend.” “So she will not be here for the next two days?” Chang breathed. “Wonderful!” Treize, seeing the smirk on his partner’s handsome face, could not resist the temptation to burst Wu Fei’s little bubble of happiness. As they crossed to the steps leading into the building he found Yuy was watching him and must have noted the evil glint in his eye, because the man turned away from Chang to hide a wide grin. “Of course, with Gabriella being Gabriella, her ‘two days’ could stretch out to as much as a week.” Wu Fei’s content grew appreciably, the empathic talent of the Prime monitoring the emotion until it peaked and then he struck, taking a fiendish delight in the moment. Gabriella often said he never grew up. “Or shrink to a mere hour.” Chang’s emotional output froze. “It would not surprise me to find her walking down one of the footpaths here any minute. If there is one thing I have learned in my association with Gabriella, it is that she is a force of nature I can best equate to the wind. She can be a zephyr, gentle as any spring breeze, or she can turn into a hurricane, blowing as she wills with sufficient force to rip houses apart.” Chang scowled, glaring at his partner, knowing how amusing Treize found the situation, now that Gabriella was not breathing down his neck, calling him a fool in so many colourful ways for permitting his employer to exploit his talents. Treize was quick enough to cringe and sit quietly in a corner like a chastised school boy when the Prime focused on him. “Laugh if you will, at least I was only of passing interest to the heinous woman. Unlike someone whom I could name, I do not need to concern myself with her on a daily basis.” He made no effort to hide his smug satisfaction with knowing that, like some errant schoolboy, Treize would be hounded by the woman until she believed he had learned his lesson. To Chang’s horror Treize paused in the doorway and looked positively feral, white teeth glinting in the sunlight as he smiled at his partner. “If it is your wish to die a messy death, my friend, then keep thinking that. It pains me to inform you that once you have the great fortune to come to the attention of Gabriella you are, thereafter, forever noticeable.” Treize detected a flash of unease, a moment of uncertainty in his partner and an amused ‘glow’ emanating from Yuy, who appeared to be enjoying Chang’s reaction immensely. “I am of no further interest to the onna.” Treize snickered and generated so deep a level of smug satisfaction that Wu Fei quickly caught the emotion directed so expertly in his direction, and a deep sense of horror filled him. It was clear Treize was having entirely too much fun at his expense and he refused to look at Yuy. He had better things to do than act as the comedy relief. “I will thank you to shut up and prepare yourself to work. Although I can’t think what else you hope to learn from scanning the suite a second time.” Wu Fei strode ahead with his back ramrod straight and his head held high. Yuy snickered, grinning at Treize. “Sore spot.” “Very sore spot. Take my advice and do yourself a favour, Heero.” Treize was smiling and he fell in beside Heero as they followed Chang up the stairs at a more leisurely pace. “Make certain you do not make the mistake of incurring Gabriella’s wrath. She is as quick to bring you down to ground level as she is to pick you up and dust you off, and then hug you when she deems you suitably chastised. The woman has a killer bosom; you suffocate as there is nowhere to put your face, and a bear has a weaker hug. She is the greatest friend you could ever have, but the worst of enemies.” Heero acknowledged the warning with an inclination of his head. “It was not my intention to draw the attention of the Prime. Her reputation precedes her. I have heard too much of her from fellow agents who had dealings with those who incurred her particular brand of chastisement. I am safely anonymous, unnoticed and therefore, blessedly safe.” “Ah,” Treize murmured, not even attempting to restrain a knowing smirk. “Wise man, Heero, however, I fear in your intent to be spared her notice you are defeated before you begin. It is my great pleasure to inform you that Gabriella notices everyone when she determines it necessary to poke her arched Romany nose into another’s business. I believe she is all too aware of your involvement in the investigation, as she has made a comment or two which suggests she has looked your way.” Yuy froze, stopping to glare at the Prime who grinned in the face of death with all the immunity of one who had survived a multitude of temper tantrums from the Romany Prime. “But she has no cause to seek me out.” Treize’s sighed, exasperated. When would these younger men learn that Gabriella did not need an excuse to single out an individual and pay him attention? Gabriella was simply Gabriella; she needed neither excuse nor reason. “Since when, my friend, has Gabriella ever required a reason for anything she does?” ————————————————— From somewhere in the darkness there was the sound of water, the slow, steady drip of water drops deposited into a puddle of accumulated liquid. The gardens automated sprinkler service had been in use overnight and by noon the water would have dried up and the underground way would no longer echo to the sound. It was best to keep to the dark and secret ways undermining the University complex. Into these passages no one ventured as a rule through the day and it was safe for him to move around. In the deeper darkness of the night there was the occasional foray into the passages from those who sought out secret places to indulge their passions and exercise heated blood. He, unlike they, immature students that they were, would not seek out these darkened tunnels to work out the fire of his blood. His passion was not for sordid, clandestine meetings. He was not interested in groping in the dark and hasty kisses. He would not insult the perfection of the one he sought to love by bringing Him to these dank tunnels beneath the campus. He would not cheapen and sully their lovemaking by groping in the dark and lying him down on cold stone. Perish the barbarians who sullied love with lust. A pox on those who cheapened what should be beautiful. When the time came for him to captivate his lover with the fire of his passionate embrace, it would not be to dank and dark secret ways that he brought Him. He would know the comfort and security of a nest prepared expressly for the purpose of His comfort. There must be a bed, his bed, soft and firm beneath His back as he lay his lover down amidst scattered rose petals as red as His hair was pale. There must be soft candlelight, a golden ambiance in which to view His beauty and enhance their passions with the mood of romance. Sweet and low music. Music filled with romance and beauty as classical as his lover’s perfection. Soft ballads of the beauty of love making and the perfection of a lover's grace. Soft strains of classical Mozart and, to further the mood, the sweeping beauty of a Strauss waltz. Ah, the ambience must be perfect to enhance the beauty of Him. Soft candlelight, low music and silken sheets scented with rose petals on which to lay His naked perfection. It must be more than a feast for the eyes. It must be a true feast for the senses; sight, scent, sound, touch and taste. Just the right wine for Him to sip. The flavour must be subtle, sweet and a little dry on His lips. He would taste the wine from those sweet, sweet lips and feed Him strawberries dipped in the very finest dark chocolate. The sweetness of the fruit would be complimented by the bitter sweetness of the chocolate and would linger on his lips, within his mouth. When they kissed His taste would be enhanced, complimented by wine, chocolate and fruit. Taste must be as pleasing as sound and sight and he would savour the taste of Him for hours on end. But touch! He must not forget touch. A robe of the sheerest silk to kiss His tender flesh. An ostrich feather, or perhaps peacock, with which to caress His skin. Oh yes, soft and gentle as a feather lest He bruise and that would not do. He must be filled with the majesty of His senses. He would demonstrate his great love and his passion. Within the comfort and safety of their nest he would show Him how he was loved, how He was adored. He would worship Him and bring Him to screaming ecstasy, aflame with the ultimate pleasure. His skin would be warm and heated as their passion evolved into lovemaking. He would taste the wondrous body on his tongue. How much sweeter would strawberries be, eaten from the navel of his lover? He would dip strawberries in wine and crush them, smear them over his lover’s belly and tongue the sweet juices from salty, silken skin. A bower for them must be prepared for them to love within; sweet wine for them to drink, the finest delicacies must be prepared for Him to eat. Only the best might be permitted to grace his lover’s needs. He must begin to prepare for that day. Soon now would the time come. His mind was growing stronger and soon he would be at his peak, strong enough to ensure the safety of his lover. Already he had chosen his sanctuary in which to construct his bower. Unlike these unimaginative rutting stags who humped those they professed to love in damp tunnels, and who were interested only in one thing. They cheapened love and made of it lust, belittling their partners in their haste to rut. Not so he. He was better than they and for him the great jewel, the one he would call his lover, would know every comfort and care for His deflowering. He was assuredly a virgin. He was untouched; unsullied by any of these pathetic rutting stags who professed to be competent lovers. He saved Himself for the right one. The right one. Him. He saved Himself for their joining and that day, that ecstasy, would be theirs soon. First one must recover one’s strength that his Lover might be brought to the height of passion and one might enjoy His passion in the penultimate fashion. In their first joining he would watch his lover’s pleasure as he felt that same pleasure, as he gave it to Him. He had heard of the ultimate bonding, the ultimate lovemaking between telepaths, and he must ensure He knew that passion. To think not so long ago he had thought them so far apart. He had thought Him to be so far beyond him. It was not so. Ah, no. It was not so. Not anymore. Now one could stand on equal footing with the abilities, if not the beauty, of Him. Despair had become expectation with the awakening of his talents and oh, he had come so very far and for the sake of Him one’s mind was not as once it was. He must improve his power and his skills. He was still lacking and his shortcomings must be remedied with all speed. The short, sharp stab of pain through his temples reminded him of his lack. But it improved. One was not quite up to preparing their bower as yet. A little more time was required for one to recover from one’s most regrettable temper tantrum. It was most regrettable. One had taken such pains over time to remain unnoticed, and in one moment a regrettable loss of control had resulted in attracting the attention of those it was best to avoid. It should never have happened. He was no fool. He had noted Them. He was not so ill that he did not know what occurred within the precincts of the University. They had come. He would need to be most cautious not to attract their attention. It was the red head who would be the most dangerous to him. The red head who was, regrettably, most handsome and appeared to be charming, and who might sense him if he chanced to lose control once more. He could not permit it. He must take the time to heal and gather together what was required to make Their nights together perfect. Material things he could gather in secret and it would take time to find exactly the right materials. There was another matter which demanded his more immediate attention. For him to make his lover’s night perfect, he would require practise in the genteel art of lovemaking. The one saving Himself for him was not the only virgin and for one to have Him, to enjoy their passion, one must first learn all there was to know of the art of lovemaking. He was no stag out for the rut. He required experience, but he was not into the hunting of sluts and trollops who sought out only the pleasure of the moment, or credits in hand. It was most annoying that amidst such regrettable examples of human kind one would find the knowledge one sought to give pleasure. One had no other option than to remedy the lack within one’s education by making use of what was out there. Pain seared through him, his head throbbing, threatening to set him cringing into the darkness once more. Too soon. He had left the darkness of his sanctuary too soon and had not been rewarded for his fortitude with even so much as a glimpse of Him. It was too light, too bright to venture out amidst the unknowing world and he had come far enough for today. Experience taught one with pain the limits one was restricted by, and it was time to retreat into the darkness and sleep through the pain. Sleep would make one stronger. He needed to gather his strength and his control that he might venture out into the world and learn from those who made of passion a career. One needed to learn of lovemaking and how to caste his lover into the world of Nirvana. —————————————— It was there, somewhere. He knew it was. The answer to the questions they needed answered was lurking within the darkness of a disturbed and distorted mind. It was there in the anger, in the flashing rage rising beyond sane limits. It was there, in the hidden recesses of a mind generating enough emotion to black out the minds of all those within range of it. It was there within the savage strength used to rip walls apart and tie piping into knots. It was there in the rage which had thrust a refrigerator through a wall. Was all of this potential the result of drug abuse? Must they now give thoughts to how best to contain black market drugs unleashing chaos on the cities, by producing super talented Psi’s with no control or training? They needed to find this individual, contain him and control him. They needed to teach him control before people began to die; and they would die. One already was dead and he had died from the abuse of psi talent. They needed to stop this man before there were more deaths. Such anger. It surrounded him, so intense it came perilously close to being described as living. It fed on itself, growing greater with every passing second, swirling and twisting and turning into a nightmare maze of emotion. He had traced it this deep, creeping along the fringes of it, seeping deeper and deeper into it until his tattered shield forced him to retreat, or surrender to its fury. Gabriella had strengthened his shields the night before, working with him to repair the tattered screens of protection until the Gypsy had determined they were ’serviceable on a pinch’. He had been dead on his feet and Gabriella not much better when they had called it a night and each retired to their respective beds. He had returned to the suite and to the maelstrom of anger seeking something, some glimpse, some insight that might be of use to them in hunting the renegade psi. He had hoped to add to their meagre information and perhaps gain some insight into the source of what he was certain was becoming a dangerous infatuation. He had hoped for the glimpse of a face, or for some sense of identity he could fit to one of the three young men who had lived here. He had hoped to gain impressions, if not outright memories, of the killing. He had hoped for a great deal when he had returned to the suite. He was, to say the least, disappointed. And exasperated. //Bloody Gabriella!// He had not sensed what she had done the night before, when they had worked on his shields. Oh, she could be subtle when she wished. He had not expected her to be so heavy handed in her methods as to limit him, but she had. He had not expected her to compromise his effectiveness in the performance of his duties, to effectively limit him to half of his potential. //A Level three talent would be of more use to the investigation than I now am!// She was there, looming large in his mind. A shade, a remnant of her lurked within as a guard stone, dark eyes flashing in warning; Gypsy temper sparking as his every attempt to circumvent her failed. ~/Limiting you I am, Naughty Boy, and knowing it will not be thanks from you I am getting for my trouble when next see each other we do. Deeper than this level I have determined is not to be permitted if still wish to be a Prime and sane you do. Grumble and growl and call an old woman many names of the nasty sort as you might, in this Gabriella is knowing what she does is right. When it is working properly we are on shields, know you Gabriella will be most happy to remove this block; and it is a favour Gabriella suggests you do for yourself. Interfere not with the protections in place and try not to pass Gabriella, or learn you will Gabriella still can paddle Naughty Boy’s backside ./~ He did not believe it. He simply could not believe the infuriating old busy body would have the audacity to interfere with his work. The woman was a horror and law unto herself and she had promised him she would not interfere with his effectiveness in the investigation. Could he circumvent her attempt to contain him to set limits? He was furious enough to try, to rip into the blocks and tear them out, but he knew Gabriella would expect him to give it serious thought, and perhaps do the unpardonable and interfere with her handiwork. He was furious. Furious but not an idiot. Self preservation was a powerful driving force for any practitioner of Psi and he, being the most sensitive type of Prime talent, was well versed in sensing his limits. He knew just how close he could come to stepping into dangerous territory and though he was not shy of pushing into those limits he never overstepped them. The infuriating Gypsy pest had set a lighter work limit than he set for himself, and to battle her control points would be to push himself to the brink of exhaustion… And in the doing fail to bypass her limits. //Knowing her, the old harpy would have thought to set a trigger to knock me out before I did myself any injury. I can just see how Chang would react to that! Damn, what the hell did I have to lose my temper with Chang for! If I had not taken exception to his comments I would not now have Her lurking in my head with knock out drops of the mental variety at the ready. I can not work to full efficiency with her setting these sorts of limits on me.// Determined to test the barriers he sensed, Treize pressed gently forward, seeking to find the extent of the resistance of the restraint imposed upon him, and flinched back from what felt very much like a sharp slap to his mental backside. ~/Cheeky boy! Testing Gabriella is not an intelligent thing to do, Naughty Boy. In this thing sensible you should be and trusting in Gabriella to be knowing best. Lose you we will not, hearing me are you? Gabriella has no intention of losing her Khushrenada Prime to the curse of the empathic, so getting it through your thick head you will. Gabriella knows best!/~ Treize did a mental double take. If he received the mental equivalent of a slap to what his mind associated as the general physical impression of his rump, then he hated to think what Gabriella had set up if he pushed hard against her blocks. He was almost angry enough to throw caution to the wind and give in to temptation to find out, but self preservation was a strong trait amid the Khushrenada family. No, he was not such a fool that he would push back, at least not without taking some precautions and such would take time and preparation. He might try, biding his time and preparing a full assault purely to demonstrate he was a pig headed idiot who no longer thought it amusing to be ruled by the old harridan. But perhaps he might be able to subtly work his way through? He drew himself in to gather in his extended senses he had been employing to examine the maelstrom of anger surrounding him. When he held himself in tight control he extended his mental senses out to either side of what he pictured as a central core, that which was essentially Treize Khushrenada. He pictured Gabriella’s barrier as a physical wall, a little rough, like smoothed sandstone beneath his mental fingers. With this representation firmly pictured he could search the extent of the wall, gliding his ‘fingers’ over the surface, seeking some weakness without actually pushing against the barrier. It was wasting time, he should be concentrating on hunting the Stalker and the killer, if the two were not one and the same entity, which he was almost certain they were. He should not need to be sneaking around within his own mental awareness, trying to pass a wall stopping him for doing his job. He was going to have a few choice words to say to the woman when next they met. It was no wonder she had experienced the need to vacate the city for a few days and visit a ‘friend’. She had known it would not be long before he had experienced a need to go deeply into his talent and discovered her manipulation, and that he would not take kindly to her enforced limitations. She also knew he would discover she had been quite thorough about setting her barrier and effectively barred him from accessing the full strength of his talent without a God awful tug of war taking place between them. His search for a weakness failed miserably, but left him at least with the knowledge that he was a little better than a Level Three talent. She had left him with the capabilities of a Level Two T/E talent. In a fine fit of pique Treize thrust himself out of his working mode, glaring balefully at the hole in the wall made by the refrigerator, and let loose with a blast of his own considerable anger to fry the psychic atmosphere of the suite. “Interfering bitch!” Wu Fei, startled, spun from the window overlooking the car park at the rear of the dormitory block. He had occupied himself by watching the few students to walk near or through the car park, many of whom had paused to admire the sleek vehicle Treize drove. He had found himself watching the swing of a long rope of hair, the trailing signature braid of Duo Maxwell as he and Quatre Winner arrived, looking around them expectantly. For a few minutes Maxwell had been admiring the Mercedes until a security vehicle had pulled up and Zechs Marquise arrived. He had been about to pass a comment on the three to Yuy, who was occupying himself poking about the gate leading into the rear stairs used for garbage disposal, when he was startled by a blast of anger and his partner’s uncommon outburst. Wu Fei had never known the aristocrat to openly swear in the presence of others. In fact it was rare for Treize to use a profanity of any nature, particularly one that suggested his target might be female. He was usually the penultimate gentleman, always infuriatingly polite and mannerly. The aristocrat was known to look down his nose at people who might have been foolish enough to earn his ire, and subject them to an arctic glare to express his displeasure, but to swear in public? No. It simply was not Treize. “Treize?” That was no blush of embarrassment at being caught in a moment of unguarded profanity colouring his cheeks, Wu Fei knew. His partner was without a doubt, furious. Anger poured off the Prime talent in waves and a telepathic empath could generate a great deal of anger in a very short time. The room was becoming distinctly uncomfortable to be in. “Gabriella! The bloody woman has limited me!” ———————————————— Gabriella watched the approaching ocean with narrowed eyes. The wide expanse of water glistening in the morning light marked the end to her flight and the beginning of what was sure to be an uncomfortable visit. It was certain to be an unpleasant interview, but it was an interview she would not shirk. On her wits and ability to convince others to follow her direction hung a young life, and she was determined not to shirk her responsibility as the eldest of the Primes. She had bearded the Khushrenada clan in its entirety, no mean feat as anyone who had had dealings with the family could attest to, to gain custody of a son who had been destined to become Duke. She had won that young man the right to live free as a Prime and she would do no less for a child who believed himself unwanted. The situation was deplorable. A Prime talent abandoned as a child, raised practically wild and why, she had to wonder, had he hated the orphanage so much he had run? His empathy, of course, had to feature in the why, but it was a matter for a later time, not now. It was no wonder Zechs Marquise had had so much trouble when he was taken into a University for the elite and expected to conform to the tenants of polite society. She could understand why the youngling had a complex, but he was no longer alone in his predicament. Now he had Gabriella to take matters in hand. It fell upon her ample shoulders to fix what needed fixing and no one, despite their rank, birth or political aspirations would be permitted to stand in her way. She was bound and determined to succeed. Sunlight reflected off the water in a blinding burst of light as the aircraft began to turn into the glide path preparatory to landing. The terminal buildings and landing strips lay beyond the city nestled at the foot of the cliff. She would have the drive into the city in which to give final consideration to her arguments and she must not permit herself to be distracted by the old city reminding her of past days, reigniting the fire of her youth. It was a very old city, one which always felt comfortable when ever she had occasion to visit, but today the passing inhabitants would not be of interest to her. Today she would not reminisce about old times when she had been young and pretty, and had handsome young men dancing to her tune. Today it was for a young man she had come to New Port City, though he was not one who would warm her bed and heat her blood. She had come here before, a long time ago, to meet just such a one, but not today. Today, if Gabriella had her way, she would set the stage to give her Naughty Boy the opportunity to claim this one with the pretty eyes. Of course, she might be mistaken about this entire matter, though the mere thought of it being a mistake was the equivalent of sacrilege. Gabriella did not make mistakes. Certainly not when it came to the safety, and sanity, of Prime talents. A smirk briefly flittered across her homely face and she sighed softly, settling deeper into her seat. //Ah. Such a temper.// It had taken him longer than she had expected to discover what she had done. He was furious; she could feel his anger beating at her through the link which bound their minds. He was incensed by her interference, and she could but hope her naughtiest of Naughty Boys would have cooled his wrath to the level of an arctic blizzard by the time she returned. She could hope but he was a stubborn one, her Naughty Boy. //For your own good, Treize Khushrenada. If you continue to push yourself and, in the doing push too far, then not even Gabriella can get you back, my lovely boy. That temper of yours needs containing; and Sexy Eyes will feel you if you do not control yourself. Realize your anger and behave yourself. Five years old you are not, but your butt still will feel my hand.// The aircraft adjusted its course, overflying the city, dropping lower like some predatory bird and Gabriella found her eyes drawn to the glittering white spires of the castle overlooking the city spread out along the bay. It was a castle out of fairytales, spires and turrets and high crenulated walls surrounding internal courtyards. Fairytales, she mused. Yes, this was the place for fairytales, perhaps the last place on the Earth where a feudal system still ruled and fairytales fitted in the modern world. A tourist attraction; that was what it was and it was a constitutional monarchy, though it seemed to her the present King was more apt to rule than the elected Parliament. She had occasion to meet with certain of those representatives of the people, and she was far from impressed. //It is having some answers before I leave I will, but more, I will be having official custody of my Sexy Eyes. // She watched the castle until the flight path of the plane hid it from her view and she settled back into her seat. //I know not what it is you are up to, but I will be having my say and it is listening to every word of it you will be, Stephan.// It made no difference her appearance here would be unannounced. No one refused to see Gabriella when she requested an audience. No one. This visit to New Port City would be no different and it would not be the first time she had spanked the King of Sanc’s royal backside should he prove difficult. //It is belonging to the Prime’s you will be, Zechs Marquise. To the Prime’s and to Gabriella.// t.b.c. Karina Robertson 2008 ———————————
Chang Wu Fei: Level 9 Telekinetic + Receiving Telepath Level 5. Agency Operative contracted term of 10 years with 8 years remaining, [22yrs of age] Training facility:Psychic Institute Luxemburg Division. Heero Yuy: ESUN Security Agency Elite Operative. Government sanctioned Genetic enhancements performed by Romefeller Genetic Laboratory, Tokyo for adult service as Security Enhanced Operative. No Psychic Talent. Genetic induced enhancements include enhanced Strength, Hearing, Speed and Olfactory senses. Assigned regularly to liaison with The Agency’s psychic agents. [21 / 22 years old] Zechs Marquise: Psi Student 5th year at Tsuberov Parapsychic Investigation and University. Level 10 Receiving/Projecting Empath [approaching Prime Designation] + Level 9 Sending /Receiving Telepath, Projected L10 function. Finder function suspected, not officially registered. Country of origin, Luxemburg. [20 years of age] Gabriella : Romany descent. Level 10 Sending / Receiving
Telepath + Level 10 Receiving and Projecting Empath. Prime Rated.
Training facility rumored to be Government Laboratories of the Prussian
Republic deposed in the year AC 45. Age: Unknown [rumored to be approximately
seventy four]. Oldest of the Prime Telepathic Empaths. |
