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"Alternative Directions: Options "Written By: Karina Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the lovely
boys and their girls in the series. Wish I did. Please don't sue me.
I haven't even got a brass razoo to give you. Rating: Deffinately PG in Australia, at the moment,
but probably safer to say R for later chapters. Not sure about international
ratings Warnings: It will be 6x2, even though it does
not start out that way. After all, Zechs and Duo never met in Gundam
Wing and only spoke briefly over a com line in Endless Waltz. I've
tried to keep them in character as I saw them in the series. A bit
of language creeping in under stressful conditions. Pairings: eventual 6x2, past 2xH, 2+H,6x9, 1+R
Summary: Directions is set post Endless Waltz
and roughly 2 years have passed. Zechs and Noin are on Mars and Duo,
after spending some time with Hilde in a relationship leaves L2 to
join Preventers. Hilde was not happy about his decision. I guess enough
said. Here t'is, and I hope you like it. This is also AU for the standard
setting, as well as the series and Endless Waltz. Spoilers: Gundam Wing Series and Endless Waltz Many thanks to Dulin for volunteering to beta this. //... // thoughts
"Alternative Directions: Options"
Chapter 12
New Port City Sanc Palace Date 28th February AC 198 Time: 02:45 Duo [Same night] "You did not help, Maxwell." The patented Heero Yuy death glare pierced the room the second the door opened. "Awe, c'mon, Heero. You got to admit it was funny." a manic grin defied the glare. "Not from where I was sitting." Pagan was still in the room, tidying a tray of fresh coffee, tea and sandwiches. He set out three mugs and poured coffee in two and then looked expectantly at Heero. "Green Tea, Mr. Yuy, or coffee?" "Tea, please." "Set your bones down, Hee-chan. We need to talk." "Duo, when will you stop calling me that?" // Braided idiot. How ever did he get so good at what he does, with an attitude like that?// "Dunno. Maybe when you get a life?" "Mr. Maxwell. You will play nice." Pagan rumbled, piercing Duo with a glare, then turning to Heero. "Mr. Yuy, it is not considered to be good form when you are comforting a young lady, to threaten to kill her if she chooses not to confide in you. Would you please recall that should you ever be called upon to repeat the performance." // I saw Heero Yuy blush and lived to tell the tale. Nyah. Not that I'm likely to spread the story around. No, not with Heero's penchant for shooting what annoys the hell out of him -which I try to do on a fairly regular basis when he's around. Or when this deceptive old man who looks like everyone's favorite grandfather is around. Man, Pagan has so many sides to him. I like the old dude, I really do. Hey, how many people would threaten to do away with Shinigami's favorite food?// Duo mused. "We need to discuss this matter of the imprisonment of Master Milliardo." Pagan continued. "Did you know he was on Mars?" Heero pinned Pagan with a stare which the old man, to Duo's delight, ignored. "I did not, Mr. Yuy. I had come to speak with Master Duo concerning my fears for Master Milliardo this evening. Miss Relena and I had a disagreement over the young master earlier today. I felt something had to be done." Heero settled in a seat before the bank of monitors and Pagan took his seat across from the desk where Duo sat. Duo chose to take a sandwich and watch the other two men who seemed to be avoiding any eye contact at all. Both seemed lost in their own thoughts. "Well, we know where they are now." Duo shrugged. "The ESUN Security Agents won't be leaving for Mars for another three months. The government can't take the kids unless they send up a special flight. Those inter-planetary shuttles are few and far between. One for emergency use, one in transit and one on exploration beyond the asteroid belt, heading for Jupiter, isn't it?" "Hn." Heero shook his head in the negative. "A supply shuttle is due to land on Mars in a couple of days. It carries the first of the workers for the interior constructions needed for the Alpha Dome. According to the manifest I saw, it also carries with it a force of ten security officers to maintain order among the workers on the shuttle and on Mars. Those security officers are not Preventer agents. In fact the shuttle was scheduled to take up two Preventer Agents to set up an office in the Alpha Dome. Their inclusion was cancelled at the last minute due to a weight anomaly. Someone miscalculated the load capacity." "Yeah, right." Duo drawled. "Convenient. And you know this because?" "Because after I settled Relena with her maid I did a quick hack of the Colony Settlements Agency's recent activity. The shuttle due to land on Mars in two to three days time is also slated to leave on the return journey to Earth a week after that. They could take prisoners back with them. There is also one of the ESUN patrol cruisers, the Wellington, in the vicinity of Mars, I believe. Two or three days behind the shuttle. Her mission, as far as I can determine, is to search for Raiders in the vicinity of the Asteroid Belt. She's a hunter killer." //A week. That would give us a week at most to do something. What could we possibly do about this whole thing in that amount of time? // Duo mused. "Master Milliardo and Miss Noin would not willingly allow their children to be taken." Pagan contemplated his coffee. "Marquis Wayridge is our best hope to forestall any further action by the Earth Sphere Unified Nations Security Agents. If the agents on Mars do not receive instructions to abduct the children, then there will be no need for either Master Milliardo or Miss Noin to place themselves in danger." //An ideal solution. Somehow I can't see us being lucky. // Duo mused. "Always presuming that the people in charge of this little exercise are working for the Unified Nations." Duo commented. "Or that instructions have not already been issued." "Miss Relena certainly believes them to be from the ESUN." Pagan returned. "I doubt that Relena knows the whole story, only what they wanted her to know, or believe." Heero took a sandwich and munched thoughtfully. "The whole thing smells fishy." "Romefeller?" Duo questioned. "Romefeller was disbanded after the one year war." Pagan replied. "The Council of Nobles that took its place is headed by Marquis Wayridge. I suppose he might have considered Master Milliardo as too unknown an element in the current situation, and may have had a hand in this, though I do doubt it. I do not believe that the Marquis knows Master Milliardo is alive. Someone else on the Council, most likely. If the Council is involved." "Pagan, you were telling me about what happened after Sanc fell to the Alliance. Why didn't you take Zechs to his grandfather?" Duo leaned back in his seat folding his arms behind his head and watching the old retainer thoughtfully. He would avoid mentioning his certain knowledge that Romefeller still existed and had an interest in Milliardo Peacecraft. At the present time only a select few needed to know that. "I did, Master Duo. The Marquis Wayridge deemed it an unnecessary risk to his freedom to work in politics, should he sanction protecting the heir to Sanc." Pagan sighed. "It was from Marquis Wayridge that I received the money to enroll Master Milliardo in the boarding school. That was the extent of the assistance he extended to me. To his grandson." Heero frowned. "That does not allow much hope that he will interfere now. He is still active in politics." "Miss Relena can be very persuasive. It is my hope that the Marquis will not deny her this. He sees Queen Katerina in her and thus far has rather indulged her when they have met. While he has had no time for his grandson, he has made time for his granddaughter." "Hn. If he will not help, then we need a back up plan." Pagan refilled his coffee cup and Duo's, arching a bushy brow at Heero, who nodded and received a refill of his tea. During this Duo considered the happenings of the night and the best options available to them. His views on Relena would have to be realigned. He had not thought highly of her at all for the last few months, especially the last few days while he had been resident at the palace. He did not for an instant agree with her pacifist ideals and that had not helped his opinion of her. Yes, she did work tirelessly for her goals, he had to give her points for her dedication. He now also had to reconsider her family values, since she had not abandoned her brother, but had tried to cover up that she did indeed care for him. She had seemed sincere enough. So, what were they to do? Relena was being threatened by the very government she was working so hard to aid. Her political standing was in jeopardy. Her personal safety was now surely coming into question if she denied the will of those out to influence her. If she denied them would they strike at her, or at those on Mars, where it seemed they now, or very soon, would have agents to do their bidding. "Earth." Duo said. "Zechs is still a Preventer agent. Une knows he is on Mars. Does she know about this latest development, though? I think we need to talk to her. I don't know how much we should tell her about all of this. Hell, she's head of Preventers. She may have had a hand in this. In keeping Zechs confined on Mars. She could be working with the ESUN Security Agency. If not, she needs to concern herself with Relena's safety." "Your job. I can't see Earth working with the ESUN Security Agency to this extent. I know she has a very low opinion of that agency just now. Something I overheard, that did not make sense then, but does in light of what we now know, suggests she may know something of this, but not all of it. Talk to her." Heero decided. "Pagan and I will be flying to Luxemburg tomorrow morning with Relena. You need to see Earth about personal matters, I believe. Perfect opportunity to inform her." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sanc Palace Time: 03:35 Duo // Man. I really get stuck with the dirty jobs. // Duo considered the darkened grounds of the palace. He sat on the window seat in his bedroom, looking at the snow covered grounds and not really seeing a thing. He was tired and not in a pleasant way. Too much had happened tonight for him to feel in any way content with the day. Hilde should have the court papers by now and who knew how she was taking that? Then Pagan comes to him and out of the blue gives him almost a running commentary on the childhood life of Zechs Marquise. He did not want to know what the errant Prince of Sanc had lived through as a child. In too many ways it reflected his own childhood. Very unpleasant. He still had nightmares about Maxwell Orphanage. // Pretty rotten way to speak about a kid in his hearing. Never gave it any thought before. My whole world was the street gang and the mission. When the mission was gone I was lucky enough to get a berth on that Sweeper ship. Then I met Doctor G. He wasn't such a bad old guy. We got along fairly well. Guess I always knew others had it bad, not just me. Still, why do I feel this way? I don't even understand what it is I am feeling. // Somehow the vision of a little blonde boy sitting in a darkened room full of shadowy adults, all of them disclaiming responsibility for him would not be banished. Solo had taken Duo in. Cared for him until the plague had changed his world again. Then Father Maxwell and Sister Helen had found him and he had become a part of the Maxwell House Church Mission. A home, albeit temporarily, as it turned out. He had found a place amid the sweeper crew and it seemed he had always fallen on his feet. Duo suddenly found himself thinking that maybe he had had rather a fortunate childhood. At least he had fallen on his feet. // Why should it bother me? Pagan was there for him. Hey, that's odd. He never said where he found Zechs when he went back to Sanc. Nine months, he said it took to find him. What was he doing for that long? // Duo shook his head, beginning to run the brush through his heavy mane of chestnut hair. //Never really thought about the war from another's point of view, I suppose. Guess he had a reason to fight the Alliance alright. Not so different to my own reasons. Yeah. Guess he had a reason to be so loyal to Kushrenada. I wonder what split them up? Heero seems to think they were working together to destroy the massed weapons on Earth and in the Colonies. Were they ever really enemies? // Long practice saw the braid quickly woven and secured and Duo left the window seat and finally crawled into bed. It was more than fourty eight hours since he had slept. It was becoming something of a habit. A habit he did not want to entertain with any frequency. //Guess I will learn what Hilde will do soon enough. Man. I wouldn't want anything to happen to my son. Aidan Maxwell. Aiden Shbeiker. Aiden Schbieker-Maxwell. You know, Zechs, I think I can see why you went a little loony there at the end. Nah. I still don't know what makes a guy like that tick. Well, Une, you and me, we got a date to discuss more than my boy. // Preventer Headquarters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: 28th February AC 198 Time: 10:05 Duo "You can go in now, Reaper." Duo flashed the secretary his trademark cheeky grin, no outward sign of his unease visible. He was very much not looking forward to Une's possible reaction to his news. The woman known as Earth stood at the plate glass windows overlooking the view of New Port City and the harbor. She was trim, neat in her uniform, her hair down, softening her features. "Have a seat, Duo. Then you can explain to me why the Vice Foreign Minister is on her way to Luxembourg, when she should have been attending a reception in the Japanese Embassy?" Earth, of course, knew about the abrupt change of plans. He and Heero, with Pagan's aid, had begun preparations for today's flight last night, notifying the necessary officials and security staff of the changes. Before the departure of the Vice Foreign Ministers shuttle, Relena had suggested all manner of means by which Duo should approach Lady Une over this matter. All of which entailed what Duo termed `kissing ass' and `avoiding the real issue' and even `beating around the bush'. He was not and never would be a politician or diplomat. Duo by far appreciated the direct approach and figured that Earth herself would do so as well. "Family emergency. Relena is on her way to see the Marquis Wayridge in Luxembourg." "I am aware of that, Reaper. I was informed of her destination. I am aware of a great many things, not all of which I am supposed to know, I am sure. What I want to know is why? What is the nature of this `family emergency'." The Lady turned and settled into her place behind the desk. As she did so she drew Duo's attention to the softly glowing light inset on a ornamental carving bordering her desk. Duo nodded briefly, recognizing the security precaution. They were protected from listening ears. It was a device that should not have been active in the office at all, not for a meeting of the purposes this was supposed to be. What the ESUN did not know was that Heero had made some modifications to the device, at Une's request. It was good to see just how far Lady Une, known as Earth to the Preventers, did not trust the ESUN government. "Miss Relena had a visit from an ESUN security agent yesterday, before the dinner party. She held together for the reception, but after the guests had departed Relena broke down. She was informed that she was required to sign a document stating it necessary to abduct, from Mars, the children of Milliardo Peacecraft, a.k.a. Zechs Marquise, and Lucrezia Noin." He was impressed. Not so much as a twitch out of Une, but somehow it felt that the temperature in the room dropped around ten degrees. He was sure she knew. Certain of it. Something at least about what was going on on Mars was known to this woman who once had terrorized even her own people. For a few minutes the Lady remained seated, brown eyes turned to the window as she considered the implications. Not a flicker of emotion betrayed her to the avidly watching agent. "The reason given?" no inflection in her voice hinted at her emotions. She continued to stare out the window just the faintest narrowing of her eyes betraying her intense thoughts. "The twins are to be raised in controlled conditions away from the influence of the maniac who tried to destroy the earth." He wondered if she would react to that. "I see. Why the Marquis Wayridge?" Not so much as the flicker of an eye lid betrayed her thoughts to Duo's somewhat provocative statement. "Miss Relena hopes he can use his influence to stop any instructions being relayed to agents we believe will shortly arrive on Mars concerning the abduction. Perhaps even have his cooperation in having the arrest warrant against Zechs lifted." "Well there is no chance he could do the latter. The ESUN government is afraid of its own shadow. They'll never have Zechs anywhere he might cause them the slightest trouble. I doubt the Marquis would lift a finger to interfere in the matter, one way or the other. As for the other matter-when did Noin give birth?" "I gather very recently." // Hmm. Did she know? I'm not sure. It's hard to read her. // "The shuttle is due to land within a day, I believe. I suspected there might be a problem concerning Zechs when they made certain no Preventer Agents were onboard that flight." A small smirk tilted her lips and with a touch of a finger to a hidden control under her desk the softly glowing light died. Any listener now would hear what was said. Duo straightened imperceptibly, tensing. "Duo. Hilde is waiting for you. She has agreed to your proposal for maintenance payments for your son and for visiting rights. Including your being listed as the child's father and next of kin should anything happen to her. The matter of changing the child's surname is still under discussion and I would advise you not say anything about it whilst you are on L2. You have a visitation listed for twenty three hundred hours, Earth time, tonight. I have a shuttle booking made as per the usual arrangements and you are slated for time off to sort your personal problems. At the present time, I have not listed you for a return date to active duty." "I-" This was fast. Unexpected. He had work to do with those Romefeller files and had not expected such quick action. Hilde had raised no objections? There had to be more than this. He had not expected Lady Une to push for a settlement of the matter so quickly. "No arguments, Reaper. You will be of no use on a mission if your personal problems get in the way. Is that understood?" Lady Une was writing quickly on a sheet of paper which was then slipped into a waiting flight schedule. "Understood. How long do I have off? An estimate?" he reached to take the schedule, sliding it across the table and into a pocket. "Take as long as you need. Hilde was co-operative. More so than I expected, but I think you have some serious matters to deal with. Not only concerning your son, but your relationship with Hilde as well. Having a child means more responsibility than merely paying maintenance and seeing the child every week or so." "I'm kind'a new to this. It's gonna be strange." "Take all the time you need. I'm sure I can trust you to treat the matter with kid gloves, Duo, and to not abuse the privilege of the time off I have slotted for you. Hilde believes she had her reasons for the actions she had taken. We all believe we have reasons for what we do, Duo." her brown eyes stared intently in to blue-violet orbs, conveying a message. "Don't just judge anyone on past actions. Listen carefully to what they say and be open minded." Lady Une seemed apply subtle inflection to that comment and then to subtly relax, the intensity easing. "It hurt you, but give her a fair hearing. I have always considered you to be fairly open minded and willing to give everyone a fair hearing. Don't change that now." "I don't intend to start a ruckus." Why did he get the impression she was talking about more than his problems with Hilde? "Good. Your flight leaves in a few hours." that was a tactic dismissal if he had ever heard one. Walking through headquarters Duo made his way to the locker room he used when on duty here. Checking the room was empty he settled at his locker and opened the flight schedule. The ticket was a standard class shuttle pass, no name listed. A standard ticket for use by a Preventer Agent on short notice. He was to call the Service and supply his name. The flight was listed to depart in three hours. What really needed his attention was the note from Une. ~/ If you can be trusted to be discreet and not kill Zechs on sight signal Earth at 13:00. Contact will be made. I will alert my agents on Mars to the problem and to be on guard and watch for the ESUN agents. Preventer Agents were on supply shuttle as precaution. Details to be supplied later. There is an alternate site on Mars that is unknown to the ESUN. I may have to make them hide there for a time, until we can have them picked up. Be certain to take a present for your son. /~ Duo sat in silence, rhythmically shredding the note into tiny pieces. In seconds the pieces were burning to ash in a metal tray and for good measure he scattered the ashes. So. Indeed, he would need a little time to sort his personal problems. How long did it take to get to Mars? With the new shuttles, about three months, he believed with Mars current position in relation to Earth. What transport could Une provide? To the best of his knowledge the ESUN had the most advanced ships for long range space travel. Three months. It would all be over by then, surely? All over and not even a mess for him to clean up. He sighed, his thoughts turning to the foot note on the missive. "A present? What do you buy for a baby?" "Problem, Reaper?" "Huh?" Duo turned and then grinned, noting who had entered the changing rooms. "Oh. Hi, Wu Fei. No. No problem. I'm off to L2. Got to see my son and I was just wondering what I should take." Dark eyes widened. "Son?" Chang Wu Fei had not changed dramatically in the three years since Duo had first met him. He was still short and a Justice Freak, with dark hair tied back into a tight pony tail, though now his hair was considerably longer, hanging past his shoulders even in the pony tail. His facial structure had thinned and firmed with the years, showing the more mature features and hinting that he would, in a few years, be a very handsome individual indeed. "Yep. The God of Death has a little demon. Catch ya later, Wu-man" Duo grinned wickedly heading for the door. "Maxwell!" Duo turned at the door with a cheeky grin. Wu Fei cracked a smile. "Maybe a teddy bear?" Duo smiled, no trace of the manic grin he was renowned for, simply a pleasant smile that turned his eyes a bewitching shade of lavender. "Thanks, Wu Fei." "Maxwell. Maybe a scythe, even?" at the shocked look on Duo's face the Preventer chuckled. "Don't call me Wu-man, Maxwell." Laughing Duo almost skipped out of the locker room and decided he had time to do a little shopping before heading to the palace to pack a few things for his trip. He'd have to leave a message for Heero, too. Not an obvious message, but a hint that he should talk to Earth about his sudden departure. He was uncertain just what he should take with him, if he was to take an extended space flight. Best to fetch nothing that would not be considered normal for a flight to the colony. He would need to take copies of the Romefeller Files, however. There was no way he was going to leave that little mystery behind him. He would have to shop on L2 for anything that he considered he might need. Like normal reading material. What did you do on an extended flight accept get bored to tears? A bored Shinigami was not a pleasant thought, even for Shinigami himself. With a faint shrug Duo shelved the notion. He could consider that en route to L2. He had never considered that he might have to remain in a confined space for months at a time. The thought almost terrified him. By nature he was not a solitary individual. He liked people, to be active and entertained. Just what would he do to keep himself from going stir crazy in space? "Teddy bear, Maxwell. Maybe you should buy yourself one to cuddle too." t.b.c.
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