|
"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 131 Mars Colony Base Dome 2nd March AC 198 Time: 01: 28 [approx Sanc time 23:18] Barker “You can drop as fast as you want but be certain to give yourself enough control to stop in time or you'll mash yourself into the base of the pipe. There is a light that marks the door's location but it is very low wattage and we usually bring our own working lights.” Polnar had thrown the last of the ropes over the edge of the platform and checked yet again the security of the third rig as he spoke. “About a seven count is all the time you have before you pull yourself up to a controlled drop … if you're game enough to let gravity take its course. I know the gravity here is lighter than that of Earth and we don't fall as far as fast or as hard but believe me hitting the steel base of the pipe at speed still hurts like hell. We had a few broken bones from idiots who just could not count or thought the lighter gravity made them Superman.” He knew it was stupid but he could not wipe the grin from his face. He so wanted to try this wild ride when lives did not hang in the balance and he was free to experience it without distraction. While the ride down would be speedy the actual rigging of the ropes had taken time but Polnar was quick and efficient when it came to securing the lines. He checked his own harness and did not object when first Carter and then Polnar checked his rig over as it only made sense that they should double check. He assisted in the checking of their individual rigs before they all took up position and clung precariously to the platform. He could not see the bottom of the shaft, not even the faintest ruddy glow of the light that would mark the base of the pipe. The only light was that shed by the platform lights and that barely illuminated the platform itself. Somewhere down below there was another dim red glow that would mark the door situated almost directly beneath this platform he stood upon. He had to judge his descent to bring himself safely to the bottom and he had to do so with basically nothing in the way of markers. By the time he spotted the glow of the lower light he would be too close to stop from smashing himself into the steel base of the water pipe. It was all he could do to not scream out his excitement at the exhilaration of the plunge into darkness as he stepped off the platform. Polnar was right about it being dangerous. But what a rush! He had been wet before he had entered the drained reservoir pipe but at least he had been wet and relatively warm. After only a few minutes in the pipe while the rigging was prepared he felt as though he had stood out in a Terran night with a chill early winter rain falling on him. Condensation ran freely down the walls and dripped from the ceiling overhead in a steady chill rain like cascade. Cold water that steadily soaked him and threatened to numb his hands despite the heavy gloves they used to protect them from the ropes during the drop. It was annoying as anything he could think of and the only redeeming grace that the impromptu shower granted him was that it had to sweeten the smell of him. //Three. Four. Five. // Seven seconds maximum Polnar had suggested before there would be a real danger of crashing into the base of the pipe. // Six. // He took the man's warning to heart and actually descended in a controlled manner instead of simply letting the drop take him and at six he could just make out the ruddy glow that marked the nearing ground level. With greater care he slowed his descent and his feet found solid metal in the darkness. //God. I have to do that again.// He would do it again if he survived the chaos that had come to Mars but in the future event of another chance to plunge into darkness he would change things a little. To begin with he would not be so careful. He had to try this again at a somewhat more liberal velocity. He had to feel the rush at full speed. He could hear the whine of the ropes as Carter and Polnar descended and he was not surprised when Polnar landed before Carter. The man had done this before and he had allowed himself the express drop, being the last of them to step off the platform. Fast as his descent had been he nevertheless landed gently in a controlled bounce, flexing his knees to absorb any additional impact speed. Barker snorted softly at the quiet chuckle and 'Yeah!' that echoed within the pipe. //I need to talk to Mako about this. A regular round of absailing in the pipes could blow off a lot of steam for those who find off duty hours on Mars to be a bit sedentary. Dropping into a black pit with the exact location of the floor in doubt produces a damn fine adrenaline rush.// The glow from the light above the door was not sufficient to light up more than the outline of the door itself but it did provide enough light for him to glimpse the movement of Polnar as he shucked the last of his harness and passed between him and the door. A last sound from the ropes followed by a deep chuckle from the darkness caused him to tilt his head in the direction he knew Carter should be. “What a rush! Can you imagine doing that on a bungee cord?” “Christ, we're all mad.” Barker had to chuckle but he could not wipe the wide grin from his face. “Doing it like this is rush enough for me.” Carter was working on the harness, freeing himself from its embrace. “Nah. It's good, but nothing like the rush you get from jumping off a height with a bit of cord tied to your feet.” “Well guess who is missing the days of the war.” Polnar's voice came from the direction of the door and he sounded to be in a fine mood. “Have you thought about bungee jumping from the scaffold rigging of the enviro dome? That would be a rush. Shit. I guess this proves that we need to find more amusements.” “Yeah, and I am missing the adrenaline rushes but … I can do without the fire fights. Man, I have to try this again. I like the idea of trying it from the dome. That could be wild.” Carter dropped the last of the harness and chuckled. Barker grunted softly and hoped that they had the opportunity to try this type of activity again at a later time. He admitted that he missed the rush of activity field assignments in the hub of the ESUN had often given him. Mars was so much more laid back than the hub … or had been until this mess had sparked. Activity outside of the enviro dome was limited by necessity but why could they not fill the need for thrill seeking within the dome? There had to be more to life that work, a few hours in the gym and bed. Dismissing the thought as irrelevant to their current situation he extended a hand out in front of him and took a few cautious steps toward that red glow before he felt cloth against his finger tips. Polnar was working on the door and as Barker reached him a thin crack of golden light spilled in to outline the doorway. Instantly all joking ceased and they froze. Back to business and to the need to stay alive and hopefully ensure that others were given the chance to survive the mayhem that had come to Mars. There was a long way to go before they could talk about recreational playing. He slipped up to crouch behind Polnar as the Leo pilot pressed his ear to that fine gap and had to fight to resist the urge to hold his breath. They needed the pump room to be empty and thus far their invasion of the dome had been going so well that he was certain there had to be problems develop. He still found it difficult to believe that they had thus far managed to cross not only the base dome but the hydroponics dome as well without incident. To his view that could mean only one thing. They were due for some bad luck. “Sounds quiet.” Polnar whispered. “I can hear the pumps but nothing else.” It was his call and he knew it. He too could hear the rhythmic throbbing of the pumps and he could feel it through the soles of his boots. They had reached the sub base without incident and they had a rendezvous to keep and he was not inclined to linger any longer than necessary. He would have been happier if they could look into the pump room but the only way of doing that was to open the door and the room beyond was so large that they would have to open it wide to see even a part of the area. No, they were going to have to take the chance of there being someone within the room or lurk in the water pipe all night. Remaining within the pipe simply was not an option. He wanted this entire affair ended and answers to some very pointed questions and above all he wanted to see those responsible for the blood bath in confinement and justice brought to bare. Justice. // I need to be honest with myself about this. Just how much justice are those who have been killed here today going to get? The logistics of this entire exercise suggest someone very high up in the government structure has very dirty hands indeed. Not just anyone could have arranged this invasion and it has to have a sound political reason to everyone involved in the affair. No one, especially not politicians, is stupid enough to risk everything just to gain a bit of revenge on one man for activities taken during a war. Not even against Merquise. No, there has to be something else going on here. Something more. Something I really would like to understand and probably never really could. I don't know … Enough is enough. We have things to do.// “We cannot remain here forever. Open the door enough to get your head around and have a look at as much of the room as you can and we shall see what we shall see. If it's clear we get out and seal the shaft. Find us reasonable cover as quickly as possible and keep your head low.” Polnar's nod was just visible against the strengthened light and after a moment the door eased open a little more, widening further. He heard the soft grunt as Polnar squeezed his head through the gap and then a long moment of silence. “Can't see anyone, but I can't see all that much.” Polnar climbed to his feet and with unspoken agreement Barker helped him ease the door open sufficiently for Polnar to ease his frame into the gap and leaned out into the pump room. After a long moment a soft 'all clear' was whispered. He felt Carter move to join him, standing close enough that he could feel the warm breath against his neck and when Polnar pushed on the door they moved to braced it as Polnar slipped out. He nodded to Carter who slipped past him and out into the room and Barker brought up the rear, controlling the door as it swung shut on his heels. Polnar was waiting to secure the latch and spin the locking wheel and Barker took the chance to survey the massive pumps and pipes that crowded the room. A sniper's paradise. Anyone could be in the room and you would not know it until you took the hit. He hissed softly, not liking the sensation that they might be under observation. His shoulders hunched against the weight of what he knew was probably an imaginary glare and he wished Polnar would hurry with that wheel. There was no chatter of automatic weaponry, no knife flying through the air and no bodies hurling at them even though his nerves insisted that they were watched. Carter was peering into the maze of pipes and machinery with a look that said he too could feel a predators gaze. //Probably imagination since we have not already been shot. // He flicked his fingers toward the nearest set of pipes and as one they ran and slipped gratefully behind the offered cover. Long seconds of silence followed their crouching and ears strained for the slightest sound that might not be the rumble and clang of machinery. One hand rested on the pipe closest to him and Barker found himself measuring the low vibration by counting off his heart beats. Shaking his head to banish the distraction he inclined his head toward the door that would give them entry into the sub base. “Let's go, gentlemen. Keep watch but keep it moving. We are already late to the rendezvous but I have every intention of making the meeting, even if a little late. We need to gain control of the situation as quickly as possible and that means linking up with Merquise and who ever might have joined him.” “Is he not a loner?” Carter queried. Barker shook his head and absently ran a finger over the sweat encrusted whiskers that irritated him. “He can be a team player. Oz Specials were trained to work as part of a team or efficiently in a solo situation. I am inclined to believe that by now he would have picked up some help. There are others with combat training on Mars and surely not everyone has gone down to the Sleepers or those Blue Squad bastards. There is only so much in a situation like this that you can do on your own and Merquise has never been a fool. What we need to remember is that we do not know who is friend and who is foe so we need to exercise every care and for now we try to keep ourselves hidden.” Carter skimmed along the pipe in the lead, moving with speed and skill as he followed the pipe toward the distant door. Polnar followed after him careful to maintain a set distance between himself and Carter and Barker brought up the rear, every few seconds glancing behind them and sweeping his gaze over the pipes, pumps and control consuls that dotted the area. The low muted thunder of the pumps rose as they neared the set of pipes that fed Hydroponics Dome Two its water but the rumble was not so loud that it would drown out the sound of someone approaching them. //I wonder where everyone is? I know that the pumps are fully automated and on a sealed computer system but surely there should be someone walking the floor to keep an eye on things? I'm becoming a paranoid bastard. I am beginning to see gunmen at every turn and while it might keep me alive it might also get someone killed if I lose control. Not just me though. Carter and Polnar look to be just as bad. They look twice at every shadow just as I do and they keep checking behind them even though they know that I am here watching our collective rear.// He resisted the urge to smile grimly. //Still, I do keep stressing that you can not trust anyone, don't I? I'll be glad when this is all over, but then I have to face another very serious problem. How the hell do we tell if we have everyone involved in this butchery rounded up? Just who and how many of them are a danger to our security? How the hell do we tell who are the ESUN's agents?// It was entirely possible that they could mistakenly take innocents into custody and possibly never really know if they had the right people. A clever agent could misdirect clues and falsify evidence and have them pick up someone innocent. A Sleeper could be standing next to them and they would never know for sure. He breathed a silent curse. If he continued on like this he would succeed only in driving himself insane. He simply had to survive for now and regain control of the base. He could cross the other bridge when he came to it. Carter came to a halt at the first pump station. An open expanse of ground lay between them and the door and he inclined his head toward Barker by way of enquiring what to do next. The Preventer Chief did a slow survey of the area surrounding them, seeking the smallest sign that they might be under observation and flicked a hand toward the door. In a group they ran for the door and mid way Barker cursed. //Great. Keypad control.// He glared at the punch button key panel set to one side of the door as they pressed their backs to the wall, noting Carter watching the maze of pipes. // If they have set up security protocols we could find ourselves very quickly going nowhere. First thing I would do is set my own security protocols in place. I wonder if the Preventer overrides are still secure?// Polnar hesitated an instant, glanced at him and then reached for the keypad, quickly typing a code in and they were all relieved to hear a dull click above the sound of the pumps. At Barker's questioning look, he shrugged. “Maintenance code for the last time I was in the pipes on scrub down duty. I have to admit that I am surprised the code actually worked. I would have thought that they would have cleared the system in the alert and set new security protocols.” //Yes, they should have and I have to wonder why they did not.// Barker edged past Polnar and motioned to Carter to back away from the door and wait. He would not place either man at risk at the moment. // Either someone has cleared this particular keypad of the security code or something is very wrong with the security system. // Aware of Carter pressed against the wall on the far side of the door and Polnar in similar position closer to him he set a hand to the door handle. With care he eased the door open just a crack and pressed his ear to the gap seeking any sound. He had a very bad feeling about this and on hearing nothing accept his own breathing he dared to open the door a little more, just sufficient to give himself a very limited view of the tan coloured hallway. //Nothing. All very quiet. Too quiet. Like the upper dome, it is so … dead.// He hated using that word but it so adequately fitted the silence. Easing the door closed once again he pressed his back to the wall and turned to his companions. It was time to discuss their next course of action. Carter arched an eyebrow and waited in silence, eyes roving continually over the room, unwilling to just presume that they were indeed alone. Polnar leaned casually against the wall and watched him though his gaze also constantly flicked over the pump station and maze of pipes. Both seemed willing enough to continue to take instruction from him and he in turn was content with that. So far they had been lucky and he did not want to push their luck needlessly. That sense of foreboding was still bothering him. “We check the locks on the rooms we pass. Don't go into the rooms, jut check to see if any security protocols are activated. I can't believe that there are none in effect. Emergency procedures are pretty standard but there is no one here and that door should have been locked.” “Where to?” Carter queried. “Shuttle bay, as per the rendezvous. All care to be taken on the way, take nothing for granted and in regard to Sleepers …” he hesitated. How did you tell a Sleeper from a friend? “If the situation warrants, shoot first and ask questions later. Try to damage, not kill but if your life is on the line, you kill without hesitation.” Both acknowledged the sense and dangers inherent in that statement with solemn nods and grim silence. In such a situation as they found themselves it was simply the way it had to be given the circumstances. Assured that everyone understood the actions that needed to be taken he turned back to the door and eased it open, freezing at the thud of footsteps. His mind automatically processed the sound and came up with heavy soled magnetic boots. Space combat boots used in zero or light gravity situations. He was quick to ease the door closed again, thankful that he had not opened it more than a few millimetres before he had caught the sound. Perhaps they had not noticed? “Can you lock that?” Polnar was quick to respond to his alarmed hiss, entering a code on the keypad and they watched as the underside of the panel glowed the red acknowledgement for the lockdown before blanking to waiting mode. //Combat boots. I … It had to be. They are so bloody distinctive. Zero g combat boots. Fucking Blue Squad. It has to be. // Would whoever it was walking around out there try to enter the room? Would they notice the brief flash of red that betrayed the keypad being in use? Would they … could they … he was so fed up with expecting to be flushed. //I have had it with being the prey. Constantly watching over my shoulder, feeling the itch between my shoulder blades that suggests a bullet has my name on it. I'm fed up with this. It's time that we became the hunters, not the hunted. I wonder who it is out there? Friend or enemy? Fucking enemy for sure. No one on Mars has combat boots designed for low grav situations. // Yes, there were magnetic soled boots used on Mars but combat boots had a very distinctive sound to them that he recognized only too well. He had worn the heavy foot wear himself often enough and no one on Mars had cause to have them other than Blue Squad. Or possibly the Sleepers. He scrubbed at the growing beard with rising irritation. Yes, he supposed it was possible that someone might have squirreled a pair away as a memento from their former military career but he could not take the chance. He could hear nothing through the metal of the door which subtly vibrated with the throbbing of the pumps. To a count of thirty he waited, expecting the key pad to flash red and then green and have that door open but nothing happened. Another count of thirty and he nodded at Polnar and flicked a finger at the keypad. He could not blame the man for hesitating and it was only for perhaps five seconds before he reached for the keypad and entered the code to unlock the door. //If that maintenance code works down here then my security code should as well. I can't see a maintenance code being accepted if the ESUN agents have control of the base computers. Preventer codes should work just fine so if we have to split up we should be able to access most sections of the base between us.// The door lock clicked announcing the release of the locks and he counted yet again to thirty. During that time the door did not fly open and they did not get sprayed with weapons fire and all remained quiet. //Dumb fucking luck.// Taking a deep breath he eased the door open a fraction, counting to ten and straining to hear any sound. The sound of fading footsteps came to him and he held his breath but the footsteps continued on at a measured pace. He eased the door open enough to offer himself a limited view of the hallway and seeing nothing he opened the door sufficiently to slip his head through and glance quickly about. //Shit!// He was quick to duck back into the room and ease the door closed though he signalled to Polnar not to initiate the lock down. It took him a couple of deep breaths to calm down and regain control of himself. He had been so close to putting them into deep shit. Just short from the curve in the hallway that led deeper into the base strode two men, each clad in the distinctive combat fatigues worn by the ESUN Security Agency. While he could not be certain from the glimpse he had had he was fairly certain that the tallest of the two was the Blue Squad Commander himself. //Give them a few seconds to get around the corner and be on their way. Can we take them down now? Do I dare to try taking them out? No, I can not give us any certainty of taking them out. There is too much open ground between us and them and if they are as good as their reputation suggests we would be down before we covered half the distance. The slightest sound would alert them to us before we could get close enough to deal with both effectively.// Carter stirred, watching him and glancing toward the door curiously. He motioned to them both to wait and carefully eased the door open once more, slipping his head through the gap and taking the time to survey the hallway. He nodded slightly and considered the empty hall for a long moment contemplating where the agents might be headed. For the moment they were safe but the encounter at least answered where two members of Blue Squad currently were located. Eight of them had entered the Base Dome originally and two were now headed for the interior airlock and that left six unaccounted for. Decision time. “Right. Small change of plans. We have two members of the ESUN Security Agency ahead of us by less than a minute. I seriously suggest that we do not tangle with them at this time unless we have no other options. Our priority should be to locate Merquise and whoever he may have working with him before we go after anyone else. I want to know exactly how many people I can count on before tangling with the Security Agents and he may have some ideas of the numbers we may have to contend with. There were eight Security Agents but the Sleepers are an unknown number.” Carter nodded agreement of his assessment and Polnar merely waited, watching him with a gravity that worried him. The Leo pilot, while he had proven repeatedly that he could be counted on, still struck a note of wary caution in Barker. There was just something that seemed somehow 'off' about the man, but if he was a Sleeper Agent he had had plenty of opportunity to take them down. //I'm not sure what to make of that one but he seems to have forgotten nothing of his military training. I don't know … I don't think he's allied with the ESUN agents on the base. If he was he would have taken advantage of some of the opportunities that have presented themselves before this. No, he's not ESUN but I do think that he is following his own interests here. Who do you work for, Polnar? A Mining Consortium? Some private concern, I think. Patrice? Winner? Maybe. Maybe. I'll be watching you.// “We work our way through the base and to the shuttle bay as arranged but we do so with care. As we go I want you to check the security seals on the doors. We will try to avoid any noise or any action that might bring those agents or others who may be wandering around the base down on our necks. As we go through the door to the right leads to the freight elevators and up to the enviro dome. There could be other agents at the elevators so we need to be silent as we leave. We want to go deeper into the base and we will need to see what the emergency airlock status is before we can enter the sub base proper. If the emergency protocols have not been lifted then the emergency airlock must be used to enter or leave the sub base proper. Those ESUN Agents were wearing fatigues, not enviro suits, so I doubt that we will need to worry about contaminated air in the locks.” “The sub base airlocks are on a different control system to the enviro domes systems. The air supply, computer controls and relays are all independent from the enviro dome.” Polnar offered. “Which means that they are less likely to be tampered with. We still can not afford to take that for granted, not with these bastards.” Barker grunted. “We give them another minute to make certain that they have cleared the airlock. I am hoping that the airlock is required use at this time as that will confirm the alert status the base is on. If it is not in use, that worries me.” Any breach of the enviro dome or even the contaminated air now poisoning the upper base endangered the sub base. If the sub base was compromised either by an explosion or even a malfunction in the seals of the freight elevator between the two independent environments could compromise the sealed security of the sub base and everyone down here could die. Barker leaned back against the door and sighed. It was not proving to be the best of days. He gave them the safety of the sixty second count before turning again to the door and peering into the hallway and signalling the all clear. Taking a steadying breath he led the way, Carter on his heels and followed by Polnar who peered up the hallway toward the airlocks and safety seals that led to the freight elevator. These hallways were wide and high to permit the free movement of the heaviest and oversized equipment the base was required to use. They also had a tendency to echo sound and each man was careful to go that little bit slower to place their feet a little more lightly than was their usual want. They had no guarantee that they were alone in this section and they needed no overt noise to draw attention. It was a matter of a minute or so at most to make their way around the corner and front the sealed doors of the airlock. Barker felt an immense sense of relief to see these massive doors closed and the in cycle light in operation. The confirmed use of the airlocks was added security for the base against a breach by either an above surface explosion or air contamination from the upper base. The in cycle indicator meant that the ESUN personal were using the lock at this time which boded well for it not having been interfered with, unlike those in the upper base. His eyes shifted again to the cycle indicator and he scowled. They were going to have to wait for another couple of minutes before they could consider it safe to use the lock. It appeared that the people they were so meticulously trying to avoid were in no great hurry about moving deeper into the base. The cycle was near half complete and it would not take too much time now before they would be on their way. He would need to wait for two, perhaps three minutes after the cycle was completed to ensure that they were well gone and then they could enter the cycle with little fear of discovery. It appeared that they had been most fortunate not to have walked into the men before they had entered the airlocks and had avoided a confrontation purely on good luck. //Chatty bastards must have stood here for a while before entering the lock.// “That was lucky.” Carter breathed. Barker grunted and glanced behind him at the hallway, concerned that the freight elevators were back there and they did not know if there were others working or waiting there. He noted absently that Polnar was staring at the airlock as though he expected a monster to leap from its depths and eat them alive. Barker himself felt his heart flutter a little every time he looked at the doors and he exchanged a grin with Carter. They had been graced with a good bit of luck by missing those agents and it was a very unpleasant moment to see those great doors slide open before him and find himself staring into startled eyes. “Barker!” t.b.c.
|
