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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"
Mars Colony Base Dome 2nd March AC 198 Time: 01:55 [approx Sanc time 23:45] Giles "It may take some interesting grafting of the English language to formulate words that best describe what I saw … What I see. To give an accurate accounting of what the Epyon system could do, of what it could draw out of me would require … I have a reasonable education but I don’t have the right terms to describe the experience. Describing Epyon would be hard enough but even more interesting bastardizations of the language would be needed to describe the projected outcomes I wanted to avoid at all costs." The Generation Wars. The words went unsaid but were understood by both men. Giles grunted softly, an acknowledgement of the difficulties adequate description of the machine and the visions it incited would entail. He settled back in his chair, his attention focused on the door and for the moment permitted silence to fall over them. He had forced Zechs through a gamut of emotions and the man needed to rest. It was enough for the moment that the subject of the Training Masters had been broached with the added bonus that Zechs had started talking about his abilities without much in the way of reservation. It was progress that he had not shut out the questions and even volunteered information. The silence that fell over them was a comfortable one in which each considered the revelations made and the emotional mine field crossed with giving voice to those memories of a time that had shaken reality. This man seated beside him knew far more about the truths of the One Year War than all but a handful of people now alive. He was one of a very select few who had been intimately knowledgeable of the workings of the mind and motives of Treize Kushrenada. That very personal knowledge of the man himself who had died the acknowledged World Sovereign would need deeper examination in the fullness of time but that would need to wait. Giles was familiar with the common view of the war, the view of the little man who had watched all of the posturing and scheming with innocent ignorance from the sidelines. He was one of the common ordinary every day people who had watched with little understanding of the motives, means and political designs entailed in the war. He had not had even an indirect part to play in the Libra incident as by the time that battle had taken place he was out of the military and in a veterans hospital recovering from severe injuries and determined to show the doctors that they knew nothing. //In the overall scheme of things I suppose what we have done today is not much progress but it’s a milestone regardless. A start has been made and that’s one of the hard parts. He’s set his feet on the path to understanding and accepting what it is that he can do rather than run from it. Asking the right questions and looking for the answers is one of the hardest steps for the Gifted to make. That and acknowledging that they may not be mad. It’s gotten him thinking about what he can do other than wallowing in denial and most importantly its started him considering the benefits of actually talking to someone who won’t consider him a fruitcake. Everything I have said to him is true. He needs to talk. That’s a shit load of baggage to carry around for anyone and he has to unload some of it before its too late. If he doesn’t start sharing soon … I’m surprised he’s not already a raving loony.// Not that many people did not already consider Milliardo Peacecraft to be that raving loony. He himself had not suspected the depths that lurked within the man who was feared from one end of the ESUN to the other. Even supposedly dead his name was whispered when spoken at all, the fear he had generated in the masses had thus far ensured the peace endured but how long could fear of a dead man endure? It was stupid. Were there so few people who actually knew the man and not the legend? There was a great deal more to this man that was hidden beneath the surface he projected. While he had been resident on Mars he had been unfailingly polite, quiet and he had never overstepped the boundaries of his confinement … Well, Giles amended, he had never been caught overstepping those boundaries. It was patently obvious now that Zechs had well and truly wandered astray from those designated areas assigned to him. Zechs had an extensive knowledge of the systems of the terra forming base and its buildings and he seemed to have possession of every security code used in the colony. //I doubt that visions alone could provide him with the information he knows but as to how he acquired some of it … Maybe I’m better off not knowing.// His eyes flicked up to the clock set on the wall and he growled softly in frustration. The second hand seemed to take forever to flick its course over those numbers and the minute hand seemed never to move. It was always the way when there were events of importance to be waited on. Creeping time. Any minute now that door would slam open and they would find themselves facing the drawn weapons of Blue Squad. Would they come in firing? Certainly not if they suspected that Zechs was in the room but it was pointedly obvious that they had no idea he was here. If they knew they certainly would not have left them this long to wait. They, Blue Squad and its controllers, wanted Milliardo Peacecraft alive, for what purpose he could not know but that did not matter. What was of importance to him was the assignment to protect the man but that assignment was more than just a job. He had come to know and like the man and for that reason more than Raydon’s instructions he was sitting here now, waiting for the door to open. When it opened they could be in serious trouble. If Blue Squad had had enough of the situation and decided to come in guns blazing they were dead men. The bed was placed directly opposite the door and anyone coming into the room firing would be certain to take out the blonde and himself in a hail of bullets. There would be no time to so much as duck, let alone throw themselves out of harm’s way. No, if the squad came in shooting they were dead men. Yet the plan called for them to be right where they were, sitting ducks in a carnival gallery, waiting. Did Zechs have a vision of it being safe to wait as they were though he claimed not to know the outcome of this situation? He suspected not. The man was capable of running blind and had a good feel for the situation and Giles suspected he trusted Simpson to keep his head. "I hate waiting. It seems like hours since they appeared and still they have not come in here." He resisted the urge to tap his fingers in an impatient pattern against the bed. The tension was rising and becoming unbearable which only caused him to have to resist the urge to reach out and pull out a length of that blonde mane in frustration. Zechs appeared to be more than content to sit there and admire the perfectly boring scenery. //By now he must know every rivet in the steel walls intimately. God, I can just imagine the squalling hissing cat I’d face if I dared reach out and yank on that blonde mass. // "Be thankful for it, Giles." // Well, shit. Why did he have to say that? I knew he was going to say something like that. Don’t even know why I spoke truth be told. It’s the tension getting to me. He’s got far more patience than I have.// He closed his sight against the door and indulged in some measured, calming breaths. //I know the longer they delay and find something to do out there the better it is for us but I was never one to take waiting for action well. My lack of patience is probably why I am where I am now.// He considered that thought for a moment and smothered the smirk. He dared not let Zechs see that expression or he might demand an explanation. One he did not wish to give. // Guess I have more patience than I think. Certainly Raydon trusted me enough to assign me this task on Mars and never took the job away from me and reassigned me when he learned that Zechs was here. He must have thought I was capable of handling any situation that might crop up and the man himself. I’m still surprised about that. All he did was modifying my instructions to include bodyguarding one Zechs Merquise from the side lines and sent me back up. Did his Gift show him this situation? No, surely not, which is strange. He’d never have stood still and permitted so many to die needlessly when he could take action. That’s just the way he is. He backs the little man. If he didn’t Station One would never have existed. // Such speculation was getting him nowhere. He sighed and reached to lift the kidney dish set to one side of the bandaged hand, picking up one of the twisted pieces of metal and wincing as it knocked against the sides of the dish with a soft tinny sound. "Are you sure about this?" Merquise smirked and met his eyes the blonde head shifting a little in a negative motion. "No." "Damn. I wish for once you would lie." There was no denying the evil glimmer in ice blue eyes that warned of a wicked sense of humor normally well hidden. Merquise was one who generally played his cards close to his chest and kept his emotions to himself. Understandable too though it was damnably frustrating. //Why does he have to sound so bloody cheerful about it? He looks almost smug and it’s just warped to be amused by this idiocy. Still, when you see the things he has hinted at I suppose you have to find the odd little amusements in life. I just hope he’s not thinking if Simpson takes him down today then he doesn’t have to face what is to come with the Trainers … All those reminders of the past … Or … Damn. Not very charitable, Giles. Despite everything I don’t think he’s suicidal. It’s just not in his nature.// "Why lie? Or bend the truth? We both know how much shit we are in." Zechs shifted, trying to pull himself up a little higher in the bed and pain flashed briefly in those arctic blue eyes. //Damn and bloody hell. Neither of us are in any condition for this. My ribs are killing me and he should be flat on his back and sleeping. I know the Doc said his shoulder’s not broken but … That was one nasty bloody bruise. His entire shoulder is black and you can’t mistake the boot mark. As for what he wants to do … with that hand … I know it’s the perfect camouflage but …// His eyes flicked down to the assortment of items spread on the bed near the kidney dish. He would need to take appropriate measures and by rights he should already have acted. Zechs seemed not to be in a great hurry though. Or was he more suicidal than he supposed to delay now when that door could slam open and the confrontation would be on them. There was a quick masking of the discomfort in his eyes but it had been seen and Giles was reminded that he was going to be causing more pain in their preparations and that that was why they had delayed as long as they had. To give Zechs some small relief before they changed the bandage on his hand. "Are you alright?" He could at least try to make the man more comfortable. He rose and helped settle Zechs a little higher in the bed plumping the pillows and angling them hoping to make him a little more comfortable but knowing that there was little they could do just now. Any sound coming from this room could bring Blue Squad down on their necks. //Okay, maybe he is thinking about avoiding the inevitable … but I honestly don’t think he would just up and surrender himself, even if I have frightened shit out of him telling him about the Trainers. He seemed genuinely interested and he’s made of stern stuff. I doubt he’d take fright from the idea of talking to people. Besides, he has those two kids to think about and there is Noin. Yes. Noin. If she’s out for good, dead or reduced to a vegetable by the crisis incident then he’s all those kids have left. Smart enough to know it too.// "Fine considering. I just what this finished and Noin moved into the hospital." He noted the tightness around the man’s lips at the mention of Noin and Giles winced, wondering if perhaps Zechs might not be something of a telepath. It was most likely to be coincidence of course but with the Gifted you could never quite know for certain. He would not discount the possibility of some telepathic ability lurking amid that extraordinary clairvoyant talent. Until they had Zechs on Station One and tested, his abilities defined and tagged they would not know exactly what his capabilities were. "They can’t have your kids. They would not be here now if they did have the babies." If he was thinking Noin then it was a pretty safe bet the twins were featuring in his thoughts as well. Time was both blessing and curse in their present situation and he wished it was all over, one way or the other, but he knew better than to wish for a swift resolution. Every minute, every seconds delay was in their favor. //I can’t give him much but I think that is fairly safe to offer that much comfort. If he’ll accept it from me. I honestly don’t think they could have found the twins. If they did have them surely Simpson would be using them to get Zechs to walk docilely into their arms.// "I know." Giles sighed softly and leaned back from Zechs settling into his seat and his gaze found its way back to the clock and the agonizingly slow passage of the second hand. The clock literally was ticking. It would all come to a head when that door opened and he would be wishing they had more time. //It’s a relative thing, time. Never enough of it or way too much of it, depending on circumstances. Stupid trivial bloody thoughts. I’d better get to and begin the bandaging. We can’t have much time left.// He honestly could not see the surgeon being able to manage getting Blue Squad out of the medical center. He was honestly surprised that the man had even attempted as much as he had. Admittedly he was ex military and no shrinking violet but still, taking on Simpson was taking his life into his hands. He could not believe that anyone would play games with that man willingly. "Wind?" Conscious thought froze and his hand went automatically to the weapon concealed under the pillow and he blinked, staring with widened eyes. //Shit!// He was sitting beside the man and he had not registered the move but suddenly his wrist was encircled by Zechs’ hard grip. His fingertips were resting on the butt of the gun but that strong grip steadied him and restrained him from pulling the gun. He froze, looking to the blonde but the ice blue eyes were trained up over his shoulder … no, higher than that. Over his head. "No. Friend." Zechs hissed, the softest of sounds and those blue eyes flicked to meet his for barely a second before returning to the ceiling. When he spoke his voice was raised but still low enough not to be heard from beyond the door. "Eagle?" From the ventilation shaft there came the sound of a body shifting. A faint scrape of metal on metal. Giles did not recognize the voice but thought it might be the voice from the radio. The acoustics here were far different from the radio in the shuttle. "Yeah. Just thought I’d come and pass the time of day with you. Status?" The voice was low, barely audible so the man was obviously aware of their situation. "It’s Barker." Zechs breathed. He panted softly, trying to release the tension. He had not realized he had stood up and now lowered his frame back into his seat. It took a conscious effort for his fingers to release the cold metal of the weapon and only then, when his hand had relaxed it grip on the gun did Zechs release his wrist. He clenched his fingers for a moment, calming his nerves and met the blue eyes, exchanging brief nods and slid the gun back under the pillow and out of sight. In control of himself he half turned in the chair, looking up and over his head. He could just make out a part of a face pressed to the ventilation grill and he shuddered. //Thank God Simpson has not thought of using the vents. If he got in there we would not have known he was coming and it would all be over. Damn. I must be slipping. I’m tired and making stupid mistakes.// It was small comfort that Zechs had seemed just as surprised as he. Why had they not considered the possibility of someone coming at them from that quarter? They had crawled through vents not so long ago themselves and found it a most effective means of movement. They were both tired. They needed to end this before exhaustion made the outcome of the situation inevitable. "One body injured but active, one incapacitated. We have a plan though with your presence now it might not be needed. Report." //I can only hope it won’t be necessary to place him at such risk. The first glimpse of Zechs and Simpson will be all over him like a rash. I know there’s not much I am going to be able to do to stop him.// "Well, we’re here, that about says it all. Had a little chat to a Doc a few minutes ago. He informed us of what has been happening in the interim. He said you were out of the equation. Unconscious and physically impaired. Not likely to be of any assistance in this business." The man grunted, more a snort of disgust than anything and Giles caught the glint of amusement in blue eyes. Incapacitated? They did not know the man at all. //More bloody dangerous now than if he was fresh. The body might have problems but there is nothing wrong with the mind.// "From what was said they know about the killers running loose and that Simpson and his cronies are not to be trusted. I’m not so sure they understand just how dangerous Blue Squad are but at least they are wary of them." There was once again a shifting in the vent as though the man sought to improve his view and thinking about it Giles supposed he would have a restricted view of the ward. "You would be Haydon Giles?" //How the hell does he know me? Unless …// Sudden hope was a warming beacon of flame in the chill. //Chris? Son of a bitch. You managed to wrangled your way into the action? Ah, God I hope so. If you are on the team … // "Yes. How did you know?" "Chris Polnar says hello. He’s working with me just now and keeping an eye on things down the hall. Wind, I’ve two men to back me up. Didn’t dare bring more given the uncertainty of the situation. Polnar and Carter are in the first of the wards on this side of the hallway. Where do we go from here?" //Ah. Well, if they are in there they know what has been happening in the medical center and would understand why the medical staff are not such trusting souls. Probably know I had a chat to the surgeon too. This is good. We may be able to work out an alternative plan. I’d be delighted not to have to face Blue Squad at best or face them with additional experienced fighters at worst.// Beside him Zechs stirred, an unconscious effort on his part to ease the ache in his shoulder. Craning his head to look up at the ventilation shaft was placing unwelcome strain on the injured muscles of his shoulder and arm. Giles scowled, glanced at the door and hoped that the situation would remain stable until they could work something out. "We need to take out Simpson and Frazier with as little fuss as possible but there are Sleeper agents still roaming the base and there may have been more than one active in the medical center. For the moment it would be best to allow Simpson to do the hunting. At least until we are ready for him. Regarding the Sleepers I would say from the evidence that the psyche conditioning has broken down. It may have been a triggered response though I am more inclined to think it a result of long term exposure to the isolation of Mars and no access to remedial attention of the blocks. Regardless of the cause what it amounts to is that at this time they are the larger threat and those agents still active need to be taken down." "Very sick puppies from what I’ve seen." Barker grunted. "Do you have any idea how many there are?" //Sick puppies? I wish it was as easy as dealing with sick puppies. These are rabid dogs.// "No, but their coordinator was Shanna McIntyre and she should have files somewhere that will tell us who they are. It is possible that not all of them have been activated, so we need to locate those records. We can’t search for the files until after we have dealt with Simpson, unfortunate but necessary. Do you have any idea where he is at the moment?" //They can hunt for the records, you can get some much needed rest and I’ll keep my butt right here on this chair. I’m not having you running around as a possible target for any of those bastards who might escape attention. I need to talk to Chris. We need to work out a roster for guarding you and we need to get you out of here until help arrives.// "Not exactly, no. He went down the hallway, deeper into the medical center with the surgeon to see about a couple of men they had located. I believe they found them in a storeroom or something. Possibly Blue Squad members. Simpson seemed very eager to see them." Zechs looked positively feral. Giles watched him with widened eyes, noting the glint in his eye and the expression that was somewhere between concern and relief on the heels of that feral satisfaction. "I can imagine how eager he was. I left them drugged in a maintenance cupboard. Were they alive or had they been butchered too?" //Eh? He’s not told me a great deal of what he was up to before we met up in the dome. I wonder who else he’s taken down and not as yet mentioned? Time enough later to ask questions.// "No idea. I think Broadham was relieved to have an excuse to get Simpson away from here. Probably hoping that we would figure out a way to take control of the situation before Simpson turns on the staff." //You don’t look too happy. Still I suppose you would want to know if the Sleepers had gotten to them. Nasty mess that would be and not your fault, but I’ve learned enough about you to know you would take the blame for their deaths.// "I have two with me, myself makes three, all able bodied. Giles makes four … What about Noin? Do you know where she is and if there is any chance of contacting her and garnering her help to take them down? She’s more than capable in a fight." "Noin is out of the equation." Giles had to admire the man. In that quiet comment there was not a hint of his personal worry nor did those blue eyes so much as flicker. He seemed to be all business, quiet, determined and to the point. Zechs had turned coldly professional and while Giles was relieved to see that shift he found himself wanting to see the more human side to the man reflected in his gaze. He only hoped the visions would not return when they needed Zechs cool and controlled and focused on the action to hand. "She’s somewhere we can’t get to her quickly?" "No. Hurt." //Don’t you shut everything out except the need to kick Simpson’s ass. I need to be able to read you and closing yourself off to human emotion is not going to allow me to see trouble before it hits. There is so much potential for disaster if you flip on us and only I am going to see it coming. Chris doesn’t know you are one of the Gifted and he’s not going to be aware of what he should be looking out for.// "Shit. Okay, we will have to manage with what we have. Simpson could be back at any time. I can’t see him wasting more time than necessary, especially if his men are down for good." //Jesus, Barker, if you could see the look in his eye you would not mention that possibility. Don’t you dare lose control, Merquise. It’s the emotions that will keep you grounded but you can’t let yourself wallow in the wrong emotions now. Think of Noin and think of your kids. Think hope for the future.// Zechs shuddered, a light tremble that seemed to release some of the tension and the hard icy glint in his eyes eased. Giles was uncertain if he should be relieved or not but the man seemed lost in thought and then that blonde head shook in a decisive negative. "We need to take out Simpson’s crony first. If his commander is still absent he should be easier to handle, especially if you have assistance in getting to him. He’ll be dangerous but easier to handle without Simpson stepping into the fight. Quick and quiet would be the best if at all possible. Do you have access to the hallway or are you restricted to the vents?" It was hard to make out the expression on the man’s face as the tight mesh of the grill hid too much detail for Giles to have a chance of reading his thoughts by observing facial expression. He did hear Barker shift in the vent above them, settling his weight more comfortably or perhaps it was something else, an expression of uneasiness at the situation or doubt in his ability to accurately judge just how much free movement they were capable of. //Not an easy situation to judge. Zechs has only the information Barker can give him to work from … and whatever visions might fit this scenario. I know that he has said he did not see this situation but its possible he might have seen snatches of this or a similar situation that might be of use.// "My face is known to all of the members of Blue Squad. I was present in the Alpha Dome when they arrived, so there is no doubt they would know me at a glance. I have Polnar and Carter to back me up though. They have not aroused any suspicion from Blue Squad so I doubt their faces are known." //No, Chris would not be known to the Security Force. Raydon is very careful to keep his agents low key.// "They both can use the hallway to get closer to Frazier. We came in with the Emergency Response Team and they were assigned by Simpson no less to clean up the aftermath of the Sleepers butchery. Using disposal of the bloody bedding as a cover they should be free to move around without arousing suspicion. That should get them close enough to Frazier to act but I am restricted to the vents for now." The man seemed to drag himself forward a little and pressed his cheek against the grill, one eye pressed to the small grids of metal. Giles could almost feel the weight of that gaze fall upon him though he was sure he was not in plain sight of the Preventer. "Well, that is unless the security firm you two work for are active in areas that would possibly necessitate Blue Squad being briefed on Polnar’s face? I think he’s been seen but I can’t be certain that he has been marked yet. If he had been recognized I’m certain we would have had Simpson breathing down our necks before now." Giles blinked. //Security firm? What the f … Ah. I guess Chris has been using that silver tongue of his to keep his butt out of trouble. Okay, Barker must have twigged that Chris is not what his records say he is. I know the cover story well enough to keep us out of deep shit. Zechs knows the truth but I’m not sure he would want Barker knowing who we really are.// He was relieved that Barker had given him a clue as to the cover story Chris was using to explain their skills and their presence on Mars. He had no doubt that Barker would be extremely unhappy to learn they were in truth Raider operatives. He felt the attention of the man in the bed shift to him and met the curious gaze. Zechs offered no comment, leaving him to answer Barker and provide confirmation of the deception. "I don’t know of any instance between the company we work for and the ESUN Security Agency that might necessitate either of our faces being noted. To be honest we have not been active within the hub of the ESUN to date and neither of us have been on assignment to Mars all that long. I doubt there will be a problem." Barker grunted. "Good. He and Carter should not have a problem getting past the man or into a position where they can act against him." Giles scowled, considering the reputation of the unit. They were almost legendary for their suspicious nature and success rate, as well as their seeming disregard for the niceties of life, like a conscience. Their past record suggested a ‘shoot first and ask questions later’ mentality. Zechs was scowling and he could almost see the thoughts shifting in that pale head. Still, Barker could not be a fool if he was assigned to Mars and to watch Merquise. No one would assign an idiot to that duty. //This is Blue Squad we are talking about and I’d not trust one of those bastards as far as I could kick him. They have a very nasty reputation for having eyes in the back of their heads.// "We need to take the man out but I am loath to take any unnecessary risks." Zechs commented. Barker stirred, shifting around within the vent and making sufficient noise that he drew their attention before he spoke. ‘Wait a minute. I think Carter is trying to get my attention. I can’t … quite … see … Damn. Not enough fucking room to … I think there’s a flame waving in the vent and that means something is happening. Give me a couple of minutes to back up and I’ll see what’s going on." Giles grunted softly, turning worried eyes to Zechs as the shadow of the man vanished from the grill. Zechs was scowling at the vent and then those intense blue eyes were focused on the door. "Damn." Giles murmured. "Soon, huh?" "I’d says so. Very soon now." ~ * ~
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