|
"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: 01:58 [approx Sanc time 23:48] Barker //What I would not give to be able to see where I’m going. Damn, I wish there was somewhere I could turn around.// He backed carefully, trying to feel his way in the vent with feet encased within the soft soled shoes he’d worn within the protection of the enviro suit. On entering the Hydroponic Dome and shucking the suit there had been neither the time nor the opportunity to change into the heavy safety boots commonly worn within the colony, not that any of them were carrying the heavier boots. For that constraint of time and practicality he was thankful as should the opportunity have arisen to change to the heavier footwear it would have been impossible to feel his way through the vent with his feet in anything resembling silence. If only he could actually feel through the rubber soles it would have made life much easier and to think that he had thought it annoyingly difficult to move silently when moving in a forward direction. Had there been twists and turns in the ventilation ducts he would probably have had less trouble as he seemed incapable of holding a direct course and his booted feet continually scraped along the walls despite his best efforts to hold a central position in the vents and back up in a straight line. His knees were sure to give out before this day was through. At least he had found Merquise reasonably unscathed and aware of his surroundings. He seemed to be well enough content with the attention he was receiving from this Haydon Giles too. Whatever the injuries he carried at least they did not require the constant attendance of a doctor and they had not seemed to hamper his ability to evaluate a situation. //It could be worse, of course. The worst case scenario would have been that Simpson might have put in an appearance during my crawl and entered the room to find Merquise helpless. Of course, it would have been equally as bad to find that the Doc was right and Merquise was both physically damaged and unconscious.// He would have liked to have had the opportunity to actually look around in the examination room. His view had been more than restricted by the grillwork and he had not dared to suggest they remove the vent to allow him access. To attempt accessing the room physically to check out the layout would have been asking for trouble, he decided. The slightest noise could have brought trouble down on their heads but it would have given him the opportunity to see just how bad Wind was. //At least Merquise is conscious. I admit I was afraid he would be out of action totally, injured and unconscious as the Doc had said. He seems aware enough of the situation to be of use. It’s telling though that he made no attempt to move from the bed … not even to the foot of the bed where we could have spoken face to face. I overheard enough to suggest the man is carrying potentially serious injuries. I wish the Doc had been a bit more specific. Damn, this bloody hurts!// Cautiously he lowered himself to the floor of the vent and angled his body, craning his neck to permit himself some sort of view, if restricted, of the area behind him. He should be somewhere near the grill of the room between the treatment room and the ward where Carter and Polnar waited for him. The light seemed a little brighter and he determined to try to keep his feet to the sides of the vent so as not to kick the vent grate accessing the room where Kurtz and his team were working. Knowing his luck lately he would be likely to put his weight on the grill and make a grand if rather painful entrance into the ward. It was not unreasonable to assume that Frazier might have moved into that room and his own team were trying to warn him that the man had moved position. The possibilities for disaster seemed endless. //This kind of situation really gets on my nerves. You don’t know who is a friend and who is the enemy half the time and this scenario is really beginning to hurt. I’m getting too old for this shit.// He heaved himself to his knees once more. //Just get on with it, Barker. You can baby your body later, after its all over.// Who were friends and who were foes? An interesting question, he mused. It was ironic that agents for the ESUN were considered foes. Blue Squad was bad enough but the Sleeper Agents were overkill. He winced. //Overkill? Poor choice of words, Barker old son. Very poor choice.// Cold blooded murder. That was the plain truth of the matter. These people had had their minds so modified that they were hardly human when triggered to act in the interests of their employer. He had to wonder at the brand of peace they enjoyed if those in charge controlled psychotic killers in the name of said peace. //Are we any better off now than we were before? Fucked if I know anymore.// There were so many factions involved in the scenario. Preventers were up to their ears in the situation, of course, himself and the few agents assigned to Mars and he supposed he needed to count Merquise in their number. There were so few he could rely on. He had been instructed to take his lead from Merquise should the situation arise that they now found themselves in and he wondered that other precautions had not been taken. If Une had suspected that this type of encounter would take place why had she not taken steps to stop it? Blue Squad, of course, were under orders from the ESUN Security Agency to plant their dirty great big feet in the middle of his patch of dusty red ground and interfere with the delightful monotony that had become his every day life. Conditions were hard enough on Mars without their oversized military boots stirring up the dust. Then there was the Sleeper Agents. Now that was something that did disturb him. These psychopaths were not common agents. It took a lot of time and money to produce a psyche conditioned agent. They were supposed to be the best but they were also expensive to create and to maintain the conditioning that permitted them to be buried so deeply within a close knit community and avoid arousing suspicion. Who had the financing and the necessary influence to create not one or two but possibly upwards of a dozen such agents? Someone with a great deal of influence and access to shadowy dealings had been at work here. There were also the private agents running around loose on Mars to be considered. Those persons employed primarily by big business concerns seeking the inside information on the potential of the colony for exploitation of its natural resources. Big business was just another side to politics. The two were wrapped firmly around each other in an oft times unholy alliance. Polnar and his mate, Giles, were just such examples of the manipulating digits of the business communities. He could understand why those in charge of this mission to collect Merquise from Mars were not taking the chance of their participation in this matter being released to the general public. He could understand it but never sanction such methods. Back on Earth heads would role and backsides would be covered if even a whisper of the real events happening now on Mars were known. It was possible that the death count for this idiocy would not stop with the slaughter of the Mars Colony personnel. If he and those working with him now succeeded in saving the terra formers he had to wonder how were they going to cover the terra formers who survived from the retribution of those influential persons who wished to remain anonymous? //I don’t even want to consider how big a mess this is. First thing’s first, I suppose. We need to survive this killing ground to raise the alarm and … ah.// The change in the pattern of pressure against his knee warned him and he angled himself as carefully as possible to avoid placing his weight directly on the grill work for the ward now below him. While he doubted that Simpson had put in an appearance or that Frazier had shifted from his post he needed to exercise all caution. He needed to remain unobserved if he was to be effective and while he did not believe any of the Emergency Response Team were sleepers he could not afford to ignore the possibility they might unintentionally give his presence away to either Frazier or Simpson. He simply could not afford to take unnecessary risks. With greater care he edged his knees back and to the sides of the vent, feeling that he must be near to injuring himself permanently. His thighs burned with the effort to support his weight in the awkward position and he dared not make a revealing sound. Reversing blind was bad enough but having to do it silently with his knees spread wider than his shoulders width was surely impossible. Every move he made seemed loud from the rustle of his clothing as his muscles flexed to the scrape and slide of his knees over the floor. He was certain the entire base must hear the cacophony of sound but the light grew steadily brighter around him as he backed over the vent access and he could hear sounds of movement and low voices coming from below. That was his only saving grace. If they were talking then their voices might cover some of the noise he could not avoid making. The vent cover was there beneath his nose, his hands splayed to press against either side of the vent. The grill afforded him a view directly down, into the room which had, he realized, become conspicuously silent all of a sudden. He froze, his breath stilled and a sinking feeling filled his chest. He was afraid to breathe for fear it might confirm any noise they might have heard. Had his presence been noted? Perchance might they think him a Sleeper and if so would they draw Frazier’s attention to him rather than chance him killing again? He tried angling himself without moving his arms or legs from their awkward positions to gain a better view but no amount of wriggling was going to do more than get himself discovered at worst or give himself a sore neck at best … and his knees could not long take this pressure. "I don’t know what’s going on. Stay here and I’ll check out what all the fuss is … Shit." Kurtz’s low voice whispered clearly through the vent. "Simpson’s back. Not good." Simpson? Barker froze, hardly daring to breathe. Kurtz had been whispering to whoever was in the room with him so it was plain he was not eager to be overheard and that suggested the Blue Squad commander and possibly others were close to the ward. Had the surgeon failed to keep Simpson’s attention? Was Broadham out there with the commander and could he expect any help from the surgeon should he bust into either of the wards or the examination room? How much help could he expect from that quarter? Broadham might be ex military but not too many others amid the nursing staff could make that claim. Simpson and Frazier would go through them in no time. "Stay put. I’ll be back." Kurtz passed directly beneath the grill and Barker stared with widened eyes. All Kurtz needed to do was look up and he could not fail to see him … But why would he? The man’s attention should be focused on whatever it was that was happening out in the hallway and Barker suspected that whatever was happening had something to do with his own men’s attempt to attract his attention. He dared not shift position enough to check to see if that light still wavered in the distance. //I’ll wait a minute, I think. I would imagine Carter or Polnar would have been trying to catch my attention because they have realized Simpson is back and it is likely that our time just ran out. I’ll see what Kurtz has to say before I move. That may give me a few minutes more in which to make plans.// It all depended on what Simpson’s plans were, he knew. If the man just turned around and entered the treatment room he had no doubt that Merquise would be caught out helpless. There was no way he could be of help to the men in the room down the hall should Simpson take immediate action. His knees had other demands on his attention and after debating a moment he eased himself back a little, clearing the vent grill of the bulk of his body and settled carefully to lie full length, mindful of the metal buckle on his belt. He smothered the groan of relief to shift his weight from his knees and for a few seconds wallowed in the sheer pleasure of a prone position. Whoever was still in the room with Kurtz remained silent and chose to refrain from movement. He could not pinpoint a possible location or even estimate how many men there might be but from his previous crawl through he assumed there would be two men. More may have come during his absence or one may even have left the room but that was of no great concern now. What did concern him was how long it was taking Kurtz to return. It seemed forever though he was well aware it could not have been more than a minute or two before he again heard movement. "Right then. It appears that we have a change in our instructions. You have two minutes to finish up in this room before we need to move. Don’t worry about doing anything more in here, just try to clean up a bit. Simpson wants us to find two secured locations close together where we can assemble and keep the non combatants out of harm’s way while the sick bastards doing these killings are hunted down. Hurry it up. We can make use of the search to get further access into the medical center and get on with the job of accessing the computers. I’ll meet you outside in a couple of minutes." Having heard enough he used the sounds of movement from within the room to cover his retreat. With a low grunt of effort Barker heaved himself to his hands and knees once again and started the slow backward slide once more. At least it had been worth the delay to know what was happening beyond his sight. Now that he knew Simpson was back in the danger zone and Frazier had backup their period of grace was over. He also was assured that the emergency response team had not forgotten his instructions concerning computer access and they intended to carry them out. That was a mission he was beginning to suspect may be more urgent than they thought at the moment. He would have expected the vent to be rather cool with the flow of air but thus far there was little in the way of air flow and it was hardly the refreshing cool breeze he had assumed it would be. They needed to get men to those computers and logged into the life support functions of the sub base with all possible speed. //It would be wonderful to survive the Sleepers and Blue Squad only to go down to a base wide malfunction of the survival systems. No computer is ever hacker or virus safe no matter the expenses, time and effort put into the system. There is always someone who can beat it.// Dismissing the need to investigate the potential disaster a corrupted computer system could wreak he turned his attention to the laborious business at hand and raised the level of his shuffling crawl as much as he dared. He needed to check in with his team, receive any updates of information they had for him on the current situation and get back to Merquise hopefully before Simpson decided he was clear to act. //Who am I kidding? With the pace I am forced to crawl through these vents Simpson could be in and out of the treatment room before I get there. Still, I have little in the way of choice. I have to rely on Carter and Polnar to be my hands and eyes out there. One look at my ugly mug and Simpson will be all over us. Time is running out and I think it fairly safe to assume that Simpson is of a similar opinion. I doubt that much has gone the way that man anticipated today.// The Blue Squad Commander had probably expected a quick and painless mission and in truth it should have been straight forward. Where had it started to go wrong? One thing led to another and now murders were commonplace and no one knew who to trust. It should never have come down to this butchery. Something gripped his ankle and a hissed warning stopped him from reflexively kicking back in reaction. The strong fingers squeezed his ankle and Polnar’s voice was a low rumble and rough with his tension. "Simpson’s back from whatever he’s been doing and whatever it is he wants done has set a hornet’s nest buzzing amongst the medical staff. They are running around like chooks without heads and heading deeper into the center." He had thought it might be something like that. //There is only one reason for the medical staff to hurry that makes sense to me. They have found a survivor or survivors of the butchery who require attention.// He was both relieved and alarmed by the prospect. To know that there were those who had survived the charnel nightmare the medical center had become was a relief. It proved that the Sleepers were not infallible and gave him hope of people coming out of this nightmare alive. The down side of the situation was that with the medical staff required in theatre the medical center would once again be largely deserted in these areas. Simpson was going to get his opportunity to act without witnesses. It was unavoidable and bemoaning the turn of luck was of no assistance in dealing with the change in circumstances. He needed to adapt and react with quick efficiency and pray he made no mistakes. He really should not be surprised that Simpson had found a means by which to empty this section of the medical center, indeed he should be thankful the man had found a survivor requiring medical attention. He was fairly certain that if the Commander had not found a means by which to remove the medical staff then he would have simply gone through them. No, it was better this way. They might be able to keep the staff alive longer. There was, however a question he wanted answered. "Broadham? Is the surgeon back too?" Polnar’s grip on his boot shifted, a subtle movement that led him to believe the man was far from happy with the current situation. Not that that was a surprise. He, after all, was far from amused by the entire affair. "No. Just Simpson. He turned up a couple of minutes ago though the medical staff were moving before he arrived. We are too far away from the agents or the medical personnel to overhear their conversation. I can’t tell you what it is about." //Has he tired of the surgeon interfering with his plans and at some point taken the opportunity to take him down?// He shuddered at the thought. How many doctors did they have alive in the Base Dome? There were two surgeons and three or four doctors now resident in the Alpha Dome as it was projected that they would shift their focus from the Base Dome to the Alpha over the coming months. Eventually the Base Dome was slated to be dismantled and recycled into the construction of the Beta Dome but that was scheduled for a year or more in the future. They still had to attract a viable colony population and make a success of the Mars Colony. //It’s not so far fetched to think it probable that he might have taken the opportunity to remove an obstacle such as Broadham when it arose. Ex military, use to command situations and looked to by the staff with respect … Yes, it’s only too possible that he might have done the dirty deed. Or is it something else? He might still need Broadham. I know we don’t have many qualified surgeons on Mars and if his men are injured … Yes, maybe he has a use for Broadham still. I’m inclined to believe that they have located survivors. The wounds any survivors might have taken from the type of butchery I suspect has taken place here would require urgent and very skilled surgery.// Simpson would want the best medical attention for his own people that he could get. If the injured survivor or survivors happened to be ESUN personnel, particularly a Blue Squad member then Broadham’s backside was likely to be safe. For now. // The medical staff were moving before Simpson appeared so I am inclined to believe word was sent ahead somehow and they are preparing the theatre for some emergency work. Damn. To function properly I need more accurate information but there is no way of gaining that information without strolling out there and asking Simpson or one of the nursing staff the time of day. Given the information I have to work on my call would be that it is time to get these men out of this ward and into a position that can be useful. I don’t think we have much time to accomplish that either.// He shifted his weight to warn Polnar of his intentions and backed carefully feeling the man’s hand slide up his calf as he moved, first to his knee and press to guide his leg to the side of the vent, then to his thigh and rise to his hip as he backed over the grill access before falling away. He hung above the hole to find himself eyeball to eyeball with Polnar. "Carter’s watching by the door. We are safe enough for the moment." For the moment but that was not likely to be a substantial amount of time. Simpson could act at any second and he needed to take every advantage he could while the man delayed. He reviewed quickly the memorized report on the Blue Squad Commander and his past history. This was a man who was careful and not prone to hasty decisions. From the report Barker knew him to be an excellent poker player. He needed to take into consideration the man’s past record and he resisted the urge to grin. At this point in time that would be inappropriate. He could grin later if he guessed right. "We need to give the medical staff a couple of minutes to get out of the area. I believe that is what Simpson is waiting for. We have a little time to make plans. I found Merquise and your partner is with him." There was that flash in the man’s eyes. That momentary look that made him uneasy. It suggested secrets he was not privy to. "Merquise is awake and aware of what is happening but he and your partner have no means of getting out of the room without running into Simpson and his sidekick." "They can’t get into the vent? It’s just a matter of popping the vent cover." Polnar was looking over his shoulder in the general direction of the door and Carter but he ended the query looking at Barker with a frown cut deeply across his brow. "I’m not exactly certain what the nature of the problem is. If the grate and its connections are as add hock as this rooms was they may simply be afraid the noise might alert Frazier to something going on. I can’t see into the room properly but I would think it is more likely to be that Merquise is incapable of getting into the vent. For the moment at least they are stuck in the examination room and any action to be taken will be up to us. We are going to have to be the ones to take Simpson and Frazier out." Carter’s voice, barely audible responded to that comment and Barker decided he sounded distracted. "Oh, yay." The sound placed the man in the general vicinity of the door and the Preventer decided he was probably looking out into the hallway to keep an eye on the situation. "Instructions?" Carter’s voice was firmer as though he had stepped closer to the vent or had dared to believe that they were not likely to be overheard and disturbed by Simpson. Polnar looked around, away from the vent and Barker saw him nod before he turned back for instructions. "Daniel’s keeping the hallway under observation. No one is within hearing range of us as yet." No more time for consideration. No more time for thought and prayers and speculation. Now he had to make use of his training to access the information he had and make the best of what was a bad situation. "Allow as many people to get out of the immediate area as possible … medics, orderlies and the emergency response team as well. I doubt Simpson will make his move until the area is cleared of distractions. When things calm down and you can move without involving civilians in any confrontation we go with our previous plan. Use the mattress from the bed as your cover. Its big enough and unwieldy enough to warrant the two of you handling it. Use that to get past Frazier and try to keep it low key and innocent. You are the emergency response team obeying instruction after all." Polnar nodded his understanding of the instruction. "Frazier has been quiet enough. Hopefully with Simpson around he will not be inclined to be picky about the clean up." "I doubt that he will bother you. Should you happen to get the chance to talk to Kurtz without arousing suspicion then do so and find out what you can about what the hell is going on. Above all try to be the last ones to leave the area and if you do make it past Frazier dump the mattress as quickly as you can in an out of the way place and slip back a.s.a.p. I doubt Blue Squad will hang about in the hallway once Simpson makes up his mind what he’s doing. While its possible he may not be inclined to check the examination room I personally doubt he’s the type to leave a question mark at his back. The man’s too much the professional to make that kind of blunder. Come back into the area at an easy pace, nothing obviously hostile or suspicious unless you see that they’re in that room. I have a sneaky suspicion that if he should find Merquise we will all be lost. I have no doubt that the cover up is already underway and that we are all considered to be expendable." "Will do." Polnar grunted. "What about you?" "I am hoping to make it back to Merquise to warn him if Simpson gives me that grace. You may be on your own as I doubt I can get the grill out of the vent quickly and I have little doubt Merquise is not capable of facing down Simpson at this time. I don’t know how good your partner is in a brawl …?" The implied question had Polnar grinning. "He’s good but I think it safe to say he’s not in Simpson’s league." "I suspect few of us are. I can only try to get into the ward from the vent but I am not hopeful of doing that in a short time. The least I can do is offer them some kind of warning that Simpson’s close." "Understood. Giles is handy in a fight but I honestly doubt he’s as good as Blue Squad but he has been known to surprise one on occasion." From beyond Barker’s sight came a snort of wry amusement. "If we fear for our hide enough we are all capable of incredible feats." Carter muttered. Barker rubbed at his face with a shaking hand. "Then start fearing for your hide. I’m heading back to try to warn Merquise. Give it as long as you dare before you leave the room but make an appearance before Simpson feels inclined to come looking for you. I suspect they may do a room by room if they think their head counts off." With the jumble of bodies crowded between the two doors he really doubted that Simpson had a firm idea of the number of men who had been gathered there some time ago. It was likely to be their only advantage in this mess. He heaved himself up once again and with a nod moved over the gap in the vent, intent on getting as quickly as he could to that ward two rooms down the hallway. "Watch your back." Polnar’s parting comment was accompanied by a firm squeeze on his ankle. "We’ll delay as long as we dare and if we can get to Kurtz for more info we will." "Well enough. Keep yourselves alive." The vent looked to be endless, longer than he knew it to be. Any minute he knew that Simpson could go for that door. Any minute now and the man would have his prize and feel free to go on a killing rampage himself. He could not afford for that to happen. t.b.c
|
