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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 ShenLong for betaing this chapter.
//... // thoughts
"Alternative Directions: Options" Chapter 185 2nd March AC 198 New Port City, Sanc Palace Time: 06:45 Lady Une She was pleased to learn on her arrival at the palace that the damage to the building was not as extensive as the damage caused to her own home. It was also a relief to ascertain for herself that, while there had been some minor injuries sustained, no one had been seriously injured and there had been no loss of life. The surgical strike, especially given the weather conditions proved, to her mind, that she had chosen wisely in the selection of her agent. Even as she examined the extent of the damage and spoke to the shaken survivors, she admired her agent’s skill. It appeared that no one had seen anything. The strike had come out of the night and there was no information her investigators could garner from these people which might lead them in directions she definitely did not wish examined. She could only hope Chang had managed to cover his tracks well enough from forensic examination, though the storm would help considerably there. When she had selected her agent she had chosen carefully and wisely. As the head of Preventers she had access to the best the world had to offer. Oz, Alliance, White Fang, Treize Faction… she had representatives of all factions in the war, even Dekim Barton’s Treize faction loyalists had had members who signed up with Preventers following his abortive attempt at world domination. And, of course, there were the Gundam Pilots. Of them all she felt the only person who was suited to this task, who had the best skills to carry it off successfully, was the Gundam Pilot who had killed the one man she had loved with a fierce and obsessive devotion. It was more than his skills at terrorism which had seen her turn to him and request his aid in deceiving the world. The biggest factor influencing her choice of agent was that Chang Wu Fei was done with needless killing. She had no doubt at all the young man would target her if something went wrong with the mission. The operation was a risk she had felt needed to be taken, despite the weather which would surely be more hindrance than help to the task. Immediate action had been required if she had hoped to salvage something from the mess happening on Mars. Had Chang killed someone during the execution of the mission she could expect to face his wrath, and not merely in the form of a rant. The young man was done with terrorism and he was not inclined to be used and abused as once he was. She had no illusions at all when it came to the Gundam Pilots who worked for her. She had come to know their personal histories, the training they had endured to pilot the mammoth machines and the horrors of their childhoods they had survived. Chang and Winner alone had led privileged lives, though neither had found those lives to be particularly enjoyable. Children never appreciated what they had until it was gone. Certainly none of them had led easy lives and none, with the possible exception of Winner, had expected to come from the war alive. The one she had chosen of those available to her was Chang Wu Fei, scion of an ancient bloodline and survivor of a destroyed colony. She had chosen him because he had a strict code of honour which he followed rigidly. She knew she was pushing him to the very edge of the borders defining his code and she knew she could push him no further. Thankfully there should be no further need of incidents involving mass destruction. With the attack on her home and this glancing hit on the palace, the need for terrorist assaults would not be so great during the investigation of the incident. The background scene had been set and they could devise a natural death for the terrorist cell responsible for the attacks. They could arrange a few minor incidents; foiled attempts at assassinations against those people on the supposed death list. Carefully managed, this entire incident could die a natural death in the space of a month. The politicians would go back to their back scratching and posturing, and everyone could get on with the job of maintaining the peace. //He will arrive soon.// She had recalled her agents, ordering those who were within and in the immediately vicinity of New Port City, to return to Headquarters and those nearer the Palace to reach the protection it offered as speedily as possible. No one in higher authority had best say a word about her issuing the recall or she would be seriously temped to revert to her Colonel Une persona. Those days were long behind her. It was a long time since she had projected the hard nosed woman who served Mr. Treize willingly, even to the point of murder. Assassination by any name was still murder and she knew it only too well, but it was a price that had had to be paid for plans and schemes to evolve to fruition. She had no doubt the one who had planned his own death did not regret his actions, unafraid to pay the same price he had demanded from others. To her unending pain she knew he had intended to die. The signs were there from the very beginning, but she had been too blinded by her obsession to see them. Even had she understood his ultimate intention she knew she would not have been able to change his mind. He who had planned so well, and had the courage of his convictions, would expect no less than understanding and acceptance from her. She had loved him and she still loved him. Treize Khushrenada. His Excellency who had become, for a brief time, the World Sovereign. He was the War Lord who defended the Earth and her innocent citizens from the machinations of a mad man and his followers. That was the popular vision of His Excellency. That was what the people saw. That was what they had been intended to see. Innocents who knew nothing. //It is what was intended the people see. All of it fabrication. All of it designed so painstakingly. All of it a lie.// There were reports of sightings of him on colonies and in remote areas of the Earth every year. Sightings of a man who could only be His Excellency. Sightings she investigated with little hope in her heart and always her doubt was proven justified. If he lived, she had no doubt, he would contact her. //He would call me. He would somehow let me know he lived. Would he not?// She did not wish to answer her own question for fear she might find she did not, in fact, believe that he would come to her. It would make sense for him to come to her as she was in a position to help him if he willed to remain invisible to the people. Certainly the knowledge of his survival would throw the new world order into confusion if he was proven to be alive. To have His Excellency Treize Khushrenada be known to be alive would destabilize the very peace he had fought for. No, he would not wish his presence to be known and therefore he would not permit himself to be glimpsed by just anyone. Not that she was just anyone, but she was watched by those who considered themselves to be better than she. For all she was Preventer Earth they watched her, waiting, slavering at her heels, ready to drag her down at the first faltering step, the first suggestion of weakness. There was so little trust to be found, though she thought it might be improving. The observation of certain individuals who had, during the war been key figures, was something she found infuriating. It was curbing the skills and effectiveness of them all, but it was something they would need to live with. How long for she was afraid to think. The simple truth was that it was too soon after the fighting for trust. //What would you think of what has become of your peace, Mr. Treize? I have no doubt you would know what to do about them. You would know what to do about the sly, sneaky little toads working their way back into power. What was it all for if Romefeller’s old boys club is reforming? I can see it happening and short of killing off key individuals before they consolidate their standing, I can’t think of how to control them and not be targeted.// It was a dilemma she would need to devote some attention to. Relena was still her best hope to maintain the peace, though the girl would not appreciate the suggestion she maintain her position. It was unfortunate what had happened, that they had managed to latch onto the Peacecraft Princess and twist the knife, but that was the way it was with the cold, hard old school of politics. Romefeller played a very dirty game of politics and the Peacecrafts had forever been embroiled in Romefeller’s plans. As matters stood, deplorable as it was, there was little she could do at present to turn events around. The girl needed to grow up and face the hard reality of political life. But there was, in some small way, hope. Not of extricating Marquise from whatever sordid, dirty little plot was taking place now, but hope of salvaging his sister to keep the peace. By inserting Chang Wu Fei into their hallowed halls as an agent openly assigned to investigate the death threats, she hoped to distract them from their focus on Relena. He was a former Gundam Pilot and as such they feared him. They had him watched, proof of their fear and he had his honour code, her safety net. Though they might attempt to turn him, to make use of him, with his particular code of honour they would have very little chance of influencing him. He had no love for Romefeller and there were some days when she found herself wondering if he had investigated the power play behind the war. If he had then he kept far better control of his temper than she had assumed him capable of. He was volatile, a justice freak, according to Maxwell and surely his honour code would have him at least demanding a formal investigation be instigated. Yet if he had, surely he would have targeted Romefeller as revenge for the destruction of his colony? While it had been the Elders of his own clan who had detonated his home colony, the reasons behind their decision lay with the machinations of Romefeller. Personally, she had been surprised when the colony had been destroyed. It had been her thought the Elders would submit to the occupation forces and resume their clandestine activities after a few years. That would have made more sense than destroying the space habitat. Traditionally the Chinese were great absorbers. They had been conquered repeatedly over the course of history, but in as little as two generations they had absorbed and educated the invaders, civilizing the barbarians until one could not tell the invader from their own. She had expected something similar, but no, they had, for some inexplicable reason, pushed the button. What, besides the means to construct a Gundam, had they been trying to hide? //I doubt Chang would have known what they were hiding, not that it matters now. For all he was a Gundam Pilot and supposedly the heir of the clan, he was not, I have determined, particularly well informed of their plans. Those plans he was privy to he did not particularly approve of. Still, old men like to hold on to their power and rarely share sensitive details with the impatient hot blood of youth.// Her eyes tracked to the clock and she sighed, rubbing her palms together in an absent gesture, listening to the howling wind and soaking in the heat of the fire. It was approaching seven in the morning and there was not a hint of dawn creeping through the blizzard. The wind was rising, as she had been warned. It was Pagan who had advised her to recall her agents and rest them for the next four to six hours. It would take that long for conditions to begin to ease, he assured her. He knew his country's climate better than she and he assured her the conditions would improve, though not before they deteriorated to dangerous levels. He assured her that as quickly as they deteriorated, they would improve and by mid to late afternoon her people could be working once more. “Only those people who are in vital positions and have access to the subway, will be making any effort to attend work this morning, Ma’am.” She had to trust him, particularly as she had been notified on arrival at the palace that three of her agents were on their way to hospital, after their vehicle ran off the road and into a power pole in the heart of the city. Radio communications were sketchy and broken with interference and the cell phones were next to useless. Her people in country areas were at even greater risk, especially those who were working foot patrols seeking some form of evidence she knew they would not find. Chang was too careful to leave incriminating evidence in his wake. She expected he would take great pains to arrange for his presence to be required at every place the ‘terrorist’ might have been active. Any stray hairs or skin fragments could be explained away given the weather conditions and his presence on the investigation team. Still, weather not withstanding, it was high time the man made an appearance. She had expected him to arrive at the palace by now and come storming through the door, intent on demanding answers from her. Not that she could blame him for wanting answers, but she knew little more now than she had known when she had left him at what remained of her home. With communications as bad as they were she was having difficulty contacting her people. The storm was so violent it even interfered with satellite communications and in this day and age that was something she had not expected to occur. All the wonders of modern technology failed beneath the grandeur of Mother Nature. A brief tap on the door drew her attention and she smoothed a hand down her slacks, thankful she had changed before braving the wild weather. To her summons Pagan stepped into the room, bowing formally. “Forgive the interruption, Ma’am. I have been informed Mr. Chang and his team have arrived. Their vehicles became stuck in snow banks and they were forced to hike the last two kilometres. Shall I direct the young gentleman to you?” “Immediately, if you would, please. Thank you.” “I shall have something hot prepared and served to assist in thawing the gentleman out, Ma’am. I have taken the liberty of having rooms prepared for the team, and I shall have clothing laid out in their rooms as soon as I may estimate their sizes.” She knew Relena relied heavily on the old man and she could see why. He was, to say the least, efficient. “Thank you for looking after my people, Pagan. I honestly don’t know what I would do without you.” The old man bowed and she was not sure if that moustache of his lifted into a faint smile or not. “Word has been received that the car transporting Mrs. Darlian was unable to reach its destination. Before contact was lost the agent said they were taking shelter at a hotel until the storm eases.” She was not surprised, but it raised the question of whether or not Relena’s party had managed to escape the storm. There were entirely too many of her people out in this weather. “Thank you.” He withdrew, closing the door silently behind him, leaving her once more with the roaring log fire, the antique furniture and too many unanswered questions. Settling into an overstuffed chair set close beside the hearth, she produced a notebook and pen and settled back to write the list she would need to give her agent. She would need to send him into the lion’s den, but, and she smiled, a dragon was far superior to lions, even when the lions hunted in packs. Her dragon would singe a few whiskers before he was done, of that she had no doubt. Politics wearied her, but it was a necessary part of being Preventer Earth. It was her job to be abreast of the various factions in the governments of Earth and the Colonies. She needed to brief her agents of the way the political wind blew when it impacted on them. To her disgust the elections now being held around the planet were placing people in the Council of Representatives she knew from the war. People who were politically astute, had their own agenda’s and who were not in the least shy about forcing their way to the top, should their schemes prove inadequate. She knew they would be discrete at first. It would not do to move into government so soon after backing the losing team and expect to do what one wanted without fear of reprisal. They were smarter than that and would move slowly and in measured stages, but over the course of the next three to six years they would be gathering power to themselves. She would need to keep a careful eye on the development of the party factions as they began to settle into a sense of confidence. Placing Chang in their midst would give them pause. They would wonder what she, who held Chang’s leash, was up to, wondering exactly what she was investigating. It was a foregone conclusion they would not trust her enough to believe she would investigate only this publicized threat to their lives. They were not the most trusting of souls, Romefeller sycophants. And at one time she had been Romefeller. And to think, in less than twenty four hours it had proven to be unnecessary. She had begun this deception to turn public attention from the fiasco on Mars, and the appearance of this Station Alliance would have very neatly done the trick. Still, she had not known of the Station Alliance at the time she had initiated her response and she could still make it work for them, not against them. //I will need to investigate the reactions of the members of the House of Representatives to the proposed conference. If we are to meet the Station Alliance on equal terms, it will mean Relena will be required to take part in the Earth Sphere delegation. If they intend she not attend, then they must assign her to a new position and appoint someone else as Vice Foreign Minister. Now, would they be inclined to do that to maintain their strangle hold on her? She is after all, useful to them in that position. It is possible they may have no choice but to permit her to take part.// The delegation to attend the conference in space would need to be chosen with uncommon speed, given the time constraints hinted at. A meeting at a specific location in space required exact planning to have the principles arrive at the designated time and place. She could not plan to meet the security requirements of the conference until she knew the location of the proposed meeting. To learn more she needed to contact the Sweepers, who seemed not to be in a hurry to offer up the information. It made her wonder if the Sweepers were caught as unprepared as everyone else over the appearance of the Station Alliance. //Howard would be my best bet to gain some useful information. If I can get the jump on Romefeller and on the House of Representatives, then I might be able to do something with Relena’s precarious position. If Zechs was not being used against her, it would be a great deal easier to pull a few teeth. There would be less of a chance my involvement would be suspected in the operation, but given they know that I know they are blackmailing her, they will be expecting me to act.// Rubbing at her temples she sighed and closed her eyes, seeking some relief from the incessant throbbing of a headache. //Ah, Mr. Treize, you revelled in politics, but I hate it!// A light tap on the door caused her to look up from her half completed list. She was about to call out permission for her visitor to enter when the door opened and Chang Wu Fei entered the room. Her eyes widening, Lady Une set aside her pad and pen and rose, motioning imperiously at the fire, not that Chang needed any urging. With shuffling steps the soaking wet young man stumbled closer to the fire. He was followed into the room by Pagan who was carrying a large tray containing teapots, cups and a selection of steaming hot food. Chang was literally steaming as he neared the hearth, the ice and snow coating his shoulders and hair beginning to melt in the heat of the roaring flames. Une knelt and threw some more logs on the blaze as Pagan set the tray on the sideboard and moved to Wu Fei, and in short order divested him of his coat, instructing him to remove his shoes and socks with the promise dry footwear would be arriving shortly. Chang had difficulty in bending and it appeared impossible for him to remove his boot. Une imperiously motioned to the over stuffed chair in which she had previously been seated. A stuttered protest he would ruin the upholstery was summarily dismissed and Une pushed him into the chair, bending to work on removing his shoes and peel the socks from his feet. Pagan, she noted, was speaking to someone at the door and she paid him no mind as she worked, aware the young man was beginning to shiver violently. “Re...reporting… as… as instructed.” Chang’s teeth were chattering so violently she was surprised he did not bite his tongue. “You will be heading off for a hot shower and few hours sleep,” Une tartly commented, “just as soon as you get some of that hot stew into you.” Pagan returned as she peeled the last sock from his feet and Une sat back, allowing the old man to wrap a woollen blanket about the smaller man’s shoulders. Slippers were dropped beside the chair and Pagan offered a towel to Lady Une, taking the second towel and beginning to vigorously rub the dark head. Just as vigorously Une worked on Chang’s feet, examining them carefully to determine their state before subjecting them to an energetic and warming rubbing. “I don’t know how he managed it, but there appears to be no sign of frostbite,” Une murmured. “Fortunate,” Pagan murmured. “Please finish drying your hair, Mr. Chang and I will prepare your tea.” Une watched as Wu Fei buried his face in the towel and shivered, slowly working the towel through his hair, as though he had no energy left to do even that much. “Did you have a flu shot, Chang?” Shaking too much to reply verbally, Wu Fei managed a discernable nod, fighting the chills which seemed to be growing more, not less, violent. “My… mmmmmen…” “Are being cared for,” Pagan assured him, offering him a tea cup. “This is a herbal concoction we use locally. You will find it a little astringent, I think, but it has a restorative effect we have relied on for many generations. I have a room prepared for you. As soon as you have eaten and are comfortable I shall show you there to rest.” “Mmmii.. Missionnn.” “Hang the mission, Chang, you are not killing yourself, ” Une snapped. “I will have a list of names for you after you have rested and the weather improves enough for you to survive going outside. I am reliably informed by Pagan that will not be for another five hours or so. I doubt anyone in New Port City will be stupid enough to venture out in this until it eases, that goes especially for politicians, who are notorious for liking warm backsides and there is no local election to tempt them out.” “Hot,” Chang whispered, voice hoarse, sipping the steaming hot tea. “Good.” “You should have four or five hours in which to recoup.” Une straightened, folding the towel and placing it on the side table before slipping the slippers onto his feet. “If I have any need of you before then I will have you rousted out.” She had little doubt, after his night’s activities, he would sleep like the dead when he reached his bed. It would be a dire emergency indeed before she would force him out of bed. In fact, she would take the opportunity the inclement weather provided to take a rest herself.
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