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"Alternative Directions: Options "Written By: Karina Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the lovely
boys and their girls in the series. Wish I did. Please don't sue me.
I haven't even got a brass razoo to give you. Rating: Deffinately PG in Australia, at the moment,
but probably safer to say R for later chapters. Not sure about international
ratings Warnings: It will be 6x2, even though it does
not start out that way. After all, Zechs and Duo never met in Gundam
Wing and only spoke briefly over a com line in Endless Waltz. I've
tried to keep them in character as I saw them in the series. A bit
of language creeping in under stressful conditions. Pairings: eventual 6x2, past 2xH, 2+H,6x9, 1+R
Summary: Directions is set post Endless Waltz
and roughly 2 years have passed. Zechs and Noin are on Mars and Duo,
after spending some time with Hilde in a relationship leaves L2 to
join Preventers. Hilde was not happy about his decision. I guess enough
said. Here t'is, and I hope you like it. This is also AU for the standard
setting, as well as the series and Endless Waltz. Spoilers: Gundam Wing Series and Endless Waltz Many thanks to Dulin for volunteering to beta this. //... // thoughts
"Alternative Directions: Options" Chapter 55 Mars Colony Base Dome Date: 1st March AC 198 Time: 19:02 MST [Mars Standard Time] Zechs Soon now, he knew. They were close to the dome wall and the ladder that
lead down from these aerial ways. It would be soon that they, both
he He was almost certain that they had more than the one
set of eyes on them. If the agents had been ordered to kill everyone,
then "I think I've spotted our tail." Glacial blue eyes flicked to him and Giles motioned
back the way they had come, pausing behind a condenser unit and puffing
for "I think it's a security guard. I caught a glimpse of him as he ducked behind a conductor array." Zechs nodded, silent, and led the way around a cluster
of piles, ducking under a section of scaffolding and then pausing. As he saw it, there was no choice. They would be sitting ducks if they tried the descent
with a Sleeper agent so close to their position. They had to pause,
take "Any idea which one?" the breath of a whisper as he pulled Giles around and pushed him into a protective nook in the pipes. Giles panted softly, fighting to regulate his breathing.
He knew they had been trying to get to the ladder ahead of any agent, "No. Just saw the uniform and he had dark hair." A slow, deep breath, carefully measured to initiate a calming exercise taught to him by his old instructor at Lake Victoria Academy. Zechs considered the area around them, glancing overhead to scan the upper scaffolding for any sign of trouble. From the angle where they now crouched, it was possible
to see the entire length of the ladder as it descended to the ground If he took the chance and gave the go ahead to descend,
and the man, the agent watching them, was content to shoot from a Did the man have instructions to kill him or take him
alive? If alive, then the best option would be to front him before
he set He carefully surveyed the array of pipes around them.
Keeping low he moved to the service and switch station set near the The Raider operative clearly considered himself something of a bodyguard, while he considered the man to be under his protection. For all he was a Raider and Raydons choice to guard his back, he was here and caught up in the mess caused by the hunt for him, Zechs Marquise. The ESUN's chief pawn in their little power games back on Earth. That could not be denied. He had a responsibility to see the man survived. Giles's appearance had been a total surprise to him.
He had wracked his brains trying to find any memory of the man appearing Might be. Could possibly be. He had not always relied on visions to chart the course
of his life. He had not always succeeded with his choices or actions, Normal. He would never be normal again. So, trusting in himself and his own instincts and drive to see others live, not to mention any chance of a future for himself and his family, he had to garner hope for a chance to live. Blue eyes flicked over the station and narrowed in thought. Perhaps... He turned the idea over a time or two, noting how many flaws it contained and the desperation of their situation. The idea definitely had plenty of drawbacks and if he warned Giles the man would no doubt refuse to try it. Still, did he really have a choice, short of totally incapacitating himself by trying to manage totally uncontrollable visions, seeking results of the actions he would take? Before he could second guess himself, falling into that
trap of indecision and potential vision, he acknowledged that time
was He caught the softly uttered oath and glanced back at
Giles, noting he was staring down in surprise as water trickled over
the He watched the flow, absently pulling a second hair
tie from the belt pouch and gathering his hair he looped the tie it
around "You going to hide there all day?" Zechs moved
away from the controls, and inclined his head to Giles, indicating
he should make "What…?" "Go. As fast as you can. I'll delay him. You are likely considered infinitely expendable. There is a good chance I am not so expendable. Start down and don't dally." Hesitating Giles glanced around the area before making
his way cautiously to the ladder, careful to keep low and present
as small a target as possible. He did not like this. He was here to
protect the blonde, and he did not wish to face Raydon if anything "We know your there. You may as well come out and explain why your killing everyone off. They don't deserve that. They have no part in this." Giles hesitated, swearing softly and made to ascend the ladder, but he found blue eyes centered on him and at a nod from that blonde head he blew a soft breath in frustration and decided he should trust the man. He had descended another three rungs before he heard the scaffolding creak and glancing up he watched as Zechs stepped clear of the cover. He uttered a soft curse, both at the recklessness of that action and in response to the water beginning to drip through the mesh of the catwalk where it ran, spreading rapidly and almost silently over the scaffold and the platform where Zechs stood, waiting. //He's a raving bloody loony.// he decided. Offering himself as the perfect target was lunacy and
then Giles realized that by moving as he had, Zechs had actually improved Beside him he could hear the faint trickle of the water as it flowed down from the platform above him. He could watch the runnel as it spread out over the walk way, surrounding the blonde's feet where he stood and then trickled further. It ran over the scaffold and walkway, toward the guard Giles now recognized as being from the shuttle bay. "Go and go quickly. Get off the ladder as fast as you can." the whisper was directed at him, low voiced but imperative. Just loud enough that he could not be heard more than
a meter away and Giles had the impression that it was the final warning
he Much as he disliked the situation, he had to trust the man. Zechs did, after all, have his family to think of, so he was unlikely to risk himself any more than necessary. The threat level of this situation would have undoubtedly been assessed by what he had begun to suspect was a coldly analytical mind. "Give it up, Marquise. It's a lost cause."
his voice was raised just enough to be heard by the blonde, over the
background "I don't think so, Jordon." Jordon Bear snorted, taking a confident step forward,
eyes never leaving the glowering blonde and very much aware of the
man //Now where did he get that? Never saw him draw it.
I need to pay more attention to him.// "Now, lets not be too
hasty. We can "I do know how to use it and I am really quite
good." Zechs never took his eyes off the guard, straining to
hear Giles progress He stood close to the control platform that was raised
a little above the actual level of the scaffold walk way. His careful
positioning was going to be very important in this little drama. In
fact, positioning was everything. Eyes never leaving the guard, he Watching. Waiting. The man hesitated, considering the quiet air about the blonde. Sensing only too clearly the warning in that stance. He had been warned repeatedly about Marquise, both by Shanna McIntyre, his controller for this operation, and by the reports on the man he had read. The psychologists who had interviewed Marquise had not known what to make of him. Each and every report by the psychologists who had come to Mars had crossed through his hands. It was felt by both their trainers and by the agents themselves, that to adequately do their duty they needed to have as full a perspective on the man as was possible. The only thing he had been able to determine from those reports, was that the man knew how to play games. Privately he had made his own judgment on Marquise and that was that the man was not sane, for all his quiet ways. "It would have gone a lot easier for you and everybody
else if you had quietly accepted the inevitable. Those kids just do
not Marquise waited, considering the man, watching him intently, knowing that the agent would be evaluating what he knew of him from reports. That he knew of he had never actually had more that a dozen words to say to this man in the time that he had been on Mars. He knew who he was, of course. He had made a point of knowing everyone on Mars, even if it was only thorough their personal files, which he was not supposed to have access to. The colony files said the man was security, assigned to the shuttle bay and considered reliable and competent at his job. "So you say. That does not give you the right to kill everybody here. There are other ways than mass slaughter, you know. Killing because you have a few problems develop is the sign of an incompetent commander." The water trickled forward, slowly, relentless, spreading, until it touched steel capped boots. It pooled for a moment, before finding a way around and then spreading out and trickled on its way. Zechs stirred, keeping the mans eyes on him and motioned toward the agent with his knife hand, the fingers of his injured left hand slipping behind his belt, slowly working toward the weapon at his back. He took a half step back, closer to the raised platform, half turning to shield his activity from view. It was a move that was suggestive of his wanting to mount the ladder and descend. "Don't even consider it, Marquise. It really is not worth it. I have a job to do, and I will do it. These people were considered to be expendable the day you arrived on Mars. No one was to know that you survived. It was just a matter of time." Bear edged a step forward, judging the man was not nervous enough to use the knife just yet. Marquise was buying time for his companion to descend the ladder. He would not force the issue just yet. There was time to take the perfect opportunity, and it would come. He was safe enough taking a step or two. "Reconsider, Jordon. It does not have to be this
way. This is not war. This is murder. Cold blooded murder to involve
these "Murder? I work under the sanction of the ESUN
Security Services, Mr. Marquise. Or should I call you Peacecraft?
What ever He shook his head slightly, almost sorrowfully. "There is not a chance in hell of me giving you the children." "I was told you were insane, not stupid. There is no way that you can win this fight. You have to know that." Another stride forward by the agent and in response Zechs took a half step back, placing himself next to the ladder and level with the center of the service station. He could see clearly that the trickle of water was running a little faster as the scaffold section declined a little, passing where the agent had been hiding. The angle of the scaffold, while not great, was enough to send the trickle dancing around the intersection of the walkway with the one Jordon Bear had used to hide himself. He lifted crystal blue eyes to the man, meeting his brown gaze with quiet acceptance. "I know no such thing. Nor do you. I've faced bad odds before." Exasperated he snorted. "Look, Peacecraft, it serves no purpose for us to haggle like two old women. Give it up. Put down the knife and any other weapons you may have. Be reasonable. It's not our intention to kill you, just take you into custody." "Ahh. Us? Not alone then? Your kind usually hunt
in packs, don't you? How many have you killed already today? Was the
dirty Just a little longer. The water was spreading quickly. His fingers gripped the stock of the weapon he had been reaching for, body tensing. Now. It was coming now, he could feel it. The arrogant bastard was red faced with anger and in position to reach him with a good lunge. "Now!" Jordon Bear threw himself forward, landing face down on the scaffolding, clearing the way for his partner to take the shot and curled his lip in disgust at the cold chill of the water that soaked through his uniform. Zechs threw himself sideways, onto the station platform
even as he snapped the weapon from behind his back, thumbing the Jordon Bear had enough time only to cringe when he saw the over charged shock gun descend to the walkway. He knew he was dead. He could hear the weapon humming and that could only happen if its capacity was stretched to self destruct level, a feature designed to protect it should it fall into enemy hands. Just the barest instant of excruciating pain and the impression of a blue discharge and nothing more. His partner had barely an instant longer, to realize her fate, her feet firmly in a puddle of water and her own weapon was falling from spasming fingers that triggered the energy release. Her weapon lent its charge to the wet metal walkway and a second arc of blue flashed, sparks flying in the air. ——————————————————– Giles Haydon Giles, had glanced up to check on the encounter in time to see the long slender fingers curl around the grip of the weapon in his belt. Understanding hit him. He had felt his mouth drop open in disbelief, realizing what Zechs intended and he had scrambled to descend as quickly as he could. At the shout of `Now' he had cursed and thrown himself off the ladder in desperation, tucking into a ball and rolling to absorb as much of the force of landing as he could. Stunned he lay on the ground for all of thirty seconds, gasping for air, disbelieving that he was alive, before he stirred. Checking to list the damages done to himself, wincing at the pain from multiple bruises. To a quick examination he learned that beyond the bruising and the certain knowledge that Raydon's blonde Prince was a definite nut case, he was relatively unharmed. "Oh, man. God." he panted, staring up at the scaffolding where water fell in a gentle rain. Steadying himself as his breathing settled. "Zechs?" When no answer was forthcoming he stared at the ladder leading up into the scaffolding. Just a couple of seconds more, to steady his breathing. He needed only a few seconds to tell himself that the idiot had a death wish and he rolled, drawing himself to his knees. Looking around him he found an abandoned gardening fork. Scrambling to his feet he stepped well back from the
ladder and flicked the tool in an over arm throw at a rung. Other
than a "Zechs?!" he did not care that he could be
attracting attention he did not want or need at this time. If there
was anyone around they could not have missed the light show. "Ah,
man. Raydon will kill me if anything happens to you." resigned
he began to scale Water still rained from the scaffolding and walkway.
He muttered about the cold stream, pausing every few rungs to wipe
off The first thing he noticed when his head reached the
top of the ladder was the two bodies stretched out on the scaffolding.
One Zechs was curled into a tight ball, head shaking slowly, both hands covering his eyes. He made no sound, but Giles felt panic grip him. "Jesus, man. You live dangerously. You alright?"
he edged onto the platform, unwilling to startle the man. He had been
a soldier himself, and he was unwilling to approach without warning
the man that he was coming. "Can you see?" hesitating, he
called "It… it's okay. Just a bit… shaken. I'm fine." The hoarse whisper eased his mind somewhat, but he did
not retreat. Kneeling over the huddled form Giles gently pried the
hands He was stunned, unable to believe the amount of electrical
current those weapons carried. He had expected the blonde to be a "I don't know what to do with you. Raydon's welcome
to try keeping you in line, man. You have a death wish." a low
mutter "Yes." barely a whisper, but he tried to move. It was, however, patently obvious that he was not, as yet capable. Giles found himself rubbing at trembling arms and long legs, talking softly, reassuringly to the man, steadying his first few steps. It was a couple of minutes before Giles would allow Zechs to try the ladder, and then he was hovering close, terrified the man would lose his grip on still wet rungs. He was far from keen on the idea of the descent when Zechs was clearly still dazed by the electrical discharge. The more the man moved, however, the more he seemed to awaken from the daze. He was no coward, that much was clear, and he knew they had to move, so no protests came to the forced necessity of having to move before his limbs were steady. By the time they reached the bottom of the ladder Zechs was steady on his feet and his blue eyes had again acquired that glacial chill. "Come on. We have work to do." the deep voice was cold, tinged with anger. "This has got to be stopped." t.b.c.
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