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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 86 Mars Colony Base Dome Time: 21:10 [Approx 19:00 Sanc time] Noin Noin cast a startled look around her as the smoldering elevator block beside her vanished to be replaced by the rising majesty of the hydroponics dome. HD Three reared above her its opaque glass hinting at the greenery within, but allowing no clear view of the rainforest contained within it's curved surface. A small noise, a light scrape drew her attention from the dome to the cluster of buggy like vehicles parked near the dome. //Damn. I just don't understand why or how I keep shifting like this. From a few meters from where I was standing to half the bloody length of the dome. It's so disconcerting. Well, I suppose that I needed to check on what they were doing anyway. Making use of the opportunity is only sensible.// She stood only a few meters from where Simpson and Frazier were making use of the cover afforded by the abandoned vehicles and their loads and the bulk of the great hydroponics dome. When the emergency alert had been sounded people had stopped what they were doing and abandoned their vehicles, making their way quickly to their designated positions. It placed some unlikely cover opportunities around the usually neat and orderly dome. Noin ghosted, quite literally, closer to the two men, settling just behind them to listen attentively to their conversation. “… check over the elevator system and find where they have set the explosives. I want the charges removed if you can not reset the trigger they have devised. I want it set up so that McIntyre's people can not use them without going to a great deal of trouble.” “How do you want the explosives detonation to be set, Sir?” Noin followed as the two men slipped from behind their cover and began to walk around the bulk of the hydroponics dome, taking the long route at the far side of the enviro dome to reach the freight elevators. A course that would allow them to avoid what ever traps might have been laid by the Sleepers and whoever might be battling them in the central area. It became obvious to Noin that the commander wanted as little to do with McIntyre and her people as possible and for that Noin could not fault him. She followed, listening to their conversation and casting occasional glances back towards the burning elevators, now almost out of sight beyond the curve of the dome, though a disturbing pillar of smoke still rose high into the dome's superstructure. //I hope the automatic systems are up to handling that fire. At least the scrubbers should be able to handle the pollution caused by the smoke.// “I think that a radio controlled trigger would best serve our purpose and for the moment it would be best if you keep it on you. Do you have the requisite parts on you for that without going back to the control tower?” “Yes, Sir. I have enough to build a basic transmitter from scratch if that is needed. It depends how many functions you want to incorporate into the device.” Frazier lightly touched the belt pouches that circled his waist, a personal assurance to himself more than to his commander. “Basic will be good enough, no need for anything fancy. I wonder where the psycho bitch is lurking now?” he glanced around, back toward the burning elevators. “Somewhere back there, where she can ambush any poor sod who comes to investigate, no doubt. I hope Merquise finds her soon. He will save me the trouble of dealing with her.” //Oh no, he will not. That bitch is mine, whoever you are. // Frazier crouched behind a group of trolleys, surveying the seemingly deserted area with suspicion. He was not a trusting soul at the best of times, of which this definitely was not, and he had no intention of being taken out by mistake by either Sleepers or by Merquise or anyone else who was hunting in the dome. “She is certainly not what you could call sane. I have to admit, Sir, that I would not have thought they would place a psyche-conditioned individual in a position to command such a team as this. From what I know the test instances in the past proved that severe isolation had a detrimental effect on conditioning.” “Yes, well I think it safe to say that certain heads will roll over this situation when we get back to the Earth and hand in our report. From what I have seen of this imprisonment of Merquise it has been a screw up since his arrival on Mars. Had this situation been handled in the appropriate manner required to contain a person of his known skill levels, there would have been no need for this mission to be anything other than a simple pickup. That man should never have been given such freedoms as he has enjoyed here. It is certain that these mistakes will not be permitted during his upcoming confinement.” “He appears to be an astonishingly resourceful individual, Sir.” Noin shook her head, slipping away from the men, deciding it was time she turned her attention elsewhere and headed back for the burning elevators. She needed to get back to Zechs and somehow she needed to work out some means by which to contact him. Knowing her blonde partner as she did he would be ready to head into the lion's den very soon now, and before she could find him she really needed to make certain just where McIntyre was and ascertain what her next plan would be. It was entirely possible that she would very quickly grow tired of waiting for someone to walk into her trap. Her mental instability would make her dangerously erratic. //Zechs, what am I going to do? There has to be some way that I can reach you. There must be some means by which I can contact you while I am in this form and have you understand me. We have always made a great team and if I can figure out how best to exchange information with you, I could keep you informed of where everyone is and what their plans are. It would make life a lot easier for you if you had the inside drop on their plans. Shit. What is she doing?// It came as rather a surprise to her to see Shanna McIntyre standing in plain sight, glaring in her direction. An instant of panic shot through Noin. Could McIntyre see her? //Oh shit. Can you … I'll just slip over here and use the rover … You are still looking in the same place? Ah, I see. Not me then.// The woman who had earned the dubious distinction of becoming her archnemesis appeared to be intent on the retreating figures of the two men and after a good look McIntyre slipped behind the burning rubble, using it to shield her from any glance behind them that the men might make. Noin growled softly to herself, wishing that she could express her displeasure in a more physical fashion. If she could just get her hands to close around that long and so elegant neck … //What are you up to now? I see you, you bitch. Your watching them, aren't you, but why? Why are you so interested …// Blink //God damn it! I am so getting to hate that instant transport thingy I do. Shit, I have to figure out what causes me to do that. I don't know what triggers it. One minute I'm here, contemplating how I would love to wring her neck and the next-poof!-I'm not there anymore, I'm here, wherever here might be.// she glared at the burning elevators now only a couple of meters from her instead of a few hundred meters. // Well, at least its closer to the bitch, I suppose. At least she can not see me, so I had best gather what intelligence I can while I have the opportunity.// Noin willed herself to glide up to the woman who was hunched over a small device in her hands, muttering softly to herself. The red head glanced around, taking in the full exposed areas of the dome visible to her position and then back to her hands, scowling. // Now what are you crouching there for? What are you doing?// Noin caught herself in the midst of freezing when the woman half turned, checking for anyone moving around and snorted to herself. As if McIntyre could see her, let alone hear her. This being invisible took some getting used to. //Hmm, so that is how you communicate with them. Pagers. Simple and a lot of the workers here have them. No one thinks twice about seeing them used here, so I suppose it makes sense. I would have thought it too dangerous to use them, but then you have kept it secret this long, so I suppose you win that point. Now what have you typed in there? Mmm … You know where they are going, do you? Simpson and Frazier? So that are their names.// ----------------- Shanna McIntyre McIntyre crouched behind the smoldering ruins of the elevators and directed a hard glance at where the backs of the two men had disappeared from view around the curve of HD Three, fingering the pager after uttering a soft curse. She had left the sanctuary of the crates to better follow the path of the two men she had watched inspect the rubble that burned so delightfully. She had sent the message instructing her agents to regroup while watching the men move with a deadly grace from cover to cover, and she had to acknowledge to herself that they knew their business. It was a pity they had made some stupid mistakes and set off this foolishness, disrupting her orderly life and coming so close to utterly ruining the mission. She really would have expected better of the renowned, almost legendary Blue squad. “I can guess easily enough where you are bound, Simpson, with your little tech hanger on. But you … Where are you?” she scowled at the pager, waiting for the acknowledgements to her instructions from her team and growing more and more angry with the silence in the dome and the lack of response from her team members. The pager was rolled repeatedly in her hands, an absent minded reflex as the seconds ticking away into minutes. The dome was eerily silent and it sent shudders up her spine, which surprised her as she was not generally nervous or easily spooked. The silence had gone on too long, she should have had a response from her team and this continued quiet did not bode well for her team's survival. It was just another complaint that she would have to include in her report on this fiasco and that she could blame on Blue Squad's commander. With a sigh she pocketed the pager and glanced behind her at the open expanses of the dome, almost snarling with her mounting frustration. Why? “Why has no one come to investigate the explosion and the resulting fire? Have we killed all of the fools?” ------------- Noin Noin crouched near her, watching the glint in those eyes growing and seeing the mounting madness. //You frighten me, McIntyre. You are not sane and you are getting angry. That will make you unpredictable and more dangerous, harder to handle. I really don't like that sneaky look in your eyes.// “Ah, well. Time to face up to another bungle I can attribute to the carelessness of others. It would appear that they are all dead. Pity that. However it does leave me free to indulge in a little hunting that is far more to my liking. With Simpson and Frazier out of that tower I now have an unobstructed search area for that bitch. They put you somewhere, Ms Noin and rest assure that I will find you.” she giggled, a disturbing high pitched girlish-giggle, tossing her head in delight. “When I find you I will be able to play with you without any interference. We shall so enjoy our games together.” Another glance was directed at where the men had disappeared
and she chuckled, the sound spiraling into another high-pitched insane
giggle then McIntyre turned to smirk at the Shuttle Control Tower.
She was so looking forward to the next time she met Ms Noin. //You are looking for me? No. No, that is not good. What am I going to do? I can't touch her! Shit. Shit. My hands pass right through her. What do I do now? There has to be some way that I can defend myself if she finds where I am. Where my body is. Think Noin, think. There has to be some way that I can protect myself.// McIntyre sauntered casually toward the shuttle tower, unconcerned that there were less than friendly eyes in the dome that could be watching her and that there were people who would be hunting her. Noin snarled watching the strut develop and the sultry sway of slender hips. The woman had obviously lost all reason. ---------------- Shanna McIntyre Shanna giggled to herself, almost daring someone to appear and confront her. She could have such fun if they only would challenge her, but it was alright if no one took her up on her challenge, after all Noin was waiting for her and then they could play. She knew that Merquise, that deliciously long-legged blonde stud was loose in the enviro dome and that her people were very likely to be dead, considering that they had failed to answer her page, but that was not important. She was Shanna McIntyre and she was the very best at what she did. She was the top agent and soon everyone would know it and bow before her. No one could take her down, not Merquise, not Simpson and certainly not these pacifist idiot terra formers. No one could take her down accept for that bitch who had had the gall to string her up from a roof beam and leave her there to be humiliated in front of Simpson. “Do you know, my dearest Lucrezia, that I will have your stud after I am finished with you. I like blondes, and he is about as blonde as you can get. Such nice legs too. I like a man with long legs. I can almost hear you scream now, my dearest Noin. Soon, my dear girl. Soon you will have plenty of reasons to scream.” Well, it just would not do that people might think that there was someone better than her at her line of work. No, Noin just did not have the same expertise. She had had an unfair advantage in their last encounter and she would just have to ensure that she remedied that for this next encounter. She needed to make it plain to her team and to Noin and to her superiors on Earth that no one was superior to her. No one could be permitted to live who had bested her. It was the principle of the thing, a matter of honor and her reputation could not be besmirched, especially by a wimpish ex-soldier who did not know her place. Anyone who thought they were better than her had to be dealt with. “Simpson is a cocky bastard and his nerdy friend is just as bad. Do they think I am blind? Or deaf, for that matter? Of course I am aware of the looks they direct at me. They wanted my body. I do admit that Simpson could be an interesting lay, but really. They think I am easy. Well, they will learn that I am not so easy as they would have me be.” //They think I am easy, and that I would accept their advances and spread myself for their pleasure, but they would learn. They will learn that Shanna McIntyre was no one's easy lay.// “I pick my partners, use them for my pleasure and then I discarded them as though they are dirty laundry. Those two are beneath me. No one hurts Shanna McIntyre and gets away with it. No one insulted me and lives to tell about it. No man and no woman.” ---------------- Noin //Oh, you cocky bitch. Striding along as though you owned the place. I have no idea how I will accomplish it, but I know I will take you down. I did it once and I will do it a second time. Permanently. There will be no Miss Nice Girl any more, Ms Shanna McIntyre. If anyone deserves what is to come it is you. Oh, God, listen to me. I am as insane as she is. I can't even touch the bitch let alone rip her apart as she so richly deserves. I have to figure some way of being effective in this war. Your comeuppance is coming. Your doom is at the door, but how to make certain that you go down and can't touch a hair on my man's head? Ewe, the mere thought of you getting so much as a finger on my Zechs … Zechs. I wonder … I am sure that for a bit there he could hear me. He certainly reacted as though he heard something, and there was no one around him but me at the time. I simply can not be mistaken about this. He must have heard me. I've got a couple of minutes before she can get to the tower and get to my body, so I should take this opportunity to find him and see if I can't successfully talk to him. Now, can I make this instant transport thingy work? Lets try this, sort of wishing really hard. Maybe if I pictured him in my mind? Not at all hard to do. Zechs. I want to go to Zechs. Maybe if I shut my eyes?// She felt like such a fool, standing in the middle of the dome playing 'Let's Wish'. It was disturbing that a woman of her age should even consider something so childish as wishful thinking, and that was basically what this amounted to. “God, I simply do not believe this. What do I think I am doing? Grow up, Lucrezia, this is not a dream, much as you wish it to be.” An exasperated sigh and she shook her head. She simply could not concentrate on what seemed so like a child's game. There was obviously some sort of trick to this flitting about the place instantly. Unconsciously she seemed able to do it, but until she could understand how it worked and what triggered the shift she was just wasting time and effort. //It would be wonderful to simply think of where I wanted to go and 'bingo', there you are. Nice thought, but it just is not going to happen.// In the blink of an eye if she could figure out how this mode of transport worked she could go to Zechs and warn him of the dangers he faced. She could tell him of where the enemy was and what their plans were. What an advantage that would be and the twins! She could go to her twins … her babies. She could almost smell that unique baby scent she loved so well, could almost feel the small weight of her babies in her arms. Would she ever get to cuddle her precious babies again? Blink. //Shit! Where the hell am I?// A reasonable sized room for one of the single staff members. The lounge and bedroom in one, with a small bench with a kettle, which was sending wisps of steam into the air and the where with all to make tea or coffee in quarters scattered on its surface. So much smaller than the quarters she and Zechs were assigned to share after they got together and before the birth of the twins granted them a larger assignment, it was even different to the single quarters she had been assigned on arriving on Mars. Someone's private quarters, she mused, and not a room that she recognized. Her survey of the lounge section was interrupted by the sound of someone moving and she spun to face the far side of the room. She recognized Sharnice Mathan, a nurse from the medical centre who was sitting in a chair, a steaming cup in one hand and a baby in the other. The downy white blonde hair was instantly recognizable and with an inarticulate cry Noin lunged forward, arms reaching automatically for the infant, only to howl in frustration as her arms went through both baby and nurse. Sharnice smiled down at the infant, setting aside the cup to lightly run her fingers over the downy cap of hair and croon softly to the child. “Hey now, Sweet Thing. Awake again, are we? Never mind, Little One. I know, I know. Too much tension in the air and you can feel it, can't you? It will be over soon. Your daddy won't let it last any longer than necessary. He's out there, little boy, fighting for you, to keep you and your sister safe and to find your mummy.” //Lucian. It's my Lucian and I can't touch him. Katerina? Where is Katerina? Oh, God, Zechs, I want my babies!// Blink. At the thought of his name she felt an instant of wrongness, which she had not felt previously, but which seemed familiar none the less. The singles apartment was gone, replaced by the very familiar enviro dome. She was standing under the dome and was bathed in the blood red glow of the emergency lights and it brought her close to tears. She could not take much more of this. Her perceptions were screwed by the constant shifting from place to place and she was feeling helpless and threatened and there was a growing fear in her that she dreaded. It was the fear of helplessness, of being incapable of affecting the outcome of the battle for the dome and their future, but it was more. It was the fear of death. Yes, she had succeeded and escaped from the maintenance room, but what good was that? What good was having that freedom from four walls when she could do nothing but wander around the dome and witness what others did? She could not even tell anyone what she had learned and expect them to act on her behalf. She could not even thump those she so desperately wanted to pummel into oblivion. She ached to finish off McIntyre as she should have done in the first place. It was an ache in her middle, a growing pain that would not be ignored. It was not in her nature to be a rabid killer, unlike McIntyre, but she had had enough of that red-haired witch. That one was not going to be missed and she certainly would not mourn her passing. Did her middle actually ache? Did she feel a moment of pain? Actual pain? Was there finally sensation coming into this ghostly image of herself and if that was so, then was it good or was it bad? //Zechs?// He felt close for some inexplicable reason and she looked wildly around, fighting down panic and regaining her equilibrium. //Ah, I see you, working your way around the main control tower. Where would you be going? You don't look so good, baby. In fact, you look about ready to collapse.// She could not see McIntyre anywhere between the two towers and that meant that her body could be in real trouble very soon. She needed to pursue the woman and formulate some plan of action to protect herself. She needed to devise some way to warn someone about what was happening and ask for help and hope that help could reach her body before it was too late. The only one who had seemed even vaguely aware that she was near had been Zechs. Tired resignation swept over her, the anger and fear fading beneath the weight of that over whelming truth. She was helpless to defend her body, but there was still some fight in Lucrezia Noin. She would try, one more time, to get Zechs to hear her. He seemed her best chance. //Ah, shit, it may be worth one last try. I have to do something.// She began walking toward the main control tower watching the two men as they worked in tandem as though they were a well oiled and highly trained team. They were making their way along the side of the main control tower, carefully watching open ground for any hint of movement, alert, covering each other as they worked their way toward the front of the building. She did not recognize the man who took point, allowing Zechs to rest a little, in the rear position. Whoever the man was with her lover he was good, she noted, admiring the way he moved. He moved like a professional with a purpose and fluidity to his movement that few people ever attained and he had a determined expression on his face that told her he could kill if the need arose. She was thankful that Zechs was not alone, though she only could hope that this man was worthy of the trust given to him by her lover. She had never known Zechs to trust lightly and certainly not in a combat situation, yet he turned his back on this stranger and they seemed to have an understanding. //This is all my fault. He never said it, but I can see that it is my fault because I could not keep my hands to myself. I never really looked at you and saw that something was wrong. Sorry love. Just depression. That's what I thought. Depression, not this other thing I do not begin to understand, though I have to admit it exists. I always thought that I could work miracles and I was all that you needed. Well, I think that you could say I have had a wake up call, my love. Look at me, standing here, invisible to everyone whilst having an epiphany. No one to see it, still, that is the way epiphanies should be, I suppose. Private. No wailing and weeping in an agony of sorrow for things past and no dancing in joy and leaping with delight for things yet to come. Just plain confusion as to how I got here and why I can do what I can. I'm invisible for God's sake.// She drifted closer, watching him, noting every bruise on him, every cut and scrape. There was sweat standing out on his forehead and he was frowning as they reached the corner of the main control building. He was shaking his head and looking around him as though he was sure he was not alone and he either ignored the man who slipped around the corner ahead of him or he genuinely did not realize that the man had moved. That was dangerous to both men's safety and she watched as his eyes fastened on where she stood, a frown and he looked to one side of her, seeking something, his gaze coming back to her position. //Mmm. Is it possible that you sense my presence? // She slipped up to him, closer, daring to move within his personal space and reaching to caress his cheek with fingers that ached to feel flesh and instead felt nothing. Not the warmth of skin, not the smooth softness she knew she should have felt //There is so much I have to say. The bitch is hunting me and going to the tower. You know, my dearest, I am truly sorry for what I have put you through. I have been a bitch and I can not apologize enough, but I love you and I love everything about you. Wishful thinking on my part and standing here staring into your eyes is distracting you from what you should be doing. I know that it is dangerous and I am so sorry, love.// He almost fell around the corner of the building, silent but wild eyed and glaring around him, more and more she received the impression, the certainty that he could feel her. She could almost believe that he knew exactly where she was standing. Something shifted between them, some indescribable, intangible 'something' that was almost a pain to her perceptions, but not quite. He shuddered beneath her touch and she knew in that moment that she was reaching him. Though she had been able to feel nothing of his skin before, to her touch now she felt sensation, and to her eyes he seemed to be glowing a strange violet-blue colour. His skin felt hot and clammy, as though he was touched by a growing fever and his eyes seemed strange, the pupils dilating. She started as she realized that the man who companioned him was back, catching Zechs in strong and competent hands, supporting him with hands grasping his shoulders and the stranger was looking wildly around, seeking any sign of danger that might threaten them. She could see and feel the shudders wracking her lover's body and through the touch to his cheek she could feel the pain rising in him in a cresting wave that must send him into reeling unconsciousness soon. The man was pulling him forward, past the door and around the far corner, towards the waiting crates and Zechs was falling. “Zechs? Can you hear me? I'm sorry love. I don't know how this works and I can feel the pain in you. I will be quick. McIntyre is heading for the Shuttle Control Tower. Everyone is dead there and in the Main Control Tower too. The military types are working on the freight elevators and I have to go back to my body. This is weird, love. I'm sorry for doubting you and thinking that you were losing your sanity, but I understand now. Please … my body …I have to go back to my body before She gets there. She has been looking for me. I don't know what I can do to defend myself in this state, but I will try. Just know that whatever happens I love you and that I am sorry for everything I did. I know my mistakes and we will talk. If I survive this.” She released him, backing away, torn by what she had done and the knowledge that she had to go. He was on the ground, the stranger working frantically over him, but she had no time. There was no time to apologize to her lover for abusing him as she had for forcing the message on him. No time to hang around and make certain that he was going to recover. There was no time to do so many things that she wanted to do. Time was running out for her and Shanna would be in the tower by now and searching for her body. The vulnerable part of her, the part she could not defend. How long before the woman found her body? How long before she watched the bitch tear her apart and know that she was helpless to stop her? //I am sorry Zechs. None of this should have happened. None of this would have happened it I had kept my hands to myself, but I really can't regret what I felt with you. What I feel for you. We will talk, because no matter the hopelessness of this situation, I am not going to let that bitch finish me without a fight.//
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