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"Baby Series 3"Written By: Karina Rating: PG Spoilers: None Disclaimer: I don’t own Gundam Wing or the Characters from the series but the baby is mine. Pairing: Anastasia + Pagan, Milliardo Notes: Challenge 139. Baby Series 3 #190. Takes
place following Cunning. Many thanks to ShenLong for her work betaing
this fic.
Bluff The Grand Duchess snickered quietly as she watched the screen, her eyes sparkling with amusement. Oh yes, it was a very different Run in comparison to those she had witnessed in the distant past. Of course, with so few participants involved in the race there were opportunities for original thinking, and these two bright young men were not a disappointment to her. "I'll have to have a word with the cleaning staff," Pagan sighed. "I find it rather refreshing." "I am sure the central wing of the palace will be smelling of roses for quite some time and while some people might find that refreshing, others will find it less so. It is, however, an effective if unorthodox use of talcum powder." On the screen Wu Fei could be seen sprinkling a light layer of talcum powder across the entrance to a known secret passage, marking an area just wide enough that even Milliardo's long stride would not allow him to avoid the zone. "Do you think it will enable them to snare him?" Pagan considered the Duchess for a long moment before looking back to the screen where Wu Fei had now departed, at speed, and Pagan had to switch camera's to pick him up again. A moment to check on Duo's progress, likewise sprinkling talc throughout the central wing at select places and he shook his head slightly. "I am not certain. It is an effective strategy, but Master Milliardo is not without his own cunning." Switching the camera again through a sequence Pagan located the King at the entrance to the central wing on the first floor and he was considering the floor with a thoughtful frown. Spread across the carpet runner and the polished floorboards was a thin but noticeable layer of talcum powder. The Duchess leaned forward slightly, watching as the King considered his situation and one regal brow arched as, to her surprise, he turned back into the East Wing and vanished down a servants staircase. Pagan grunted softly, manipulating the security system until he picked the King up once more entering the ground floor of the East Wing. Both waited in silence, watching with interest as Milliardo made his way away from the entrance to the central wing and into a side room where Pagan lost the picture; the interior of private rooms were not covered by cameras. A moment later his earpiece crackled. "I'll thank you kindly to see that the rear door on the West wing is opened by the time I get there, Hunter." "Cheeky bugger," Pagan snorted, flashing a glance at the Duchess. "I believe I will keep my money on Master Milliardo, Your Grace." "I am inclined to agree, Hunter. I am thinking we might need a consolation prize or two for young Maxwell and Chang." Pagan resisted the urge to respond, almost afraid of what comeback might await him at the hands of the canny old matriarch. His ear piece crackled with a change of frequency and he inclined his head slightly, half expecting the message. "Hunter, Security here. A window on the ground floor of the East Wing is registering as having been opened." "Stand down, Security. The matter is known to me. You may dispatch someone to re secure the window." Anastasia considered her companion for a long moment. "Was that on general broadcast?" Pagan grinned, inclining his head. "I believe it was." A quick shifting of the security feed and they watched as Chang and Maxwell, in different parts of the central wing, raced through the hallways en route to the West Wing, their strategy of laying talc forgotten. Shaking his head Pagan reflected he needed to have a word with security about protocol when a Run was in progress. —————————— Milliardo chuckled softly as he slipped into the central wing, ignoring the heady scent of roses and the white powder across the floor. If his ruse had worked he should have sufficient time to make it to the final checkpoint and then it was just a matter of getting to the kitchen. Of course, he might not have fooled his pursuers, but he was hopeful and he really did not fancy spending even a few minutes outside in the snow laden grounds without a coat. He would be daring and take the chance on making it to the upper floors before they twigged to his ruse. Though he should have time to reach the checkpoint he was not inclined to dawdle. Maxwell and Chang were not slow and they would not likely be taking a casual wander. Shifting his pace into a distance eating jog Milliardo hit the servants staircase, his long legs taking the steps three at a stride.
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