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"Friends "Written By: Karina
Series: Friends Pairings: 2+6 Ratings: M 15+ [In Australia] Rated in the event of bad language and violence. Disclaimer: I don’t own Gundam Wing or the characters. That’s the way it is. Warnings: Not a death fic despite how it starts.
Aussie spelling and unbetaed. Summary: When Milliardo Peacecraft is abducted
and left to die a solitary death Duo Maxwell decides to take a hand
in the proceedings.
Chapter 22 Strong fingers gripped the flight stick with confidence, leather gloves providing a welcome measure of warmth. The cockpit of the helicopter was frigid, the heaters seeming to have little effect on the onboard temperature. “The wind is worse than I thought it would be.” Trowa leaned in through the door, staring into the blacker than black that was the night. “We were warned the air currents would be bad.” Heero ran a practised eye over the controls, checking for any flicker suggesting they might be developing trouble. “It would have been worse when Maxwell flew this course.” “He is the better pilot.” Trowa murmured. “You think you can fly this bird better?” Wu Fei glanced up from the map spread across his lap. “No. Heero is the better pilot here and now. My point is it is a bad night for flying, and I do not see much in the way of improvement for the next few hours.” A soft grunt from the pilot was the only response and Chang dropped his head once more to study the map. Barton was being honest and he had to admit not only Heero’s flying skills were required, bit in this wind his strength was an advantage. The helicopter bucked and swayed to the winds buffeting, threatening to pitch them into dives and then heave them up, before plunging them down once more. He was navigator on this flight and his job was to work in conjunction with the GPS system and the detailed topographical maps of the area. He was to find a suitable landing site close to the coordinates they had received earlier in the night. Trowa remained braced in the doorway, staring out into the darkness. All the powerful lights of the helicopter showed was thick snow and darkness. Black and white. Somewhere out there in the night, there were ragged peaks with forested slopes, and if the wind won the struggle they would be a smear amid the high country Not exactly a pleasant thought. He would not forget the wind that had trapped them in the city for more than a day. Any sane pilot would still be grounded, unwilling to flying in these conditions. They were Preventers, and a little thing like gusty winds would not contain them. He would prefer to be back in New Port City, curled up before a roaring log fire, with his own personal cat tucked close to his heart. It was when he was happiest, holding Quatre. It was when he felt the most secure. It did not help he could see beads of sweat on Yuy’s brow. “Chang, have you found us a landing site yet?” He was anxious to get out of the air. A fine boned hand swatted absently at a stray lock of black hair. Wu Fei stared hard at the GPS unit for a moment, and then straightened in his seat. “I do not like it, and neither will either of you, but it is the best we are going to do. We will need to land a good two kilometres from the coordinates we were given. From the topographic map, and what I have gleaned from the satellite registering the location transponder on the other unit, the helicopter Duo flew is in the clearing designated by the coordinates. There will not be sufficient room to set this bird down alongside.” “Damn. Two kilometres from the position?” Heero shook his head, unhappy with the idea of walking the distance in the existing conditions. “A long, uncomfortable walk.” “We have hand navigation units, direct satellite feeds and survival gear. We will be cold and uncomfortable, but we will know where we are going. On the plus side, the trees should offer us some shelter from the wind.” Wu Fei punched a set of coordinates into the navigation system. “These coordinates will take us to a clearing large enough to safely land. It is the closest suitable location to the coordinates Duo was working from.” Heero considered the new destination for a long moment and nodded his acceptance. He trusted Chang to find the best alternate landing site, and they would make do. “When we land we will determine if it will be best to walk the distance to whatever shelter Maxwell is using, or erect the tents and stay the night by the chopper. Trowa, can you…” “I’m on it.” Trowa pushed himself off from the doorframe and turned away. “I’ll have packs ready for us by the time we land.” Alone in the main body of the machine Trowa began to rummage through the supplies, sorting out what he decided would be least likely to be required. If they made the trek tonight then first thing in the morning they would return to the helicopter and proceed back to Sanc. Regardless of where they spent the night he was not expecting to be comfortable, and certainly walking in these conditions, in darkness or in daylight, would be far from a pleasure. He had slept rough in ill weather before, and he most likely would do so again. He would not mind so much if he had Quatre to cuddle up to in the tight confines of a sleeping bag. The thought drew a smirk he was thankful no one could see. //I might suggest to him we should go camping in the snow. He would hate the experience, but I am confident he would enjoy the sleeping arrangements. I’m not sure how much sleep we would get, but I don’t think that would be a problem.// In the cockpit Chang stirred, leaning around his seat to check on the location of Trowa. “What did Une say to do about Marquise?” Heero glanced briefly at his companion. “Two words. Low key.” “Ahh. Yes, I thought it might be something like that. Did she give a location to deliver him to?” Heero was silent while he fought a brief round of violent shuddering by the machine, the winds threatening to force them down. “No. I am expecting further instruction to come over a secured band.” Chang rubbed absently at his cheek, brushing aside a fine strand of hair. “A black ops unit; a Preventers exclusive, or a Government initiative?” Heero considered the question for a moment before nodding, one small dip of his head. “Yes.” Yuy considered the unit to be set up for use by select government agencies, including Preventers, which agreed with Chang’s own assessment. A joint Operations Unit would explain why there were no Black Ops Division files to be found on the Preventer network. They had both searched the database on more than one occasion, and for more than one reason. “How big do you think it is?” “Small. It would have to be very small, with select personnel to escape detection this long. Very discrete.” Yuy fought a sudden spate of shudders in the machine. Chang nodded, glancing back toward the cabin, and seeing no sign of Trowa he turned to his companion. “I thought we were the elites, the special agents given the vital, most dangerous assignments to keep the peace. Given some of our missions, I have to wonder just what the black ops are dealing with.” His companions nod was barely noticeable, a brief tilt, nothing more as his fingers flexed around the flight stick. “I do not know if Relena knows her brother has been living in Sanc. I can not see her sanctioning such a unit either. I was under the impression Marquise was on Mars.” “I thought everyone knew he had returned.” Wu Fei scowled at his reflection in the windshield. “Noin returned with him, and we all know about the break up. It was messy.” “When I did not see him around the office, and Relena did not mention him, I assumed he had returned to Mars.” “We assume too much it seems. I assumed he had wisely been assigned to an out of the way Preventer office.” “I suppose, in a way, he was.” Heero returned. Chang’s scowl deepened. “Yes, I suppose he was.” For a few minutes they sat in silence, listening to the rotors and the engine struggle against the wind. The higher into the mountains they flew the worse the wind became, yet it was much less intense than it had been as little as two hours before. At least now it was possible to fly. “He is not what I would have thought someone would make use of for a black operations section.” “How so?” Heero queried. “He is noticeable. Too noticeable. How do you go unnoticed if you look as he does? He is too remarkable. The hair must be as long as Maxwell’s; his face is unmistakable, there is nothing standard or unremarkable about him. The sheer size of him is a detriment to moving unobtrusively. It is easier to hide if one is short and slender and dark.” “True.” Heero inclined his head. “It would appear he is capable, despite his general looks.” “Yes.” Chang checked their coordinates. “I suppose he is.” The GPS unit chimed; the sound turning to an annoying buzz and Heero changed course, giving his attention to the approach vector. He needed to alter course and skirt the flank of the mountain to land, a course which would take them away from Duo’s presumed location. “We need to learn more of this Black Operations Unit.” “We will.” Yuy swore softly as the chopper dipped violently before steadying. “I will be glad to set this bird down.” End
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