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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 23 “So. You’ve had the chance to do some thinking. Any ideas who might want you dead and why?” “I think there are too many possibilities to simply pick a name out of a hat.” The deep voice seemed to vibrate in the air, husky, low toned, thoughtful. Duo snorted, flicking his braid over his shoulder. “If there are that many potential murderers lurking in your past, it might be the best way to start the hunt. You have to start somewhere.” Marquise grinned, the blonde head dipping slightly and sending a cascade of silver, tinted amber by the firelight, to pool at his side. “Off hand I can think of one or two people who might not be pleased I still breathe.” Duo smirked, stretching his legs out in front of him, soaking in the warmth of the fire. “Okay, there are a few people with cause to be unhappy with you. There has to be a place to start, so what about starting at the beginning; with what you were doing while you were training at Lake Victoria? You mentioned you were an undercover operative. What was that all about? How did you get involved in an intelligence operation at your age?” “Undercover work is not something that was common for a cadet. Had I known what would happen I probably would have refused. I was barely a cadet when I was approached, a one off operation, but if I cooperated it would smooth my way at the Academy and it would keep the Alliance from sniffing around me.” Duo guessed Marquise would have welcomed anonymity. The Alliance would have been after him if he was suspected of being the Prince. So how had he managed to hide in plain sight of the Alliance? “What happened? What was it about?” The blonde head tilted to one side as Zechs considered Duo. The operation was still covered by the Official Secret Act, all material pertaining to it sealed for another forty years. Of course he did not particularly give a fig after all this time, and many of the people involved were rotting in their graves. There were still some individuals who lived, who had cause to avoid the questions likely to be asked when public disclosure could be made. It was all a part of the horrors which haunted his dreams. In his life he had killed, lied, schemed and cheated to remain alive, even when he no longer cared if he lived or died. The survival instinct of man was a wonderful, if bothersome thing. Some days it seemed for most of his life he had been dead, and he saw no improvement in the foreseeable future. There would come a day when it would be too much and he would get up and walk. They would panic of course, and come after him, intent on keeping secret the Operations he performed for them. He would need to ensure he was secure for that day, and perhaps it would not hurt if one more person learned the truth. Just one person who was not involved, but who would, given his past; understand why he had chosen as he had, both then, so long ago, and more recently. “Milliardo Peacecraft was dead, slain in the massacre of the Sanc Kingdom. It was history, taught in the schools by the Alliance; explained away as a nest of vipers preaching rebellion against the Alliance. The entire family was extinguished, to ensure there could be no rallying point for rebels and terrorists to focus on.” “Not pretty.” Duo murmured. “I know what a massacre looks like, even if it was on a smaller scale.” “Yes, you would know.” He drew a deeper breath, staring into the fire before he pulled his thoughts into line. “A rebel group came to the attention of the Alliance Intelligence Service. This rebel faction was growing in number and making waves that were beginning to be noticed by those in a position to make bigger waves. This group claimed to include in their ranks the Crown Prince of Sanc.” “I bet that went down well with those who had moved against Sanc.” “The order was given for the rebels to be hunted, and for this so called “˜Crown Prince’ in their ranks to be taken into custody. His identity was to be disproven and the Alliance media machine swung into operation, disclaiming the likelihood of any rebel actually being the Prince. As with most lies the rumours grew, becoming more prevalent and gathering more eager individuals into the rebel band. The Alliance Intelligence Service was not having a great deal of success infiltrating the rebel cell, and the Alliance Generals were becoming a little tetchy by the delay.” Duo shifted his feet closer to the fire, aware of the march of time. They would need to settle down for the night soon enough, but at the moment the fire was burning too high for them to consider retiring for the night. Given they would be leaving the next day, he thought they might enjoy a second meal before settling down. Watching the man reclining in the tent and staring into the dancing flames, Duo wondered what Marquise had had to endure. There was sure to be a colourful story pre-dating the Lake Victoria Academy, and he wondered if he might weasel some information out of the man at some later time. He was sure Milliardo saw another time and place reflected in the flames; something quite different to this draughty pantry cave in the Sanc highlands. “Given the trouble the AIS was having infiltrating the cell, Treize, and those who backed him, saw a golden opportunity to advance their plans. There were few persons who knew who I was, and they were a part of the select group who founded the Specials. They recognized a chance, presented by the inability of the Alliance to infiltrate and take out the Rebels, to advance their cause. If the newly formed Specials could infiltrate the rebels and bring them down, then they could gain brownie points with the Alliance, and further cement the formation of the Specials division.” Duo stirred, frowning. “Wow, time out. I’ve never really understood that. You and Une both keep referring to Oz as the Specials, and saying the Corps have been around for less than twenty years. Oz was around a lot longer than you are implying.” “I am not talking about Oz, Duo, but the Specials. There was a difference between the two. The group headed by Treize’s Uncle had been working on ways to bring about fortuitous circumstances, to gain the newly certified Oz Specials the distinction of not being just another offshoot of the Alliance. They needed the Specials to be recognizably separate from the original Oz Corps founded by the Alliance.” “I personally can’t see any distinction between the two. If you did not want to be counted as a part of one group, why the heck would you lump yourself in with them? I was warned as a Gundam Pilot, and I know the others were warned as well, to be careful of Oz and to take them down.” “Oz or OZ, the Order of the Zodiac?” Duo straightened slowly, frowning. “You are suggesting there was a difference between the Specials and Oz?” “There was a vast difference between the two Corps. The original concept was for the Specials to be autonomous from all pre-existing units within the Alliance. You have heard the saying of the “’Best laid plans of mice and men?’” “Yeah. I’ve heard it.” “There were problems achieving this status. Certain diehards in the Alliance were suspect about the formation of the Corps, despite the best efforts of those backing the Specials; the diehards prevailed, though they were not totally successful. When they attempted to block the formation of the Unit they were only partially successful. Failing to stop its formation they successfully lobbied for the Specials to become a part of the Oz Special Operations Unit. Amid certain circles this Corps was more commonly known as the Dirty Tricks squad. Treize and his Uncle knew immediately that under this ruling the reputation of the Oz Corps would automatically tarnish the Specials, and the new corps would be labouring under its stigma. The Specials needed to distinguish themselves as quickly, and decisively, as possible, separating their reputation from Oz.” “I only ever knew them as Oz, so they can’t have been too successful.” “They were more successful than you think. Amid military circles they needed to achieve their own identity. That opportunity presented itself when the AIS had problems infiltrating, and disbanding, the rebel faction claiming to have the Prince of Sanc amid their number.” “I see. If they could take down the rebels they could distinguish themselves, if only amidst their own peers.” Duo murmured. “So how did you factor into this?” “A proposal was presented to the Alliance Council, that the Specials infiltrate the rebel faction, and once infiltrated they would cause unrest from the inside and bring them down. Very little fanfare; discretion being the operative word. At the time the Alliance was involved in delicate negotiations with certain business conglomerates, and they could not afford a massive operation in which civilians would be targeted.” Zechs closed his eyes for a moment, losing himself in his memories and seeming to forget he was not alone. It was not so many years in the past, but so much had happened that it seemed to belong to another lifetime. Duo watched him for a time, giving him the opportunity to sift through his memories, but when Zechs seemed to be sinking deeper into memory he decided if he wanted to learn more he would need to jog the Prince back from the past. “If the Alliance spies could not infiltrate the group, how did the Specials think they could manage it?” Blue eyes flicked in the firelight, blinking as though he had awoken from a deep sleep. After a moment Zechs eased himself up a little higher, resting his hip by transferring his weight a little. “That was the consensus amid the Alliance Generals. How could the Specials succeed, when the much vaunted Intelligence Service failed? It was at that meeting the faction, who wanted the Specials discredited and disbanded, made a fatal error of judgment. Knowing failure would mean the disgraced Corps would be disbanded, they pushed for the Specials proposal to be accepted. They were eager to be rid of what they suspected would become a thorn in the side of the Alliance over time. General Catalonia was given permission for the Specials to run an operation to remove the rebels.” “So how did he… General Catalonia? Any relation to Dorothy?” Duo queried. “Now Duo, you should know all of the Old European nobility are related, in one fashion or another. He was her father, and he was killed fighting a rebel uprising a few years later. Treize took command of the Specials on his death.” “Ah. Right. So how did he plan to infiltrate the rebels?” Zechs shifted his weight a little, uncomfortable no matter where he settled, but such discomfort was to be ignored. What concerned him was why he was talking to this man. Normally he would not have spoken of the operation at all, sitting in frosty silence until the hint was taken to change the subject. What was it about Maxwell that relaxed him and got him talking? //I don’t know why I am telling him this. I suppose if they try again to take me down, and succeed, then someone might be curious enough to investigate; but it may have nothing to do with that particular operation. Still, it is better than silence and lapsing into brooding.// He saw enough of his dark persona, and was not keen on welcoming him back because the silence permitted brooding. The ghost of Treize would no doubt shake his head and tell him to get a life. Yet again. Considering those past days might bring out a clue, though he doubted he would recognize a clue if it fell over him, and for good measure turned around and bit him. If no recognizable clue presented itself, he could hope their talk brought Duo to the understanding that sometimes he was not a nice man. “I was approached by General Catalonia and Treize. The rebels claimed to have the Prince of Sanc, a figurehead and rallying point for them. What do you suppose would happen if word should circulate the Prince of Sanc knew nothing of them? What if it became known he was not amused at having his name brought into their little rebellion? What if there was an opposing group of activists who were backed by the real Prince? Indeed, what if he had helped form their group?” Duo nodded slowly. “I see. They wanted you to step forward as the Prince.” “Not quite. General Catalonia appeared before a select sitting of Alliance Generals, informing them there was a cousin of the Kushrenada family who might, with the correct grooming, be made to impersonate the Prince of Sanc.” He sighed softly. “Treize was delighted with the idea. After all, how better to hide the supposedly dead Prince than in plain sight of the very army hunting him?” “That was damned dangerous.” Duo was unaware he had gathered his braid and was pulling at the tuft on the end, eyes bright as he watched the older man. “They didn’t think anyone would recognize you as actually being the Prince?” “Care was taken in the setting of the stage. I was suitably made up to the point there was a passing resemblance to the last photographs taken of the six year old Prince. These photographs were displayed to the Generals, along with another set of photographs. Pictures which demonstrated what the Kushrenada cousin looked like suitably ‘cleaned up’ to impersonate the Prince. I was petrified when I was paraded before them, but I comported myself well enough in my role to pass muster. With the blessing of the Alliance the Specials funding for the operation was approved, and the go ahead given. And suddenly I was impersonating myself, for the express purpose of bring down the Rebels.” “Damn dangerous, if you ask me.” “For everyone involved, not just for me. It was a complex operation, and at the end it almost failed, but almost is not a failure.” Zechs sighed and rested his head back, staring up at the roof of the tent. “Zechs Marquise and his resemblance to Milliardo Peacecraft went unremarked upon, until a single incident necessitated the donning of the mask. Special dispensation was given to allow for the disguise to be maintained; keeping my hair long while training. I was required to keep up with my studies, despite playing the Prince for upwards of a month at a time. The personas of Zechs and Milliardo had to be recognizably different. Zechs became an intense book worm with a natural talent for Mobile Suits. It was not easy, but it was exciting. I was afraid, but I wanted to do something to pay back those who had sheltered me.” “You were just a kid. Did you really know what you were doing?” Zechs smiled; a small curve of full lips and brilliant blue eyes centred on Duo. “Did you, I might ask, at approximately the same age, know what you were getting into?” Duo sighed. “Touché.” “Many people had placed their lives on the line to bring me out of Sanc, and to keep me out of the hands of the Alliance. I wanted to do something to help pay back those who destroyed everything, and everyone, I had loved. It helped Treize assured me repeatedly I would not need to kill, that there was no need for me to take a life.” There was a shadow in those eyes which suggested to Duo something had gone wrong, and Milliardo Peacecraft might have killed during that assignment. There was something in his expression, which suggested all had not gone well. If he dared he would ask this man, who was, once again, neither recognizably Zechs Marquise nor Milliardo Peacecraft, when he had first killed. It was not a question he would appreciate anyone asking him, and Duo refrained from voicing the query, but he had to wonder if the man had first killed in the guise of the spy Milliardo Peacecraft or as Zechs Marquise, mobile suit pilot. It was no wonder he was screwed up mentally. //Hell, I’m just as screwed up.//
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