|
"Boot Camp"Written By: Snowdragonct Disclaimer: Don't own any part of Gundam Wing or the characters, more's the pity. This is for fun...no profit involved. Warnings: AU (sort of), yaoi, swearing (lots), some OOC (probably), some violence, references to NCS (especially in later chapters) Pairings: 1+2, 3+4 (to start with) A/N: This is the first time I'm getting up the nerve to post a story...hope it's not too similar to anyone else's (haven't seen one just like it). Candid, kindly-delivered critiques will be greatly appreciated...please don't rip my head off too much? Um, and the old "don't like, don't read" phrase holds true. Oh, and it's fiction, and I don't have a law degree, so there's sure to be some inaccuracies...can we just pretend, please? Thanks in advance. Rating: NC 17 Summary: Four boys in the juvenile justice system
receive a last chance to make something of their futures. Will boot
camp make or break them? And can they ever learn to be a team? "Boot Camp"
Captain Chang had finished reviewing Major Merquise’s notes. There was no mention of Team Wing’s plan, which was actually a good thing, since Wufei wasn’t at all sure Kushrenada hadn’t been able to gain access to the military office. All the locks and password-protected files in the world wouldn’t have been enough to assuage the Chinese officer’s fears. What was left behind for Wufei was a cryptic log, referencing a “recon mission” that led to a possible link between Camp Peacecraft and some “illegal enterprise.” If he read between the lines correctly, Wufei believed it was his superior’s way of stating that the boys’ hacking had turned up the warden’s smuggling activities. And as he read further, Merquise noted that he had assigned an “investigatory agency” to seek out more detailed intelligence. God! Was Merquise so concerned about Kushrenada that he didn’t even want to leave a detailed message in case anything happened to him…as it had? Wufei was almost done shuffling through things, when he picked up a file folder, only to have the contents fall out across the desk. He picked up a colorful page, only to realize it was a brochure for one of the restaurants in a town near the MSC Academy. When he looked through the rest, he realized they were all advertisements, with notes made on each one about the hours, choices, and noteworthy features. As it dawned on him that Zechs had been researching places to take him for their dinner wager, Wufei had to blink his onyx eyes to stop a sudden stinging. Damn it, anyway! Just about the time Heero had him ready to consider the possible advantages of a relationship with an equal, he’d lost the moment. Not that he couldn’t explore the idea later, if and when his mentor recovered; but he’d been counting on Merquise’s presence for the final week of camp. He hastily shuffled the brochures back into the folder and put it on a corner of the desk. Then he looked at the vid-phone and punched in the number for the MSC hospital. “Yes, I’d like to speak to Doctor Owens…tell him it’s Captain Chang. I require an update on Major Merquise’s condition, please.”
“Am I off KP then?” asked the Japanese boy, gratefully putting aside the scouring pad. “Yeah. You’ve done enough.” Mitch eyed the boy studiously. “Captain Chang said to have you go straight to his office after you eat. And make sure one of the liaison people escorts you. He doesn’t want anyone left alone.” He shook his head. “Damn shame, what happened to Merquise.” “Any leads on that?” The cook shook his head. “I know Wolfe seemed to think it had to do with the prison staff. None of the instructors think any recruits were involved, but so far there’s no way to prove it.” He made an unpleasant face. “As long as Kushrenada can cast doubt, he’s got the prison board’s permission to keep his guards on full alert. We’re practically trippin’ over ‘em.” Heero sighed quietly. It wasn’t going to be any easier to carry out the plan with extra prison patrols wandering the compound. Although, if Kushrenada wanted to catch Duo in the act, he’d probably have his men back off enough to give the boy room to maneuver. He was so focused on the plan, and his thoughts, that when he walked out into the dining area, he forgot he’d have to see his teammates and still act angry at them. But the moment he spotted Duo and Trowa side by side in the chow line, he recalled their charade. He also noticed Kushrenada standing near the front of the room, his calculating gaze resting on the boys of Team Wing, studying their every move. Gritting his teeth at the sight of his lover so close to the other boy, Heero mustered up a twinge of jealousy, and made it a point to pass close by them. As he did so, he let his shoulder slam squarely into Trowa’s, knocking the other boy back a step, and eliciting a startled hiss. “Fuck! Yuy, you asshole!” He stopped in his tracks, crossing his arms and glaring tauntingly at the green-eyed boy. “You’re in my way, Barton.” In more ways than one. Duo blinked in surprise, darting a look over his shoulder to where Quatre was sitting with Ben’s team, already eating dinner. The blonde glared back in a perfect imitation of a jilted lover. No help there. Summoning up his best acting skills, Duo eased up beside Trowa, facing off with Heero. “You want more KP, Yuy? Just go ahead and start something,” he taunted. Heero shook his head. “You’re not worth it—slut.” Duo’s jaw dropped. Whether they were acting or not, he thought that comment was a little excessive. “Oh, fuck you, Yuy.” “You already did,” Heero said with a small, cold smirk. “An’ anyone else you could get your hands on.” What the fuck? Duo actually looked aside at Trowa, unsure of how to proceed. He wasn’t even positive Heero was acting any more. If he was, he was damned good at it. The braided boy’s confusion and doubt showed on his face, and Trowa moved a little closer in a genuinely protective gesture. “Ignore him, lover,” he murmured quietly, just loud enough for gawking bystanders to overhear; just loud enough to bring a rush of color to Heero’s face. The team leader put a hand on Trowa’s shoulder, shoving him aside hard, and walking into line in front of both boys. Duo started for Heero, but Trowa caught him around the waist, pulling him back against him. “I said ignore him!” “But he—.” A stern look from the green eyes reminded Duo that the display of temper had been enough, and anything further would only bring more disciplinary action. When the braided boy managed to rein in his temper, he glanced up to see Kushrenada watching with a very self-satisfied expression on his haughty features. Yeah, just keep staring, asshole. Your time’s coming… He resisted the impulse to flip the man the finger, but only barely.
“So when are you going to start doing something to discipline your little group of cutthroats, Chang?” The Chinese officer looked up to see Treize Kushrenada waiting for him in the doorway of the mess hall. “That’s not your problem, warden,” he said coldly, closing the folder he’d been perusing as he walked. “Not my—? You’ve got two boys in this mess hall that just came off disciplinary action, and are about to go at it again.” Wufei raised an eyebrow. Apparently Heero and his teammates were putting on yet another show. “Maxwell and Yuy?” “Who else? And they’ve got Barton sandwiched in the middle. You need to keep those two away from each other—or get rid of one of them.” “And who do you suggest I ‘get rid of?’” asked the Chinese officer coolly. “Since Yuy’s the one threatening Barton and Maxwell, I’d say he’s the one who needs to go!” Wufei eyed the warden with cold amusement. “First off, I’d expect you to be the first to congratulate Yuy if he actually harmed Maxwell, considering how much you hate the boy. Secondly, anything he said in the heat of anger after seeing the boy he thought he was in love with making out with a teammate less than a week after he left, can be taken as harmless ranting. He’s no danger to either Maxwell or Barton.” “They just got into a shoving match in the food line.” “Shoving is a long way from posing a genuine threat.” “Yuy’s killed before.” “He was cleared, as you well know, or he wouldn’t be back here,” the MSC officer reminded him. “When one of your precious recruits ends up dead, Chang, I won’t take the blame, and neither will my guards or staff,” warned the tawny-eyed man. “You will if you’re the one who pulls the trigger,” Wufei shot back, trying to communicate a clear warning to the angry warden. “I’ll thank you to remember that your only job is containment. You are to maintain the perimeter—patrol for escapees. Any and all discipline is up to my sole discretion.” He took a step closer, menace in his dark eyes. “I won’t have your people stepping into an altercation and using excessive force!” The warden’s eyes narrowed. “I run an orderly prison, Chang. I’m not just here to babysit your perimeter! If a riot breaks out because of the feud between a couple of jilted lovers, my staff will do their job and restore order!” “You’ll stay the hell out of it,” retorted the officer. “You’ll let my troops handle the boys.” He raised his chin in a haughty gesture. “Keep out of it, and go monitor your fences.” “That’s what I was doing when your precious Major was murdered,” Treize spat icily. Wufei smiled slowly in dawning satisfaction. “Murdered?” he echoed, enjoying the moment. “He’s not dead, Kushrenada. I just spoke to his doctor, and it looks like he’ll pull through after all.” Kushrenada’s eyes widened. “Merquise is alive?” “Why yes, of course he is. Didn’t anyone tell you?” He narrowed his gaze, wondering if the paling of Treize’s face was just his imagination. “I expect that when he wakes up, he’ll be able to shed some light on the investigation into who shot him.” The warden’s back went ramrod straight, and his chin lifted defiantly. “Well, that’s—fortunate.” “Yes, it is,” Wufei replied, delighted by the other man’s barely-concealed discomfort. “In fact, as soon as I get word he’s awake, I’ll be going to question him personally.” He forced himself not to smile at the grimace on the other man’s lips. “Was there anything else, warden? Or are we done?” With a curt nod, the man turned on a heel and stalked away, leaving Wufei with the distinct feeling he’d just spurred him into action. He was glad he’d insisted on a round-the-clock guard for Zechs as soon as he’d found out about the attempted murder. No matter how much reach Kushrenada had, it couldn’t possibly extend to the MSC hospital, let alone get past trained military bodyguards. But on the other hand, increasing the pressure on Kushrenada could have devastating side effects. It might make him slip up, or it might make him more dangerous. And with the boys from Team Wing readying for action, it was likely they’d end up in the path of the desperate man either way. Wufei would have gladly called off the plan right then and there, but he knew damned well they’d make the attempt with or without his help. The best he could do was give his aid, advice, and backup—and hope their street smarts and natural intelligence would be enough to carry them through. He climbed the remaining steps, and walked into the mess hall looking for his star team. Heero was seated with Ben, Quatre, and the rest of Team Clip, while Duo and Trowa were alone at a different table. Captain Chang went straight to the Japanese boy. “Yuy—Kushrenada mentioned you might not have learned your lesson this afternoon?” His dark eyes raked his long-time friend. “Is there still a problem?” “No, sir,” came an uncharacteristically sullen reply. “With me, Yuy. My office. Now.” Wufei turned and headed back out the door, and Heero sighed, passing his tray over to Quatre and jumping up to follow the officer. Once they were outside, he fell in step. “What’s up, Captain?” “I needed to talk to you alone,” came the mild response. “Oh.” “You didn’t really think I took his prattling on about a shoving match in the food line seriously?” asked Wufei. “Apparently not,” shrugged the boy. “So, did you have a nice visit with Maxwell this afternoon?” “What makes you think—?” “When Wolfe told me he left Maxwell alone eating a late lunch, I knew the little shit would slip in to see you.” Wufei shrugged. “So did you forgive him?” “I reminded him he’s still mine.” Wufei rolled his eyes. “I won’t even ask.” He fixed a discerning gaze on his long-time friend. “How about the rest of the team? You forgive them?” “You mean Barton.” The Chinese man nodded. “He and I will have a talk about it later,” Heero said noncommittally. “It wouldn’t be fair to let Maxwell off the hook, but hold Barton accountable.” “I love Max—Duo. I don’t love Barton,” came the faintly amused response. “After he sold Duo out to Kushrenada, it seems pretty ironic he gets to kiss him in front of me. And yeah, it bugs me, okay? I’d be lying if I said it didn’t. But—I’ll get past it.” “You better get past it quickly.” Wufei cautioned. “For all intents and purposes, you and your team will be going into battle tomorrow night. You need a clear mind, and you need to trust your team.” “Does that mean you’ve decided to let us go through with the plan?” “I think I have to. And I’ve been able to make a couple of modifications that will minimize the risk for all of us.” Heero nodded, relief evident in the lines of his face. “Thanks, ‘Fei.” The Chinese man nodded, knowing what the boy was thanking him for. “I’ll watch his back. I promise.” “That’s the only thing that makes this all bearable.” “Well, I wish we could all sit down and have a proper planning session,” Wufei continued. “But with you and I returning in the middle of a mess, all we can do is piece things together. You and I will go over the plan now. Then, I’m going to escort you to Team Wing’s barracks to get your things; you’ll be bunking with Team Clip for the next few days.” He paused at Heero’s scowl, waiting for an objection that didn’t come, and finally he continued. “After I’ve escorted you to your new accommodations, I’ll fill your teammates in. From that moment on, there will be no communication possible. Aside from seeing them at breakfast and lunch tomorrow, you’ll have no interaction. The entities involved in the plan will all have to act independently, and in synchrony.” He shook his head dubiously. “This would be tough with a fully-trained unit and weeks of planning. Let alone—.” “I know, ‘Fei. I know.” Heero gave his friend a somber glance. “But we can do it. I have a lot of faith in my team. We’ll make this work, get the evidence, and put K. away for good.” He gave a rather Duo-like grin. “If that’s not a perfect ‘final exam,’ I don’t know what is.” True to their purpose, the two went over the details of the plan, outlining how Duo would act as a decoy, with Trowa following along to protect him. Wufei planned to leave the camp in the middle of the day, pretending to go to the MSC hospital to meet with Zechs. He would circle back, park the transport vehicle, and hike to the place where Duo and Trowa were going to lead Kushrenada. Thus there’d be a witness and authority figure present for the confrontation. Meanwhile, Heero and Quatre were tasked with breaking into Kushrenada’s office and accessing his computer files to find details of his criminal activities. They’d download and copy all they could get their hands on, as well as try to leave a hole in the security so the data could be hacked from the outside, with the proper access codes. If all went as planned, Kushrenada would get the drop on Duo, and either incriminate himself by talking too much in preparation for disposing of the boy, or take him into custody and return him to camp, expecting to be able to ship him to L2 for the attempted escape. If he tried the former, Trowa and Wufei would intercede…the latter, they’d simply follow and monitor his actions to be sure he stayed within the dictates of the law. “So many potential glitches…” sighed Wufei, looking somberly at Heero. “And yet, such a potential payoff.” Heero shook his head. “I’m not keen on it myself, but it’s all we’ve got.” He stood and stretched. “You’ll fill the others in?” “I’ll meet with them just before lights out.” “So, we’re all set except for picking up my stuff from the barracks then?” Wufei nodded. “Then let’s go!” They crossed the compound in companionable silence, and Wufei rapped sharply on Team Wing’s door before opening it. “At attention, boys!” he called curtly. All three recruits jumped to their feet and took their positions by their bunks. Duo glanced past Wufei and Heero, realizing there were two soldiers flanking them, as well as a prison guard just outside. It was time for a little more acting, to make the team’s dissolution all the more obvious. The braided boy fixed a surly expression on his face. “What’s he doing here?” he growled, jerking his chin in Heero’s direction. “Yuy’s come for his belongings,” Wufei said in an icy tone, falling into his role as their annoyed superior. “And I’ll thank you to keep your comments to yourself, Maxwell.” Duo glared at Heero, who kept his face carefully impassive…especially when he could feel the heat of passion contained in the feigned angry scowl. Trowa shifted uneasily, though it wasn’t apparent to any of his teammates whether it was part of the act or not. “Look, Yuy…” “Shut up, Barton,” Heero snarled, walking over and kneeling to check the contents of his foot locker before closing it up and lifting it. Quatre merely stood with his arms crossed, scowling at the floor, until Heero paused beside him. “See you around, Winner.” Aquamarine eyes shot a startled look up at the team leader, and a fleeting smile crossed the blonde’s face. “Yeah…good luck with Team Clip.” Duo rolled his eyes, turning his face aside as if the little exchange bored and disgusted him. If any outside observer saw the interaction of the former teammates, they’d have had no clue that there’d been anything other than a total breakdown of the group. Wufei raked the three boys with a scathing look as Heero walked out. “You three better hit the books. Next week’s testing you won’t be able to count Yuy’s scores as part of your team’s.” Duo’s head whipped around and his jaw dropped, before he realized it was part of the act. Or at least, he hoped it was. Chang better not be planning on separating their individual scores for real, or Team Wing was liable to lose their first-place ranking. That seemed like an awfully high price to pay for being allowed to carry out their mission against Kushrenada. But then again, they already had to pretend to hate the teammates they valued as brothers and/or lovers…so what was a little thing like team rank, by comparison? Wufei’s expression didn’t provide any answers, and after the door closed behind him, the teammates looked warily at each other. “He was just acting,” Quatre said reassuringly. “You sure about that?” Duo asked, wearily sitting on Heero’s empty bunk with a hand absently clenched on the abandoned blanket. “You’ve trusted my empathy so far, haven’t you?” Duo nodded, though a troubled frown creased his forehead. “What did you pick up from Heero?” “Hard to say,” Quatre admitted. “He’s such a mess of emotions right now, I can’t figure out what’s caused by stress and what’s real. He’s worried; that much I know. And he’s a little angry.” “At me?” Quatre shook his head. “I think he’s just angry at the situation. Maybe at Kushrenada.” “Probably at me,” Trowa added wearily. “Doesn’t take rocket science to know he resents my kissing Duo.” Quatre eyed his boyfriend with a cross between a smirk and a glare. “So do I,” he said firmly. “And I knew about it in advance.” He took a step towards Trowa, as if to steal a kiss or two of his own, but Duo cleared his throat loudly. “Uh…better not. What if someone takes a look in a window? I wouldn’t put it past Kushrenada to have spies. And I’d be disappointed if he didn’t mistrust you enough to want someone to check up on us, Quat.” The aquamarine-eyed boy sighed and nodded. “Yeah. You’d think I’d know better after all the shit he’s pulled.” He flopped onto his bunk, beginning to shuffle through the stack of worksheets and notes. “So let’s get some of that studying done.”
“Hn.” Heero walked in, nodding a greeting to Ben and the others. “Hey,” Ben said with a smile. “Good t’see you back, Heero. I mean, in spite of—everything.” Heero didn’t reply, but glanced at the bunks questioningly. “Oh. You can have Jase’s bunk. Bottom left over there.” Heero paused, looking back at Wufei, who gave a curt nod. “Go ahead and settle in, Yuy. I’ve got things to take care of.” He gave the boy a quick, stern look. “Behave.” “Yes sir,” came an almost weary response. Heero walked over and put his foot locker by the aforementioned bunk, and then sat on it, looking up at the three members of Team Clip as Wufei disappeared out the door. “Okay, Yuy. Spill it!” Ben said urgently, sitting on the nearest bunk. “Something’s up with your team, and I want to know.” Heero shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Ben. Aside from finding out Duo’s the kind of L2 whore I didn’t want to believe he was…” Ben had Heero’s shirt fisted in his hand and his face inches from the other boy’s in a heartbeat. “Bullshit, Yuy! I know Jase wouldn’t have felt the way he did if Duo was nothing but street trash. They both have more to them than that, an’ you know it!” Reaching up to disentangle the offending hand with a quick twist, Heero glared into the scowling face. “You can’t help us, Ben. And if I say more than that, I could ruin everything. You’re going to have to trust me.” “Give me a reason. Just tell me things aren’t what they look like.” “Things aren’t what they look like,” Heero said simply. Ben backed off, frowning and exchanging a look with his teammates. “When you guys need us, we’ll be ready, y’know, Yuy.” Heero nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Duo rolled onto one side, looking up warily. “Come to snarl at us some more?” he inquired. Wufei closed the door firmly. “I’ve got Wolfe and Carter making sure no one eavesdrops on us. This will be our only chance to finalize your plan.” All three boys sat up sharply. “So it’s a go?” Duo asked eagerly. “After all the grief you went through to set it up, of course,” Wufei told them. He sat on the desk, facing the trio, and repeated the same plan of action he and Heero had discussed. When he was done, he eyed them all questioningly. “Now’s the time for questions, because I’ll be leaving around noon tomorrow, and then you’ll truly be on your own.” By this time, Duo had reclined on Heero’s bunk, his arms crossed behind his head, and his indigo eyes closed as he listened. “I’ve got one for you, Cap’n. Is there a set of keys to Kushrenada’s file cabinets or desk? I’m thinking Heero and Quatre might not be proficient at picking locks.” “The best I can do is give them a tool that functions as a skeleton key. It should open most locks, or at least cut through them.” The officer shrugged slightly. “It won’t matter if Kushrenada knows his office has been compromised, once we’ve got the necessary data.” The braided boy gave a soft, frustrated sigh. “I wish I’d thought of lifting his keys when I let the bastard kiss me,” he muttered. Wufei arched an eyebrow. “First off, Maxwell, if I were you, I would never mention that incident to Heero. He’s jealous enough of Barton, who’s been a teammate and friend.” “I knew he was still pissed!” Trowa blurted. His green eyes carried a trace of unease. “He can’t be any more pissed at you than he is at me,” Duo assured him. “An’ I told you, he forgave me.” Trowa didn’t look convinced. “And secondly—,” Wufei cut in firmly. “You had no way of knowing at that time that we might need to access Kushrenada’s office or his locked cabinets. So stop lamenting your lack of foresight, Maxwell.” The boy snorted wryly. “Yessir!” “You think your lock tool will be good enough for novices?” Quatre asked the officer. “It will have to be.” The Chinese man smirked just a little. “And if it’s not, Yuy can probably bend enough steel to get you into whatever you need to access. He has amazingly powerful hands.” “Mmm, yeah,” Duo sighed dreamily. “Jesus, Maxwell! Give it a rest!” Trowa snarled. One indigo eye opened lazily. “Aw, just cuz you’re not getting any lately…” “Don’t even go there!” Trowa retorted. “Bad enough I can’t risk being seen close to Quatre…but half the camp thinks I’m fucking you! I’m not just not ‘getting any.’ I’m getting blamed for getting a lot more than my share!” Duo sat up, scowling. “At least Yuy didn’t call you a slut!” “Whoa!” Wufei said loudly, standing up and glaring at the boys. “Stop this bickering right now! You were the ones who wanted to play-act, so stop whining about the results. It’ll all be settled in just over twenty-four hours. Then you can put the rumors to rest and get on with your lives.” Duo and Trowa both looked a bit chastened by his diatribe. “Maybe next time you won’t be so quick to hatch a wild plan that makes you put your relationships on the line.” Quatre was frowning deeply. “If it reveals Kushrenada for the monster he is, sir, it’s worth almost anything.” “Almost,” Wufei reiterated. “It’s not worth even one of your lives, boys. Keep that in mind when you weigh the risks, eh?” “Aye-aye, sir!” came three earnest replies. Not long after their meeting with Chang, it was time for lights out, and the boys of Team Wing settled in to sleep in their separate quarters and bunks, hoping it was the last time they’d be so far apart.
To compensate the recruits for the missed visits from home, Wufei treated them to a “movie hour.” The library was set up for showing a newly-released action flick that promised to entertain even the most blasé of viewers, and all of the inmates were allowed to attend. Duo and Trowa chose seats near the back, having kept to themselves all day, though not by choice. They were being treated like pariahs by every other recruit for having betrayed their teammates, and the constant hostility had taken its toll. But partly because of their isolation, Wufei was able to go unnoticed as he took each boy from Team Wing individually to a private room for a last briefing about the fake escape. When he got to Duo, he locked the door behind them, watching the braided boy cross to the small window and look carefully across the compound for signs of observation. “I have a couple of things for you to use tonight,” he told the boy from L2, passing him a bundle of black clothing. Duo looked at it questioningly. “What’s this?” “For starters, it’ll help you blend in. I don’t think Kushrenada will give much thought to what you’re wearing, or where you got it, so don’t worry about that.” He touched the collar of the shirt. “There’s a tracking chip stitched in here,” he explained. “If, somehow, K. were to try to spirit you away, we could find you in minutes.” “You think he won’t bring me back to camp?” Duo asked rather unnecessarily. “Maxwell…he might try to kill you at the point of escape, or put you in a transport vehicle to take you out somewhere to kill, or he might surprise us all and actually arrest you legally and haul you back to camp to be sent to prison. Or he may have some other plan in mind, which is what worries me the most.” The dark eyes fixed a very troubled gaze on the teen. “As your guardian, your commanding officer, and someone who’s grown downright—fond—of you, I want to be prepared for the worst.” A scowl deepened across his forehead. “I don’t want to lose you.” Duo blushed at the warmth in the Chinese man’s voice. “You won’t, ‘Fei,” he said quietly. “I’m a street rat, remember? Tough to kill?” “I wish,” came the wistful reply. Duo hefted the armful of clothes. “These’re heavy, Chang. Bulky. They’re gonna weigh me down.” “It’s worth it for the extra protection,” insisted the officer. “It’s not exactly body armor, but anything heavier than your camp uniform is an improvement. You’ll wear it, or the plan’s off.” Duo nodded. “I s’pose we can do that much your way.” “And whatever you do—don’t put up a fight. When Kushrenada gets the drop on you, surrender. Put your hands over your head and drop to your knees. He can’t justify lethal force under those circumstances.” A fleeting smile crossed his face. “Besides, you’ll make a smaller target that way.” “How am I supposed to carry this bundle to the barracks without anyone noticing?” Duo asked. “You won’t. I’ll leave it for you in the shower building. First locker on the left. When you leave your barracks, go there and change. Then make your escape as planned.” “Sounds good,” Duo said tautly. “I hope to Hell I don’t get spotted by the fucking prison guards before I’m far enough to lure Kushrenada away.” “You won’t,” Wufei assured him. “I have a feeling even if they chanced to see you, they’d let you pass on K.’s orders. He wants you for himself, which is why only you could be the bait we need.” “Yeah, bait,” Duo said ruefully, still not liking the sound of it. “Um, sir?” Wufei fixed a searching look on him. “If anything goes wrong, will you make sure Heero knows—?” “Shut up, Maxwell. Nothing will go wrong,” Wufei said curtly. “And I couldn’t possibly tell Yuy anything he doesn’t already know, when it comes to you.” He was rewarded with a small, genuine smile from the boy. “Thanks for trusting us to pull this off, sir.” “Repay me by succeeding.”
Then the officer headed over to the warden’s office for his carefully-rehearsed departure. “Come!” was the curt reply to his knock on the warden’s door. “Warden Kushrenada,” said the officer coolly. “I just wanted to let you know, I’m headed up to the hospital to speak with Major Merquise.” The tawny-eyed man raised an eyebrow. “He’s awake?” “I got word just a short while ago.” Wufei fixed a stern glance on the other man. “I’ll be gone overnight; but don’t get any ideas. I’ve left Wolfe in charge, and the liaison personnel on alert. My boys will be well-supervised. I don’t expect any incidents while I’m gone.” Kushrenada gave a wry snort. “You never do,” he sneered. “But if your so-called recruits know the cat’s away—.” “They don’t,” Wufei interrupted. “I’ve told no one I’m leaving, except for my troops. The recruits won’t know anything’s different from our usual routine.” “Yes, well, even when you’re here, Chang, there’s plenty of trouble. What if Yuy acts up again?” “We’ve been over all that,” came the curt reply. “And I’ve got extra staff on duty for tonight’s meal. There won’t be any misbehavior.” “We’ll see. I suppose you don’t want my guards to intervene if there is?” Wufei gave a feral grin. “You suppose right.” He gave a cavalier salute. “I’ll be back in a day or two. Try to keep everyone alive and intact this time.” He was followed by a scowling glare as he strode from the office. Then Kushrenada picked up his phone. Captain Chang was headed for the MSC hospital; Treize didn’t want him to get there, and perhaps talk to Merquise. There was no telling how much the Major remembered prior to being shot—but if he recalled the guard’s luring him from his usual routine, he might begin to piece things together. “Hello—Campbell? Yes, I need you to take a little drive. There’ll be a military jeep headed your way. I don’t want it to get past.” A pause and a feral smile. “Ah, yes. The ravine would be perfect. It could be weeks before it’s found, if at all. Excellent idea.” He smiled in satisfaction as he hung up the phone, feeling
sure he’d be rid of not one, but two enemies in the next twenty-four
hours.
tbc... |
