20-May-2001
Disclaimer: Neither Gundam Wing or its characters belong to me. I make no money off of the fan fictions I write containing said characters. Gundam Wing and its characters are the property of Bandai, Sunrise and Sotsu Agency.
Rating: R
Warning: Language, innuendo, flirting
Pairings: implied 1x2 and 3x4
Duo stepped on to the bridge of the Peacemillion with Junior's cage in hand.
"Are we there yet?" he joked in his best 'whiny little kid's voice.
"Don't make me come back there," Howard quipped back, taking the cage from Duo and sitting it on the deck, "I was just getting ready to get on the com with Treize, guess its time for you boys to suit up."
"Yeah, the others are doing that now, I just wanted to bring Junior to you first. Now take good care of him for me, Howie," Duo grinned.
"I'll have him talking like a gentleman when you get back," Howard grinned back, "and I'll let it slide this time."
"You've never been able to get me to talk like a gentleman," Duo laughed, "oh and just what is it you're gonna let slide?" as if he didn't know.
"Callin' me Howie . . ." the old engineer grinned, "Oh, I had something made for all of you. You'll see when you put on your suits."
Then Howard's tone sobered, "You just make sure all of you come back in one piece, and that's an order."
"I promise," Duo vowed, "getting hurt is not on our agenda."
"I know . . . now go . . . shoo . . . get your suit on. I gotta get things coordinated with Treize anyway."
"Aye, aye Captain," Duo gave him a mock salute then headed back to his cabin.
Howard watched him as he left. He looked down at the parrot in the cage, "well, it looks like its just you and me now, Junior. You just sit there like a good bird and don't give me no crap."
"I love you, Duo," Junior responded.
"Gotta agree with you on that, you goofy bird," Howard chuckled, "I just hope he'll be ok."
Howard keyed in the frequency to Treize's ship and waited for the vidcom to connect.
"I know it's an ugly bright yellow, but I gotta say, your ass looks great in it," Trowa said in a husky voice, "and so does the rest of you."
"I can definitely say the same about you," Quatre grinned.
The suits fit almost like a second skin, revealing every outline, every muscle, and every bulge of their bodies. They could not help but admire how good each other looked in them.
"Look at this," Quatre said as he stuck his forearm outward, showing off the patch that was on the sleeve of the suit.
The patch was oval with a white Peacemillion over a black background, 'Quatre' and 'Sandrock – L4' encircled the picture of the spaceship. Trowa had a similar patch but with his name, gundam and colony cluster emblazoned on it.
"That Howard is pretty special," Quatre continued saying, "no wonder Duo thinks so highly of him."
"Yeah, he does seem to be someone you can count on," Trowa agreed, "now turn around so I can finish helping you adjust your suit."
"I think Duo's beginning to wear off on you. You don't fool me one bit. That's just an excuse to check out my butt," Quatre chuckled as he turned and wiggled his posterior for effect.
"You're killing me, you know that?" Trowa groaned, trying to control the bulge that was growing between his legs.
"I know, so what are you going to do about it?" Quatre leered seductively.
"Fight it off ," Trowa growled, "and suffer till we get back."
"Thank you," Wufei said as he bowed to Heero, "I don't think I could have gotten this on by myself."
"You are welcome," Heero bowed in return, keeping his head level with Wufei's, showing respect yet equality.
"Did you see this?" Wufei asked, pointing to his patch. It read 'Chang Wufei' and 'Nataku – L5'.
"I know," Heero smiled, "I've learned to expect the unexpected from Howard."
"Lookin' good, Wufei," Duo said, giving him a 'thumb's up' as he entered the cabin, "Howard should be on the vidcom with Treize right about now . . . where's my suit?"
"It's on the bed, next to mine," Heero replied, "I'll help you get into yours in a minute."
"Thank you again, Heero. We all meet in the hanger?" Wufei said
"Yes, we'll be there as soon as we are ready. And Wufei . . . anytime," Heero answered.
"Do you think he's still uncomfortable about that disagreement between us?" Heero asked as Duo helped him into his spacesuit and began pulling it into place.
"Nah, he's fine. I think he's got something else on his mind right now, though" Duo guessed, "but it's not going to affect his mission, you know that . . . damn Heero, that suit fits you tight," he added with a moan.
"We don't have time . . ." Heero reminded him.
"I know . . . I know . . . duty calls and all . . . but when we get back . . ." Duo sighed, as his admiring eyes wandered all over Heero's body, settling on the patch on the right arm of the suit.
"Heero Yui, Wing – L1," Duo read, "this must be the something Howard was talking about."
Heero finished velcro-ing the suit closed, "wait till you see yours," he grinned.
Duo looked at Heero suspiciously, "ok . . . what's on the suit?"
"Nothing," Heero shrugged, "just another patch . . . like mine. I just thought you'd really like it . . . that's all."
Duo lifted the sleeve of the suit, 'Duo Maxwell, Deathscythe – L2', read the patch, he noticed underneath Deathscythe – L2 was 'Shinigami' in smaller lettering.
"Howard, you are just too cool," Duo smiled as Heero helped him into his. Heero was still wearing a silly grin after they had Duo completely dressed and fastened up.
"Alright Heero, you can't seem to wipe that dumb smile off your face, so what's going on?" Duo asked with his arms folded across his chest, a skeptical look on his face.
Heero led him over to the mirror and turned Duo around so his back was to it, "Look," he pointed.
Duo took one look at his backside and began laughing hard, on his butt was a Chiquita banana sticker.
"Touché, Howie," he said between laughs.
"I'm glad to see you were finally able to make it," the calm in Treize's voice belied the great relief he felt upon hearing the news of Peacemillion's arrival.
He'd spent the last few hours worrying they would not make it in time. That Romefeller would be successful blackmailing the colonies into surrender. And seeing Zechs's face on the newscast hadn't helped his frame of mind either.
But Treize had no time for worry or guilt so he did what he always did, he swept them out of his way. They would lay in the dark recesses of his mind until he was ready to face them.
"We need to hurry now," he continued, "our window of opportunity is closing fast."
"You just tell Col. Une to stand ready," Howard replied, "the pilots are in their gundams and waiting to be dropped off at their designated sites."
"Excellent!" Treize was ready for some good news, "Col. Pulaski and I are getting ready to leave for L1 ourselves."
Howard chuckled, "I wish I could be there to see the look on Dermeil's face when you crash the conference."
"I'm sure you will, it's probably all that will be on the news for the next few days," Treize chuckled, "good luck, Howard."
"Good luck to you, too."
"Thank you, Howard," Treize answered as he broke the vidcom connection and turned to Alban, "it's time for us to leave."
"The flight will take a couple of hours, just enough time to get us and our men ready."
"Good. And I have to admit, I'm looking forward to seeing the look on Dermeil's face myself," Treize chuckled.
Col. Une pressed the comlink on her ship's communication console. The captain of Treize's ship appeared on the vidscreen.
"We're in position now. Captain, would you pass the word on to his Excellency?"
"Yes ma'am Col. Une, right away," the Captain saluted, "he and Col Pulaski have already left in the shuttle."
"Good. Now all we have to do is wait for the gundam pilots to take their positions and wait for the signal from Lord Khushrenada."
"Yes ma'am."
"Oh, and Captain . . . "
"Yes, Colonel?"
"Remind your men about his Excellency's orders. After the mission is finished, they are not, I repeat, not to impede the gundams in any way, is that clear?"
"Yes ma'am. You have my word."
"Thank you Captain, Col. Une out," she disconnected the comlink and began giving orders to her troops.
"This feels so weird," Duo commented, his voice sounding thin and tinny through the mike in his helmet.
"What feels weird?" Heero asked.
Duo sat at the controls of his gundam waiting for the hanger bay doors to open. Wufei, Trowa and Quatre had already left and Peacemillion had reached the next drop off point, which was his.
"The spacesuit . . . breathing air out of tanks . . . Deathscythe being able to fly . . . and the sound of your voice through my earphone. It's a little high and flat, koi. You kinda sound like a chipmunk."
Heero burst out laughing, "Baka," he snorted.
"Hee-chan, you haven't called me baka in a long time, I was beginning to think you didn't care anymore," Duo's smile was bright and wide, but no one could see it through the helmet he wore.
"Baka," Heero snorted again.
"Ok boys, cut the chatter," Howard broke in, "well kiddo, we've arrived at your drop off and I'm getting ready to open the bay doors."
"I hear you, Howard . . . uh . . . since I've never done this before, make sure you cue me when to fire up my thrusters, ok?." Duo felt a little nervous and began biting his lip, he was going to have to get used to the idea that Deathscythe was not just a weapon anymore but a small spacecraft.
"No problemo, Duo. Besides, you don't fire 'em up until you're instructed to anyway," Howard grinned.
"I love you, Duo," Duo could hear Junior in the background.
"Awww, I love you too, Junior. Now be a good boy for Howard," he chuckled, like the bird was really going to do that.
"I love you too, Duo" a soft voice said over the radio link between spacesuits.
"I love you too, Heero," Duo repeated tenderly, "keep yourself safe."
"That goes double for you," Heero answered.
"Excuse me, but I'm not the one that's famous for taking unnecessary chances. I swear to you, Heero, I will make your life miserable if you get yourself killed," Duo threatened.
Heero could not help but snicker at Duo's words.
"I mean it mister, I will haunt you in the afterlife if I have to . . . and I can do it too. I'm Shinigami . . . remember?" Duo continued his threat.
"I promise you Duo, I won't do anything stupid," Heero vowed, "returning home with you is my highest priority."
"Just make sure it stays your highest priority," Duo huffed.
"Ok, ok . . .you've made your point," Heero chuckled, "I promise, if I so much as get a scratch, you can tie me to the bed and have your way with me."
"Heero, I already have my way with you, don't you realize that?" Duo laughed.
Heero opened his mouth for a retort but stopped short. Duo was right, not only did he already have his way with him, he had him wrapped tightly around his little finger. Heero smiled at that idea, being wrapped around Duo was not a bad place to be.
"I'll tell you what, you can tie me up and have your way with me and I will teach Junior to say something dirty," Heero swore.
"Duo, just tell him it's a deal and get your butt off my ship," Howard cut in, "it's time to go."
Howard pressed a button on the control panel and the hanger bay doors sprung to life, gliding along their tracks and into the bulkheads. The blackness of space appeared before them, and only after their eyes adjusted were they able to see the bright sprinkles of stars that dotted the void.
"Ok Duo, fire those thruster engines now," Howard instructed, "then slowly push forward on your throttle."
"Gotcha Howard, and Hee-chan, I love you," Duo slowly steered Deathscythe through the bay doors and into space, "oh, and Hee-chan, it's a deal, I'll see you later."
In a matter of minutes, Duo was outside the doors, they closed slowly behind him. He was alone in space, only the suit and Deathscythe between him and that endless vacuum. It was a daunting experience and Duo had to admit to himself, it felt a little scary.
"So where is the ship that's supposed to be my backup? Oh . . . wait . . . I think I see it."
"Welcome Deathscythe, I'm Lt. Commander Dostelova, captain of the Oz troop carrier 'Moriarty'. We are your escort to the L-2 cluster and please stay on the alert. Romefeller's battleships are already in position and there have been reports of mobile suits patrolling the general area."
"Greetings Commander, and thanks. Deathscythe is ready, so lead on."
Heero watched the troop carrier, with the gundam following behind, changing it's course. Duo was now on his way.
"We're setting course for your rendezvous point now," Howard's voice came over the com, "we should be there in about twenty minutes."
"Thanks Howard . . . for everything," Heero responded.
"That's what I'm here for," Howard chuckled, "now get yourself in position, we don't want to keep Oz waiting any longer than they've had to."
"I'm already there," Heero replied.
"Are you about ready Alban?" Treize asked his security chief, "we land in about fifteen minutes."
"Almost done," Col. Pulaski answered, pulling on his boot, "I hope this works, 'cause if it doesn't, our asses are grass."
Treize stood before the small mirror, making last minute adjustments to the false moustache he was wearing, "since Romefeller's representative from Scandia conveniently could not make the talks, I am going to take his place. This will work."
"We're darned lucky we were able to detain him before he could leave Earth. Are you sure that temporary hair dye isn't going to rub off or start running if you sweat?"
"It's not temporary," Treize smiled, "I think I look pretty good with black hair, don't you?"
Alban coughed and cleared his throat, "Sorry Treize, but you're going to have to ask Une that question. I just hope you look enough like him to get past Security at the conference."
"You know that's why we chose him in the first place. He's roughly the same height and build as me and he's new enough to the Council to not have had his pictures splashed everywhere. Like I said before, this will work."
"I know it will, I'm just being a nervous old hen. I've never done undercover work before. But you gotta admit, this is gonna make a great story for my grandkids someday," Pulaski grinned, "I think it's almost time to land, I'm going to go check your 'entourage' and make sure they're ready."
"Make doubly sure each one of them is carrying one of those new ceramic pistols, I don't want us getting held up because one of them got caught carrying a weapon," Treize reminded him.
"I will," Col. Pulaski agreed, "although they shouldn't be searching any of us, diplomatic courtesy and all, but I'm assuming they will anyway. If I were Dermeil, that's what I would do."
"That's just something I would do, period," Treize remarked, "it just pays to be paranoid sometimes. And I'm sure Dermeil is very paranoid right now."
"I'd bet even money on it," Pulaski grinned, "I'll be back in a couple of minutes."
Treize sat down and stared out the portal, he was feeling a little paranoid himself right now. He sighed then exhaled hard. He would be coming face to face with Zechs for the first time since . . .
TBC
End of Act 15
KwyckSylver
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