June 2000
Category: Adventure, Angst, Romance.
Setting: About 2 years after the events of AC 195
Pairings: 3+4(Established), 1+2(Getting there)... Wufei is here as well.
No archiving yet please.
Disclaimer: No money is being made off this, just a little bit of fun in
someone else sandbox. I'll leave the toys unbroken.
::Flushing::
Thank you Ravyn for the praise, that meant a lot and guess I'll keep hammering away at it, specially since the plot bunny refuses to die. So, here is the next little bit. I'm afraid it's more of a plot driver then anything overly romantic. Hopefully the next part will be a little more relationship based.
Again, I'm new at this, this is my first fanfiction attempt. Any and all mistakes are my own. I've tried to keep consistant with cannon but I might have strayed on the odd detail here and there.
So, without further ado.
Duo exploded through the door into the Preventer command center all smiles and wild gestures.
"Fear not good people, the God of Destruction is here!"
Wufei looked up from were he was reading some printouts and scowled while Sally turned away from the tall computer screen to greet the exuberant young man with a fond, if formal, smile.
"Hello Duo, glad you all could make it on such short notice."
Duo grinned goofily and bounded over to Wufei's side to look over his shoulder. The young Dragon frowned but tried to pretend the other boy wasn't there. Coming in just behind Duo, Quatre smiled warmly towards Wufei and Sally.
"Good evening Ms. Po."
"Hello Quatre, I'm glad to see you got the message." Sally Po grinned. Everybody knew that where you found Trowa you'd find Quatre, and visa versa but they still played dumb. Quatre blushed a little and ducked his head before crossing towards the table where Wufei sat.
Trowa stepped back to allow Heero to pass through the doorway first, then glided in behind the quiet boy. Sally looked at both young men and gave them an acknowledging nod, receiving the same in return. She then looked to the table where Quatre was trying to edge the energetic Duo away from the irritated Wufei.
"Good, you're all here. I won't waste time with needless pleasantries gentlemen, if you'd take your seats." Sally nodded towards the plain metal table that sat in front of the tall computer screen. Wufei looked up from his reports attentively while Quatre took a seat at the head of the table. Trowa leaned his hip against the edge leaving the remaining two seats for Heero and Duo. Once all five boys were settled, the head of the Preventers nodded towards a technician who typed onto a keyboard. On the computer screen in front of them a picture of a resource satellite blipped into existence.
"This gentleman is a resource satellite that was recently released to the L2 colonies. As you know this satellite was taken from L3 and assigned to L2 in hopes that it would help stabilize L2's economy."
"Only one resource satellite? Someone was mighty optimistic on that point." Duo spoke in his usual cheerful tone but anyone who knew the ex-pilot of Deathscythe could feel the strain he felt. Duo had grown up on L2 and knew first hand how the people suffered under the shaky economy.
Quatre looked over at Duo with compassion as he piped up. "Well, yes a little Duo, but it was seen as a start. The satellite was supposed to transfer over to workers from L2, helping to open up jobs and hopefully kickstarting the economy. It was seen as a starting point, not a complete solution."
"Exactly Quatre. But I didn't call you five here to talk about economic issues. As you might also have heard the people of L3 were a little, upset, at loosing this satellite. They felt that it was an attack on their own economy, especially since the workers that were on the satellite were to be replaced. Mostly it was just vocal protests a lot of noise being made but it seems that a small radical faction took root. That faction has managed to infiltrate the satellite and have taken it over."
Heero blinked. "How, there are over hundreds of people on those satellites."
"Usually Heero, but the satellite was in mid-transfer. The radicals waited till the crews were being shuffled, then took control. They don't seem to care about the welfare of the L2 workers. In fact we have reason to believe that there have already been fatalities."
Quatre frowned and looked down at where his fingers were laced together, resting on the top of the table. Duo stiffened in his chair, violet eyes flashing but he said nothing. Trowa calm gaze flickered between the two boys. Heero, Wufei and he had no real tie to the people on the satellite. Duo on the other hand obviously took the attack personally.
Sally Po looked from young face to young face. A part of her cringed at once again throwing these five young lives back into the breach. Each boy had seen so much pain and suffering already in his short life that it seemed the height of cruelty to keep making them face it again and again. However, it could not be denied that each young man had training so far beyond anything the Preventers currently had access to. That training could not be wasted. Not when so many lives were at stake.
"What we need you to do is take the satellite back. With minimal damage if at all possible."
"Why?" Heero intoned flatly. "Why not just take the satellite out and the radicals with it?"
"Because, it's already taken too long to wrangle the satellite in the first place Heero. The economy of L2 can't wait any longer." Quatre answered the question. He'd been one of the most vocal supporters for the movement of the satellite in the first place. It had taken an enormous amount of arm twisting to get L3 to give it up. "If we loose this satellite it will break the fragile economic structure in place. The results would be devastating to the colonies within L2."
"Exactly as Quatre says. We cannot afford to let anything happen to that resource satellite."
"But. The radicals are under no such restriction. Are they?" Trowa's calm voice drifted across the room, silencing everyone.
Sally exhaled deeply and paced a couple of steps in front of the table. "No. The radicals are under no such restrictions. Though they say they want to see the satellite back under the control of L3, we believe they are fully prepared to destroy it rather then give it up."
"They are weak people who have lucked into a position of strength." Wufei's tone was cold and disdainful. The Chinese boy despised weak people who bullied their way into strong positions.
Quatre stood and paced toward the computer screen, looking over the image of the satellite thoughtfully. Trowa watched his lover for a moment before shifting his eyes to the too quiet Duo. The braided boy hadn't budged since the conversation began, yet Trowa could see the way the muscles along his jaw flexed as Duo clenched his teeth together. Flicking his eyes to the space just to the American's right Trowa noticed Heero was also watching Duo closely.
"This satellite is unfinished Ms. Po." Quatre's bright voice seemed to come out of no where, causing everyone to jump a little. Sally nodded walking up to the screen and moving her hand over the imagine to indicate certain points.
"Right. L3 would only agree to releasing this half developed one. "
"So! Not only are they selfish but they're being selfish about a piece of junk!" Duo's calm finally snapped and the young man bounded to his feet practically shouting. "All right, I say we take the satellite and ram..."
"Duo!" Quatre quickly interrupted him. "It's not a piece of junk. L3 didn't want to release one of their working satellites, that's true but this one will actually mean more jobs for L2 workers. They're going to need people to finish setting this up, as well as people to run it. Two sets of skills will be learned instead of just one."
Duo snorted and snapped his hand at the blonde boy in an irate gesture before stomping off away from the table. Trowa watched the retreating braid for a moment before looking to Heero. Heero, finding himself under the expectant gazes of Trowa, Quatre, Wufei and Sally Po, shot them all a dispassionate glare. No one flinched. Putting a little more heat into his glare Heero pushed up from his seat and talked after the agitated Duo.
"Guess I'll talk to him."
End Part 2
Well... continue?
Laekin
Please send comments to: Seregill@aol.com