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.
And, well here is a little bit more. I might get some more done tonight, planning on it at least.
Thank you again to all the wonderful support. It's helped me hold onto the courage to keep up with this as well as let me know which directions to work in. I'll beg shamelessly for more. :D
Heero crossed over to where Duo was weaving back and forth between two computer terminals. A sharp glance from Heero's dark blue eyes sent the two Preventer techs scrambling to find work elsewhere. Surely there were some wires that needed crossed somewhere... elsewhere. Duo noticed with a hint of amusement how funny it was to watch two grown men tripping over themselves to get out of the way of one boy. Heero had that effect on people.
Once they were basically alone, Heero turned and leaned against the terminals. He didn't say anything, just locked Duo with that expectant stare. Duo bridled, and for a moment paced tightly back and forth, refusing to give Heero the satisfaction. However, it was not in the American's nature to remain silent for long and besides, Heero just had a way of extracting confidences from Duo.
"It's... so frustrating Heero. The people in L2 have suffered for so long, ever since the colonies were founded it's been one thing after another and no one seems to care. I grew up there; on the streets. I saw the way children had to beg for scraps and the way those who "had" treated those who "had not." It was... is, sickening Heero. Hell, when I first started piloting DeathSychthe I almost hoped that I'd die in that war, just so I wouldn't have to go back. Then, I'd hate myself for feeling that way. After all, why should I survive and everyone I left behind continued to suffer." Duo seemed to wind down as the rant left him. His back to Heero, he leaned forward, bracing his hands against the terminal. "I don't really talk about it, I know. It's not something I want to remember, yet I feel disloyal if I don't." One hand clenched and punched the unyielding metal. Duo's voice dropped down to a whisper, as if he spoke to himself. "They were so close."
Heero watched all this calmly. Letting the storm run itself out. As Duo fell silent, the Japanese boy straightened from his lean and closed the couple of steps between them. Reaching up, without hesitation, Heero laid his hand firmly on Duo's shoulder. His voice was still the flat monotone, but there was a hint of compassion in it. A hint so subtle Duo almost missed it.
"I wouldn't say that nobody cares. You care." Strong fingers bore into Duo's shoulder. "Stop feeling guilty."
Duo reared back, breaking away from the comfort of Heero's hand and turning on him. Violet eyes flashing. "Guilty?! I... I..." The American stopped, blinking. He was about to deny Heero's words but realized to do so would be a lie. The flash of temper washed out of Duo with such speed that it left him weak in the knees, needing to slump against the terminal. His hands came up to cover his face. Duo refused to cry. He wouldn't cry, but the dry sobs choked his throat closed.
Again, Heero stood by him while the storm built and broke. Moving forward, he reached and took both of Duo's wrists in his strong hands. Fingers closed around bone and sinew as Heero, gently but firmly pulled Duo's hands away from his face. Folding both of Duo's wrists into one hand, Heero reached with the other to lift Duo's face up, forcing violet eyes to meet dark blue.
It was not so much compassion that Duo met in that gaze as pure understanding. Something infinitely more precious and rare.
"It's all right to feel guilt Duo. You survived. You got out. But it's time to let it go because it's keeping you from helping now. We need to approach this with the same calm logic as our enemies. If you can't do that, you're a liability to our efforts. But you're stronger then that. I know it."
Those last three words were uttered with such unwavering faith that Duo could feel it expand within his chest, pushing aside the grief. Taking a shuddering breath he nodded slightly, taking care not to dislodge the hand that held his chin. Heero, watching Duo very closely, returned the nod and for a split second his fingers opened until he cradled the side of Duo's face in his hand. Then Heero drew his hand away, stroking his fingers surreptitiously down along Duo's jawline before letting his hands fall away.
"Good. Then come back to the table. We have plans to finish."
Heero turned and moved back towards the metal table where the other three boys still waited. Duo took a deep breath and followed, feeling much more clear headed.
Quatre looked up from where he was going over some technical schematics with Wufei. His soft blue eyes flickered from Heero's calm face to Duo's slightly pale countenance. Frowning a little, he straightened and shifted to move towards Duo when a strong hand landed lightly on his shoulder. Turning his head he looked up into Trowa's green eyes. The taller boy gave a slight negating gesture with his head, then smiled very slightly as his fingers gave a light stroke to Quatre's collarbone. Everything was fine, the gesture meant. Quatre smiled back and nodded, turning back to the schematics.
Once Heero and Duo were settled back at the table, Quatre began to speak. "All right, we've got a couple of things in our favor. A lot of Oz mobil suit carriers were destroyed in the area, so we've got plenty of debris to cover our approach. Also most of the satellite's long range scanners are inoperable at this time. We should have no problem getting onto the satellite."
At this Sally spoke up. "One of our scout ships recently took heavy damage. It's still mobile but it should look like so much junk floating through space. These radicals shouldn't take notice."
"We hope." Put in Heero.
Quatre nodded towards Heero, acknowledging the other boy's reservation. "Once we get close enough, we'll space walk the rest of the way. Heero, you and Duo will infiltrate at this waste duct here. It should lead you straight up into the engineering section. One of our greatest concerns is that these radicals have placed detonation devices to destroy the satellite. This would be the first place they'd put anything. You need to make a full sweep of the area, then begin to work your way to regain control. We don't want to kill these people if we don't have to. But use whatever force you deem necessary."
Heero nodded, thinking to himself that Quatre was being overly optimistic. Heero knew the radical mind. Most of these people they were going up against would probably believe they should die for their cause. Completely senseless, since there was no point to dying but that wouldn't keep Heero from killing them if the need arose.
Quatre continued. "Wufei, you'll be infiltrating here. At the storage facilities. A lot of explosives and other equipment is being held here. It's another key spot for these people to set bombs. Do the same as Heero and Duo. Sweep the area, remove any devices and then take control. Trowa and I will be entering here and then working our way up towards the control room. Once we have control of these key areas, we should be able to take the satellite back."
As Quatre spoke, Heero, Duo and Wufei had stood and now all five boys were bent over the schematics, talking amongst themselves and working out time frames. Sally Po stepped back, letting them work together without her interference. The swish of the doors caught her attention and she turned to see Lady Une enter. With a last look to the young men, Sally walked over to greet Lady Une.
"Good evening Lady."
"Good evening Sally. Have they come up with a solution?"
"Yes. They're hammering out the details now. Things should be in motion within a couple of hours."
Lady Une nodded. Her gaze moved to rest on the five boys. Her voice soft and a little wistful. "Would that we could leave them alone to live their lives. They've already given more then their due."
Sally stood beside the taller woman, watching as well. A moment passed before she spoke. "I think, rather, that their lives were taken from them long ago Lady Une. Soldiers are what these young men are. They would languish without challenges, be rootless without something to protect."
Lady Une was silent for a moment, digesting Sally's words then she turned and smiled to the other woman. "You have a point. Let me know when they leave."
"Yes ma'am." Sally saluted smartly.
End Part 3
Well... continue?
Laekin
Please send comments to: Seregill@aol.com