Gundam Wing: Genesis Part 2
"Duo, you've got to calm down!" Trowa repeated himself for what seemed like the millionth time.
It was time- Relena Peacecraft would be arriving any moment now, and security was at its highest. But that wasn't why Duo was so nervous. The reason for his insecurity was standing next to Quatre Winner, in his place as security chief for the Center, Heero Yuy.
It had been an incredible few weeks for Duo- the testing of Genesis, Heero's return and apology, the break-in, Heero, talking to Relena, Heero... The Japanese ex-pilot had given him many assurances that having Relena around would not change anything between them, but Duo couldn't help noticing how nervous Heero, himself, was about seeing the Chancellor. As if there was something there, and he wasn't sure he'd be able to resist.
Heero seemed to be okay, and he had sworn... hadn't even hit Duo once since his return...
"Hey! The shuttle's here! Look!" Duo's reverie evapourated as voices began whispering excitedly behind them, and he looked up. She was there.
Relena had changed, as well. She was taller and looked more mature than she had in the days she'd chased Heero around the world. He hoped that it was true- that she had changed and was ready to accept that she would never have the Japanese boy for her own... Duo bit his lip. He wasn't prepared to trust in that, at all!
Quatre stepped forward eagerly, smiling brightly as he shook her hand and pulled her in for a small hug in front of the cameras. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Relena-sama! Welcome to our research facility!"
She smiled back at him. "Wonderful to see you again, Quatre! And look who you've managed to drag in..." Her eyes were already on the form of the Japanese boy, who wore a vague scowl as he returned her glance coolly.
Heero gave her a stiff nod. "Relena."
She walked up to him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. "Is that all you have to say to me, Heero? No words of welcome?"
He grunted. "Welcome to the facility."
Quatre was painfully aware of the violet eyes that were watching the small exchange like a hawk, and he quickly interceded again by taking Relena's arm in a gentle, but firm, grip. "We have so much to show you, Relena, but I thought that you might want to say hello to the others before we whisk you away..."
He kept up a steady stream of words as they approached the other pilots, Sally, and the group of scientists that waited to greet her with varying expressions on their faces.
She greeted them all by name, embracing Sally fondly as they talked. She made a move to hug Wufei and Trowa as well, but backed off at the looks they gave her as she finally turned to the last member of the small group.
Relena forced herself to smile sweetly as she came face-to-face with Duo Maxwell, and she extended her hand to him stiffly. "Nice to see you again, Mr. Maxwell."
The other pilots watched in growing alarm as Duo smiled easily and shook the extended hand. "A pleasure to see you, as always, ojou-san!"
Trowa's eyes narrowed. Mr. Maxwell? And she certainly didn't try to hug him... Just what is she playing at?
Duo felt his insides twisting painfully as Relena's sharp glance seemed to pin him where he stood. "I was... surprised to hear that you were involved with this project."
He smiled again, unwilling to show how she made him feel. "Yeah- I do dumb really well. I'm not surprised you fell for it, too."
Her smile looked unpleasant. "Quite."
Quatre firmly hurried her along, but Relena looked back one last time as she was introduced to some scientist or another. Yes- Heero had stopped as well. She felt anger welling up in her heart as she watched- the Japanese boy was gently running his fingers down the American's cheek, and giving him the sort of gentle smile that she was certain he had been reserving for her.
She let Quatre move her along, her responses automatic and completely false as she kept an eye on Duo, who was now smiling goofily as Heero winked at him.
It was unfair!
~*~
"Well... that went well," Sally drawled from her place in an overstuffed chair.
Wufei shot her a look. "That stinking onna! Snubbing him like that! If it wasn't illegal..."
Sally shook her head. "I know- you give her a lesson in etiquette and how to lose a battle gracefully."
He sighed as he sank down onto the arm of her chair. "What a bitch!"
Sally stretched lazily before she put a hand on Wufei's leg. "Still, security was flawless, and we haven't detected any more warbles. Maybe we've beaten whoever the infiltrator was."
Wufei gave a small smile as he remembered the aftermath of the attempted hijacking. The five of them had scoured the ranks of employees ruthlessly, Duo seeming doubly pissed that the attack was bringing one of his worst nightmares to life- he was going to have to see Relena again, in person. Heero, too, had seemed even crankier than usual (if such was possible,) so much so that a single growl was usually enough to get an employee to confess to any breaches of security he or she might have been party to.
But he stopped smiling abruptly. Whoever was behind this was smooth enough not to get caught like that, and was probably biding his time. "No- we must be more careful than ever now. He's still out there."
~*~
Relena forced out yet another smile as she entered the main research area. This is where Duo's been doing all his work. Damn him! She followed Quatre easily as he called out a greeting and the research team looked up-
Violet eyes met hers and she felt the hot anger again, along with a certain sense of possibility as she saw a glimmer of fear in those eyes for a split second. Was Duo... afraid of her?
He masked it completely if he was, standing straight and smiling brightly as they approached. "Hi! I suppose you're here to see what Genesis is."
She returned his smile. "Yes, if you don't mind."
He grinned back at the team behind him. "Nah- we've been looking forward to it! Come here!" He made room for her next to him, looking down onto the stainless steel table top. "Genesis is a remarkably complex material, but the theory behind it is pretty straightforward. We needed something with the same impact and heat tolerance as gundanium, but clear, lighter, less expensive and flexible.
"The thing that makes gundanium so strong is the chemical structure of it." Duo pointed at one of the brightly coloured wall charts to illustrate his point. "It's a little like the C60 molecule- Carbon sixty? Highly durable and extremely difficult to break, just because of its structure." He turned to face her. "We experimented with other materials, putting them into a gundanium- like structure, and Genesis was the product."
Relena had to admit that it was impressive. And Duo certainly seemed to know what he was talking about... "That's the good part- what's the bad?"
Duo frowned, but another man took up the narrative. "Doctor Millston, Your Excellency. The biggest problem with Genesis is that the right chemical imbalance in the atmosphere around it, given the proper amount of radiation, causes it to break down at an alarming rate. It's not something we anticipate as being a major problem on Mars, given the atmospheric composition, but it's still a possibility."
"What sort of imbalance?" Relena asked.
Millston smiled. "Too much oxygen. Hyper-active ozone molecules will destroy a meter-thick block of Genesis in three minutes."
Relena nodded to herself. "Won't that pose a problem, considering what will be underneath the dome?"
Duo shook his head. "No- one of the built-in properties, since we figured that out has been a radiation filter- don't ask me, I don't know how they did it- that should keep the atmosphere under the dome within normal radiation levels at sea level on Earth."
Relena frowned. Okay, so maybe he's not the complete moron he always seemed- I suppose you have to be a little smart to be a pilot. But still... "How many people have knowledge of this information?"
The scientists and Duo frowned, but Quatre took the question. "This research team, and maybe three other people. In light of recent events, we must insist that it remain confidential as well- you may not discuss what you have heard with anyone without prior permission."
She turned on the blond angrily, but he held up a hand in an authoritative gesture. "Yes, I know that you are the Chancellor of the Earth Sphere, but this is my team and my product, so I make the rules. You and I both know that I wouldn't ask this of you unless it was truly important."
That much was true- the pilots had collectively and one-by-one explained operational security to her several times during the war, when she had tracked them down. Relena nodded her acceptance. "Very well- who can I tell, then?"
Quatre smirked. "Lady Une already knows- no one else should be cleared for this information at this time."
Duo smothered a giggle as Relena's face turned pink in anger. "Mr. Winner, I don't like being toyed with!"
Trowa chose this moment to walk into the lab, Heero following a couple steps behind him.
The change in Relena was incredible- whereas she had practically been snarling the moment before, her face broke into a charming smile. "Well, if you think it's necessary, Quatre, I suppose you're right." Several men in the room rolled their eyes behind her back.
She bit her lip as she realized that her show was going for nothing- Heero wasn't even looking in her direction. Yes- she spared a glance back over her shoulder, and Duo's face was flushed with pleasure, his eyes much brighter than they had been, even as he discussed his work.
Trowa walked smoothly to Quatre side and smiled over at her. "So what do you think of our team?"
She felt lost as she realized what was going on- her show had been turned on her quite adroitly. She managed to smile back, though her next words pained her terribly. "I... This is an incredible bit of work. The team... is rather remarkable."
Quatre let out the breath he had unconsciously been holding- he had half expected her to make another derogatory comment, pointed in Duo's direction. But that she hadn't... He gave her a smile, but refused to rub it in- she was unhappy enough as it was.
~*~
Dinner that night was a strained affair, and Quatre, as the host, felt obliged to make small talk to fill all the uncomfortable silences. Fifteen minutes into the meal, he was already running out of things to say.
Duo was absolutely no help. The young man was usually a fountain of conversation, but he seemed determined not to cause some sort of problem by saying the wrong thing, or so Quatre thought. Heero, watching his lover carefully, was of a different opinion, though.
Watching Duo carefully, he knew precisely why the young man was so silent. He wasn't giving Relena any opportunities to ridicule him or prove how superior she was in any way. He could see the tension apparent behind the ease of Duo's movements, and it hurt to know how scared Duo was that he would get left behind again. It angered him, as well, but Heero supposed that he deserved the doubt- he had walked out on the other man before, and Relena had not been subtle about her hints that she would welcome the Japanese man to her home. And her bed.
Sally could feel the tension in the room, and it was driving her crazy! She caught Quatre's eye as it got to be too much for her- he felt a moment of fear as she winked at him.
With an unassuming smile, Sally fixed Relena with a stare. "Tell me something, Relena-sama," she said guilelessly, "how is Dorothy doing? I was surprised that she didn't come with you..."
The pilots watched in fascination as Relena blushed bright red. "N- no, she didn't want to come with me this time. But she's doing rather well."
Wufei almost choked on his wine as Sally continued with her questions: "So when did she move in with you again? It's been at least a year, hasn't it?"
Duo and Heero's eyes met in alarm over the table as Relena almost snapped back, "More like two, Miss Po. Fancy you knowing that!"
Sally smiled back. "I like to keep tabs on everyone, you know, and it made me so happy to know that you two had finally found each other..." She stopped speaking quite suddenly, and Quatre looked unerringly to Trowa who, seated at the woman's side, smirked back at him, one hand hidden by the table's bulk.
To everyone's surprise, Duo broke the ice in the room with a smile. "Hey Quatre, d'you think it would be nice out on the observation deck? I mean, I know that Miss Relena hasn't been in Space for a while, and the stars are gorgeous, without any atmospheric interference."
Quatre nearly jumped from his seat at the suggestion, he was so relieved that there was a way of getting out of this nightmare. He smiled gratefully at the braided man. "I think that's a great idea. We can take our coffee with us."
As they filed out, Relena stopped for a bare second near her nemesis and looked him in the eye, for once without any hostility in her glance. "Thanks," she whispered in an undertone, and she was gone.
Duo smiled to himself as he felt an arm wrapping itself around his waist. He leaned back into Heero's embrace and gave his koi a quick kiss and a smile. "Care to star gaze with me, Heero?"
The Japanese man smiled back. "Love to." The two walked out arm in arm.
~*~
Wufei and Sally looked at each other for a long moment as they closed the door of their room that night- Sally began to giggle. Wufei burst out laughing barely a moment later.
She had tears in her eyes by the time she regained any semblance of control. "Jesus, Fei! Did you see the look on her face? I wish we had been recording that!"
He grinned over at her. "Well played, Miss Po!"
She made a face at the 'Miss Po,' but said nothing as she approached the Chinese man and began loosening his tie for him. "I think Quatre wants to kill me, though."
Wufei shot her a look. "Stick by me- he won't touch you!"
She giggled again, followed by a gasp as Wufei suddenly wrapped his arms around her and kissed her neck lingeringly. "I think... yes, I can put up with your company, in return for protection."
He snorted and whacked her backside playfully. "Put Up?! You can beg for my regard, woman!"
She laughed again as he lifted her into his arms and swung her around. "Sally Po never begs for anything from anyone, Preventer Chang!"
He arched an eyebrow as he set her down on the large bed of their suite. "Is that so? Maybe she just needs the right... incentive to do so..." He kissed her softly.
Sally felt her resolve weakening already, and she whimpered as his lips worked their magic. She was well aware of the fact that many female Preventers were terribly jealous of her and her relationship with Chang Wufei- she at times suspected that even Une would not have said no to an invitation from him. It was a source of constant amusement to her.
She gasped as his hands found her breasts and began caressing her, alternately touching her so lightly that it positively tickled and squeezing her, making her cry out in surprise and excitement. His lips trailed down her throat, sucking gently at her skin as his hands now raked down her sides and back up, fingers splayed over her ribs.
Sally didn't protest as Wufei lifted her shirt and slid his hands underneath, dipping his head to kiss her belly, doing that wonderful thing with his tongue again- it never failed to make her squirm! His breath was hot against her skin in the cool air as he gave a low laugh. "Still refuse to beg, woman?"
So this was the game he wanted to play? She smiled and felt heat pooling between her legs in anticipation. "Never happen, Chang. So sorry."
He looked up and met her eyes. "You're being difficult on purpose, woman." He grinned at her. "Don't make me discipline you, now!"
She gave him a saucy grin back. "Don't make it sound like such a chore, Wuffy."
"Wench!" He yanked her shirt open and mercilessly attacked a rosy nipple, grinning against her flesh as he heard her moan his name out and felt her hands coming up to his head. She released his hair from its tie as his tongue swiped over her nipple again, fingers burying themselves in the now loose ebony silk as he gently grabbed hold of the pink bud with his teeth and playfully tugged.
Sally moaned, "God, Wufei! Oh, Jesus..." He switched to the other nipple pausing to place a kiss between her breasts as his hand came up, fingers pinching the pink bud he had just feasted upon. As a thought came to him, he pulled back from her a little and began to blow, so that a light, cold stream of air jetted over Sally's now hypersensitive nipple. He grinned again as the tender flesh hardened instantly and Sally whimpered sexily, hands running over his back and shoulders, pushing his by now unbuttoned shirt off of his body.
Sally was quickly losing her resolve, as Wufei once again feasted on her flesh, his tongue teasing every nerve individually and as a group as his hands began to roam lower on her body. She couldn't help her smile- he loved playing these little games, and she'd learned early on that playing along meant a night she'd remember and blush over for days to follow.
His hands drifted down to her legs, fingertips brushing back up over her inner thighs longingly. His hands moved to her belt and the fastenings of her slacks while his mouth moved over her exposed abdomen and she moaned out, knowing what would come next if she could just refrain a little longer from pleading with him to get on with it, already! Hot breath bathed the skin of her belly as he pulled the remainder of her clothing from her body slowly, stopping every few seconds to kiss and taste her skin, his hair brushing over her in ten thousand small caresses.
Sally's hands moved up into her own hair as his mouth continued lower, and she bit her lip to keep from crying out as a hot tongue swept over the junction between her left thigh and her torso. She looked down to find him grinning at her evilly. "Don't make me force you to beg, woman!" Wufei growled at her, nipping the soft flesh of her thigh just hard enough to leave a small red mark.
"I will not... beg... you, Wufei..." she managed to gasp, as his tongue swept over her sex and she was bathed in hot breath. The words faded into a moan.
The Chinese man unbuttoned his own trousers as he inhaled deeply, savouring her scent. "You leave me no other choice, then," he whispered against her skin. He licked his lips-
Sally cried out as his tongue traced over her gently before pushing into her ever so slowly and flicking against her, sending wild thrills through her, body and mind. "God! Wufei... yes..."
He moaned into her as he tasted her again and again and felt her body moving against him. He was practically trembling with need as he ran his tongue back up to her sex and suckled gently, pressing two fingers into the divine heat and wetness of her. "Beg."
"Never! oh God, Fei..." she gasped as his mouth came down on her again, unerringly teasing her to within an inch of insanity.
Wufei was trembling now as he thrust his tongue back into Sally, his mouth closing over her flesh as he began to suck on her, his tongue still teasing against her inner walls. He smiled as she panted out his name again, her breathing harsh. "Beg."
She screamed as he blew lightly over her and the coolness of it sent shivers running all the way through her. "Jesus Christ, Wufei! Fuck me, please! Now!"
He was suddenly on top of her, his hard, hot body pressing her down into the bed as their lips met again and he kissed her hard, possessively. He smiled down into her eyes. "Your wish... is my command."
Strong hands pushed gently at her thighs, and she gladly opened herself to him, moaning out as she felt his hardness rubbing over her sensuously, pressing against her opening just enough for the head to penetrate in a series of light thrusts that had her practically sobbing with need. But his voice came back again, sadistically- "Could you repeat that, woman?"
Her eyes opened to flash up at her grinning lover, literally poised just above her. "No- I can't." She grabbed hold of his hips and thrust hers forward hard.
Wufei screamed as he felt his entire length sliding into the incredible heat of her, moaning as he felt her body contracting around him. His control shattered abruptly and he almost growled as he pulled back, only to thrust harder, deeper into her willing body, over and over again. She was calling his name, meeting each thrust with her own, mating him...
Sally felt her sanity shredding as he took her, his hot body thrusting into her with complete abandon as she urged him on. She could feel the heat building and breaking over her mind, flooding her with searing heat, almost like dying and being reborn all in one second-
Wufei screamed as he felt her contract around him spasmodically, and he gave one last thrust before his own will broke and pure bliss seared his soul as he drove deep into her with a cry, "Sally! Aw, fuck, SALLY!"
He had just enough strength left to roll slightly to the side as his body went limp in the aftermath, and he collected her form into his arms, burying his hands in her strawberry blonde hair. "Jesus, Sal- I love you..." He kissed her shoulder tenderly.
She cuddled closer to him. "Love you, too, Fei..."
They fell asleep quickly in each other's arms.
~*~
Relena woke to steady, gentle knocking on her door. "Chancellor?"
She quickly sat up straight and pulled her blankets up around her. "Yes- come in."
A young woman walked in and gave her a friendly smile. "You asked to be woken at 0700, Ma'am. Where should I put your breakfast?"
Relena smiled. "On the table, thank you."
The girl was about to leave when Relena called to her one last time. "Actually... Can I ask you a question?"
The other girl smiled. "Certainly, Ma'am."
"Well," Relena began knowing that this would sound strange, "you've been here for a while, right? How well do you know Duo Maxwell?"
The girl smiled brightly. "None of us truly 'know' him, Ma'am, if you catch my meaning, but I like him. He's one of the nicest, smartest people I've ever met. And he's been so much happier since Mr. Yuy showed up..."
"Really?" Relena asked. "How long ago was that?"
"Oh, only a few weeks, but everyone knew it the moment we saw them together- they really are made for each other, you know. Weren't you rather good friends with them, back during the War?" the girl asked curiously.
I thought I knew them- apparently, I didn't, though. It seems my opponent has more to him than just great hair. "We knew each other, but not well."
She got another smile in return. "Well, I hope you'll get to know them better, then."
"Me, too."
~*~
Quatre frowned over his desk at Heero Yuy and Sally Po, and he waved a printout in their general direction. "You're saying that whoever this is almost got into the network?"
Heero nodded soberly. "He was almost too good- the software didn't catch him, but he was taking too long and leaving a trail..."
The blond nodded. "Right. Any ideas on who it is?"
Sally shook her head. "None. I know how you feel, Quatre- I was woken up with this, too."
The little blond shook his head as he stared down at the printout in his hands. "Okay- so... We need another way of protecting the information, and we need to patch up our intrusion detection technology. How did he get in?"
"Instant Messenger," Heero growled. "Someone was using it- left it open, and that left a back door into your system. The hacker exploited this and was using one of our own computers to hack through the network! The security we have right now guards against hack attacks from the outside, but not necessarily from the inside- thus it missed it."
Sally let her face drop into her hands- she hadn't wanted to get out of bed that morning- it had been too much fun to not consider a repeat performance- but the man at the door had said it was urgent, and she had persuaded Wufei to let her go...
She couldn't tell if Heero had slept or not- Duo still hadn't shown his face.
Quatre pinned the Japanese man with a look. "How far did they get before you caught them?"
Heero's angry stare was frightening. "They were almost into the research computers. Thank goodness none of the sensitive material is truly stored there."
"Where's Duo?" Quatre asked, "Speaking of sensitive data protection..."
Heero's face softened for a moment as he thought of the braided man. "He went to check his safe and verify that the lab was still intact. The other possibility- it's what he would have done and I concur- is that there's a sleeper in here that we haven't found as yet. In which case we have a massive problem."
Sally looked concerned. "He went over there alone? No offence meant, but what if that's what the infiltrator wanted?"
Heero gave a dangerous, but stunning, grin. "He was fully armed and in a pissy mood, since this all... woke us up. Anyone who messes with him would have to deal with that."
The door beeped, and no one was surprised when Trowa walked in, concern showing in his visible eye. "Quatre? Why did Wufei just find me and tell me- I'll quote- 'to get your skinny ass back there and guard Quatre's' as though there's something serious here?"
The blond had the grace to look shamed. "I should have woken you up, and I'm sorry. We had another penetration attack, and the official Preventer opinion is that I could be a target."
Trowa's glance clearly said that they would be talking this out in private at a later time, and the others changed the subject quickly. Sally asked, "Where was Chang headed?"
Trowa turned the intensity of his stare on her. "The lab- he said that Duo was over there alone and he didn't like it."
Wufei chose that moment to walk in, Duo and Relena Peacecraft trailing behind him. As he took a seat, he met Quatre's curious look belligerently. "She has a right to know, Winner- Maxwell and I both thought so."
Quatre simply nodded- as it was, he wouldn't be able to keep it a secret for long. "Miss Relena, we had another attempted hack early this morning. It was unsuccessful, but it came frighteningly close."
She nodded. "Wufei and Duo told me as much when they interrupted my breakfast. Did they get into any vital systems?"
Heero shook his head and replied, "No- I caught on before they could, but it was very close. The real information is stored off the network, at any rate, but still..."
Duo hefted a small case. "I brought it all with me." He handed the case across the desk to Quatre.
The blond gave his friend a small smile. "Thanks, Duo. I don't know anymore..."
Relena cleared her throat and almost flinched as all eyes wheeled to focus on her. "Um, well, I know that security here has been tight, but what if I were to make this a government venture? We could bring in a troupe of Preventers to augment your people on the physical security side..."
Quatre gave her a grateful smile. "I would have fought you yesterday, but I don't know if we have any other choice."
Heero and Duo were whispering to each other, and the braided man looked up as they apparently came to a consensus. "Q? We can upgrade the computers, but it means that we're going to have to make some serious changes. Even still... they failed a hack again. If I were the hacker, I wouldn't try it a third time. My next bet would be a physical intrusion. Heero and I agree- we think you should accept Relena-sama's help."
They all looked to Sally, and she nodded. "I'll just need to get clearance from Lady Une to do it, but I can have the guard doubled by noon. As for the rest of you- you go nowhere, and I mean nowhere without backup. You got that? Wufei, you are to guard Maxwell and supervise the Labs with him, Trowa is to stay with Quatre at all times and you, Heero," she said, shooting the Japanese man a looked that dared him to contradict her, "will guard the Chancellor. Any questions?"
All she got were nods of assent. She gave them all a confident smile. "Let's do it, then, people! Quatre, can I borrow your phone?"
The blond smiled. "Lady Une's number is on the speed dialer- number eleven."
~*~
She tapped her dark red fingernails impatiently on the table at her right, hazel eyes fixing on the man in front of her. "They're on to us. Damn you- you told me it would work this time!"
Sirius was a tall man and heavily built, but his bald head was slick with perspiration as he faced her down. "There's always a risk factor, Madeleine. You know that as well as I do."
She sat back in her seat. "I've had enough of incompetence. If you can't get it right, I can find someone else who can."
The man slammed a fist down on the table. "Damn it- we're not talking about normal people, here! You're asking us to steal industrial secrets from a former Gundam pilot who, I believe, has his friends there helping him! Quatre Winner is far from stupid!"
There was a whisper of cloth as she stood and tossed her red hair back from her face imperiously. "I'm giving you one last chance, and you will do it the way I tell you to. You will get on board that facility and get me those plans. If you fail, you might as well turn yourself in to Winner, because you will die when you come back."
Sirius gulped. Madeleine looked harmless- she looked like every man's wet dream, really- but he knew perfectly well what she was capable of, and he could read in her eyes just how painful she would make his death, how she would make him beg her for it before she finally let him die. Damn the woman!
He stood and began pacing. "Right- well... there's no way I'll be able to get past Winner's new security chief without inside help. We're going to need your snitch to help us out there, and then I'm going to need to know where the plans are kept, who has access, all that. I'm also going to need to wait until the Chancellor is gone- no one has been allowed on or off the Facility since she arrived, unless they have express clearance from the security chief."
Madeleine sat back down, crossing her legs slowly and smiling appreciatively as the man watched with suddenly dry lips that required wetting. "I'll contact him immediately and get you what you want, but don't forget," her eyes glinted evilly, "that you are a dead man if you fail me again."
Sirius shivered as he looked into those perfectly made up eyes and gave her a nod of assent. She meant every word, and he knew that she would take him apart personally.
Failure was not an option this time!
~*~
Wufei didn't miss his friend's unusual jittery behaviour, but he chose not to bring it up. He knew why- the reason for it was probably glaring at Relena at that very moment, while she batted her eyelashes at him. The Chinese Preventer hated few things as much as he hated such theatrics, and more so when said theatrics hurt one of his friends.
She should have sent Trowa in there and left Heero to guard Quatre, dammit! Fine- so you don't want two people who are involved with each other guarding each other's back- they might make a mistake, but we're Gundam pilots! We've taken more risks than most people ever even dream of!
He scowled as someone bumped into him, jarring him back to reality, and mumbled an apology in the figure's direction without even noticing who it was. He and Duo were both openly wearing their guns now and, from the way the braided man was moving, Wufei could tell that he had an extra gun and probably two knives on him, as well. That was Duo for you- he never did anything half-way.
The American heaved a heavy sigh as he finally broke loose from the gaggle of white-coated scientists and headed over to his Preventer friend. "Swept the system- there's nothing there but the decoy info, and it'll stay like that until Relena leaves, at least. They're all bitching about lost time- Ch! You'd think that a slight schedule setback would be preferable to a lost life, wouldn't you?"
Wufei rolled his eyes. "Do they know about the hacker?"
Duo nodded. "Well- they know that someone tried and failed again. To them- that means the coast is clear. I'm telling you, man- we're gonna have a real break in again, and they'll do it right this time."
The Chinese man was chilled by the cold tone his friend was using- Duo Maxwell was sunshine personified until you got him on business mode, and then you tucked behind some cover as Shinigami came out... Not only was someone making that happen, but Heero was playing bodyguard to Relena...
Wufei leaned back against the wall with partially veiled eyes. "So... can you believe Relena? It's almost enough to make me pity that Catalonia bitch..." There- I said the name. Now let's see what he does...
The American barely managed not to flinch at the reminder of who his lover was currently holed up with. "She doesn't love him- she just wants him because she can't have him, and it pisses her off."
They lapsed into silence, but Wufei could almost hear his friend's thoughts- But she could love him- what's not there to fall for? She's pretty and classy and rich... Cultured, everything I'm not...
They both jumped when their communicators went off. "Guys? I might have a lead- can you meet us all in the Situation Room?" Quatre's voice queried.
Duo forced out a smile. "Sure thing, Q. Be there in a few."
Without a word, the two pilots turned and left the laboratory.
~*~
She's leaving tomorrow- I just have to keep from killing her until then... Heero's fists dug harder into his sides as he tried to block the Chancellor out, but she was tugging on his arm and smiling at him again. Why couldn't she just get the point?
Relena wasn't bothered by the stone face of her companion- it was Heero's way, and she kept conveniently forgetting the soft look she had seen there the day before, as the Japanese man looked at his lover... More like purposefully forgetting- she wasn't going to think about it until she could convince herself that it had been one big farce. "Heero, please, slow down! I'm tired and I need a shoulder to lean on..."
"Hn- tell it to someone who cares," he growled back, not slacking his pace in the slightest.
She was an accomplished actress- she had to be, as the Chancellor- and she made herself cry now, knowing exactly how pitiful and innocent it made her look. "Oh, Heero- you just don't see how scary this is for me! If this blows up on us, my government could fall and..."
He finally lost his patience completely. "If you'd quit whining for maybe fifteen minutes, you might even be capable of preventing that!" he practically yelled at her.
She stopped in surprise. "Don't you dare talk to me like that, Heero!" she yelled at his retreating back.
He stopped short and wheeled around to stalk back to her- she backed away a step from the look in his eyes. "I'm only going to say this one last time, Relena," he growled in a dangerously soft voice. "I am protecting you because you are at risk, not because of some fictitious fondness for you that I keep secret to shield you. I am in love with Duo. He is my boyfriend, the man I sleep with, the person who put up with me when he should have told me to go to Hell a long time ago. I am in love with him, not you."
A single tear worked its way down her face. "I don't understand, Heero! What is wrong with me that you don't want me? What..."
His eyes bored into her. "Are you Duo Maxwell?"
"No, what a stupid ques..."
"There's your answer, then." He turned and resumed walking.
Relena followed behind him mutely.
Quatre and Trowa smirked at each other in the Situation Room as they shut down the surveillance camera and saved the recording. They were quite certain that the tape was going to make a certain person very happy that night!
~*~
Trowa clasped his hands on the table in front of him as he took a deep breath. "Does the name 'Madeleine Dumoulin' mean anything to you?" he asked the assembled pilots and dignitaries.
Sally made a face. "Chairwoman of the Independence Front, isn't she? At least, we have no proof of it yet, but the evidence points that way."
Heero nodded his agreement. "I've got pictures, if that would help."
Wufei made a face at his friend. "Why does that not surprise me?"
Quatre made an impatient gesture. "What has the Front been up to, recently?"
Wufei grimaced. "Dropped off the screens. They haven't made a sound in months- it was beginning to worry us, in truth."
Duo gave a dry laugh. "Better change that estimate, man- I'm guessing she's connected with our break-and-enterers. What you got on her, Tro?"
The banged man replied, "Not much, but it's something, at least. I picked up part of a coded message- it was garbled, but this much came through- 'Mill, info...' information, I'm guessing, 'safe, Madel...' Madeleine, and 'neutralize.' Our sleeper is going to wake up very soon."
Quatre's face hardened in anger. "I know I invited you, Relena, but I have to insist that we cut this visit short. I don't want you here as a potential hostage if this is real. I want you back on Earth where you belong, and Catherine Bloom with you. Can I ask you to do that?"
The Chancellor had looked distracted throughout the exchange, but she managed to pull herself together. "Yes- I understand and I won't fight you."
"Good," Quatre answered, before turning to his friends and, in particular, Sally Po. "When will the troops get here?"
The woman responded immediately, "Three hours. They had to slow it down a little to keep from alerting the press to what's going on here."
Heero added, "Relena shouldn't leave until she can have a Preventer escort. They seem to be after Genesis, but she's still a wonderful target."
Wufei nodded. "I hear you- I'll be taking her back to Sank personally, and then coming right back here afterwards. That way we'll be sure. Maxwell, could I borrow one of those jammers I saw you with?"
The braided man nodded enthusiastically. "Sure! Nothing better than stealth, if you ask me! Just remember to uncloak before you land, or someone might get a little angry. Those things ain't exactly regulation..."
Sally nodded her agreement with the plan in the making, but frowned sharply all too quickly. "Okay- so we can contain any problems for now, coming from the outside. I guess our main question now is- who's the sleeper?"
TBC...
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