A Reason for Living Part 16
Honor among Thieves?

Heero pressed the Beretta to his chest and dared a quick peek around the corner. A nod of his head started he and Duo down the connecting corridor. Their footsteps tapped on the dusty tile floor. Their shadows rippled along the unfinished walls that had obviously been abandoned when the construction funds ran out.

Heero's hand tightened on the automatic pistol and his eyes constantly scanned the dim hallway's vacancy. There were no rooms on either side, no place to hide. The lack of suitable cover did not suit Agent 01 but he and Duo had little choice but to continue.

At the narrow passage's end a paint-worn wooden door was the only exit. Heero eased it opened and again took a quick look. "Stay close." he ordered to his civilian counterpart.

A brighter, better-maintained hall stretched out some fifty feet ahead. The improved state told Heero that he was heading in the right direction but it also meant the possibility of increased activity and more opportunity for detection. A steady hum, probably from electrical equipment, confirmed the close vicinity of the enemy and reaffirmed the danger.

Duo grabbed Heero's jacket sleeve, "Aren't we heading the wrong way?" he wondered. In the emptiness his whispered question bounced off the walls. He glance nervously over his shoulder down the hall, "Wufei has the explosives set by now and soon this entire place will be history."

"I know but we need to find the lab."

"Why?"

Heero paused in mid-stride and locked his sight on Duo. "We still need a control unit in case all the disruptors aren't here. We can't be assured that leveling the lodge will put an end to the threat."

Duo sighed. Heero was right they couldn't assume anything. He also knew that when Heero made up his mind there wasn't any point in arguing with him. "All right let's find the lab."

Two more turns...one to the right, the next to the left. Duo hoped that Heero was making a mental map of their deeper invasion into the lodge because he sure as hell didn't want to get lost.

A window set flush in the wall caught Heero's attention. Using his sleeve he wiped off a patch of dusty film large enough to see inside. "I think this is it." An adjacent rust-blotched metal door was the logical entry point but there was a problem. This time the "universal key" was useless.

Instead of a standard, conventional lock the door was protected by an encoded keypad and most likely backed up by an alarm. Heero studied the pad...ten numbers, thousands of combinations. Carefully he ran his finger around the outside casing but found no exposed wires or connection points only a flat feeder cable extending from the bottom.

"There has to be a way to bypass the system without activating the alarm." Heero muttered as he continued his examination. He certainly didn't want the security force along with every other undesirable person in the place alerted to his and Duo's unlawful presence.

Finally Heero stepped back and nodded at the problem pad. "You're supposed to be the electronic expert."

Duo raised an eyebrow in response then a slight grin tugged at his mouth. "What's wrong spy boy are you stumped?" The grin grew wider.

"Can you do something or not?"

Letting his fingers slid along the cable Duo followed its path down the wall. "Since this system had to be added later." he reasoned aloud. His fingers moved sideways, traced parallel to the floor for about ten feet then stopped where the wiring disappeared into a base plate.

As Duo reached into his jacket pocket his hand brushed over the Derringer. The fleeting contact sent a chill through his fingers. Ignoring the tingling contact he unzipped a long pouch, extracted a small screwdriver and undid the plate's cover.

Inside the cable divided into four colored wires that were twisted together then connected to two breaker switches. "The trick is to disconnect the correct set of wires." he announced without a hint of apprehension.

Heero already knew the answer to his next question but he asked anyway. "And if you're wrong?"

"Then we'll have unwanted company."

After taking a few minutes to study the cable's multi-color quartet, moments that seemed to stretch on forever, Duo selected the green and the yellow wires and pinched them between his thumb and forefinger. He cut his eyes up at Heero who had no choice but to trust his electrical knowledge.

Receiving a "go-ahead" nod from the Japanese agent Duo sucked in a steadying breath, then let the expelled air carried away a bit of tension. He shut his eyes in anticipation of an activated alarm if he had chosen wrong then gave the gathered wires a sharp tug.

Blue sparks cascaded onto the floor and bounced in a bright starburst display before fizzling out. The keypad sizzled then a muffled pop spewed out another shower of sparks. Mercifully silence replaced the sizzle and the door slid smoothly aside.

Duo raised both eyebrows and gave Heero a smug smile. "No problem." He couldn't help but engaged in some good-natured bragging. "Needed me after all, didn't you?"

Heero quickly came to his own defense, "I would have figured out eventually."

"Ah did I fuck up your ego?"

"Don't make references to fucking if you don't intend to follow through with your promises." Heero replied in a husky tone that caused Duo's manhood to twitch.

Duo leaned closer and lowered his voice to the same breathy pitch. "When this is over I'll show you how I keep promises." he declared then swiped his tongue over Heero's lips to emphasis the point.

*********

"I was hoping to find specifications or blueprints as well as a control unit." Heero stated as he surveyed the lab's totally gutted interior.

"Yeah looks like Dorothy and Carter were planning to leave as soon as they meet with Hoffman." Duo replied as he wandered among the evidence of the bad guys' imminent departure.

Most of the equipment had been packed away. Six or seven sealed boxes covered the floor's center. Dorothy's now infamous computer sat off to itself. Its blank monitor screen mockingly mirrored Duo's reflection.

"How ironic," Duo thought to himself, "Dorothy put her trust in an inanimate object to guard her secrets and because of human greed her plans had been betrayed."

"What do you think a disruptor looks like?" Heero asked examining a box imprinted with the Khushrenada Electronics logo.

"When the entire system is assembled I would guess it would be about the size of a laptop computer but it won't be worth a damn without the control unit."

Duo's eyes widened, "Do you think the disruptors are have already been loaded on the trucks? If the shipment leaves here do you know how much damage they would cause?"

Heero knew the grave meaning. He knew of the destruction and misery. He also knew if Wufei, Quatre and Trowa had completed their phase of the mission that the trucks and their deadly cargo would be eliminated in a final, fiery blast.

Duo studied the glare of determination in Heero's eyes and suddenly he, too, knew that the end would come soon. His own instincts were telling him that time was short and prompting him to leave. "We have to go." he insisted, his tone reflecting his fear.

Heero thoughtfully considered Duo's request. He hated that they hadn't found a control unit or blueprints. He hated the implications that the disruptors could still rear their ugly heads at some future date.

He had no doubts that his fellow agents had done their duty, that the loading bay could blow at any time or that the explosion would probably swallow up a large part of the lodge in its blazing consumption. But he couldn't leave, not without completing one final mission, not for the Bureau but for himself.

"I can't leave." he proclaimed knowing that Septum was still stalking about the lodge.

"What! Why not?" Duo dared to raise his voice, "You are insane, now I'm sure."

"I have personal business but I will make sure you get out and back to the forest's safety." Heero promised.

Duo shook his head so hard that his braid whipped over his shoulder. "It's Septum. It's that fucking vendetta again. Don't you care about me at all?"

"I care that's why I'll get you out before I do what I have to do." Heero reasoned with his usual logic.

Duo took Heero shoulders, tightened his grip and gave them a sturdy shake. "You're a damn fool, Heero Yuy. Don't you realize I can't lose you now? Don't you know that I...."

Duo fingers slipped free. His body trembled as much from rage as from fear. "I love you." he whispered so lowly that Heero barely heard the heartfelt declaration.

Heero stood stunned. He couldn't move, couldn't think. It was as if all his training had deserted him. "Love me?" he muttered in disbelief, believing that he must have misunderstood.

"Yes you bastard I love you." Duo blurted out over quivering lips. Tears tracked down his cheeks.

Heero's next actions were not spurred by duty but by an impulse stronger than anything he had ever experienced before. Without any thoughts of what was right or proper or of his mission obligation Agent 01 wrapped Duo in a comforting embrace. Then holding on as if his life depended upon the contact Heero allowed himself to weep.

"Please don't say you love me." Heero begged, "I'm not good enough for your love."

Duo pushed back against the embrace until he could look up into Heero's glistening eyes. "You are good enough for me. I want you the way you are. I promised you that I would wait until you were ready but you can't send me away. No, if you stay, I stay."

Heero stared back into twin pools of misty violet. "Don't force me to make you go."

Duo's eyes hardened beneath their watery glaze. "I would sooner die than live without you. The only way you will force me to leave is to kill me." Duo's tone, his absolute defiance left no room for misinterpretation. Duo Maxwell was not going anywhere.

"Please Duo this is something I have to do alone."

"No."

Now Heero was shaking from his own mixed emotions. He sucked in a breath, cocked back his fist and prepared to do the hardest thing that he had ever done. If he had to carry Duo's unconscious body back to his counterparts' care then that was how it was going to be.

Duo stood stiffly. His expression was fixed in resolve as if he dared Heero to hit him. Heero's bicep tightened, his fist quivered in midair. His targeted hand came forward but the intended blow was never delivered. Instead Heero's hand cupped behind Duo's head then he captured Duo's mouth in a searing kiss.

Heero poured all his passion into the demanding kiss, let a lifetime of loneliness and pain flowed through their united lips. He didn't want Duo to leave because he was afraid that his heart couldn't bear the severance. But how could he ask Duo to share his danger? Could he put the revenge that had haunted him for over a year aside or would it continue to eat away at his soul until he had nothing left to give Duo? Would one day resentment ruin their love?

Heero broke the kiss. Breathlessly he gazed at the one person who could give him the courage to let Septum go. "Let's leave now."

Duo gently brushed his fingers over Heero's kiss-reddened lips. "Don't do this for me, please, do it for yourself."

"I'm doing this for us." Heero answered sincerely. "You have given me a reason for living and I won't give that up for vengeance."

*********

"When is Hoffman arriving?" Dorothy wondered as she watched Septum balance the point of a long, wicked knife on the desktop.

"Soon." he answered then twirled the blade back and forth between his fingers.

Dorothy checked her watch for the third or was it the fourth time? "I'll be glad when this is finished. Do you think Hoffman will deal?"

"I can't think of any reason he wouldn't. We have the only game in town; he has to deal with us." The blade flipped up and over, the handle coming to rest in Septum's hand. "What about Carter?" The polished steel flickered in the overhead lights adding a menacing gleam to the hired assassin's grin.

Dorothy wasn't comfortable with the way Septum played with his toy. She didn't at all like his fascination with anything long and sharp and she certainly didn't trust his anxiousness to use it. "As soon as the deal is set not before."

Septum glanced at the door. "Where is he anyway? How do you know he isn't off pulling a double cross?"

Dorothy's annoyed stare centered on Septum. "I have someone watching Carter, he's won't do anything without my knowledge."

Septum replaced the knife in a sheath attached to his belt. "I'm gong to the loading bay and wait for Hoffman. Maybe I'll run into Carter on the way." There was an ominous tone to his voice that was disturbing.

"You stay clear of Carter, understand?" Dorothy warned, "It's still not too late to ruin everything. You bring Hoffman here; the sooner we settle this the better."

A thin-lipped sneer was Septum's only response.

Dorothy checked the time once more then lifted her arm and tapped a charm on her bracelet. She tilted her head and watched it swing from side to side and wondered if putting up with Septum was worth the irritation.

*********

A length of lead pipe sent Paul Carter's watcher into a black void. He grabbed up the formerly loyal Khushrenada Electronics employee's pistol and pushed it in his belt far enough around to be hidden by his coat. He stuffed the limp body in a storage closet and started off for Ms. Catalonia's office.

Carter had become increasingly distrustful of Dorothy since she had brought in that self-proclaimed soldier of fortune...a mad mercenary was more Carter's description of Septum.

His misgivings grew stronger after Welige failed to pick up his ticket. He knew how anxious Marquis had been to leave and it wasn't like him to disappear without a word. Deep in his gut Carter knew something was terribly wrong. That was all the warning he needed.

Never mind his plans to cut his own deal with Hoffman. Even his bad judgment that had allowed Dorothy to involve Septum in the double-dealing alliance didn't matter any more. Carter decided it was time to look out for his own interests. The meeting with Hoffman was going to pay off even if it meant bargaining with the business end of a gun.

*********

Traces of a dark substance was smeared along the hall in irregular patterns. The last sticky splotch ended at a partly opened door. "Don't step in the grease." Duo cautioned, sidestepping a tacky pool.

Heero leaned over for a closer look at the mysterious matter. "This isn't grease."

"Then what..." Duo began before Heero's silence signal told him to flatten along the wall.

Angling the Beretta across his chest Heero stood sideways on the door's latch side. He pushed with the toe of his boot expanding the crack between the edge and the doorframe then loosened his stance ready to drop into a defensive position at the first sign of motion.

Duo pressed against the door's hinged side and held his breath. Bit by bit the dim hall lights invaded the room chasing away the gloomy darkness. The improved brightness also pulled an oddly contorted outline into view.

A pair of legs, bent at the knees, impeded the door's progress. An arm was twisted backward and at its end a hand was washed over in a coagulated pool of blackened blood.

In Heero's many years as a field operative he had witnessed unimaginable scenes of death but the sight of a body so mangled that it no longer resemble anything human sent shock waves rolling through his insides. With a shaky intake of air he turned away from Welige's sightless eyes, fixed wide in terror, staring out of the shadows.

His curiosity peeked by Heero's strange reaction, Duo moved to peer inside. "Find anything interesting?" he asked over his partner's shoulder.

Heero quickly stepped back blocking Duo's view. "Don't." was all he could say.

Duo pressed further. "But why can't I..." His hand went to the mouth as a horrified gasp cut off his words. Color drained from his face. His legs became wobbly.

Afraid Duo might faint, Heero rushed to his side. "Easy now."

Leaning on the wall for support Duo shook uncontrollably. "I'm going to be sick." he mumbled as cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

"Duo look at me." Heero demanded to redirect Duo's attention from the sickening sight. "Take a deep breath," he instructed, "let it out slowly. Again. Keep looking at me."

Still trembling from shock, weakened by disbelief and pain, Duo buried his face in Heero's chest. Wrenching sobs shuddered through his body. "Marquis. No."

"Are you sure?" Heero hated to ask but he had to be sure that the horridly mutilated man was Marquis Welige.

"Yes." Duo answered, tears choking his reply. "I recognize his signet ring."

Fighting the dizzying hyperventilation Duo leaned back freeing his face for another deep breath. "Why?"

"I don't know." Heero replied truthfully. There was no reasons, no circumstances to ever warrant such an evil act. There were no words, none at all, strong enough to comfort Duo's shock and sorrow.

Then to Heero's surprise Duo straighten sharply. "Who could do such a despicable thing?" he hissed. His tone was hard, each syllable bitter with hatred. Now anger tempered his grief.

"He crossed the wrong people." Heero didn't see any point in softening his answer.

"How could this happen? Marquis was a good man. He had a promising future, so much to live for."

"People change." Heero stated once more being blunt with the truth. "I'd say that greed might have gotten the best of him"

01 knew that fact all to well. He had time and time again seen the ugly results when the desire for money made logical men maim and murder. He had seen counties brought to the brink of destruction by an unquenchable thirst for power.

Duo literally exploded. "Damn them all to hell! That whoring bitch...they all will suffer the retribution they deserve." he growled charging off in blind rage.

Heero caught his arm. "Duo! Wait!"

Gritting his teeth Duo fought to free himself. "Let me go!"

Taking Duo firmly by the shoulders Heero made him listen. "As much as I want to stop Dorothy and Carter, to put an end to Hoffman's international network and send Septum to hell, we have to keep our wits together and not run off half-cocked." His eyes reflected an unyielding reassurance. "We are going to get every one of them."

The emotional roller coaster ride finally took its toll. Duo went limp. Since his arrival in Montreux he had known in his heart that Robert Baines was dead. Now Marquis Welige had also fallen victim to that insatiability hunger called greed.

"You're right." he sighed. "I have to believe that justice will prevail."

Heero brushed damp bangs from Duo's puffy eyes then gently ran his fingers over his tear-streaked face. "I promise all this insanity will end tonight."

TBC...

 

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