A Reason for Living Part 2
The Hamburg Connection
"You look better." Heero commented as he entered room 204.
Quatre Winner sat propped up by pillows in a single-size bed. An IV line ran from a suspended bag of clear liquid to the needle taped to his hand. A wide bandage wrapped around his upper left arm and smaller sterile dressings covered minor cuts and scraps. His blue-green eyes were still puffy but most of the bloodshot redness had given way to a pinkish tinge and the bruises had begun to fade.
Beneath his rumpled gown elastic bindings protected two broken ribs. Just that morning the attending doctor had taken the recovering agent off of oxygen declaring that his lungs were clear enough to breathe on his own.
A tray of half-eaten food set on the bedside table and judging by the color and texture of the standard hospital swill Heero didn't blame Quatre for refusing to finish. Now Quatre happily munched on a turkey and cheese sandwich.
Agent 03, Trowa Barton, had employed his stealthy skills to smuggle the forbidden treat past the "food patrol" (aka: grumpy Nurse Smith). The aforementioned spy used his lean but muscular body to hide a twenty-ounce bottle of Dr. Pepper that had also been declared contraband by the dietary staff.
All in all Heero thought that Agent 04 looked remarkably well considering the abuse he had suffered. Quatre was certainly healthier than when he was brought in five nights ago. Then Heero and 03 had anxiously paced in the waiting room lending each other support and hoping for the best.
After Quatre drifted into a comatose sleep as Heero raced to the rendezvous site and the awaiting helicopter, 01 had serious doubts of 04's recovery. Visions of internal bleeding, punctured lungs or a dozen other injuries continued to plague Heero's thoughts.
Two days of touch-and-go and thankfully the third afternoon 04 woke up. Although he had a dull headache that matched the equally dull ache across his ribs, Quatre was alert and obviously hungry.
"What's this?" Heero smiled using a nod to indicate the concealed bottle.
03 lifted his green eyes to meet the inquiring tilt of Heero's head. "He really wants a beer but I thought that might be tempting the fates."
Quatre took another bite of the bootleg goodie and wiped a trace of mayonnaise off his chin with the back of his hand. "A beer is not all I want." He licked his lips in a very suggestive fashion.
Trowa offered one of his rare smiles, "I know but unfortunately that is going to have to wait awhile."
The "that" to which Trowa referred was Quatre's wishes to engage in a passionate love session. Agents 04 and 03 made no secret of their involvement. In fact they had threatened to tender their resignations when the Minster of Internal Affairs questioned the legitimacy of a same sex relationship.
Luckily Commander Une intervened on their behalf stating that their life choices was no one's business and strongly suggested that the Minster spend more time on his job and less time stirring up trouble.
Heero had readily accepted the pairing; after all he had been friends with both agents long before they became a couple. While 01 personally avoided any entanglements of the heart, he believed such emotions interfered with his missions, he had to admire Quatre and Trowa's commitment.
The sandwich consumed and the Dr. Pepper drained dry, Quatre wasted no time in trying to persuade his partner to take on one more secret assignment. "I'm craving chocolate chip cookies."
Trowa sighed, "Quatre I swear...you and your chocolate addiction."
"Please." Quatre begged. To be a highly trained agent, one who could be extremely ruthless when dealing with the bad guys, Agent 04 could turn on the charm.
"I give up." 03 feigned surrender. He bent over for a kiss, "You know damn well that I can never refuse you." he whispered huskily. Tucking the empty bottle inside his jacket Trowa gave his lover a saucy wink, "Let me get rid of the evidence and I'll see what I can do."
When Trowa had disappeared down the hall, Quatre leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "Une has already ordered at least a week of R&R when the doctor finally cuts me loose. I will certainly show Trowa my appreciation then."
"I have no doubts of that." Heero stated from previous experience. When Quatre and Trowa weren't on assignment they would disappear for days and with their abilities to literally vanish without a trace the cunning agents defied all attempts to seek them out.
Heero checked his watch, "I have been summoned to Une's office." he declared with a shrug of apparent apathy.
Quatre winced a bit as he rearranged his propped-up posture, "Don't tell me you haven't checked in yet."
"Not officially."
"One day you are going to push the Commander too far."
Heero placed his hand on 04's shoulder, "I'll worry when that day comes along. You rest up now, I'll see you later."
Trowa stepped aside to let 01 exit the room. Heero paused and leaned close to 03's ear. "You take good care of him."
"I intend too."
As Heero walked to the lift Quatre's delighted voice drifted down the hall. "Chocolate!" The single word told Heero that another mission had been successfully completed.
*********
Une paced impatiently then glanced again at her watch. She was about to buzz her assistant for the third time when her office's mahogany door opened. Agent 01 greeted his boss with a sly smile.
"Its about time 01." Une announced pointing at a chair by her desk.
"Sorry Commander." Heero replied as he slipped into the seat.
Before Agent Yuy could offer a half-believable explanation for his failure to "officially" report in, Une reconsidered her impending reprimand. "You did well with the retrieval of 04." she praised but tempered the compliment with a no nonsense tone so that Heero would not get the foolish notion he was off the hook.
"Thank you."
"How is 04 doing?"
"He's mending nicely. He should be out of hospital by the first of next week."
Une nodded then reached across the desk and handed Heero a file folder. She paused a few minutes to give 01 a chance to look over the folder's contents. "This is the debriefing information supplied by 04. He didn't learn a lot but at least it gives us a starting point."
Heero's eyebrows raised with interest. "What is this about guidance systems?"
"According to 04 someone has developed a device capable of disrupting the electronic guidance systems on anything from missiles to public jetliners and shuttles. I don't have to tell you what it means if such a system does exist."
Heero nodded in agreement. "It means that missiles could go astray and planes could be brought down in the wrong places."
"Or at the wrong time." Une added. 01 frowned as he realized the catastrophic events such a device could create.
Une opened another file. "Have you heard of Treize Khushrenada?"
Heero's eyes widened as he made the connection. "He owns the second largest electronics company in the world. Do you think he's involved?"
"All we know is that 04 saw his name on several documents before his cover was compromised. Khushrenada would certainly have the resources to finance and construct such a system."
Heero sat silently taking a moment to digest the troubling information. His thoughts were interrupted when Une's intercom buzzed. Her assistant's voice announced. "Mr. Quinze is here."
"Tell him to come in."
An older man with salt and pepper hair and glasses joined Une and her agent. Quinze had an "all business" look about him as he took a seat next to Heero.
"This is Quinze." Une indicated with wave of her hand, "He is with the Central Intelligence Division. Mr. Quinze this is Heero Yuy."
"Oh yes, Agent 01." Quinze replied wrinkling his nose in a fashion that Heero did not perceive to be flattering.
"I asked Quinze to look into this Khushrenada matter." Une explained.
Quinze began his report. "Our files show that Treize Khushrenada was born in Germany but has been living outside of London for the last eight years. It seems that he made most of his fortune working with NASA and the Colonial Shuttle Line. He is owner and president of Khushrenada Electronics. There are nine offices on Earth with many smaller support complexes on the Colonies. My division has turned up nothing unusual concerning Khushrenada's business dealings or activities however..."
"If he is involved in what we think he is," Heero interrupted, "I don't expect he would be broadcasting it, would he?"
Quinze shot an annoyed glare in Heero's direction. As 01 prepared a verbal retort Une narrowed her eyes and squinted through her glasses. Heero thought better of his curt reply and remained silent.
"As I was saying," Quinze continued displaying a stiff posture as if he had a rather large pole rammed up his backside, "we can find no cause to suspect Mr. Khushrenada but that doesn't mean we will not look into this further." he announced with a self-satisfied smile.
"In your opinion, " Une inquired, "where would be the most likely location for such an operation?"
"Only two sites have the developmental capital and manpower to produce the necessary electronic circuitry. The largest branch is in Hamburg. We have already checked it out and found nothing out of the ordinary. However we do have a man on the inside who is conducting an ongoing investigation.
The second company is the Altron Corporation, a research firm located in Montreux, Switzerland. Khushrenada deals exclusively with Altron for all his subcontracting requirements. It is rumored that the German owns controlling stock but the paper trail is so full of dead ends and dummy holdings that we have no sure proof."
"Doesn't sound like you have much reliable information, a lot of questions but no answers." Heero stated impatiently. He was quickly growing tired of Quinze's babbling on about nothing.
If Quinze took notice of the edginess in 01's voice or his irritated body language he gave no outward indication. "There is one fact of which I am certain," he proclaimed, "Treize Khushrenada arrived in Switzerland six weeks ago and he is still at his chalet in the Bernese Alps."
"Switzerland." Heero repeated in his mind. The last time he visited the "Playground of Europe" winter frosted the valleys and a mantle of snow coated the mountains.
He fondly recalled a single night spent in a ski lodge with an Italian double agent named Andrea. A flickering fireplace had warmed the room and Andrea had warmed his bed. An ever-so-slight smile poised on Heero's lips as he remembered.
"01 are you listening?" Une's voice abruptly brought him back from the pleasant memories.
"Yes...Switzerland."
Une cleared her throat more out of habit than necessity. "01 I want you to go to Montreux. Your cover will be a businessman representing a Japanese software company called Aero-Tech. Tell Khushrenada that your employer is interested in a possible long-term contract. See if you can turn up any specific information, especially about Khushrenada's dealings with Altron."
Une stood and leaned over her desk. Heero also stood as she handed him a thick folder. "Here is the dossier on Herr Khushrenada. Learn everything you can about him. He has a reputation for being an egoistical ass and will certainly be insulted if you don't encourage his high opinion of himself.
Another person you need to pay particularly close attention to is Zechs Merquise. He has been the Chief Engineer on all of Khushrenada's larger projects."
"Merquise has also done quite a bit of traveling between Hamburg and Montreux in the last few weeks." Quinze added as he was determined to convince Heero of his informational importance.
"I've arranged for you to leave in two days time." Une informed Agent 01, "I realize that it hasn't been long since the matter of 04's rescue but my gut instincts tell me that something is about to happen and that time is running out."
Quinze nodded in agreement. "And that "something" can be bad if Khushrenada is implicated."
"Stop by Technology and Development before you leave." Une ordered as she walked around her desk. "I'm sure that Mr. Howard has a whole array of gadgets that might come in handy."
"Yes Commander Une."
Une extended her hand, something that she rarely did. "Good luck 01."
As Heero shook Une's hand he felt a bit uncomfortable with the degree of familiarity. "Thank you."
As a parting gesture Heero bowed slightly, "Mr. Quinze."
"Mr. Yuy." Quinze reciprocated in kind with a nod of his head.
The office door closed leaving the Commander and Quinze alone. Quinze shook his head and puffed out an obvious snort of disapproval.
Setting her hip on the desk's corner Une inquired, "Something wrong?"
Quinze pulled off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "01 is a cocky bastard." he replied before replacing his glasses. "Are you sure his attitude won't get in the way?"
A thin-lipped smile showed the Commander's amusement at Quinze's assessment of one of her best agents. "Mr. Quinze I do not think you want to question 01's attitude when it comes to a mission." she advised, "Count yourself lucky that Yuy is on our side."
*********
On his way to the lift Heero decided that he had time for a detour. Turning left down an intersecting hall he entered the first of five Physical Training rooms. The whoosh of hydraulic exercise equipment and the clank of weight machines mixed with the thuds of bodies colliding with padded mats. Various pitches of voices echoed over the stark white walls along with grunts and numerous loud shouts.
Men and women practiced offensive and defensive techniques singularly or with a partner. Bodies became lethal weapons, hands and feet blurred in a flurry of strikes and kicks. Bos and bokkens and nunchakus slashed through the air at deadly speeds.
Heero leaned against the wall with his arms folder across his chest. To a casual observer the action would appear to be merely a frenzy of activity, a lot of bustle and commotion. But to the trained eye the katas and sparring was an integration of the discipline of mind and body and the dignity of the spirit.
In a far corner, away from the machines and the people, an isolated figure dressed in a black gi engaged in his private practice. Shoulder-length hair as black as his silky garments was pull into a tight ponytail. Bulging muscles demonstrated strength. Long legs moved with the grace of a crane and the quickness of a cat. Powerful fists punched an invisible opponent with lightning movements suggestive of a swallow in flight.
Chang Wufei, Agent 05, had originally been "loaned" from the Hong Kong Bureau for a temporary assignment but he reckoned that after a year temporary had turned into permanent.
The Chinese agent had mostly kept to himself when he first arrived and he still valued his privacy to point of frequently being standoffish. While Chang's solitary behavior was often viewed as rude Heero understood it to be an expression of self-reliance and also an efficient way to manage his emotions.
Although Heero was part European and part Japanese his Asian ancestry still influenced every part of his life. Chang, too, had a lineage that manifested itself in Clan pride and a warrior's spirit and destined him to be a Lone Dragon.
Heero and Wufei had established an odd form of friendship. They had been partnered on several missions and even though their surveillance methods and fighting styles were totally opposite, they shared a mutual respect and appreciation for their differences. And 05 was one of the few people who could stand toe to toe with 01 in a sparring session.
Heero pushed off the wall and skirted around a rack of dumbbells and weights. 05 stood motionless in a back stance poised like a tiger ready to pounce. Both hands, fingers straight and pressed tightly together with the thumbs tucked against the palms in the Sword Hand Formation, were centered in front of his breastbone.
Ebony eyes were focused with the steely glare of an eagle. A light sheen of sweat glistened on his tanned skin and Heero could barely see Chang's chest expand from his perfectly controlled breathing.
Heero had no doubts that 05 knew he was near. Chang had finely honed his senses until he could "see" in the dark and "hear" the slightly sound. Yes, Chang Wufei was a flawless combination of strength and speed with a goodly amount of primitive animal instincts added just for the hell of it.
A faint hiss was all the warning Heero received before the Dragon unleashed his impressive power. In the first second Chang shifted his weight to his forward foot. In the next briefest measure of time his hip pivoted and his right leg came around in a reverse roundhouse kick.
01 never flinched as a rush of air feathered his hair a nanosecond before a blood-curdling "KIAI!" exploded in his ears. Chang's outstretched leg hovered a fraction of an inch from Heero's face. Wufei held the form in an unwavering defiance of gravity. His bare foot was flat, heel and toes in precise alignment and his raven eyes shone like two highly polished gemstones.
With a relaxing exhalation Chang slowly lowered his leg and slid back into a formal Attention Stance. He ended with a bow of courtesy then addressed his fellow agent. "01."
"Chang." Heero responded with a matching bow.
*********
"Did you ever report in?" Wufei shouted above the forceful spray from the shower in the men's locker room.
The stall's short dividing wall gave Heero a clear view of 05's broad shoulders, muscular chest and washboard abs but barely hid his equally firm buttocks. Heero was particularly amused by a red dragon tattoo on Wufei's right bicep that danced each time he flexed his arm.
"About an hour ago."
Through the steamy mist Heero watched the Dragon unite his hair and shake it loose. Wufei turned around and tilted back his head letting the stinging spray smooth out his lengthy locks. Soon water soaked the thick strands causing silvery bands to sparkle in the overhead lights.
Wufei soaped up, rinsed off and proceeded to lather up his hair. The shampooing completed he shut off the water and wrapped a towel around his slim waist. "How long before your next assignment?"
"Two days."
Using a second towel to dry his hair 05 raised his eyebrows but didn't seem surprised. "That bitch can be stone cold."
Heero grinned at Wufei's appraisal of their tough Commander. "It looks like there may be trouble brewing in Switzerland."
"There is trouble everywhere." Wufei stated from his knowledge of people's inabilities to get along. He dug through his locker and retrieved a pair of cotton boxers. This time Heero did get a fascinating glimpse of Wufei's trim ass as the boxers replaced the towel.
Wufei wiggled into faded jeans and a light blue pullover shirt then combed out his hair, once more the tight ponytail reigned in his heavy ebony mane.
05 sat on a bench, put on socks and laced up his ankle-high black leather boots. "Is it a solo mission?" he wondered as he stuffed the silky gi into a duffle bag.
Heero followed Wufei into the hall. "Une didn't say anything about a partner."
"If it can be arranged would you like a partner?"
"Are you volunteering for the job?"
01 and 05 stopped by an exit that led to the parking garage. "If I don't see some action soon I going to get my katana and go ninja all over the place." Wufei declared.
Heero nodded in agreement. Assignments either fell into the feast or famine category, either you were too busy to catch your breath or bored out of your mind. "If you can talk Une into being my partner I will be glad for the company."
Wufei sighed, "All she can do is say no. I'll go up and talk to her."
As 05 headed back down the hall Heero called after the Chinese agent. "Just don't call her a bitch."
Wufei didn't slow his pace but he did twist around just enough to flip Heero a middle-finger salute before disappearing around the corner.
*********
Heero took the lift to Sub-Basement Level 2. As the lift door opened a multitude of strange sounds met his ears.
Snaking his way through a labyrinth of cables, switching boxes and endless collections of odd parts Heero surveyed the room for the rather eccentric man who insisted on being called "Uncle" Howard.
Heero paused to watch as the master inventor explained his latest creation to several techs gathered around a workstation. There was always excitement in Howard's voice and he took pride in knowing that his work had saved numerous field agent's lives.
"01," the man dressed in a gaudy Hawaiian shirt waved in Heero's direction, "I want you to see this."
Holding up what looked like an ordinary ballpoint pen Howard depressed a hidden trigger. A dart shot out and stuck in the wall. "These darts are can be fitted with three different tips that are stored in this cigarette holder.
The red tip contains an explosive charge powerful enough to make a sizeable hole. The yellow tip delivers a strong sedative that will put a person out for an hour or so. Finally the black tip is coated with a quick-acting poison. Be particularly careful of the black one." he cautioned.
"Uncle" Howard left the techs to test the deadly pen's delivery system and joined Heero at another table. Firstly Heero praised Howard's craftsmanship, "The tracking band signal worked perfectly."
"Found 04 right away...good."
Howard pushed aside layers of clutter littering the tabletop then opened a leather briefcase that neatly held his latest handiwork. Another dart-firing pen and cigarette holder was included in the special package he had assembled for Agent 01.
"This watch contains the same tacking device that 04 was wearing but I have improved on the design. This one is coded with your own personal signature signal."
Heero put his watch in his pocket, buckled the new timepiece around his wrist and held up his arm for inspection.
"You must wear this watch at all times." Howard ordered, "We can't help you if we can't find you."
Heero acknowledged the instructions with a nod.
Howard picked through the clutter once more. "Ah here is it." he muttered. "I think you might find this useful. This mini-camera not only takes pictures but it also holds a cartridge of T4 plastic explosives. Set the countdown timer, adjust the focus to maximum range and make sure you're well away when it blows.
Do you have any questions? 01, are you paying attention?" Howard asked when he found the space beside him vacant.
Heero's attention had wandered and was now absorbed with an oblong container that looked like a protective case for eyeglasses. But Heero knew from previous experience that where Howard was concerned nothing was as it seemed to be. He turned the interesting item over and over in his hand then bounced it on his flattened palm; it seemed heavy for its size.
Howard reached around snatching up the object of Heero's curiosity in mid-bounce. He caught the case's curved end and thumbed a hidden hinge. With a soft click a panel set flush in the side retracted to reveal three compartments.
"You are already familiar with the Universal Key; it will open about ninety percent of locks." Howard confirmed.
The second space contained a spool of thin wire. The last section housed a knife as long as the case. Compression at the base of the handle flipped out the blade and locked it into place. As the overhead lights glinted off the razor-edged steel surface 01 could only imagine the damage the blade could inflect.
Howard pushed the knife back inside and closed the side panel. "Take this, too." he ordered placing the case in the briefcase. "As always the briefcase is double walled so you can get through those annoying scanners at the airport." he added with a sly grin.
"You know," Howard continued as he accompanied Heero and his new "toys" to the lift, "I'm required to issue you a regulation pistol."
Heero's lips parted to protest but Howard cut him off. "I know you won't use it, you're too attached to that damned Beretta." he shook his head in frustration, "Oh what the hell I'll sign the issue voucher anyway."
"Howard you're a good man." Heero stated sincerely.
"Well I hope you'll be as good when we get a proper dressing down from Commander Une. You know she'll find out sooner or later what a bad influence you are on me."
"I won't tell if you don't."
"Be careful," Mr. Howard called after the exiting agent, "and remember to wear the watch." he reminded.
TBC...
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