Secrets Part 4

"Thank you for your cooperation. Scan commencing in two minutes."

Heero kept his breathing even, made sure that his expression didn't reflect his panic. His smuggling bin was shielded- but only for non-living items. Scans for living things were harder to block- and though he knew his shielding was good- it wasn't that good. The bin was mainly to hold up against a visual inspection- not a scan...

What could he do? The patrol ship was tiny, made for speed- but not as fast as his. He could make a run for it- but then everyone would be looking for him... Maybe try to get the officers on board? They wouldn't have more than two- and maybe he could block their signals?

"Wait-" the Patrol officer frowned, looking off to the right at someone Heero couldn't see. "Really? Well, I'll be damned..."

Fuck. Had the scanner started early? Maybe they knew Duo was on the ship and had scanned them even before the hail. Illegal, sure, but if they knew Heero was harboring their fugitive...

The officer turned back to the screen. "Scan canceled. They found the bastard's body at the spaceport- stuck in a vent."

Heero nearly gasped in surprise. "Really?" He managed, trying to sound slightly bored. "So they sent you out on a wild goose chase then?"

Dead? Had Duo been wrong? Maybe it wasn't him they were looking for...

"Looks like it." The officer chuckled. "Won't be the last either- specially where those damn Preventers are concerned. The guy killed one of theirs- one of those former Gundam Pilots - they were determined to get him after that."

Coldness enveloped Heero. "Guess they must be a little disappointed they don't get to bring him back for a trial then."

"I'm sure they are. Still, he's dead, so they should be somewhat happy. Thanks for your cooperation- have a safe trip."

"Anytime officer."

Heero waited until the Patrol ship broke the connection before turning off his comm. unit. He watched as the Patrol ship turned around and sped away, back towards L2.

What the hell was going on? A Preventer? A former Gundam Pilot? But the only former pilot with the Preventers was Chang...

Casting a glance over his shoulder at the bin, Heero sent his fingers flying over the keyboard, pulling up the news articles he'd set his program to look for.

There it was. Preventer shot to death in an alley. Name not released pending notification of family, but was confirmed to be former Gundam Pilot. Perpetrator on the loose. Believed to be a member of one of L2's most notorious gangs. The name of the perp matched the ID in Duo's wallet.

It had to be Chang. Quatre didn't work for the Preventers- and Trowa worked for Quatre. Unless they were counting Zechs or something...

Had Duo killed Wufei? And what about the body in the spaceport? Who was that?

Checking the monitors to be sure the Patrol ship was safely away; he hit the button that opened the bin.

"What happened? Are they coming aboard?" Duo popped out of the bin and joined Heero at the controls. "Hey- where did they go? Was that thing scan proof? Why didn't you tell me?"

Heero turned just enough to watch Duo's expression. "They didn't scan us. They got a message right before they started that the person they were looking for had been found dead in the spaceport- stuck in a vent."

Duo's face drained of color and he sat down in the never-used co-pilot's seat with a thump. "Dead?"

"So they said."

"Did they say who they were looking for?"

"They didn't give me a name. Just said that the guy had killed a Preventer- who also happened to be a former Gundam Pilot."

Duo buried his face in his hands. "Damn it, I fucking told him to..." He muttered and then grew silent. Heero waited, hoping that Duo would offer an explanation. Any explanation.

But the other man remained silent, hands over his face, his breath hitching softly.

"Duo?" He tried. "What's going on? What have I gotten involved in?"

Duo's head snapped up. "Nothing! You aren't involved in anything! You're.... You've just got an unexpected passenger. That's all."

"Duo-"

"Heero, I can't tell you. I can't explain. It's dangerous! Look what happened to-" Duo choked, biting his lip. "I told you- if you get involved-"

"Then you have to kill me? Like you did with Chang?"

"I didn't kill Chang!"

"Then who did? The guy in the vent?"

"No! Chang is fine! At least, I think he is. He better be..."

"Then what the hell is going on? Who is the dead Preventer? Zechs?"

"I wouldn't be that lucky."

"Then who? They said it was a pilot-"

Duo sighed. "It's me."

Heero blinked at him. "What?!"

Duo shook his head. "That's it. I can't tell you anything else, and the only reason I even said that is because it's more than likely going to hit the airwaves tomorrow- and I know you'll see it. And you can't tell anyone that you saw me alive."

"What about the Preventers?"

"No."

"But you are a Preventer-"

"I'm not."

"But-"

"I can't explain." Duo closed his lips tightly.

"So, I'm just supposed to drop you off tomorrow on Earth and let it go?"

"Yes."

Heero took a deep breath and counted internally to ten. "Duo, you have to realize-"

"I know it's frustrating, I know it is-" Duo reached out pleadingly. "I can't pull you into this- I didn't mean to in the first place- I just... they were getting close and I had to get out. Your ship was right there- and I needed someplace to go- I didn't think!"

Heero sighed again. "So you won't let me help you?"

"You've already helped me. You got me off of L2."

"But-"

"I can't put you more at risk."

"Isn't that my choice to make?"

"No."

Heero's lips twitched involuntarily at Duo's blunt response. "Are you getting protective on me, Maxwell?"

"Fuck yes."

TBC...

 

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