Secrets Part 8

Unloading the ship wasn't difficult- the servos handled most of it. Heero spent his time trying to enlarge the scanning program's focus- and though he succeeded, Duo's tracer still didn't show up at all. Had he found it? Or had he somehow managed to move out of Heero's range? But how had he done that so quickly?

Thirty minutes before his meeting with Wufei, Heero downloaded the scanning program onto his pocket comp. He'd be moving through the city- maybe somewhere on the edges of the scan, he'd catch Duo's signal. It wasn't a huge chance- but Heero was willing to try anything at this point... even though it was possible that Duo had made his way to a shuttle terminal and was way out of range by now.

Preventers HQ never changed- a seething hive of activity- everyone always in a rush. Wufei was waiting for him by the door, his face creased in a worried frown.

"There you are!"

"I didn't think I was late."

"You aren't- but Quatre sent Trowa- and he's driving Une crazy."

"I thought Trowa was on L4."

"Guess he was down here visiting his sister." Wufei ushered him through the security quickly, and then hurried him to the elevator. "We told him that we'd rather wait for you and just go through everything once."

"So? Trowa's patient. Couldn't he wait?"

"Of course he could. He's been sitting quietly in Une's office for the last hour."

Ah. Realization dawned. "Like a lion watching a mouse?"

"You're familiar with the tactic?"

"Only too well. Quatre and I were testing some of his experimental security units a few months ago- and Quatre ended up in the emergency room. I had to wait with Trowa."

"Ah. Guess you stopped helping with the testing?"

"Hell yes."

The elevator dinged and the doors slid open. Une was waiting for them in her office, Trowa a silent presence against the wall.

Heero sat down beside him. "So- fill us in?"

Une sighed and looked at Wufei. He closed the door and moved to stand in front of her desk, facing the other two. "How much do you two know about the gangs on L2?"

"They're trouble- it's not safe after dark on the streets," Heero offered. "I know the Preventers have gone in a few times to clean up."

Une snorted. "We've tried to clean up. The problem is the gangs aren't just street level- they're tied into the police force, the Patrol, the government- every layer of life on L2. When we've gone in to 'clean up' we're blocked at every turn- sure we make arrests- but not of the highest ranks- more like the layer the gangs themselves want to get rid of! And no one can infiltrate them- we've tried. Every agent of ours we've sent in, they've killed."

"How did they-?"

"We didn't realize how far the corruption had spread. People in the government of L2 knew about the agents- if not by name, and from there all they would have to do would be to scrutinize the new recruits."

"So this is where Duo came in?" Trowa asked.

"I ran into him- sheer accident- when I was up there on one of our useless raids." Wufei shook his head. "I didn't want to get him involved- but when I told him what was going on... well, he'd been living on L2, I think he knew more than I did. He agreed to go in for us- not as one of our agents- he didn't want any ties. He agreed to meet with me occasionally- but he had to be extremely careful."

"Obviously. So what happened?"

Wufei shrugged helplessly. "That's just it- I don't know! You know how bad it can be for someone in deep cover... Duo was sucked in pretty deep. He was trusted..."

Heero sucked in a breath. "Someone betrayed him?"

"The only people who knew Duo was working with us was myself and Wufei," Une frowned. "No one else. He wasn't officially a Preventer- he insisted on that- no records, nothing anyone could use to link us to him. And the only proof we have of his death is the tape that was sent to the news stations."

"You don't think he's dead?"

"There isn't a body- and the gangs always leave one. Always. Especially of betrayers. But there isn't one."

"What about the one in the vent?"

"Known gang member. One of Duo's contacts. L2 police insist he's the murderer- that Duo injured him so badly that he crawled into the vent to die." Une snorted again. "Amazing that a badly injured man made it all the way across the colony and into a public building without being seen- where he then wedged himself into a vent."

Heero rubbed his forehead. This was not looking good. What should he do? Should he tell them about Duo? But Duo had been so insistent that he not tell anyone... Did he think that Wufei or Une had somehow betrayed him?

"We think Duo was getting close to something big- maybe the real power behind the gangs- or maybe someway to bring them down. His last message hinted at it... but we don't know what it was." Une looked frustrated. "And for all we know, the tape is a fake and they have him somewhere..."

"What do you want us to do?" Trowa asked. "You know Quatre's resources are at your disposal- but none of us knew L2 like Duo did. I could use my merc contacts- but I don't know how much information I can get out of them- and it will take a bit to establish credentials for me there..."

Heero's pocket buzzed. Murmuring an apology, he pulled out his pocket comp. Was Quatre trying to get a hold of them?

His scanning program popped up the moment he flipped the screen on. A blip was visible- right on the edge of the range- and it was moving quickly...

Before the others could even move, he was halfway to the door. "I have to go."

"Heero-what? Wait-"

He couldn't wait. Not after what he'd heard. And that blip was getting dangerously close to the edge of his range... he'd have to move fast...

TBC...

 

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