Woke Up One Morning... Part 44
After catching up with Howard and the Sweepers in Peacemillion's hanger, Heero and I found our shared room, which happens to be the quarters where I had stayed back during the wars. There's a certain detail that makes it known that the room was once mine.
Still etched into the metal wall beside the bed even after all these years is my small scripted, 'The God of Death was here.'
Laughing at the sight of it, we went on to unpack. That little message is a nice little touch that helps make the space feel more like our own.
The room is just the right size for one person. Two makes it pretty damn tight by having an extra dresser, but then we only have one bed to take up space so it'll suit just fine for the time that we'll be staying here. At least we have our own adjoining bathroom to make the arrangement even more accommodating.
Once everything had been organized, we headed out to reacquaint ourselves with the massive ship before our first meeting with Une in an hour.
Floating as much as we're walking, we made the rounds to check in on everyone we know before deciding to check out the observation decks on the second level.
At the first empty room, I perch myself on the railing wrapped around the furthest glass wall and stare out at the incredible sight of the Earth from millions of miles away.
Heero takes a seat beside me and rests his hand over mine between us. "I don't care how many times I've been in space," I grin, "I'll never get tired of the view." Humming in agreement, my husband nods and we fall into a comfortable silence.
I slide over on the railing and take up in my partner's warmth and the peacefulness of this moment. After this, it'll be back to business for us.
Left unsaid between us is the fact that our partnership is going to be brought to the table in this meeting. It's going to have to be addressed at some point and knowing Une, she'll want it handled one way or the other as soon as possible.
And I'm scared to death over what she'll do.
Closing my eyes, I rest my head on Heero's shoulder and try to not worry about the unknown. Better enjoy this break as much as we can.
* * * * * *
On our way to Lady Une's new office, we end up running into Wufei, Danielle and Tyce in the process. And I'm more than pleased to see that they also opted to wear their uniforms to give more of a feel to this ship being our new haven. It just... feels right to still be representing the Preventer's organization the way that we should be.
A wide smile on his face, the ex-military man shakes hands firmly with Heero and I while extending his congratulations on our marriage. As one of the other agents out in the field at the time of the attack, word had to reach him through the grapevine. I'm pretty sure that a certain, petite pilot was responsible for that.
Looking around at the five of us, it makes it all that much more real how we've lost Adam and Penelope to round off our team. And I can tell that the others are thinking along the same lines when smiles begin to fade into more somber expressions as eyes scan around, almost waiting for the missing pair to suddenly appear.
As we head down a long corridor of meeting halls and offices, we find Kathie walking in the opposite direction with a stack of files wrapped in her arms. Grinning at us, she nods firmly, "The Commander is expecting you, so just go right on in." Snickering, I shake my head.
Damn. It almost is like being back at headquarters. You know, aside from the view of the stars outside, and the fact that we can float along if we want in this warped lack of gravity.
Reaching the closed door with Lady Une's nameplate, it slides open to us and we move inside. As the first to enter, I'm the first to freeze in place with wide eyes on the uniformed people already gathered inside....
Well, I should say on one particular person. It's not a surprise to see the Commander, Zechs or Noin present, but there is one big shock to the system.
Smiling widely, Heather rises from her seat in the two rows of chairs before the Commander's desk that used to belong to Adam.
Penelope's seat is taken up by Daniel Connors- also known as Agent Arrow. His red hair, green eyes and pale freckled skin scream of his Irish inheritance. Standing, he smirks and nods firmly in acknowledgment of us.
Lady Une grins from behind her desk and gestures to the empty chairs. "Please, have a seat, everyone," she requests. "We have a lot to cover."
There is a slight hesitance to move. I especially feel the tension from Danielle and Tyson in particular with them being right behind me. Just as I am sure they're feeling, I was not expecting Adam and Penelope to be replaced so quickly. Of course, it only stands to reason that they would need to be.
It's just... strange.
Quickly trying to ease some of the tension in the air, I head for the back row of chairs for Heather and hug her tightly. "Not that I'm not happy to see you, but what the hell are you doing here?" I ask.
Returning the embrace, Agent Storm pulls back and replies, "This is where I need to be. Every Preventer is my second family and I was not about to sit back in hiding anymore after what happened." Those blue eyes of hers narrow fiercely and she grits, "This way, I can put the same skills of mine that Ivanov had used in his favor to work against him now."
My mouth opens to continue a string of questions and she stops me by raising a hand and reassuring, "Janelle and my parents are here as well, perfectly safe and sound."
Well, then... that certainly clears up any worries that I had over Heather's being here. And really, I can't think of anyone who deserves the right to be here more than she does.
The corners of my mouth curl up as I tell her sincerely, "Good to have you on the team." More than welcome, at that. Anyone who is talented enough to hack into the Preventer database without tripping a single alarm is more than up to the challenge of standing in as the IT team's lead in Adam's place.
As I extend a handshake with Daniel, I seem to have helped with the little tension issues as the others follow suit with smiles to welcome aboard our newest members. Taking my seat in the front row alongside Zechs and Noin, I'm rewarded with a proud smile and wink from Lady Une as she looks onto the scene in amusement.
Reunions out of the way, everyone sits in their places and gives the Commander their undivided attention as she begins, "Well, I can't begin to tell you all how happy I am to be meeting with all of you at all right now. It's been a pretty crazy few days for all of us and I am looking forward to getting back by finally catching up with Ivanov to thank him for what he has done."
Dark smirks curl up on lips, including my own, at that sentiment.
Her hand motioning in the direction of me and Heero, Une addresses, "Now, in regards to the partnership of Agent Wing and Agent Scythe in the light of their marriage..." Swallowing roughly, my heart pounds in my chest and Heero reaches over to squeeze my hand.
"I want to make it known that they will not be broken up," she declares matter-of-factly. Releasing the breath the I had been holding, I blink in surprise. Heero's similar reaction tells that he had not expected that announcement, either.
Slowly shaking her head, the Commander insists, "We are too far along in this case and without too many agents now to be changing any arranged pairs. Only when we have finally put this investigation to rest and we have been able to rebuild our organization will the matter will be looked at again." All around, heads nod in acceptance of the decision.
Unable to help my deep sigh, I struggle to keep my tears back as I respond with a sincere, "Thank you, Commander." Immediately replying in kind, Heero bows his head.
"Now onto other matters," she follows up with a grin in our direction before focusing on the whole of our team.
Taking a deep breath, Lady Une states, "Both Agent Storm and Agent Arrow have been brought up to speed on everything that we had known prior to the hit as well as where Agent Link and Agent Bridge's teams last stood in their efforts. So, they are both more than ready to take over where they left off." There is a tiny hitch in her voice that has her clearing her throat and lowering her head in a rush so that she could collect herself.
A sad smile on her face when she gazes back up, she all but whispers, "Let's make sure that all the hard work of Adam, Penelope and all those lost is not in vain." Swallowing roughly, I nod my head along with the others around me.
Une clears her throat once more and says in that clear, resolved tone of hers, "Unfortunately, we also lost quite a few prisoners that would have been key witnesses against Ivanov in the blast."
Shaking her head, she sighs in frustration, "Krutza is gone, Olle has lost his mind completely to the point that he will be spending his days in an infirmary. And the couple that had been spared and are able to talk refuse to do so out of fear of what may happen, no matter what methods of persuasion are used on them. They are still detained in holding cells aboard the ship, but I do not believe we will be getting far with them."
Tyce tilts his head and asks, "What of those prisoners that were brought in by the agents that were still in the field at the time of the attack? One of them may be more willing to share what they know since I take it that they have no idea what happened to headquarters."
"In total, we have ten men in captivity that have not been informed as to why they are aboard a ship and not on the Earth just yet," the Commander replies.
"Right now, they are all in the process of being tagged and situated before they are questioned as they have only been aboard the Peacemillion as of last night. I want them to have a little time in an actual cell to wonder what is going on before they are interrogated, work their nerves up more."
Folding her arms and leaning back in her chair a bit, she shrugs, "With any luck, we will be lucky enough to break the right one that knows something of use to us. As careful as Ivanov has been with his whereabouts, someone has to know a way of tracking him down."
Her brown eyes falling on Daniel, she adds, "In speaking of those agents that had been hiding, Agent Arrow will be working on contacting and thanking the leaders of the Colonies and nations that had provided them a place to hide as they waited on word from us."
"Ai," the Irishman grins. "They will all be reached and given our proper expression of gratitude for their help. I will also be working on contacting the areas where we already know of other potential people we want brought in. When you're ready to send more fleets out, my team and I will be able to brief them with all they will need to know of their surroundings."
Lady Une smiles and bows her head, "Excellent."
Turning to face the young mother of the group, she advises, "Adam was good enough to upload all of his findings into the Preventer's main database. Agent Storm has been working since her arrival here last night to familiarize herself with his notes that include his conversations with Krutza."
Heather nods, "Most of the people left from Adam's original team have an understanding to the code used in the recovered transcripts. We should have more names and even some possible locations of meeting places within even a couple of days. Between that and what has been recorded, we actually have a lot to go on."
Well, they both certainly hit the ground running since being brought onto the team. Not bad work at all.
Smirking, the Commander informs, "And along with having this ship serve as our new base, we have the use of mobile suits again. Since Mars was all but inhabitable as of a couple years ago, the call for the destruction of those suits had been lifted from those who could use them in the project of civilizing the Red Planet."
With her gaze falling on them, she comments, "Agent Wind and Agent Fire were both good enough to bring along Taurus, Leo and Virgo suits to be used at our disposal whenever needed."
"Hot damn!" I cheer aloud when I only meant to think it. My eyes widening, I blush as my teammates laugh at my expense. Shrugging, I grin sheepishly over their giggles and chuckles, "Well, nothing like really making a point by being able to blow the shit out of stuff if we have to, right?"
Noin shakes her head in amusement and snickers as our eyes meet, "Oh, I've missed you, Duo. That was exactly our thinking when we brought them along."
Arms folded across his chest, even Zechs has a crack of a smile on his face as he nods. Raising an eyebrow, his wife teases, "Considering how long it's been since you boys have been in a mobile suit, feel more than free to test them out."
Both Heero and Wufei straighten in their seats with smug smiles on their faces at the offer. My hands are even twitching a bit at the chance to control a suit again.
With it going on five years since I last piloted Deathscythe, it'll be nice to soothe that itch for even a while.
"Does that mean you would be up for a skirmish challenge?" 'Fei asks the former Lieutenant, the smile on his face becoming all the more mischievous.
Sighing, Noin answers, "Since you're that interested in having your ass handed to you, sure." I laugh along with the rest of the group in appreciation for that kind of spirit.
Wufei winks back at her, "You're on, then." The matter settled, they chuckle and focus back on Une as she rolls her eyes in amusement before calling order back into the room so that we can finish the meeting.
I can already 'hear' her asking herself what kind of monster was just created.
* * * * * *
"Whooot! Damn, that was fun!" I exclaim as I practically bounce out of the hanger with Heero a couple hours following our meeting with Une. Since then, we've been flying out in space, piloting a couple of Taurus suits to get familiar with how they're maneuvered.
Though it's very different from piloting a Gundam, it's still... "Just like getting back on a bike," I grin widely, wiping the sweat that had built up from the exerting exercise of chasing after Zechs and Noin in their suits.
I have to tell you that it was a little unfair since those two have been flying those things for years now and a few kinks needed to get worked out on my end. But it was no less thrilling to watch that pair in action. I've always been an admirer of their abilities.
Heero is just slightly worse for wear than I am right now with more sweat on his face than what I have going.
Really, he shouldn't have been out there flying at all, but I'm a sucker whenever he gives me those puppy eyes of his. And he was good at stopping and returning to the hanger when he felt he was just about to push himself too hard.
Even though he's moving stiffly and still catching his breath, there is a serene smile on his face that goes along with the excitement coursing through me after that 'test run.' "When do you think Wufei will finally give up and admit that Noin's clearly beating him out there?"
Laughing, I wrap an arm around his waist from behind to help support him better as we walk back to our room down the long hallway. "Not until his arms are about to fall off," I smirk. Shrugging, I add, "Which should be happening in a short while, since he's just as out of practice as we are."
I inwardly breathe a sigh of relief when we reach the constantly moving conveyor belt for traveling around the ship faster and easier.
Metal grips spin on down the corridor and I assist my partner in taking hold of the first bar we reach. Taking the one right behind, I lift my feet along with him to be carried forward, on our way.
At our stop, we let go of the bars to drift back and stand just beyond our doorway where two very unexpected visitors are waiting for us. I stiffen with wide eyes along with Heero and blink in surprise.
Nodding his head of short, blond hair firmly, Ryan Jacobs opens with a flat, "Gentlemen." Beside him, Pedro Hernandez bends his head down in acknowledgment.
It's been some time since we've seen last seen their faces back in the cafeteria of headquarters when we were beating the shit out of each other. The initial surprise and tension at their presence fades a bit when there is no malice to be found in their eyes as there always seemed to be in the past when we would run into each other.
Their cockiness has been traded for clear signs of lack of sleep over the last few days. Since they were stationed out in the field together at the time of the attack, it's easy to understand the dark circles and deep lines on their faces.
Along with that exhaustion is also a hint of their loss over their friend, Jack Reynolds, who was one of the many Preventers lost in the attack.
"Whatever grudges had been there between us and them no longer matter anymore," Jacobs comments quietly. And I know he means that by the tone of his voice and the sincerity in his green eyes. Heero's shoulders ease along with mine and our old foes approach closer.
Smirking, I nod, "I'm more than fine with leaving the past where it is." I hold my opened right hand out in an official peace offering. A small, relieved smile lights Jacob's face and he shakes my hand firmly. The gesture is passed onto Heero while Hernandez and I shake.
At times like this, there can't be enemies amongst individuals that are on the same side. I'm glad that these two have come to that realization so we can focus the frustration and anger we had for each other where it really belongs.
Pedro glances from me to Heero and back as he states, "If there is anything that we can do to help in getting the son of a bitch that attacked us, just let us know. We're a little more than anxious for the chance to get involved however we can."
Rubbing the back of my neck, I sigh, "Well, right now, we're just waiting on interrogations of the prisoners that were brought in to start tomorrow. All we really have to go on for the time being is what they're telling us about the man they're all working with."
Heero adds, "Since there are a good handful of them now, it'll come down to finding the right captive that will break and give us the information that we want."
Their eyes widening and locking, Ryan and Jose share a look. As they turn to face me and 'Ro again, those mischievous smirks are back.
"I think we have your man," Jacobs informs in a low growl.
TBC...
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