A/N: Hello! How is everyone? Well, I did promise a companion fic to Silent Witness and here's the first bit. I don't know how often I'll be posting just yet as it isn't quite where I want it, but I did want to start getting some of it out there for you. (No, I haven't forgotten the sequel to Sandrock's Rhapsody-it's just harder to write because I have to do a ton of research. You'll understand once I get it off the ground, but I promise it is still coming my lovelies!)
If you've read Silent Witness (Thank You!) then you know where this story is going. However, since some people find first person POV to be annoying, this fic is NOT that way and will show the plot from the point of view of all the characters EXCEPT the girl. We don't get to know anything about what she thinks about things unless Quatre decides to tell us. For that, you'll have to read the other story! Isn't that fun? I hope you all enjoy it.
As always, reviews are lovely. Please feel free to leave one or not. I don't hold stories hostage for them, but they are very much appreciated.
The M rating is due to mild swearing, violence, abuse, non-graphic mention of NCS, (some only attempted, but some successful). This side of the story also has PTSD flashbacks and some grisly imagery, but as always I try to keep it tasteful while getting the point across.
Let's throw the disclaimer in (and it applies to all chapters): I do not now, nor will I ever own Gundam Wing...unless it goes on super sale and then I might have a chance at selling my soul in exchange for it.
Okay, I think that's all the logistics...on with the story! Enjoy...
Silent Companion
Chapter 1
"Is everyone clear on what they're supposed to be doing?" Heero asked.
Duo, Quatre, Trowa and Wufei nodded.
"Then get going. We need the element of surprise on our side. If our guy really is here, we can't let him get away."
Trowa and Wufei left to join their teams as Quatre and Duo crept quietly towards the chateau in the middle of the woods. It was a large house, Victorian in design. From the blueprints they'd acquired it had a basement, two floors and an attic. The plan was for Duo and Quatre to sneak in, deactivate the alarms and then start in the basement looking for their quarry. Once the alarms were deactivated, Wufei and Trowa would lead their teams inside, Trowa's team of three going through the front door and starting from the top and Wufei's team of four entering from the back door and covering the main floor in order to apprehend anyone the other teams flushed out.
Heero's team was hidden in the woods surrounding the house to ensure that no one escaped. This mission was among the most frustrating missions they'd had since becoming Preventers, but that didn't make it important, at least in Heero's mind. Heero suspected that Colonel Une had given them this assignment because she wanted it shut down quickly. Colonel Une felt that human trafficking was something that the local police precincts should be handling, especially since this particular one seemed to be isolated to this area. She was annoyed that they were wasting Preventer resources on something that should be simple to shut down. Heero agreed with the Colonel, but he knew that the others thought this mission was important, so he went along without voicing his complaints. They'd worked together since the war in one way or another and he wasn't one to break up the team over something as trivial as "this mission is dumb." If that was a valid reason not to do a mission, they wouldn't have had to break up a puppy smuggling ring two years ago. Granted, the rumors were that it was a gun smuggling ring, but even Quatre agreed that the local police should have handled that incident.
At least their other missions had been more of what Heero considered worth their time. Most 'fires', as incidents were referred to by the Preventer ranks, could be doused in a few weeks. But this one…this one had been plaguing the Preventers for over a year and Heero still wasn't sure all of the leads went to the same case. It seemed like they were dealing with more than one trafficking network. After all, one guy couldn't possibly be responsible for all the rumors the Preventers were trying to follow up, right? Of course, that's what Une was trying to prove by sending them out like this. And so far, it looked like she was right. This was all small-time crime that the local authorities should be handling.
The last three leads they'd had on this case had resulted in two dead ends and an abandoned brothel house where two of the former hookers were still living. They had claimed that they were coerced into working there but given how they'd propositioned the point team, Heero doubted it. He figured this location would the same: either a dead end or deserted. But sloppy work was not his style, so they would follow protocol and search the entire house, apprehending and questioning everyone they found. Heero suspected that when this lead turned out to be a dud, Colonel Une would be able to convince the higher ups that this was a waste of time and they could get back to missions where their special skills would actually be put to use.
Wufei and Trowa waited patiently, watching Quatre's and Duo's progress through the overgrown garden.
While he would never admit it out loud, Wufei hoped that this particular mission would turn up something. There had been rumors about the trafficking ring for years, but for some reason, Colonel Une had elected not to investigate. Granted, right after the whole Mariemaia incident, things were a proper mess and there hadn't been time. But some of the missions they'd been sent out on recently weren't really that pressing. She could have used regular agents to look into the rumors about L-28995 preparing to block trade with the other colonies. It turned out to be nothing more than experimenting with hydroponic gardening. And then there was that asinine puppy smuggling thing. Total. Waste. Of. Time. Not to mention money. And it had cut into his medical training. Wufei had decided that if he was going to make being a Preventer into a career, he wanted to be able to keep his team alive in an emergency. Sally still knew more than he did, and he knew he would probably never know as much as she did, but if he could keep his agents alive until Sally could get to them, that would satisfy him.
The only other lead they'd had that had turned up anything recently had led them to a rundown brothel. Sure, the two hookers that resided there had been malnourished, but really, other than that, their condition wasn't bad. And they chose to live that life, even though they claimed to have been coerced once questions concerning the trafficking rumors were asked. Wufei's desire for something to turn up was because if the trafficking ring got out of hand, it could be detrimental to the peace they'd fought so hard to attain. Human trafficking had a way of contributing to the corruption of those in governing positions. The current government was too new and too vulnerable. A corrupt leader at this early stage could plunge the Earth and the Colonies into a civil war that it might not recover from. That scenario was not something that Wufei could accept. He would keep the peace at all costs.
Trowa shifted his stance, ready to lead the charge to the front door. Duo and Quatre were almost to the back entrance. Trowa hoped that this mission would just go smoothly. He had told Catherine that once this mission was wrapped up, he'd be returning to the circus. He was really looking forward to returning to the routine of the circus. There were new tiger cubs to train and Cathy had been working up a new act. He knew she was excited to show him and she'd mentioned that it was possible to add him to it if he wanted. He had already discussed his resignation with Colonel Une. Basically, he'd be called upon only when his skills were needed. And hopefully there wouldn't be any more missions involving stolen puppies. Trowa liked animals more than most people, but seriously? Did they really need former Gundam pilots to track down petty thieves?
Quatre and Duo picked their way through the garden. This side of the house was bathed in shadows as the sun was starting to set. According to the intel, by keeping close to the house they should be able to get to the back door without being seen by the cameras. From there, Quatre would cover the entrance while Duo slipped through the doggy door and deactivated the alarms. At Quatre's signal, Trowa's and Wufei's teams would move in and the search would begin.
Quatre had his gun drawn as he led the way. Not for the first time Quatre wondered if maybe he should have just sucked it up and dealt with the Winner Corporation. He didn't much care to crawl around in the mud or get smacked in the face with plant life, but he detested sitting in board meetings or clawing his way through mountains of paperwork. His sisters were running the company for the time being, until he "got this phase out of his system." Quatre had warned them that he wasn't sure how long it would take before he could force himself to stay at a desk job, but they seemed confident that he would "come to his senses" any time now.
"Duo, watch your footing. This garden hasn't been tended to in ages," he whispered.
"Yeah yeah," Duo muttered in response as he looked around. Something about this mission had him on edge. Something just felt off about the whole thing. It wasn't like the other leads they'd had. Those had just seemed like they wouldn't pan out. Who sets up a human trafficking business in the back room of a tampon factory? And the puzzle shop, while lending a dirty double entendre to Duo's imagination, hadn't exactly come across as a likely location either. And what about the lead that led them to a rundown old brothel with rundown old hookers? He still hadn't forgiven Heero for making him run point that day. And it definitely wasn't like that stupid puppy thing they'd had to deal with, not that there was anything wrong with puppies. Duo just didn't see why they'd had to waste three months tracking someone that carried dog biscuits in his pockets and threatened to teach his dogs to pee only on Preventer uniforms. Couldn't the local cops have handled that?
The girl was being difficult again...stubborn little chit. He supposed he should have expected it. After all, she'd been defiant since day one. Nothing he tried had managed to break her. He'd tried being nice, he'd tried being cruel. He'd tried to scare her into behaving and when that didn't work, he'd tried beating her into submission.
Decart had told him from the beginning that his methods wouldn't work. He insisted that getting the girls to submit willingly was a waste of time, money and energy.
Of course, he thought he'd found the perfect candidate. This girl's parents were so easy to control he'd thought the girl would pose no challenge. He couldn't have been more wrong. If this didn't work, he was going to have to admit defeat.
He threw the girl into the corner, perversely satisfied as her head hit the wall. Perhaps it would knock some sense into her.
"I once said that I would break you first, but I'm tired of waiting. I will break you today." He grabbed the girl by the leg and pulled her onto her back. Still the girl defied him. He'd whipped her daily for the last two months. The mess her back was in was sure to lower her resale value, but he couldn't let her defy him and get away with it. He'd beaten her yesterday until she passed out. He supposed it would have been easier to take the last of her innocence while she was unconscious, but he wanted to watch the defiance leave her eyes.
He straddled the girl's hips and leaned over her, enjoying the terror in her eyes. She could not escape him now. She could not match his strength and struggling would be futile. "Don't worry, my little one. You're of age now, so this won't hurt as much as it could."
She stared at him, disbelief evident on her face. Oh, he knew that wasn't how it worked, but it was so much fun to play with her head. He chuckled as his hands felt their way up and down her slender little body, finally resting on the button of her jeans. "After all the trouble you've given me, I'm going to enjoy this." He undid the button and eased down the zipper, slipping his hand down the girl's front and fondling her. "Oh yes, I will enjoy this." He started to tug down her pants. He laughed as she tried to push his hands away. "You had your chance to cooperate and chose not to." He laid on top of her, grinding their hips together. Putting his face close to hers he said, "I once told you that you were mine. Unfortunately, I've had an offer for you that I just can't refuse. But he doesn't want someone inexperienced, so I still get to take you. It's too bad. This client goes through girls like water through a sieve. When he's done with you, you will beg for me." He knelt between the girls legs and started to undo his pants. "Relax and it won't hurt as much."