A/N: Couldn't wait another day to get this ball rolling. It's exciting for me to get the real meat of this story off my laptop and out into the world. But I'll try and keep the next update for the weekend.

One note – sometimes I pay homage to other series with my references. There's a few in this chapter and one or two in previous. Most of those have to do with some incarnation of Sherlock Holmes (the stuff in this chapter specifically the BBC's Sherlock, whereas last chapter's "Bradshaw" is from a particular more classical series). But this time I'm also doing a direct one – Quatre is allergic to something because I am horridly allergic. So there ha.

But that's the extent to which I own the Gundam characters, the Quest characters, or even the insinuations of Sherlock Holmes. Otherwise this story would be real!

Enjoy!


Quatre finally cleared all the various tasks that needed his attention and ended his call with his assistant. Rising from the small chair in the quiet space, he was not at all surprised to see Bandit curled up and asleep against the knee of Hadji, who appeared to be meditating. Quatre hadn't needed to turn around to know when they'd joined him, nor did he need to ask why given the audible shouting and the raucous excitement and competitiveness and triumph radiating from the forward cabin.

"All is well then?" Hadji asked politely, opening his eyes.

"Yes. Really they don't need me every day. I just worry," Quatre sat on one of the bunks and drew his feet under him. "WEI is more than a company. And it's more than a livelihood for a lot of people. It's also the legacy of my father, and I am doing my best to ensure it's what it should be."

"A heavy burden, but one I imagine you are well suited to bear," Hadji smiled. He didn't move from his position, but he did clear his throat. "I meant to ask something about last night, if you aren't bothered..." he began.

"Hadji, you have read the inside of my soul and you now know I was a Gundam pilot. I think you can ask me whatever you want. You know I won't answer if I can't, but there's less I would keep from you than before." Quatre's voice was warm and there was amusement in his face.

"Very well. When we met Heero in the corridor, why did he call you 'Katoru' instead of Quatre?"

"They all do that, did you notice?" he smiled. "Duo calls me 'Cat' more often than anything else, and Wufei calls us all by our surnames unless he's particularly upset. Trowa's the only one who always uses proper names."

"Yes, but why?"

"In the war," Quatre's voice was soft, "we were numbers. Zero One. Zero Two. Zero Three. Zero Four. Zero Five. And of the five of us, only two of us have names of our own, names given by parents we remember. When peace came and we became friends, we put the numbers aside, to be used only on missions or when we needed conceal our identities from others."

"I can understand that. But Heero...?"

"Heero's native language is Japanese," Quatre continued. "It's...it's his way of giving me a name that links me to him, a name that's a part of his heritage. Mine isn't easy to pronounce in Japanese, and when we speak it to one another, it's what started coming out."

"But he doesn't do that with the others."

"Not exactly. But he does call us all baka when we deserve it. And you've heard Duo call him 'Hee-chan' in a similar way."

"I guess I'd understand it if he had a nickname for everyone, but it's just you." Hadji knew he was prying, but he also trusted that Quatre would forgive him.

"Do you speak Japanese?" At Hadji's shaking head, Quatre continued, "It's an interesting language. One of its features, unlike Common, is that you always refer to the people around you based on their relationship to you – it depends on if they are older or younger, more respected or less, strangers or family. Heero instinctively assesses people and treats them accordingly, just like his language. And what I am to Heero is unique. It matters to him that I am distinct. But he doesn't like to admit it. He only ever calls me Katoru when under the influence of strong emotions."

"Hmm." That was unexpectedly private, and Hadji considered it for a moment. "He won't mind that you've told me this, will he?"

"Heero? No, I don't think so. Or, well maybe he will," Quatre corrected himself. "He's very circumspect about his feelings, you know. He might actually hate for me to have told you that." He had the grace to look a little abashed.

"Should I be concerned?" Hadji asked archly, only mostly joking.

"No, I don't think so. Especially since I won't tell him I've told you. And I imagine you won't mention it either!"

"An excellent plan." The relieved smile that warmed Hadji's face was mirrored on Quatre's, and both grew more impish at a particularly loud cry from the cabin afore them. Duo was being very noisy, and Jonny was not much quieter.

"They're doing it on purpose," Quatre pointed out.

"Yes, I know. It does not take an empath to recognize that they wish us to join them," Hadji shook his head. "But three on a team is already a bit crowded. I fear four will put someone's elbow through a window."

"Structurally impossible," Quatre responded automatically, then laughed as he recognized he'd been teased.

"If you do not wish to join them, we could meditate again," he offered.

"Thank you. But no. I promised Trowa and Heero I'd warn them before doing that again, since it upset them so much the first time. However," and an eager light glowed in his blue eyes, "I'm not averse to joining them. Even crowded, it will be an interesting game."

"Oh?"

The light grew brighter and Quatre's face transformed. The open, kind-hearted friend was replaced with a shark, but not the kind that dealt in numbers and papers. As the expression grew, there was a shout from beyond, and then a sudden silence. A moment later, Trowa peeked his head in.

"We've just called it a draw." He stated it almost flatly, but it was still an obvious invitation. Quatre schooled his face and rose, beckoning to Hadji to follow.

"Yeah! Come on, Cat!" Duo cheered.

"Winner is an unfair advantage to either team," Wufei pointed out.

"Hey, what about Hadji?" Jessie demanded.

"Oh, no," Hadji put up his hands as he and Quatre entered the cabin. "No, do not put me in the same category. I know better."

"How about a challenge, then?" Quatre suggested, his voice almost coolly casual. "I have an idea."

"What do you have in mind?" Trowa asked.

"Teams of four. But, to keep it interesting, I'll join a team with these three," and he gestured to Jessie, Jonny, and Hadji. "You four against us."

"Oh man! Not even you can pull that off!" Duo laughed. "No offense, Red, you're good, and J-man has a few moves and all, but nobody can beat the Gundam team."

"If anybody can, though, it's Quatre." Heero was allowing himself to float, and came to a rest against a seat. "It's an interesting idea."

"Come on," Jessie teased, looking at Wufei. "You can't tell me you're afraid to lose to a bunch of kids and a girl, are you?"

"Woman, you will regret that," he threatened. But those who knew him well, which increasingly included Jonny, Jessie, and Hadji, saw beneath the legitimate fire of his honor insulted was a wry humor. "The first team to five points is the victor. There will be no tie."

"Give me a minute with my team," Quatre said politely, floating across the cabin and gesturing for the others to join him. As they huddled together, Duo turned to his teammates.

"So, we got a chance?"

"Hard to say," Trowa commented. "Quatre's shutting me out, so he's got something in mind. But none of them are a match for our skills." He moved off to dig into the bags he and Quatre had brought with them for something.

"Usually that's when Quatre takes advantage of an enemy, though. Do not underestimate him," Heero reminded them.

"Oh, I won't," Duo cracked his knuckles.

Several minutes later, Quatre rose. But before anyone could say anything, a small item flew through the space. The blond caught it instinctively.

"They're not Maganacs," he argued, shaking his head at the goggles resting on his palm.

"They're close enough," Trowa argued. "You're leading your troops this time. Rashid will be disappointed if you do it improperly."

"What?" Jessie asked.

"Maybe we'll get into it later," Quatre said. Then he grinned brightly and pulled the goggles onto his head, snapping them into place with habitual ease and pride. "All right. Let's do this. Duo – you start with the ball. All the rules are otherwise the same. Wufei said to five points? We're ready when you are!"

Duo gathered the ball from where it had been floating. In the cylindrical space, the two goals were weighed down to the floor and about the size of one of the shuttle seats. The ball was slightly smaller than a basketball, easy to palm and soft and bouncy. The space was divided laterally at the middle row of seats so that neither team could cross the boundary. In the previous game, Trowa and Wufei had served as goalies while their other teammates were attackers, catching and blocking throws and shooting at the goal.

As the current teams spread across the field, more than one ex-Gundam eyebrow was raised when Quatre stayed back as goalie himself. That was placing a lot of faith in the Quests, they thought. Smirking, Trowa assumed a similar position at the other end, leaving Heero against Hadji, Duo against Jonny, and Wufei against Jessie in the center.

"Nice knowing you three," Duo commented.

The game began with a hard toss from Duo, which sailed past the Quests, but Quatre caught it easily. The opposing team prepared for Quatre to take his shot, but instead he lobbed it to Jessie.

"Green five," he said.

As though that meant something, Jessie nodded sharply. Then she pushed off a chair, driving straight for the dividing line. Wufei moved to intercept her – he couldn't touch her, but he could certainly be ready to pluck the ball from her fingers when she got close enough to the line. At the last minute, though, Jonny appeared from the side and caught her by the knees. He swung her almost like a baseball bat and she released the ball at the arc of the swing. Even Trowa's ridiculous reflexes couldn't cope with the crazily-spinning ball and a goal was scored.

"Yes!" Jonny cheered.

"Okay, Barton. You're out. I'll handle this," Wufei grumbled, switching places.

"If I know Quatre, that's exactly what he wants," Heero said, but no one paid any attention.

Trowa had the ball now, and he passed it to Heero who flicked it hard into the opposite territory. Several volleys followed where neither team could quite control the ball as missed shots tended to go off at odd angles. Once it even slipped through and nearly scored except that Jonny somehow flung himself behind Quatre to save it. He picked it up and offered it to Quatre, who shook his head.

"Yellow seven, please." And he grinned.

Jonny grinned back and tucked the ball under his arm. He made a running start, but instead of charging the line as Jessie had done, he pushed himself to the ceiling and planted himself upside down. He threw the ball hard for the goal, but Duo easily blocked it, knocking it away dismissively. Which meant that he, unfortunately, had failed to notice Hadji concealing himself behind one of the shuttle's seats. Hadji lashed out with a sharp kick and the ball bounced off one of the windows and into the goal at a steep angle.

"Good shot!" Jessie tossed her hair. "Two to nothing!" she taunted.

"This is pointless," Heero said. "We'll never beat Quatre."

"How can you say that?" Duo demanded. "I know he's good, but...oh."

"You forgot," Wufei rolled his eyes.

"Baka," Heero shook his head.

"Forgot what?" Jonny turned to his team "captain."

"These goggles," he said, lifting them up to rest them on his forehead. "They're mine because I'm the nominal commander of the Maganacs. Rashid really runs things. But in battle they follow me."

"The Maganacs...Jess, weren't those the guys that...?" Jonny began.

"They didn't have equipment to rival either OZ or White Fang or Romefeller, but they were unstoppable. Never lost a single suit in battle. They always managed to be where they were needed, and they could overpower a force several times their size."

Quatre shrugged. "Finding the holes in the enemy plan or the defensive line or the assets of your opponent has always come easily to me."

"So they're right. They won't beat us," Hadji concluded.

"I wouldn't say that. They have very, very good skills and impeccable teamwork," Quatre replied.

"But we're reactive," Trowa said. "You aren't."

"Well, yes."

"I said we'd play to five," Wufei said staunchly. "To surrender before that point is dishonorable."

"Fighting a losing battle is also illogical," Heero pointed out.

"Oh, come on! Besides, when was the last time any of us actually went up against Cat? Don't you want to know if we can beat him?" Duo spread his arms wide. "Come on!"

"We could offer to go easy on you," Jessie said archly. The death-glares she got from both Heero and Wufei caused her to turn red with repressed giggling.

"The best you've got, then," Hadji said, taking up a position to Quatre's right. "And we shall do the same."

In the end, it really wasn't an exactly fair game. Though Quatre's team did not have a perfect match – they had to leave their goal unprotected once or twice to make one of Quatre's crazy strategies work and Heero and Trowa both made use of those opportunities – they did win in the end. It was an amazing thing to see from both sides. On one half of the "field," the ex-Gundam pilots were poetry in motion. They were flexible, strong, coordinated. One could pass without even needing to look and they would know who would be there to catch the pass and what they would do with it. It was the grace of a kata and the prowess as if this were a sport all four had played their whole lives.

But on the other side, Quatre's team was something else. Jessie and Jonny and Hadji were not the consummate athletes that their opponents were, but they did know how to work together. They trusted one another, so as in the move where Jessie had become a tool for Jonny, they could work as a greater unit than the four Gundams who were still individuals fighting their own battles most of the time. Quatre called out commands based on colors and numbers that only the Quests understood, and each seemed to refer to something specifically designed to play on a weakness the blond had already identified would be present in his friends. Jonny and Jessie and Hadji could not have beaten even three of the Gundams head-on, but with Quatre to advise them, they couldn't lose to the full four.

At the end of the game, everyone was exhausted. Quatre would take no congratulations from anyone, instead always turning their words into compliments of his team and also of the strengths of his friends. He settled down to lounge on the floor between seats, looking rather pleased with himself, it must be confessed, and when Trowa sat beside him, leaned his head on Trowa's sharp shoulder. Their bond spoke of contentment and pleasure and pride, and they both smiled in it. Duo and Jonny got into a match of insults and Jessie worked her way under Wufei's skin, and Hadji was happy to intercede where he felt a friend needed him, and Heero went back to his laptop, and the cabin had changed.

Somehow, playing on opposite teams had brought them together.

And from the cockpit, with a camera to watch the goings-on and the voices clearly leaking through the partition, Benton and Race exchanged looks of their own. Eight kids, all under the age of twenty, all remarkable, and finally the lines drawn between them were starting to blur.

-==OOO==-

The arrival on L2 was extremely anti-climactic. Though well-renowned in certain circles, Dr Quest's name was not one that generated a corps of people from the press gawking outside the docking bay. And no one knew Quatre Raberba Winner was on-board, so there was no one to follow and annoy them upon disembarking. Which was exactly what they had hoped for.

"It's like I was just here," Duo commented. "Oh, wait, I was!"

"What now?" Jonny asked. "Are we going to head out, you know, there tonight?"

"First we need some dinner," Race said, adjusting the strap of his military-grade duffel bag. "Lunch at the spaceport doesn't count as real food."

"We also need to discuss what my investigations have uncovered," Heero put in. "And we need a plan."

"Maxwell, can your Sweeper friends arrange some transportation for us? Something that will not be traceable?" Wufei asked.

"Count on it," he nodded. "Non-traceable is what we do best!" He dug into his pockets for his own phone and began sending a message. The advantage of having L2 as a base of operations was that no one looked too closely at those who came and went, or what they brought with them. It wasn't the first time the Sweepers had made use of the local authority's willingness to look the other way, and the ex-pilots had been well-served by it as well. Only in cases like this, with terrorists in the game, was it less of an advantage because they, too, could pass unmolested.

"Good. Yuy can probably get us a certain about of visibility to the interior through the security system, but I'll put in a call to Une to see about actual blueprints for the place. Preventers has all colonies and clusters on file in case of terrorist attack," Wufei said. "Shouldn't be hard to get."

"Then let's find a quiet place for dinner while we compile our information, and we can then decide when we are ready to move forward," Dr Quest suggested.

"So where do they have good food?" Jessie wanted to know. Bandit yipped beside her, eager for his dinner as well.

"We might have an idea about that," Quatre suggested. "I won't claim to know L2 the way Duo does, but we've been here on business. Trowa, what do you think?"

"Angelo's. Definitely." He nodded firmly.

"Trowa's a foodie," Duo said in a mock-whisper. "Pickiest eater alive. But he has good taste – Angelo's is top of the foodchain."

"Well, that's all right then," Hadji replied, "since it means we'll get the best!"

And that was no mean joke, but a certainty. Duo led the group unerringly through a dozen separate back ways that kept them away from the crowds and the cameras. Everyone had packed light – a backpack each if that, though in the case of the pilots those bags were primarily loaded with weapons rather than clothing or other "necessities." One largeish bag they had carried between them had disappeared at the spaceport, and the Quests didn't know what the others had done with it but knew better than to ask. After a twisting route and even descending off the sidewalks and walking through what could only be a maintenance corridor (that was probably off-limits but when had that stopped Duo?) they emerged blinking in front of an understated storefront Italian restaurant.

"Signor Quattro! Signor Tre!" the rounded proprietor greeted them enthusiastically. "It has been too long! And so many friends you bring me!"

"Good evening, Angelo," Quatre said politely, taking the man's hand and squeezing it warmly. "Could we trouble you for a private room where we can be undisturbed?"

"Of course, of course. For you, anything." He began to turn away when something caught his eye and he looked back.

"Hey Angie," Duo ducked his head, his bangs hiding much of his face.

"Why that no-good scoundrel! Duo! How dare you show your face here!" Angelo stalked up to the braided ex-pilot, his face deeply furrowed, all his good-natured joy seemingly evaporated.

Then he broke into a loud guffaw and threw his arms around Duo. "Oh, boyo, it does my heart good to see you again!"

"Um...you're not mad?" Duo squeezed out through the forceful hug.

"Why would he be mad?" Wufei raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, the last time I saw this bambino he was sneaking out my back door with a night's earnings in his pockets and three loaves of fresh garlic bread in his arms," Angelo smiled, releasing Duo and gripping him by the shoulders. "You are not such a good thief as you boast, boyo."

"I am now," Duo returned hotly. "But, really, you're not mad?"

"Never. You should have asked for the bread, though. I'd have given you some meat to take with you." The man smiled kindly. "Did you not hear? I am always losing things when the street children are near." He looked at the group. "And now Signor Quattro is your friend? It is good."

"These are our other friends," Quatre said politely, offering names for the Quests and allowing Heero and Wufei to introduce themselves or not – they inclined their heads silently as was their way.

"Come, come. My private room is yours." He led them through the restaurant, which had not a few patrons in it, to a back room that held one large table. He settled them, took their orders, and rushed off, returning only to offer them wine which everyone refused.

"Ah, a night of adventure, I sense. Then I will ensure your meals will sustain you!" and he was gone again.

"Well, we know how he met Duo," Hadji said, "but I'm surprised at his familiarity with you two," he looked to Quatre and Trowa. Unexpectedly, Quatre blushed. Trowa took his hand and looked up.

"There was a business meeting on L2 about a year ago. Angelo's was asked to cater a part of the evening meal, and while he and one of his daughters who works as a server were in the kitchen a disgruntled hotel employee came in with a gun. Quatre and I happened to be in the kitchen at the time and we kept things from getting out of hand."

"What were you doing in the kitchen?" Jessie asked slyly.

"Cat, you and Trowa weren't..." Duo grinned evilly.

"No! Nothing like what you're imagining! But...well, they were serving fish over an asparagus pasta and I'm allergic to asparagus, so I went looking for something I could eat," he blushed again. "We really didn't do anything, but Angelo hasn't ever let us forget it."

"He also found out about Quatre's sweet tooth and has sent a dish of tiramisu to L4 every month since," Trowa smirked. He could perfectly well feel Quatre's embarrassment, but it was too amusing, not to mention cute, to let up. However, Heero came to Quatre's rescue, as he always did when Trowa wasn't doing his job.

"If we could focus on our situation, we have a lot to cover," he said nasally. Heero opened his ever-present laptop and pulled up a few files. "I've identified what OZ didn't want anybody to learn about Ezekiel Rage, if you want to know."

"The more we know about our enemy, the more we will be able to do to stop him," Wufei nodded.

"Ezekiel Rage, real name Jim Hooper, was an OZ soldier with particular skill in espionage and an expert at virtually every form of weapon. He was sent to infiltrate White Fang in AC 190, before they had made their move in the Eve wars, as Romefeller felt they might arise as a threat. During the conflict, it appears that something happened while he was on a mission. Rage had a wife and daughter, and when they surprised him on a colony for his birthday, they were caught in the crossfire when a battle erupted. They both died, and it was presumed that Rage died as well. He was not seen or heard from after that point."

"That's horrible," Jonny's face was drawn.

"Well, he obviously survived," Duo said. "But why would he want to start a war when war is what cost him his family?"

"You don't understand," Wufei said harshly. "When you lose your family, you lose your soul. There is nothing but the blood on your hands and the desire to drown in it. And if it was your fault, if it was because of you that your whole life has shattered, that fire destroys you, too. All you can do is turn it outwards and burn everything in your path. Ezekiel Rage doesn't want to start a war. He wants to annihilate everything he can until the universe burns with him."

The silence was potent, and Wufei turned away, rising abruptly and staring at nothing. Finally he spoke again.

"If you're lucky, you find your way out of the blood and fire and you regrow your soul. If not, with every day your hate grows until it could consume everything and everyone. There is no escape and no end to it."

He turned back and his eyes were haunted and fierce.

"Ezekiel Rage is insane. And he will do far worse than he has so far if we let him. We go tonight. We'll stop him, whatever it takes."

Heero stood up and moved near to Wufei. Close enough that he could have put a hand on his shoulder, but he didn't move to touch him. He met the burning eyes with his icy expression and nodded.

"Mission accepted."

The room changed, no longer stunned into silence. Wufei strode back to the table and pulled out his own computer, turning the monitor so everyone could see. He outlined the basic known layout of the mining installation and its vulnerabilities. Duo only paid a certain amount of attention, instead coordinating furiously with someone for immediate access to a ship that would get them there.

At some point, Angelo returned with piles of steaming food that smelled wonderful enough to even break the indifferent Heero from his hyper focus, as well as a little dish for Bandit under the table. Angelo's presence in the room brought a great deal of energy and positivity, and Duo and Quatre and Jonny all seemed to take that and build on it for the sake of the others. And if Duo's silliness was a bit too bright and Quatre's cheer a bit too entreating and Jonny's exuberance a bit too forced, it was all right.

But Angelo left them again to their work and the tactical meeting of the minds began in earnest.

"Wufei?" Quatre asked. "What is our objective from Preventers?"

"To apprehend the suspect with as little loss of life as possible and ensure that no damage is done to any civilians or colonies in the vicinity," he said.

"But this is a Level Zero mission," Duo reminded them. "Operation Meteor principles apply in their watered-down version."

"No one shall face a Gundam and escape," Heero repeated their dictum definitively.

"That's why Une said 'as little loss of life as possible' rather than ordering Wufei to keep us from killing anyone," Quatre pointed out. "Rage's group has already killed civilians. This won't be bloodless."

His eyes swung to the Quests and his gaze narrowed.

"Last chance. If you walk away now, you won't have to face this. But if you remain, if you hear our plans, you have to come with us. It's too much of a risk for you to know what we intend to do if you aren't with us."

"I've never taken a life," Dr Quest said after a moment, "and neither have Jonny or Jessie or Hadji. But we won't stop you. The system Rage stole is my responsibility. If he is going to start a war, I have a duty to involve myself however I will be the most help. And Race can handle himself. But maybe..." he trailed off and looked across his family.

"Don't even say it, dad," Jonny half-rose in his seat. "You're not leaving us behind. We aren't soldiers but we aren't rookies either. This is our fight now, too."

Jessie and Hadji looked as serious as Benton had ever seen them and he nodded.

"Then we're with you. But we aren't you. We can't do what you can do."

"Believe me, we're aware of that," Heero said sardonically.

"We'll try to keep you safe," Quatre said. "But remember, you promised to follow our orders, no matter what. If you do that, you should survive."

"So encouraging," Jessie said under her breath, earning her a smile from Jonny and Hadji and Duo.

"Right then. So what's the plan?" Race asked. He had one hand on his daughter's shoulder, but the blazing look in her eyes kept him from saying anything. He wanted so badly to lock her in a saferoom with the boys. And Benton, for that matter. But things had spiraled out of their control, and if nothing else, he couldn't protect them and look after the five kids who, even if they were Gundam pilots, might need help. Still, if it came to it, he'd break his promise to obey orders and get his family out if he had to.

"Duo," Quatre said in that commanding tone of voice, "you're the best at, ahem, creative entrances where you aren't welcome. You'll plan the initial infiltration."

"On it, Cat!"

"Heero, we're going to need you to locate Dr Quest's version of ZERO in their systems so we can extract it. If you can't hack them from here, you'll have to do it directly on site."

"Understood."

"Wufei, you're going to lead Trowa and Duo and I in to find Rage and stop him. We'll try to just arrest him and whoever he's got with him, but it sounds like there will be a lot of terrorists on his side. Heero will find him and direct us."

"And them?" the agent asked.

"Wufei, Heero? What do you two think?" Quatre asked instead.

"Dr Quest should stay with the shuttle. He's not quite quick enough for this fight," Heero said, shrugging. "But the others can probably handle themselves and keep from being a burden. I'll take Jonny and Hadji with me when I go after ZERO."

"Acceptable," Wufei inclined his head. "Both Bannons can join our force to bring down Rage."

The pilots exchanged a knowing look. Heero had opted to take Jonny and Hadji for a very specific reason – they were each computer-savvy enough to be a potential asset, and he had tested Jonny's combat skills himself. Hadji was cool-headed, which would be an advantage if things went badly. On the other hand, Race was perfectly suited to the more aggressive attack party, and Jessie, also computer-savvy, would be able to offer help on that front as well as being able to anticipate Jonny and Hadji if Quatre needed to know what they might do. Quatre had asked Heero and Wufei not because he didn't realize all this himself already, but because he had given them squads of their own to command and Quatre did not believe in having someone watch your back unless you chose to put them there.

"Then all that's left is to pick up our supplies and meet the transport," Quatre finished. "Duo, you'll be ready?"

"Oh yeah. I could have gotten into a place like this in my sleep when I was ten. We'll be fine." His phone chirped and he pulled it out. "Speaking of which, Howard is ready for us whenever we need to go."

"And I've arranged for Preventers equipment for us as well," Wufei added.

"Are we forgetting anything?" Quatre asked, more because it was expected than because he actually could forget something when planning a mission. But Duo perked up at once.

"You are! Most important thing ever!"

"What's that, Maxwell?" Wufei crossed his arms.

"Dessert!"