Title: The Agency: Meeting of Souls 12/??
//…// Thoughts
Chapter Twelve
From the moment of waking Duo knew it would be a day he would remember.
It was not that he delighted in chaos so much as disruption from a set routine energized him, especially when no one could accuse him of having had a hand in the chaos. As a Sweeper he knew all too well the benefits of a routine and he knew how to apply himself to his duties; in the present case his duty to the Sweepers being his studies. The application of one's self to the maximum effort was a necessary part of life as a Sweeper. Sweepers also appreciated the unexpected and considered dealing effectively with any emergency a necessary skill for survival. In space one could not afford to be lulled by routine and must be prepared for any eventuality.
Duo considered the dormitory-wide alert resulting in the entire student compliment being woken and evacuated from the building such a challenge. The pounding on the door while it was still dark had roused him from a sound sleep and the somewhat lame excuse of plumbing problems had not gone far toward convincing him of the urgency of immediate action. Even noting a number of students milling about in the hallway with bags in hand had not stirred him to immediate action.
"Sorry for the alarm, gentlemen, but the dormitory is to be evacuated due to plumbing problems. Grab your tote bags, pack quickly for two days and assemble in front of the dorm please. Further instructions will be issued when everyone is accounted for."
The security agent had pounded on the door until he had stirred and opened the door to him which had not involved a particularly long period of time. He was a relatively light sleeper and while the guard's message was clear enough he was not fussed with rushing around preparing to leave the suite. In his personal assessment plumbing problems had never equated to a life threatening experience.
Watching the guard move on to the next suite down the hallway Duo scratched at his boxer clad butt and yawned, wondering why all the urgency. It was not as though a tidal wave of water was rushing down the hallway threatening to wash away the student body. Noting the increasing number of sleep-deprived students beginning to fill the hallway he slammed the door shut and considered retiring back to bed. While some of the students looked particularly amusing in their befuddled state he was not inclined to laugh at the present time. That would come later, when he found the culprit of the prank.
"I don't know what all the fuss is about. So we have a leaky pipe? Big deal."
He found Quatre watching him from the doorway to his bedroom, the blonde shaking his head and pressing a hand lightly over his heart. It was a gesture Duo recognized, a reaction to Quatre's empathy responding to outside stimulus.
"Quatre?"
"No one's laughing, Duo. They consider this rather more serious than a leaky pipe from what I was reading from the guard." Quatre stifled a yawn. "You had better wake Zechs."
"Aw man, you know it's just some dork-brained asshole putting one over on the staff."
Blue eyes shadowed and Quatre dropped his hand, shaking his head. With the door closed the suite's psychic shielding was now restored, no leakage of emotions or thoughts intruding to disturb his sensitivity.
"I don't think so. It is not that simple, I am afraid, and it feels genuine to me. He was concerned on a far more grand scale that a leaky pipe or two can account for."
"Aw, come on. The sun's not even up."
"Wake up Zechs."
The door to the third bedroom opened and the sleep-mussed young man who appeared in the doorway glared at his roommates. "I'm awake. What's going on?"
"Anyone would think we were on a ship and about to decompress from all this fuss. Fine, if you think it's legit." Duo shuffled past Quatre and waved a hand at the older man. "Some asshole is going to pay for playing a prank. Get dressed, pack for two days and we get our butts outside." Duo shrugged and entered his bedroom. "If I'm going to have to be awake at this hour of the day I may as well find out who is responsible and make their sorry arse pay for it."
By the time he was dressed he was wide awake and considering the early start to the day. If the teachers expected them to be at their best during classes later in the day they would need to provide alternative sleeping arrangements. Following the full day's travel to return to Earth sleep was considered precious and he was not a particularly forgiving individual when sleep-deprived. Generating his own pranks was one thing but being on the receiving end of pranks was another thing entirely. In his view there was an etiquette to these things which must be observed.
//I'm awake so I may as well enjoy it. I sure as hell will not be getting back to sleep again. Someone is going to find out you don't pull pranks that deprive me of sleep. I'll teach the sorry bugger when the appropriate time of day for foolery is.//
While a decent cup of coffee would have cheered him considerably he was bright-eyed and alert as he ushered his roommates out the door. Quatre had woken sufficiently to dress in something resembling his usual style during daylight hours but the older man had pulled on a well worn tracksuit and still looked half asleep.
"Duo."
"Yeah ?" He turned to Zechs who was glaring about him as they descended the steps and found a vacant position near the steps amid the milling students.
"Promise me you will find the culprit and strip the hide from him."
A positively feral grin dawned on the Sweeper's face and he practically purred. "Oh, they will know one is displeased."
"Good." Zechs glanced at the spot-lighted area and growled. "Couldn't they have waited until we had at least one decent night's sleep?"
Duo watched as the milling crowd grew until he was certain every student must have evacuated the building. Teaching staff were circulating amid the crowd and he was sure he had identified more than half of the teachers and quite a few members of the security staff. In light of the amount of security and staff he determined the damage done to be more than one or two pipes and suspected the prank was of a more malicious nature than he had assumed.
Whispers began to make their way around the groups of students covering everything from murder having been committed to a veritable flood sweeping through the upper floors of the dorm. He sniggered along with everyone else when some bright spark commented he had seen little green men dancing in the hallways.
The arrival of the Dean silenced the general grumbling and Duo watched as he consulted with Otto who appeared briefly and then vanished into the dorm. The Dean gathered his teaching staff about him and announced everyone should make their way to the cafeteria where explanations would be offered. Duo shuffled along muttering under his breath all the while and planning revenge on the moron who had dared to play such a prank and saw him evicted from his nice warm bed.
//Someone is going to pay.//
On reaching the cafeteria staff ushered the students to seats and requested they have patience, the Dean would be right along. It was rather gratifying that for once the timing was spot on and the Dean appeared as the last of the students were settled into seats.
"I must apologize for the disruption to your rest, ladies and gentlemen. Unfortunately circumstances have warranted your evacuation from the dorm. We have, it appears, sprung rather a large leak and have flooded out sections of the third and second floors which has necessitated turning off the water to the building. I request you bear with us as we arrange suitable accommodation for you for the next few days until damages can be assessed and repaired. The cafeteria staff will be serving drinks in the next half hour and preparing breakfast. I am sure it will distress you to learn I have cancelled all morning classes while we sort out placements. Should anyone feel they may be able to get some sleep after the disruption, the gymnasium will be opened in approximately fifteen minutes and sleeping mats provided. Everyone else, please remain in the cafeteria for the moment."
"Sprung a leak on the third floor." Quatre mused, leaning back in his seat and folding his fingers together to form a cradle, thumbs tapping together.
"Otto said our suite had plumbing problems." Zechs hunted in his duffle bag and produced a brush, proceeding to make some order of his sleep-mussed hair.
"Yeah, it looks like he may have been telling the truth." Duo muttered, eyeing the brush the blonde was using before diving into his own bag.
"Maybe." Quatre looked over the displaced students and dropped the chair to all four legs, resting his head onto his arms on the table top. "Wake me when they open the gym."
Duo arched an eyebrow and considered his friend for a long moment. "You are actually going to be able to get back to sleep?"
"I most certainly am going to try." Came the quiet mutter.
Plucking at the tie binding the tip of his braid Duo turned to the blonde working on a knot. "Zechs ?"
"Why would I bother trying to sleep? I'd have had to be up in an hour or so anyway. I wish I'd thought to bring a book, though. I can see this is going to get boring."
The conversation level in the cafeteria began to rise as the students speculated on their circumstances and the repercussions if the leak was the result of a prank bordering on outright vandalism, as rumour was suggesting. With the announcement of the gymnasium being prepared to take any of the students who felt they could sleep the numbers in the cafeteria thinned appreciably. For Duo the morning took on a far brighter aspect when the cafeteria staff began to serve coffee, tea and breakfast.
With the rising of the sun and the proximity to the normal breakfast period for the student body, the teachers emptied out the cafeteria of everyone who had already partaken of breakfast. With permission granted for the library to be used and the teacher's recreation room also made available for their use, the students were dismissed to find a means to amuse themselves. Other than being requested to check with the teachers, who would be available on the main lawn following breakfast, for updates no further instructions were issued.
Duo took the opportunity to slip away and take a quiet walk through the grounds. He could not see the Dean making any announcements of importance to him in the short term and he was not intending to be gone for any appreciable length of time. He wanted a few quiet minutes in which to consider the 'plumbing problems' and how best he might learn who had instigated the prank.
If it was a prank, he silently amended.
He strolled casually through the gardens, inclining back in the direction of the dormitory building he called home. He was careful to choose a spot in a garden cluster where he could watch the comings and goings of others and not be particularly conspicuous himself. He liked to know what was happening around him and was not particularly fond of others knowing his every action. He particularly enjoyed his ongoing game with the Head of Security and any chance he might find to annoy Otto was considered well worth his effort.
He liked the Security Commander, who reminded him of the security officer on the Sweeper ship that had transported him to Earth. If he had not been so set on building his dream machine he might have been interested in training under that worthy to be a Sweeper Security Officer himself. On the ship he had been taught self-defence routines and been complimented on being a quick study. With his talent in the fields of electronics and mechanics he could come up with some inventive new toys security agencies would appreciate. He already had some designs on the drawing board and one or two experimental models partially constructed.
He liked testing his wiles against Otto who had not, thus far, disappointed him. Otto had proven himself worthy of his notice in that there was very little he did that actually made it past the man. Duo was impressed with anyone being that alert and it only served to sharpen his appetite for testing his limits.
From his vantage point he watched the comings and goings of the plumbing contractor summoned to deal with the problem and was, he admitted to himself, disappointed. He had hoped the excuse was simply that, an excuse, and there was more to discover than a leaky pipe or two.
His curiosity brought him up out of a half doze at the sound of a heavy duty engine and blinking in the bright light he found himself staring at a large dark van. The vehicle was remarkable in that it was devoid of any signature markings he might use to identify it. Intrigued, he watched as the van was driven around the building in the direction of the car park at the rear. Tempted to slip around the building to further investigate he was distracted by the purr of another high-powered motor and crouched low as he watched a police car follow in the wake of the van.
//Hmmm, what have we here? Not just a leaky pipe if they have called in the local law enforcement. Maybe vandalism and not of the prankish variety if they are going so far as to make it an official police investigation.//
The unmarked van and the appearance of law enforcement officers put the leak in an entirely new light. It also opened up a world of speculation he had not considered before.
//Well, I guess there is no argument someone helped the pipes to leak. Good. Now I get to focus my ire on the little turd responsible for me being dragged out of bed this morning. Just as soon as I figure out who it was I'll teach them how not funny it was.//
The throaty purr of another motor distracted him from thoughts of revenge and he glanced around. It seemed particularly busy today on a drive that was generally fortunate to see two cars in the space of the entire day. It took a few seconds for the car to come into view and he found himself eyeing the low-slung sports car with admiration. He usually ignored the automobiles to be found in abundance on Earth, his interest more focused on spaceships, shuttles and the specialist machinery that enabled the human race to survive in space. There had been a few vehicles that had drawn his eye and this one, he decided, would look fast even when parked.
The car turned to follow the road around behind the dormitory block and he caught a glimpse of messy dark coloured hair before overhanging branches and deep shade shielded the driver from him. He eyed the car for a long moment, paying particular attention to the registration plates before leaning back into his shadowed shelter.
//Now that is interesting. Government registration plates. Hmmm.// His fingers absently found the tip of his braid and he stroked the hair lightly, lost in thought. //I never payed any attention to the van's registration plates, but something tells me it might just be government issue too.//
If the driver of the sports car was a government investigator his estimation of the damage done to the dormitory escalated in leaps and bounds. For the University Governors to pull in a government department as well as involve the local law enforcement agency to investigate a case of vandalism was a little overboard in his opinion. The Dean had always struck him as being a particularly sensible individual. Something was going on in the dorm and he wished he could sneak into the building, but he could see security guards at the doors and did not doubt Otto would be unamused if he tried to enter.
//Always assuming he caught me, of course.// He grinned at the thought.
An amusing thought, to try to enter the building but a little voice he rarely listen to suggested now was not the time to test the Security Chief. It was a rare occasion he gave credence to that whispered conscience but this morning he listened. After waiting a few minutes he decided there would be no more unexpected arrivals and he had best check nothing of importance had been announced during his absence. With a last speculative glance at the dorm Duo made his way back to the gathering of students before the main building.
He found Quatre sitting to one side of a large group of students and enjoying a bowl of breakfast cereal with a tray set to one side filled with toast and little packets of jam and spreads. Three containers of orange juice were set near him on the grass.
"Tuck in." Quatre grinned at him.
There were days he could very publicly kiss his friend for his thoughtful nature. "Thanks, don't mind if I do. Anything interesting happen?"
"No. Everyone is bored and there has been talk of begging for a class just to give us something to do."
He blinked at Quatre and shook his head, unable to believe anyone would actually want classes after the Dean had graciously cancelled them for the displaced students. Some days he thought these pampered offspring of the famous and wealthy had never been taught the art of relaxation. Too few of them seemed to recognize a golden opportunity when it bit them on the backside.
"You are shitting, me, Kitty Cat? We get the morning off and they want to go to class?"
Quatre waved a hand airily to dismiss the subject, not inclined to suffer through another debate on a subject Duo found dear to his heart. "So where did you go?"
"Back to the dorm to have a little sniff around. Something is off about their explanation."
"I have been asking around too. I have learned it was the suite below our old suite that was flooded this morning. They woke up to interior rain and raised the alarm. It was described to me as being something of a torrential downpour, not just a few drips. There really is a plumbing problem." He was not sure if he was disappointed or not by the simplicity of the problem.
"It would have had to be caused in our suite then." Duo mused.
"That was my thought too. Are you determined to find the prankster?"
"You bet your little black booties I am. The turkey needs lessons in when not to prank and I'm just the person to teach them the dos and don'ts of good pranking."
"I haven't found the students assigned to the rooms on either side of the suite yet to ask if they know anything. If you are determined then I'll find them and see what I can learn from them. Just promise me not to go overboard with your revenge."
Duo nodded a twinkle in his eyes. "Promise they will still be alive when I am finished with them. The thing is I'm not so sure it was just a prank after what I saw a while ago."
"What did you see exactly?"
"If it was a prank the partridge is mine for the plucking and I'm not inclined to share my prey." He studied his roommate for a long moment and sighed.
Some days Quatre didn't have to say anything, those blue eyes just suckered you in and your will crumbled. He had not made up his mind if he would share his theory but beneath the weight of those eyes there seemed little will to hold back information.
"Okay, okay! I think something else is going on. It may not have been just a prank that went a little overboard from youthful exuberance. Something is off about the whole deal."
Quatre arched an eyebrow and waited, willing to trust Duo's senses. He had learned the Sweeper had a sixth sense for trouble and in a University designed specifically to train the paranormal senses he was not inclined to doubt his friend's feelings. He was quite willing to wait to find out why Duo suspected more that a prank had been played.
"Otto told us there was a body found yesterday and now parts of the dorm are flooded. Is that just coincidence? Maybe, but there is a city police patrol car parked out back of the dorm and an unmarked van I think is carrying government registration plates."
"That might have something to do with the body found yesterday and nothing to do with the plumbing."
"Yeah, that's possible but that would be one whopping big coincidence and I stopped believing in fairytales when they handed me my first screw-driver and screw. Besides, the van was not local law enforcement, trust me. Just before I left a very nice sports job pulled in that is certainly government registered. They don't hand those babies to the local cops."
Quatre set aside his bowl and considered Duo for a long moment, watching as he spread raspberry jam on a slice of toast and in two bites crammed the entire slice in his mouth. His friend's curiosity was the only thing Quatre had ever found as insatiable as his appetite. That curiosity had led him into and out of many situations most of the students at Tsuberov would have avoided like the plague.
"You are sure the sports car and van are government registered?"
"Yup. No doubt at all." Duo considered the selection of spreads before buttering a second slice of toast.
"I am surprised you came back and didn't hang around to find out more." Quatre leaned back, resting his hands behind him to support his weight as he watched half a slice of toast vanish as efficiently as the first.
"I will be going back shortly." He flashed Quatre a wide grin. "I smelt the toast and knew you would feed me."
The Winner heir snorted. "I know you have already eaten and you can slow down before you choke. I haven't seen Zechs to invite him for a second breakfast. He was not in the cafeteria when I arrived so you may as well eat it all. Have you seen him?"
"Nah. He was grousing about having nothing to do when I left, so he probably got fed up with himself and went to the library. You know he doesn't like to sit and contemplate the daisies."
"Unless he has a sketch book in hand." Quatre chuckled. "I will keep an eye out for him then and fill him in on your suspicions. Do you really think there might be a connection between the body Otto mentioned and the plumbing troubles ?"
"Yeah, I do. I think it's too much of a coincidence. What I can't account for off hand is why the plumbing would be attacked after the body was found yesterday?"
"I will agree it could be viewed as suspicious. Mind you, the Dean has not suggested a prank, that rumour was started by the students."
"Yeah, well what else do they expect when they give us only so much information to work from?" Duo chuckled. "If we consider the facts as they stand point by point we might come up with something. So, point one, there was a body."
"Which Otto stated was the result of a mishap. He never mentioned anything about murder or mayhem making it unlikely the body is in any way related to a problem with the plumbing."
"He wouldn't though, would he? I mean, what concern is it of ours when you really sit down and think about it? Did we really need to know there was a body and might it have been possible for the university to hide the incident from the students?"
"It is a university focusing around psychic abilities." Quatre returned. "It would be unlikely they could keep that kind of secret."
"So they deal with it by admitting there was an incident. They just refrained from revealing all of the gory details."
"Yes."
"You have to admit it is worth playing around with conspiracy theories." Duo shrugged at Quatre's quirked eyebrow. "It is better than thinking about some of the lessons ahead of me this year. Look, Quatre, my something-is-wrong-itch is begging to be scratched and itching something fierce. They say I am not clairvoyant and I didn't even put a squiggle on their test program, but I've learned over the years to listen to the itch."
"I know and I still think they may have been mistaken about you."
"They don't think so. Anyway, you know there is only one way to fix the itch and it usually only acts up when there is a bad odour in the house. I think we really need to find out what is going on."
Quatre silently agreed with the assessment as he watched Duo make short work of three slices of toast and a carton of orange juice. The Sweeper's appetite was rather formidable and Quatre was quick to rescue at least one slice for his own enjoyment. Fortified by this second breakfast Duo graciously permitted Quatre to consume the last of the toast while he considered the students milling around.
"So do you have any ideas about the plumbing and how it could be linked to the discovery of the body?"
Duo hesitated and grinned sheepishly. "Ah, no. Otto mentioned our suite had plumbing problems when we saw him yesterday. It's a fair conclusion since the suite under ours was flooded that our suite was flooded too. It seems reasonable that it was the source of the flood."
"Whether it was the source or not I don't know, but I agree it is a fair assumption to make." Quatre rubbed absently at his cheek. "We need to keep in mind that it could be just coincidence the pipes burst."
"Ooh, look, flying piggies." Duo smirked but sobered under the serious blue eyes. "Yeah, I suppose it could be but I doubt it. If it is coincidence and not related in any way to the body…" He sighed. "Stop it with the Look, Kitty Cat!"
"I never said a word, Duo." Quatre blinked innocently at him.
"You don't have to! Okay, we forget the body… for now. On to theories, okay? Try these. Someone had a buzz in their energy converter and engaged in some malicious vandalism."
Quatre considered the use of Sweeper slang and decided not to comment. There were no staff members close enough to overhear Duo mangling the language and threaten elocution lessons.
"Theory two, someone has it in for Tsuberov and is intent on making trouble."
"But why ?" Quatre shook his head slowly, frowning as he considered the bluer than blue sky overhead. "There has to be a reason why. No one at Tsuberov would engage in that sort of idiocy. Besides, it is an awful lot of trouble to go to, don't you think? They would have to beat the security system we have here just to make a few pipes leak to annoy someone."
"How much do you think it is going to cost the University to repair the damage done to the dorm ?" Duo quirked an eyebrow and smirked.
"Insurance, Duo." Quatre dismissed the suggestion.
"How much do you want to bet if this type of incident was repeated more than a few parents might consider Tsuberov to be less safe than they claim? It could cost Tsuberov a packet of credits with lost patronage and reduced enrolments. A good name is everything in this business of providing for the rich and famous."
"Well … Yes, I suppose you have a point there."
"It annoys me why you think everyone from Tsuberov would be above a spot of vandalism. Think again, Quatre. Because you come from a rich and famous background does not necessarily give you an exemplary sense of right and wrong. Kitty Cat, you need to stop thinking like that. Tick someone off enough, no matter their background, and you would be surprised at what they would do to exact revenge. Someone on the outside could have it in for the University itself, a pet grievance or something for imagined wrongs, something like that. If it is a prank then it stands to reason someone from here had to do it and they would most likely have had to be from the dorm itself. That means we will be considered suspect and you can expect to be questioned. Don't discount the body either. It may have something to do with it."
"Don't start with the body again, please. I suppose you are right and I should not consider Tsuberov students to be above a bit of petty vandalism." Quatre sipped his orange juice and waved a hand in the general direction of the security building and the dormitory. "Otto never exactly said a lot about the body, did he? It's too far-fetched though to think of petty vandalism and someone who died as the result of an accident being connected."
"Personally I don't consider it far-fetched. Possibly unrelated but not far-fetched."
"We need to consider other possible causes for the damage though."
"Fine, if you insist. What about a poltergeist? If they think we have a bit of poltergeist activity they might call in a Medium to settle things down." Duo suggested.
"It could even have been the result of an emergent kinetic talent from one of the students." Quatre suggested. "I heard someone say he discovered he was a kinetic talent when he threw a temper tantrum at their father and the next thing he knew he had ripped the electrical wiring out of the walls. The family had no idea he was a psychic before that incident. It is feasible someone might have had a nightmare and awakened kinetic potential … or simply lost control of their barriers."
"It was Brady told you that, right? Yeah, I remember the incident being mentioned soon after I arrived.' Duo shrugged and crushed his drink carton, dropping it on the tray. "This is getting us nowhere. I think I'll head back and see what I can see without getting tagged by Otto. I believe in my itch and it says something interesting is happening and I want to find out what it is."
He stood and stretched, feeling his muscles pull as he worked out stiffness in his shoulders. Quatre considered his juice carton in turn and sighed.
"Be careful. I'll do some asking around and see what I can come up with. I will meet you under the oak tree for lunch if I don't see you before then."
"Yup. I'll keep an eye out for Zechs, but he's probably gone to ground with a book."
"Be careful Otto does not notice you poking around where you do not belong. After the last time he caught you where you were not supposed to be he …"
"He's okay, you know?" Duo interrupted and grinned, blue-violet eyes dancing with laughter. "For a Security Commander he's pretty good at being civil and understanding of youthful curiosity." He sniggered. "I've come across some real assholes before who think they are God because they wear a badge but Otto, he's okay. Don't worry, I'll be careful. Catch you at lunch."
Quatre sighed, knowing there was no argument he could use that would stem the Sweeper's curiosity. That insatiable curiosity and the restless energy that marked his friend was why he found Duo so intriguing. He had little doubt if the Sweepers could harness that energy Duo would go far in their ranks.
"Be sure to keep your ear out for any instructions the Dean issues. I do not expect we will be left out here too much longer without being given something constructive to do. The fact he does not already have us in some sort of activity makes me wonder just how much damage has been done."
"Sure." Duo glanced down at him. "I'll keep my ear to the ground and I expect to have some interesting tidbits of info for you when we meet up for lunch."
Quatre refrained from commenting on the possibility there might be nothing of interest to find. This was all a part of the repercussions of the early morning wake up. He would like the opportunity to say a few choice words to the idiot who had pulled a prank that affected a sleep-deprived Duo Maxwell. They could be paying for the rude awakening for weeks, until Duo worked the irritation out of his system.
"You might want to see about lunch early, Duo. The cafeteria rota is out of order and you can hardly move in the canteen. It might be best if the first one who gets into the cafeteria orders for everyone else, okay? We can escape to the oak and eat in peace."
"Fine with me." Duo spun, braid flying and ready to be off and investigating.
"Duo."
"Yeah ?" He turned back to his room mate.
"Are you intending to lodge the complaint about last night ?"
"Oh yeah." The normally jovial light in his eyes chilled to a hard glare. "I'm not changing my view on what I thought of being left standing outside. I don't think my Guardian will be letting it go either and if he does I'll do some squealing of my own. I'll have the complaint written and lodged before the day is done."
Quatre smiled. "Good. It was not acceptable."
With quick grace Duo worked his way through the crowd and slipped into the undergrowth of a bordering garden bed, avoiding the attention of Professor Havers who, he decided, looked particularly sour this morning. He hoped Zechs remained safely wherever he was lurking, given the Professors penchant for finding fault with him. If Duo had his way the old buzzard would no longer have the opportunity to insult those he was supposedly here to teach.
His first point of interest after leaving Quatre would be to check on the registration plates for the van he had watched earlier. With the decision made he strolled through the grounds of the university, nodding and smiling to students and staff he met. No one seemed particularly curious as to his destination, or passed a comment on him being away from the main gathering. It was an unusual freedom and one he was determined to exploit to his advantage.
Nearing the dormitory he slipped into heavy foliage and paused, peering about him to determine if anyone who might be in the vicinity looked to have noticed. Satisfied he was not likely to have a teacher breathing down his neck, he threaded his way through the garden bed inclining toward the rear of the building.
He was not expecting there to be a guard stationed at the car park and a quick glance around showed him to be correct in his assumption. What was a concern for him was their old suite overlooked the rear of the dormitory including the majority of the car park. It was entirely possible someone investigating the damage might chance to look out a window and observe him.
When he broke from his cover he would need to look casual as he walked through the car park. He would need to observe as much as possible before he left his cover.
Crouched behind a particularly healthy bush with foliage ideally suited to hiding him from the casual observer, he ran an attentive eye over the vehicles assembled. There were considerably more cars than he had expected and it drew a soft breath of expectation from him.
He recognized the two Mercedes Benz sedans parked side by side as belonging to Tsuberov Governors. The two plumbing contractors vans, each with the rear of the vehicles open and displaying a wealth of equipment, were parked closest to the dormitory for easy access. He could make out the red sports car half hidden by the other vehicles and there was no mistaking the dark-coloured van. He would need to get closer to check out the registration plates and note any other identifying markings.
There were two additional vehicles he did not recognize, a black sedan being the first to attract his attention. He recognized the vehicle as he had been interested in the design and specifications of the hybrid engine when the car had been released for sale less than two years previously. He had been impressed at the time and while the car was not exceptional to look at, it was efficient in performance and from reports it was a pleasure to drive. The other vehicle he did not recognize was a larger and rather more luxurious silver grey Mercedes parked a few spaces down from the hybrid.
Duo pursed his lips as he ran an appreciative eye over the car. //A Ghost. Damn, I never thought I'd see one of those close up, even here at Tsuberov. I guess it could belong to one of the Governors, their own personal car, but I don't think anyone could have resisted the urge to show it off before now. Although it might be a new purchase.//
He surveyed the area carefully, looking for anyone who might notice his interest in the vehicles and finding no one in sight he slipped quickly up to the black hybrid and peered inside. Not daring to try to open the doors for fear it might have an active alarm set, he popped his head up to the driver's side window.
Neat as a pin with no papers left lying on the seats so he might glimpse a letterhead, not even an empty bottle, wrapper or take away coffee cup. It appeared the owner of the vehicle was meticulous, or the car might originate from a car pool with conscientious supervisors to keep it clean. There was no clue on offer here to assist him in determining the occupation of the absent driver.
What drew Duo's attention and caused an appreciative gleam to appear in his eyes was the state of the art global positioning system. The unit was inset into the dashboard within easy reach of the driver and partnered with what looked to be a high-powered communications system and computer terminal.
"Wow." He pressed his nose to the glass in an effort to view the unit and whistled softly in appreciation. "Hmm, nice piece of hardware. Definitely not what you would expect to find in your common everyday runabout though."
It was what he would expect to find in the vehicle of a high-powered business executive who needed to be in contact with the entire ESUN at all times with the touch of a finger. This was the type of setup he had noted in the vehicles he had encountered on L4 belonging to the Winner executives and the Winner himself. He might also expect to find such equipment in the vehicles of top government investigation agents.
//Who is this guy?//
A quick glance around the area assured him he was still alone and he slipped around the car to the rear where he could view the registration plate.
//A-034-K5.// He mused.
It was unlike the local registry vehicles, even the private and rather expensive personalized plates driven by the Tsuberov Board of Governors. The plate itself was blue with the writing in cream, both colours he knew would be highly reflective under light at night, but the layout of the identifying letters was unlike any he had seen.
//Car pool.// He decided. //Has to be a company car pool.//
The 'A' could stand for the company he decided and it was possible the car might be the thirty fourth in the company pool of vehicles. Try as he might he could not come up with an explanation for the K5 that would not send him into a fit of eye-rolling and sniggering.
//As if that is important. // He snorted. //Get it together, Maxwell, before Otto comes along and fries your butt for snooping.//
Deciding playing word games with licence plates was a little below him given the situation, he left the hybrid and made his way to the silver grey Mercedes. It was, he decided, a very nice piece of machinery. Sleek, without a mark on it and looking as though it had just rolled off the show room floor it glistened in the sunlight.
//You would be worth a very pretty sum. Someone has money. You would leave the Mercs the Governors drive in the dust, you beautiful thing you.//
It was difficult to see within the interior as the heavily tinted windows defeated him, swallowing the light. He could make out dark upholstery and a blinking light in the vicinity of what he suspected was another GPS and communications console similar to the one installed in the hybrid. Peering through the much lighter tinted windscreen into the interior of the vehicle showed little more than the black seat backs of the front seats.
//Damn, I'd like to have a look at this beauty. I bet she has some nice toys on the console.//
Frustrated with his inability to see more and knowing this vehicle must have a security system, he resisted the urge to do more than look through the windshield. After kneeling to check the registration plate he slipped into the garden bed behind the car park, emerged on the lawn on the far side and shuffled his way through the garden, the picture of innocence.
//Well, the Ghost and the hybrid have to belong to the same car pool if A-034-K5 and A-076-P1 is any indication. The cars are obviously private registration, big company issue probably and not general public licensing. The numbers and letters are all wrong for this area of Europe, so they have to be from a company spanning the ESUN. It takes big bucks to arrange licensing valid in every zone of the Earth sphere. Interesting.//
He had checked the unmarked van as it was parked not too far from the Mercedes and had been gratified to learn his assumption was correct. The registration plate clearly marked the vehicle as Northern European registration marked with the ESUN government seal.
//The sporty red slinky and the hulky black van are government vehicles, but what possible reason would they have for being at Tsuberov? It's just a bit of vandalism at worst, at best a leaky damn pipe. Why bring in the big boys for that?//
Duo considered the question as he worked his way around the lawn and put another huge garden planting between himself and the dormitory before inclining in toward the security office. He chose a position from which he could observe the comings and goings from the dormitory building and keep an eye on the security office. He was not particularly keen on the idea of Otto sneaking up on him and decided he had at least a half hour before the sun moved sufficiently to put him in full sunlight. Before then he would need to find another shady spot.
What he had gleaned thus far was not a great deal he admitted, but it was enough to convince him something out of the ordinary had occurred. He could understand the appearance of the representatives of Tsuberov's governing body and the local constabulary if the disruption was the result of deliberate and rather wanton vandalism. It was the appearance of the slinky red sports car and what he presumed must be a forensic unit that most disturbed him.
Perhaps there was more to the flood than just malicious damage? It was possible, of course, that someone had caused the leak and disruption to cover up other activities. Perhaps the dorm had been visited by an intruder out for more than mischief. A thief, perhaps? He had to admit Quatre was right about the quality of the students at Tsuberov and he really could not see any of those he had even a passing acquaintance with being involved in this degree of mischief.
//Still, when all is said and done stranger things had happened. The kids of the rich and famous often have bigger problems than street kids with discipline.//
That thought stopped him cold and he found himself staring hard at the building. The children of the rich and famous. Tsuberov was full of the offspring of movie stars, corporate elites, politicians and the nobility of the world and colony elite. There were few students at Tsuberov who did not lay claim to a famous or well to do parent and that kind of patronage came with some very unique problems. There was a reason security at Tsuberov was so intense.
"I wonder… Kidnapping? A kidnapping would explain the appearance of ESUN agents at Tsuberov. I'll have to ask Quatre if he has noticed anyone conspicuous by their absence. It would account for government law enforcement working hand in hand with local investigators. The vandalism of the plumbing could feasibly be used as a distraction enabling the kidnappers to escape. It would probably wipe out vital evidence as well.//
He snorted softly, congratulating himself on allowing his imagination to run rampant and come up with a viable, though unlikely, solution. Given the extent of the security system at the University a mouse would not be able to enter Tsuberov's dormitories without sounding alarms. He knew that for a fact as a mouse had tripped the alarms the previous year.
//Still, I'll check with Quatre. He seems to know everyone and he should know if anyone was missing this morning.//
As his speculations seemed intent on advancing in leaps and bounds in diverse directions Duo decided it was time to relax. Coming up with increasingly unlikely scenarios, while good for mental gymnastics, would do nothing to take advantage of an unexpectedly lazy morning. At this time he should be preparing to attend a class he had not particularly been looking forward to and resting held so much more appeal.
He settled down in the shade of the tree, propping himself up against the trunk in a position that would afford him the best possible view of both buildings that held his interest. Otto might be in the Security Office and he was not inclined to miss the man's appearance if he could help it. He watched the comings and goings of the security staff as he pretended to doze, noting the amount of activity around the dormitory building and the comings and goings of the staff from the Security building. He might get away with the excuse of dozing with the majority of the security guards but Otto was another matter. He would need to be prepared to beat a graceful retreat.
The gardens at Tsuberov were designed to absorb sound and despite the comings and goings of so many within his sight the noise from their presence was minimal. Duo found himself drifting off, lulled by the carefully cultivated peace and serenity of the grounds. It was so easy to relax and allow the tranquillity to flow over him and disturbing thoughts seemed distant and of no immediate concern. He was almost asleep when movement at the entrance to the dormitory sparked his survival instinct.
He would know Otto anywhere and Duo decided discretion was by far the better part of valour and it might just be time to find a new observation post. He was not particularly keen on the idea of having something found for him to do, a task he knew Otto would take a fiendish delight in arranging if he suspected Duo to be snooping.
Merely bolting would guarantee he would be noticed. He had tried that in his early days at Tsuberov and he had been quick to determine the folly of such action. Standing, he took the time to dust off his trousers, all the while watching from under the cover of his bangs as the three men who had exited the dorm strolled across the lawn in his general direction. Not so much in his direction, he realized, as in the direction of the Security building.
Otto was not well known for opening his Security Office to outsiders, a fact Duo knew well. It interested Duo that they were receiving personal attention from Otto and such attention raised the importance of the pair. The more he watched the more he sensed Otto was treating them with a guarded respect and a deference he had rarely displayed, even to the richest of the Tsuberov patrons.
//I've never seen Otto react to anyone like he is to you. I think it would benefit me to learn exactly who you are and what you are doing here.//
They made an odd pairing, he thought as the group neared him. Otto seemed to be listening intently to the smaller of the two, who was of oriental extraction, possibly Chinese, he decided. Small, slender, graceful and very kind on the eyes. Duo prided himself on being a connoisseur of the male form and expected to improve his appreciation as he matured.
He decided this oriental fellow was one of the better looking men of Asian decent he had had the pleasure to observe. He decided the shoulder length black hair, restrained in a tight ponytail, would soften the man's aspect considerably if permitted to fall free. The body language given off by this unknown he read as being all business and suggested a no-nonsense individual. He prided himself on being a shrewd judge of character and determined he would not be keen on being on the wrong side of the Asian.
The second man was taller, in the vicinity of six feet, he decided, perhaps a little taller. He was trim, solidly built and European aristocracy was stamped in every line of his body. From the designer suit to the patent leather shoes the man radiated class to even the most casual observer. He claimed a fine-boned, distinctly good-looking aspect marked by split eyebrows and he radiated an air of confidence. Taken all together his appearance struck Duo as being one to watch out for.
//I don't know who you are but you are one fine looking man.//
Vivid blue eyes and hair Duo thought might be described as auburn, somewhere between red and brown, with two locks that fell engagingly over his forehead, complimented the fine aristocratic lines of his face. There was breeding in that face and he moved with the same easy grace that marked his Oriental companion's stride.
He was brought back to Earth with a cold chill as he realized Otto was scowling at him. Duo knew when it was time to withdraw, but he was not inclined to gulp and flee even from the Security Commander's baleful glare. Acknowledging the Security Chief with a barely perceptible nod and a final hard stare at the two men accompanying him Duo strolled toward the administration building. He could feel Otto's eyes on his back and attempted to look as uninterested in the Chief's companions as he was in the pigeon poop marking the footpath.
//Look away, damn you. Look away and go on your way, I'm not at all interested in you.//
Not until he felt himself to be clear of scrutiny, Otto's or either of the two men accompanying him, did he slip back into a garden bed and make himself scarce. He would take a quick tour of the grounds around the main building and then slip back into a position where he could watch the comings and going.
//At least until it is closer to lunch.//
t.b.c.
Karina Robertson 2007
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Authors Note:
The Mercedes Ghost Treize drives is, to the best of my knowledge, an entirely fictional model. I don't believe Mercedes Benz have ever had a model called a Ghost. It is purely author's poetic licence. I thought a company with the reputation and prestige of the Mercedes might still exist in the somewhat futurisitc setting of the AC timeline.
