Title: The Agency: Meeting of Souls 26/??
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. That's about as plain as you could say it.
Many thanks to ShenLong Deb for betaing this chapter.
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Title: The Agency: Meeting of Souls 26/??
Chapter Twenty Six
"Otto has that right. It's not good," Quatre whispered. "I knew Duke Kushrenada was in law enforcement of some kind, but I thought it was a private investigations agency, and I did not expect their work would include investigating active murder cases. That should be the province of the police and the ESUN's Intercolonial Law Enforcement department."
"Mmm."
"Well, I suppose Tsuberov could have requested an exclusive agency be involved in the investigation, considering their clientele. They would want the matter dealt with as quickly as possible."
"Mm mm."
Quatre scowled, sparing a quick glance at his companion. Silence and Duo were a rarity and generally indicated something was wrong, or mischief of a hair raising nature was afoot. The idea of interfering in a murder investigation did not thrill Quatre and he glared at his friend.
"We are not getting involved, Duo Maxwell. This is not some vidshow. This is real. It's dangerous. It is way out of our league."
"Mmmmm."
Duo, Quatre decided, looked to be a million miles away; blue eyes deepening to a shade perilously close to violet suggested there was some heavy thinking going on. Quick fingers beat a steady tattoo against one black clad thigh and he gave every impression of being unaware of the world around him.
"Duo!" He was half of a mind to poke his friend and when no immediate response was forthcoming that was exactly what Quatre did. "Duo?"
"Huh? Oh. Think about it, Quatre. One of the suites in our dorm block was wrecked by a berserk Psi, that's what was said, right? That's disturbing." Duo turned to the pensive blonde. "You know, I'm a little worried."
Quatre blinked, suddenly finding himself resisting the urge to slap his friend. He had been worried Duo's thoughtful silence involved the formulation of a reckless plan to investigate what was best left alone, but at least they had come to the same conclusion.
"Oh good, I was getting more than a little worried. We agree to leave it to the experts and concentrate on our classes." Quatre looked relieved'. "We would only get in the way of the professionals and obstruct their investigation."
He had been concerned Duo would demonstrate his usual insanity and want to push his nose into matters which certainly did not concern them. Although, to be fair, if one of their group was being stalked, then they were already involved.
The foliage in the canopy spreading above them rustled to a rising breeze and Duo found himself staring into the leaves and branches, suddenly wary of finding an eavesdropper. He had learned far more than he had thought he would from his use of the miniature robot, and he was not sure that he would not have preferred to remain in blissful ignorance. He was finding himself looking for someone lurking in the immediate vicinity who might be watching them with more than the usual curiosity.
He was not about to own up to being spooked though.
"When we were evacuated from the dorm my reaction was that we might have had a sick joke fanatic loose in the place, but it's much more than that."
"I'm more than a little worried about the whole affair. I can see why Otto has us all travelling with security guards now, and why there were so many moved into the hotel with us," Quatre returned.
Duo seemed to shake himself out of a daze and, taking a deep breath, he watched as the three men he now knew to be investigating a murder, departed the Security Office. The light breeze stirred the Duke's distinctive hair and played with the messy hair of the one he thought to be particularly fine to look at. The oriental, with his tight ponytail and ramrod stiff back, led the way with the Duke and the shorter man following, the latter two seemed to be discussing something.
"Yeah, well… Looks like they are heading back to the dorms. I'd have thought they would have learned everything there that they could have by now. They said you were the target and it makes a hell of a lot of sense for it to be you. You are rich and you have to admit you would be a prime catch."
"Stalkers generally do not focus on the amount of credits a person has as the primary attraction, Duo."
"So?" Duo waved a hand in dismissal. "They do say money makes the world go around and it sure as hell makes a guy look a whole lot more attractive, not that you are challenged in that department. I've heard you described as 'angelic' on more than one occasion."
The blonde scowled and after a moment shrugged, forcing the frown from his face and replacing it with a carefully neutral look.
"I think it is more likely they might be presuming I am the target. I admit that I don't know a great deal about Stalkers, but I believe they don't necessarily target the wealthiest individuals. They usually fixate on some more personal aspect than how much money you have in your bank account."
"Yeah, I know all that, but you have to admit you are the most likely candidate. I mean, I'm a Sweeper brat and Zechs is a street kid made good; though he might argue with me about that. You have to admit that we're not really worth the notice."
He knew he was gong to be on the receiving end of a glare and lecture for that, but as Duo saw it he had the right of it. Quatre was the most likely target. He glanced back at the laptop where Otto seemed to be engaged in some deep thinking. The fingers of one hand beat a sharp and rapid beat against the desk top and Duo could see the frown lines and glimpse eyes that reflected a multitude of thoughts, none of them particularly good, he suspected.
"Not worth…" Quatre flushed and Duo received 'the look', the one that was far from angelic, though he thought Quatre looked a little more pissy than he had expected. "Duo, have you looked in a mirror lately? Who would not want a piece of that? We can't judge what it is the Stalker is interested in given the small amount we know. Who the target is depends on exactly what this person is after. If it's someone with an infatuation for a pretty face then you and Zechs certainly qualify, and could be as much a target as I am considered to be. No doubt that is why they have all of us in what amounts to protective custody."
"But does it account for the trashing of our suite and the murder?"
Quatre opened his mouth to deliver a blistering comment and paused, blinking at Duo in surprise. "Excuse me? Who trashed our suite? When?"
Duo sighed. "Damn, you sure miss a lot, Kitty Kat. You'll have to improve your observation skills if you are to make a success of your career as the future CEO of the Winner Corporation. You'll never make an impression if you don't know what is going on around you."
"Excuse me?"
Duo chose to ignore the fierce glare directed at him and leaned his head back against the tree trunk.
"Look, its simple enough to work out. Who are the only people who were moved the first day we returned to Tsuberov?"
"We were."
"Exactly. We were moved from our suite to a new suite, with the explanation there were a few plumbing problems that required resolution. Those plumbing problems I now believe were in actual fact a murder taking place in our old suite. If you were the investigators of a murder would you allow a bunch of students to move into your crime scene?"
Quatre blanched. "No; and with two of us high level empaths it would be a very bad idea for us to move back into the suite."
"The Board of Governors sure as hell would not want it bandied about that there was a murder on the grounds, let alone in the dorm block housing some of the wealthiest families' little darlings." Duo shrugged. "Smells like a cover up to me. Keep it quiet, don't allow speculation to take off, and don't spook the cash cow."
Quatre considered his companion in stunned silence and realized Duo was most likely correct. The night of their return to Tsuberov he and his companions had been given a new suite, and in light of what he now knew, it was glaringly obvious as to why. He could even see why the Dean had been such a pain about wanting to move him to another dormitory block.
"Ah."
Not very eloquent, but it was all Quatre could manage for the moment. He was not particularly thrilled with the entire scenario because it was all too plausible.
Duo nodded sagely. "Exactly. The body had to be in our suite and that being a given, it has to be our suite that was trashed because it would be the only one vacant. Besides, we know who the people were who woke up being rained on, don't we? Their suite is sited directly below our old one."
"Yes. Yes, I think you may be correct in your assumptions."
"Of course I am right. I'd make a great detective." Duo glanced at the laptop again, deciding he really should retrieve his Ghost Roach and paused. "Hey. Look it. Otto is up to something."
Quatre wriggled closer to Duo in order to peer at the screen. Otto was leaning forward slightly, one hand extended with fingers poised over the vid com. For a long moment he hesitated and finally straightened, opening a draw and removing a small black box with two plain wires dangling. The Security Chief seemed to be more than a little reluctant as he again paused, one finger rubbing absently over the box before he swore, a muted whisper over the speaker of the laptop, and began to connect the box to the vid com.
"Oh I like the man's toys." Duo breathed. "If that little piece of hardware is what I think it is, he's making certain no one learns of the call he is intending to make."
With the device in place Otto sat back and balled his fingers into fists. Duo guessed Otto was fighting against the urge not to make the call and then Otto reached out and his fingers flew competently over the keypad in a sequence Duo could not quite follow. Otto's hands fell to lie flat against the desk for a brief few seconds before he leaned back in his seat and made a conscious effort to relax, pressing the heels of his hands to his eyes.
"Bloody headache."
He began rubbing his hands together in what Duo surmised to be a nervous reaction to waiting and from the set of his shoulders Duo had the impression Otto was a worried man. A man who was not happy with the need driving him to make this call. His fingers moved from rubbing nervously to tapping rapidly against the desk.
"Can you turn the volume up any more, Duo? I am not sure we will be able to hear whatever is said over the vid com. It's obvious he's not keen on the idea of anyone learning of this call, so he might have the volume low to lessen the chance of anyone passing the office overhearing anything."
Quatre, Duo noted with a smirk, appeared to have gotten over his nervousness about the blatantly illegal use of the Ghost Roach. There were laws about invasions of privacy, and what they were doing now was assuredly illegal, but he loved it when Quatre got interested in one of his schemes, as he was now; because Quatre's morals went right out the window.
"Can't. The volume on the Roach and the laptop are already maxed out. There was limited room available for the instrumentation on the Ghost Roach, remember? It's a sensitive mic for all its size, so hopefully we will be able to hear whatever is said. I have to watch the power gages too. I had to use a really small fuel cell to power the unit and I can't afford to let the power run down to the point where I can't retrieve him. We'll have to make do with what we can see; if we can't hear anything."
Quatre sighed. "I know what is going on is none of our business and we should not be doing this, but… There is no excuse for this kind of action, it's an invasion of privacy on a personal level, and then there is the fact that Otto's the Security Chief of the University. We definitely should not be bugging his office."
Duo shrugged. "I can always retrieve the Roach now."
"Don't you dare!" Quatre blushed at his outburst and Duo's grin. "You would expect Otto to have to make all sorts of calls in the course of a day, and some he would enjoy more than others. I'd say from the way he approached this call it is not one he particularly wanted to make."
"And that is what is so interesting about it!" Duo grinned.
Quatre answered Duo's grin with one of his own and glanced at the screen where Otto sat in silence, fingers beating a somewhat agitated tattoo on the desk top.
"You know, from the amount of numbers he typed in, and the fact there were a few comma's in there, I'd say it was not a standard call. Admittedly I did not catch all of the numbers, but it seems to me this has to be a security coded call in. The comma's would mark the breaks between the phone number and the security code; maybe one or more extension numbers too. I've seem my father make such calls hundreds of times and they can have up to thirty numbers involved. How many would you say Otto typed?"
"I wasn't paying much attention to it, but maybe around twenty or so," Duo decided.
"I wonder how long it is going to take for him to get an answer? He does not look as though he expects to get a response in a hurry."
Duo considered the man on the screen and sighed, glancing quickly at the bar marking the power available to his robot. "From the set of his shoulders I would venture to guess he does not particularly want to get an answer."
Quatre arched an eyebrow, about to comment that you did not make such calls without desiring a response, but even he could see how stiffly Otto sat in his seat. The man exuded more than a general air of tension.
"Yes, he seems to be… reluctant. I guess… Well, that shows what we know."
The blank screen flickered briefly, a momentary flash of deep blue before a black screen settled and a single blinking point of white denoted an open connection was in operation.
"Classification!" the single word was barked out from the com in a deep, gravel edged voice and its effect on Otto was electrifying.
The Security Chief straightened in his seat, reaching to pull the personal com unit closer to him. He looked, if anything, more tense, his spine straightening as though he stood at attention, fingers balled into fists on either side of the com unit.
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He had thought long and hard about this call and in the end knew there was no help for it, he had to make it. He had hoped the matter could be dealt with with a modicum of fuss, quickly and quietly, but that was not going to happen. He was a realist and the investigation would not be over quickly and the possibility the Stalker, who was presumably the murderer, was hyped on enhancement drugs, was only one of many reasons to make the contact and report.
He had wanted to avoid contacting the coordinator, but he could no longer justify keeping quiet about the events taking place at Tsuberov. When all was said and done his duty was to his charges, and should anything happen to either one of them he would deserve the consequences which would fall upon his head.
"Gold three."
His silent count reached three before the screen flashed that midnight blue once more and then resumed its blank darkness; only the tiny white square blinking in the corner to demonstrate the line was still active. He was expecting one of three voices to respond and he was not surprised when it was the deep tones of his liaison which issued from the speaker.
It came, of course, as a demand. They never asked questions, instead demanding answers. If you called this number there was no time for social necessities and there were days he promised himself to front the bastards in the com centre and explain to them the benefits of politeness. One could be efficient and still polite. If his people at Tsuberov spoke to each other as these did he would have them out of his employ in seconds, with a stiff dressing down and a mark against their record. But he was not in control of com central, unfortunately, and he had a situation on his hands.
"Code phrase for voice identification!"
"The Baby's Nanny." He felt his lip curl in distaste.
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"Huh?" Duo dissolved into mad cackling, slapping his hands over his mouth as though afraid Otto would hear him. "The baby's…"
Quatre shushed him, flapping his hands to quiet his friend, but he was well aware he was grinning like an idiot himself. The idea of Otto being considered a baby's nanny was simply ludicrous.
"Whatever you do, Duo, resist the temptation when you next see Otto to talk about babies and nanny's."
Duo blinked and his grin only widened as he fought to control his amusement and concentrate on what was happening in the Security Chief's office.
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"Voice identification confirmed. Request iris scan."
Otto sighed and resisted the urge to swear profusely, but if he wanted communication on this direct level with his controller then he had no other option. He slotted an optical scanner into the com device, leaned over the unit and placed his right eye over the laser. It was a nuisance and one of the reasons he had hoped to avoid contacting his superiors, but unless he followed procedure to the letter it would be assumed he was compromised. The com beeped to signal the completion of the optical scan and he straightened, removing the scanner and replacing it in the draw of his desk. It was second nature to him to run his thumb over the electronic lock and register the resulting beep, which signified the lock was enabled.
He wanted no one accessing what lay within the draw.
A single, attention demanding beep issued from the com unit. "Iris scan confirmed. Welcome Commander. Input code."
Finally he could get on. He had limited time to accomplish this before someone came looking for him and the investigators were expecting him.
"Gold five. Viable possible threat to Gold level subject."
For all of two seconds the screen remained dark before flushing blue once more.
"Acknowledged, Gold five alert. Please wait."
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"Ah, man, what do you think Otto's into?" Duo breathed. "This is looking like some serious shit."
"Language, Duo." Quatre was leaning forward, staring at the monitor intently. "He's talking to a highly computerised security monitor with human attendants. A high level security system. You know this angle sucks, Duo."
Try as Quatre might he could not gain a satisfactory view of the com screen. He had a partial view but not enough to suit him and he only hoped, if there was a logo depicted on the screen that he could not see, Otto would move a little and allow him to glimpse the device. As the Winner heir he was well advised on such security monitoring stations and how expensive they were to maintain.
"Well sorry," Duo sniffed. "I never designed the bloody buildings or I would have been sure to put the vent a little further to one side, just so we could spy on the Security Commander. Remind me to have words with the architects when next they decide to construct buildings here, and I'll see what I can do for you."
Quatre sniggered. "Sorry, but I'd love to see the logo that has to be displayed on the screen. It must be on the obstructed portion of the screen and I'm sure I would recognize it if I could just see it."
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"Come on, come on. What is taking you so long?" he whispered, his fingers tapping a furious tempo on the desk top.
He glared at the blank screen, willing the emotionless voice to resume communications. He would be shunted to a computerised threat assessment program, he knew that, but there was no help for it. One day someone would actually have all stations manned by more than a half assed artificial intelligence system.
The screen flickered to a deep blue and the discrete logo for the AI unit appeared at the bottom left hand of the screen. At least it gave him something to focus on, even if his focus was unkind thoughts directed at a soulless robot.
"Gold five alert, acknowledged. Command instruction follows. Do you require assistance?" The voice was male, perfectly modulated, artificially calm and collected.
It annoyed the hell out of him.
Otto scrubbed his hands over his face wishing he could just talk to a real person. These security station robotics drove him crazy and his head was throbbing. He would require a few painkillers shortly and he might need to find some time to visit his neurosurgeon. The tension was not helping him accustom himself to the new implant.
"Action is required. Request all records for agent Delta Bravo Alpha Rebecca, assigned to security for Gold Five, undergo a full system purge. Agent is deceased and there is danger of him being identified by civilian and ESUN authorities."
Again the pause and the screen flashing almost immediately to its black mode took him by surprise. He had expected an acknowledgement of the necessity to purge the system records of the deceased agent, and a toneless question if other action was required. This silence was disturbing.
The screen flushed pale blue and the seal in the lower left hand corner denoted the Security Agency logo. Otto felt his back stiffen to rigidity; this was unexpected.
"Nanny, this is Alpha One. Do you confirm that Delta Bravo Alpha Rebecca is deceased?" The voice was unmistakably human and the tone one of genuine concern.
"Deceased status is confirmed."
"Has the perpetrator been identified and are the circumstances surrounding the death controlled?"
They were not going to like his answer and he resisted the urge to fidget, instead locking his fingers together before him on the desk. He was about to ruin the day, indeed the week, for Alpha One.
"The identity of the perpetrator is unknown at this time. An investigation by civilian and government authorities is underway into the death. Be advised The Agency, with a Prime level T/E operative, is involved in the investigation. Owing to the Prime's involvement I judge it necessary for all records of Delta Bravo Alpha Rebecca to be purged from all systems. I further request you log this warning and convey it to Gold One with all haste."
A pregnant three seconds of silence followed by a click. "Go ahead, Nanny."
"Be advised a Medium of Prime ranking is being called in to assist in identifying the deceased agent. The Medium's arrival is expected within the next twelve hours, exact ETA is unknown at this time. I request instructions as it is my belief Gold Five may be in immediate danger from an unknown party, namely the killer of our agent."
"Be advised Nanny, that Gold One is unavailable at this time. Your report has been noted and will be passed on at his earliest convenience."
"Damn."
Otto shook his head, far from pleased to hear that Gold One was unavailable. At least he could be assured that Gold One's unavailability was not a blind. The man barely slept at the best of times and was deeply involved in the turning of the world government.
"Status of Gold One is noted. Will await instruction from him. Be advised the threat level to Gold Five is judged to be level three at this time. Inform Gold One that intermediary agent Basilisk is at this time considered to be unsuitable to continue in his role as Guardian of Record, given recent events. Constant delays in reaching Basilisk are making adequate security arrangements for Gold Five difficult and unsettling him."
"Acknowledged. Will advise when instruction is available. Is there anything else to report?"
"Gold One might be interested in knowing the Agency Prime, Duke Treize Khushrenada, has seen fit to bring in Prime Gabriella. I am known to the woman."
"So noted. Is that all?"
"Yes."
"Alpha One, out."
"Nanny, out."
Otto slumped in his seat and muttered a quiet 'shit', but there was no time to delay and spare himself a precious few minutes to consider the conversation. He leaned forward to initiate a purge of the communication systems records and then purged the security attachment before returning it to his desk draw, initiating the lock once more. It took only seconds to accomplish the system purge and ensure even the Agency staff would not be able to retrieve the conversation should they ever get their hands on the device.
Heaving himself to his feet he stretched, the only luxury he would permit himself before he headed for the door.
"This is getting out of hand. He'll have to make up his mind, one way or the other, just what he is going to do about Zechs."
The door whisked shut behind him.
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Duo stared at the laptop balanced on his knee as the door closed. Dimly he was aware Otto out of his office was dangerous to his health, but he could not move. His head felt thick and stuffed with information he did not know what he should do with.
"Zechs?" Quatre breathed, leaning back to settle his back against the trunk of the tree. "He did say Zechs as he left the office, didn't he?"
"Yeah. Yeah, he did. Quatre, what the hell is going on?" Duo stared at the patches of sky visible through the canopy of the tree, trying to force some order into his thoughts.
"I don't know."
"What the hell interest does Otto have in Zechs outside of the University?"
Quatre rolled the back of his head slowly against the bark of the tree. "I don't know. This is just… confusing the issue of the stalker and the murder."
"Is it related I wonder?" Duo mused.
"I don't know," Quatre murmured.
Drawing a deep and steadying breath Duo bent over the laptop and began to type rapidly. Watching him Quatre frowned, glancing at the screen over Duo's shoulder and he was unable to understand any of the symbols and writing flashing rapidly across the screen.
"What are you doing?"
"Shutting down the Ghost Roach to conserve the battery life. I'll have to leave him there for now." Duo never took his eyes from the keyboard where his fingers were flashing rapidly across the keys.
Quatre blinked, only too aware of the dangers involved in leaving the robot in the ventilation system. "Why?"
His commands given, Duo powered down the computer and slipped it into his back pack before replying. "Otto is most likely on his way out of the building, and there is no way I plan on having the laptop out and operating. If he sees it he will jump to the immediate conclusion I have been working on something and it's potentially shady. I don't want him looking into what I have been playing with. You know he's always suspicious of me and my gadgets."
"Well, it's not as though you haven't given him plenty of reason to be suspicious before now," Quatre chuckled.
Glancing around the area, Quatre took note of who was wandering around at this time and their proximity to his shady tree. He wanted no one near enough to overhear them.
Duo flashed a cheeky grin. "Yeah well, it was all practise for my career in law enforcement."
"You don't have a career in law enforcement," Quatre smiled angelically.
"I know, but I have to find out if I would be any good at it don't I? Work experience, research; that's what it's called. I think I like design, engineering and mechanics much better. Less stress, you know?"
They were talking for the sake of talking, loads of rubbish, he knew. They were not sure what to say, and they certainly had no idea what they should do about what they had witnessed. Trading meaningless comments was a means to gain a few minutes of time in which they could think.
"I've snooped where I probably should not have before. Eavesdropping has nothing on this though." Duo drew a deep breath and decided there was only one way to tackle the subject and that was front on. "We hit pay dirt, Kitty Kat. I always thought there was a lot more to Otto than he seemed. Guess I was right. He's not who he says he is and he's up to something. Something that involves our Zechs and…"
"And?"
"And that makes it our business."
Quatre rubbed his back against the tree, enjoying the rough surface against tense muscles. He had an advantage over Duo in understanding the clandestine world of security agencies and planted agents and that, he was sure, was what Otto was. A planted agent for a private concern interested in their very own Zechs Marquise.
"Actually Duo, I think you will find that Otto is exactly what he claims to be."
"Say again?"
Quatre raised his knees and rested his hands on his thighs, lowering his head to rest on his knees. His father had seen to it he understood a great deal about the security that surrounded their family and how it worked. One day he would be 'The Winner' and he had to understand his place in the dynamics between business, family and security.
"Otto is highly trained security personnel. Elite level. I've met his like before, working for my father and other high profile people. It's not only him here at Tsuberov either who is more than just a run of the mill security guard. Look at Catherine Bloom, she's more than just the supervisor to oversee the cleaning of the dormitories, you know. She is Tsuberov Security, but not outwardly obvious security."
"Yeah, well… I knew Cathy wasn't just a cleaner. But Otto? He's working for someone other than Tsuberov, Quatre. Don't you find that worrying?"
"No. It is often done to the benefit of all parties. He is working for Tsuberov, heading their Security Office and giving them the benefit of his experience. He is also keeping an eye on a select individual, or individuals. Otto's whole working life has been security oriented according to his records, and yes, I have seen them. My father investigated Tsuberov thoroughly before he allowed me to come here to train my talent. I was with him when he reviewed the security arrangements for the complex and to say he was impressed is an understatement. The conversation we overheard actually goes a long way to explaining what happened just after my father reviewed security here, and why Otto is not working for Winner Security."
Duo blinked, staring at Quatre in surprise. "Your Dad tried to hire Otto?"
"My father's people do not make mistakes, Duo. Otto is highly qualified and his services do not come cheap. The Winner even tried bribing him away from Tsuberov to work exclusively for the Winner Corporation, but Otto refused."
"Someone refused The Winner?" Duo grinned at the disgusted look that comment earned him. "Hey, come on now. Not many people refuse your old man and you know it."
Quatre nodded. "I have to admit you are right, but yes, Otto refused when he was approached; politely but emphatically. What did surprise me was that my father asked a second time… personally."
"Your Dad asked Otto to work for him? In person? Hey, was that Winner Security we were listening to on the com? You'd know the system for your own security service wouldn't you?"
"Yes, I know Winner systems and no, that was not Winner Security. Of that I am certain."
Duo set the backpack to one side, resting it up against the trunk of the tree and gazed up into the canopy. "So he doesn't work for your father?"
"I am not sure what was going on then, or what is going on now, but there was something odd about the whole situation. I had the impression that there was some subtle game being played, and I was missing a key ingredient into understanding what it was they were doing. Otto turned my father down, that much I know, but my father seemed satisfied when he returned to L4 and my father does not take being refused easily."
"Damn. You've got me intrigued now, Kitty Kat. So it is possible Otto is working for your father keeping an additional eye on you, just the way he is keeping close tabs on Zechs for someone?"
Quatre hesitated, considering the idea, and he had to admit it was a possibility. There was nothing to say Otto had not agreed at some stage to supervise additional security for Quatre while he remained at Tsuberov.
"Possibly. Anyway, I do not see that what occurred two years ago will help us now, but I suppose I could…" Quatre hesitated not exactly pleased with the idea he was entertaining. "I could always ask my father about what happened. He has not approached Otto since that I know of, but you can be sure there is a great deal I don't know. Dad doesn't waste his time and I think whatever game they were playing is over."
"Yeah, I got the impression your Dad does not waste time and effort needlessly when I met him. So anyway, what do you think we should do now?"
"We should take time to think before we do anything. Otto is obviously working private security in addition to working for Tsuberov."
"But he has this place that tightly patrolled and alarmed a rat could not get in. Why extra security, Quatre? And on Zechs of all people… ah, well." Duo considered his hands resting on his raised knees, recalling the Zechs he had first come to know when he had arrived at Tsuberov. "But it has been a couple of years since Zechs tried to run. He's a lot more settled now."
"They must consider the need is still there to maintain a certain level of security about him. Otto mentioned something about a Guardian and his being unsuitable in these circumstances." Quatre rested his chin on his knees and stared out over the lush lawn. "Maybe Zechs will be in for a new Guardian soon? We can hope he will be fortunate enough to be assigned someone who has more of an interest in his future than the current Guardian, if Otto was actually referring to Zechs's sponsor. I think the arrival of the Primes at Tsuberov has stirred up a hornets nest."
"Should we have a talk to Zechs? Perhaps warn him?"
Quatre watched as a group of students walked smartly along the path near the security office. As yet Otto had not appeared and he was starting to relax as the threat of imminent exposure faded. The puzzle over Otto's employment, and the news of a Stalker loose in Tsuberov, was now more intriguing than alarming.
"Warn him about what? Duo, we have to be very careful with what we now know. If we make a mistake we will be in more than just trouble with the Board of Governors, my father and your sponsors. Not to mention Otto could make mince meat of the pair of us. I don't want either of us ousted from here and we have to be aware of everything we say and do from now on. We have to hide our knowledge."
"Yeah, but Zechs…"
Quatre shook his blonde head solemnly. "Think about it. Zechs is worried enough about achieving his Prime ranking, and getting through the last of the examinations required for him to graduate. It is his last term here and he does not want to have to repeat the year. We have to encourage him to work; allow him to concentrate and help him every way we possibly can."
"Yeah but… the Stalker. He should be waned about the Stalker. And Quatre, he's nearly a Prime level telepath and Empath. He's going to know something is up as soon as we get near him."
It was a valid point and Quatre was uncertain as to whether or not he, let alone the too often transparently emotional Duo, could slip this past their friend's guard. But he had a point too, Zechs had a great deal of work to accomplish in the next few months and he did not need the distraction and stress. There was noting else they could do but try to keep the knowledge from him.
"If he asks; if he senses something is going on, we will have to talk to him about what we've learned. If there is a Stalker watching one of us we need to be on our guard, but we now know that Zechs has additional guards assigned by Otto, not just campus security. Zechs should be well protected, and he does not need to stare at every bush near him and wonder if a possible lurker is stalking him."
"If? I honestly don't think there is much of an 'if' in this case. The only if is if Zechs is the actual target, but being with us makes him a potential target, just as we are potential targets. Look, these guys are professional investigators, not amateurs. You can't think they would make a mistake as bad as saying there is a Stalker on the grounds if there wasn't enough evidence to prove their suspicions?"
Quatre sighed. "What I think is that we have a good reason not to go anywhere alone, and to be conscious of who is in our immediate vicinity at all times. Duo, we have no proof of their being anything untoward going on at Tsuberov, just a conversation we overheard. We didn't actually hear a great deal when you think about it. Someone used Psi to trash one of the apartments, and that would have to be a kinetic talent. They talked about suppression of the students in the adjacent rooms, and that is a purely telepathic ability. That means the Stalker is a multi talented type and high powered. We really don't want to play with the likes of that."
"Yeah, I'm not keen on the idea either."
"Beyond watching each other's backs we can't afford to get involved. Zechs is not the only one who has work to do after all. We can't afford to let our grades slip and draw attention to ourselves."
Duo growled softly, not liking the sense Quatre was talking at all, but he did acknowledge that it was only sensible to watch each other and to keep their mouths closed. He was not pleased with the idea of not confiding in Zechs though. Duo did not lie and keeping secrets from Zechs was perilously close to lying in his view.
"I don't lie to anyone, least of all to my friends, Quatre. Not telling Zechs is just not sitting right with me."
"I'm not particularly thrilled either, but I don't see that we should needlessly worry him. He needs to buckle down and get his work sorted, you know that. There are a few teachers here who would love to fail him, and we don't want to give them the opportunity to do exactly that. We avoid telling him for as long as possible. Agreed?"
"Yeah, well, I guess. I don't feel particularly inclined to play with a mean tempered psi with a fetish problem, who could kick our asses either. Any suggestions on how to deal with that?"
"You are not the only one who does not want to play with such an individual. Why do you think we need to deal with it? We are not crime fighters, Duo. We are students, nothing more."
Duo huffed a breath which blew his bangs up and revealed a set of worried blue/violet eyes. "Look, for the moment I won't say anything to Zechs about what we overheard, but you have to face facts, Quatre. Zechs is approaching Prime level and he is more than capable of picking up on stray thoughts and sheer worry. We will be positively vibrating worry on so many levels it won't be funny. At least I know I will be. If he asks, I don't lie."
Quatre sighed and nodded. "Yes, I know you do not lie. It is an admirable, if annoying, trait."
Duo flashed a grin, the shimmering eyes dancing with a glint of mischief.
"Well look at it this way, Zechs is almost a Prime and you are not so far off that rating yourself on the Empathic level. I'm a level 8 kinetic, so between us we have a reasonable amount of talent to call on. If we mind ourselves and keep close to each other we should be alright." Duo glanced around to check on their surroundings. "Otto must have found something to do in the security block. I expected him to have come out by now."
"Thankfully," Quatre murmured. "We watch each others backs, try to keep Zechs from finding out and watch his back in the process, and we wait. The Duke and his associates are here to investigate and we have to give them the time to do exactly that. They are obviously searching for whoever it is who is stalking the campus, and they intend on keeping us in a controlled environment as much as possible. For the next few days at least I think we should be careful to be exactly where we are supposed to be and not skip out early, or change plans at the last minute. We need to help them find this person as quickly as possible, and we can best do that by not getting in their way."
Duo grunted softly and stood, stretching his back carefully before picking up his backpack. "I'll leave Ghost in the vent for now. I don't want to chance being seen removing the bot and difficult questions being asked."
Quatre smirked. "And we might always find a use for it later?"
Duo sniggered. "There is always that."
t.b.c.
Karina Robertson 2008
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Notes:
Quatre Rababer Winner: Psi student, 2nd year at Tsuberov Parapsychic Investigation and University. Current Level 5 Telepath, projected Level 7, Current Level Receiving Empath 9.3, projected Level 10, Prime. Current Sending Empath Level 2, projected Level 4. Colony of Origin, L4 Cluster 18 years of age
Duo Maxwell: Psi Student , 3rd year at Tsuberov Parapsychic Investigation and University. Level 8 Psychokinetic ability, projected level 9. Sending Telepath Level 5. Colony of Origin L2 Cluster 18 years of age Sweeper adoptee. Under pre contract agreement with Sweepers.
Heinrich Otto: Tsuberov University Security Chief. No Psionic talent. Staff Member at Tsuberov for five years. Fitted with a Neural shield implant against telepathic intrusion. Former employment, Sanc Imperial Guard. 35 years of age.