* * * *
Chapter 2- A little rich boy, a wanted clown, a religious leave, and a braided baka.
Quatre Winner ran a hand through his smooth blonde hair.
"I don't know where they are!" he insisted. His tone was dubbed with annoyance, partially from lack of sleep and partially from the stupidity of this interrogator. Called in the dead of night to the Peacecraft mansion, he was extremely irked that the precious time he was spending going in circles with the baka in front of him could be used to rest.
He sat slumped in the swivel chair, a cup of bad coffee half empty on Milliardo's desk. The office was teeming with cops, detectives, and a few reporters who had snuck in despite the barricade at the front of the mansion. Quatre put his head in his hands and rubbed his tired face.
"I told you, all I know is that I was supposed to have dinner with them after Relena got home from her meetings."
The interrogator leaning on the desk wrote Quatre's comment down for the fifth time in the stupid little notebook. Quatre stared at him in disgust. He was obviously a rookie, overly eager and green to the core. How in the world and all its colonies had he been assigned to the Peacecraft kidnapping?
Taking a sip of his coffee, he tried not to spit it back up on the interrogator, only because it would show a lack of manners. He forced the bitter liquid down his throat and sighed. It was the only thing keeping him awake.
"What about the other Gundam pilots? Do you have any idea where they are?"
Quatre swiveled to face the window behind him and stared up into the starry sky.
"No." he replied, still stargazing, "We all split up after the war. I've lost contact with them. They're probably getting on with their lives. It'll be good for everyone to settle down again." and to himself, "Almost everyone will be."
"Uh huh." Said the interrogator, looking at the back of the chair quizzically and then writing a simple "no" in the little notebook.
"And so you have no idea where the Peacecrafts might be?"
Quatre slowly turned his head around and glared in utter disbelief. Swiveling back to face the interrogator, he drew out the one syllable word he was about to say.
"Nooooooooo."
* * * *
Trowa Barton sat in a director style chair behind the curtain of the big top. In front of him was a small portable television and on that television was the report of the Peacecraft abduction.
"The Vice Foreign Minister was taken from her limo en route to a political conference where various diplomats were to begin plans to ensure the peace of the earth and its colonies. The body of the chauffeur was found, shot dead, in the woods nearby."
A live camera shot appeared on the screen. The shattered limo could just barely be glimpsed between the crowd of firemen and police. Yellow tape made a perimeter for the chaotic scene while fire truck lights flashed in the darkness. The camera flipped to a stretcher and a body covered by a white sheet. Two paramedics half carried, half rolled it to the waiting ambulance.
The newscaster continued.
"And the Vice Foreign Minister's brother, Milliardo Peacecraft was abducted while strolling the grounds of his estate."
A second camera displayed the Peacecraft mansion, patrolled by cops and several large agents blocking the front doors. A maid appeared on the screen, the glare of the camera light throwing shadows on her face.
"Mizter Peazecraft, 'e zaid 'e waz going to take z' walk around ze garden. Theez waz normal, buht 'e neverre came back." She said and shrugged.
Trowa raised and eyebrow at the fact that Milliardo had just "disappeared". Obviously, the kidnappers were experienced in "removing" known and respected officials.
At that moment Cathy popped her head out of the dressing room, touching up her hair and makeup.
"Hey, Mr. Target!"
Trowa turned his head to look. Cathy grinned that she had gotten his attention with the nickname.
"We're up in five." And she disappeared back behind the door.
Trowa stood up from the chair and grabbed his mask from the top of the TV. He put it on carefully and walked to the part in the curtains. In a moment, Cathy joined him and they paraded, one arm raised and one arm locked with the other's, out into the center ring. The crowd cheered loudly as brother and sister set up for their act.
The TV continued. Unheard by the circus clown was the announcement of a search. For him.
"Any information on the whereabouts of the former Gundam pilots will be rewarded by federal officials."
* * * *
Chang Wufei was practicing a series of kicks and punches when he heard the broadcast. He was in the gymnasium of the Preventors center, practicing martial arts on one of the many blue mats. None of his other comrades paused at the news of the missing Peacecrafts. Many were sparring in pairs or just watching. The lone Preventor stopped in mid-kick and slowly turned his head to look at the radio broadcasting the report. The dark eyes stared at the large boom box, the rest of his body still frozen.
"This just in." the voice said urgently, "The Peacecraft siblings have been captured by terrorists. No contact or ransom note has yet come. Any witnesses of the crime have been requested by federal agents to come forward immediately. Also, a search has been warranted for the former Gundam pilots, who are suspected of accessory to the kidnapping. A reward for their arrest had been issued."
Wufei snorted and calmly put himself into a more comfortable position. Picking up his duffel bag from its place by the mat, he walked briskly to the exit. A half-hour later he was leaving the grounds after a visit with his superior requesting a vacation for a meditation as part of his religious beliefs. This was not entirely untrue. A time of reflection of oneself in an isolated area was required by his religion. But it was an annual retreat and not needed at any particular time of the year.
* * * *
"Ha HA! What a bunch of bakas! Like they'll ever find her."
Duo Maxwell flung the pen he had been chewing on at the TV suspended in the corner of the office. The pen bounced off the screen with a "clunk" and landed in the wild mess of Heero Yuy's hair. Heero fished it from the top of his head and tossed it back on the desk in front of him. He narrowed his eyes at Duo, who was pacing back and forth.
"No," Duo stopped and faced the stoical man sitting at the desk, "They won't find her without the Super Gundam pilots!" The violet-eyed nutcase did a WWF pose and growled.
"Hn." Heero said and raised an eyebrow at whom he thought to be the baka.
"Oooooo!" Duo winked and pointed to his companion. "Good job, my friend. A display of emotion! A small display, but a display, none the less! Progress! Progress is good!"
Duo continued with his previous comment.
"And if they can't find the Super Gundam pilots, they can't find her. 'Reward for their arrest.' Baaah! They need us and they know it." He turned to the TV.
"Admit it!! You need us. You need us! Whimps!" Duo stuck his tongue out at the newscaster. Heero shook his head and clicked the remote to turn off the TV. Duo stopped making faces and stomped.
"Can't you see I'm having a conversation??" he demanded, motioning toward the screen. Heero put down the remote and stood up.
"Come along. We have a job. And one of us has a life." he walked out of the office and started down the hallway. Duo made a mock puzzled look and skipped after his friend.
"Which one?" he called.
* * * *
Fine, for now. You like-a? Review and tell me, or I'll be hopelessly despondent.and amuse myself by making voodoo dolls for nameless, faceless people that read and don't review. ^_^ Have a jolly day!
Chapter 2- A little rich boy, a wanted clown, a religious leave, and a braided baka.
Quatre Winner ran a hand through his smooth blonde hair.
"I don't know where they are!" he insisted. His tone was dubbed with annoyance, partially from lack of sleep and partially from the stupidity of this interrogator. Called in the dead of night to the Peacecraft mansion, he was extremely irked that the precious time he was spending going in circles with the baka in front of him could be used to rest.
He sat slumped in the swivel chair, a cup of bad coffee half empty on Milliardo's desk. The office was teeming with cops, detectives, and a few reporters who had snuck in despite the barricade at the front of the mansion. Quatre put his head in his hands and rubbed his tired face.
"I told you, all I know is that I was supposed to have dinner with them after Relena got home from her meetings."
The interrogator leaning on the desk wrote Quatre's comment down for the fifth time in the stupid little notebook. Quatre stared at him in disgust. He was obviously a rookie, overly eager and green to the core. How in the world and all its colonies had he been assigned to the Peacecraft kidnapping?
Taking a sip of his coffee, he tried not to spit it back up on the interrogator, only because it would show a lack of manners. He forced the bitter liquid down his throat and sighed. It was the only thing keeping him awake.
"What about the other Gundam pilots? Do you have any idea where they are?"
Quatre swiveled to face the window behind him and stared up into the starry sky.
"No." he replied, still stargazing, "We all split up after the war. I've lost contact with them. They're probably getting on with their lives. It'll be good for everyone to settle down again." and to himself, "Almost everyone will be."
"Uh huh." Said the interrogator, looking at the back of the chair quizzically and then writing a simple "no" in the little notebook.
"And so you have no idea where the Peacecrafts might be?"
Quatre slowly turned his head around and glared in utter disbelief. Swiveling back to face the interrogator, he drew out the one syllable word he was about to say.
"Nooooooooo."
* * * *
Trowa Barton sat in a director style chair behind the curtain of the big top. In front of him was a small portable television and on that television was the report of the Peacecraft abduction.
"The Vice Foreign Minister was taken from her limo en route to a political conference where various diplomats were to begin plans to ensure the peace of the earth and its colonies. The body of the chauffeur was found, shot dead, in the woods nearby."
A live camera shot appeared on the screen. The shattered limo could just barely be glimpsed between the crowd of firemen and police. Yellow tape made a perimeter for the chaotic scene while fire truck lights flashed in the darkness. The camera flipped to a stretcher and a body covered by a white sheet. Two paramedics half carried, half rolled it to the waiting ambulance.
The newscaster continued.
"And the Vice Foreign Minister's brother, Milliardo Peacecraft was abducted while strolling the grounds of his estate."
A second camera displayed the Peacecraft mansion, patrolled by cops and several large agents blocking the front doors. A maid appeared on the screen, the glare of the camera light throwing shadows on her face.
"Mizter Peazecraft, 'e zaid 'e waz going to take z' walk around ze garden. Theez waz normal, buht 'e neverre came back." She said and shrugged.
Trowa raised and eyebrow at the fact that Milliardo had just "disappeared". Obviously, the kidnappers were experienced in "removing" known and respected officials.
At that moment Cathy popped her head out of the dressing room, touching up her hair and makeup.
"Hey, Mr. Target!"
Trowa turned his head to look. Cathy grinned that she had gotten his attention with the nickname.
"We're up in five." And she disappeared back behind the door.
Trowa stood up from the chair and grabbed his mask from the top of the TV. He put it on carefully and walked to the part in the curtains. In a moment, Cathy joined him and they paraded, one arm raised and one arm locked with the other's, out into the center ring. The crowd cheered loudly as brother and sister set up for their act.
The TV continued. Unheard by the circus clown was the announcement of a search. For him.
"Any information on the whereabouts of the former Gundam pilots will be rewarded by federal officials."
* * * *
Chang Wufei was practicing a series of kicks and punches when he heard the broadcast. He was in the gymnasium of the Preventors center, practicing martial arts on one of the many blue mats. None of his other comrades paused at the news of the missing Peacecrafts. Many were sparring in pairs or just watching. The lone Preventor stopped in mid-kick and slowly turned his head to look at the radio broadcasting the report. The dark eyes stared at the large boom box, the rest of his body still frozen.
"This just in." the voice said urgently, "The Peacecraft siblings have been captured by terrorists. No contact or ransom note has yet come. Any witnesses of the crime have been requested by federal agents to come forward immediately. Also, a search has been warranted for the former Gundam pilots, who are suspected of accessory to the kidnapping. A reward for their arrest had been issued."
Wufei snorted and calmly put himself into a more comfortable position. Picking up his duffel bag from its place by the mat, he walked briskly to the exit. A half-hour later he was leaving the grounds after a visit with his superior requesting a vacation for a meditation as part of his religious beliefs. This was not entirely untrue. A time of reflection of oneself in an isolated area was required by his religion. But it was an annual retreat and not needed at any particular time of the year.
* * * *
"Ha HA! What a bunch of bakas! Like they'll ever find her."
Duo Maxwell flung the pen he had been chewing on at the TV suspended in the corner of the office. The pen bounced off the screen with a "clunk" and landed in the wild mess of Heero Yuy's hair. Heero fished it from the top of his head and tossed it back on the desk in front of him. He narrowed his eyes at Duo, who was pacing back and forth.
"No," Duo stopped and faced the stoical man sitting at the desk, "They won't find her without the Super Gundam pilots!" The violet-eyed nutcase did a WWF pose and growled.
"Hn." Heero said and raised an eyebrow at whom he thought to be the baka.
"Oooooo!" Duo winked and pointed to his companion. "Good job, my friend. A display of emotion! A small display, but a display, none the less! Progress! Progress is good!"
Duo continued with his previous comment.
"And if they can't find the Super Gundam pilots, they can't find her. 'Reward for their arrest.' Baaah! They need us and they know it." He turned to the TV.
"Admit it!! You need us. You need us! Whimps!" Duo stuck his tongue out at the newscaster. Heero shook his head and clicked the remote to turn off the TV. Duo stopped making faces and stomped.
"Can't you see I'm having a conversation??" he demanded, motioning toward the screen. Heero put down the remote and stood up.
"Come along. We have a job. And one of us has a life." he walked out of the office and started down the hallway. Duo made a mock puzzled look and skipped after his friend.
"Which one?" he called.
* * * *
Fine, for now. You like-a? Review and tell me, or I'll be hopelessly despondent.and amuse myself by making voodoo dolls for nameless, faceless people that read and don't review. ^_^ Have a jolly day!