Go Canada.
www.sympatico.ca
Chapter Five
***
Next Day
"Daddy daddy daddy daddy daddy DADDY!"
Wa-THUMP! The impact of a small, yet heavy, weight on my chest was enough to wake me up -- as well as knock the air out of me for the next couple of years.
I cracked one eye open painfully to see a happily grinning Vicki sitting on my chest the way a victor puts his foot on a loser's chest. "Vicki," I wheezed, still attempting to reclaim my breath, "what did I say about waking up before eight on a Saturday?" I snatched the girl around the middle and pinned her to the bed, tickling her mercilessly on the spot right below her last rib.
"S-sorry, Daddy," she gasped, trying to squirm away, "but your 'puter's beepin'and it's really 'nnoying!"
My hands immediately ceased and I sighed. "Can you pour a bowl of cereal?" At her nod, I picked Vicki up and set her down at the side of the bed, giving her bottom a gentle push. "Go do so, okay, while Da responds to his hail." Vicki scampered off in the direction of the kitchen and I trudged over to the adjacent study, where my laptop was indeed beeping - quite insistently. I plopped down in my easy chair and scrubbed my hands over my slightly stubbled face - hey! I have reached puberty, you know - before letting loose a huge, jaw stretching yawn. Still knuckling one eye, I reached out my other hand and wriggled the mouse, dissolving the screen saver. I quickly typed in my password at the prompt and accessed my mail. Sure enough, there was a message from Lady Une - Priority One. That's the only reason it would beep.
I clicked on the subject line.
To: capturedShini@preventers.com
From: headhancho@preventers.com
Subject: Priority One Mission
Duo-
Good morning, sleepy-head. No doubt I have roused you from your coma like slumber, but I do hope you'll understand. I have a mission for you; it should prove to be interesting. It will require a lot of stealth and snooping around - great skills of yours.
Curiosity peaked, I leaned a little closer to the computer screen.
You should have seen the news of Mien's capture on news by now. (Any information from now on should be kept SECRET.) Mien had connections reaching further than the Czech Republic and Europe. His connections spanned all the way to L2.
My eyebrows drew together in concern - more for Vicki than anything else. My eyeballs practically touched the screen by now.
You may not realize it, but there is a small satellite due south of L2, less than two and a half miles from the south exit. It was established a long time ago as a farming satellite, one of the first of it's kind. (As you are aware, most satellites are mining, and most are owned by Winner Co.) Due to the low percentage of yield produced by these satellites, most were shut down or renovated. For some reason this one was forgotten. A successful farming satellite requires a lot of support - support Mien was apparently willing to supply. The abandoned satellite was cultivated into a drug factory. It grows many plants from which drugs are made - more than 53% of it's yield is poppyseed. Mien had connections at the south gate - the raw plants were smuggled into L2 and shipped to factories where Mien made much of his drugs, which, as you know, he sold on the black market in Europe (and consequently, L2. The sales he made there were overlooked as there is already a large drug trade in L2.).
That's the brief. Here's your mission: Mien stationed a lot of his loyal aides here. They are very angry at his capture. A group of delegates is scheduled to arrive at L2 in exactly seventeen days. Among the delegates is a very important person - Mr. Calihoun.
Around this point, 'Oh shit oh shit oh shit' was being to run through my head. I could put two and two together and get disaster.
Mien's aides are very angry at Mr. Calihoun - I'm sure you know why. Mr. Calihoun is very vital in the peace between the European Conference (1) and the rest of the world. Under no circumstances can he be assassinated. A terrorist will take any opportunity he can get his hands on to get rid of an important enemy leader.
Ain't that the truth.
This meeting is very important and can under no circumstances be abandoned. This is L2's only chance to recruit help for the colony. It's already taken more than 50 years to get a meeting with the people who can help L2. L2 won't have another chance. If L2's crime percentage goes up any more, the colony will have to be quarantined until a solution is thought of.
You need to locate Mien's trusted aides and any connections they might have. Once you have done so, notify Preventers and the local police or FBI force for assistance in apprehending them. I've provided profiles on these aides for you to download.
The Preventer who was working undercover in Mien's main operation will be coming in to assist you. Full cooperation, you understand, Maxwell? This is NOT a solo mission.
Good luck.
This message will self-destruct in 11 seconds.
~The Lady
I allowed a fond smile to pass my lips as exactly 11 seconds later a tiny box appeared on my screen reading 'Boom.' The scattered reprimands and the voluntary use of Une's nickname all signaled of her fondness for me, though her letter was all business. A frown touched my lips. I hadn't had any involvement in this... 'Operation Mien' or whatever it's code name was and all of a sudden Une was throwing me in the mix? I shrugged; no doubt my new status as a member of this operation was the reason Une was sending in this undercover agent. Why didn't she enclose his name? Sneaky of her.
Crossing my arms and hunching my shoulders, I brooded unhappily on the fact that 'this is NOT a solo mission.' ...I could do it by myself.
Sighing unhappily, I downloaded the files and went in search of Vicki. Can never leave a three year old by herself for too long.
I walked into the kitchen and repressed the urge to scream. It was WAY too early in the morning for this.
"Hi Daddy," Vicki said innocently from the kitchen booth. The box of Fruity Pebbles lay on it's side next to a huge mound of the cereal, under which Vicki's bowl presumably hid. The box was empty. It had been full this morning.
The rest of the cereal was scattered over every available surface in the kitchen, along with milk and various kitchen utensils. The steps lay in a puddle of milk on the floor. Vicki stuck her fork into the bowl and only succeeded in getting more milk and cereal on the floor. Giggling merrily, she picked up a spoon in her other hand and proceeded to eat the cereal, alternating hands with each bite. Like most children, she got more on her than in her.
I grabbed the broom from the closet, relieved Vicki hadn't decided to be "nice" again and attempt to make my coffee. It had ended up much like today's Cereal Incident.
It was a long morning.
***
Heero felt exactly the same way.
He pressed the heels of his hands roughly against his eyes, trying to rub away the gritty feeling one gets from too much stress, too little sleep, way too much computer screen time, and not enough eye-drops. He was exhausted, dirty, irritated, and caffeine-deprived.
"Let me get this straight," he mumbled, voice husky and raw. "You want me to go up to the most dangerous colony in space when my nerves are already shot and work with my ex-lover, who hates my guts. Then, you want us to infiltrate Mien's incredibly complex hierarchy. I gotta tell you Une, that's gonna be next to impossible." He lowered his hands. "I'm sure they're on the lookout for my face. Not only that, you know how much Duo hates help on any of his missions. You really think he's going to work voluntarily with me?"
Lady Une's voice was clipped. "He'd better. He's a sworn-in Preventers officer on indefinite guard duty on L2. As his boss, he's to carry out any order I give him, and be damned if he doesn't like it. I don't expect personal grudges to complicate the work of my officers. " She shot him a glare worth of her old title as Trieze's right hand lady.
Heero sighed and rubbed at a muscle jumping in his neck. "I know, I know, but couldn't you send in another officer?"
"Why?" she said shortly. "Why send in somebody else when I can send in the best? You know you're itching to take this assignment, Yuy." Heero winced. Formal last name. She was pissed. "If you stayed here you'd go bonkers in a few days with nothing to do. The only reason you don't want to go on this mission is because you'll see Duo again, and you're afraid you'll give in to temptation. " Her voice gentled. "That can be taken care of, Heero. You know you're not happy married to Relena, and anyway, there's nothing you can do for her now. "
Heero determinably changed the subject. "Couldn't I work with somebody else on L2?"
Une's hand slammed down on the desk. "Stop trying to change the subject! I'm trying to help you, because I can't stand to see you miserable any more than anyone else around you can. NO, I'm not going to send someone else up there. For two reasons." She held up fingers for emphasis. "One. Duo's already up there, and why pay for two plane tickets when I can skimp and pay for just one? You know how tight Preventers are on funds, Heero. Two. Nobody knows L2 and the people there like Duo. Lots of people claim to be experts on L2, but face it, none of these so called "experts" could stay on L2 for more than a week before they would flee in terror. Duo's LIVED there. He knows secrets. He can call in favors. You and Duo are best suited for the job. End of discussion."
Une sat down with a thump in her chair and ran a hand through shaggy bangs, before pinching the bridge of her nose and rocking the swivel chair gently. Heero immediately felt guilty. He knew how stressed she was. Why was he making things harder for her?
"I'll go," he said quietly. "And I'll listen to you. What did you want to say?"
Une looked up quickly. Sensing he truly meant what he said, she sat up a little straighter, clasping her hands on her desk. "The psychologists think the real Relena is hiding away inside her mind because of guilt. Even before you left she knew you weren't... happy, living where and how you were. When she had Victoria, she felt worse. She knew you'd do the honorable thing and stay with her for the sake of your daughter."
Heero closed his eyes and slumped down in his chair. His daughter. He'd never known. Not until the flight home, when Quatre had sent him a personal email telling him all about it. He said he was sorry for the impersonal way an email would deliver the news, but he knew Heero would want to think about it. And think about it he had. Not only about his child, but about Duo as well. How had Duo felt when he got custody of Victoria? Betrayed? Taking care of his ex-lover's child. Heero sighed. What had he been thinking? It wasn't that he thought Victoria wasn't in good hands - he knew she was. But he'd never thought about how Duo would feel when he wrote up that will. He'd only been thinking of how relieved he'd be. Selfish. He was always thinking of himself. He'd been selfish when he married Relena, because that way he felt secure. He was doing his mission. It was what he was born to do. He hadn't thought about how Relena would feel when she realized he didn't love her. He hadn't thought of how Duo would feel when he suddenly found himself with a painful reminder of Heero. He hadn't thought at all.
Une waited patiently for him to collect his thoughts until he signaled to her that he was ready. "The psychologists think this build up of guilt caused Relena to go temporarily crazy. They think.... " she hesitated. "They think if you talk to her, she'll come out of it. Think of how great that would be for everyone," she said earnestly, like she was trying to convince him of something - to talk to Relena, perhaps. "Sank would have a leader. Vicki a Mommy. And I know Relena. She'd insist that you and her get a divorce." Heero quickly looked at her; Une could see the guilt in his eyes and tried to think of a way to reassure him. "It would be what she wanted, Heero. I don't think either of you loved each other. You married for duty. She married on a crush." Une shook her head. "Its not what either of you want or need."
There was silence in the office for several minutes, disturbed only by the tick tock of Lady Une's clock. Heero's eyes were drawn to that clock, as it steadily ticked away the time. The longer he waited, the longer it was until he met Relena. Until he saw Vicki for the first time. Until he saw... Duo. Time was ticking away, faster and faster. His life was ticking away.
Heero turned his eyes to Lady Une's compassionate brown ones. "When can I see her?"
***
"See you soon, Heero." Quatre smiled softly and offered Heero a hug several days later at Tokyo's International Spaceport. "You know as soon as you and Duo give the word, we'll all be up there to help."
Heero nodded. "I know," he said simply, and offered his goodbyes to Trowa and Wufei before boarding his shuttle to L2. Hilde was already on there, waiting for him to board. As Heero buckled himself down in preparation for spaceflight, he tried to imagine what it would be like to see Duo again. What would he look like? Would he look, act, any different? Hilde said he was happy in his life. Would Heero's re-entry make him angry or bitter? He pushed these depressing thoughts away as the shuttle rumbled to life underneath him. Hilde flashed him a thumbs up across the aisle, and Heero offered a weak smile in return, looking out the window as the plane rocketed off the ramp into the sky.
Wufei said the Mad 5 were thinking about rebuilding Wing and Deathscythe to fight Mien. Could he really be that strong? Heero wondered as the shuttle entered space. L2 was a glittery star in the distance. Heero would be meeting Duo again for the first time in four years in less than 24 hours. Heero decided he better get some sleep for the confrontation ahead.
As Heero drifted off to sleep across from her, Hilde smiled and pulled out a notebook, withdrawing a pen from her purse. The Mien mission was legit and every bit as dangerous as it was implied to be. Heero and Duo were also as vital to the mission as Lady Une said. But, Hilde reflected as she whisked off a checkmark next to "Step One" in the notebook, all missions - even deadly ones such as this - had subplots.
***
(1) European Conference: The assimilation of all of the countries of Europe (including superpowers England, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Russia) and those Middle Eastern countries with nearby borders. The Sanq Kingdom is the only eastern European country which is not part of the conference.
www.sympatico.ca
Chapter Five
***
Next Day
"Daddy daddy daddy daddy daddy DADDY!"
Wa-THUMP! The impact of a small, yet heavy, weight on my chest was enough to wake me up -- as well as knock the air out of me for the next couple of years.
I cracked one eye open painfully to see a happily grinning Vicki sitting on my chest the way a victor puts his foot on a loser's chest. "Vicki," I wheezed, still attempting to reclaim my breath, "what did I say about waking up before eight on a Saturday?" I snatched the girl around the middle and pinned her to the bed, tickling her mercilessly on the spot right below her last rib.
"S-sorry, Daddy," she gasped, trying to squirm away, "but your 'puter's beepin'and it's really 'nnoying!"
My hands immediately ceased and I sighed. "Can you pour a bowl of cereal?" At her nod, I picked Vicki up and set her down at the side of the bed, giving her bottom a gentle push. "Go do so, okay, while Da responds to his hail." Vicki scampered off in the direction of the kitchen and I trudged over to the adjacent study, where my laptop was indeed beeping - quite insistently. I plopped down in my easy chair and scrubbed my hands over my slightly stubbled face - hey! I have reached puberty, you know - before letting loose a huge, jaw stretching yawn. Still knuckling one eye, I reached out my other hand and wriggled the mouse, dissolving the screen saver. I quickly typed in my password at the prompt and accessed my mail. Sure enough, there was a message from Lady Une - Priority One. That's the only reason it would beep.
I clicked on the subject line.
To: capturedShini@preventers.com
From: headhancho@preventers.com
Subject: Priority One Mission
Duo-
Good morning, sleepy-head. No doubt I have roused you from your coma like slumber, but I do hope you'll understand. I have a mission for you; it should prove to be interesting. It will require a lot of stealth and snooping around - great skills of yours.
Curiosity peaked, I leaned a little closer to the computer screen.
You should have seen the news of Mien's capture on news by now. (Any information from now on should be kept SECRET.) Mien had connections reaching further than the Czech Republic and Europe. His connections spanned all the way to L2.
My eyebrows drew together in concern - more for Vicki than anything else. My eyeballs practically touched the screen by now.
You may not realize it, but there is a small satellite due south of L2, less than two and a half miles from the south exit. It was established a long time ago as a farming satellite, one of the first of it's kind. (As you are aware, most satellites are mining, and most are owned by Winner Co.) Due to the low percentage of yield produced by these satellites, most were shut down or renovated. For some reason this one was forgotten. A successful farming satellite requires a lot of support - support Mien was apparently willing to supply. The abandoned satellite was cultivated into a drug factory. It grows many plants from which drugs are made - more than 53% of it's yield is poppyseed. Mien had connections at the south gate - the raw plants were smuggled into L2 and shipped to factories where Mien made much of his drugs, which, as you know, he sold on the black market in Europe (and consequently, L2. The sales he made there were overlooked as there is already a large drug trade in L2.).
That's the brief. Here's your mission: Mien stationed a lot of his loyal aides here. They are very angry at his capture. A group of delegates is scheduled to arrive at L2 in exactly seventeen days. Among the delegates is a very important person - Mr. Calihoun.
Around this point, 'Oh shit oh shit oh shit' was being to run through my head. I could put two and two together and get disaster.
Mien's aides are very angry at Mr. Calihoun - I'm sure you know why. Mr. Calihoun is very vital in the peace between the European Conference (1) and the rest of the world. Under no circumstances can he be assassinated. A terrorist will take any opportunity he can get his hands on to get rid of an important enemy leader.
Ain't that the truth.
This meeting is very important and can under no circumstances be abandoned. This is L2's only chance to recruit help for the colony. It's already taken more than 50 years to get a meeting with the people who can help L2. L2 won't have another chance. If L2's crime percentage goes up any more, the colony will have to be quarantined until a solution is thought of.
You need to locate Mien's trusted aides and any connections they might have. Once you have done so, notify Preventers and the local police or FBI force for assistance in apprehending them. I've provided profiles on these aides for you to download.
The Preventer who was working undercover in Mien's main operation will be coming in to assist you. Full cooperation, you understand, Maxwell? This is NOT a solo mission.
Good luck.
This message will self-destruct in 11 seconds.
~The Lady
I allowed a fond smile to pass my lips as exactly 11 seconds later a tiny box appeared on my screen reading 'Boom.' The scattered reprimands and the voluntary use of Une's nickname all signaled of her fondness for me, though her letter was all business. A frown touched my lips. I hadn't had any involvement in this... 'Operation Mien' or whatever it's code name was and all of a sudden Une was throwing me in the mix? I shrugged; no doubt my new status as a member of this operation was the reason Une was sending in this undercover agent. Why didn't she enclose his name? Sneaky of her.
Crossing my arms and hunching my shoulders, I brooded unhappily on the fact that 'this is NOT a solo mission.' ...I could do it by myself.
Sighing unhappily, I downloaded the files and went in search of Vicki. Can never leave a three year old by herself for too long.
I walked into the kitchen and repressed the urge to scream. It was WAY too early in the morning for this.
"Hi Daddy," Vicki said innocently from the kitchen booth. The box of Fruity Pebbles lay on it's side next to a huge mound of the cereal, under which Vicki's bowl presumably hid. The box was empty. It had been full this morning.
The rest of the cereal was scattered over every available surface in the kitchen, along with milk and various kitchen utensils. The steps lay in a puddle of milk on the floor. Vicki stuck her fork into the bowl and only succeeded in getting more milk and cereal on the floor. Giggling merrily, she picked up a spoon in her other hand and proceeded to eat the cereal, alternating hands with each bite. Like most children, she got more on her than in her.
I grabbed the broom from the closet, relieved Vicki hadn't decided to be "nice" again and attempt to make my coffee. It had ended up much like today's Cereal Incident.
It was a long morning.
***
Heero felt exactly the same way.
He pressed the heels of his hands roughly against his eyes, trying to rub away the gritty feeling one gets from too much stress, too little sleep, way too much computer screen time, and not enough eye-drops. He was exhausted, dirty, irritated, and caffeine-deprived.
"Let me get this straight," he mumbled, voice husky and raw. "You want me to go up to the most dangerous colony in space when my nerves are already shot and work with my ex-lover, who hates my guts. Then, you want us to infiltrate Mien's incredibly complex hierarchy. I gotta tell you Une, that's gonna be next to impossible." He lowered his hands. "I'm sure they're on the lookout for my face. Not only that, you know how much Duo hates help on any of his missions. You really think he's going to work voluntarily with me?"
Lady Une's voice was clipped. "He'd better. He's a sworn-in Preventers officer on indefinite guard duty on L2. As his boss, he's to carry out any order I give him, and be damned if he doesn't like it. I don't expect personal grudges to complicate the work of my officers. " She shot him a glare worth of her old title as Trieze's right hand lady.
Heero sighed and rubbed at a muscle jumping in his neck. "I know, I know, but couldn't you send in another officer?"
"Why?" she said shortly. "Why send in somebody else when I can send in the best? You know you're itching to take this assignment, Yuy." Heero winced. Formal last name. She was pissed. "If you stayed here you'd go bonkers in a few days with nothing to do. The only reason you don't want to go on this mission is because you'll see Duo again, and you're afraid you'll give in to temptation. " Her voice gentled. "That can be taken care of, Heero. You know you're not happy married to Relena, and anyway, there's nothing you can do for her now. "
Heero determinably changed the subject. "Couldn't I work with somebody else on L2?"
Une's hand slammed down on the desk. "Stop trying to change the subject! I'm trying to help you, because I can't stand to see you miserable any more than anyone else around you can. NO, I'm not going to send someone else up there. For two reasons." She held up fingers for emphasis. "One. Duo's already up there, and why pay for two plane tickets when I can skimp and pay for just one? You know how tight Preventers are on funds, Heero. Two. Nobody knows L2 and the people there like Duo. Lots of people claim to be experts on L2, but face it, none of these so called "experts" could stay on L2 for more than a week before they would flee in terror. Duo's LIVED there. He knows secrets. He can call in favors. You and Duo are best suited for the job. End of discussion."
Une sat down with a thump in her chair and ran a hand through shaggy bangs, before pinching the bridge of her nose and rocking the swivel chair gently. Heero immediately felt guilty. He knew how stressed she was. Why was he making things harder for her?
"I'll go," he said quietly. "And I'll listen to you. What did you want to say?"
Une looked up quickly. Sensing he truly meant what he said, she sat up a little straighter, clasping her hands on her desk. "The psychologists think the real Relena is hiding away inside her mind because of guilt. Even before you left she knew you weren't... happy, living where and how you were. When she had Victoria, she felt worse. She knew you'd do the honorable thing and stay with her for the sake of your daughter."
Heero closed his eyes and slumped down in his chair. His daughter. He'd never known. Not until the flight home, when Quatre had sent him a personal email telling him all about it. He said he was sorry for the impersonal way an email would deliver the news, but he knew Heero would want to think about it. And think about it he had. Not only about his child, but about Duo as well. How had Duo felt when he got custody of Victoria? Betrayed? Taking care of his ex-lover's child. Heero sighed. What had he been thinking? It wasn't that he thought Victoria wasn't in good hands - he knew she was. But he'd never thought about how Duo would feel when he wrote up that will. He'd only been thinking of how relieved he'd be. Selfish. He was always thinking of himself. He'd been selfish when he married Relena, because that way he felt secure. He was doing his mission. It was what he was born to do. He hadn't thought about how Relena would feel when she realized he didn't love her. He hadn't thought of how Duo would feel when he suddenly found himself with a painful reminder of Heero. He hadn't thought at all.
Une waited patiently for him to collect his thoughts until he signaled to her that he was ready. "The psychologists think this build up of guilt caused Relena to go temporarily crazy. They think.... " she hesitated. "They think if you talk to her, she'll come out of it. Think of how great that would be for everyone," she said earnestly, like she was trying to convince him of something - to talk to Relena, perhaps. "Sank would have a leader. Vicki a Mommy. And I know Relena. She'd insist that you and her get a divorce." Heero quickly looked at her; Une could see the guilt in his eyes and tried to think of a way to reassure him. "It would be what she wanted, Heero. I don't think either of you loved each other. You married for duty. She married on a crush." Une shook her head. "Its not what either of you want or need."
There was silence in the office for several minutes, disturbed only by the tick tock of Lady Une's clock. Heero's eyes were drawn to that clock, as it steadily ticked away the time. The longer he waited, the longer it was until he met Relena. Until he saw Vicki for the first time. Until he saw... Duo. Time was ticking away, faster and faster. His life was ticking away.
Heero turned his eyes to Lady Une's compassionate brown ones. "When can I see her?"
***
"See you soon, Heero." Quatre smiled softly and offered Heero a hug several days later at Tokyo's International Spaceport. "You know as soon as you and Duo give the word, we'll all be up there to help."
Heero nodded. "I know," he said simply, and offered his goodbyes to Trowa and Wufei before boarding his shuttle to L2. Hilde was already on there, waiting for him to board. As Heero buckled himself down in preparation for spaceflight, he tried to imagine what it would be like to see Duo again. What would he look like? Would he look, act, any different? Hilde said he was happy in his life. Would Heero's re-entry make him angry or bitter? He pushed these depressing thoughts away as the shuttle rumbled to life underneath him. Hilde flashed him a thumbs up across the aisle, and Heero offered a weak smile in return, looking out the window as the plane rocketed off the ramp into the sky.
Wufei said the Mad 5 were thinking about rebuilding Wing and Deathscythe to fight Mien. Could he really be that strong? Heero wondered as the shuttle entered space. L2 was a glittery star in the distance. Heero would be meeting Duo again for the first time in four years in less than 24 hours. Heero decided he better get some sleep for the confrontation ahead.
As Heero drifted off to sleep across from her, Hilde smiled and pulled out a notebook, withdrawing a pen from her purse. The Mien mission was legit and every bit as dangerous as it was implied to be. Heero and Duo were also as vital to the mission as Lady Une said. But, Hilde reflected as she whisked off a checkmark next to "Step One" in the notebook, all missions - even deadly ones such as this - had subplots.
***
(1) European Conference: The assimilation of all of the countries of Europe (including superpowers England, France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Russia) and those Middle Eastern countries with nearby borders. The Sanq Kingdom is the only eastern European country which is not part of the conference.