Chapter 6
"So there were two shooters?" Quatre asked his eyebrows shooting up to his hairline. He continued wrapping Heero's much abused wrists. They had arrive at the arranged safe house about an hour ago waiting in the hopes of meeting Trowa's contact. While they waited, Quatre had presuaded Heero to let him treat his numerous wounds.
"Yes." Heero confirmed.
"What one for Relena, one for the Duke's son...?" Duo scratched his head.
"No, one of them knew my name. I think that they were expecting me."
"Did you recognize him?" Quatre asked. Finishing with Heero's his arms, he pulled off his shirt to treat the damage there. He paled a little at seeing all the damage underneath. Duo winced.
"No." Heero annoyed, glared at Duo.
"Sooo...some kind of diversion then?" Duo asked quickly diverting his attention elsewhere.
"Most likely. The man that I intercepted was dressed like one of the soldier's men. I never saw the other one. I heard gunshots and saw the Duke and Relena. I- I don't know what happened after that. I woke up in the cell."
" I wonder why they didn't kill you." Duo mused aloud.
"They probably needed a scapegoat. With Heero caught nobody would look for the real assassin. Its made even more perfect because he has no known affiliation with either colony L12 or the Confederation. No one would be able to disprove it. And if the assassin was dressed as you say, I wouldn't be surprised if he turned you in himself. No one would doubt his word."
"Whoever is behind it must know at least somewhat how good you are. They would need one person to stall you while the other got the deed done. It wouldn't have worked otherwise."
"So the question is who was the guy you intercepted? Was he a real officer turned traitor or a fake?"
"Hard to say. They were pretty well organized. A lot of research went into that hit. They knew where I'd be and exactly what to do." Heero put in. "It could be a group from the confederation they would most likely have some access to some surveillance on me or..."
"It can't be the confederation." Quatre uncharacteristically cut in. "They wouldn't stand to gain anything.They want peace as much as we do. Besides..."
"Well they DO have a history of contention with that colony." Duo paused considering. "Still... They don't have any mobile suits anymore, right? Without them any conflict they caused would end rather quickly with them being annihilated."
"Hn." Was all Heero said.
" Okay, that leaves colony L12 and something internal to them. The government..."Quatre shook his head, "which is impossible. Maybe an underground faction."
"Quatre." Heero warned. "Remember what I said before about kindness. There is no place for it in war."
"Oh come on Heero, His own son!" Duo said. "Even OZ at its lowest could not be so heartless."
"Heero, are you saying that no one else could have done it?"Quatre asked.
"I'm saying that we should be aware of all possibilities and not dismiss them due to personal sensibilities.. This is more than a personal grudge against the government of L12."
"What makes you say that?" Duo asked.
"Any dissention against Duke Ream could have happened anytime. That the assassination happened at THIS particular meeting is too big of a coincidence. Remember the Duke wasn't only one attacked. They also shot the Peace minister. It was a statement, that whoever is responsible does not want peace between the colony and the confederation."
"Maybe that is true, but it could also be one big fat coincidence."
"A dissident faction would have most likely have either made some announcement of their involvement or made their move against the L12 government by now."
"Unless getting colony L12 and the confederation on the verge of war WAS its ultimate goal."
"It is unlikely to be a faction. The colony L12 is far too willing to place the blame on the confederation. Given the government's tight fists over the colony, if there was any underground activity at all they would most likely know about it."
"Maybe. Most Likely. None of this speculation is getting us anywhere. Even if it were the colonial government, we have no proof of their involvement or even where to look for it. Our poking around could be the very thing that gets this thing started. We need solid information. " Duo sighed getting up and walking around tugging on his braid in frustration.
"Trowa had arranged for his contacts to meet us here to give us some evidence that they had acquired." Quatre informed Heero. "Its already been an hour. They must have run into trouble. Trowa knew how to contact them and unfortunately he..." He tried to hold back a sob. "He never got a chance to tell any of us."
"We could perphaps search for these people." He suddenly threw up his hands. "What am I talking about? Without a name or a face...Needle in haystack mean anything to you. We've already been too lucky not to have been picked up by now and thrown back into prison."
Quatre sighed as he finished the last bandage. "Look its late. Let's just get some sleep for now. We can think of a more plausible game plan in the morning." Duo nodded in agreement, but Heero shook his head putting on his shirt and walking purposely toward the door.
"Hey Heero, where ya going?" Duo who was the closest one to the door stepped into
Heero's path.
"Out." Was the simple reply as he tried to walk past him.
"You can't be serious. Not in the state you're in..."
"Get out of my way Duo." Heero warned.
"Nothing doing. Help me out here Quatre."
Quatre was beside Duo in a flash. "Duo's right, Heero. Its after curfew and you're a wanted man. You don't stand a chance. Please comeback and rest. We'll figure something out in the morning I promise."
For a moment it looked like sense would reign and Heero would relent. Both Duo and Quatre started to relax. Quatre reached out a hand toward him. Lightening quick, Heero sprang into action knocking both Duo and Quatre away from him, Quatre made a heavy grunt as he landed hard on his butt. Heero staggered slightly from the exhurstion. Duo amazingly was still on his feet again blocking Heero.
"I'm not going to tell you again. Get out of my way." Quatre felt goose bumps form on his arms at Heero's dangerous tone.
"What did I tell you before about not overdoing it." Duo ground out as Heero punched him sending him to the floor. Duo grabbed hold of a nearby chair to help pull himself up. His eyes gleamed when he saw the open kit. He began quickly rummaging around until he found the object that he wanted. "You asked for it buddy." Duo mumbled to himself as he launched himself at Heero stabbing him in the neck with a hypo. Heero reacted immediately quickly swinging around, his face enraged. He swung hitting Duo again.
"Why..Why did you do that?"
"I though that you had gotten over your suicidal tendencies by now." Duo said now angry too. "I thought it pretty obvious. I'm not letting you leave. I'm not loosing another friend."
"Trowa shouldn't have given his life for me. The evidence was more important. He should have risked his life for the hard evidence. That was the best way to stop this war."
"Perhaps it was. But Heero,don't you understand anything. He wanted to rescue you. He cared about you."
Heero tried to block out the sudden wave of pain and guilt."None of you still have learned that kindness is useless in war. I will not stand around and do nothing." He took another swing at Duo. Duo ducked avoiding the blow by a mere half-inch.
"Dammit Heero!" Heero swung again. Duo ducked He noticed that Heero's movements had finally started to slow down." Can you stop being the soldier for and act like a human for once. Getting yourself killed won't bring him back." Duo caught his arm mid-swing.. Heero stumbled back slightly blinking. The anger slowly drained away replace by a look of bare uncertainty.
"I don't want..." He blinked again swaying. "I can't ..." His eyes drooped close. Duo gingerly caught him before he hit the ground. Duo let out a breath.
"What did you give him?" Quatre asked.
Duo shrugged "one of those hypos out of your medkit." He tossed the now empty hypo to Quatre.
Quatre read the label a frown of his face. "This dose is suppose to act instantly."
"Figures. Stubborn Bastard." Duo muttered as he lifted Heero into his arms.
**********
"Its been confirmed." Dorothy announced as she entered Lady Une's office.
"Dammit.Looks like we were right after all. How many?"
"Unknown. The preventers picked up the transmission an hour ago from colony L08. It stands to reason if one colony lied to us then its possible the others..."
"I know. Any word from Wufie or Zechs about that trail they're following?"
"No. We've been unable to raise them. It could be do to natural space interference, jamming or they could have..."
"I do not believe either of them could be defeated so easily."
"In any case, You know that there are only so many things that it could be. You already have your answer." She said flicking back her long flowing hair.
" I will not let the confederation be the ones who start it not as long as there is any possiblity of stopping it." She pinched her nose sighing. " Mr. Trieze, Duke Ream, Relena, countless soldiers, the common people of the colonies and Earth, I made a promise to myself to not let all they've sacrificed be in vain.Tell the preventers to lock down that factory on colony L08 and as well as any other colony that shows suspicious behavior. I'm going to call another council meeting."
Dorothy nodded her agreement, then paused on the way to the door. "One thing, what if an attack by L12 can not be prevented?"
Lady Une sighed "Then , I'll have no choice but to approve the use of Mobile Suits. BUT if that happens, we will make sure that this is the decision of the entire Confederation and not some rash action by one of the colonies. If we don't stand united, all of this could fall apart." It might anyway, She thought to herself.
**********
The first thing that Duo was aware of was a high pitched noise.. He groaned as he turned over. As consciousness began to return, he noticed that the sound was infact
"Who is it from?" Came the sound of Heero's voice as he spoke to Quatre. It was followed by the sound of keyboard tapping.
Duo opened his eyes yawning, wondering how Quatre and even Heero could be up before him looking so refreshed when he felt like he was walking underwater. Definitely need some coffee this time, he thought to himself. "What you guys talking about.?"
"An e-mail." Quatre began simply. "I can't tell who its from though...Maybe its one of Trowa's contacts."
Duo came over taking a look at the screen. It all looked like jibberish to him.
To : G21N4U13/P9L15T19
From: T8E/ 12O17D18/ 15F/ 16L1G21E
Enter Password
"Man, I forgot how much I hate riddles." Duo scratched his head. Way to early in the morning.
Heero was the first one to figure it out. "It is addressed to the Gundam Pilots. Its from someone calling themselves the lords of plague. It..."
"Oh no!." Duo exclaimed. "Not them!"
"You know them?" Quatre asked.
"Yeah, I'm afraid we all do." Duo answered as he keyed in a password.
After a brief moment, the e-mail opened a presumably secure video transmission revealing a knarled but familiar ugly man on the screen.
"Dr. J." Heero gasped.
"Right-O my boy."
"So you survived again after all." Duo said grouchily folding his arms.
"Duo." Quatre admonished.
"We knew you'd be glad to see us." Professor G chimed in from somewhere behind Dr. J.
"What is it you want this time?" Duo asked afraid of the answer.
Dr. J smiled. "Nothing more than for you to listen...."
TBC......
Any thought? Suggestions? Critcisms? Please review.