Disclaimer: I do not own the copyrights to Gundam Wing, Endless Waltz, Lupin the Third, any movies, books, or any songs that are used in this story. All copyrights belong to their respective owners.
Notice to Readers: To understand certain parts of this story, you'll have to read the other stories before this one. It is recommended by not required.
Gundam Wing and Lupin the Third
The Wizards Glass
Chapter 6: Theft on the High Sea
*
"I really am worried about Miss Fujiko." Quatre said as he paced back and forth in the suite while frequently glancing at his watch. He had been doing this for the past forty-five minutes or so. Just pacing and looking at his watch while the others were sitting around him. Though they weren't as nervous as the Noble in the Desert, for Lupin sitting in one of the many comfortable chairs had his greatest poker face on. Or maybe it was just because he had more experience with Fujiko…working with her…and on her. Jigen was lying back on one of the couches and Goemon was leaning against one of the walls with his Zantetsuken at his side. The other pilots were waiting patiently, except for Quatre who was being as impatient as a drug addict waiting for his next hit.
He kept thinking of the exact time that Fujiko had left the dance floor of the Oak Room with that corporate criminal on her arm. He looked at his watch yet again and thought back to when it was…the time she left was 7:45…looking at the watches face it was already 8:30. The muscles within his stomach were already beginning to tighten like someone hoping that their lottery numbers would be announced. In his heart he wished that he could do something, go down to wherever Fujiko had gone and save her. The very thought of bursting into the room and seeing that disgusting man Vincent try to have his way with Fujiko would make Quatre beat him just for Fujiko. Then carry her off the ship to a place where they could be alone. Internally his mind was filled with romance until he brought himself back by bringing up his wrist to look at his watch.
"Would you freakin' relax kid." Jigen snarled from the couch while still having his hat over his eyes.
"I can't help it." Quatre said with a little remorse in his voice almost as if he regretted that Fujiko had to take on such a dangerous task, "She's been gone for forty-five minutes. What if something's happened to her?"
"I wouldn't worry about it." Lupin shrugged, "Fujiko's a big girl, and she's gotten out of worse situations….of course with a little help from a thief."
"But she's down there all by…"
The doorknob to the room was shaking a little bit and there was also a little rustling coming from behind it. Obviously someone outside was trying to look for the key to get it or at least try to use it. The Lupin crew already knew who it was that was going to come though that door but the Preventers had other expectations, each of them tensed up for a moment ready to fight. Then the door opened and in walked Fujiko Mine.
"Finally." She said as she leaned against the closing door, "I thought that I'd never get out of there."
"What happened, Miss Fujiko?" Quatre asked
"Let me breathe for a moment." Fujiko said as she sat down on the extremely luxurious bed of the suite.
"Well, Fuji-cakes, what happened with Mr. Big?"
"I'll tell you."
* * *
Fujiko had indeed told the story as it happened as she was lead down to Deck #13 or the Recluse Deck as Vincent had called it. She wasn't about to leave anything out, perhaps she just wanted to tease Lupin and Quatre a little bit about whether Vincent had gotten any piece of her action. She told them about the elevator trip that went down to the Recluse Deck and how Vincent had his arms around her, locking her in an embrace that Fujiko had never felt or ever will care to feel ever again.
Then she was introduced to Vincent's Private deck once the doors had opened. It was incredible to Fujiko's eyes; it was the entire deck that Vincent had built to himself. There were several things that only a billionaire would have in a small personal space of his own. A small putting matt near an enormous oak desk that was only a few feet from the elevator and dividing up each section of that particular deck were rooms. Each one designed for a specific purpose for Vincent's personal use. It was almost like the rest of the ship with its luxurious accommodations, there was a small movie theater for only a few people to use, a small swimming pool with hot tub (of course), as well as a bar with a complementary wine cellar, along with a small kitchen and dinning room, and then to top it all off there was Vincent's Luxurious bedroom. Vincent was leading Fujiko to that room but she stopped him.
"What's wrong, Hun?" Vincent had asked in a very sweet but still an underlying cold tone.
"Before we get there" Fujiko said, "There's something of yours I want to see."
"Oh we'll get to that soon enough." Vincent said as he reached down to unbuckle his pants.
"I know that." Fujiko smiled trying to disguise her own disgust, "But it's something else of yours I want to see."
"Oh?" Vincent asked with his curiosity peaked.
"I read an article about you and a jewel that you have called the Wizards Glass." She explained, "Could I see it?"
She looked up at Vincent with a look in her eyes that could only be described as a puppy-dog look. The kind of look that when someone gives it nothing can be refused no matter how much effort is put into resisting it. The power of its cuteness and the sympathy of it even got to the powerful Vincent Ferer. He led Fujiko to one of the many rooms on the Recluse deck and brought her to a door that was locked in which Vincent used the same key he used in the elevator to open it. Behind that door, Vincent turned on the lights and Fujiko was…confused. All she saw in that room was filing cabinets embedded into the wall. There were approximately four, five drawer filing cabinets in each wall. Each one stacked against one another all round as if the cabinet faces themselves were the walls. At least that's what she thought until Vincent went to the wall just ahead of the door. He reached up and pulled upon one of the middle drawers, and the wall opened up. It opened as if it was one huge door, only the two middle cabinets opened up while the outer two in that wall remained stationary. Behind that camouflage door was a huge black safe.
"Very inventive." Fujiko complemented
"Why thank you, Miss Fujiko." Vincent had smiled as he used his body to cover up the combination he was entering into the safe.
After three clicks of the combination lock and a turn of the lever, the safe opened. He opened the enormous thick steel door of the safe and Fujiko was amazed to see what was in there. Contrasting against the black painted metal interior of the safe were gold bars, boxes of jewelry of all kinds, including a ring that Fujiko particularly liked. A golden ring that had three pink heart shaped stones in it that she assumed were pink diamonds. There were even pearl necklaces and gold chains. As well as stacks of papers, but in the top left corner on its very own shelf and sitting upon a special stand was the Wizards Glass. It wasn't as brightly pink as it was when Lupin had it, but that much was obvious from the gloomy black pain that covered the inside of the safe.
"One of my most prized possessions." Vincent said as he reached up to stroke the glassy surface of his prize.
Fujiko's heart was racing to see that thing again. Her impulses told her to just grab the Wizard's Glass for herself and return home. Then she brought herself back by asking herself a very important question of what life would be like without Lupin. The very thought of existing in a place where Lupin didn't exist was too terrible to even fathom. She knew that this plan had to work if she was going to go home with him or even go home at all.
"It's very beautiful." Fujiko said still holding onto the act that she was going to sleep with Vincent.
"Now that you've seen it, what do you say we head back to my cabin?" Vincent asked
"Of course" Fujiko smiled, "But first I'll make us a drink."
"Sure." Vincent said as he closed up the safe, "You'll find the bar down the hall."
Fujiko followed the instructions and proceeded with the next part of her end of the plan. She went to the bar and proceeded to fix herself up a drink as well as one for Vincent. In the short time that she had met this man she knew that he was a scotch drinker, much like all those other high powered men on Wall Street. She made her drink as well as Vincent's but as she finished making it, she reached into her purse and pulled out something that would be the most crucial linchpin in the operation. She pulled out a small vile filled with white powder that was a sleeping agent. She poured it into the scotch and used one of the many stirring rods at the bar to mix up the drug with the drink. She brought both of them to the bedroom of Vincent feeling even more nervous than she had ever felt in her life. Everything had to go perfectly otherwise the whole operation will be blown.
She came into Vincent's bedroom which was just as luxurious as the rest of the deck as well as the rest of the ship. The bed itself was so big that at least four or give people could comfortably sleep in it and yet this was just for one man. She looked at him and saw that he had already taken off his jacket and tie as was unbuttoning his shirt while Fujiko handed him his drink. He looked as thought he was going to set it down on the nightstand, but she knew of a sure fire way to get him to drink it. She raised her drink and proposed a toast.
"Here's to you, Mr. Ferer" She said, "To the Emperor of Wall Street."
Vincent immediately went for his drink, he raised his eyebrows at what Fujiko said, "The Emperor of Wall Street…I like that." He was rubbing his chin in appreciation of such high praise. It was even more than what any article in Forbes Magazine could say about him. He raised his glass for an instant and drank the Scotch. He drank it all down in one shot as if he was in some kind of contest.
"Ah…" He said allowing the alcohol to clear his throat, "That's the stuff….I am the Emperor of Wall Street." He looked at Fujiko with half open eyes that looked as though there were starting to loose some of its shine. His balance was starting to loose its rigidity, he swayed back and forth from where he stood. Until at last he sat back on the bed, fell to his side, allowing his glass to slip out of his hand, and he fell under the spell of the drug that Fujiko had slipped him.
Thank God there were no guards on this deck, Fujiko thought, as Vincent fell asleep.
* * *
"Bravo, Fujiko." Lupin applauded, "Bravo to you."
"Thanks Lupin." She said as she looked at her watch, "I gave him that drug about 15 minutes ago, and the drug should have worked for 3 hours but with the alcohol in it, he should be out for 5 hours or so."
"More than enough time for us" Jigen smirked
"Now that Mr. Ferer is out of the way" Johan stepped in, "It's time to start Phase 2."
* * *
The time was right but the clock was ticking, despite how much time they had. The Preventers and the Lupin crew set out for the second stage of the operation to gain back the Wizards Glass.
Upon Deck 14, in a small storage closet there was Lupin, Jigen, Goemon, and Johan. All four of them were dressed in stealth suits, almost like Ninja's ready to make their assassination. Lupin had on his pack that contained his tools for breaking into safes. Jigen had on his weapons including his favorite weapon of choice, his M-19 Combat Cannon. Goemon had his suit on but the only weapon that he needed was the Zantetsuken. Each of them had a small ear piece that had a microphone attached to it. Johan made sure that the door was locked so that no one could get in at least for a while, giving them enough time to get to their goal.
He reached for the microphone attached to the earpiece, "This is team 4 at the treasure chest, ready to go."
He heard the call offs from the other teams all over the ship.
"This is team 1" Trowa's voice came through, "Were in position at Location A, ready to go."
"This is team 2" Heero's voice ran clear, "Were in position at Location B…ready to commence operation."
"This is team 3" Wufei's voice stated, "ready to go at Location C."
"Good." Johan said, "Be ready for the signal to start."
He looked to Lupin, Jigen, and Goemon who were already standing up amongst the shelves of disinfecting solution, Windex, and God knows what other kinds of cleaning products. All three of them had looks about them like boys who had been on a very high speed ride and were taking a new friend for a spin on it.
Johan gave the word, "Start."
* * *
Inside the security room of the Juliet, the good Inspector Zenigata (under the title of Officer of Preventer) leaned back in his chair watching the security monitors while sipping out the juices and noodles of his Instant Ramen cup. That stuff always tasted horrible to him, no matter how many times he had to eat it, but then again he had no other choice as far as anything instant. It always tasted too salty…too salty, and the noodles didn't exactly make it any better. He had to admit to himself that he was jealous of Lupin and the others as they were eating their gourmet meals out in the Oak room, but he had to remind himself that this was important. He had to…turn a blind eye and wait for the signal.
BLAR! BLAR! BLAR!
Zenigata jumped out of his seat spilling his cup of instant Ramen noodles on the floor when the alarms went off. He looked over to his right at the security board which was wasn't like those old boards that he was used to. The kind where there would be a singular light that would come on whenever one of the alarms would go off in that respective spot. This one was an LCD screen that actually showed the exact location of where the alarm was tripped. He looked and saw that it was at the location of the "Laurel Palace" casino.
"Ah Ha!" Zenigata shouted out with such glee, "I've got you now!"
Immediately after Zenigata jumped up for joy at what was going on, one of the security guards came in.
"What is it sir?" he asked making his voice louder than the alarm.
"It's Lupin!" He shouted at him, "Get all your men together and meet me at the Laurel Palace!"
The guard simply saluted remembering that Zenigata had the authority to give orders as long as the threat of Lupin is aboard, "Yes, sir!"
Then something else happened…
BLAR! BLAR! BLAR!
A second alarm came on…and the screen displayed another robbery that was going on at another casino several decks away from the Laurel Palace Casino. This time it was that the Golden Paradise.
"Hey, somebody get in here!"
Another security guard stepped right in. "Yes, sir!" He saluted
"Get another team of men together and go to the Golden Paradise casino! There's a robbery in progress!"
"Yes, sir!" The guard saluted and dashed out to find a team to stop the robbery.
Zenigata was about to leave to join one of the teams at the Laurel Palace, but then…
BLAR! BLAR! BLAR!
"WHAT NOW?!?!" Zenigata shouted at the board. As the old saying goes, "Ask and ye shall received", the board displayed another casino that had a robbery in progress. It was another few decks away from The Laurel Palace and the Golden Paradise, this time it was at the Hideaway Casino.
"CRAP! CRAP! CRAP! CRAP!" Zenigata cursed
"Sir!" Yet, another guard came in to see Zenigata, "I heard the alarm, sir!"
"Get a team together and get your butts down to the Hideaway Casino!"
"Sir!" He saluted and headed out
As Zenigata somewhat calmed down from his fit of cursing he looked back at the board where three different robberies were taking place all over the ship, he couldn't help but smirk. It was actually the first time in a very long time that he had done something like that. Come to think of it, he couldn't exactly think of the last time when he even smiled in such a way. He only uttered one thing as the screen displayed those three different robberies.
"Brilliant plan"
* * *
Inside that storage closet that Lupin, Jigen, Goemon and Johan were in, they went ahead with the plan. It was quite simply the most brilliant plan that had ever been devised by the master thief Arense Lupin the Third. The plan was simple, the security aboard the Juliet was only enough to stop three robberies simultaneously. Unfortunately, even with that, the security people would have their hands completely tied for a period of approximately 10 minutes…give or take. So, this would be the only window of opportunity for them to act.
Goemon went into the Samurai Horses stance to draw out his Zantetsuken. Within a matter of an instant, a flash, and the sound of metal clanging against each other, he had made a hole. He was already bringing his sword back into its sheath when the pieces in the floor had given away. Lupin was the first to jump down, then Jigen, then Goemon…and last of all Johan.
Lupin acted quickly upon the information that Fujiko had given to him. The safe was behind the wall of fake filing cabinets opposite of the door. Lupin looked and found it in a matter of seconds. He opened the fake wall that separated him from his prize. While Goemon and Jigen kept watch both at the door to the vault as well as above to make sure that no unsuspecting maid comes in to get a new bottle of Windex for her housekeeping duties.
Lupin looked at the safe and thought to himself that it was really easy. He took out a small stethoscope and placed it against the face of the safes door. He listened very carefully as his hands worked their way to gain the right combination. His hands and ears worked together in such harmony for the right combination.
Click…
Lupin knew that he was close. His hand at first was turning right, then when he heard that first click he turned it left, and finally to the right again. He reached up to the lever and pulled it…and the door opened. He looked inside and his eyes had found what Fujiko was talking about. He had found the Wizard's Glass. The very thing that brought him to this maddening world and he knew that it would take him back. He reached out and took it from its stand. He held it in his black gloved hands staring into its pink depths. As he did, Johan shoved in.
"What are you looking for?" Lupin asked
"Evidence" Johan said as he shuffled through the filing drawers inside the safe. In the dim light that was coming from the storage closet above them, Johan looked. Still time was growing short for them all. Johan had to look at his watch to see how much time the operation had before he had to give the order.
6 minutes.
Then he found it…
He found a tan colored thick folder; it was so heavy that there was actually a triple twist twine piece of string holding it together. Upon it there was a small label placed onto it that read, "Project Wizard". Johan opened it and his eyes widened up. He was like an archeologist looking for "the smoking gun" to prove his theories to his colleagues or rather a treasure hunter who'd found the mother-load. He flipped past pages and pages of what was inside the Project Wizard Folder. He saw time tables, mobile suit production locations, and even plans for mobile suits.
"I got the bastard by the balls now." Johan said looking at his watch.
3 minutes
"Let's get the hell out of here."
"Agreed" Goemon said; he went to the location of the hold and jumped through the hole as if he was a frog jumping from one Lilly pad to another.
Following behind were Lupin and Jigen who went through the hole and covered up their back door entry by laying down one of the many sheets within the storage closet. As Lupin and his crew were getting back into their regular clothes, Johan made the call to the others.
"This is team 4, the Eagle has the ball…repeat, the Eagle has the ball. Meet back at the rendezvous point."
"Copy that." Teams 1, 2, and 3 had responded to Johan's report.
"So," Lupin smiled, "The plan was a great success."
"Not yet." Johan said, "We may have gotten to the halfway point, but we're not out of the woods yet."
To be continued…