Chapter 17

Once more, the five young men stood in front of her desk. They hadn't changed. Their faces were still a calm mask of indifference, and their eyes were dull and lifeless. The only thing that had changed was their muscle definition. Since the attack on the base, each had trained harder and longer than before, throwing themselves into bettering their skills, and honing their instincts. Lady Une leaned back and laced her fingers, assessing them silently.

"Du Lac has organised a party to raise money for charity." Her lip curled, and she sneered the last word. As she watched, a spark of anger flashed in each of their eyes, and she knew that they would relish the idea of going after Du Lac. Regaining control, she continued. "The guests are well known business men and women from around the globe. All of whom are suspected of having ties in the criminal world. We have placed you in as a conglomerate of a respectable false business. Here are your mission briefs." She said, indicating the manila folders on her desk. Silently they took the folders, then returned to their positions. "Three months ago, a frontal assault on Du Lac's base failed, and there were heavy casualties." The anger returned to their eyes, lighting a fire that had long since died out. "This time, we are doing it quietly. Infiltrate the party, find out who his inner circle is, and take them out. Save Du Lac for questioning and trial. Understood?"

"Yes ma'am." Lady Une sighed. The next bit was going to be tough.

"You have been assigned partners for this mission. They are fully informed of the mission parameters-"

"No!"

"Not after last time." Heero's voice cut across them all.

"With respect Commander, we do not need partners. It didn't work well last time, and even if they are fully briefed, they will only serve to get in our way on a mission of this sensitivity."

"Nonetheless Mr Yuy, it will look very suspicious if five unescorted gentlemen turn up at a party. Especially if they are involved in prostitution, smuggling and bank robberies, as your new company is. You will be expected to have dates. This is your mission. I expect you to accept all aspects of it." The men subsided, sparks spitting from their eyes. "Very good. Your cars leave at 1900 hours. Your outfits are laid out in your rooms. Dismissed." The boys left her office, and Lady Une smiled.

*****

1855 hours came and the five pilots waited in the hallway of the west wing in various poses. Heero lounged against the wall, one foot against the wall in a black tux with a bow tie. Duo stood, his hands in his pockets, in a high necked black shirt and pants, with a matching high necked black jacket. Trowa leaned against the opposite wall, his ankles crossed. His navy suit jacket was folded over his crossed arms, and his black shirt was offset with a white tie. Quatre wore a pinstripe suit with a pale pink shirt, the collar buttons open slightly. Wufei wore a traditional Chinese overcoat and trousers, his black hair contrasting sharply with the stark white of his outfit. All of the pilots wore identical black eye masks that flowed over their eyes and nose like a second skin. As the sound of steps descending the stairs reached their ears, the pilots spared a quick glance with each other, communicating their frustrations, then turned to meet their dates for the evening.

Each of the young women that looked down at them wore the same amused smile. Their masks were also black, but they were more tapered at the corners, and had intricate patterns of silver dancing across them. The girl who approached Heero wore a form fitting ankle length dress of midnight blue with a slit up the left side to her mid thigh. Her hair was swept up into an elegant up do like the other girls, and singular diamond drops hung from her ears and from a slim gold chain around her neck. Her feet wore black strappy sandals, with heels that just about brought her to Heero's eye level. The second girl wore a short white cocktail dress with an empire line and white strappy sandals. A black choker sat snugly around her throat, and small black drops hung from her ears. She looked at Duo and came to stand by his side. The girl stood by Trowa wore a pale pink dress that reached to mid calf. It was off the shoulder, in a 1950's style, and her matching pink heels clicked quietly against the floor. Around her shoulders was a thin white gauze wrap, and she clutched a small black beaded bag. The two tallest girls descended the stairs last. Quatre's date wore a form fitting purple minidress with no straps and matching heels. A silver star hung from her neck, and matching earrings sparkled in the light. Stood next to Wufei, the last girl stood quiet and calm in a sparkling black ankle length dress with a plunging neckline and back that stopped just short of her butt. The straps and the upper part of the dress were lined in silver, and at the base of the back of the dress had trailing silver strands that caught the light as she moved. Her black heeled sandals sported a small bow, and the long ribbons wound up her leg, through the slit on her right side.

Duo sighed, and looked at his date.

"Well, shall we begin?" He asked, holding his arm out. His date took his arm and flashed him a shy smile. The other pilots took their cue from him, and together the ten of them walked out to the limousine.

*****

The soft golden light cascaded onto a room filled with beautiful people. Duo mused how people this beautiful could commit such evil atrocities. From where he stood, he could see General Firthawes, who was responsible for a mass grave in Cambodia and the resulting cover up. The fact that over two and a half thousand men, women and children had disappeared was covered up and forgotten. Over at the buffet table was Carmine Gionazzo, responsible for the addiction of hundreds of people to a new designer drug ten times more addictive than heroine. Thousands had died, and he walked away scot free every time. Duo's fists clenched as he thought about how many innocent people had died because of the actions of the people in the same room as him. His fingers itched towards his gun, tucked into the back of his pants, itching to rain justice on them all. Next to him, his date glanced at his straining knuckles and moved to stand in front of him, twining her hands around his neck and pulling his ear close to her mouth.

"Calm down. Focus on the mission Duo. You will have your chance." Her voice flowed around him like honey, and he felt himself relax instantaneously. He clung to her words like a life raft. Focus on the mission. Steeling himself, he pulled back from her, nodded a small smile of thanks, and returned to milling through the crowd, the girl once more on his arm.

"Du Lac, five points north north west." Wufei's voice came in through his earpiece. Imperceptibly, the pilots moved with their girls to a position sure to intercept Du Lac, and stood together, immediately striking up a conversation about their supposed business. Sure enough, their target soon came close to them.

"Mr. Du Lac?" Heero's date caught his attention. Du Lac's gaze raked over her, and she shivered slightly, feeling violated by his heated and lustful gaze, that made no secret of the fact that he desired her. Heero's fists clenched, to his confusion.

"Yes my lady? And who might you be?" He schmoozed, charm dripping from every word. True to form, she giggled coyly and fluttered her eyelashes, seemingly swept off her feet.

"I just wanted to say that you have a lovely house, and this is a wonderful party. I should know, I have been to lots."

"Well thank you my dear. You know we have a more private party upstairs if you prefer it?" His eyes smouldered, and the girl blushed.

"I would, but I think my boyfriend would want to join too." At the word boyfriend, a cold steel gaze replaced the smouldering look as he appraised Heero, who offered his hand to him. Coolly, he took the hand.

"And who might you be, Mr...?"

"Forsythe. And these are my business partners, Jones, Winckley, Elgar, and Chen. We deal in antiquities."

"Really? Any specific era?"

"Any really. Whatever is in demand. We are experts at supplying a demand." Heero replied, loading the last word with double entendre. As Du Lac's eyes sparked, Heero knew it had worked.

"Really? How interesting. I have a need for a certain something. A gift for my brother's new house. Shall we talk?" Du Lac asked, gesturing the stairs to his office.

"Splendid." Heero answered with a smile. "You wait here." He commanded the five girls, who bowed their heads and moved away slowly.

"They are welcome to come if they wish?" Du Lac stated, his hand on the banister and his greedy eyes glowing.

"Very well." Heero conceded, and the five girls followed them all up the stairs.

*****

Du Lac seated himself behind the large oak desk, while his guests sat on the large leather sofas in front of him. The girls hovered by the door and at a nod from their men, seated themselves gracefully on the floor at their respective partners feet.

"There are seats enough for them." Du Lac stated, his eyes roving up the creamy expanses of legs that was suddenly on show for him.

"They will sit on the floor, at their proper place." Trowa growled, slapping away his dates wandering fingers, that were winding around his leg.

"Whores deserve no privileges." Quatre sneered, shoving his partner to the floor at his feet where she lay unmoving.

"Very true." Du Lac's eyes glinted, the charm gone and pure masculine dominance shining in them. "Of course, with a Gundam pilot to contend with, what cheap whore would dare fight back?" The pilots stared back with calm faces, but a flicker of confusion lit their eyes briefly. "Did you really think I was that stupid?" Du Lac murmured softly, flicking a switch. Behind them, an electric lock snapped the door shut. "Everyone around here comes from somewhere, a long line of drug dealers, a family of gangsters, take your pick. Five upstart extortionists from nowhere? Not the best cover."

"We could just kill you." Wufei stated, slightly amused.

"I don't think so. You need me for information. For a confession. And to stand trial. So I have the advantage." He smiled, a cold gesture that didn't reach his eyes. Pushing a sequence of buttons on his desk, a wall slid open and a squad of guards surrounded the pilots.

"Hmm. This is a problem." Duo mused, looking around. The girls stayed silent in their positions on the floor.

"Not really." Trowa smirked, and the fight began. Duo flew over the seat and tackled the man behind him, while the others engaged in similar combat with the nearest guard. Throughout it all, Du Lac merely watched, an amused half smile on his face and his fingers steepled in front of him. Minutes later, the guards called for reinforcements, and the pilots were overwhelmed. The new guards subdued the pilots and held them. Quatre was the last to be caught, his foot finding a guards gut. Du Lac clapped slowly.

"Impressive." He stood up and walked around his desk. "But not impressive enough. I expected more from the famed Gundam pilots." Heero grunted.

"So what are you planning Du Lac?" His enemy just smiled indulgently.

"Come on, we're dead men. We can't know?" Duo sneered. Du Lac glared at them from under his brows.

"Well the immediate plan is to kill you, in as painful a manner as possible. Then mail your severed heads back to that interfering commander of yours. But first." He grabbed Heero's date by the arm where she still sat on the floor with the others and roughly dragged her up against him. Heero hissed angrily. "First I think I will take your women while you watch. And then I will rip them apart. Piece by piece. Just like I did to your pretty little Shifters." Du Lac laughed aloud at the angry expressions on the faces of the five men across from him. "You think I didn't know about them? Your pretty little bitches? I planted charges before them. You think their pathetic charges could have caused that explosion? You are sadly mistaken. I placed TNT at structural integrity points, and I laughed when I heard their screams as they were ripped apart. I can only imagine what that feels like, being pulled apart on the molecular level and slammed back together again with the force of a bulldozer. Must be painful." The pilots growled and struggled against their captors, trying desperately to get loose, but there was four guards to each of them, and it was hopeless.