Title: ESO
Author: bonnejeanne (bonnejeanne@yahoo.com) and vonceia (vonceia@yahoo.com)
Archive: GW Addiction
Category: yaoi, AU? Epic Saga...
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: 1x2, 3x4, ?

E.S.O. - by bonnejeanne and vonceia -

Part Seven: Wufei prepares... Trowa questions... Zechs decides...

Wufei left the hangar, the slight smile on his lips fading quickly as he left the confused Preventer agent behind him. His mind was filled with the things he had seen and heard, and the realization that he had already committed himself to the service of the woman called Alfa. It had happened without a conscious decision on his part. Coming with her when she came to him had not been the step that had brought about commitment. In truth, she hadn't work very hard to persuade him. She told he was needed... a common enough line for a recruiter. But when he'd listened to her talk with Duo, and observed her with Quatre and Trowa, he began to suspect that she had not used those words in speaking with anyone else - only him. Why?

It probably meant nothing. But the words would not leave him: 'Wufei, you are needed.'

When had he ever been needed by any one or any thing?

He had not married because he was needed. He had not become a Gundam pilot because he was needed. He had not fought because he was needed. He had reasons, some of them clear, some of them less so, but the need of any party had never entered into it. He could only think of two times when his actions had been called by the needs of another. Once, on an abandoned colony, to save the life of a comrade. Once, when a woman had needed a place to die. One act had doomed him, the other had lifted him up. It had never been paramount in his life. He had done acts in the name of justice. He had tried to find the truth. But saving those two times, the needs of others had escaped him.

Looking into the eyes of the woman called Alfa, he had no doubts of one thing - she needed him. Perhaps it even went beyond that. Perhaps, if the story turned out to be true, humanity needed her. It wasn't a thing he was prepared to analyze. For the first time in his life, Chang Wufei had something beyond himself to believe it. He knew it because for the first time in his life, he felt it. He felt the thing he had heard about from others. He felt what Meiran and described to him, which he had spent so much of his life trying to grasp without complete success. He felt what he now suspected had driven Heero to the extremes he had gone through. He felt what had drawn Quatre out of a life of safety. There was a need he could fill.

Wufei threaded the halls, not going towards the quadrangle where the other pilots would be, rather heading for the research area. He found the lab of the one called Oma.

She looked up when he entered, and then smiled slightly, recognizing him.

"What can I do for you, Chang Wufei?" she said.

"Tell me something."

"Certainly, if I can. What is it you want to know?" she said, gesturing to a chair. Wufei bowed slightly in acknowledgment, but continued to stand.

"What is the state of Alfa's health?" he asked simply.

Oma looked at him for a long moment. Damn but the boy was sharp. They all were. Eyes wide open and knew what to do with it. Oma took a deep breath. "You put me in an awkward position, young Chang," she said finally. "That would be considered privileged."

"I understand that. Tell me what you can." He said, crossing his arms, waiting.

Oma leaned back. "She's fine," she said finally. "And probably will be for a while."

"How long?"

Shaking her head, Oma wondered what would happen when Alfa found out about this conversation. Oh well...

"That's not something I can say for certain. A few months... a couple of years. Could be longer than that. The 'test'," she said, using a term of her partner's, with a slight curve of the lips, "Has reached the end of predictable viability."

Wufei stood for a moment, then nodded. "Thank you, Oma."

Oma tried to not shake her head again. He turned and left.

Leaving the African woman's lab, Wufei mentally checked off points he wanted to satisfy. The next would be harder. He worked his way around the small station, looking for Master O, and trying to see the scientist before the scientist saw him.

It wasn't easy. The man was again where he should not have been. This time Wufei picked him up as he was entering the station from outside. This was extremely suspicious, since as far as Wufei knew there was nothing outside to *go* to. He ducked back in to avoid being spotted and followed the hulking man as he removed his EVA suit and went back into the hangar area. The next thing the scientist did was even more puzzling. He made his way to where Tallgeese was resting, trying to avoid detection by the others working there. He spent a small amount of time in the cockpit, then left. Afterwards the large master made his way to where Doctor J was working and asked for an assignment.

Wufei frowned. Waiting until he could also get into the Tallgeese unseen, he quickly checked the mobile suit's console, looking for program changes, or anything that would indicate why the man had been in here.

He found it. A transmission had been made, using the Tallgeese's comm system. Wufei noted the transmission point. He wondered if the man was getting careless and then realized that if anyone detected the signal, they'd assumed it had to be Zechs.

Climbing out of the Tallgeese, he dropped to the floor. Then he went to see Zechs Merquise.

Alfa made her way to the room she shared with Oma, closing the door and sitting cross-legged on the bed. Her body felt tired. It wasn't the relatively brief, though intense mobile suit battle with Zechs. It wasn't the strain of facing the boy who looked at her with the face of the man she'd loved. It wasn't the frustration of knowing there might be a saboteur present.

It was just time. Time was catching up. Tests didn't show it. Her reaction time didn't show it, it was only slightly lower than two months ago. She was still at what most people would consider close to the peak of physical capabilities. But in her heart and her soul she felt it. Time. The exit window for the trip to the rim loomed like the finish line to a twenty-year race. And the greatest test lay beyond it.

Slowly she let her breathing fall into a calm regular pattern. She remembered vividly her lover's voice as he guided her in her first meditation. Such a beautiful voice he'd had. She'd heard its ghost today. The sound of it sent shivers into her soul. What did I do, Heero? she thought as she waited for her mind to still. I think I must have been as mad as they said. To take the only thing of you I had and use it... if he survives, it's because of you in him. If he loves, it's your spirit surviving. He has my... he has my scars.

It was beyond too late. But the truth had to be faced.

I have to find a way, she thought. A way for him, for all of them, to make it through this. And I don't know how.

Zech Merquise became aware of a light tapping on the door of the room he lay in.

Standing up, he walked to the door and opened it. His electric blue eyes were bloodshot and he made no pretense of raising the mask of dignity or pride to shield him from the world as he once had done as a matter of course. His shoulders were slightly slumped. On any other man, it would not have been noticeable. Zechs now faced the world as himself, whatever that turned out to be.

Wufei waited on the other side of the door. When he saw Zechs, he took in the man's appearance and demeanor. "You look awful," he said matter-of-factly, entering the room without being asked. "Close the door, we need to talk."

Zechs closed the door and then turned to Wufei. "Talk about what?" he asked, simply.

Wufei made himself at home, sitting cross-legged on the foot of the small bed. "Wake up, Merquise, or Peacecraft if you prefer. It's time to act. Time is not waiting for us. This is not a war, or anything that man controls. This is something as inevitable as the movement of stars. But that doesn't mean someone isn't trying to stop it. Master O went into the Tallgeese and made a transmission."

Zechs listened to Wufei, waiting until he came to whatever point he was trying to make. The statement that O had been in Tallgeese and done something, raised his head. "And you think he is the saboteur."

"Is this the man who was once so decisive that he almost destroyed the Earth?" Wufei said. "What do you think?"

"I think he probably contacted someone or some group that is attempting to stop this. I think that they are probably on their way or already here. I think I should find O and squeeze his throat until he dies. " Zechs replied.

Wufei laughed. "Better. Perhaps it might be advisable to squeeze information out of him before you squeeze his last breath. Information such as who is trying to stop this. Do you think it's the Preventers?"

Zechs thought a moment and then said, "I think that it is unlikely. That's not what the Preventers were set up to do. I don't know who it is, but I know that they must have some kind of death wish to try and stop Alfa. Otherwise, it makes no sense."

He walked over to the bed and sat down, pulling his feet up. "What do you think, Wufei?" he asked.

Wufei grimaced. "There have always been fanatics, ergo there will always be fanatics. That's what I smell. However, it does no good if we do not know where the threat is coming from. We are very short on time for such things, and, as I suspect you have noticed - certainly my fellow pilots have -- this endeavor lacks a certain militaristic aspect, which makes it rather vulnerable. Therefore, we need a plan."

Zechs nodded. "How is this?" he asked. "It's obvious that Alfa has a certain animosity towards me as a 'gentleman' warrior. I'll contact O, displaying my opposition to what is going on. I can tell him that I'm undercover, if necessary. Gain his trust. Who knows? He might ask me to lead another revolution. It's not without precedent."

Wufei frowned. "You're plan sucks," he said unconsciously imitating Heero earlier. "No fanatic in his right mind would ever trust you to lead another revolution, you're too unpredictable. The squeezing the neck thing was better. On top of which, you are quite incorrect. Alfa does not dislike you. In fact I suspect she holds you in a certain amount of affection."

"It's kind of difficult to see that, Wufei," Zechs answered.

"Certainly not," Wufei countered. He held up a finger, "She did not attempt to kill you in space." Then another finger. "She accepted your decision to help." Another finger, "She complimented your technique."

Zechs took a deep breath and then nodded. "That's true," he conceded and then a thought, a part of the conversation between he and Alfa came blazing back into his mind. "She's been in my house." he said, stiffening suddenly.

"I was wondering when that was going to occur to you," Wufei said. "The only reason you think she doesn't like you is simply that you are so used to everyone falling all over you that you confuse criticism for hatred."

Zechs swiveled his head to meet Wufei's eyes. He frowned. "Oh," he said and then stood up. Zechs then rubbed his eyes. He shook his head as several other salient points of the conversation occurred to him. "All right," he said. "Now I understand. She was telling me things that I missed entirely." He looked at Wufei. "And I thought you all came first." He lifted an eyebrow. "I am the prototype."

Wufei tilted his head. "I don't know anything about that. I do know this, however. You are here because you are needed. Some of us were asked to come, other were simply called. We are all here because we are needed. Makeup your mind what you are going to do about it."

"Does O know that you suspect him?" Zechs asked, returning to the problem at hand.

Wufei shrugs. "If he's a typical fanatic, he assumes everyone suspects him. I doubt he will hide what he is doing much longer. The closer we get to leaving, the less he has to loose in tipping his hand. He must stop us... unless someone else is supposed to do that. I am very curious about the tip you mentioned. Of course I am not in any position to do anything about my curiosity..."

"I will find that out and then I'll squeeze his neck. Care to join me?" Zechs said.

"Of course. But I'm afraid I may have been over subtle in what I was hinting at. I think you should call Lady Une." Wufei said.

"No, I was being uncommunicative. I should have said that I would contact Lady Une to find out who her source was and then go and squeeze the life out of Master O." Zechs said. "Sorry. I think I might be reverting or something."

Wufei raised his eyebrows. "I see. Well in that case, I will join you. Master O is not a physical weakling. Perhaps I can soften him up for you."

"I think that will work." Zechs replied, offering a Wufei a hand up. "Let's go."

Trowa walked over to where Doktor S stood. "I thought you were dead," he said.

The scientist with the prosthetic nose put down the equipment he was working with and wiped his hands, turning to Trowa. His eyes seemed, as before, somewhat weary, but there was a calmness about him.

"Nanoshi," he said quietly. "You've done well for yourself. You've made the name you took one to be proud of. I never thought I'd see you again. It's good to. I've often thought of what I would say to you... perhaps thank you for taking my work and using it honorably."

Trowa bowed to the scientist. "I am honored to have had the opportunity." Trowa said. "I thank you." Moving closer, Trowa looked at the scientist. "Doktor S. have you seen or heard of anything that could stop this?" he asked.

Doktor Seigfried looked at Trowa, his eyes flickering briefly. "Let me show you what I have done with the Heavyarms Alpha," he said, talking the young man's arm and escorting him towards the mobile suits.

Once out of the immediate area, he glanced up. "Many things could stop this - it hangs by the frailest of threads, just as the fate of the Colonies did over a year ago. That such a project even exists is the most unlikely of circumstances. Don't you see, boy? It's just as before: this is not the plan, this is what the plan did not account for - and the plan is not ours. It originates with secret powers."

Trowa nodded slowly. "Do you know who it is now? What could possibly be gained from having the Earth destroyed?" he asked.

Doktor S looked up at the Gundam towering over them. "All I know is that many, many years ago, I once encountered a small group of men who believed that the human race was evil and corrupt, and did not deserve to survive. They believed that war would finish the human race. That is how I met them. They were backers of munitions projects. Though these men were thought by those around them to be merely profiteers, they were something more sinister. They worked to encourage the flourishing of conflict, in order to cleanse the Earth and Space. They were extremely secretive," he said, rubbing the side of his artificial nose absently, as if remembering an old pain. "I wonder what such men would think of the arrival of an ESO... would they think it cosmic justice?"

"I see," Trowa said, taking in everything the doctor had said. "Do you?" he asked.

The old man shook his head. "No, son. I don't believe in cosmic justice, but if I did, I would say that for all the evil in man, he still seems to come out with a surprising amount of good. As long as that happens, our species deserves whatever chance it can make for itself."

Trowa nodded again, a part of him satisfied. "I agree." he said. "Thank you Doktor... for everything."

The scientist nodded. "No thanks are due to me, Trowa Barton, but I'll accept them all the same. They may ease my way to the next world when my time comes. Son... one of my colleagues... has been a bit busier than the rest of us... for a man from a colony that no longer exists, he has a surprising amount of energy, and no apparent need for sleep..."

"Hn," Trowa responded. "There always seems to be one, doesn't it?" he said.

The old man nodded, then turned back to resume his work.

Trowa walked away quietly. 'Time to speak to Wufei.' he thought as he headed back to the quadrangle.

Zechs sat in the pilot's chair of the Tallgeese and contacted Lady Une.

"Wind!" the Lady answered. Her expression spoke volumes. He was rather overdue for a check in.

"Lady Une," Zechs replied. "I am all right. I have reached the contact point. Have you heard anything?"

The head of the Preventers looked at him very closely. "Yes... after having no contact with you past the check-in point, I received only moments ago a communication that indicated you... may possibly have been... subverted!" Clearly she was uncomfortable with this idea. And just as clearly, she would make it necessary for him to explain it in a way that had some substance.

"By whom and to what cause, dear Lady?" he asked, looking into her eyes.

She looked steadily back. "By an insane criminal, thought to be dead. The cause - some irrational but dangerous fantasy."

Zechs nodded. "And was this the same source that you received the coordinates from?" he asked.

"I think you had better offer some explanation of your absence from communication before you continue grilling me, agent Wind!" she said with a tiny flash of her former steel.

"This is not Oz, dear Lady." Zechs replied.

"I'll permit you to say that to me, for the sake of a memory, but I wonder why you are playing games with me," Lady Une said. "It seems that perhaps the report of subversion has some substance..."

"Lady Une," Zechs said, trying to remain as even as possible in his tone. "This is a precarious moment. You have been given a point of view that you are now acting upon. In order to maintain the fragile peace we have obtained and ensure the survival of the human race, I, as my Father's son, beg you to play this game with me. Things are not as they appear."

"Things are never as they appear," Une replied. She took a breath, and her expression softened only the tiniest bit. "Milliardo, then, you must realize the position you are leaving me in. My source has never led me astray. However... I will not say any source is beyond question. But that cuts both ways, doesn't it? You are not leaving me very many choices. Come here, now - return to Earth - and I will listen to everything you have to say before acting. That is the only alternative I can afford."

Wufei, who had been waiting below, had somehow climbed up to hang in the open hatch.

Zechs looked at Lady Une and then nodded. "I'm on my way," he answered, glancing up at Wufei.

Lady Une looked relieved. "Very well. We'll finish this when I see you."

Wufei tilted his head quizzically, then shrugged.

"Yes," Zechs said. "I think I might have some answers that will satisfy."

"I'll wait for your report in person," she answered, then the connection was broken.

"Well, I guess I'll have to squeeze Master O's neck myself," Wufei said.

"Perhaps so, Preventer Chang," Zechs said. "I think I might get to squeeze some necks of my own back on Earth. Clearly, someone is exerting pressure on Lady Une. Good luck out here, Wufei. If I don't get the chance to say it, I'll see you back on Earth when you're done."

Wufei nodded. "You may need to be more careful than we will," he said. "Are you going to take the Tallgeese back?"

"No," Zechs replied. "I have a transport located in sector twelve."

"You can't walk there. Quatre will most likely let you take his shuttle. I'll ask." Wufei said. "Shall I tell Alfa you are going, or do you want to do that yourself?"

Zechs looked up at Wufei with a small smile. "I will tell her myself." he said.

Wufei nodded once more, and turned to drop back to the hangar floor. He trotted off to find Quatre.

Zechs looked around the cockpit of the Tallgeese. "Treat her right," he said and then turned to go and find Alfa.

Next... pilots counsel...

Comments eagerly welcomed!

bonne & von

Comments? Email bonnejeanne@yahoo.com or vonceia@yahoo.com

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