3-July-2000
Title: The Hunt ()()()()()()()() Notes: This is a *direct sequel* to our previous fic, ESO, and picks up about two weeks or so after the conclusion of that story. This is the most recent entry in what I am now dubbing the Frozen Colony Arc (whoo hoo, we have an Arc!!! Doesn't that sound impressive? ^_~). Many references are made to events in the previous fics. I would like to think this would not be annoying to anyone who hasn't read the previous stories, but I might be on crack. In the event that anyone is interested, the *chronological* order of these stories is as follows, and all can be found at GW Addiction. [Discoveries: Her Fallen Count; The Frozen Colony; Down Time in Hell; The Rematch; The Future; The Power of Goodbye; and E.S.O.] ESO SPOILER: for those of you who read ESO or don't mind being spoiled, Wufei revealed to Zechs at the end of that story that Treize was still alive, which events actually happened in The Future. We do not know at this time how many other characters will come into the story. This is a multi-parter, but will definitely NOT be anything like the length of ESO (sigh of relief heard all around).
Author: bonnejeanne (bonnejeanne@yahoo.com) and vonceia (vonceia@yahoo.com>
Archive: GW Addiction http://www.oocities.org/fenris_wolf0/ and if she chooses, Darkflame http://members.xoom.com/riouka/gwpage.html
Category: yaoi, angst
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: 6x5/5x6 so far, mentions of 1x2 and 5x1x2
Spoilers: Series, Endless Waltz, fics of ours
Disclaimer: Gundam Wing characters and universe are the property of the copyright owners. Our stuff is ours. No money being made here. As with all our fics so far, while our goal is to stay as in character as possible, any discrepancies are our mistakes.
Feedback: Any and all comments, feedback, critiques welcome, be they short or long.
Warnings: Yaoi, LEMON (graphic sex). No one is intentionally bastardized, but we do not guarantee that our interpretations of characters will agree with yours, so a general OOC warning.
()()()()()()()()
In the dream, Duo was in the cockpit of a mobile suit. That in and of itself was unremarkable - he dreamed fairly often about the war. Sometimes the dreams were nightmares but often they were simply replays of events that were burned too clearly into his mind to ever really fade.
This time, though, it was odd. The cockpit looked... different. It wasn't Deathscythe, nor Deathscythe Hell, nor even Deathscythe Alpha, the suit he'd piloted only once, but recently.
The cockpit looked *off*. And it felt off too. It felt... something like the Zero system. It didn't look like the cockpit of the Wing Zero, he was certain, though he'd only been in it the one time.
And there was something... like a visor, over his face, giving him readouts so rapidly his mind absorbed them before he could register it.
He began to feel very very uneasy, a feeling that spiraled. There was something wrong with the suit... a myriad of things. It was off balance and one of the limbs was... missing... Nevertheless it was functioning. And it was talking to him, murmuring... whispering in his mind so softly that he couldn't make it out, but somehow he felt as if he understood what was being said, if he could only get it into his mind... no... out of his mind... no... it was...
"NO!!!" Duo screamed and woke up suddenly, fists clenched, body bolting upright, drops of perspiration flying from his face and soaking his hair.
Strong arms wrapped around Duo's shoulders, holding him securely. "Duo!" Heero hissed. His heart was beating wildly in his chest as he looked at the braided pilot.
Blinking rapidly, Duo looked around, panting slightly as his heart slowed. "Ohhhh... oh man." He took several deep breaths and leaned back against the comforting solidity of his lover. "Uh... sorry..."
"Tell me," Heero said, simply, not letting Duo go.
Duo took another breath, letting it out slowly. "Wow... haven't had one that bad in a while..." he laughed, a little shakily. "It was... weird. I was in a mobile suit. But it was all... off. And there was this... visor thing, and the... the suit was talkin' to me..."
"Hn," Heero remarked, his mind calculating and moving ahead. "Zero system... Epyon." He blinked, then nodded as if confirming something to himself. "Something's wrong."
"Epyon," Duo said, shivering. He stared at Heero. "Why... would *I* dream about the Epyon? What are you talking about, Heero?"
Heero looked down. He sighed. "I'm gonna check on the bug... Wufei's position. There's something not right. I.. can feel it." Heero looked up at Duo. "Maybe you can too." Leaning over, he kissed Duo lightly, stroking the braided pilot's back.
Duo sighed. "Wufei... they were going into space." He shook his head. "I do not want to find out I'm having..." he shuddered and stopped without finishing. "No. It was just a dream. But go check on it, Heero."
Heero nodded and then stood. He moved quickly to his laptop and began the tracking process.
The tracking process turned out to be more difficult that he expected. Something was interfering with the signal. Every time he fixed on it, it ghosted out of existence, only to appear again at another location. The only things he could determine for certain were that the tracker wasn't working properly... and that if the traces he was getting weren't totally bogus, Wufei was in space. Where, was more difficult.
"Damn!" Heero swore. "It's not working properly. Wufei's somewhere in space, but I can't get a fix on where," he said to Duo.
Duo scowled. "Damn equipment, never works when you need it to." He was leaning over Heero's shoulder, bare-chested, wearing just his boxers. "So what now?"
Heero scowled. "We contact Zechs," he said.
Heero entered the information he had into his system. Looking up, he said. "Duo, try Wufei's comm."
Duo attempted to make the connection. He got a, "This unit is out of range or not in operation." He looked at Heero and shook his head. "No go."
"Hn," Heero growled, "Didn't think so."
Zechs checked the long range scans and looked down. "This all my fault," he hissed. "Stay safe, Wufei. I'm coming." A signal on his console alerted him to an incoming transmission.
"L2," Zechs said, feeling his stomach hit bottom. He took a breath and answered the call. A few seconds later, he saw the scowling face of Heero Yuy looking back at him.
"Heero," Zechs said, simply.
"Where's Wufei?" Heero asked.
Duo came up behind Heero, coming into vid range, pulling on a shirt.
Zechs did not even think about not giving Heero the information. "He is out here in space. He's in Epyon. We found Treize. He wanted the suit. Wufei took it and now Treize is after the suit," he said.
Heero's hands closed into twin fists. "What do you plan to do?" Heero asked.
Zechs took a breath. "I was going to contact you, first. I can't find them in this shuttle. I'm going to get the Tallgeese. Can you offer assistance?"
Heero nodded once and then glanced up at Duo.
"It'll be faster if we work separately," Duo said, to Zechs. "If we find anything we'll contact you. You do the same."
"Right," Zechs said, "Out."
Heero stood. "We need a plan," he said.
Duo chewed on a thumbnail. "Uh..."
"Okay if I were Wu-man," he said aloud. "And I was in the Epyon," he grimaced. "And Treize was after me - how the hell did he get himself into this? - What would I do? Where would I go?"
Duo shook his head. Bright, clear answers were not popping into his head obediently. He walked into the kitchen and got some juice from the cold pantry.
"The thing that I find most disturbing is," he said to the carton of juice, "That means my dream was... oh man, I do not want to think about that."
Heero stood with his arms folded. Mentally he was answering Duo's questions. "I'd stay out of sight... gone." he said, then looked up. "Duo! What did you dream?"
To himself Duo muttered, "I just said I didn't want to think about that." He walked back to Heero, handing him the carton of juice. "Um... I was in the suit... I was... in space... the suit was... talking to me..." he said, skimming quickly over it. "I.... I... was trying to think of a place to hide... from someone... or something." Duo's wide eyes seemed to unfocus. "Someplace where no one around me would be in danger..." He let out a breath and shook his head. "I'm sorry, Heero, I can't remember anything useful. This isn't... I'm not Quatre, ya know." Then he looked at Heero. "Quatre... I wonder if Quatre could..."
Heero walked over to Duo and placed the juice on a table. He then cupped Duo's face in his hands and kissed the braided pilot deeply and thoroughly. "Excellent plan, Duo," he said, looking into Duo's violet eyes.
Duo sighed, looping his arm around Heero's waist. "Right... what plan was that?"
"The plan that calls for us to contact Quatre to see what his senses have picked up, if anything. From there, we'll be able to move on to the second part of the plan... finding and getting to Wufei, " Heero said, unable and unwilling to take his eyes from Duo's face.
Duo leaned forward and rested his forehead against Heero's. "And *I* came up with this plan?" he grinned. "We're in trouble now."
Heero sighed and smiled. "When have we not been in trouble?" he asked.
Duo shrugged and nodded. "Okay. You got me there."
Heero reached around and patted Duo on the butt. "I gotcha all right," he said, then moved back to his laptop to contact Quatre.
Duo sighed, coming over to hang on Heero's shoulder, watching him work.
Zechs watched from the shadows as Lady Une walked into her office. Her office was the first trip he'd made after returning to Earth. If his suspicions were correct, it would take all of his control not to do something rash like choking her. Just remember Wufei is out there, he thought.
He waited until she sat down and then stepped from the shadows.
"Lady Une," he said walking over to her desk.
Une turned around. It took less than a few seconds to get the tone in his voice and the look on his face. She was in danger. But more than that.
"Something is wrong," she said, making it a statement. She searched his eyes. "Wufei?"
"Yes," Zechs said. "Wufei is on the run... from Treize."
Une took a deep breath. Then she said, "Report, Preventer Wind."
Ice blue eyes locked on to hers. Zechs did not move. "We followed a trail that led to the mobile suit Epyon -- Treize's Zero system suit. When Wufei and I arrived at the Resource satellite MO2, where it was hidden, he was there. He aimed a laser rifle at us... then fired it at Wufei. Wufei managed to get inside the mobile suit and take off, with Treize not far behind. Treize asked me to join him. I refused. He wants Epyon. I take full responsibility for Preventer Chang's situation. I am working now to locate him. That is my report." Zechs said. He took a breath. "Now, Preventer Une, report."
Une looked back at Zechs, and then deliberately sat down. "I don't report to you, agent."
Zechs bent down and placed his hands on either side of Lady Une's chair. "Today, you will. How long have you been in contact with Treize Khushrenada?" he said, tightly.
Une took a breath and looked up at the face so close to her own, the dangerous, blazing eyes. Then she called on her deepest reserves. Her eyes hardened and she snapped, in a tone of voice Zechs had heard once before and obeyed, "Sit down."
"Thank you for answering my question," Zechs said. He stood and walked to the other side of the desk. "I would rather stand."
"Shut up," Une said, standing up herself and walking to the window. "I'm sure you would. Sit down anyway. And stop sounding so smug. I have not answered your question. I will. But not until you remember who you are talking to. As I remember you, Zechs, everything about you. Everything we both know. It's your own sense of guilt that is causing you to act this way. You trusted me once. Are you going back on that now?"
Zechs found himself breathing very hard. He sat down, still feeling the rage flow through him. "Lady Une, I trust you. However, when Treize is involved, I know as well as you, that things are not simple. I have guilt, yes, but I am also very concerned about Chang Wufei," he said.
"If you know that things are not simple, then stop condemning me," Une said. "I don't care about it for my sake. Like you, I want Wufei to be safe."
She turned and came to where Zechs was sitting. She knelt beside the chair, looking up at him.
"He contacted me the same night Wufei arrived," she said simply. "He told me nothing of what he planned or where he was. I had no information to give you, nor have I any way to contact him. But he spoke to me," she allowed Zechs to see in her eyes what that contact had meant to her. "He said that since Wufei had broken his silence, he was then free to do so also. But what we said to each other was personal. I do not know his plans. I believe... I *hope* that he does not mean to harm anyone, or upset the peace. But I also know that you will do whatever you have to do. I have not hindered you, Zechs, and I could not have helped you any more than I have. If you had... one chance to reclaim your heart... what would you do?"
Zechs' hands gripped the arms of the chair and then relaxed. He felt the stiffness in his chest slowly ease. One shaking hand reached out and touched Lady Une's face. Her words, especially the last, poured through his soul. He understood her completely. "Lady," he said softly, "I would what I could as you have."
Une looked up at Zechs, her face now cleared of the hardness she had summoned before. "I don't want you to hate me, Zechs," she said softly.
Zechs looked up and took a deep breath. Reaching down, he gently guided Lady Une up from the floor and then stood. He pulled her against him, holding her in his arms. "I do not hate you," he said. "I don't actually hate him. I hate the things he has done, especially to you and to Wufei. I suppose it would be too much to hope that he would find peace in simple things." Zechs sighed. "He said that he wanted to study new life. I have no idea how Epyon would have been instrumental in doing that. The thought of a Zero system mobile suit and Treize, I found to be a bit overwhelming. Please know that I mean you no harm either. I wish only the best for you, Lady."
Une sighed. "I think... in his own way, he *is* trying to find peace," she said. "And if I may correct you... the operating system in the Epyon is not the 'Zero system'. That system was designed by the creators of the Gundams. It was intended to eliminate distractions. But this is much more. The operating system in the Epyon was programmed by Treize himself. Aldo Rameus designed the suit, but the system was Treize's. It's not well known, perhaps even you didn't know it, but Treize was a master programmer. Though he was trained as a military expert, his talent for programming was something he did not pursue publicly. Many of his program designs went into Oz systems credited to a non-existent programmer. The system in Epyon was... the pinnacle of his work in that field." Une blinks, her mind running over memories of discoveries, things she'd never discussed with the young General. She'd made him her life's study.
Zechs closed his eyes for a moment, allowing the new information to sink in. "Then it is truly his. I wonder why he gave it away, then?" he asked.
Une shook her head. "I only know that he did so. He gave it to Heero Yuy. Only Heero can tell you what passed between them at that time."
Zechs nodded. Then he leaned back, looking down at Lady Une. "I will find out. In the meantime, he gave me a message for you. He said, 'soon'."
Une closed her eyes and bowed her head. "He will keep his word," she said softly. She looked up at Zechs. "Find him. You must, because he expects it. He will prepared to do... terrible things, but only if you fail him. You did not fail him before. Don't fail him now. It's his last hope... perhaps yours as well."
"Then I will not fail," Zechs said. Leaning down he kissed Lady Une's cheek. "Please forgive me for scaring you. We have been through much. You have trusted me and I trust you now. I will keep you informed."
Une looked up. "Can we agree that you and I are past the idea of condemnation and forgiveness, between each other at least?"
"Yes, we can," Zechs said, finding himself smiling a little.
"Good. Now go find Wufei."
"Yes, ma'am," Zechs said, letting her go. He then turned to leave.
Heero smiled a little as Quatre's face appeared on the screen. "Quatre," he said, "We need your help."
Quatre nodded immediately. "Of course. What can I do?"
"Wufei is missing," Heero said, simply. "He and Zechs went to find Treize. Now, Wufei is in Epyon being pursued by Trieze. Duo had a dream that seems to relate to all of this, but he says he's not you."
Quatre blinked. "Um... no, I guess not!" he said. "Wufei... in Epyon? So I guess it wasn't destroyed after all. Duo had a dream? That's strange. Trowa told me that I sat up this morning, as if I were awake, and mumbled something for a while. But I don't remember any of it."
"Hn." Heero whispered. "Zechs is going out in the Tallgeese. We're coordinating our efforts with his. We think he might be trying to stay out of sight. If you get anything, let us know."
"Wait a minute, Heero," Quatre said softly. "You haven't given me a chance yet. This is still very new to me - I mean, I've always had some of it but... you know what I mean. Up to now I've been trying to learn how to tune it out. It looks like maybe I succeeded too well. Maybe I bounced something to Duo. But if I work at it, perhaps I can open things back up and find out something useful. Just give me a little time. I'll call you shortly, or Trowa will. Agreed?"
"Hn," Heero remarked. "We'll await your call."
Duo said, "Hey Quatre, next time you need to, uh, 'bounce' something my way, couldja give me a little warning?" He grinned.
Quatre blushed and nodded. "Um, okay I'll try. But Duo, if you did pick up my... vision... then you might..."
"Don't. Even. Say. It." Duo interrupted. "In fact, since it's you, don't even *think* it. Later, Quatre."
"Okay Duo, later then."
Duo looked at Heero. "What's the worse case scenario on this," he said aloud. "Maybe Wufei... gets affected by the Epyon's cockpit system? Why don't you set up a search program to monitor all the Colony broadcasts for... unusual events."
"Yes, sir," Heero said and began setting up the program. "So, Duo. You're doing real good on this planning thing." He glanced up at the braided pilot. "The worst case scenario is that Wufei could flip out on the system and wipe out a colony."
Duo shook his head. "Wu-man? Never happen," he said. "And stop teasing me about the planning thing. Or else I'll... uh... I'll make taco surprise again!"
"Taco surprise was pretty good, Duo. That's not much of a threat," Heero replied.
"You *liked* that?" Duo said, goggling. "Oh man, I gotta come up with some new threats."
Quatre turned from the communicator, his face very thoughtful. He went through the house until he found Trowa, who was working in the small garden attached to the modest little house. This was the 'get-away' house. After returning from the mission to stop the ESO, Quatre had gathered his family together and informed them that he needed more privacy and was taking an extended vacation, starting immediately. Although there had been some consternation, they had all cooperated, more or less.
Quatre squatted on his heels next to Trowa. "Heero just called. Wufei is missing. He was helping Zechs look for Treize. Evidently they found him, along with the Epyon suit. Treize tried to take the suit and Wufei took off in it. Now no one knows where he is."
Trowa listened carefully, then turned to Quatre. "I see," he said. "Does this have anything to do with your experience this morning? It's a pretty good guess that Wufei does not want to be found or he would contact one of us. The suit could be preventing him, but I think Wufei could master it."
Quatre sighed. "This morning... ya... Duo said he had a... a dream about the Epyon. I think maybe I've done such a good job learning to block it that maybe I bounced something to him. I need to try and see if I can sense anything from Wufei. Will you help me? I know Wufei is good but... I have a really weird feeling about this. Maybe... maybe he *was* trying to contact me and I wasn't open."
Trowa took a carnation and placed it behind Quatre's ear. "Let's begin," he said, and then stood.
Quatre grinned, blushing slightly. He stood up also and went in the house, going into the bedroom to sit on the big bed. "I think if we just try the light hypnosis you've been doing on me, only this time try and go the other way. What do you think?"
"Sounds like a plan," Trowa said, sitting down next to Quatre. "Now lean back and relax. Start to breathe deeply and evenly."
Slowly, Trowa started the meditation, guiding Quatre to relax. He then asked Quatre a series of questions, before broaching the subject of the dream. For that, he simply asked Quatre to recall as much of the event as possible.
He'd tried to control the mobile suit without engaging the cockpit system, but the suit was too badly damaged for that, if in fact it was even possible. With the system engaged, the suit automatically made adjustments for the damage and even started a few internal repair functions. The Epyon could not repair the missing left arm, but many of the other damages from the blast were repaired by a sophisticated set of correction modules. More and more of the suit's functions came on line. Much of the weaponry was functional.
Wufei realized there were ships tailing him straight out from M02. He forced the damaged suit into a series of evasive maneuvers, and somehow managed to loose his pursuers in a couple of hours. Avoiding being re-acquired was going to be harder.
In his heart, Wufei fought with fears that Treize might shoot Zechs with the blaster rifle. He forced himself to trust the blond man who had already shown he had as many lives as a cat. Zechs wanted the Epyon kept out of Treize's hands. Wufei intended to follow these wishes to the best of his ability.
Desperately, he sought a hiding place. "Where can I go to elude my enemy," he said aloud.
It was an odd question. It didn't feel right. He shouldn't be running. He should turn and face his enemies. The Epyon could take out whatever Treize had pursuing him, even in it's damaged condition.
"No," Wufei said aloud. "No combat. Combat would disturb the hard-won peace. It would frighten the civilians. It would lead to destruction."
Running is cowardice. Hiding is weakness.
If Treize wants the suit, he should fight me for it, Wufei thought.
"No," he said aloud, his voice strained. "That is not my choice!"
A confrontation is inevitable.
Wufei realized he had no answer to that.
"I am not afraid of dying!" he yelled, alone in the suit, in space.
Afraid, no. Sad... sad because there were people he loved, and people who loved him. Sad because after surviving so pointlessly for so long, he finally had things to live for besides principles and revenge. But perhaps it was justice. He'd killed... he'd tried to judge fairly, never to take life without a reason. But he could not have always chosen correctly.
"I am not afraid of dying," he said again.
The cockpit system showed him a vision. It was a memory.
"I am not afraid of dying," he whispered. "I'm... afraid of killing him again. I won't."
Who are my enemies?
A picture of Treize?
"No," he whispered. "No. I have no more enemies."
Then why do you exist?
"I... exist... for.... " but he could not remember the rest of the answer.
If you have no enemies, why are you running?
"Because.... I'm... afraid to fight."
End of Part 7 - TBC
Sure would like to hear what you think of this!
bonnejeanne & vonceia
Please send comments to: bonnejeanne@yahoo.com or vonceia@yahoo.com