Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing...blah blah blah yadda yadda yadda...not making money, you guys know the routine.

In the Crosshairs

by Aryn

Chapter Six

          Duo Maxwell looked up at the paint-crackled sign that swung lazily over the store entrance. Then he looked at the door, which looked just as old as the sign.

          “Richardson’s Hardware, huh? Sure hope that Ceres girl knows what she’s talking about.”

          Duo opened the door, setting off a tiny bell over head that announced his presence. He barely heard the sound. His eyes widened in surprise at the amount of junk that was found in the small shop. Tools of all kinds were hanging on a pegboard that lined the walls. Boxes of nuts, bolts, washers and screws were stacked on top of each other, leaving only narrow aisles that would only fit one person down them. It would take him months to look through all the odds and ends that had collected in the old place. This was it…Duo had found heaven on earth.

          “Well, whenever you decide to put your tongue and eyes back in your head, can I help you find anything or do you just want to rummage for yourself?”

          Duo forced his head to turn towards the person that had spoken to him. “Huh?”

          The small red headed girl smiled. “Do you need help finding anything?”

          “I, uh, am looking for someone.”

          “Okay. Who are you looking for?”

          Who was he looking for? Oh yeah, Richardson. What was the first name? Duo fumbled in his pocket for the slip of paper he had written the name down on. But he became mesmerized by the junk once more.

          “Uh, sir?”

          “I didn’t even know this place existed!”

          “Don’t tell me,” she laughed, “you’re a sweeper?”

          “Yeah, I am. How’d you know that?”

          The girl’s green eyes widened immensely. “I, uh, just guessed. So, who are you looking for?”

          “Oh, right.” Duo pulled the paper from his pocket. “Ariel Richardson.”

          “What do you want with her?”

          “I'm Duo Maxwell from the Preventers. I have a message from her friend, Ceres.”

          The girl extended her hand. “I'm Ariel. I have an office in the back.”

          Duo followed her into the back of the store, trying to take in all the sights as they walked back. But the seriousness of the situation brought him back to reality when she shut the door. He sat down in the offered chair as she sat behind a beat up desk and folded her hands, green eyes intent.

          “Where is Ceres? Is she all right?”

          “She’s fine.” Duo leaned forward so he could whisper. “She had some important information that she turned over to the Preventers. She wants you to come to the Neo-Sanc Kingdom and help her.”

          Ariel tucked one of her legs underneath her and leaned across the desk to match Duo’s whisper. “She’s going to rebuild the Gundams, isn’t she?”

          Duo’s blue eyes widened. “How did you know about that?”

          “Don’t you know who Ceres is? She’s Dr. J’s daughter.”

          Duo almost smacked himself. Of course, why didn’t he see it before? Dr. J, Jarleth. No wonder she had the plans for the Gundams. "Well, it's obvious that you know Ceres and the situation."

          "I've known Ceres since we were five and I know the trouble she can get herself into." Ariel looked thoughtfully out the only small window in the office. "I just never expected it to be this big. Alliances are made and broken, war erupts, then peace is brought. And now another alliance has been broken and another war is about to spread. And we're bringing the Gundams back into it."

          "Only this time it's just the Gundams that will be fighting, not soldiers."

          Ariel laughed. "You really think that? Who do you think the Gundams are going to fight? The politicians? Civilians?"

          Duo nodded his head. "Soldiers."

          "You said that Ceres has a message for me."

          "She wants you to come and oversee the construction of the Gundams."

          Duo watched the girl's eyes go wide. "Me? Oversee? You've got to joking me. I can fix just about anything under the sun, but constructing a Gundam is an entirely different thing."

          Duo leaned back in the chair. Behind the desk there was a large bookshelf that held all sorts of mechanical manuals and reference books. "That's an interesting bookcase you have there."

          A look of confusion passed across Ariel's face, but she turned and looked at the mentioned object. "Uh, thank you."

          "Did you build it yourself?"

          "Yes, I did."

          "Did you design it yourself?"

          Ariel's confused look turned to one of suspicion. "Yes."

          "A Gundam is no different. You'll have the plans and people to work for you. All you have to do is think of the Gundam as a bookshelf...except a Gundam has more parts."

          Ariel thought about it for a minute. "You seem to have a lot of faith in me Duo. Why is that?"

          "Why do people have faith in the Gundams? Why do people have faith in each other? They're only looking for hope."

          "Duo, I don't know if I can bring this kind of hope that you need."

          "No? Well, if you don't bring hope, then just knowing that you tried will be enough for the Preventer's. Besides, Ceres stepped out on a very shaky limb and I think a friend there would be very helpful for her."

          Ariel rubbed her hands across her freckled face and let out a loud sigh. "Who will I have to help me?"

          Duo hid a triumphant smile. "All of the pilots for the Gundams will help with their individual suit. But there's two more suits that need to be constructed and pilots found for them. But we'll have most of the Preventer technicians working for us."

          "What's the time limit?"

          "As soon as possible. We don't when these people will attack again."

          Ariel nodded her head and scribbled something down on a piece of paper. "Here's the address of my apartment. Pick me up at 7 tonight, that should give me enough time to get my things in order."

          Duo slipped the paper into his pocket. "I'll be there at 7."

          "And Duo."

          "Yeah?"

          "I sincerely hope that your faith isn't misplaced in me."

          Duo gave her a wide smile. "Babe, I hope everyone's faith isn't misplaced in us."

_________________________________

          Colonel Une listened to the answering machine for the third time that morning, this time deciding to leave a message. "Tionne, this is Lady Une. Call me at the office as soon as you get this."

          "You still can't find her?"

          Une looked up to see Zechs standing on the other side of her desk. She hadn't even heard him come into her office. He had left in his ambassador clothes but returned in his Preventer uniform. Une rubbed her temples. "No, I can't find Tionne anywhere. Did you take care of the business that you left for?"

          "Yes. Everything has been taken care of but I need to speak to Tionne."

          "Good luck. She called into the hospital and quit. I've called every number I have on her: home, work, beeper, cell. I even tried Trieze's summer home in Germany. No answer anywhere."

          Zechs nodded thoughtfully. "She'll show herself when the pain has been dealt with. I envy her now."

          "Zechs, the Gundams won't be completely built for a few months. Why don't you take that time-"

          "And do want Lady?           Mope, wring my hands and do nothing? These people might strike again and we need to ready to retaliate. Have the mobile suits come in yet?"

          "Just this morning they arrived. Fifty Aries, fifty Taurus, twenty Cancer and seventy-five Leos."

          "Hardly enough to stage an attack."

          "Colonel Zechs, we don't know who we're attacking yet. These suits are for our defense, not our offense."

          Zechs sighed in frustration. "It's been a week since the assassinations. You would think someone would have stepped forward to take responsibility by now."

          "They will. I only hope we'll have the Gundams finished by then."

          A sharp knock on Une's office door broke into the conversation. Une saw Sally Po leaning through the doorway. "Trowa Barton and Quatre Winner just arrived and wanted to speak to you. Duo Maxwell showed up too with Ariel Richardson and they went to meet Ceres in the construction bay."

          "Send Quatre and Trowa in."

          Zechs nodded to Une. "I'll go down and greet Miss Richardson."

          "All right. I'll be down directly."

          Zechs walked out of the office and Une watched Quatre and Trowa walk in. She straightened some files on her desk. "What can I do for you two?"

          When both remained silent, she looked up to see two women had followed the pilots into the office. The shorter of the two stood by Quatre while the other who was taller and darker stood behind Trowa. Une looked at Quatre first.

          "Colonel, I would you to meet my wife, Gabrielle."

          Une saw the look of wide eyed terror on the poor girl and gave her a sympathetic smile. “Gabrielle. That’s a very pleasant name. Welcome to Preventer Headquarters. I’m Colonel Une.”

          The girl dipped her head. “Nice to meet you.”

          “I wish Quatre had warned me of your coming. I would have made sure you both had the proper commendations.” Une fixed Quatre with a stern look. The blonde looked respectfully embarrassed.

          “My apologies Colonel.”

          “I’ll change your room assignment to something less…militaristic. I believe the rest of the pilots are in the hanger if you care to go down and see them.”

          “Thank you Colonel.” Quatre gave her a relieved smile and quietly led his shy wife out of the office. Une would have to come up with a better arrangement for that girl. Ceres and Ariel knew machines and they knew what the war was going to mean. They had guts and spirit, but Quatre’s wife was too…gentle. Perhaps Gabrielle would surprise her. Une turned to second guest.

          “All right Mr. Barton, who is this?”

          “Her name is Mika.”

          Une removed her glasses and pinched the bridge of her nose. It was just like talking to Heero. “And why did you bring her here?”

          “I didn’t bring her here. She followed me.”

          “Trowa, she followed you?”

          “I didn’t realize it until I landed on Earth. I didn’t know what else to do with her.”

          The girl spoke up from behind Trowa. “I can help the Preventers. I’m quite handy with tools.”

          Une eyed the newcomer. There was something about her that set off warning bells in her head. “What does being helpful with tools have to do with anything?”

          “You’re planning on re-building the Gundams, aren’t you?”

          Une looked at Trowa who merely mirrored her curious look. “What makes you think that?”

          “It’s the logical step isn’t it?”

          Une held her tongue. The rebuilding of the Gundams was to be kept from public knowledge until they were done. How Mika knew of them was beyond Une. Nodding her head in a decision, Une replaced her glasses and typed in a code on her computer. She pulled out a magnetic key and handed it to Trowa. “Take Mika to the South Tower, room 369. That’s where she’ll stay till I figure out a better place to put her.”

          Trowa took the key silently and left, the strange girl in tow. Une got up from her desk and started to head for the hanger where everyone was gathered. All the players were now present. It was time to start the counterattack that Zechs had so aptly named Zero Tolerance.

____________________________________

          Mika strolled around her room and checked everything. The window were sealed shut, and everything was safety proofed. In short this was nothing more than a dressed up prison. So they didn’t trust her. Oh well, she would get them too. Trowa had merely led her up here and shut the door, locking it from the outside. Thankfully there was food in a small refrigerator. She was here at least. Closing all the drapes she pulled her palm pilot out of her back pack and switched it on. She would only have ten seconds to transmit before the Preventers would catch the signal. Thankfully, a face popped up on her screen.

          “Remy, where’s Sterne?”

          “He’s not here Mik. Where are you?”

          “I’m in Preventer Headquarters, but they have me in a hotel room/prison. But tell Sterne I’m in.”

          “Roger. They building the Gundams?”

          “Don’t know yet. I’ll let you know when I find out more.”

          “Be careful Mika. They’ll kill you on the spot if they find out what you’re there for.”

          “I know. See ya.”

          Mika shut off the transmission. Nine seconds. Perfect. She slid the fake palm pilot back into her bag and leaned back on the couch. If this was the spy’s life, she could definitely get used to it.