Title: Building a New Life Chapter: 8/? Word count: 7881 Rating: Mature Betaed by rogue53 Warnings: Lemons, fighting, blood, explosions, swearing, slight kink. Nothing else. Parings: 1X2, 3X4, 5X6. Relena as friend to all the boys. Disclaimer: I do not own or hold any rights to Gundam Wing. Those rights belong to Bandai, Sunrise, and the Sotsu Agency. These fan fictions were written for fun, not profit. However, this story does belong to me. Please don’t snitch it. Summary: Sequel to The Price They Paid – The Pilots fought for peace for the Colonies and the Earth. With peace and the freedom to begin new lives they now are faced with new threats, not from politicians, but from the hard, cold space around them and the men and women they work with. Construction work is dangerous and the people involved in colonial construction are hardened and rambunctious. Building a colony is not at all like building a city. As the boys are about to find out. Authors note: Not much of a real plot so much as just incidents in building a colony and how the boys handle them. . Wufei examined the final draft of the constitution of Mina Hurr. It had turned out much better than he'd expected. The convoluted language of most legal documents was gone, replaced by language that anyone could decipher. The laws of the colony were the same. Wufei couldn't believe how thin the law book was. That was correct, there was only one law book. It was by actual measure 12x20 with four hundred pages. There were 'federal', 'state' and 'local' laws. Parking regulations and much more. But there were no contradictions, no loop holes and enough wiggle room that justice was possible even when a law had been broken. Intent meant much more on Mina Hurr. He put the book aside and smiled, one other law that was not on the books anywhere else was, you couldn't be a citizen until you passed a citizenship test, and you couldn't even live on Mina Hurr until you knew a minimum about the legal setup. It would make things a lot easier. As well as the fact that there was no diplomatic immunity. Even the diplomats had to know the laws. Milliardo came in with a tray on which were two cups, a teapot and a very small dish of sugar. “Ah, tea. Thank you.” Wufei chuckled softly. “Still muddling your tea with refined sugar?” Milliardo laughed. “Yes, but at least it's green.” “Hmm. It's very good.” Wufei held his cup in one hand and supported it with the other. The cup in his palm was warm and the smell of the tea was calming. “Thank you. How's everything going?” “Done, thank my ancestors. It was getting quite trying. I swear they just want to obfuscate everything into incoherence.” “Well, of course. Job security. Who's going to need lawyers now?” “Anyone with half a brain. It's not just understanding the law, it's knowing how to apply it. Of course, the lower courts are very uncomplicated. That'll help keep down the caseload. And there are provisions for arbitration before litigation.” “When are we actually going to go to Mina Hurr?” Milliardo couldn't contain his impatience. “Tomorrow. Heero and Duo are going too.” “I thought it wasn't going to be until next week?” Wufei smirked at Milliardo. “Duo's well, there are problems that need immediate attention, and Heero is getting bored. Trowa and Quatre will follow next week.” Milliardo made a scoffing noise. “We'll see about that. I bet they don't get there for another six months.” “Quatre said that he has everything in line for him to go then.” Wufei wondered how Quatre could possibly be delayed any longer. “Well, you know, I have a feeling.” Wufei snorted inelegantly into his teacup. “Well, I do, and the last time I had a feeling like this it involved a falling station. So ...” Wufei shuddered slightly. “Fine, fine. We'll keep a weather eye out. Satisfied?” “Yes ... oh, and Relena is going to be here tomorrow for about six hours for a ribbon cutting for some new clinic or other. It's just an excuse to see me, actually.” He managed to look both pleased and self-satisfied. “Oh, well then, I'll have to get out the formal robes. For the last time. A very good time to impress the clan elders and tell them it's at an end, without all the fuss and bother. You?” Milliardo sipped at his tea. “Tux or uniform. I'm thinking uniform. Sort of rub their noses in the fact that WEI considers me worthy.” Wufei just nodded. “Good. I know Heero and Duo will want to be there. In uniform.” Milliardo laughed and poured more tea. . Duo took his dress uniform out of the closet and checked to see that all the 'scrambled eggs' were on right, Heero had done both of their uniforms so it was just a nerve relaxing formality. “Nervous?” Heero turned Duo around to tie his tie. “A bit. I'm not 100 per and if something happens, I'm toast.” He lifted his chin for Heero “No, you're not. Your assignment for this is to cover Relena.” He finished the tie and lifted his chin for Duo to return the favor. “Ridiculous.” Duo raised an eyebrow. “Ties. We should wear clip on. If someone gets a hold of this damn thing.” “Yeah, like someone can actually get that close to you ... or me for that matter.” He finished tying the tie. “There.” They turned to look at themselves in the mirror and neither one realized what a picture they made. They were both at the end of their last growth spurt, the doctor was sure of that. But the last one, completed while Duo was in the hospital, had put them at just over six feet. They still looked like they were three or even four years younger than they really were and both were still slender. Duo more so than Heero who was already putting on muscle again. Lots of it. Binky chose that moment to demand a walk. She sat down by the door and started to whine. Duo sighed, got her leash and clipped it to her collar. She barked happily and scrambled out the door. Duo headed for the small park that was her walking area. He realized that he hadn't brought the pooper scooper with him and sighed. He got his phone out of his pocket, trust Yuy to make sure that his pockets were properly loaded. He pressed the one touch 1 and waited while the phone rang. “Forgot the scooper, didn't you. I'll be right there, go on ahead.” Duo hung up, snickering softly. “Well, little girl, looks like it's Yuy to the rescue again. Come on.” He tugged gently on the leash and Binky trotted by his side to the park. Duo walked her, careful not to hurry her. He was just halfway through when a woman stopped him. “Excuse me. Aren't you ... um ... Commander Maxwell? Or is it Colonel?” “Either one is correct. And, yes, I am.” “I just wanted to thank you for brining up all the dogs and cats. My daughter had been wanting one for years. Now we have a dog and a cat. They would have been euthanized by now, so we all benefited. Thank you so very much.” She held out a calloused hand for Duo to clasp. “You're welcome. I hope you and your daughter have many years of happy companionship.” “We will. I'm staying here then going back to Earth. I hope the same for you. Good-by.” Duo smiled at the woman and watched as she walked away. Binky barked and Duo looked up to see Heero walking up with the required equipment. “Thanks, man, I can't believe I forgot that. Binky hasn't gone yet so we're all good. This way?” Duo tugged at Binky's lead and they headed deeper into the park, waiting for the little dog to find her 'perfect' spot. It took a while but Duo didn't mind, he knew he'd neglected the poor thing. He'd been injured, in PT and then working out. Binky liked to sit next to him in his bed, but she didn't handle nul grav very well for more than a little while. She liked it but she got space sick. A very nasty business for all concerned. He intended to make it up to her soon. Heero watched Duo with Binky and felt his heart drop. Something bad was going to happen, he just wasn't sure what it was. All he could do was prepare for the fallout. Relena was on the station, Duo was nearly completely well, and they were going to Mina Hurr after the opening. He rubbed the back of his neck irritably. “Heero?” “Humm?” “She's done. I'll do the clean up if you'll hold her.” Heero accepted the leash with a nod. “Fine. We could take her to the ceremony if you like. Relena would probably like to see her.” “What'll I do with her during the ceremony?” “One of Relena's myriad of aides can take care of her.” Duo had to snicker. Relena was always complaining about the young ladies who seemed to breed like ants at a picnic. The ESUN public relations office hired them from the finest finishing schools and Relena didn't have the heart to tell anyone that they were more of an annoyance than anything. So she found tasks for them to do, things that she needed done that security or her 'real' staff didn't have time to do. He was glad the Dorothy Catalonia was in charge of the 'bride brigade' as they'd been dubbed. “Ok.” He glanced at his watch. “We better get going then. I'll let Binky walk until she gets tired then I'll carry her.” . Relena sighed. She didn't want to be here, doing this, she wanted to be able to visit her brother without going through all this silliness. “Is there anything I can get you, Miss Relena?” Relena eyed the bright eyed young thing with disgust. She reminded her or herself in what Duo called her 'pink' phase. “No, thank you. I'm fine. When Milliardo gets here, please show him right in.” “Milliardo? You mean Zechs Marquise? What in the world do you want with that psycho?” The girl turned up her nose. Relena wondered what her name was. “Well, one, he's my brother. And two, your attitude is ... unacceptable. Please ask Doro to come in, will you?” The girl turned red, stammered for a moment then just bowed her head, muttered, “Yes, Miss” and left. Relena rubbed at the headache blossoming in her temples. She got one like that every now and then, they didn't last long. Dorothy came in a few minutes later. “I set Kathleen waiting for Milliardo. I know that Quatre and Trowa are coming, so I'm fairly sure they'll all be here.” “Good. I have been wanting to see them for ages. I'm going to take a vacation, I swear. No more openings, closings, ribbon cuttings, etc. Doro, I'm serious.” “Yes, Miss Relena. I'll see to it.” Dorothy checked with Relena's secretary by phone. “You don't have anything after the hotel in southern France. Why don't I just make a reservation for you to actually stay there for a week?” Relena gazed absently into space for a moment. “Yes, that'll do quite nicely. Make it for both of us.” Dorothy just nodded and smiled slightly. A knock on the door caused Dorothy to rise and crack the door open about an inch, she peeked through the crack then opened the door all the way. Milliardo offered her a courtly bow and entered, making way for Heero, then Duo with Binky in his arms, then Wufei bowed to both ladies and went to stand near the door. Finally Quatre and Trowa entered. Trowa went to stand by Wufei while Quatre walked over to take both of Relena's hands and kiss her cheek. Relena greeted Quatre with a soft smile and the hugged Milliardo. “Thank you so much for changing your name ... again. I was very distressed when I learned why you'd changed it in the first place. The nerve of them.” Milliardo smiled down at his little sister. “All I wanted to do was avoid causing you trouble.” Relena made a sound very like a kettle ready to boil. “Idiot.” Her smile made Milliardo smile back. “Never denied it for a second. What's this thing supposed to go like?” “In and out. Smile, greet, speech, cut, leave. A little hand shaking on the way in and out. It's a security nightmare. General Orton is having fits.” Heero just nodded. “I'll go talk to him?” He made it a question to be polite Relena just said, “Please. Duo?” Duo laughed. “On my way. Keep Binky for me?” Relena held out her hands for Binky. “Of course. Come here, sweetie.” Binky remembered Relena as a source of treats and hugs so she was glad to nestle in Relena's arms. Quatre just nodded to Trowa who took his hand gun out of it's holster, chambered a round, safetied it and put it back. Quatre did the same. Wufei and Milliardo exchanged looks then checked their weapons, too. . Duo watched Heero deal with the general. The man was good at his job, older and more than ready to listen to Heero. “This place is a sieve. Why out in the open like this?” General Orton shook his head. “I don't know. Probably just to give me ulcers. Look at all the galleries and Mezzanines. Potshot hell, I tell you. So ...” Heero just dialed his phone and started talking. “Yuy, here. The ribbon cutting is off. Or it gets moved to just inside the door. One or the other.” He listened for a moment. “No, I don't care. You want her shot, have it done on your watch, not mine. Either or.” Heero shut his phone while whoever it was on the other end was still talking. “General, come with me. We'll move that damn ribbon ourselves.” So the on looking media was treated to the sight of Heero Yuy and William Orton moving the pylons which held up the ribbon closing the doors to the new Vacuum Injuries section of the hospital station. They moved them so that the ribbon was across the doors, instead of out in the middle of the square in front of the building. They also moved the podium right in front of the ribbon. There was a lot of grumbling from the media but Heero ignored it coldly. If they wanted to complain they could talk to Milliardo, or the air. The liaison from Relena's corps of hangers on could kiss his ass, too. Milliardo approached, elegant in a linen suit, “Someone's already complaining that they can't get a good camera angle. What's going on?” Heero pointed at the galleries and the double mezzanines, “Clear camera angle means clear shot. Not gonna happen. You really want Relena shot down?” Milliardo gazed around for a moment. “I was assured that the venue was defensible. Seems I trusted the wrong person. No, I don't want my sister shot. Do what you want, I'll deal with the flack.” Suddenly Milliardo was Prince Peacecraft. Duo, meanwhile, was scouting the offending structures to see what could be done about securing them. They were open, pure and simple, anyone could walk in. He looked down to see Milliardo, stiffly erect, looking down his nose at a small man who seemed to be trying to intimidate him. In fact, he looked very like Binky when she wanted to go out. Duo snickered softly. “Excuse me, young man. This level is for VIP's only. You'll have to return to the lower levels.” Duo just eyed the man for a moment. “Let me see. Uniform, check. Badge, check. Firearm, check. Now just what in this picture screams 'Throw me out.'?” Duo watched as the man's face turned red, then pale. “Nothing, everything. Let me see some ID that can't be faked or bought in a prop store.” Duo just pulled out his ID and handed it over. “That satisfy you?” The man gave him a sour expression. “No, but it'll have to do. Winner hiring all his pretty boy friends doesn't make you the real deal. What are you doing up here?” Duo glowered for a moment. “I'm checking out the security. Anyone could walk in here. This place is as secure as a playpen.” “Officer Glendale. Security is ... problematical, at best. I've been doing a walk around but ... it's just so damn open. And there's no way to secure the balconies, never mind the nightmare that those mezzanines are. At least not without causing a scene.” Duo just shrugged. “So ... cause a scene.” “And lose my job? I got kids, a wife and a mortgage.” Duo blinked for a moment. “Well, then, I'll do it. Lead on.” Duo caught Heero's eye as he walked by. Heero figured out exactly where Duo was going at a glance, his nod and smirk said it all. Duo stood in the command room door for a moment, looking around. He had to shake his head, they hadn't done the simplest things. There was no feed from the ever present security cameras, no men stationed at sensitive points, no checks of ID, nothing. It was almost as if they were hoping that Relena got shot, stabbed, mobbed or ... something. Publicity was everything, safety, nothing. A fussy sort in a starched set of UBDU's carrying a clipboard planted himself in Duo's way. Duo looked him up then down, snickering softly as he realized that the man was wearing soft ships boots instead of proper ones. “Can I help you? Your name? Are you on the visitors list?” Duo tugged at his braid for a second. “Yes, you can help me. Duo Maxwell. No, I'm not.” He got a snotty, down the nose look that made him grit his teeth. “I beg your pardon?” “Don't, let's just not do this. I am who I say I am. And your security arrangements aren't.” The idiot raised one eyebrow. “Aren't what? If I may presume to ask.” “Secure. Where are the point men? The ID checkers? Ticket takers? Anyone who knows who's supposed to be where. Why don't you have feeds from the local cameras? And who the hell set the podium out in the middle of a public square with no cover?” The man looked blank for a moment then just shrugged. “That's the responsibility of the //[ ]// department. It's not my concern.” Duo rubbed his face. “Oh, man.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and called Heero. It didn't take him long to explain the problem. He hung up and waited for a second, thinking. Then he called Quatre, he got Trowa, not that unusual now. He spoke to Trowa for a moment then hung up his phone and sighed. “Ok, I'm in charge here now. You can call Peacecraft or Yuy. Or just kiss my ass, I don't care.” The fussy man started to say something but was interrupted by General Orton. “You'll do what Colonel Maxwell says to do. Now.” Duo just grinned one of his more maniacal grins and started in. “Heero, if you'd patch in all the local cameras, I'd appreciate it.” Heero bent to his task with a smirk. Then Duo proceeded to turn the entire operation on it's ear. He called in people and stationed them at points that Heero indicated didn't have a direct line of sight or camera feed. He also stationed people at all entryways. People who set up metal detectors and 'sniffers', small wands used to check people for chemicals on a forbidden list. He fielded calls from nearly every vid broadcaster on the station and several newspapers. He also handled complaints from public relations for Relena, the hospital and some charity organization. They all wound up hanging up after issuing vague threats of retaliation. Duo sneered at it all and did his job. WEI public relations handled the backlash with aplomb. In other words, Milliardo told them to go fuck themselves. Mostly they retired to lick their wounds and grumble about security Nazis and crazy Gundam pilots. A few complained to Relena or Dorothy. This didn't work very well as Relena referred them back to either Heero, who snarled at them like a wounded bear, or Milliardo, who just snapped, 'Too bad, deal.' and hung up. Dorothy was even worse, she threatened to announce a boycott of their publication, or service, by Miss Relena, a sure way to destroy their reputation. . After about half an hour of fiddling and fussing, Heero announced himself satisfied with the feeds. Duo rounded up a man that looked like he was actually a security man and told him to watch the feeds and notify him, Duo, if anything looked the least bit hinky. He got a nod in return. Heero jerked his head and they headed back onto the floor to keep an eye out for anything suspicious. He had the feeling that all this was for nothing, but better do much for nothing than nothing and wind up with a dead Minister. He sighed, looked around and found a vantage point from which he could see the podium and all the foyer of the new annex. They were just in time for Relena to enter from the small foyer behind the podium, glance around and ask her security a question. He bent to speak to her, she nodded then went to the podium and began her speech. She talked for ten minutes exactly, praising the efforts of the various charities and businesses who'd donated to build the annex. Then praised the efforts of the construction workers, who'd built the building in record time and the doctors, nurses and medical professionals who were to man it. She ended with a graceful wave and smile, turned, took the giant scissors and helped the president of the hospital corporation cut the ribbon, opening the doors for the first time. Duo rubbed the back of his neck. He was relieved that nothing had happened here, but something was in the works, he knew that. His eyes met Heero's and Heero just shrugged, raised an eyebrow and headed into the crowd. Duo followed Relena into the annex and found her, three security men and General Orton arguing with some Senior VIP of the hospital. Wufei was standing by with a sour expression on his face and Milliardo, standing behind him, looked like he was about to go find his Gundam. The man was 'there, there, little lady'-ing Relena who had a stubborn look on her face. He wanted her to appear in another open courtyard and give her speech again. He wanted to record it for 'prosperity', in other words, he wanted to get an exclusive, close up vid of it. He was trying to grasp Relena's hand, she was trying to keep him from it. Binky finally broke the montage. She didn't like the man, he was trying to touch her girl and her girl didn't want him to. Relena pulled away again and when the man tried to grab her, Binky nipped him sharply. “Ouch! Why, that vicious little beast! I'll have her put down at once.” He reached out to grab the growling dog and got an even nastier snap from Relena. “You will not! You horrible, nasty little man. Who do you think you are? I'm not making my speech again, I'm not going anywhere with you and you most certainly are not going to put Binky down.” He puffed up like the toad he was. “I need that footage, young lady. You have no idea what goes on in the more rarified political stratifications.” Relena sneered elegantly at that. “And, what are you going to do with that dog when you know dogs aren't allowed on construction sites. You're going to Mina Hurr next, right?” Relena heard the gasp at the same time Heero did. Duo stood, stunned and wide-eyed, looking at Binky. Relena turned to Milliardo and Wufei. “Get him out of my sight ... Now!” Her grim, grit-toothed expression moved them like nothing else could have. They grabbed the man and hustled him out the door which they slammed in his face. “Duo, Duo, it'll be all right.” Heero grabbed Duo around the waist and hugged him. “Don't worry. We'll figure out something.” Duo clutched at Heero's shoulders, shivering violently. “He said ... He said he'd have ... no!” Milliardo closed in on Duo from the back. “No, not on my watch. Don't worry about that. Hush now.” He eased his arms around both Heero and Duo. Wufei eased up from the side and awkwardly patted Duo's shoulder. “No injustice such as that will I tolerate. Never.” Duo tried to smile at that. Wufei always wound up talking funny when he was upset. Relena just pulled out her phone and got very unhappy with some very high up VIP's. Her complaints produced instant action. People appeared from somewhere, soothing hurriedly and hoping against hope that Her Royal Highness wasn't going to have a hissy fit. They hoped in vane. Relena wasn't the sort to scream or yell, she just got very frosty. She pinned the sweating president of the board of directors with a look that was as cold as space. “I'd like to know exactly what you think you're doing. I was told that every precaution was to be taken. And yet, I'm placed in the middle of a vulnerable open space and no security precautions are taken at all. I'm just lucky that Heero and Duo were available to correct the situation. And then I'm accosted by a sweaty little man, who insists on touching me, and told that I have to give my speech all over again, with rewrites no less. And he threatened to have Duo's dog put down for defending me. Outrageous.” The President started to make some sort of excuse. Relena just pointed to Milliardo and walked over to the huddle of pilots. She expertly peeled Milliardo out of it and pushed him towards her opponent, “Deal with him. I'll fix this.” Milliardo walked over and started speaking softly, a sneer on his lips. Relena eased into the group hug, carrying Binky. Binky knew something still wasn't right so she tried to fix it by licking Duo's chin. That was all it took, Duo broke down. He sobbed softly, once, tears trickled down his flushed cheeks and he put his head on Heero's shoulder. Heero rubbed Duo's back gently, maneuvering Relena and Binky between him and Duo. “Don't worry, they'll hurt her over my dead body. They don't have the right anyway.” Relena sniffed. “They'll have to have a court order and I can't think of a court on this station that would have the nerve.” “But, they've got a lot of pull. What if some judge grants their petition on their word. What if someone manages to ... do something ... before we can get ...” Relena knew exactly what Duo was afraid of. Some jumped up, self-important bean counter taking matters into his or her own hands and rushing things. Binky could be dead before they could get the order countermanded. Milliardo came back with a scowl on his face. He looked like he'd bitten unexpectedly into something bitter. “The President of the Board of Directors assured me that there wouldn't be a problem. I don't believe him. Wufei?” Wufei thought for a moment. “I'm not sure I believe him either. We need to do something now.” Duo shuddered. “I know. I don't trust them at all. We do need to do something, but what?” Milliardo's phone rang then Wufei's. Milliardo listened for a moment then sighed. “There's already been a court order issued. We need to act before they get here. But what...” Relena bit her lip. “I have an idea, but ... Duo, you're not going to like it.” Duo sighed, blew his nose on a handkerchief that Heero handed him and gazed at Relena, heartbreak in his beautiful eyes. “What is it? Then I'll decide if I like it or not.” “My shuttle is leaving in exactly twenty minutes.” She glanced at a clock on the wall to reaffirm her remark. “Yes, I'll just take her with me. That nasty man was right about one thing. You can't take her to Mina Hurr, it's a colony under construction. What if there's a gravity failure, or a vacuum incident? Where is she supposed to do her business? I'll take very good care of her...myself. She'll go everywhere with me. I swear ... and Dorothy will help. She likes Binky too.” Duo nodded after glancing at Heero. “I'm not taking chances. We'll do that. I would have to give her up anyway. Heero?” Heero just nodded. “Let me print out a map. We'll take them to the shuttle ourselves. I don't trust security not to pull some stunt or other.” Heero put his tiny computer down on a table and quickly set it up. He tapped at his virtual keyboard for a moment then grinned. “Duo, how are you at scuttling.” Duo grinned, scuttling was spacer for using the utility and service corridors to get from one part of a station or colony to another, something that was frowned on by authorities. “L-2 street rat, expert infiltrator. Need you ask?” “No, but I thought it would cheer you up a bit. So?” Relena sighed. She reached out at wiped the last of a tear off Duo's cheek with her soft thumb. “Duo, I'm so sorry. You can come see her any time you want, you know that, right?” Duo gave her a smile that wavered a bit then straightened. “Sure, I know that. And thanks. Come on. Heero?” Heero just handed him the map he'd printed out, pocketed his computer and eyed Relena. “That outfit, those shoes. Not ... good.” Relena just nodded, picked up the huge purse she carried and smirked. “One moment ... and turn your backs.” They all obediently turned their backs, glaring at the president and his assistant until they did the same. When she said, “Ok, I'm ready.” they turned back around to see that she was now dressed in sweats with a hood pulled up over her distinctive hair. Binky was nowhere to be seen, but she was still carrying that purse. Duo blinked. “Um ...” then the purse wriggled. He laughed softly. “Ok. Move out. And, if anyone tries to stop us...” Relena interrupted him. “Shoot first and hope someone knows the name to put on the toe tag.” Duo just chuckled darkly and led the way. It wasn't as easy as you'd think, but Duo got them into the 'under-colony' and led the way. They climbed down a ladder into a ventilation shaft and followed that down three levels. Then Duo pulled out a key card, attached it to his computer via a USB 6 cord. He swiped the card through the reader and fiddled with his computer until it beeped. He re-swiped the card and the door obediently opened. Relena flinched at the smell. “Sewers, sorry. But they're dry right now. On the wrong side of the rotation.” Relena made an enquiring noise so Duo cheerfully explained that the colony used a water purification system that relied on the sun to do most of the real work. The waste water was piped into huge vats, using the pipes they were in right now, and allowed to boil using the power of the sun to heat the black plastic containers. The steam was condensed and sent back into the pure water tanks. The residue was processed into sterile dirt and used to fill planters and the shallow trays the made up the lawns. And as the steam was piped from one area to another it also turned turbines which made electricity. Relena sniffed delicately. “Very interesting. Are we there yet?” Binky barked her own desire to be out of the stinky pipes. Duo laughed. “Nearly.” He consulted his printout. “We turn here then go down another level, but we need to make sure to seal the door properly, it's a cleaning hatch and it wouldn't do to leave it leaking. After we get to the next level, we're on the home stretch. It's another vent duct and goes straight to the docking bay where your shuttle is docked.” he stopped to look at a door, compared the numbers and announced, “Here we are, home stretch. Let's go.” This tunnel-like duct was much cleaner and sweeter smelling than the last one and Relena asked if it would be ok to let Binky down to walk on her leash. Duo nodded but told Wufei to be ready to snatch her up and run if they had to. Wufei just nodded. Milliardo grumbled a bit, wondering how much longer it was going to be. He was most uncomfortable as the tallest of them he had to walk slightly bent over to keep from bumping his head on the 'ceiling'. Heero snickered softly then grunted as Wufei elbowed him in the ribs. “Stop that. Milliardo will have a crick in his neck and I'm not in the mood to put up with a grumpy lover.” Milliardo's soft 'Hey!' made them all laugh. Duo grimaced a second later as their laughter echoed around the vent. If this had been during the war they'd be found but this was peace so he hoped that the noise would be discounted as something else, or ignored. It was and they came out of the vent behind a pile of boxes at floor level. He thanked his lucky stars for that. He didn't relish the thought of trying to get Relena and Binky down from an overhead vent grill. Heero took point and led them from behind the boxes, shot a glance around the bay to find the door to the shuttle and headed for it at a quick trot. Milliardo leaned down and scooped up Binky, tucking her under one arm like a football. They made it to the shuttle door before anyone even knew they were there, Duo made a note to send that bit of information to Relena's head of security. Even when they approached at a trot, no one tried to stop them. Relena grumbled, “I know we're at peace but this makes me very uncomfortable. I don't like how loose the security is. They should have seen us by now. What's going on? Where is everyone?” Wufei glanced around, saw a cluster of men and women and pointed. “There. Heero?” “Take Relena and Binky to the shuttle, get them inside. I'll deal with this.” He swerved towards the group, Duo at his heels. “No, Duo, you go with them. Milliardo, with me.” Heero approached the group silently, Milliardo right behind him. Duo followed Wufei and Relena to the shuttle. “Excuse me, but ...” Heero could just as easily have set off a grenade in the middle of the group they all flinched so hard. So instead of asking politely, he glowered and snarled, “So, just exactly what is going on here?” There was a scramble as the guards got lined up and at attention. Heero was slightly mollified, very slightly, when he realized that they'd all recognized either his face, his uniform or both. The slight widening of their eyes and paling of their faces let him know that not only did they recognize him, they recognized Milliardo. He didn't have to look at Milliardo's face to know what he looked like. He had to be in Lightening Count mode. Relena was his sister, after all, a danger to her safety had to have set him off, too. Heero turned to Milliardo. “Would you like to take over? Or should I explain exactly what has happened?” Milliardo nodded to the area behind the lined up security force. “See what was more interesting than Relena's safety, would you?” Heero stalked around the line and took a quick look. There was a tarp spread on the deck and pieces of some sort of gun were scattered over it in a messy jumble. “They're playing blindfold assembly.” Heero poked the pieces with one toe, “And not very well from the scratches and dings on this.” Milliardo just snarled. He stalked from one end of the line to the other, stopping from time to time to give someone a close look. No one shifted a millimeter. Milliardo, no, the Lightening Count, asked in a silky voice, “Who here is actually assigned to guard Miss Relena?” half the people raised their hands. “I see. So ... someone took it upon themselves to allow ...” he stopped to count, “eight unauthorized people into a secure area. Now, does this make sense?” Heads shook in unison, a clear negative. Heero smirked behind their backs. He was enjoying this enormously. He wasn't good at a dressing down although he could manage if he had to, he style was more 'shoot 'em all and let God sort 'em out'. Milliardo's ice prince act was priceless, and scary. “I'm glad it does, because I demand an intelligent reason why security was breached in such a shocking way. Someone? Anyone?” Milliardo looked from face to face and got no intelligent reply. He sighed. “Well, that's disappointing, to say the least.” Milliardo was about to go on but he was interrupted by the commanding officer of this squad. He trotted up and saluted. “Sir! Excuse me, sir. I'll take over here. You're wanted in the shuttle. Sorry to interrupt but ...” Milliardo raised an eyebrow. “Rest assured that they'll regret their actions. Profoundly.” Milliardo saluted back then bowed slightly. Heero just glared but he got a salute anyway. “Come on. We need to get to the shuttle, let their commanding officer deal with their incompetence. I'm done with them.” Milliardo's long legs carried him to the shuttle in no time, Heero kept up without seeming to trot, his shorter legs no disadvantage. Heero entered the shuttle first and went straight to Duo. Duo was holding Binky and petting her, and crying. Binky was whimpering and licking the tears off his face. Heero sighed and sat down beside Duo, put his arms around Duo's shoulders and cried too. Relena took in Wufei's pinched face and Milliardo's icy stillness. She realized that this was very stressful to all of the pilots present and sighed. She wanted Binky but she hated it that her pleasure came at so much pain for the others. But it was either this or hope the colony legal system worked. She wasn't inclined to trust it that much. “Duo, I'm so sorry this has happened. But you know I'll take very good care of her. I won't trust her to my aides, Doro or I will be the only ones to walk her, feed her, take care of her. I swear she'll be so spoilt.” Duo sniffled softly. “I'm sorry I'm being such a wuss. I just never had a dog or any pet. I hate to give her up. But ... we can't take her to Mina Hurr. I'd have had to give her up sooner or later. I'd like ... will you send me pictures? An' ... stuff.” Relena patted Duo on the shoulder. “I'll send you pictures and you can come visit anytime you want.” Heero smiled at Relena over Duo's bent head. She smiled back and handed him a handkerchief from her purse. Heero handed it on to Duo who wiped his eyes and blew his nose on the square of linen. He smiled a bit shakily. “Thanks. That's good. I don't know when we'll get a chance but I'd really like that.” Binky barked then licked Duo's face, nearly breaking his shaky control. Heero petted her on the head then sighed. “I'm so sorry, Duo. We could ... do something else. Something ...” He stopped talking when Duo touched his lips with one slightly shaking finder. “Shhhh. Don't be stupid, I'm just bein' a baby. I get to once in a while. The shrink said so.” Heero nodded. “Ok, but Relena really will take very good care of Binky. And I think she needs her now. Do you understand?” Duo glanced over at Relena and nodded. He handed Binky back to Relena, wondering when he'd wound up with her, and gave Relena a shaky smile. “Here, you be real good to her, hear?” “I do. I will.” Relena cuddled Binky in her arms and sighed. She really did want the little dog, public relations be damned. She was going to take her everywhere with her. And if she nipped a pushy politician once in a while, they deserved it, didn't they? The pilot of the shuttle stuck his head into the passenger compartment, saying softly, “Sorry to break this up, but it's time to go. We've only got a ten minute window. Say your good-byes, please.” Relena hugged everyone, Binky licking whatever flesh she could reach. Milliardo hugged her then kissed the top of her head. Duo hugged Relena then petted Binky, “Be a good girl, ok?” Heero hugged and petted then returned to Duo's side. Wufei bowed to Relena then stroked Binky gently. Everyone was upset but knew they didn't have anymore time. The pilots filed out the door, closed and locked it then went behind the track of the open blast doors. The doors closed, the shuttle took off and they separated for their trips back to their apartments. . Wufei sighed, “That was so bad. I feel like I've been ... cheated somehow. And poor Duo, did you see his face? I thought my heart would break.” Milliardo nodded into (W)ufei's hair. “Yes, it's so unfair. But, we would have had to give her up eventually. I'm glad Relena agreed to take her. Dorothy and she will take good care of Binky. They'll find that walking her is a good excuse to get exercise themselves and her security and aides won't have a chance. She'll just give them that blue-eye, Little-Miss-Innocence look and say, “But, I promised I'd do it myself.” They'll cave like wet cardboard. And good for her.” “I know, and that's the only comfort I find in this whole thing.” Milliardo settled more comfortably on the couch, he'd changed clothing the second they'd come into their apartment with Wufei not far behind. They'd both dumped the contents of their pockets onto the coffee table so both computers and both cell phones were close to hand when they began ringing, or in the case of the computers, beeping. Wufei picked up his phone while Milliardo started his computer. Wufei made a face as a recorded message told him to hold for the prosecuting attorney's office. Milliardo blinked as his email opened several windows at once. Wufei listened to his phone for all of three seconds then started yelling in Taiwanese, Milliardo recognized enough to be a bit shocked at the profanity. He focused on the first email. It was a subpoena telling him that he was to be available for testimony at a trial of one of the men who'd been arrested in the Galaxy Tours scandal. There was one for Wufei as well. As he paged through the emails he realized that there was one for each of them for every man, and woman, who'd been arrested. He wondered if Heero and Duo had gotten them too. He realized why Wufei was so mad. They wouldn't be going to Mina Hurr anytime soon. . Duo grumbled as he and Heero were heading for their, now, very empty apartment. “I don't want to go back there. What's there that we need?” Heero thought about that for a moment. “Not that much. We could get it all into two backpacks and a big duffel. But we don't have a duffel.” Duo pointed. “We got our uniforms there, why don't we just go see if they have the sort of duffel we need. I'm not real happy with the suitcases we have now. Feel all wrong. You know?” Heero nodded. “Yeah. What do you have on that sneaky little mind of yours?” “I really don't want to stay here anymore. We have stuff we need to be doing on Mina Hurr. Why don't we catch the next shuttle over and just go? I think I'd like that.” “How's your back feel?” Heero eased an arm around Duo's shoulders, hugging him slightly for mutual comfort. He was a great deal more upset about Binky than anyone other than the other pilots would ever know. “I feel good. Not up to a lot of strain, yet. But I'm not going to do anything to hurt myself. I don't need to.” Duo opened the door to the uniform shop and they went in. It didn't take them long to pick up two big duffels and pay for them. They returned to their empty apartment and cleaned it out in ten minutes. They met at the door. Heero glanced around while Duo prowled through the rooms, checking to see that they hadn't left anything behind. “We got it all? Everything?” Duo nodded. “Yeah, we have some more stuff, but it's mostly down on Earth. We'll claim it when we get settled?” He made a question of the last sentence. Heero nodded. “Sure. Most of it anyway. We better get going. And turn off all your electronics. You know we'll have to do it in the back-port sooner or later. It's better not to set off alarms when we're asking for a favor.” Duo grinned and turned off both his phone and computer, Heero did the same and they were out the door and on their way. They stayed close to each other and made it to the port in record time, mainly because Duo already knew the way to the port through the under-colony. When they started asking around for a transport to Mina Hurr they were told that there was one leaving almost at once. It had just come up from Earth with a super-secret shipment of equipment and was only laying over long enough to refuel. They could talk to the captain about getting a berth. So they hurried to the docking bay and managed to get a word with the captain. He just smiled at them and said that they were welcome aboard. Heero wondered why the captain had been so willing to take them but kept his mouth shut. It wasn't as if he was going to do anything to them, they could still take care of themselves. Duo let out a shout when he saw the logo on the side of the shuttle. It bore the WEI logo along with the logo of Mina Hurr. And the logo that meant it was a Neo-Gundam carrier. Heero grinned happily. Their neo-gundams were in there, on their way to Mina Hurr. It seemed fitting that the pilots went with their mecha. Neither Heero nor Duo would find out that they'd dodged a 'bullet' until much later. |
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