Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Counting the Seconds ❯ Chapter Seventeen ( Chapter 17 )

DISCLAIMER:  Get the point.  GW characters are Not Mine. Period.

Counting the Seconds

By Scilja

Chapter Seventeen

"Ah, hell with this!"  Duo slammed the phone down and glared at it in fury.   How many more shareholders were going to renounce?  How many more people were losing their trust? 

He pounded a fist against his desk, "How much more shit can I take?"

They were getting nowhere at this rate, only losing more by the second.  A tired breath was exhaled. 

He needed coffee.   Now. 

Duo ambled over to the percolating coffee machine in the corner of his office.  'Wonder if Heero pissed off Zechs yet,' he stirred the spoon blindly and sipped from his mug. 

For the entire time being of yesterday and today's whole morning, all that happened were more and more losses.  Their clients were getting perturbed at the risk of ZW plunging so those further lead to several changes in plans.  The media was taking exuberant advantage of their current meddle, scooping out whatever fib and twist they can shake out. 

The staff of the ZW organization was scrambling their brains out to keep as much as they can in tact.  Faxes, beeps, clicks, calls, and rushing of feet rumbled in the building.  Every tick of the clock was not wasted.   

Worst of all, the perpetrator was nowhere to be found.

Little was known of Trieze's whereabouts.  The last he had seen him was before he they had departed for Hawaii to promote the hotel.  The history with this particular employee did not pose as any threat to the firm.  Kushrenada had been treated equally as any worker who labored in ZW, so it was befuddling to wonder what could have set him off to resort to such means.

He stood up and looked out at the city from his window, hoping the scenery would give him an idea.  'If I were a no good cheat, were would I hide?'

Then it hit him.  "Quatre!"  Duo shot up at the thought.  Since his blonde comrade was working alongside TMG on a project, the connection could give him some hidden bits.

He grabbed his car keys and dashed out of the building.

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Heero weaved speedily through the traffic on a slick motorcycle.  He needed to talk to Quatre - fast.  He was not going to throw away what Relena risked to tell him.  That itself almost killed her.  The fact that one of his own employees would betray him was infuriating.  He was going to find that bastard and give him a piece of his mind.  The handgun he placed along his belt gave the sureness to pry information out of that sneak.

He scowled darkly.  Trieze was going to be one dead man. 

Seeing the light ahead was close to turning red, he revved up the motorcycle, nearly missing a head on encounter with a passing car.  He did not slow down when the building of Winner Enterprises came into view.  Screeching to a halt, he jumped off the transport, removed his helmet, and bolted through the doors.

Through the lobby he went, past the flustered secretary - in which he was grateful that she remembered him to be Quatre's friend to spare him more wasted time, straight up the elevator to the third floor.

As if there was no time to spare, he rushed towards the corridor that led to his destination.  Nothing could have stalled him in his path until he heard voices nearby.  A very familiar one at that. 

His fast pace reduced to a more unhurried one as he eyed the door that was adjacent to that of Quatre's office.  Noting that there was only one tone, the person was either speaking to a phone, intercom, or if he was plain insane - to himself.

He stealthily pressed up against the wall and inched closer to catch more of the conversation.  When the word "ZW" was spoken, Heero froze in his place.  The onslaught went on further until he heard the speaker utter the name "Treize Kushrenada." 

That was enough for him to barge through the door, one arm swiftly rose with the gun cocked and ready in hand.  

Turning around, the man yielded whatever words he was about to say into the phone he held. 

A dark expression shaded across his features upon recognition of the anonymous speaker.

"Trowa Barton," he gripped the handle of the gun tighter, "you have two minutes to redeem yourself."

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"Duo!  Did you get all that?"

"Loud and clear, Quat.  You just made my day," the Co-ordinator spoke into the head set, his vision trained solely on the road.  "But how did you know?"

"He approached our office not too long ago with a folder containing info about an aircraft," Quatre replied from the video monitor on Duo's car, "And from what I've heard with ZW in danger with an anonymous leak, that was suspicious enough for a connection to make."

"Always the brains, Quatre," he stepped on the accelerator which gave the extra boost that shortened the distance to his target.  The loud vroom of the engine followed the burst of speed.

"I might have thought that if he couldn't work out with ZW's competitor, who coincidentally happens to be our partner for this project, then he would go for the other half of it.  So he showed up in our doorway."

"You are a godsend, blondie," Duo scanned among the cars in front of him to keep an eye on a certain red vehicle.  His hands gripped his steering wheel tightly, "Can't let a snitch like that get away.  So do me a favor and buzz the police for me, will 'ya?"

"Sure, Duo," the young heir replied, "be careful out there, got it?"

"Yes, sir!" he grinned triumphantly as he was now a mere three feet away from his goal. 

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The red car sped down the secluded mountain side with a cloud of dust trailing its wheels.  He glanced repeatedly at the rearview mirror, his nervousness growing each time he did so.  At a sharp turn, the vehicle made an abrupt stop.  The driver of the car swore in a panicked reaction when he realized that he had come to a dead end. 

There a line of police cars blocked his path, their red and blue lights flashed together in a sync warning before him.  Several uniformed officers kneeled in position with weapons directed his way.  He looked back to the rocky wall of a cliff that mocked of his loss.  He was trapped.

A black car sped up behind his and screeched to a full stop.  He turned around when he heard footsteps from behind and blanched at the menacing figure that came closer.  His hand gripped the steering wheel tightly, palms sweating while fingers clenched and unclenched to the unsteady pace of his own heartbeat.

Adorned in dark clothing, it was as if he appeared from the very shadows of the world.  The grin plastered on his face looked as sinister as the smile of Death himself.  His eyes hid behind dark shades.  The man was silently relieved he didn't have to confront such wickedness from those orbs.

Walking with masterful stealth, Duo approached Treize, the grin never fading from its place.  His braid whipped about him wildly as he came to a stop beside the opposite end of the driver's seat.  He glanced down at the interior of automobile, eyeing a passport and several personal identification documents. 

The tall figure bent to pick up the papers while peering over his sunglasses, "Going somewhere?"  His coworker flinched as he chucked it aside, finally revealing those flashing cobalt depths.  "I think you might want to stay a while." 

"Maxwell," Treize spat angrily.

"You lying bastard. Is this the loyalty you return to us when we've treated you with nothing but respect and credit?" Duo grit his teeth, holding in the fury that build the more he looked at his ex-employee.

"Credit?" Treize stormed out of the car seat and slammed the door before facing his supervisor, "Credit?  Do you think I was offered that?  If I had, would I be bidding off my work for a better set?" he retorted harshly.  "I hated it there.  Ever since Yuy came in, he screwed it all up.  Something was always stuck up his ass and I just happened to be on the receiving end of it every time.  Tell me, after years of devoted service," he lashed out, "where the hell is the respect in that?"

"Funny you should say that, Kushrenada," he pointed an offending finger, "but ZW managed to keep up its rep with Heero's lead."

Treize ground out, "I wasn't gonna put up with Yuy's shit.  I decided to take it to someone who would actually appreciate it!"  He emphasized his statement with his chin up.

Duo fumed, "Did it then?"

A harsh grunt was the only answer.  The braided man leaned back, crossing his arms, "Cinches it, doesn't it?  Even the so called 'others' didn't take it!  That says something about you, Kushrenada.  Not Yuy, but you."

"Bull!  The old guy gave me the credit I deserved.  I was good at what I did.  Then Yuy came into the scene and everything burned down with him."

"The former CEO needed to retire.  He was past his prime and he knew it, granted he chose Yuy to take the job.  He saw potential in him, knowing it would bring ZW to greater heights, and last time I checked, it sure damn did."

"Hah!  Heero was his great-grandson!  Of course, granddaddy would give it to the kid.  And that's just it, he's a kid!"  Treize hollered.

"No wonder you hate his guts, you don't even see him as an equal man!"

"How could a boy run the company?  Everything I did was fine until he came along!"

"Not true, even the old man warned us that you were slipping," Treize stumbled at that.  "Heero was giving you a helluva chance to pull yourself together.  Those times when you thought Yuy acted like an ass?  Here's news for 'ya, he wasn't trying to put you through misery at all!" 

"Quit sticking up for him!"

"Don't try to twist my words!  He would've kicked you out a long time ago, but he knew you had it and he gave you that extra push for it.  Did you take it?  No!  You threw it away like the scum you really are." Duo's voice grew to louder tones, "All those times he told you to revise the work?  He wasn't reprimanding you for it; he wanted to discover what you had to offer!  And when he was expecting certain standards from you?  They weren't to place restrictions against you, but they were guidelines to what was needed!"

He was far more frustrated now, "Hell, you don't even deserve to be given the time of day to hear all the reasons Heero did."  Duo leered, "I know I would've fired you like that," his fingers snapped with emphasis, "but unlike Heero, he actually had the tolerance to put up with it!"

Bombarded with the attack from his previous supervisor, Treize fumbled for words but was unable to come up with none.  He was the picture of a man fallen to defeat.

Seeing this, Duo smirked, "Well, well, nice change of plans, isn't it?"  Placing his hands into the pockets of his pants, he reached for his sunglasses again, "Get 'im, guys."

The police men sprung into action, immediately circling the flustered Treize Kushrenada.  

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Trowa wisely eased the phone down while one hand rose in the air to signal his co-operation.  "Yuy, don't do anything you'll regret."

The jab caused the ZW CEO to glare heatedly, "Don't tempt me, Barton," he gritted, "I'm on the verge from all the crap I've been through.  It would be smart for you not to make any smart-ass cracks.  Now talk."

Heero peered at the array of materials on the desk behind Trowa.  His expression darkened even more upon seeing a ZW seal and the red letters 'MODEL 8199' labeled on the side. 

The taller man quickly noted the murderous gleam, "I know what you're thinking, and I'll tell you it's wrong." 

He did not lower his arm the least bit.  Though most of the fallen bangs hid half of his face, Heero decided that Trowa looked much too calm for his liking.  "What are you playing at?  Why the hell do you have that info of ZW's aircraft on your desk?  And more importantly, how did you get it?"

"I am not playing anything.  The ZW folder on my desk was given to me by none other than one of your own employees," Trowa calmly answered.  "Would you happen to know one by the name of Treize Kushrenada?"

He took Heero's expletive curse as acknowledgement, "He dropped by to show what he had to offer.  It did not take long for me to realize that he was the same man that had ZW on a thread.  However, I am surprised that no-one was yet able to catch him.  Even more so that he was able to come here undetected."

"Why is the folder still with you?"

"I do not intend to deal with it in anyway."

"That's a load of crap, Barton," angry sparks flew from narrowed slits.  "Is that the best you can do?  When you have the key that could send you to the top?  Spare me the lies and throw the truth."

"That is the truth," Trowa replied crossly, "Treize came here and attempted to sell his profile to Winner Enterprises.  I assume his first effort failed so he decided to turn it over to Quatre.  My part in this is entirely out of place."

He glowered, "Now you're bringing Quatre into this?  How do I know he wasn't selling to you?"

"Yuy, like I said before, I have no use for the profiles.  Believe what you want, I stand by what I said."  He eyed the man challengingly, "At least be man enough to face the facts and take on reality."

That earned Trowa to be hauled against the desk by an enraged Heero Yuy. 

"What the hell does that mean?"

His lips tightened, "When things don't go your way, you don't accept it or adapt to the changes.  No, you seem to like sticking to the inevitable."

With the gun still in Heero's hand, his other one fisted along the collar of his shirt, Trowa continued, "I know that you and Relena met two years ago.  Now before you jump into conclusions to how I know this, she is my friend and talks to me about bits and pieces of her life.  She has even told me a bit about you, Heero."

He almost faltered at the mention of his name. 

"What I did not expect to come across someone like you is your disregard for the finer matters.  It is obvious that your encounter with her two years prior still means something to both of you.  The expression on your faces back at the grand ball in Hawaii proves that.  Yet, even after two years and given the chance to sort things out again, you are not by her side."

Trowa took on a fierce look, "Quit stalling, Yuy.  You've done enough of that.  And now with her in the hospital, where does that lead you?  More ignorance?  More stupidity?  Be a man, for once, and face it!  Have more trust on others!"

Heero looked ready to kill.  "You -"

Whatever he had to say was stopped short when a man barged into the room and rolled into a kneeling position.  "Put the weapon down and release the man."

Both men turned to the sound of the new voice to see a man, with jet-black hair slicked back in a small ponytail, bent on one knee with a gun pointing towards them.  A few more police officers scurried into the room. 

"Heero!  Stop!  Release Trowa!"  Quatre came rushing in, breathless as if he had been running for miles. 

With a stern grunt, Heero let go of Trowa and dropped the gun to the floor. 

Quatre looked warily between the two, "What is going on?  Heero, why were you holding a gun?  Trowa, how did you get on the receiving end?"

Trowa stepped forward, "Calm down, Quatre, it was all just a misunderstanding.  He came here and saw the ZW folder on my desk and assumed that I had accepted Treize's proposition."

"Hey now, buddy!  You don't have to worry about that anymore!"  A new face wearing a cheeky grin sauntered in.

"Duo."

"Aw, you don't look too happy to see me!  But you should be 'cause I got great news for 'ya."  He tilted his sunglasses pass the bridge of his nose and peered over them, "We got Treize."

The gut feeling churned unwelcomingly inside him.  Heero furrowed his brow, "Where is he?"

He threw a thumb over his shoulder, "Back at the police station, cuffed and questioned as of now."  He spotted the gun on the floor, "Were you planning to do a little bit of your own questioning?"

"No, I mistook Trowa for buying off the profile of ZW when I saw a folder on his desk."

A brow rose, "Probably the one that Treize had."

Duo's response was a grunt.  He rolled his eyes.  'This one is grim as usual.'  "But a gun?  Isn't that a bit farfetched?"

Heero remained impassive, "Intuition." 

The Marketing Producer shook his head in exasperation.

"You suspected Trowa of thievery, Heero?" Quatre questioned.

"I was on my way to talk to you about Treize when I overheard him speaking on the phone.  When the words 'ZW' and 'Treize Kushrenada' came up, I had a suspicion that Trowa was talking with Treize and was planning to accept the profile for the aircraft."

Quatre blinked dubiously, "Heero, aside from being a business consultant, Trowa is a lawyer."

It was Heero's turn to look deadpan. 

Duo howled with laughter at the expression of his friend's face.  "Man, you screwed up."  The glare he received only made him laugh harder.

Trowa placed his hands in his pocket.  "I was speaking with the police on the phone, not Treize.  I was informing them of about the incident.  Quatre had left to the police station to provide information about Kushrenada.  At the same time, he was directing Duo and the police to seize Treize."

Heero nodded, finally comprehending.

The police officer stood up from his knelt position, "Well, that about clears things up.  We'd better get back to the station."  He hooked the gun on his belt.  Reaching for Heero's own, he pocketed it.  "There will be no more use of this, Mr. Yuy.  I won't press charges for possession of a weapon, but I'd better not catch you with one again."  He then turned to his squad and ordered them to file out.

Before leaving, he flipped a card over to Quatre, "Keep me updated of anything new."

"Thank you, Officer Chang." 

He nodded and went on his way.

"Trowa," Heero addressed with newfound respect.  Trowa's earlier assault of words had hit almost on target.  He no longer saw him as anything but a sensible person.  He extended his hand.

Trowa accepted with a firm handshake.  "Yuy."

The man then spoke in a lower volume so only he could hear, "Listen, Heero, as a close friend of Relena, she trusts me enough to confide in me.   Sometimes she doesn't say much because she dislikes pouring out her problems to others.  She feels it to be a burden to them."  Green eyes glinted sharply, "Relena is selfless that way.  She points out things indirectly.  Her spirit is the strongest when it comes to what her heart believes in." 

Eyeing Heero carefully, he resumed a casual stance, "You know what to do."

To that, Heero gave an affirmative grunt. 

Whistling low, Duo wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, "What a day.  Still a lot left to clean up."  He started to head out the door with a retreating wave of his hand.   "Catch 'ya later, Trowa, and Q', thanks.  Heero, I'll meet you back at ZW right after I get myself a good milkshake."

TBC…