Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Designed Memories ❯ The True face of the Preventer's ( Chapter 8 )

Ch 8: The True face of the Preventer's

 

A tender hand came to my back as my name was softly called.

 

“Why?” The meek question left me. “It's always the same. When is it my turn to die?”

 

The smack was hard to the back of my head causing me to snap my crying eyes up. “Don't you ever fuckin say that shit again Duo, never.”

 

“Sandman?” I was completely put off not expecting to see him, especially him, in this room.

 

“You get me Pitbull!” He had his hand cocked back.

 

“Yeah, yeah, never again.” I nodded to him seeing him blink away an unsaid emotion.

 

“Good.” He seemed suddenly uncomfortable as he looked around the room.

 

I wiped away the stray water on my face and the excess trying to escape my eyes. It was an awkward moment. Even I wasn't sure how to approach this one.

 

“This is stupid.” Apparently Charlie did. “I'm not going to pretend I know at all what's going on. The Preventer's didn't tell me shit and Jaster just starts crying and getting hysterical when I bring you up. Screaming some shit about Yuy turning you into some monster and making you cry, which I wouldn't have believed if I didn't see you crying like a woman just now, but stranger things have happened somewhere I'm sure.”

 

I looked away from Charlie. He was a great friend, but I wasn't built for sharing.

 

“I don't need to know what happened Duo. If you want to tell me fine, if not that's fine too. I don't need to know everything about you, none of us do. We like you for who you are, who you've been for the past five years. Whatever happened in your past, whatever is happening now, it's all things that have shaped you to the person you are and the person you'll become. All the guys are on bored for whatever that is. We don't need reasons, we just need you back.”

 

“So fuckin gay.” I sniffed the remnants of the tears away, giving him the smart ass reply to his heartfelt words.

 

“Stupid.” Charlie grunted giving me a smack upside the head. “Everyone's waiting for you so do whatever the hell you need to do and get out of here. I'm getting really fuckin sick of sleeping in that damn cramped ass lobby and Jaster needs to get back to school.”

 

“What?”

 

“Do I need to spell it out for you?” Charlie asked in a nasally voice mocking a deaf person as he did signs that had no meaning in sign language.

 

“Apparently you do.” I grunted back.

 

“Of course.” Charlie rolled his eyes. “You didn't really think L2 was just going to be okay with you getting taken in, specially by Yuy.” There was maliciousness in the name. “Half the damn Colony is on strike and picketing in and around the place. Fuck all the Steel Dogs are out in that lobby.”

 

“Even Adam?” I questioned.

 

“You really think your puny ass could do any serious damage to Jinks. You way overestimate your abilities.”

 

“You calling me a pussy?” I frowned up at Charlie who smirked.

 

“Oh why me? Boohoo.” Charlie faked a cry and did a girly whiney voice doing a terrible recreation of my state moments ago.

 

“Get away from me.” I snorted getting out of the chair I'd so recently fell apart in. It was all still there, all those emotions, but Charlie, all the guys, L2 itself was brining me back, reminding me of all the reasons I had to go on. Because life was like that, never stopping for anyone. When something was lost there was always something else waiting. It would never be the same, but nothing ever was. Time is always moving, the world constantly changing trying to keep up, and I had to keep on living. I pushed Charlie into the wall.

 

“Oh ow, the big stwong man is huwting me.” He teased on.

 

“I'm going to fuckin really hurt you in a second.”

 

“Ohhh, I'm ssso scurd.” He did a liberal shake of his body. “Oh I'm quaking with fear. Eek!” I tried to pull a wry face, but Charlie's cackle caught me and I had to give into laughter.

 

The door to the room opened, judge and jury arriving, aka Yuy and Chang. Two other Preventer's came in grabbing Charlie telling him he had to return to the front.

 

“You will be getting out today Pitbull.” Though he said the words over his shoulder to me, Chang and Yuy were the receptors for his callous glare before he was taken from the room. The three of us took our respective seats with Yuy and Chang, who was holding my file, across from me.

 

“You alright now Maxwell?” Yuy broke the silence.

 

“Of course not.” My eyes fell to Wufei. “How could I be after learning I lost Hilde and my unborn child?”

 

“I'm sorry Duo, but I felt you had the right to know. I didn't want you to find out from someone else. I had to be the one to tell you and to apologize for not being able to help her.” Chang said bowing his head. It wasn't out of maliciousness he told me, it was because he thought it was his fault she died. Chang was bred with honor and pride, which made him look at things different then most. In his mind Hilde's suicide was caused by his failure as a psychologist and because of this it was his duty to tell me and take on my anger and hate.

 

“I don't need your apology Chang.” Too bad I wasn't bred like he was. “It wasn't your fault. You didn't kill her, she killed herself.”

 

“We don't have to do this now.” Yuy said more to Chang than me.

 

“Just do it. It doesn't matter. There's nothing I can do about it anyway. I can't change the past and no amount of `what if's' will bring them back. I just gotta keep on living, that's all I ever do.”

 

Chang and Yuy were both quiet on the other side of me as they shared a look. Chang nodded to Yuy who was on the far side of the table next to the files. His hand pulled one of the large red files in front of him. I didn't care for the feeling I was getting. Those files had been in the room since I first got there two days prior. Why the hell would my analysis and judgment be in one of them and not in the file Chang was caring?

 

“We need your help Maxwell.”

 

I was speechless, looking at Yuy like just broke out in musical song and dance. “What?”

 

“I know you will be hesitant after everything that you've been through, but-“

 

“Whoa, whoa, whoa there Chang.” Both hands were up and my head shaking as I tried to wrap it around at the sudden turn. “You two…you two gotta be fuckin shittin me.” I trailed off not even sure where to start.

 

“I assure you we are not `shitting' you.” Yuy clarified extra emphasis on the profanity. I wiped my hand over my mouth and chin a few times before it formed a fist that rested against my lips as I tried to quell my rising anger.

 

“He's agitated Yuy. I think this is too much for him to take on today.”

 

“Oh no.” I pointed a livid finger at Chang. “Don't fuckin think for a god damn second you're gonna pull this shit on me and just throw me back in a fuckin cell for the night. Cause I'll tell you right now, I'll break out of that thing and break both your fuckin legs before the nights over.”

 

“He seems highly agitated Chang.” Yuy had a smirk on his face. My mouth dropped.

 

“Are you making a joke? Are you fuckin making a joke!” I couldn't even find the right words to lay into Yuy. Instead I stared off at nothing grumbling on in a stream of half thoughts and profanities.

 

“Let me explain what's going on Duo.” Chang said, while I was still in my own little world of red. “Someone is using the name God of Death and has been forming nearly all of the rebel groups that are springing up lately. Every time we dispatch one of his groups he already has another more violent group in the works. We've seen a steady rise in the aggressiveness of these groups since he made contact with us three years ago. The profile we've come up with in that time is vague at best. He's a male, ex soldier, age in the range of 18-45 who has a grudge against Yuy. As you can see you fit that profile, but as you also know we've been keeping a constant monitor on your actions. After today's session, I feel it's safe to say that you have no contact or involvement with this individual.”

 

By the middle of Chang's explanation I'd decided to tune in. “Let me get this straight. Then all this shit, me getting arrested and everything, was all to get me here so you could ask me to help you?”

 

“Yes.” Yuy replied.

 

“Are you two fuckin retarded?”

 

“I don't think you are focusing on what's important here Duo.”

 

“Oh no I think I am Chang.” I snapped at said man. “You really fuckin expect me to help you? Did you even think about this at all before doing it? First off, you dredge up all this shit from my past that ain't your fuckin business in the first place and throw it all in my face. You know I could have fuckin killed Yuy in that bar and that would have completely fucked your plan.” My anger switched to Yuy. “Secondly, you got me beatin on my damn friends and then lock my ass up and you really think I'm going to be all `okay, whatever you say boss.' Get the fuck out of here with that shit. I ain't doing a god damn thing for you douche bags. I fuckin hate you both; get the hell away from me.” I threw my hands up signifying I was done with them.

 

“We aren't asking you Duo.” Yuy stated. “Chang.”

 

Chang cleared his throat as he opened the file he had been caring. “The bar was you fifth act of violence this year. Your total fines up to that point were $20,000. Young was your fifth which is another $20,000. Adam as your sixth is $40,000. Then there is the fine for assaulting a Preventer's officer, which was your seventh at $80,000 for the attack and another $75,000 for his rank. Add to that your attack on Jaster. Now your eighth fine for $160,000, plus another $100,000 because he was a minor.” My abhorrence was focused on Chang as he flipped through some papers in the file.

 

“Here we are. Medical costs.” Chang looked up at me. “Itemized or cost per person?”

 

I looked incredulously at Chang's serious question.

 

“By person then. Lets see. Young set you back $1000. Jaster was $4,000 and Adam was $5,000.”

 

“Your total so far is $505,000.”

 

“Thanks Yuy, I got that.” I was surprised I could have such a biting tone as I was flabbergasted by the exponential rate per fine after the fifth. From owing 20 grand to half a mil. in just one night. Oh I was good.

 

Chang closed the file placing his hands over it as he looked up at me. “On the topic of your evaluation. You are an addict, suffer from mental instability, insomnia and have slight antisocial tendencies. You use sex and alcohol to exhaust your mind and escape the reality you refuse to face. You also bottle all the emotions you don't know how to express until someone hits your trigger then unleash all those feelings you can't come to terms with, all those memories you can't escape, blindly without any remorse for who you are attacking until something snaps that trigger back into place. Though these out bursts may be minimal, they are still a major cause for concern considering your training and background. Therefore I deem that you are a threat to society and to yourself. I would suggest rehabilitation for the drug and sex addiction, continued counseling and psychiatric treatment.”

 

“The evaluation fee is 150,000. Your total now is $655,000.” Yuy snuck in. I didn't say anything back, just kept rubbing my forehead with my left hand waiting for Chang to finish annihilating my existence.

 

“The 90 days of your rehabilitation would take place first, then you would serve your jail time. During that time you would continue your counseling and psychiatric treatment. All hours for counseling, treatment and rehabilitation will not be counted in your jail time and the cost for all will be added to your total.”

 

“Jail time?”

 

“The sixth fine is an automatic two years. Seventh five years and eighth ten years. Meaning you're up to 17 now.”

 

I had to laugh at Yuy. “So you're saying I got 17 years in jail along with $655,000 in fines yeah?”

 

“It's actually an even $700,000, with the damage to the bar.”

 

“What?” I was back to Chang. “There is no way fixing the bar cost $45,000. Hell the whole bar doesn't even cost that!”

 

“We set the costs.” Yuy said evenly.

 

“Well then why don't we just make it a cool million?”

 

“Why don't we?” Yuy glanced to Chang.

 

It was Chang's turn to give me a pained look as he spoke. “I'll note it.”

 

Me and my stupid mouth. My hands were balled into fists as I gnashed my teeth together. My fit died and my hands were rubbing over my face trying to come to terms with the corruption sitting contently across from me. “And if I agree to help you?”

 

“It's all dropped.”

 

It really all made sense why Yuy was head of the Preventer's. I was glad I didn't believe in God or the Devil otherwise I'd be pretty sure I was making a deal with the devil himself and his little fuckin henchman too. Though I don't think Chang realized what a great move he played on me. If Charlie hadn't been in the room earlier, if I didn't know all the guys were waiting on me, I would have cared less about being locked up and all the fines. But now I knew they were all out there, that they didn't give a shit what happened and wanted me back, they stopped their lives to come support me. Oh this sucked.

 

“Ah! Fine!” I said with a mass amount of anger.

 

“Good. You're apartment has been fitted with surveillance equipment along with the outside of the building. We have added surveillance into Charlie and Cliff Fitter's house, the bar's surveillance equipment has been updated and increased, and we've placed monitoring equipment on the surrounding buildings around your jobsite, but that is the only area we are unable to survey completely.” Yuy pulled a cell phone laying it on top of the file that was in front of him. “You will carry this phone with you at all times. It is unable to make outgoing calls and will be used for Chang or I to call you daily to check in with any information you have. Do not miss the call Maxwell.”

 

I raised an eyebrow at Yuy. “Hm, what would have happened if I said no?”

 

“You agreed.” Yuy said evenly

 

“Touché.” I said throwing my hands up in surrender. Guess he knew he had me and if he didn't, it didn't really matter anyway since I would have been locked up. “So now that you're watching everything I do, what the hell am I doing and what's going on?”

 

Yuy slid the other red file next to the first. “These files hold all the information we have, from the rebel groups to all the communications he's sent us. We know he's on L2 right now and that he is planning to contact you.”

 

I rolled my eyes at Yuy's explanation, which didn't answer either one of my questions. I was glad to see he had gotten so much better at doing that since the war because I was awesome at following vague…

 

“As I said earlier, this man has been forming rebel groups under the name God of Death.” Chang helpfully explained. “In the larger file Yuy has are all the communications he's sent us. He communicates via email and his messages are untraceable. We've had our best hackers try to trace it, but he's channeling them through too many different sources. Once you read them you will understand more, but for the time being know he is dangerous. He's able to persuade large groups of people to follow his whims; he's devious, intelligent, cunning and heartlessly cruel. In three years we have been unable to pinpoint his location at any given time, we cannot even assume where he may be or what he may be planning and we have no clues as to how to get in contact with him. He is a complete mystery to us at this point.”

 

“Yuy said you guys know he's on L2 and planning to contact me. Two questions on that. How do you know that and you got any idea why?”

 

“His last communication led us to both of those conclusions.” Chang answered

 

“Any idea where or when? Can I see this communication of yours?”

 

Chang looked over at Yuy who was not giving up the files. “As I said the communications are vague at best, but he did clearly stated he will be on L2.”

 

“So maybe he's just screwing with you. You said he was devious and conniving so maybe he's just throwing you off the trail.”

 

“We would believe that if it was anyone else mentioned, but he seems to have an unhealthy obsession with you hence why he goes by the name God of Death.”

 

I threw my hands up rolling my eyes. “Great. Now I'm idolized by some psychopath. What the hell did I get myself into?” I sighed the last to myself. “So, am I just supposed to sit around and wait for this crazy to come find me?”

 

“That's up to you.” Yuy said evenly, but I wasn't liking the way he was eyeing me.

 

Chang got up coming to my side taking the cuffs off me, Yuy and I still holding each others scrutinizing gazes. “The files are yours. You are free to go. Make sure not to miss a call. Your roll in this is vital to us Maxwell. Any information you can get will help not only us, but the entire ESUN.”

 

I stood up rubbing my wrists not even hearing Chang, too absorbed in my glowering contest with Yuy. “You look like you got something you want to say Yuy.”

 

Chang glanced between the two of us noting the tension in the air. “Looks can be deceiving, can't they?” Yuy countered

 

Chang's hand came to my shoulder as the frown took my face. “The hell is that suppose to mean?”

 

“Nothing at all.” Yuy stood up, bite to his words.

 

“You trying to start somethin?”

 

“I think I have every right to.” He snapped back pushing the two large files, with phone on top to me. My hands fell on them stopping everything from going over the edge of the table.

 

It hit me like a kick to the face; I glanced at Chang who looked away from me confirming my suspicions. Yuy knew the truth of what happened five and a half years ago. He knew it was actually me that set him up. How could I blame him? Hell I would have been mad as hell if it were me in his position. To add insult to injury I was the one making him out to be the asshole in the story and myself the victim. I figured it was alright considering what a prick he was most of the time. I mean how bad could I feel for him, it was my name that got ruined anyway. We were pretty even after this set up he got me with or so I reasoned.

 

“Yeah whatever.” There was no point to arguing over it and I needed to get to the Dogs and some drinks. I backed down from the fight picking up the two files plus phone and headed to the door. Chang walked with me as I left.

 

“He read the evaluation.” Chang used in way of explanation.

 

“Well I guess he would have figured it out someday, though I'm surprised you didn't tell him earlier.”

 

“It wasn't my place to say.” Chang with his honor, sometimes it was a good thing.

 

“Seems pretty mad about it. Didn't know he was such a sensey.”

 

“There is a lot of things you don't know about him.” Chang voice was cold.

 

“Yeah, I'm sure there is.” I said sardonically.

 

“Read over the files as soon as possible so you have an idea of what you're dealing with.” Chang said. I grabbed his arm before he could walk away from me.

 

“What makes you think he's not going to assume I'm working for you now that you arrested me?”

 

“I'm not sure if he will or not. The fact that so many L2 people are picketing and going on strike, even on other colonies, is in our favor. It gives us a reason to let you go. We were the ones that called the media in tipping them off about the bar. We wanted it to be public knowledge that you were arrested and by Yuy. We think it will be less likely for him to believe you would agree to working with us as it was Yuy and I that approached you. With your Anti-Preventer stance and your unwavering hate for Yuy, I and the rest of the pilots we feel it will be more believable your hate for both would increase. I believe that he will approach you sooner now that this had taken place. We are using the strike as the reason for our early release. Yuy will be giving a press conference later today on the matter. All basis are covered, it is up to you to be discrete and thorough on this case. We really need you help Duo. I'm not asking you as a Preventer. I'm asking you as a friend.”

 

“You're a real piece of work Fei.” I said with a grin letting him go. Chang wasn't that bad of a guy. Yeah we didn't share too much in common, but he was always cool with me. I wasn't even really mad at him. There wasn't many other ways the two of them could have got me here and to this point without underhanded tactics and as Chang clarified, I got all the pilots with my underhanded tactics a few years back.

 

“Good luck Duo.” Chang gave me a bow.

 

“Ha, save that shit for yourself. I don't think you have a clue what you just bribed your way into.” I grinned to him before heading out to the lobby. “Give me a fuckin beer!” I screamed to the mass of chanting people in the lobby with an array of signs with my name and the word free being demanded all over them.

 

Cheers surrounded me from a bunch of people I'd never seen before in my life along with a few more I knew quiet well. I only got about two steps from the door before I was tackled by a teary eyed, running nose, wailing Jaster. I tried pry the boy off me and was finally able to break free and get a breath in from his crushing hug. I was about to pick up the files where I lost them on the ground when I was suddenly elevated and swung around like the chew toy of a Boston Terrier.

 

“Put him down Cliff!” Charlie yelled saving me from the crushing abuse, er I mean hug, from Cliff.

 

My feet hit the ground and were off it again in a second. I was suddenly actually feeling that metaphorical hit to the stomach Yuy gave me back in the bar. My watering eyes and equally watering mouth both turned up to see the twisted smirk on Adam's face. He didn't look any worse for the wear. I guess Charlie was right, my sissy ass couldn't do a lick of damage to that motherfucker.

 

“I owed ya that shit. Good to have you back man.” Adam said.

 

“Yeah Jinks. Thanks.” I wheezed out as his hand left my stomach and my knees hit the ground. Good call on Adam to hit me when no Preventer could see me.

 

“You did deserve that idiot.” Charlie said putting an arm under my shoulder.

 

“Files. Need the files.” I grunted out reaching for one of them as Charlie had me half up. He let me down I grabbing one and he the other.

 

“The hell are these?”

 

“Long story.” I grunted. “Beer.”

 

“Fine. Come on guys! O'Brien's is waitin!” Charlie yelled and was followed by a mass of other yells as a troupe of us Steel Dogs and then some, went to our home away from home. All the guys on the crew letting me know they were glad I was back and me glad to be back as we trained it to our destination.

 

I had to laugh as L.T. was one of those heading back. Guess O'Brien's had closed down during my time away. It was good to know that L2 basically stopped when I was gone.

 

L.T. opened the bar once we got there, the place looked perfect like nothing at all had ever happened there. A mass of tables were pushed together for our large crew the beers immediately started flowing. Charlie was on one side of me and Jaster clinging to the other looking like any second he was going to lose it to tears.

 

“Hey Jaster, I'm really sorry about everything.” My words sincere.

 

Jaster sniffled. “I don't like Yuy.” Was his reply before he buried his head in my chest.

 

“It's okay Jaster.” I said back wrapping an arm around him ruffling his hair with the other hand.

 

“I swear to god that kid never runs out of tears.”

 

“He must get that from your sissy ass huh?” I snickered to Charlie.

 

“Oh yer one to talk. Heard you were cryin like a babe when Sandman saw ya!” Tank threw in.

 

“The hell I was.”

 

"Yeah then why your eyes all puffy?" Adam smirked.

 

"It's fuckin pink eye!"

 

"Whoa, whoa, getting defensive are we? You know that's a sign of guilt."

 

"You're a fuckin sign of guilt!"

 

Charlie didn't even bother to reply, just raised an eyebrow pursing his lips at me.

 

“Aw its okay Pitbull we know you were all scared and lonely without us.”

 

“Ha, fuck that 6-Inch. Oh yeah, remind me I got some numbers for ya while I was locked up. Everyone got excited when I said I knew a shaved guy.”

 

The table was roaring.

 

“The hell you talkin bout Pitbull?” Mickey threw out.

 

“Eh? These jackasses didn't tell ya?”

 

“I think they had enough of a crisis to deal with.” Charlie defended. I had to nod, he had a point.

 

The group of us filled Charlie and Mickey into the conversation they missed. When something occurred to me. “The hell is Young?”

 

“Fuck that little shit.” Mickey growled.

 

I smirked. “Ah, you can his ass.”

 

“Didn't have ta. Little peckerhead quit. Works for them Preventer's now.”

 

“The fuck he does. Kid ain't gonna do shit till his ass gets out the hospital.” Yoshi said gripping his fist in hand.

 

“Best two g's I ever spent.” Joey added.

 

“Aw, you fuckin two. Nice.” I said as we clinked our glasses together and drank the night away.