Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Family Ties ❯ Chapter 65 ( Chapter 65 )

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“Family Ties”

 

January 2007 ShenLong

 

Chapter 65

 

Duo spent a restless night, tossing and turning, his mind constantly running in circles in an effort to figure out some way of stopping Barton's plan. Despite the clues he'd left for Heero and the others, he knew it would be difficult for them to trace his whereabouts and he wasn't about to hold his breath waiting for the cavalry to arrive.

 

No, he had to do something about this situation.

 

Question was; what?

 

“You look like shit.”

 

“Thanks. So do you,” Duo replied.

 

Duric ran his fingers through his hair that poked out in all directions. “Seriously, you don't look too good.”

 

“I'm fine,” Duo snapped. In all honesty, he wasn't feeling too well. He managed to drag himself from the bunk and into the small bathroom. Closing the door, he looked in the mirror. “Maxwell, he's right, you do look like shit,” he muttered as he took in his reflection.

 

There was bruising still evident on his face from the interrogation he'd suffered at Zaheer's fists, his ribs still ached and his ankle throbbed from time to time. Looking closer he could see the dark circles under his eyes, his skin appeared a little sallow, or maybe that was the lighting? Turning the faucet on, he splashed the cold water on his face and then looked in the mirror again. The reflection hadn't changed.

 

With a sigh, he flipped the lid to the toilet and began to relieve himself. Finished, he flushed the toilet and washed his hands. He felt a little queasy in the stomach, but that was probably because he was in space again. It had been a while since he'd been out to the colonies, and even though he was on a satellite of sorts, the gravity still wasn't like that of earth.

 

“You're becoming soft, Maxwell,” he growled to himself. “Suck it up and get on with stopping Barton.” Pep talk over with, he straightened himself up and stepped back out to the small room.

 

“Breakfast is here,” Duric said as Duo appeared. He handed over a bowl.

 

Duo took one look at the bowl, spun on his heel and charged back into the bathroom.

 

“Are you okay?” Duric asked from the doorway.

 

“Uh,” Duo grunted and then heaved again.

 

Duric waited and watched as the other man continued to worship the toilet. When it became evident that Duo had finished, he handed over a glass of water.

 

“Thanks.” Duo took the glass and rinsed out his mouth. “Dunno what happened there,” he began as he pushed the sweaty bangs away from his forehead.

 

“I said you didn't look good.”

 

“I'll be okay,'” Duo grunted, “But I think I'll skip breakfast.” Just the thought of the porridge sitting in that bowl was enough to have him dry retching again.

 

“Maybe you should see the medic? They're bound to have one somewhere here.”

 

“No!”

 

“No need to snap my head off,” Duric snarled.

 

“I don't need to see a medic. I'll be fine.” Duo turned and climbed back onto his bunk, arm wrapped gently around his stomach. His conversation with Nurse Brown a week ago infiltrated his mind and as much as he didn't want to think about it, he knew he had to. It was a very distinct possibility he was pregnant again.

 

He gave a sigh and rolled over. This was the last thing he needed right now.

 

* * *

 

“Have you decided what you are going to do with the two prisoners yet?” Zaheer asked.

 

Dekim Barton looked up from his computer, folded his hands under his chin and thought for a moment. “One can be used to help train the troops. The other one, the one that used to be a Gundam pilot, I have a use for his skills in the mobile suit section.”

 

“Is that wise? You plan on letting an ex Gundam pilot loose with mobile suits?” Zaheer asked, his tone implying that Barton needed his head read.

 

“You dare to question me and my decisions?!” Barton thundered.

“No, of course not, sir,” Zaheer apologized, making sure to keep his voice sounding humble.

 

“Good. Let's keep it that way. Have the ex pilot taken to the hangar, I'll meet with you there in an hour.”

 

“Yes, sir.” Zaheer turned and left the room.

 

Barton watched him go, eyes narrowed. “Just remember your place, Zaheer,” he said under his breath. “Even you are not irreplaceable.”

 

* * *

 

The door to their cell opened and Young stood on the threshold, gun in hand. “You, come with me,” he said and waved the gun at Duric.

“Where are we going?” asked Duric as he stood up.

 

“You'll find out soon enough,” Young snapped.

 

Duo watched from where he was still lying on the bunk.

 

“What about him?” Duric asked and jerked a thumb in Duo's direction.

 

“Someone will be along for him shortly, now move!” Young waved the gun to indicate Duric had better start walking. With a backward glance, Duric stepped out of the cell.

 

The door closed and Duo was left by himself to contemplate what awaited him.

 

* * *

 

“Yuy, I think you should take a look at this.”

 

Heero looked up from the screen and frowned at Wufei. “What is it?”

 

“I have the report from the British base in relation to the delivery of equipment.”

 

Heero was out of his seat and standing beside Wufei in a second. “What does it say?”

 

“Read it.” Chang moved aside slightly for Heero to read the screen.

 

The Japanese man gave a low whistle. “Isn't that the same shuttle port on L2 that Duo was seen in?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“We need to access their log then, trace the incoming shuttles, deliveries and such.”

 

“I'll let the commander know.” Wufei grabbed the phone. “How is it going with the information you found?”

 

“There's quite lot there, but there's also a lot missing. Given the possibilities, I'd say the professor didn't publish all his findings for this very reason; the fact that someone just might try to put the theory into practice.”

 

“What do you suggest we do?”

 

“I'm hoping the professor is on his way in and I can question him.”

 

Wufei turned away from his fellow agent to speak in the phone. “Commander Une, please. It's Agent Fire.”

 

After a moment, the commander came on the line and Wufei explained their findings in relation to the cargo deliveries.

 

“I see. Chang, I need you and Yuy in my office now. Bring Air and Space with you. There's more information we need to discuss.”

 

“On our way, Commander.” Wufei hung up and turned to Yuy. “Une's office, now, there's new information and we need to pick up Barton and Winner on the way.”

 

Heero nodded, saved what he was working on and closed the computer down.

 

* * *

 

Trowa gave a wide yawn and scratched his belly. He glanced across to Quatre and smiled to himself. The blonde appeared to be nodding off at the computer. Getting up from his chair, he stretched and walked over to his lover. “Any luck?”

 

Quatre turned his sleepy eyes to his husband. “Not a freaking thing.”

 

Trowa's eyes widened a touch at the words and he let go a small snicker.

 

“I don't know if you've had any luck, but all I can find is he disappeared after the start of the war, no one seemed to know where he went or what he was up to,” Quatre sighed.

 

“I've managed to track him a little bit further than that. Once the war of AC195 was underway and it became obvious we were not sticking to his original plan for Operation Meteor, he went to ground on L3. From what I've dug up, he took the Serpent mobile suit from Oz and then completely vanished.”

 

“Well, that's little more than what I found,” Quatre said looking impressed. “I wonder if he still has the Serpent, and if so, what does he plan on doing with it?”

 

“Those are questions we need to find answers for.” Before Trowa could continue, there was a knock at the door and Wufei stuck his head in. “Barton, Winner, we're required in Une's office now.”

 

Trowa nodded,saved his information to disc and shut down the computer he was working on. Quatre did the same.

 

“What does Une want?” Quatre asked as they walked down the corridor.

 

“She said she had more information for us,” Wufei replied.

 

“How are you two getting on with the Firecell theory?”

 

“Better than we thought,” Heero stated. “I'll give you both all the run down when we speak with Une.”

 

“Okay.”

 

* * *

 

“The agents are here as you requested, ma'am,” Felicity advised via the intercom system.

 

“Thanks, send them in, please.”

 

Four agents entered the commander's office and took seats facing the desk, expectant looks on their faces.

 

“Gentlemen, I have some further news and I'm afraid it's not good.” Une looked at Yuy specifically as she took a breath and then continued. “I sent Agent Dust out to bring Professor Hawkins in for questioning. The professor cannot be found.”

 

Yuy's brows furrowed, Chang looked slightly stunned whilst Winner and Barton simply blinked and looked confused.

 

“What do you mean, he can't be found?” Heero questioned.

 

“Agent Dust went to the professor's recorded address, there was no one home. The neighbors were questioned and said that it was not uncommon for the professor to be away for days at a time. Dust went to the University and spoke with the professor's students and fellow professors. No one has seen him in over a week.”

 

“Is he out on a field study or something?” Wufei asked.

 

“I have Dust checking into all that as we speak.”

 

“Um, could anyone explain who this professor is and what relevance he is to this case?” Quatre questioned.

 

“During my research into the Firecell theory I came across a paper by a professor who is the leading expert in this field. The commander sent out a couple of agents to bring him in for me to talk to in regards to the Firecell theory,” Heero informed the other two.

 

“Only he can't be found.” Trowa stated. “That figures.”

 

“Seems that for every minor breakthrough we get, there's another whopping great brick wall following it,” muttered Quatre.

 

“It would seem that way,” Chang agreed.

 

“Then I suggest we get out the pick axe and break through that wall,” Une stated with a glare.

 

“Commander, I seriously doubt that Dust will find the professor. Either he is away on a field trip or away for some other reason. I'd like permission to confiscate all paperwork, hardware and software belonging to the professor that may be of relevance to this case.”

 

Une raised and eyebrow.

 

“I'm hoping that the professor's notes will help me to find a weakness in this Firecell theory.”

 

“I'll get the appropriate paperwork drawn up immediately and advise Agent Dust to bring it all in.”

 

“Thank you, Commander.”

 

Une turned her attention to Wufei. “I have an agent on L2 acquiring the logs from the shuttle port Agent Night was seen at. We should have the information through at some stage in the next twenty-four hours.”

 

“Thank you.” Wufei paused for a moment. “If I am correct in my thinking, these parts, circuits and such that have been purchased using the Barton account are most likely being used to set up a computer and program capable of running this Firecell. A lot of it is specialized and specific electronics, not the normal, run of the mill stuff one would usually purchase when building a computer for general use.”

 

Quatre suddenly sat bolt upright in his seat and gave a soft gasp. Everyone in the room turned to look at him.

 

“You okay, Quatre?” Trowa asked, his concern evident in his tone.

 

“Trowa, cast your mind back to the hard drives on the senators' computers,” Quatre said.

 

Trowa did just that ad frowned. Then his eyes lit up with a measure of understanding. “You think?”

 

“I'm positive.”

 

“Excuse me, but would you two care to share whatever it is that has you all excited?” asked Une with a touch of sarcasm.

 

Oh, sorry Commander. I just remembered that when we were going through the files and such on the computers brought in from the senators' offices we found some information there that didn't make much sense,' began Quatre.

 

“You're not making a whole lot of sense now,” growled Wufei.

 

“Let me finish,” Quatre snipped.

 

“Please, enlighten us,” sniffed Wufei.

 

Ignoring the Chinese man, Quatre continued. “As I was saying, we came across some information that didn't appear right. It seemed the senators were researching various systems.”

 

“Systems?” questioned Heero. “What sort of systems?”

 

“Things like communications, transport, energy supplies,” Trowa said. “I found quite a bit of stuff on Wainright's hard drive to that effect.”

 

“Both Wainright and Richardson are missing,” Quatre mused.

 

“As are the police chief and inspector,” Wufei added.

 

“Now the professor is missing too,” Trowa tossed in.

 

“My gut is telling me all this is tied in together; and Duo is caught in the middle of it all,” Heero finished.

 

“Well, this is just fucking wonderful.”

 

Four eyes widened and looked to their commander.

 

Une shrugged. “It's the stress of the job,” she offered by way of apology.

 

Before anyone could say anything further, the intercom buzzed.

 

“Yes, Felicity?”

 

“I have Agent Summer on the line, ma'am.”

 

* * *

 

Summer finished looking over the paperwork and smiled at his team. “Well done everyone. You all put in a tremendous effort on this case and I appreciate all your efforts as I'm sure the commander will too. Now, all of you, go home and have a well deserved rest.”

 

The team all murmured their thanks, a little uncomfortable with all the unexpected praise from their team leader, but pleased none the less.

 

Picking up the folder with the reports safely inside, Summer went for the phone and placed his call to the commander.

 

“Summer, you have something for me?” Commander Une's voice came down the line.

 

“Yes, Commander. We have finished our investigation into the house the body was discovered at.”

 

“Summer, can you please bring your findings to my office. I have the other agents that are working on this case here now and I'd like them to hear what you have found and answer any questions they might have.”

 

“As you wish, Commander. I'll be there shortly.” Summer hung up and grabbing the folder, left the Forensics labs for the commander's office.

 

Une turned to look at the four agents. “That was Agent Summer, the head of forensics. They have completed their investigation into the house that the body was found in. He's on his way here with the report.”

 

“I take it that Sally was the one to do the autopsy on the body that was found?” asked Wufei.

 

“Yes, she was and she's given me her report. The man was killed by a gunshot wound to the head. He had evidence of other gunshot wounds which were inflicted earlier and had started to become infected.”

 

“Any ID?” Wufei questioned.

 

“Yes. He was identified as Paul Murphy.”

 

Heero looked up sharply. “Wasn't he one of the people identified by fingerprints as being at the place Duo, Keitaro and Nurse Brown were being held?”

 

“Yes.”

 

A knock sounded at the door and Une bade the person to enter. Summer stepped inside the room and nodded to the agents.

 

“What have you got, Summer?”

 

Summer took a seat and opened the folder. Picking up a sheaf of papers, he began to read aloud the teams' findings.

 

“Evidence collected from the scene shows there were a total of thirteen people in the house at any given time. From fingerprints and DNA collected from the scene we have managed to establish who those people were.”

 

When the war had ended and a fragile peace established, the ESUN in its wisdom had taken to creating a data base that contained the fingerprints and or the DNA of every person alive in the earth sphere and colonies. Whilst many had objected to such a data base being compiled, it had gone ahead anyway and had proven its worth many times over. Only certain government bodies were allowed access to the data base, and even then it was strictly controlled. Fortunately, Preventer was one organization that did have access when the occasion was warranted.

 

“Thirteen people?” Heero growled.

 

“Yes, thirteen.”

 

“But there were only five seen at the shuttle port,” Wufei stated.

 

“Agents, please let Summer finish,” Une interrupted.

 

Wufei and Heero bit their tongues and nodded for the agent to continue.

 

“Those people are as follows. Paul Murphy, who we know is deceased. Andrew Duric, Colin Farrow and Agent Night. Those four were also at the previous residence where the child and the nanny were located. We then have some new individuals. David Young, Kevin Tewson, Shane Peterson, Frank Matthews and a Zaheer.” Summer paused for a moment. “Then it gets really interesting.”

 

“How so?” asked Une.

 

“Well, I got the team to double check as I wasn't sure myself to start with, but the facts came back the same. The remaining four people were Senator Wainright, Senator Richards, a Detective White and one Inspector Carrol.”

 

“I fucking knew those cops were in on something corrupt,” snarled Wufei.

 

“That just proves what we suspected about the senators too,” Heero added.

 

“Then it seems they are all working for Dekim Barton,” Trowa said.

 

“It would make sense,” Quatre began as his mind ticked over. “I have a theory here,” he stated and looked to Une.

 

“Please explain, I'm most interested to hear it,” Une replied. Her own mind was scrambling and figuring things out but as yet she hadn't connected all the dots.

 

“We know that the senators were siphoning off funds from L2. We also know they were researching into the various systems such as communications, transport and such. Then there's the bank account the money was transferred into belonging to Dekim Barton. We also know that money was used to purchase equipment that is associated with building computer drives and such. Then add the message from Duo about Barton and a Firecell to the mix.”

 

“But what about the kidnapping of Duo, Keitaro and Nurse Brown?” asked Wufei.

 

“And the murders of the two ambassadors and Jefferies?” added Summer.

 

“Gentlemen, I think the kidnapping and the murders were part of a separate group, one that somehow posed a threat to Dekim Barton's plan,” Quatre mused.

 

“So you're theorizing that Duo and the others were kidnapped by one group and it was that group that ordered the assassinations of the ambassadors and Jefferies. They were somehow getting into Barton's way and so he's moved in and eliminated the threat by murdering and kidnapping the first group plus Duo,” Heero reiterated. “It makes sense to me.”

 

“I have to admit, it does explain quite a bit,” Summer admitted. “And if this theory turns out to be fact, then I'm sure we will be able to acquit Agent Night of any charges of murder that may be brought against him.”

 

“That might well be, everyone; but there were only five of these people seen at the L2 shuttle port. Where are the others? And more importantly, where is Dekim Barton?” Une questioned

 

“Oh, fuck.” Trowa dropped his head.

 

“Trowa?” Quatre questioned.

 

“Wufei, when you were investigating the bank account of Barton and the invoices for items purchased, didn't you say there were armaments amongst the purchases?” Trowa asked.

 

Wufei frowned and thought back. “Actually, yes. Now that I recall, there were armaments also on those invoices. Why?”

 

“Shit!”

 

“Agent Air, what is going on in that head of yours?” Une demanded.

 

Trowa looked to his husband and Quatre paled as he suddenly remembered what Trowa had said earlier.

 

“Ma'am, during our investigation into where Dekim might be, where he went after the war broke out, I found something that could now make more sense.”

 

“What is it?”

 

“Once Dekim found out we were not continuing with Operation Meteor as planned, he went to ground on L3. He also took with him a Serpent Mobile suit.”

 

~ * ~

 

tbc...