Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Family Ties ❯ Chapter 68 ( Chapter 68 )

"Family Ties"

 

January 2007 ShenLong

 

Chapter 68

 

 

Quatre explained all his research and findings, including the scrap collection from during the war and theory on that. Trowa added his part to the explanation, his investigation into where the shuttles may have disappeared to after losing contact with the L2 shuttle control.

 

“Given all the various parts that have been purchased by Barton, the large amount of scrap collected from the war and the disappearance of the shuttles, I think they are all tied in together. It's my theory that Barton has purchased the scrap metal, had it smelted down and recast into the larger parts necessary for building a mobile suit. With the remainder of the items shipped out there would be enough materials to build around three hundred mobile suits. We also know that Barton disappeared with a Serpent suit which gives a strong support to the theory of building these suits. He could be using the Serpent as a blueprint.” Quatre finished his speech and looked to the commander.

 

“If what Quatre theorizes is true, I'm pretty certain that these shuttles with their parts have been going to the abandoned mining satellite known as XRB 23. It's a pretty wild guess, but Barton is hiding out somewhere and with all the evidence we have, whilst circumstantial, you have to admit is possible that this is where Barton is. Either that or he could be on L2.”

 

Une frowned as she took in all the details presented to her. “It does sound possible and all the information you've dug up certainly points more to the satellite than L2.”

 

“There's only one way to be sure,” Quatre said quietly and looked to the commander. “We need to send a team out to that satellite and investigate.”

 

“I see your point, but I'll need to think on that a little more before deciding on a course of action,” Une replied and before Quatre could protest, she turned her attention to Yuy. “What have you and Chang managed to discover?”

 

“It's been pretty tough going, it would be much easier if we could talk to the professor, but having gone through what I can of his files and the information on the computers and discs, I think I may have found a way to stop this Firecell,” Heero said softly.

 

Une's eyes lit up a little. “You can stop it?”

 

“In theory, yes. In practice...” Heero swallowed. “In practice it will take quite a bit of time, more than I think we have.”

 

“What is it you propose?”

 

Four people eagerly looked to Heero.

 

“This Firecell in theory works by infiltrating the many computer systems and taking over the programming. I'm not sure if you're at all familiar with the codes used when programming systems?” Heero looked around at the faces.

 

“Not really,' Quatre offered as no one else was speaking.

 

“Okay, I'll try to explain it in as simple terms as I can. Computers run on programs, these programs consist of a binary code; doesn't matter whether it's simple email, the home computer, transport grids or even the telecommunications network, the basis for the computer is the binary code. This code uses a file system, predominantly the NTFS file system, although there are others too, such as the FAT and FAT 32 files.”

 

“All systems use this code and file type?” Une asked.

 

“Yes, they do. If what the professor has researched is correct, a person, if they're smart enough, can program a virus which when downloaded into the system will change the basic, file system to respond only to the command of the person who has released the virus; in effect, taking over control of everything.”

 

“Then we're pretty much screwed,” Trowa said.

 

“Not entirely.”

 

“Agent Day, explain yourself, please,” ordered Une.

 

“In a nutshell, the Firecell virus will convert all the NTFS, FAT, and FAT 32 files to one master code, a code only it will be able to control.”

 

“But you said you think you have a way to stop it, correct?” Wufei questioned.

 

“Hai. If the computers aren't using a NTFS file or one of the other two file systems, then the virus will have no effect on it.”

 

“And this will help us how?” asked Une.

 

“We need to reprogram with a different file system.”

 

“What sort of system? And is there one?” Trowa questioned.

 

“Actually, yes, there is another system. It's not well known, in fact, it's only just starting to be tested. It's called the EXD 4 file system and according to theory, it is completely immune to viruses.” Heero glanced around to see how his words and information was being accepted.

 

Everyone was looking a little confused.

 

“Let me see if I can explain the theory. This EXD 4 file system is not cluster based like the other file systems, it also uses a very in depth encryption. When it codes, each singular item, letter or number is encrypted 256 different ways. It would take a very long time to hack, infect and take control of that sort of deep encryption.”

 

“Agent Day, this information is all well and good, but you yourself said this file system is only being tested at this stage. How do we know it will work?” Une asked.

 

Heero lowered his eyes. “We don't know for sure that it will work, but I'm afraid we're out of options. If we don't try it then Barton will surely succeed with his Firecell. If we do try it and it doesn't work then we're still in the same position; but if it does work...”

 

“I see your point.” Une rubbed her temples. “You can do this reprogramming?”

 

Heero nodded. “I can, but...”

 

“I don't think I like the sound of that `but',” Quatre muttered.

 

“But, just think of all the systems in the earth and colonies. There are thousands of them, some are the same, others completely different and many have variations. It's not as simple as just typing in a new files system, files have to be converted, information and programs altered. It would take quite some time to accomplish.”

 

“How much time?” Une's eyes narrowed.

 

“We would be talking months to change all the systems over.”

 

“Shit!”

 

“Like I said, we're pretty much screwed,” Trowa repeated.

 

“What I'd like permission to do, commander, is to change the Preventer system over. If I can reprogram the Preventer system then at least we will still be able to function, the Firecell shouldn't infect our systems.”

 

“Providing this new system works,' Une added.

 

“Hai.”

 

Une thought about Heero's words and had to conclude that they really had nothing to lose. If it didn't work then they were still in the same situation - but if it did...

 

“Agent Day, you have permission to reprogram, I'll clear it with the main frame for you to have complete access and cooperation of all programmers. I'll also inform my superiors of what is going on.”

 

“Arigato.”

 

“When can you start?”

 

“I'll get on to it first thing in the morning. I'll need to take some of the information from the professor's computers and the files home with me to fully prepare if that is okay?”

 

“Take whatever you need. I also expect you to keep me fully informed of your progress.”

 

“Of course.”

 

What about this satellite and the shuttles?” Quatre asked.

 

“I agree with you that it does warrant investigation.” Une paused, locked in thought for a moment before continuing. “Agents, all three of you be prepared to move out tomorrow. I'll take this further and brief you in the morning. Yuy, you're to remain here and reprogram,” she added when she saw the look appearing on Heero's face. “Now, gentlemen, I suggest you pack up and go home, it's past knock off time and you all have a lot to do before tomorrow. All four of you report to me at nine o'clock tomorrow morning. Dismissed.” Une turned her attention away from the agents, clearly letting them know she wasn't going to discuss the matter any further.

 

Heero stood up and followed the others from the office, clearly not happy with the turn of events.

 

* * *

 

Duo spent a restless night, his mind constantly running in circles trying to figure out what he could possibly do to sabotage the mobile suit program. Whatever he did, it would have to be small and untraceable.

 

It wasn't going to be easy to slip a little something into the programming without the knowledge of those around him.

 

Hearing Duric beginning to stir, Duo rubbed wearily at his eyes and sat up.

 

“Fuck. We're still here,” Duric muttered as he sat up in his bunk.

 

“Where else did you think we would be,” Duo responded, the sarcasm evident in his voice.

 

“I had hoped it was all a bad dream.” Duric ignored his cell mate and got up to go to the bathroom.

 

With Duric in the bathroom, Duo got up himself and grabbed his clothes from the day before. They hadn't given them anything fresh to change into so Duo pulled on the jeans and did them up. He frowned as he noticed they were a little snug - and not in the places where he liked them snug. Undoing the braid of hair, he quickly brushed it out and re-plaited it before pulling the t-shirt over his head.

 

Duric exited the bathroom and Duo took his turn. His stomach was feeling a little queasy, but nothing he couldn't handle - providing they didn't bring breakfast around in the next few minutes.

 

Stepping out of the bathroom, Duo found he was out of luck. The breakfast tray had arrived whilst he'd been busy relieving himself. Warily he approached the tray on his bunk and gave a soft sigh when he spotted a couple of slices of toast and cup of black tea. Their hosts didn't stretch to milk and sugar by the looks of it.

 

“It won't bite you,” Duric sneered as he watched Duo surveying his breakfast.

 

Duo snorted and ignored the jibe. He picked up the cup and took a sip of the tea, hoping it would settle his stomach. It was a touch bitter but did slide down easy enough. Duo opted to sip the rest of it before attempting the toast.

 

Seemed that today was going to be a bit better than before and he managed to nibble at one slice of toast and keep it down.

 

“You going to eat that other piece?”

 

Duo shook his head.

 

“Mind if I have it then?” Duric reached out and Duo passed him the slice of uneaten toast. “What's up with your appetite?” asked Duric.

 

“Nothing, I'm just not all that hungry right now,” Duo replied. It was a white lie, he knew, but he couldn't risk his condition being found out. “You remember what I said about recon on the troops?” he questioned, changing the subject.

 

Duric glared. “Yes, I do. Don't forget your side of it either.”

 

“Don't worry about me, I'll come up with something.”

 

Conversation was cut then as the door opened and their captors came to take them to their respective areas.

 

* * *

 

“Heero, is there any further word on Duo?” Nurse Brown asked as she greeted the tired agent at the door to the mansion.

 

“No, there isn't. We have had a couple of breakthroughs in the case itself though and we may be a step closer to locating him,” Heero replied. “Where is Keitaro?”

 

“He's in his playpen in the lounge,” replied the nurse.

 

Heero nodded and headed for the lounge room and his son.

 

“Have you managed to cope okay?” Quatre asked politely as he followed Heero inside, Trowa and Wufei behind him.

 

“Not too badly,” the nurse replied honestly. “I've had to ask Siska for help on a couple of occasions, but generally I've done all right by myself.”

 

“I'm sure she wouldn't have minded, she does love children,” said Quatre with a smile.

 

“I'll go through to the kitchen and start cooking dinner,” Trowa said and disappeared in that direction.

 

“What are the breakthroughs? Margaret asked the remaining two agents.

 

“We will fill you in over dinner if you don't mind waiting. I really need a shower,” said Wufei and walked towards the stairs and the suite he was using whilst currently staying at the mansion.

 

“That's fine,” Margaret replied.

 

“Don't worry, we are getting closer to finding Duo and getting him back,” Quatre informed the nurse. “We will let you know all we've learned so far over dinner. Now, I'm going to pay a visit to my nephew and then take a shower myself. We have a lot to do tonight.” With those words, Quatre left the nurse in the hall to try to figure out what was going on.

 

Keitaro gurgled and held out his arms when he saw his father enter the lounge room. Heero's face lit up with a soft smile as he reached into the playpen and lifted his son out to cuddle him in his arms.

 

“Have you been a good boy, Keitaro?” he asked the child.

 

Keitaro giggled and did his best to grab a handful of Heero's hair. Heero managed to keep his head clear of the child's questing fingers and reached up to tickle the small ribs. Keitaro let fly with a loud laugh and brought his hands up to try and push Heero's fingers away. They continued in their game for a minute or two before Heero felt his hip getting a little damp beneath where he rested the child.

 

“I think someone needs a diaper change,” he told the child.

 

Still chuckling, Keitaro managed to grab one of Heero's fingers and held on tightly, curling his own hand around the digit and trying to bring it to his mouth.

 

“Oh, yuk, you don't want to chew on that,” Quatre teased as he stepped into the room from where he'd been watching the pair. “You don't know where it's been, Keitaro. Uncle Trowa is cooking you something far better tasting than that dirty finger.”

 

“I'll have you know my hands are perfectly clean,” Heero snipped. “I most certainly wouldn't put my child at risk by practicing unhygienic habits.”

 

“I know, Heero. I'm only teasing.” Quatre shook his head.

 

“I'm sorry. I shouldn't have snapped at you,” Heero apologized.

 

“It's okay, Heero. I know you're under a lot of stress with Duo missing; but we will get him back. I know we will.”

 

“How can you be so sure?” sighed Heero.

 

“I can feel it, in here.” Quatre touched his heart. “Now, why don't you go change him whilst I have my shower? I'll watch him then so you can take yours and by that time Trowa should have dinner on the table and we can discuss what we are doing tomorrow.”

 

“Okay.”

 

* * *

 

Trowa had once again managed to conjure up a delicious meal from the basic ingredients he found in the `fridge and had hoped he could get Heero to eat at least half of his serving. Unfortunately, Heero simply picked at his food, opting to feed Keitaro instead. No one bothered to berate the man, they all knew how empty and hollow Heero was feeling without Duo; hell, they all felt lost without the braided man in their midst!

 

“What is this breakthrough you've been saying you've had?” asked nurse Brown as she took in the solemn faces around the dining table.

 

Quatre and Trowa took the conversation over and gave the nanny a brief, yet concise run down on what they had discovered and the hunch they had. Wufei then took over and explained as best he could what Heero had found and what he proposed to do.

 

“Well, I must say that sounds like a large leap forward,” stated Margaret. “If anyone can locate that missing ball of energy I know it will be all of you.” She tried to lighten the mood a little, but it wasn't successful. “What is the next step from here then?”

 

“Heero will remain at Preventer HQ for the moment and try to reprogram the system with this new one in an attempt to prevent this Firecell from getting into the Preventer database and taking it over,” Wufei answered.

 

“What about you three?”

 

“We plan on going out to this satellite and check it out, see if the theory we have is correct and it was used for the production of parts from war scrap. We also need to see if it has been in use at all lately; it's one of three possibles that the shuttles and their contraband could have gone to,” Quatre informed her.

 

Nurse Brown chewed on her bottom lip for a moment. She was worried, concerned for the four men here and their roles in this saga; but she was also worried for Duo and his probable, pregnant state. “I sincerely hope you find what you're looking for evidence wise and that it does lead you to where Duo is. I know I don't have to remind you all that time is not on your side.” In fact, the nurse thought to herself, time was of the utmost importance. If Duo was pregnant again then he would be into roughly his fourteenth week; and that meant he would be starting to gain weight and his belly would enlarge. Once that started to happen it wouldn't take long for someone to notice and then it would all be over for Duo.

 

* * *

 

“Are you planning on going to bed any time soon?” Wufei asked as he placed a coffee mug at Heero's elbow.

 

“Hn. I've almost finished here,” Heero replied and absently picked up the mug and took a sip. “Arigato.”

 

“What are you doing exactly?”

 

“I've finished with the basic program run for converting the files and I've just set it to convert everything on my system.”

 

“Ah, a sort of test run?”

 

“Hai. I'll know soon if the program works in converting all the files to the new system.” Heero sat back in his chair and rubbed his weary eyes. He wanted to sleep, needed to, but it just wouldn't happen for him.

 

Seeming to know that Heero was having difficulty sleeping, Wufei lowered his voice a little when he next spoke. “I can ask Sally to give you something to help you to sleep if you wish.”

 

Heero looked up sharply. “I'm fine,” he snapped.

 

“No, you're not,” sighed Wufei. “You're not sleeping properly, barely eating and pushing yourself to the limit. This is not the war anymore, Yuy. You need to eat to keep your strength up and you need to sleep to keep yourself alert and functioning at maximum level. You're going to need to be in good shape when we find Maxwell and like this you will be no good at all to anyone.”

 

“I can't,” Heero whispered so softly that Wufei almost missed the words.

 

“Heero, it's not a weakness to admit you need help. I quite understand the reasons for your not sleeping or eating, but you need to get over that so you can function properly. Let your friends in, let us help you so that when we do find Maxwell you will be there and ready to bring him home.”

 

Sighing in defeat, Heero nodded. “I know, but it's so hard, Wufei. I miss him so much.”

 

“We all do.” In a rare display of emotion, Wufei put his arm around Heero's shoulders and gave him a hug. “I will speak with Sally first thing in the morning.”

 

“Arigato.”

 

“Now, Agent day. Off to bed and that is an order.”

 

Wearily, Heero shut down the computer and made his way to his bedroom, Chang having offered to set the security system and check the mansion was locked.

 

* * *

 

Duo rolled his shoulders to try and ease a little of the ache in them. Spending several hours just sitting in a chair, hunched over a keyboard soon made him aware of those tired muscles.

 

“What's up with you?”

 

Duo glanced up to see Tewson hovering over him. “Sore muscles. I need a break,” Duo replied.

 

Tewson grunted and looked at his watch. “I guess you can take an hour off for lunch.”

 

“I need to pee too.”

 

“Again?!” Tewson looked at the man in disbelief. “You've already had four bathroom breaks in the past three hours.”

 

Duo shrugged. “I have a weak bladder?” he offered.

 

“Just shut the fuck up and move it,” Tewson growled.

 

Duo got to his feet and with his babysitter, made his way to the now familiar bathroom. Tewson decided to wait outside. Stepping inside, Duo noted that one stall was occupied, so he stepped into the other one.

 

Resisting the urge to growl at his bladder for the tiny trickle it passed, Duo zipped himself up, pushed the flush button and exited the stall. As he washed his hands so a flush sounded, the other stall door opened and a tall man stepped out. Duo glanced sideways at the other person, he didn't seem to fit in with the rest of the people on this satellite. For one he looked to be far more educated and cultured. Curiosity getting the better of him, Duo finished washing his hands and cleared his throat.

 

“Excuse me?”

 

The other man looked up and Duo could read the resignation in the pale blue eyes. “Yes?”

 

The voice screamed 'education' and Duo was even more convinced this man didn't belong here. “Um, sorry to bother you, but what part of this project are you involved in?”

 

Frowning, the man thought for a moment. “I'm not supposed to talk about it, it's classified.”

 

Duo could hear the hesitation in the voice, read the fear in the body language and so he pushed on. “Yeah, I guess so, but we all seem to be working towards the same goal. I'm involved with the programming of mobile suits. You look to be more of the intellectual type so I'd hazard a guess you're involved in the computer side of things?”

 

“I suppose you could say that.”

 

“You don't sound very enthusiastic. “ Duo lowered his voice to a whisper. “I think I would be correct in the assumption that you're not here of your own free will?”

 

The man remained silent.

 

That gave Duo his answer. “If it's any consolation, neither am I.”

 

“You were forced here too?”

 

“Yeah. They have me programming mobile suits, another guy was taken to computers. I think he's supposed to be working on this Firecell thing of Barton's.”

 

The man's eyes widened. “You know about the Firecell?”

 

“Sort of. Barton did mention it to me, but I'm not completely clued up on all the intricacies, I just know it's not a good thing.”

 

“It isn't.”

 

“Name's Duo, by the way. Duo Maxwell.” Duo extended his hand.

 

The man took the hand and shook it firmly. “Hawkins, Professor James Hawkins. It's a pleasure to meet you Mr Maxwell.”

 

~ * ~

 

tbc...