Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Family Ties ❯ Chapter 103 ( Chapter 103 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The team rig up the camera for Barton to broadcast and persuade him that he'd better speak. But things don't always go to plan.

Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Drama / Hentai / Romance / Suspense / Angst | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 10.24.2010 | Pages: 10 | Words: 9.4K | Visits: 249 | Status: Work In Progress

“Family Ties”

January 2007 ShenLong

Chapter 103

[Satellite XRB 23 - Control Room]

“I'll contact Trowa and Quatre and let them know the good news,” Duo said with a grin and pulled his communicator from his pocket. “Shuttle 221, this is Agent Night, do you copy?”

Trowa heard the crackling of the communicator and grabbed for it. “Night, this is Air, I read you loud and clear. What's going on?”

“Trowa, Heero and Hawkins have done it, they've managed to reverse the Firecell,” Duo crowed.

“Yes!” Trowa cried. “Have you informed Une?”

“Roger that. Wuffers has just finished speaking to her. She called Sally on her cell phone and the telephone systems are all back up and running. We assume all the other systems are either back on line or will be very shortly.”

“That's great.”

“We have orders from Une to have Barton ready for a broadcast to earth...” Duo outlined what had transpired between Wufei and the Commander.

“Quatre is still over on the other shuttle finishing off the diagnostics checks. I expect him back here very shortly,” Trowa informed.

“Nothing too seriously wrong I hope?”

“The other shuttle appears to be working just fine so we have some form of transport off this floating rock. I've almost finished the inventory of supplies needed to fix this transport shuttle. Once Quatre gets back we'll both go over it and then send it through to Une. Should be much quicker now all systems are back up and running.”

“I'm with you there, buddy.”

“How long until you four are back here?”

“Unknown at this stage. Trowa, one of us will report in again soon with further updates. I'd better move, Une wants Barton ready to broadcast shortly and I think he's going to need a little persuading.”

“Roger that. I'll wait for your contact. Air out.”

“Thanks, Trowa. Night out.”

With that pressing issue now out of the way, Duo returned to the rest of the group and the still unconscious Barton.

* * *

[Mansion]

Sally jumped when her cell phone suddenly rang. Margaret gave her a surprised look, Sally shaking her head in reply. She didn't know what was going on either. Fishing around in her pocket, she pulled the cell out, her eyes widening when she noticed it was fully functional again. “Sally Po,” she said.

Margaret watched as Sally answered her cell, her surprise growing when she realized it was Commander Une on the other end. Whilst Sally was in conversation with the Commander, Margaret fetched her own cell from inside her purse and flipped it open. Her mouth hung open when the screen lit up indicating it was fully functional. That could only mean one thing...

The Firecell was no longer operational.

With a huge smile growing on her face, the nurse headed towards the television set and turned it on. The screen glowed and then cleared to a few static lines. Obviously it was back up and running but the broadcasting company hadn't yet caught up with that knowledge.

Sally finished her call and closed the cell. Then she gave a loud whoop of joy.

“They did it, Margaret! They managed to arrest Barton and Heero has reversed the Firecell. Everything should be getting back to normal!” The doctor grabbed the nanny in a bear hug, tears glistening in her eyes.

“That's wonderful news,” the nanny replied, her own tears of joy running down her cheeks.

“I don't have all the details yet; Une didn't have time to explain much as she's got a lot to deal with right now...”

“I'll bet she has,'” Margaret muttered.

“But she will call back as soon as she can and let me know what she wants me to do.” Sally paused to take a breath, the reality of the situation still sinking in.

“We have to tell Harim and Raphel,” Margaret stated. “Oh, just how long do they think it will be before everything is running as it did before? How are they going to let the people know?”

“I don't know, Margaret, Une didn't say, but I'm guessing that as things do come back on line, the people will discover it for themselves. It will be a bit hard to ignore things like the electricity and such.”

“Good point.”

“We still need to remain vigilant though. We don't know how long it will be until things are safe out there.”

“I assume there will be some sort of broadcast, either by the television, radio or the like to let the people know what's going on?”

“I'd assume so,” Sally replied. “Let's go tell Harim and Raphel the good news.”

* * *

[Outskirts of the City]

“Preventer communications, this is Agent Sapphire.”

“We read you, Sapphire. This is Oak here.”

“Can you let the Commander know I have the box she requested and I'm just on the outskirts of the city. I'll need assistance to get back into Headquarters as there's still quite a few unfriendlies out here.”

“Roger that. Hold on for a minute, Sapphire. I'll page the Commander now.” Oak turned to Sky. “I have Sapphire on the comm; can you get the Commander, please?”

“Sure.” Sky put the call through to the Commander's pager. Seconds later, Une called in.

“Sky, you paged me?”

“Yes, Commander. Agent Sapphire is on the line. He's on the outskirts of the city and requires assistance to get back into headquarters.”

“Sky, get the coordinates from him of where he is and tell him I'll have a couple of agents out there as quickly as I can to bring him in.”

“Will do, Commander.”

“Just one moment, Sky.” Une turned to the agents in the conference room and asked for two volunteers to escort Sapphire and his `cargo' into headquarters. Moments later she had her volunteers. “Sky, inform Agent Sapphire that Agents Spice and Pepper will be coming to assist him. They will contact him with an ETA shortly.”

“Roger that.”

“Thank you, Sky.”

“No problem.” Sky relayed the information to Oak who passed it on to Sapphire.

Sapphire replied with his coordinates and then set about hunkering down out of sight until the other agents could get to him. Around him he could hear the people and strained his ears to learn more of what they were talking about. He could only catch snippets, but that was enough to let him know that this Firecell had somehow stopped working and things were returning to normal.

People were cheering, running around and giving off excited yells of joy as slowly but steadily their world began to return to normal. The power grids all came on line, supplying necessary power once more to homes, businesses and every other sector that used it. The transportation sector was one of the first to come back on line after the telecommunications. Traffic lights began to work again, air traffic controllers at shuttle ports and airports alike had their computers come back to normal and their instruments start to function. The banking and economic fields soon followed that and then the broadcasting companies began to transmit once more.

The broadcasts consisted mainly of anchor persons all trying to discover and report what had happened to return the world they knew to them, but no one had the answer just yet.

Sapphire knew though, but he wasn't about to say anything. He had a more important task ahead and so he remained hidden away as best he could, waiting patiently for Pepper and Spice to escort him in.

* * *

[Satellite XRB 23 - Control Room]

“How did Barton transmit his messages before?” Zechs asked.

“He obviously has some way of transmitting from here on the satellite,” Heero mused.

“He has some equipment here that allowed him to do it,” Hawkins offered from where he sat, slumped in his chair. He was feeling quite exhausted now. The strain of reversing the Firecell combined with his injuries and blood loss were beginning to take their toll.

Heero cast the professor a worried glance. “We need to hurry things along and get the professor to proper medical help.”

“I'll ask the techs,” Duo offered and walked over to where Farrow sat. The man looked up as Duo's shadow fell across him and he whimpered. Duo cracked his knuckles - just because he could. “How did Barton transmit his messages to the earth and colonies?” Duo growled.

Farrow whimpered a little louder. “I - I don't know. I wasn't a part of that.”

“Who was?” Duo demanded.

Farrow looked like he was about to burst into tears. “The head tech should know,” he said and nodded in the direction of a tech who was cradling a bloody, bandaged hand and doing his best to look anywhere but at Duo or the others.

Duo's eyes narrowed and he moved to stand before the tech Farrow had indicated. “Name?” he demanded.

“C- Craven.”

“Craven, do you know what Barton used to transmit his messages to the earth and colonies? Before you answer, may I remind you that lying is not an option. I will find out regardless of whether you tell me or not, and I suggest that unless you want your health to deteriorate any further, you best tell me.”

“There was a camera and equipment just to the back of the room,” Craven replied, the defeat evident in his voice.

“Good boy.” Duo hauled the tech up. “Now, you can help us set it all up.”

Craven was bodily dragged to where Heero and the others were watching, Heero taking over and followed by Wufei, dragged the tech to where the equipment was supposed to be.

It took a couple of minutes to locate everything amongst the debris and fortunately the camera was intact. However, the computer it had been attached to was not. It took another fifteen minutes for Heero, Hawkins, Wufei and Craven to rig the camera up to another computer and get the thing working properly.

“Time to wake Barton for his broadcast,” Heero stated.

“Oh, let me do the honors, please,” Duo said with a glitter in his eyes.

“Just as long as it's only you and not Shinigami,” Heero replied with a snicker.

“Don't worry, Shinigami is safely in his box,” Duo replied with a grin and set off across the room to wake Barton.

Barton remained unconscious; the cords Heero had used to bind him were still in place, although they weren't too tight considering the man's injuries. He sat slumped against one of the desks, the slow rise and fall of his chest the only sign he was still alive. Approaching, Duo felt his lip curl into a snarl. He'd like nothing more than to finish Barton off, to make him die a slow and painful death for all the trouble he'd caused. Because of Barton many people were now dead; fathers, sons, husbands, brothers, uncles. Because of Barton, the people of the earth and colonies had lost everything they held dear to them and were currently rioting out of fear. Barton had a lot to answer for and deserved to die.

Unfortunately, Duo wasn't allowed to make that decision, he had to play it by the book and orders were orders, even if he didn't agree with them. He kicked Barton's leg with his foot.

“Time to wake up, asshole,” Duo growled and gave another, not too gentle kick.

Barton grunted and then gave a yelp as the pain of the kick registered. Instantly he was awake - and regretted it immediately. Pain from numerous other injuries about his person made their presence known and his mind scrambled to process where he was and what was happening.

“I said, get up. You have a date with a camera,” Duo snarled as he grabbed hold of the front of Barton's shirt and pulled the man up.

“Fuck off,” Barton snapped.

“Not just yet, I'm afraid. You see, you have an audience awaiting, one whom you terrified the living daylights out of and now it's time to apologize to them for that.”

“Never.”

Duo's eyes narrowed and he pushed his face closer to Barton's. “I can always let Shinigami back out to play with you and convince you otherwise,” he said, his voice low and threatening. Those violet eyes began to darken again, promising the release of the creature from hell itself.

“You can't hurt me, I know the Preventer rules, you can't kill someone without proper cause, it would also be a violation of the Geneva Convention to kill a prisoner,” Barton growled with a lot more conviction than he felt. His body began to shake as he saw the flames beginning to appear in those purple eyes.

“I think you had best comply,” Wufei stated as he appeared beside Duo and took the trembling form from the other agent. “I have several ways of inflicting pain upon a person without leaving so much as a mark.”

A soothing hand on Duo's back soon had Shinigami retreating before he could fully appear and Duo gave his husband a grateful smile.

“We will tell you again for the last time, you will make a broadcast to the earth and colonies alike, telling them that the Firecell is destroyed, everything is returning to normal and for all your troops, here and on earth to stand down and surrender to the Preventer organization,” Heero gritted.

Wufei placed a hand upon the pressure point by Barton's collar bone, Barton winced a little and sweat broke out on his forehead. Wufei applied a little more pressure, Barton grit his teeth. Wufei dug his fingers in - Barton howled with pain.

“Okay, okay, I'll broadcast,” Barton hissed out and then slumped as Wufei released the pressure.

“Good. This way.” Wufei pulled Barton along with him to where the camera and equipment had been set up and shoved him into a chair.

“How do we know he will say what we want him too?” Duo asked, the cold glitter still in his eye.

“Easy,” Wufei replied with a smirk and sat on the floor out of the camera range and placed his fingers against the pressure point on Barton's ankle. He gave a soft push and Barton jerked, a small whimper of pain leaving his lips. “I'll be right here throughout the broadcast. If he so much as twitches in the wrong direction I'll apply the pressure.”

Duo snickered. “You're one sadistic bastard, Wuffy.”

“And you will find out just how sadistic I can be if you don't start using my proper name, Maxwell.”

Duo put his hands in the air in mock surrender, but the smile never left his lips.

“I'll contact Une and let her know we're ready to broadcast whenever she gives the word,” Zechs offered. With Wufei keeping the prisoner on track and Heero needed to operate the broadcasting equipment with Craven, that only left Duo free and Zechs could see by the look on the agent's face that Maxwell fully intended to stay by their prisoner in case he was needed.

“Thank you, Wind,” Heero replied and took up position by the console with Craven at his side.

Zechs pulled his communicator out and pushed the button.

* * *

[Preventer Communications]

“I'll get the Commander now for you, Agent Wind,” Forest said and spun in his chair. “I need the Commander immediately,” he called out to Sky.

“On it,” came Sky's response. He quickly pushed the pager number and a couple of seconds later, Une responded.

“Sky, what's up?”

“Agent Wind has called in, Commander.”

“Thank you, Sky. I'm already on my way so I'll only be a minute or two, quicker if this damn elevator would move its ass.”

“Ah, roger that, Commander. I'll have a head set ready.”

“Thanks.”

“You get that?” Sky asked as he turned to face Forest.

Forest grinned. “Sure did.” Turning back to the console, he spoke to Wind again. “Commander is on her way, Wind. Should be with you in a minute or so.”

“Thank you,” Zechs replied.

There was a long stretch of silence, then Forest couldn't take it anymore. “You guys have reversed that Firecell the Commander said.”

“Yes, the Firecell has been successfully reversed, everything it affected should be returned to normal by now.”

“You guys deserve a medal,” Forest couldn't help but say.

Zechs chuckled. “Just doing our duty, agent.”

“Yeah, well... Oh, here's the Commander now, Wind.”

“Thank you, Forest.”

Une entered the room that was fast becoming a second home to her and grabbed the head set Forest held out to her. Sitting in a chair, she addressed the agent. “Wind? What is the latest?”

“Commander, Barton is conscious and everything is ready for the broadcast that you requested. When would you like it to take place?”

Une scratched her head for a moment. “As soon as we can I'd say. Look, give it five minutes, Wind. If you can have the broadcast beamed directly here, I'll have a couple of the techs relay it on out to the earth and colonies on the universal wavelength, that way we can be certain that just about everyone will hear it.”

“Roger that, Une.”

“Stay on the line, Wind. I'll get these techs organized now and let you know once they're all set to go.”

“Okay. I'll let the others know what is happening. Wind on standby.”

Pulling the head set from her head, Une looked at the four techs. “You all heard what I said?”

Four heads nodded the affirmative.

“Then get ready to receive the signal and have it relayed back out,” she snapped.

Forest remained on the airwaves, monitoring them whilst the other three set to the task of bringing the machines on line they would need to receive and then relay the signal from the satellite. Fingers typed furiously over keyboards as the programs were set in motion. Four minutes later and everything was ready to go.

“We're all up and running, Commander,” Oak informed.

“Thank you.” Une slipped her head set back on. “Wind, do you copy?”

“I copy you, Commander.”

“Programs are ready to go. You can begin to transmit as soon as you wish.”

“Roger that, Commander. Stand by to receive transmission.”

* * *

[Satellite XRB 23 - Shuttle 121]

Quatre sealed his helmet in place and took a deep breath of the stale tasting air. With the small unit in his hand, he opened the hatch and stepped out and back onto the surface of the satellite. The shuttle faded from his vision and with a check of his immediate surroundings, Quatre set off for the other shuttle.

Crossing the satellite surface, he made sure to keep his eyes peeled for any sign of downed pilots. He didn't think he would have any trouble; no one had tried to stop him when he'd made the trip earlier and he wasn't expecting any trouble now. But it paid to be vigilant.

The transport shuttle lay ahead and Quatre could see some of the damage done to the outer skin of the craft. There was no way it would be flying back to earth as it was. It needed some serious work before it would be going anywhere.

It only took a couple of minutes and Quatre was back in the safety of the transport shuttle. He decompressed, shed the helmet and practically ran through the corridors and back to the cockpit. Trowa gave him a warm smile when he appeared.

Placing a kiss to his lover's lips, Quatre then plunked down in the copilot's seat and let out a sigh.

“I've almost finished compiling the inventory to send through to Headquarters,” Trowa stated.

“Good. I just want to go home,” Quatre sighed again.

Before either man could say anything else, the radio crackled to life and they looked at each other in shock when a voice came over the speakers.

“People of the earth and colonies. This is Dekim Barton...”

* * *

[Satellite XRB 23 - Control Room]

“All set?” Zechs asked Heero.

“Hai.” Heero gave Craven a glare and the tech began to punch in a series of numbers to the computer.

The camera's red light came on. “Broadcasting now,” Craven said softly.

At Barton's feet, Wufei applied a little pressure to the man's ankle, Barton scowling and then glaring at the camera.

“People of the earth and colonies. This is Dekim Barton...”

* * *

[Earth Sphere and Colonies]

Everywhere one looked people were smiling, laughing and talking with each other. There was a general air of relief as it became apparent that the Firecell that had robbed them of their comfortable lives had been stopped. The anger began to dissipate and the people out on the streets started to return to their homes. Those that had barricaded themselves inside their dwellings slowly began to emerge, still unsure if it was completely safe.

Radios and televisions began to broadcast again, although they didn't really have a lot to inform the people. It was evident that something had happened, but no one knew for sure if it was permanent or just a reprieve.

Speculation was running rife.

All transmissions suddenly ceased, screens going blank, radios falling silent. People froze and looked to one another for reassurance, but before the panic could start again, the screens returned to life and radios began to transmit.

“People of the earth and colonies. This is Dekim Barton.”

When the populations recognized the voice and those that were watching, the face, outrage was moments away.

* * *

[Satellite XRB 23 Control Room]

Barton paused for a moment, clearly struggling with himself. He didn't want to do this; he didn't want to accept that he'd been beaten. His face changed, lips curling into a snarl as his eyes narrowed.

Wufei was ready though and applied a sharp pressure to Barton's ankle, reminding the man he'd better say the right things.

Barton jumped and grimaced as pain lanced through his leg. Knowing he had no choice, he closed his eyes and continued.

“The Firecell I deployed has been destroyed, all systems that rely on computers are once again running on their normal programs and everything should be back to the way it was. Any systems that are not back should return very shortly.” Barton gave a sigh and shook his head. He didn't want to say anything more.

Wufei growled but a look from Heero stopped him from applying more pressure. Day had a quick word with Wind, Zechs nodding and stepping up to take Heero's place alongside Craven. Heero walked over to where Barton remained stubbornly silent in his chair. Standing behind the man, he waited for Wind to give the nod that he was now on camera.

Wufei, Duo and Hawkins all watched, clearly a little confused as to what was going on.

Zechs adjusted the camera slightly and nodded to Heero that he was now in the picture.

Clearing his throat, Heero addressed the populations.

“People of the Earth Sphere and Colonies, my name is Agent Day and I work for the Preventer Organization. My team and myself have managed to stop the Firecell that this man inflicted upon you all. Your lives should return to normal very quickly. Dekim Barton has been defeated and is now in Preventer custody and will be brought to trial for his crimes. To all of Barton's followers I have this message: Lay down your weapons and surrender. This is over.” Heero stared directly at the camera, his voice never wavering but his blue eyes as cold as ice as he demanded the surrender of Barton's followers. He rested a hand upon Barton's shoulder and squeezed. “Tell them.”

Feeling the pain flooding his body once more, Barton had no choice but to comply. “It's true. I have been arrested.” Barton grit his teeth and his eyes glittered for a brief moment. “I want all my troops to continue as planned, take down the ESUN, wipe the bastards-” Barton slumped forward, Heero having hit the nerve in his neck and knocking him out cold before he could continue any further.

“Fucking bastard!” Duo snarled.

Heero remained calm, although inside he was a riot of emotions. “I repeat, Barton's followers, lay down your weapons and surrender. You cannot win,” he stated in a cold voice.

The connection was cut.

* * *

[Earth Near the ESUN Building]

A small army paused when the broadcast came over the airwaves. Stunned shock and disbelief hit the army, men turning to each other to question what they were hearing.

When the transmission suddenly ended, confusion rippled through the group, uncertainty set in as they looked to one another for guidance.

The leader of the army managed to get himself to a high point and after a couple of minutes, made himself heard.

“You heard what Barton said. He might have been arrested, but we are to continue with the original plan. “

A quiet hum passed through the gathered men.

“We continue to the ESUN building and take it over as planned. Once we have the building under our control, we head for Preventer Headquarters and destroy it. We will release Barton and then he can continue with the plan. Who is with me?”

All hands shot up into the air and a loud roar accompanied the raised hands.

“Then onward we march!”

~ * ~

tbc...