Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Family Ties ❯ Chapter 110 ( Chapter 110 )

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

“Family Ties”

January 2007 ShenLong

Chapter 110

[Preventer Shuttle 221]

Wufei grit his teeth as he fought to hold onto the yoke and keep the shuttle steady. Entering the Earth's atmosphere was always tricky, the angle had to be right, if not, the shuttle could end up bouncing off the atmosphere and ricocheting off into the universe, or worse still, exploding into a fireball.

The computer had been programmed with all the details and had continuously fed the pilot the angle, trajectory, speed and such to bring the craft safely through the gaseous layers - now it was up to Wufei to follow that information.

The craft bucked again, its outer skin piercing the first layer and beginning to heat up. As they continued to pass through the various layers that made up the Earth's atmosphere so the heat shields took a battering. The craft began to glow red, orange and then yellow, fading out to white. The shields did their job though, protecting the hull and her cargo inside from the intense heat.

“Altitude sixty thousand feet and falling,” Trowa stated, eyes watching and monitoring the many instruments situated in the panel before him.

“Roger,” Wufei replied and grimaced as the craft jolted again. The movement didn't bother him so much as the thought of what it could possibly be doing to Maxwell's already unstable body. He breathed a sigh of relief as the shuttle broke through the last layer and the black void of space was exchanged for the black of the Earth night.

“Altitude fifty thousand feet and falling at five hundred feet per minute,” Trowa reeled off. “Cut air speed by ten knots every thirty seconds.”

“Do we have radio contact with the shuttle port yet?” Wufei asked, watching his air speed and altitude slowly lowering.

“We should be back in range in the next minute,” Trowa replied.

“Good.”

The pair were silent again for a short while, Wufei concentrating on flying, Trowa watching the instruments. Glancing at the radio, Trowa reached for the dial and tried to contact the port.

“Preventer Shuttle port, this is Preventer Shuttle PA 221, do you copy?”

The radio remained silent.

“I repeat, Preventer Shuttle port, this is Preventer Shuttle PA 221, do you copy?”

“Altitude, forty thousand feet,” Wufei supplied.

“Preventer Shuttle PA 221, this is Captain Storm of the Preventer Shuttle port; we read you loud and clear. Good to have you back  in contact again.”

“Thank you, Storm, it's nice to hear your voice too,” Trowa replied.

“Shuttle 221, what is your current altitude, airspeed and direction?”

Wufei passed the information on to the Captain.

“Roger, Agent Fire. Continue to decrease airspeed by ten knots every minute. Decrease altitude by five hundred feet per minute until you reach twenty thousand feet; then decrease by two hundred and fifty feet per minute. Adjust course heading by three degrees south.”

“Copy that,” Wufei stated and proceeded to do as requested. Once he'd made the adjustments, he watched the altimeter until he reached the required twenty thousand feet, then he slowed the descent to two hundred and fifty.

Trowa kept a careful eye on all the instruments, reading off the airspeed and altitude as they slowly but surely drew closer to the shuttle port and the Earth below.

*

Despite Wufei's determined efforts to keep the craft as steady as possible through the reentry, the shuttle did protest and bounce around a bit. Hawkins grimaced a couple of times when his shoulder was jarred by the harness, but he didn't utter a sound. Heero, who was used to the jostling around of a shuttle cutting through the atmosphere knew what to expect and had braced his body as best he could to minimize the jarring of his wounded body. His eyes never left his partner's prone form though.

Heero knew Wufei was doing his best and he was grateful to the Chinese man. Seemed he'd found himself in a similar situation not all that long ago, only that time it had been in a commandeered police car with a blonde who was as high as a kite on morphine.

The Chinese man had given his word then that Heero would be at the hospital to attend his child's birth - and he had. Chang had made a similar promise this time and Heero had no doubt that Wufei would be just as determined not to break that promise either.

He owed Chang a lot.

His mind was snapped back as Duo moaned, then gave a cry of pain as the shuttle bounced a touch. “Duo? You okay?” he asked as his hand grasped his lover's.

“Fuck! What's Wuffers doing up there, playing ping pong and using the shuttle as the ball?” Duo gritted out.

“It will smooth out in a minute, it's just the first stage of reentry. You know how bad that can be.”

“Yeah, I know. Feels like I'm on a friggin' kangaroo.” Duo gave another moan of pain as the shuttle jolted again. “One with spikes,” he added.

Heero's lips quirked a touch, then he frowned in concern. “Where does it hurt?”

“All over,” Duo groaned.

“I don't think the knife has moved,” Heero said as he did his best to study the knife from where he was sitting.

“Feels like it's on fire.”

The shuttle settled then and the ride smoothed out; Heero quickly undid his harness and moved closer to see what damage, if any, had been inflicted by the bucking of the shuttle.

“What are you doing?” the professor asked, a touch of panic in his voice. Even he knew that undoing your harness whilst the shuttle was still descending was pretty risky - if they hit a wind shear they could be tossed around like rag dolls.

“I'm checking my partner,” Heero said, his tone flat a his eyes raked over Duo's injured form and settled on where the knife hilt protruded.

The professor could see there was no point in arguing, so he shut up.

Heero carefully checked around the padding Trowa had added to keep the knife still and gave a sigh of relief when he didn't see any fresh blood. “Won't be long now,” he told his lover and moved to press a kiss to Duo's forehead before settling himself back in his chair and doing up the harness again.

Duo's eyes were closed, his face pale and drawn. Sweat was beading on his brow and he ached all over. What he wouldn't give for some strong painkillers right now, but there was no way he would take anything unless Sally said it was okay; and even then he would prefer not to.

All three detected the change in the thrum of the shuttle's engines as the power was decreased. Unfortunately there weren't any windows in the medical bay so they had no idea how close to landing they actually were.

“Shouldn't be long now, Duo,” Heero reassured. “Sally will be with you in a few minutes and everything will be fine.”

“Hope so,” Duo muttered and closed his eyes, sliding into unconsciousness again.

‘So do I,’  Heero thought.

*

“Shuttle PA 221, you are clear to land on runway two, repeat, clear to land on runway two. Adjust course heading by ten degrees east, reduce airspeed by twenty knots. What is your altitude?”

“Altitude eight thousand feet, still dropping by two hundred and fifty per minute,” Trowa replied.

“Increase drop rate to three hundred feet per minute.”

“Copy that, Storm.”

Wufei continued to fly the shuttle, making the adjustments. “I can see the port up ahead,” he informed Trowa.

Trowa raised his eyes briefly from the instrument panel and glanced out the window. Up ahead lay the shimmering lights of the Preventer Shuttle Port. The runways were lit up, softly glowing in the night. Runway two was shining brighter than the rest, the orange lights signaling the way home.

“Shuttle PA 221, be advised there is a wind shear at three thousand feet. It’s only a mild one but may cause a slight drop in altitude,” Storm informed them.

“Copy that, Storm,” Trowa said.

“Great, just what we fucking don’t need,” Wufei growled. His brow was beaded in sweat, the effort of bringing the shuttle in as smoothly as possible along with his head graze and the thought of his seriously injured comrade lying in the medical bay was beginning to take its toll on the young Preventer.

Trowa knew exactly how he felt. Hadn’t fate toyed with them enough?

The shuttle lurched a touch, Wufei countering it as best he could.

‘Obviously not,’  Trowa thought.

The runway was much closer, Wufei cutting the airspeed further as the craft descended smoothly towards the tarmac.

“Shuttle PA 221, you are all clear to land. Good luck Fire, we will see you shortly. Storm on stand by.”

“Roger that, Storm, and thank you.” Wufei’s concentration was fixed on the runway ahead, Trowa continuously feeding him the airspeed and altitude. “Lower landing gear and extend flaps twenty percent,” Wufei requested.

Trowa pushed the button to the landing gear and noted the lights come on to confirm. “Gear down and locked.” Another lever was pushed slightly forward, Trowa carefully sliding it and watching the gauge. “Flaps at twenty percent.”

The runway was dead ahead and rising to meet them. Wufei tilted the yoke a touch and quickly spoke. “As soon as we touch down, extend the flaps to full capacity, release the parachute and assist with the braking.”

“Roger, Fire.”

The shuttle dropped steadily, the tarmac rising to greet them and then the back wheels made contact followed immediately by the nose wheel. Once the wheels were on the ground, Wufei’s feet hit the brake pedals as his hands pushed the engines into reverse. Trowa had the flaps extending as he deployed the parachute, his foot operating one brake pedal to help Wufei in bringing the craft to a stop.

The shuttle vibrated, engines screaming in protest as the craft tried to continue its headlong rush. The parachute opened out behind them and added further drag. In the medical bay, Duo groaned as his body was jarred and jolted by the unforgiving shuttle.

Finally the shuttle gave up and slowed its speed, the parachute fell limp behind and Trowa released it from the craft’s tail section. The flaps were once again drawn back up and Wufei taxied towards the main hangar area.

“Nice landing, Fire,” Storm commented. “Welcome home.”

“Thank you. Where would you like us to park?”

“Bay twenty-one, just to the left of the main hangar. I’ll have transport come directly to you once the shuttle is stationary and engines powered down. Doctor Po will also be with the transport and you will all be taken directly to a helicopter for transport to Preventer Headquarters.”

Much appreciated, Storm.”

“It’s my pleasure, gentlemen.”

“Over there,” Trowa said and pointed to the bay ahead. A large ‘21’ was painted on the concrete, flanked by yellow and white lines which indicated the ‘parking’ area.

Wufei brought the shuttle in and gently rolled to a stop.

“I’ll go tell the others what is happening and assist them to the exit ramp whilst you finish shutting this baby down,” Trowa said, unbuckling his harness and getting to his feet. He winced as he forgot about his injured ankle and put unnecessary weight on it.

“I’ll be with you in a moment,” Wufei replied.

With a nod, Trowa moved as fast as he could to the medical section of the shuttle, the professor and the other agents.

* * *

[Satellite XRB 23 – Shuttle 121]

Quatre had fallen into a light doze in the pilot's seat of the transport shuttle when an incoming communication woke him up. Shaking his head to try and dispel the sleepiness that prevailed, Quatre reached for the radio dial and slipped his head set on.

“Mr Winner, this is Sandrock Construction 42, do you read?”

“Sandrock Construction 42, this is Quatre. I read you loud and clear Captain,” Quatre replied.

“Mr Winner, we are fifteen minutes from destination. Could you please send through the exact coordinates to your position?”

“Roger that, Montgomery. Stand by for coordinates.” Quatre reached for the computer key board and typed in the requested information. “Coordinates have been sent. If you come in on those exactly you won't have any problem with landing. Be aware there is a large debris field on the satellite surface.”

“Debris field? May I ask what sort of debris?”

“Bits of mobile suits.”

“I don't think I want to know any more,” Montgomery stated.

“Trust me, you don't.”

“Roger that. Coordinates have been programed into the computer, we will be landing in another ten minutes.”

“Thank you. I'll get suited up and once you're down I will make my way over to you. Please have the decompression chamber ready. Once I'm on board you can take off again, I need to get back to Earth as quickly as possible. I'll explain more once I'm on board.”

“Copy that. I will contact you again when we're five minutes out.”

“Thank you, Monty.”

“You're welcome, Mr Winner.”

The call was cut, Quatre removing the head set and double checking the suit he still wore. Everything checked out okay so all he would need was his helmet before exiting the shuttle. Getting up, he went in search of Zechs to let the agent know he would be leaving shortly.

Five minutes later, Montgomery called in again, the shuttle on schedule and approaching the designated coordinates. Quatre watched from the cockpit as the large craft appeared and gracefully landed on the dusty surface. Zechs was also in the cockpit and monitoring the radio, the call from Mercury and the clean up team expected any minute.

“Mr Winner, Sandrock Construction 42 has landed safely,” came Captain Montgomery’s voice.

“Roger that, Captain. I will be leaving the shuttle ahead of you in a couple of minutes and make my way to you,” Quatre replied.

“I’ll have the ramp at the rear of the shuttle extended for you to enter through, Mr Winner.”

“That would be most appreciated. I will keep in contact with you through the head set in my space helmet,” Quatre informed.

“Everything is ready for you. Approach when ever you wish.”

“Thank you, Monty. I’m heading for the decompression chamber now. I’ll contact you again once I’m on the satellite surface and on my way to you. Winner out.”

“Roger that. Montgomery out.”

Quatre removed the head set and turned to Zechs. “You sure you will be okay by yourself?”

“I’ll be fine. Mercury and the rest are due to call in any second and they should be landing not long after,” Zechs replied. “Be careful out there though, we still don’t know if any of those suit pilots still out there are alive.”

“I highly doubt it. Most of them high tailed it back to the main Dome as soon as they could. The only ones still out there are either dead or injured.” A flash of pain passed through Quatre’s eyes. “The wounded will need to be recovered and treated as soon as possible,” he said quietly. “Before they run out of air.”

“I know,” Zechs whispered. He didn’t like the thought of injured pilots lying out there on the barren landscape any more than Quatre did. “It will be the first thing we do once Mercury gets here.”

Both Zechs and Quatre had already considered braving the satellite surface to look for and recover the injured, but logic had told them it wasn’t a good idea. With there only being the two of them it was far too risky to attempt. All it would take was one bullet or laser beam to penetrate their space suit and it would be all over for them. As cruel as it seemed, their only option was to wait for the back up crew to arrive.

“Preventer Shuttle 121, this is Preventer Shuttle 151, Agent Mercury here. Do you copy?”

“Speak of the devil,” Zechs grinned and turned back to the radio. “This is Preventer Shuttle 121. I read you loud and clear, Mercury. I have some information for you. Please stand by.”

“Roger that. Mercury on stand by.”

Zechs turned back to Quatre. “You’d best get going, Mercury and the other shuttles will be coming in to land in the next fifteen minutes or so; it would be best if your shuttle was space borne to leave the field clear for them to land.”

“I agree.” Quatre stood and picked up his helmet. He extended his hand, Zechs giving it a surprised look before taking it and shaking firmly.  “Thank you for all your help, Wind. If you and Heero had not come when you did, this entire mess would have had an entirely different outcome.”

“It has been both a privilege and an honor to work beside you all. Thank you for trusting me to assist and for your trust that I will look after the Gundams for you. I promise you, they will be kept safe and sound, any and all repairs made so that should they ever be required again in the future, they will be ready.”

Quatre gave a nod, no more words were necessary. “I will see you Earth side. Be careful.”

“You too, Winner.”

Quatre turned and putting his helmet on, jogged down the corridors to the decompression chamber. Stepping inside, it only took a couple of minutes for the pressure to equalize with that of the satellite and Quatre was heading out and across the litter strewn landscape towards the Winner shuttle.

Inside the Preventer shuttle, Zechs kept a careful eye on Winner and the debris. His finger was ready on the weapons trigger, having brought the weapons back on line as soon as Quatre had left. He wasn’t about to take any chances and would cover the other man should anyone still alive out there decide to take a shot at him. Quatre reached the other shuttle safely and Zechs breathed a sigh of relief. With Quatre safely on board the Winner shuttle, Zechs turned his attention back to Mercury.

*
As Quatre stepped out of the compression chamber he was met by Captain Montgomery and a couple of security guards bearing guns. He removed his helmet and smiled, the guards withdrawing their guns the moment they recognized the Winner CEO.

“Sorry about that, sir,” Montgomery apologized. “All precaution I can assure you.”
“No problem. I’d have been more concerned if I hadn’t been met with armed guards.” Quatre knew just how much it paid to be careful and whilst he’d told them who he was, in reality, he could have been an impostor.

“Would you like to retire to a cabin to freshen up or come to the cockpit?” Montgomery asked.

“I”ll come up to the cockpit, I can freshen up later once we’re on our way back to Earth,” Quatre replied and started to walk, the Captain right beside him. “We need to get off the satellite as quickly as we can, there are  several Preventer shuttles arriving in the next fifteen minutes to continue on with the assignment and they will need all the space they can get,” he informed the Captain.

“No problem,” replied Montgomery.

They arrived at the cockpit and Montgomery issued his orders for an immediate take off, the pilot nodding and setting to the task. Quatre quickly contacted Zechs. “Shuttle 121, this is Space. Have arrived safely aboard Sandrock Construction 42 and are preparing to leave.”

“Roger that, Space. Mercury and back up crew are coming in from the west; I recommend you head east, north east on the following coordinates, that will insure complete avoidance of each other,” Zechs replied as he sent through the coordinates.

“Copy that. Thank you, Wind. Will see you dirt side. Sandrock Construction 42, out.”

“You can count on it, Space. Shuttle 121, out.”

The Winner craft lifted gently into the void of space and once clear of the satellite surface, fired her engines fully and following the coordinates Zechs had sent through, rapidly left the satellite behind, bound for Earth.

“Preventer shuttle 151, this is Preventer shuttle 121. Other craft has departed and you are now all clear to land at your convenience. The coordinates are...”

* * *

[Preventer Shuttle Port]

As the shuttle came to a stop, Heero was out of his harness and checking his partner. The professor also removed his harness, albeit a little slower as his shoulder had stiffened up considerably during the flight back. Duo remained strapped firmly on the bed, the padding secure around the knife hilt.

Gently brushing the sweaty bangs away from Duo’s eyes, Heero leaned close and pressed a soft kiss to Duo’s forehead. “We’re back on Earth, Duo,” Heero whispered softly.

Violet eyes fluttered open and searched for Heero’s face. “Earth?” Duo said quietly.

“Hai. Wufei brought us down safely and Sally should be with us very soon and will take care of you. Just hold on a little longer my love.”

Duo nodded. Despite the mild painkiller, the throbbing in his abdomen was getting worse. The fear clenching inside him was also escalating.

Trowa limped into the medical bay. “Wufei is shutting down the shuttle and preparing to open the hatch for Sally and the transport team. We need to move to the exit,” he informed them all. Moving to where Duo lay, Trowa quickly checked the agent’s vitals. He wasn’t happy with the results either.

“What is it, Air?” Heero asked when he spotted the frown on Trowa’s face.

“His blood pressure is becoming erratic and his temperature is rising. He needs Sally as soon as possible,” Trowa replied, keeping his voice quiet so Duo wouldn’t hear.

“Then I suggest we do not wast any more time.” Heero began to undo the straps that kept Duo in place. “I’ll need someone to help me carry him.”

The bed in the medical bay, whilst bolted to the floor  did come apart. Between the thin mattress and the bed base, there was a thin but strong ‘board’. It was reminiscent of a spinal board, complete with hand holes at each end and along the sides so a patient could be moved from the bed to a gurney or just carried should the need arise.

With the space flight strapping now freed, Trowa grabbed the straps on the board and secured Duo again. “I’m afraid I can’t lift him,” Trowa told Heero. “We need to wait for Wufei.”

Heero nodded. “How long?”

“Only a couple of minutes.”

“Take the professor and go to the exit ramp, I’m sure Sally should be there by now and she can take a look at you both,” Heero  stated. “I’ll wait for Wufei and then we will follow you with Duo.”

“Okay.” Trowa collected the professor, the pair of them moving slowly down the corridor to where the exit waited.

Once the shuttle had come to a stop and the engines had been cut, Sally was in the small transport vehicle and being driven to her patients. The small vehicle pulled up by the side rear of the shuttle where the exit ramp was still extending towards the ground. A second transport pulled up beside her.

Once the ramp was completely lowered, Sally grabbed her bag and headed for it, walking as quickly as she dared. She soon entered the shuttle and spotted Trowa and someone else coming towards her.

“Sally,” Trowa acknowledged. “This is professor Hawkins. Hawkins, this is Doctor Sally Po.”

“Trowa,” Sally returned. “Professor, it’s good to meet you, I just wish it was under better circumstances.”

“Same here,” Hawkins replied.

“Where is Duo?” Sally questioned as her eyes raked over the pair before her and noted their injuries, comparing them to what Trowa had already informed her. Both men appeared okay for the moment and would be fine to wait until they were on the chopper and bound for Headquarters when Sally would take a better look at both of them.

“Heero and Wufei will be bringing  him out in just a moment,” Trowa replied.

“I’ll go meet them. You two continue outside, there’s a couple of transports waiting there. Get yourselves into one of them and I’ll be joining you shortly.”

“Okay.” Trowa grunted softly as his injured ankle reminded him that it was not a good idea to put too much weight on it. With the professor assisting him and vice versa, the pair continued on to the exit ramp and waiting transport.

Sally made her way along the corridor and met Heero and Wufei coming out of the medical section.

“Sally,” Heero breathed, the relief flooding his features.

“Heero, Wufei,” Sally nodded. “How is he?” Sally went immediately to Duo, her eyes widening when she saw the protruding hilt of the knife.

“He has been much better,” Duo rasped out and then grimaced as a wave of pain passed over him.

“Trowa said his blood pressure was becoming erratic and his temperature is rising,” Heero supplied, the worry evident in his tone.

Her expert eye having taken in what she could, Sally knew Duo was in deep trouble. They needed to get him to the Preventer hospital quickly. “Are you both okay to carry him?” she asked, noting the board stretcher.

“Hai.”

“Then hurry up, we don’t have time to waste.”

Almost jogging, the pair followed Sally out of the shuttle and to the transport vehicles. Sally nodded to the driver of the vehicle Trowa and Hawkins were in, the driver shifting into gear and maneuvering the vehicle away from the shuttle and across the tarmac to where the chopper was waiting. Having settled Duo and his stretcher across the transport, Heero and Wufei got in, each remaining on either side of the stretcher. Sally got in the front and the driver moved off. Wufei watched the shuttle receding into the distance, noting the Preventer shuttle crews moving in to take care of the craft.

Within a couple of minutes they had reached the chopper, Hawkins and Trowa were already making their way inside. The two drivers came to assist Heero and Wufei with Duo, the four of them carrying the injured man as gently as they could into the chopper and strapping the stretcher down. Once everyone was secured, the pilot engaged the rotors, the blades turning lazily at first then picking up speed.

Carefully the craft eased from the ground and into the air to begin its mercy dash to Preventer headquarters and the hospital Duo desperately needed.

Once they were airborne and leveled off, Sally was beside the long haired man, pulling things from her bag. “Right, Duo. Let’s get you as comfortable as we can,” she said.

~ * ~

tbc...


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