Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets ❯ Answers they are few ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing, nor would I want to. I only own the original characters within the story and the idea behind it. I hope this is all that is needed.

 

 

 

SECRETS 02: answers they are few

 

 

“What do you think?”

 

Wufei's spoken question only voiced what the two more serious and silent pilots were thinking. They had been together for so long and none of them had ever guessed the truth about Duo. It was as if they had failed to notice or failed to question certain things that they had wondered about.

 

“It certainly explained a lot.” Trowa said softly, a small quirk of his lips lending just a hint of laughter to the statement.

 

Heero frowned. “How so?”

 

Trowa sighed. How could he explain? “How often has Duo been the one to find one of us when we were captured or missing or hurt? How often has Duo nudged one of us into looking in a less than obvious place for an answer and it was there? He may have acted like the fool, and while we know now that it was an act, it was his way of covering the truth. Making us look somewhere other than at him.”

 

Wufei nodded. “Maxwell has always had to most uncanny luck of any of us.”

 

“But he's always getting into trouble or hurt . . “ Heero argued.

 

Wufei nodded in agreement. “However, it seems that he is also always protecting us when such things happen.”

 

“I've seen the shadows before.”

 

Trowa's quietly spoken words startle the other two as Wufei pulled the car to park.

 

“When?” Heero demanded as they stepped from the vehicle.

 

Trowa shrugged, looking around at the agents moving through the rubble. “During New Edwards.”

 

Wufei and Heero shared a look as they followed Trowa into the rubble.

 

“Agent Wing!” A young agent snapped to attention and saluted as soon as they were seen. “We weren't expecting you sir.”

 

Heero nodded, acknowledging the salute but not returning it. “We just came to see how things were going.”

 

The young agent practically fell over himself to fill them in as they continued to walk the cleared path. “The main building is almost uncovered. The smaller hangers and storage areas were completely destroyed. We've recovered four bodies which we sent to the morgue for examination, per Major Po's orders. The technological bits and pieces have been gathered and placed in containment until they can be examined. They are being loaded for shipping to HQ right now.”

 

The pilots stopped, shared a quick look, before Heero spoke. “Where are those containers now?”

 

The young agent stumbled, he stopped so fast, before catching his footing and motioning for them to follow him.

 

A large flat bed was being loaded with various colored boxes in the only cleared area within the valley, what used to be the runway. Men shouted and cursed as a backhoe lifted the stacked crates onto the truck.

 

Heero stepped up to the Agent in charge, a burly older man with stark red hair, chewing on an unlit cigar.

 

“What?!” His voice was rough as he clenched the stogie between hard teeth and turned to face those who dared to interrupt him.

 

Heero lifted an eyebrow at the man.

 

“How many crates is there, Sergeant?” Wufei asked, ignoring the man's obvious lack of salute. He was an old soldier and both knew that salutes weren't really necessary.

 

“Forty-seven right now. If those pansy asses would get a move on there would be more.” The man growled. “But noooo, they've gotta waste time lookin and talkin.”

“Looking?”

 

The Sergeant turned and gave Trowa a quick look, before placing him in the same category Chang was in - - ex-soldier.

 

“Some rumor about how you took down this base and ever one is gaga.” The Sergeant squinted at the loader before shouting a loud obscenity at the man. “Them boxes that way haven't been logged if you're lookin for somethin special.” He told them before moving to yell at the men on the truck.

 

Trowa lifted an eyebrow at Wufei before they moved toward the boxes.

 

“Respects the physical challenge.” Wufei answered.

 

“Why these boxes?” Heero asked as he looked them over. There were only four, stacked neatly, unlabeled, and out of the way of the others.

 

“Perhaps he found something that he thought we would want to see.” Wufei suggested before opening the one on top.

 

Inside were various components, wires, and glass. Shaking the small box, a chip board and circuitry was revealed buried in the bottom. Lifting a piece up to inspect, they were surprised to find hints of shadows seemingly fused to the boards.

 

“Is that?”

 

Wufei touched it and gasped as pain shot through his arm. Releasing it, he nodded before sealing it with a slap.

 

“Residue must have fused with the targeting components.” Wufei suggested.

 

Checking another box, Trowa shook his head. “No, I think it was trying to protect it.” He showed them another panel almost completely covered in the strange shadowy goo. “Duo must have known that this could happen.”

 

“I'm not so sure of that.” Heero answered checking another box. This one having things in it from the compound. Little things like, stones and glass sparkled with tiny fragments of shadow and something light. “He would have told us if he'd known. He would have had us come down here sooner. I think this is something new.”

 

Wufei agreed as he sealed yet another box. “What should we do with this stuff?”

 

“Get it outta my sight.” The gruff Sergeant grumbled as he looked over the stacks. “I don't wanna touch it, I don't wanna look at it. Two of my guys are all ready in the hospital because of that shit and I'm not having any more. It ate through the Haz-mat suits.”

 

The pilots exchanged looks with each other.

 

“I'll have them loaded in the pick up and you take that shit away. As far as I'm concerned, it didn't and don't exist.” With a nod he motioned two men over to begin loading the smaller sealed containers into the bed of a small red pick up to which he tossed the keys to Trowa. “Good luck.”

 

The three exchanged looks that spoke volumes as they watched the Sergeant walked away. This case had gone from interesting to fascinating to dangerous to mysterious in a matter of seconds. They watched in silence as several men were directed by the Sergeant to load the smaller boxes into the back of a small pickup.

 

“I'll call Quatre and give him a report.”

 

Heero and Wufei nodded as they double checked the stack to ensure that none would fall off.

 

“Sally needs to know this stuff is coming in and we need a clean room to examine it.” Wufei mused.

 

Heero nodded. “Duo needs to be told.”

 

Whatever it was, it wasn't the shadows that had protected them so they could escape the base unharmed.