Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets ❯ back to the beginning ( Chapter 25 )

CHAPTER 21: back to the beginning

“In AC 160 it was an facility for civilian training. They were trying to weed out dissident and genetically alter those that they found. It was off the grid, of course, and those sent there were never seen again. Rumors were circulating that the scientists were actually looking to breed a ‘newtype’ or castor. There are no records of a success or failure but the facility was raided by rebel colonist in AC 170 and most of it was destroyed.”

The building formed by the 3D hologram in the table’s center was strictly civilian and cast a strange glow in the dim room. It was more like an office building in the middle of a field with a few smaller, house-like structures near the canyon wall. It was open and inviting, nothing like the buildings of the ESUN, and made of concrete instead of a more environmentally friendly material of present day.

“This is the original structure.” Orah stated. “It was build pre-colony, the date is unknown, but it did still exist when the AC calender was put into effect.”

Tossing the remote on the table, she took her seat before she continued. “It was an office. People came and went to work, with only a few who actually lived on site. The main structure was not even changed when they began to study the effects of space living and deep satellite transmissions. By the time scientist were introduced the company was seeing a profit well into the billions.”

“What was the company name?” Quatre asked quietly, his eyes flicking quickly over the hologram measuring it with the eyes of a business man.

Orah sighed. “It was Dekstar Scientific Institute. Its main purpose was to look for . . . ”

“Streamers.” Une whispered and visibly paled, wishing that she didn’t know the history behind that one word.

“That’s correct.” Orah nodded. “However, by the time the colonies were out of their infancy, they were developing genetic markers for all forms of newtype humans and were well into diversification of their genetic research.”

Quatre paled at the emotion screaming off of Une, a woman who rarely showed any reaction to anything. She had, at one time, been his emotional anchor when all the other pilots were to distraught and distrusting of the new governmental peace accords. He’d kept the link with her as a means of refuge during their meetings when either Duo or Heero would take to temper, but now he wished he hadn’t.

“What the hell is a streamer!?” Duo wondered why one word could cause a woman who was so feared to become so white and make Quatre shake.

Heero and Wufei merely folded their arms and waited with stoic faces. While Trowa began to slowly rub Quatre’s back in an attempt to calm the upset boy. It was unusual for them all to be so in the dark about anything their Commander had to offer them in a mission. So they waited patiently for her to continue. The answers they got were not the ones they were expecting.

Sally cleared her throat, calling their attention to her side of the table. “Streamer was the name of the genetic aberration of a ‘human computer’. These people could simply walk their minds into a computer and take the knowledge out with them. Companies feared them when they were first discovered and began to take steps to either control or destroy them.”

She looked down and began to re-arrange her reports, taking a few seconds to collect herself before continuing. “When you were all brought in I did DNA tests on all of you. It’s standard to insure that nothing has been altered on a genetic level and given the reports on site, required. I found that while the doctors altered and changed a few things, mostly on a cellular level, your genetics were untouched. However, that did not mean that you were normal.”

Pointing a remote at the screen, she began to flip through a series of slides. “Every human has a DNA strand unique to them. Familial links are always present, but for the most part it remains a normal looking strand. When the colonies were built, scientist began to see minor changes in the genetics of those who stayed in space for long periods of time. When the colonies became their own ‘countries’ it was noted that children born in space had several markers that were greatly different from those who were planet born.”

“Newtypes.” Trowa interrupted, knowing where she was heading. “Every kid knows that colony born are different from planet born. It’s common knowledge.”

Sally nodded. “It is now, but at that time it was not. In fact those first discovered were removed from their families and brought to Earth for testing.”

“Shit.” Duo slumped down in his chair. “Dekstar.”

Sally again nodded. “Dekstar was uniquely suited for studying those born different. They built their entire data base on those that were brought to them and began to inter-breed them.”

“Sally, what are you saying?” Wufei struggled to rein in his anger as processed all that was told them. “The scientist used the children as some kind of mutational breeding experiment?”

Shutting down both the screen and the 3-D projection, Sally sat down. “They were trying to create their version of a perfect human.”

“Are you telling us that they were using children born on the colonies to create some kind of super mutant?” Duo shook with anger as he leaned forward out of his chair.

Heero and Wufei grabbed at his wrist; Heero to try steady him; Wufei to stroke his thumb over the raging pulse. Neither took their eyes off Une, Lt. Shorbah, or Sally as they tried to calm Duo down using tried and true techniques, both boys ignoring the heat rising from the skin they touched so softly.

“They did more than that.” Sally spoke softly, hating where it was all leading. “They succeeded.”

“Sally, how did they succeed?” Quatre was clearly shaken as he asked the question they all wanted to know.

Sally sat rubbing her forehead to ease the headache coming on. She’d been the bearer of bad news before, but nothing as strange as this and with Quatre’s quietly asked question, she knew it was about to get stranger.

Looking up, she met his eyes. “They created. . . No, that’s wrong, they didn’t create anything. They bred enough of their ‘newtypes’ together until they came up with a DNA strand that was so unique it borders on what is oddly called homo-superior. They called it the omnibus strand. It carried the genetic markers of twelve known newtypes and several more that had not even been listed yet. It was a marvelous feat, if it hadn’t been so inhumane. It’s quite possible that it would have happened naturally if they hadn’t interfered.”

“What happened?” Heero’s voice had turned back into the cold soldier tone he’d spoke with through the war. This was not a good sign.

Sally stood once again and read from her notes. “His name was Damon. He was born in the labs at Dekstar in AC 155. They heralded him as a genetic breakthrough and touted that they could use his DNA to create drugs that would keep humans free of all disease.” Gathering herself together, she plunged quickly ahead. “When they tried to extract their serums, he rebelled. Not only was he a castor, but he was a very strong streamer. He disabled their computers and destroyed most of their data. The scientists were all killed and the military was called in. It took them four days but they finally contained him inside the lower levels of the facility.”

“Oh God.” Duo moaned, closing his eyes. In his mind the images of the dark concrete rose up and he could feel the anger and betrayal. He’d wanted them to pay; he’d wanted them to hurt. He’d wanted them all dead. But most of all, he wanted his revenge.

“He destroyed the facility and everyone around it within a ten mile radius. There was nothing left.” Sally sat down, exhausted. “What little data there was went into the government vaults. Genetics is an insidious little demon and while, Damon fathered no children directly. . .”

Quatre finished for her. “We carry his DNA.”

Sally didn’t look at any of them as she continued. “While several of the genetic representations of Damon lived and went on to have children, none possessed the power he did. Scientist kept a track of the genetic lineage for ten generations until the war broke out and made that impossible. Several familial lines were lost completely while others were manipulated by marriage. All met with little to no success.”

“The Doctors knew.” Duo’s voice was flat.

“We suspected as much when we held them during the war.” Une murmured. “But didn’t know the extent of the gene manipulation. There were only a handful of scientist within the organization who could even understand the documentation we’d found.”

The room darkened and slowly began to twist in on itself as if the channel had been pulled out of sync with the signal. Spoken words changed to murmurs; to whispers; to white noise in the space of a breath. In, out, in, out, in, out, in, out. . .

“The world is different than what you image isn’t it?” the voice was angry and rough, deep and evil, and it was definitely male. “Imagine what it could have been. What it can be. . . once I am in charge.”

A growl echoed through the darkness and suddenly. . .

The area snapped suddenly into sharp focus.

“What the . . .?”

Duo gasped and barely kept himself from pitching forward as he felt ground beneath his feet. A hand caught his elbow and helped to steady him as he stood up to look around. Wufei stood beside him, his hand the steadying influence, while Trowa stood ten steps in front of him, Heero eight steps to his left and Quatre two steps behind him.

To his dismay they were no longer dressed in their Preventer uniforms but in leathers, almost like gladiators. They were surrounded by stone, high and thick by the look of the walls. The ground beneath their feet, dirt with a sandy mix, he guessed to better absorb the blood of the fallen. On the throne, high above them and far to the front, sat a man he could barely see but somehow knew very well.

“I would have, perhaps, kept the Empirefrom falling and the Greeks from giving in to their greed.” The voice belonged to the man standing before the throne of gold. “But then again, they may not have served the purpose I required to expand my own Empire. What do you think?”

Duo snorted, he couldn’t help it, a sarcastic remark was always his reaction to evil stupidity. . . or was it stupid evil? The only thing that kept him from speaking out loud was Wufei’s hand tightening on his arm as a warning.

“Tell me, child of , do you like this setting? What of you son of the Dragons, would heat be more to your liking? Or perhaps,” he took a step down from the throne as he spoke, the Roman cape billowing behind him as if in a breeze. “A woodland glen for the Elfin Lord? But, alas, let us not forget the Golden Warrior and the Ethereal Immortal. Where would they like to be?”

He’d reached the parapet by these words and merely leaned forward with a smirk. “The battlefield was not kind to those who sought to possess what the Elvian Nation kept secreted. Such a pity. You almost succeeded.”

“Who is this yutts?” Duo whispered, his mind all ready categorizing the length and breath of the arena, the height of the wall, the mass of the man taunting them, and the weapons they were given as well as a few hidden in the sand.

The man in question laughed, full belly and loud enough to fill the whole arena. “I am the Lord of the Universe, my dear God of Death.” He shouted, throwing his arms out in grand fashion. “I am the Keeper of the . . .”

“Bullshit?” Duo interjected loud enough to be heard by any and all within the arena. “Crapola? Oh, wait, I know! You are the Keeper of the Dark Side of the Force!”

Quatre giggled as Trowa, Heero, and Wufei stared at the braided boy as if he’d lost his mind. What was he thinking! But even as they scrambled to find a meaning behind his taunts, Duo pushed passed them and began walking toward the parapet with a grinning Quatre following. The others shared a quick look before falling in behind the pair, taking up flanking positions.

“How about we call this the Edge and you can be the Game Master or some shit like that. Huh?” Duo grinned manically, his braid swinging as he continued forward, shadows moving along the walls. “I KNOW! Let’s take a commercial break!”

Duo brought his fists together and the world changed again.

There was a surreal quiet that surrounded them. After all the shouting, all the anger, all the dark evil, this was like a reprieve.

“What happened?” Quatre blushed at being the one to break the silence, but he couldn’t stop himself.

Duo looked around slowly. “Are we back?”

Trowa held his breath as he listened for the normal sounds that should be there. With a slight shake of his head, he murmured, “I don’t know. I can’t tell.”

“It smells. . . different.” Heero whispered.

“But not like a ship.” Wufei added.

“Where the hell have you guys been?!” Orah’s angry voice came from behind them making them all turn. “It’s been like the freakin’ twilight zone here.”

Orah sighed as the boys surrounded her and took over trying to open the door she’d been trying to get open for the last hour or so.

“Whatever you shadows did put us in the station as near as I can tell, but where in the station I have no idea.” She cursed as Heero, Wufei, and Trowa worked on pulled the rusted opening wider.

“What did you see?” Quatre asked quietly.

Orah frowned as she turned to look at the small blonde. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing.” Duo interrupted, giving Quatre a quick push toward the others as they opened the door and slipped through.

The other side wasn’t as dark as the confined room they’d been in, but it wasn’t as open either. They appeared to be between the inner and outer walls of the base; the walkway used by those who had begun the building and kept maintenance on the outer structure. There was a hum here, the white noise of machinery, compressors, and steam.

“We must be between the main structure and the satellite walls.” Orah whispered, stating the obvious. “See if you can find a joint number, that’ll tell us exactly where we are.”

Duo frowned, Quatre ignored her, Wufei glared, and Heero simply placed his hand on a wall joint and rubbed the nearly invisible numbers with his hand.

“Panel A17 12-B16 3.” Heero told them before moving forward a few steps to the turn. “We must be near an access hatch.”

Duo nodded as did Quatre, but Quatre spoke first, “there should be a hatch about two meters up that next hall way. I’m not sure where. . .”

“It comes out at the environmental controls.” Duo rushed to add. “We may met up with a few of the workers there so be extra careful. Who knows who’s friend or foe.”

Heero nodded as he and Wufei took point, Orah bringing up the rear, Quatre and Duo sandwiched in between. This hatch was easier to open and moved with only a flip of the handle and a spin of the wheel. Silently, they ghosted into the room beyond, momentarily blinded by the brightness of the room.

They hit it lucky, there was no one in the room and the machinery masked any sounds they made as they moved around the room. The systems, when checked had been set on automatic- that was unusual- and made Heero and Wufei exchange a knowing look.

Orah got to the main door first and pressed her ear to it. The machine noise inside the room kept her from being able to clearly hear whether there was anyone directly outside the door, but it hadn’t been sealed properly so it stood to reason that someone was scheduled to check the controls. Placing her hand on the handle, she melded with the wall and looked over to the pilots, who all gave her a small nod. Taking a deep breath, she slowly eased a slivered view open and checked the hall.

Cool air touched her face and filled her lungs. It was like being given a taste of air conditioning while still standing in the sun and made her unconsciously shiver. There was no noise beyond the sliver and no one came into view, so she eased the opening wider and checked the area before motioning for the others to follow. They moved through the hallway and beyond in standard form, weaving in and out of doorways, alcoves, and alternating who was point and who was guard until they could hear voices - - - then they all froze.

The words were gruff, the voices obviously male, and they were moving in their direction. Fast looks were exchanged as fingers and hands flew in signal-speak as they worked their way back until they found a door. Duo made quick work of the lock, with Wufei checking the room, before they all slipped in a shut the door behind them.

Six people held their breath as they hugged the wall listening. Footsteps beyond them moved closer before - - - stopping!

‘I’m telling ya, boss man is losin’ his mind.’ this voice was closest to them, almost right outside the door. ‘I was havin’ a great time w’th that ‘lil piece an now we’re doin’ searches.’

‘Will you shut up.’ the other voice was farther away, up toward the environmental room, ‘the boss says search, we search. You don’t want to then you tell him. You’re blood means shit to me.’

‘Gah, Swiff, don’ be a ass.’ the first one whined as footsteps began to slowly move away. ‘I didn’ mean nothin’ just wannid to bitch a while.’

There was a silent count to twenty by six minds before Heero cracked the door and checked the hall. He nodded and lead the rest back out into the hall and again they began their sweep toward the main area.

Walls shook as the Commander slammed his fist into his desk again and again until finally the wood groaned and gave. First barely kept himself from flinching as the desk broke into splinters and the Commander change the direction of his fist to the wall nearest him.

“That little slut!” He’d been cursing and screaming for the last hour. No one had seen him leave the office and no one had entered until he’d screamed for First. “I had it all set. A lion first (*pound*) then I’d move to a centaur (*pound/boom*) they’d be winded by then!” The Commander’s fist continued to hammer one spot until a hole began to form and he was forced to switch to a new target yet again. “He will be mine before I’m done and I’ll make him watch as I slowly dismember each one of them!”

First nearly jumped when the Commander seemed to appear before him. The man was panting heavily, his fists bloody, his eyes wild. “Sir?” First swallowed nervously trying hard to slow his heartbeat- which sped up when the Commander smiled.

Evil. It glowed about the man, always had, but in that smile it promised so much more than just destruction. It was the promise of death- slow, painful, and filled with dark glee.

“Order the men to move all the people to the open area of the bay. Make sure there is no escape for them if the doors are opened.” The Commander whispered madly. “I want them to see what they will lose if they try to stop us.”

First nodded and moved quickly away. The madness that had made the bigger man a great leader was now making him manic - and frightening.

“As you order.” He murmured before stepping away from the evilly simpering man.

The Commander knew what he looked like. He was salivating with the idea of having the child at his bid, the Dragon at his feet, and the Ethereal Immortal on a stake. A fine meal would have to be prepared as he watched the melee of his men killing the Elf and Warrior slowly before he took the child’s body and raped it’s mind. Oh- it would be so sweet, so sweet indeed.

Duo couldn’t stop the shiver that worked it’s way up his spine. A cold brush of air and the feeling of something evil touching his skin making him shake unconsciously.

“Duo?”

Quatre’s hushed voice broke the silence around them and Duo turned to give him a small reassuring smile. “I’m okay.”

Wufei frowned at them both from his rear guard position and they fell silent quickly.

The group came to a halt at Heero’s motions and waited as he and Orah disappeared around the corner to check their location. It seemed like minutes before Orah stuck her head back around and motioned for them to follow. She lead the group quickly to a hidden door in a dark corner that slid open with her touch. She stepped aside and let the other enter first before stepping in and sealing the door behind them.

“It’s an alternate control room.” Heero announced.

The room was bright, lights flickered on consoles as monitors streamed pictures from security cameras hidden along hallways and common areas. Trowa joined Heero who had all ready commandeered a seat at the main console and was rapidly typing in commands to enable him to hack the system. Wufei moved to the monitors and began to test out the security controls, while Orah searched the corners of the room to see if there were any other exits.

“Why is everyone being brought to the main docking bay?” Quatre quietly asked.

The center monitor filled with moving people, all heading in the same direction. Any one who moved opposed to that was herded by the military-looking goons who lined the hallways.

“Looks like they are, maybe, taking a head count?” Duo speculated as the people on the monitors were being shoved and pushed to comply. “They can’t know we’re here.”

“Found them.” Heero announced. Everyone moved to stand behind him to look at his screen as he scrolled through the information. “The control for the laser is housed in the high portion of the satellite. It’s heavily guarded and surrounded by re-enforced walls on all sides. It cannot be gotten to by any other means than the door. The vents are too small, the walls are too thick, and the ceiling is pressed to the outside of the satellite so that there is only a millimeter wall between the inside and the outside.”

“Shit.” Duo whistled.

“Heero, we have a problem.” Wufei said. His eyes had never left the security monitors and now he was glad they hadn’t. “The missing agents from Shrohmburg are here and fully armed.”

Orah moved over to Wufei and looked hard at the monitors. She recognized many of the faces that were now standing guard around the common area. “Traitorous pieces of shit!”

They all watched as the civilians were herded into the center of the large area while the renegade agents took up the perimeter, guns drawn. The fear could clearly be seen on the faces of the people while a deadly determination sculpted the features of the agents.

“This is getting bad.” Duo murmured.

* * * * * *

Time is a strange thing. One moment you’re sitting at a desk minding your own business, the next you are in the thick of a fire fight. Bullets smoking by you like gnats while you dodge and weave in the hopes of taking the bad guys down. A simple plan made into a complication by something simple. One thing being out of place and before you know it- hell is welcoming you with open arms and a smile. I hate it when that happens.

The group had formed a loose plan and split up after Heero secured a line to Preventor’s HQ to give Une a heads up. Oddly enough she had all ready begun preparing a raid on the satellite when she hadn’t heard from them. They were half way to their destination and their plan was to strike in a full frontal assault- Une’s way. With her, they had come up with a way to free the hostages and take down the armed traitors all in one move and hopefully with as few casualties as possible.

Duo and Quatre came in from the left side, while Heero and Wufei took the back, with Orah and Trowa taking the right. They would flank the group and distract them while the Preventor shuttles moved into the bay. It would be their job to make sure no hostages were hurt and the Preventor’s job to get them off the station. It was a good plan, too bad even the ‘good’ plans rarely work.

First came the guard that neither Heero nor Wufei heard or saw. He was just there in their path ready for them. The shoot out alerted the others and soon there were alarms sounding all over. The hostages ducked and screamed, but none could run while the traitors began shooting over their heads and into the surrounding area. Orah and Trowa were quickly pinned down with no options but to return fire and hope that they would be able to move after the shuttles landed.

That left Duo and Quatre. They snuck up to their chosen position with no trouble except that the traitors were all ready shooting moving in the shadows. They quickly took out four of them before moving forward for better positioning. While they had wanted to keep as many living as possible their aim was deadly and two more fell.

‘Shuttles incoming! Prepare outer defenses!’

The announcement caught some unprepared and the few traitors who had positioned themselves near the landing area were swept out when the doors were blown open. Force shields dropped into place, sealing the remaining atmosphere inside but the damage had been done. Those civilians that hadn’t panicked when shooting started did panic when the atmosphere vented. It was a natural reaction for those born in space, but the traitor agents, made up of mostly ground-bounders, were not prepared for the reaction. One side was taken out by the wave of people seeking the known safety of the inner hallway allowing Heero and Wufei a clear path to lead most of them to a safe point near them.

Unfortunately those traitors who hadn’t been rushed quickly adjusted to the change. They began trying firing on a few of those in the group in the hopes of changing the whole’s directional flow. Four were picked off before some of them noticed and pushed more away from the safety of the hallway back toward the walls of the docking area.

“We have to get to the control room!” Quatre shouted. Firing on Trowa’s position, he aimed to free up some room for his comrade. “What do you think?”

Duo picked off his three targets before looking up above them and gauging the height. The control room for the defenses was a level above them but going around was not an option with the defenses fully lit. However, since this control room also worked to control the bay it had a large window so that the controllers had a clear view of the floor.

“I got it!”

Quatre nodded and pushed a quick mental message to the others as Duo shouldered his rifle and moved toward the wall.

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