Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Stolen Memories ❯ Chapter 18 ( Chapter 18 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Chapter 18

Dr Basil Holt frowned. His computer display showed a smiling image of Relena Dorlian, with the current readings sent by her nanobot. He concentrated on the pattern, then keyed in an instruction and a historic overview of heart rate, blood pressure and brain activity was displayed.

"Damn." He said softly and he compared the pattern at twenty-minute intervals. "I've been had."

"What do you mean?"

Basil jumped startled as he thought he had been alone in his office. Lady Une was standing by the door observing him.

"Really Lady, must you do that." Basil frowned at him "You take years off my life every time you sneak up on me."

"Sorry Basil, but you are such an easy target." Une smiled and walked up to Basil's desk sitting on the corner. "Now who has had you?" she asked again.

Basil turned the laptop so that Une could look at the read out.

"Look at the pattern. It's a pattern that is repeating every twenty minutes. You just don't get that happening normally. People don't operate that robotically." Basil shook his head as he folded his arms still regarding the printout. "Those pilots have managed to reprogram the new version nanobot. God knows how they did it, but they have."

"What does that mean?" Une was bent forward looking at the screen intently. Her brown hair falling forward to hide her face.

"It means one of two things. One, they have managed to deprogram Relena and are feeding false information for what ever reason." Basil shook his head unable to comprehend how they were able to achieve this.

"Or two?" Une prompted.

"Relena is dead, as we planned, and they are trying to hide her demise." Basil answered looking directly at Une trying to gauge her reaction.

"Probability?" Une again asked.

Basil thought for a second, then answered "I really cannot believe that they were able to deprogram her without killing her. Not without help from the designer. I would say she is dead and they are trying to hide it."

Lady Une crossed her arms. "And you are the sole designer of this bot."

Basil looked startled. "Of course I am, you know that I am the creator of this technology." Une stared at him and Basil started to look edgy. "I am the sole creator and designer. I did not help the pilots if that is what you are implying."

"Of course not." Lady Une looked out of the office window "I am not accusing you of anything my dear old friend. I just wanted confirmation that no one could be helping the pilots. So, Relena is finally dead."

"Yes, the evidence would point to that." Basil frowned at Lady Une. "Er, my condolences" he said weakly.

Une turned around and stared at Basil, then slowly smiled.

"Thank you Basil. But I never really knew her. And how can I truly mourn someone that I never really knew." Lady Une flicked an imagined spot on the sleeve of her uniform. "I will go and inform Millardo of Relena's not unexpected death. I am sure that he will be as devastated as I am."

Lady Une nodded and walked out of the room. Basil stared after her for a while, then swallowed.

"I am going to be in deep shit if Lady Une ever finds out about Dr Js involvement." He murmured, rubbing his forehead. He was beginning to get a headache.

Quatre and Trowa had arrived on L1 without incident and had immediately started their search for Dr J. They had visited his flat, which was empty of both personal possessions and furniture. When they located the landlady, she advised that the Doctor had vacated several days before. He had paid up the rent to the end of the tenancy agreement and told the landlady that he would not be renewing.

From there Quatre and Trowa moved on to the laboratory. Security was still operating, they could get in as far as the lift but no further. Trowa decided that they did not have time to be elegant in the means of their entry, and set a small charge in the base of the elevator. Once that had blown the floor of the elevator had largely disappeared and they were able to absail down to the level of the laboratory. Brut force opened the doors into the lab.

The main room of the laboratory was empty, equipment stripped. The only thing that remained was a screen with a disc player. On top of the screen was a disc. Quatre and Trowa looked at each other, then Trowa shrugged and placed the disc in the player and activated the screen. A recording of Dr J leapt into life, the Dr hunched over and not looking directly at the screen. He looked old and sad.

"Heero, I anticipated that you would call to see me and I would imagine that I am correct in guessing that it is not a social call. You believe that I am involved in the nanobot technology. And, much to my shame, the answer is yes. I am involved. I was one of the original designers. Dr Holt and myself developed the technology.

"The original idea came from Dr Holt. He was very unhappy after his unfortunate accident that he could no longer help children with congenital heart disorders and was looking for another way to utilise his medical knowledge. He had the idea of a nanobot that could regulate the heartbeat of a heart that was not beating correctly, a much more refined method than the existing pacemaker - no need for batteries to be replaced or the worry of a unit becoming faulty. I agreed that it was a brilliant idea. But then I did something I think I shall regret for the rest of my life. I suggested other uses of a nanobot should we be successful with that version.

"I trained you, Heero, to become the perfect soldier. But I always felt I had failed as in the end you followed your heart rather than your mind. I am ashamed to say that I thought that I could with this technology create an actual perfect soldier. One who would follow orders without hesitation, without questioning." Dr J's image shook his head. "It was wrong, Heero, I know it was. Once the prototype had successfully passed all computer generated tests Basil and I agreed to write up our findings and bring them before the General Medical Council for approval for further testing on live subjects.

"However, before the papers were written Basil was offered the position of Physician to Miss Darlian. He accepted, and at that time I grew a little suspicious of his motives. It was a move that was completely out of character for him. After a little time had passed I went to visit Basil in the Sanq Kingdom. It was then that I realised that Basil was conducting tests on live subjects, on human beings. I knew this when I encountered Miss Darlian and she did not recognise me.

"After I had seen her with Basil, I pondered what to do. I made enquiries and found that you and all your comrades had left Earth for destinations unknown. Then I heard rumours of the Justice Committee and its purpose. I revisited Basil, and managed to see Miss Darlian alone. I gave her a repellent spray that I had developed for protection. I told Basil that it was infected with nanobots whose purpose would be when triggered to burst blood vessels in the brain and cause instant death." Dr J sighed, and Trowa visibly swallowed. "Although I had bots that could do that, the spray I gave to Relena was bot free. She is a pacifist and I could not willingly add to the wrongs that had already been done to her. That was all I felt I could do. I then returned to L1 and waited for you to make contact with me, as I knew you would. And I assisted you the best I could to rid young Quatre and Miss Darlian of the nanobots."

Dr J shifted on his seat then looked directly at the camera for the first time. "I am sorry. I have hurt you by supporting Dr Holt, and I had promised myself that I would do all I could do to help you. Why did I do it? Well my boy, I suppose that all I did, all I have ever done, was in the name of science. I am afraid that is what drives me, nothing else.

"I am sorry for that which happened to Relena and Quatre, but I must confess to you that I am also fascinated by it. I don't think that I will ever be able to change my fascination for how we can manipulate people. That is my flaw and I will just have to live with it." Dr J suddenly grinned at the camera "I suppose that is if you let me! Someday we might meet up again, and by then I hope you can forgive a selfish old doctor. You were always a kind boy. Farewell."

Dr J's image bowed his head, and the transmission terminated.

Quatre and Trowa looked at each other.

"We won't find him easily now." Trowa said.

"No" Quatre agreed "And I don't think Heero will want us to." He picked up the disc and put it in his pocked "Lets get to the rendezvous point on Earth."