Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ The Mystery of DM ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

See chapter 1 for disclaimer.

Chapter warning: some mild Hilde bashing, suggested Relena bashing

“yadda” speaking

`yadda' thoughts

/yadda/ typing

`yadda' mind speech  

 

—

 

Sally and Une were not amused when they learned of Duo's disappearance. They were somewhat mollified when they learned of Diana, Sally offering what medical knowledge she had on split or multiple personality disorders and promising to find out more for them. The next few weeks passed, Heero growing increasingly frustrated by his inability to crack the encryption despite having received a grudgingly given hint from Diana. His admiration in her abilities grew along with his irritation. The other pilots were forced to admit that she could, indeed, have located the Gundams, if they had trusted her enough. For once, their inherent need for secrecy worked against them. Time continued in that pattern until two separate incidents forced their hands.

 

For the past week Hilde had been calling, asking to see Duo. After several days of being brushed off, she took matters into her own hands, showing up on the doorstep of Quatre's house, refusing to leave until she saw Duo. Unfortunately for the boys, Sally arrived with her, bringing all the data on MPD she had found. To compound their problems, this was the day Diana had agreed to call in order to meet with Sally. Quatre just couldn't bring himself to turn away one woman while allowing the other to enter. As a result, Hilde got to sit in on the call.

 

Sally, Hilde and Quatre were in the office waiting for Diana to call. Checking her watch, Sally frowned slightly. “Shouldn't she have called by now?” The moment she uttered those words, the vidphone flashed, indicating an incoming call. Quatre quickly moved to accept it. Sally felt her frown deepen when the screen remained blank. Well, blank except for the words that now appeared.

 

/Identify please./

 

“What the hell?” she muttered under her breath.

 

“Diana, it's Quatre. Sally and Hilde are with me, no one else is in the room.” The two women looked at Quatre, shocked. From the way he spoke, this had happened before.

 

/Hilde? Who's Hilde?/ There was a pause before the next sentence appeared. /Ah, thanks Duo./ Quatre suppressed a wince as Hilde flew forward.

 

“Wait a minute! Duo's there? Let me talk to him!”

 

/And this person reminds you of me? Oh, I see. Alright, you're forgiven. Sorry Hilde, but I'm the only person that can speak to Duo right now. What did you want to tell him?/

 

Hilde's eyes widened as she read. “What do you mean no one else can talk to him? This is preposterous! Turn on your screen right now! Let me see Duo!”

 

/sigh You asked for it./ The screen flickered, Duo's face appearing under the text. The same headset was clearly in view; the laptop, however, was conspicuously absent.

 

“Duo!” Hilde smiled in relief. “There you are! What was that nonsense about this Diana person being the only one who can talk to you?” Quatre remained silent throughout, letting Diana decide how much to tell Hilde. Sally watched with interest, gathering what data she could to help her figure out what was going on in Duo's head.

 

/I'm not Duo./ The words formed as Diana talked, no sounds issuing from the speakers. /I'm Diana. Duo is in here and doesn't want to come out right now./ She tapped the side of her head. /So if you have anything you really want to tell him, it has to go through me./

 

Hilde started to sputter in rage. “You… But… This is ridiculous! Duo, quit joking around!”

 

Diana's eyes narrowed before she switched her gaze to Quatre. /I'm not speaking any more until she is removed from that house./ The screen went black, her last words still floating on the screen.

 

Quatre sighed. “Miss Schbeiker, I must ask you to leave. We need to speak with Diana.”

 

Hilde whirled around, eyes blazing. “What the hell is going on here?! Why is Duo acting like that?” she screeched. Sally winced, covering her ears. The door to the office opened as Hilde finished, Rashid entering.

 

“Master Quatre, is there a problem?” he gentle voice boomed out.

 

“Rashid, I'm afraid Miss Schbeiker is overwrought.” Quatre glared at Hilde, his eyes ice. “She needs to be taken home so she can rest.”

 

“I understand.” Rashid grabbed the struggling girl, easily lifting her up and carried her out of the room. Quatre watched carefully, not relaxing until the door closed behind them.

 

Sally looked over at Quatre, one eyebrow raised. “So how long will we have to wait until Diana calls back?”

 

Quatre chuckled. “She didn't end the call, she only blocked our end. And I'll bet you anything that she's inside my security right now, watching and listening. Once Hilde has left, she'll talk to us again.” Quatre sighed. “Hilde really should have known better than to call either of them a lair, even indirectly.”

 

Sally nodded. “So we wait.” She looked around the office before selecting an armchair, sinking down into it. “In the meantime, how's Heero doing with that file?”

 

—

 

Diana sat back, noting the giant mans progress as he removed the young girl. “Damn, she's got it bad,” she muttered.

 

`What has she got bad?'

 

Diana snorted. “Of course you wouldn't notice it. She's in love with you. Or rather, she thinks she is. Just like that Relena you've been telling me about.”

 

`What!? No way! Are you sure?'

 

“Positive. Look at all the trouble she went through just to talk to you. I'll bet she'll try bugging Howard next.” Diana sighed. “Remind me to improve Howard's security after this call.”

 

`Sure. Damn, I didn't think she felt that way. There's no way I can lover her like that! I mean…'

 

“I know, Duo. We both like guys.” Diana leaned forward, elbows propped on the table as she rested her chin against her palms. “And I know Hilde won't take that well.”

 

`No kidding. Well, shit.'

 

Diana chuckled. “Ever the master of the obvious.” Duo chose to ignore her. Glancing over at her laptop, Diana automatically scanned through the various windows, noting the locations of the other pilots. Or rather, the pilots that were currently in Quatre's house. Trowa was once more in the exercise room, practicing his acrobatics. Heero was sitting in the downstairs living room, his laptop resting on the desk in front of him. “You're right Duo. He is definitely addicted to that machine of his.”

 

`Like you're any better.'

 

“Of course I am. I use mine as a tool to assist me during my jobs. Face it, if you had used my laptop, you and Yuy would have found the Gundams.” Diana glanced at the window showing the scene around Deathsythe, thankful that she and Duo had created the sensors that currently allowed her to patch in, monitoring the activity around their Gundam. The chair slammed onto the floor as she sat up. “Shit! What the hell is going on there?” She reached over, slowly boosting the volume as she closely watched the sudden activity around the five Gundams.

 

“…ready to move! We have one day, pilot 05 spotted one of our agents.” A thin, reedy voice crackled over the speakers. Diana frowned when she heard it.

 

“I know that voice,” she muttered, fingers flying over her keyboard, pulling up all the relevant files on the Gundams current whereabouts, bundling the package. Opening links directly to the other pilots computers, she dumped copies of the files into their memory. “Ex. Open com link to Yuy's computer. End Ex,” she calmly stated into her head piece, hands still busy at her keyboard as she carefully expanded `Scythe's range. The clacking of Heero's fingers striking his keyboard resounded over her earpiece. “Knock knock.” Diana grinned as Heero's hands momentarily paused, the only indicator that he had been startled as Diana's words scrolled across his screen. “Sorry, no time for pleasantries. You and the others have 12 hours to get over here. In 24 hours the Gundams will be gone and it looks like they're being prepped for space transport. All the data I've been able to gather has been copied onto all of your computers. Hurry but keep from being followed. Chang has already been spotted.” Diana watched with one eye as Heero rapidly digested the info, the other focused on the data `Scythe's sensors were feeding her laptop. He twitched at the order to do exactly what he always does, then scowled at her last sentence.

 

“Understood. We'll be there.”

 

“Please bring Duo's laptop with you.” Heero nodded, starting to shut down his computer. “Ex. Close com link. End Ex.” Diana switched the focus that had been on Heero's phone call to the vidphone, glancing at the window to observe Quatre and Sally. She missed Heero's raised eyebrows as her last command scrolled across his screen. She also missed the faint smile that immediately followed. “Ex. Open link with vidphone, full visuals. End Ex.” The vidphone next to her flared to life, revealing a startled Quatre and Sally. “Can't chat any longer. Heero will explain. See you later.” She stretched, disconnecting the vidphone, ending the call before either could raise an objection. “Now, let's find out where I know that voice from.” Diana bent over her laptop, her entire being focusing on the one task.

 

—

 

Heero moved quickly, placing his and Duo's laptops in his duffle bag, making sure they wouldn't accidentally get damaged. He efficiently stripped the room of all hidden weaponry, securing them either on himself or in his bag. Once finished, he strode rapidly to the office, confidant Quatre was there. `Well, mostly correct,' he mused as Quatre stepped out of the office, followed by Sally, a few seconds before Heero reached the door.

 

“Heero, Diana said you could explain why she cut her call short.” Quatre gazed evenly at the American-Japanese boy, waiting for an answer before moving any further.

 

“We're leaving,” Heero stated, falling back on his command voice. “Diana found the Gundams but whoever has them is moving them . All the info she's gotten is in our laptops. 12 hours, max, to get to her and another 12 before the Gundams are gone.” Quatre brightened, then steadily darkened as Heero talked.

 

“Understood.” The blond Arab raced to his room, dragging his still packed bag out of the closet, only pausing to grab Trowa's bag and their laptops. Pulling out his mobile phone, he speed dialed Wufei, praying the Chinese youth was close to the house.

 

“Chang here. What do you want Winner?”

 

Quatre sighed. “Where are you?”

 

“On my way back. I found some interesting information and it looked as though someone wasn't too happy about me discovering it. I had to get rid of three tails.”

 

“Double time back; we're heading out. We'll exchange information once you get here. You still packed?”

 

Wufei cursed in Mandarin over the phone. “Yes, it's in the closet. See you in 15 at the most. Chang out.”

 

Quatre put his phone away, slung both packs onto his back and headed to the first floor living room. He had transportation to arrange.