Part Six
Lately things have been looking up. Not that I’ve had less paperwork to do. But the specialists that Zechs brought in managed to locate two of the Gundams: 01 and 05. I imagine it won’t take the pilots long to realize this and come looking for them. Though I don’t know anything about the pilot of 01, I imagine the Chinese boy that pilots 05 is not looking forward to seeing me again. He seemed quite enraged at our last meeting.
As we did with Noventa, a very small amount of false information has been leaked onto the web. The real location of the Gundams is known to no one but Une, Zechs, myself, and presumably the specialists he brought in. I don’t know if the Gundam pilots will take the bait. They must know that they can’t trust any information on the OZ network; however, they certainly wouldn’t want to leave their Gundams with us.
They cannot risk coming and they cannot risk not coming. Given the two unacceptable choices, I’m guessing they’ll choose the latter. They might assume that, if they walk into a trap, they would be able to fight their way out. They might even be correct.
Zechs has set up the guards around the Gundams. I trust him to take it from here.
****
To: 01@colony.net, 02@colony.net
From: 03@colony.net
Re: Question
Have either of you heard from Quatre or Wufei? Quatre said he’d email me when he got back from Ayre, but it’s been two days and I haven’t received anything. OZ holds no record of their capture. I’m starting to get worried.
Trowa
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To: 03@colony.net
From: 02@colony.net
Re: Re: Question
No, man, we haven’t heard a thing. And Q said he’d let us know as soon as they got out ‘cause he was gonna try to deliver Wing to Heero. You’re already on the inside, right? You haven’t heard anything about it at all? This is not good!
Duo
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To: 02@colony.net
From: 03@colony.net
Re: Re: Question
Yes, I’ve infiltrated. I’m still the lowest rank possible since I just joined as a recruit. But my considerable hacking skills haven’t given me any information, and from inside OZ it’s easier to get to the higher levels. Wherever they are, OZ does not have them.
Trowa
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From: 03@colony.net
Re: Quatre
I don’t mean to worry you, but have you seen Quatre or Wufei after they left for the mission? They said they would contact me and they haven’t. When did they leave?
Trowa
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To: 03@colony.net
From: maganacs@winner.com
Re: Re: Quatre
Quatre and Wufei left three days ago, and we haven’t heard anything from them since then. We’re beginning to get very worried. Please let us know as soon as you’ve heard anything.
Rashid
****
Quatre woke up with one of the worst headaches he’d ever had. Someone was shaking him roughly and calling his name. There was an urgent tone to the other voice that bordered on panic. It was odd, reflected Quatre, because Wufei wasn’t really the panicking type . . . Then he remembered what had happened and sat bolt upright with a gasp.
“You all right?” Wufei asked.
Quatre felt his head as if to check, not missing the large and sturdy handcuffs around his wrists. “Yes. I’m all right. You?”
“Nothing serious. Do you remember what happened at all?”
Quatre frowned, thinking hard. “I remember going in, and seeing that the Gundams weren’t there . . . and we turned to run and I saw a shadow in front of me. Several shadows. And that was it.”
Wufei nodded. “The same thing happened to me. I had time to see that whoever it was wore OZ uniforms.”
“Obviously,” Quatre said.
“Not obviously,” Wufei replied.
“How so?”
“You haven’t realized where we are, have you.”
Quatre rubbed his aching head. His surroundings were vaguely familiar, but the throbbing in his head prevented real thought. Then the door opened and Wufei’s statement suddenly made a lot more sense.
“Oh . . . shit,” Quatre said.
Wufei looked surprised to hear the other boy swearing. Then again, he felt like swearing too.
“That’s hardly a kind reception,” Quinze said smoothly. “Honestly, how long did you think that you could escape us?”
“We were hoping forever,” Wufei said.
“Yes, well, you underestimated White Fang,” Quinze said, smiling. “Now tell us where your Gundams are, so we can dispose of you.”
“What?” Quatre asked. He thought about what he had just asked, then continued with, “Shut up!” in true Duo style.
Wufei snickered.
Quinze did not seem amused. “You will tell us where your Gundams are.”
“No, but we will use them to kill you,” Wufei stated flatly.
“I think not,” Quinze said. “You know we have ways of getting this information out of you.”
Wufei rolled his eyes. “Yes, yes, we know.”
“Then why not make it easier on yourselves?”
“Choosing to be a Gundam pilot,” Quatre answered sharply, “means never taking the coward’s way out.”
Quinze smiled thinly. “I’m well aware of what a Gundam pilot is.”
“Then get out of here.”
Quinze glared at them for a long minute. “I will . . . for now.”
****
“Man, they can’t have just disappeared!” Duo threw his hands up in the air and paced restlessly around the room.
“Hn.” That and the sound of keys clacking was all he got from Heero.
Duo flopped down onto the bed and pushed his hair out of his eyes. “Well, okay. If OZ doesn’t have them, and they’re not back home, and they wouldn’t just take off without letting the rest of us know - well, Wu might but Quatre wouldn’t - then that doesn’t leave us many options! I mean, who the hell else would want them?!”
There was a slight pause in Heero’s typing. Then it picked up with renewed speed.
“Ah, shit,” Duo said, eyes widening. “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Already there,” Heero answered. “I’m emailing Dr. J.”
Duo got up to pace some more. “Better tell Trowa, too. And Rashid.” He paused. “Man, I wouldn’t want to be anyone in White Fang when Rashid hears about this. From the way Quatre was talking, he’s pretty scary.”
Heero continued to type.
“Should I email Pestilence? I’m not sure. He wasn’t too pleased with my last letter.”
“Let’s wait and see if J replies,” Heero answered.
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To: J@colony.net
From: 01@colony.net
Re: ?
Quatre and Wufei are missing. I don’t suppose you know anything about this, do you? Please advise.
Pilot 01
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To: G@colony.net
From: 02@colony.net
Re: ::head explodes::
Where the hell are Quatre and Wu, you miserable excuse for a human being? Don’t lie to me, I know you’ve got them, you mushroom-head. Tell me where they are before Shinigami has to pay a visit.
You’re an asshole.
Pilot 02
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To: 03@colony.net
From: 01@colony.net
Re: Quatre and Wufei
Duo and I suspect that Quatre and Wufei might have been apprehended by White Fang. We have sent letters to our respective doctors questioning them, but neither of us expect a response. If we haven’t received one in two days, we’re going to go pay a visit. The new Gundam, Wing Zero, is almost completed. Howard says he can have it ready by tomorrow night.
Heero
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To: 01@colony.net
From: 03@colony.net
Re: Re: Quatre and Wufei
Wakatta. I’ll try to do some checking of my own.
Trowa
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To: 02@colony.net
From: G@colony.net
Re: Re: ::head explodes::
Really, do you have to be insulting with every word in your letter? Most of the things in your last one weren’t anatomically possible, now you’re calling me names between each sentence.
Of course I know where they are. But it wasn’t my idea.
G
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To: G@colony.net
From: 02@colony.net
Re: WHAT?!?!?!
What? WHAT?!?! You can’t leave off your letter like that! This isn’t a novel! Tell me what’s going on! There will be no cliffhangers! Where are they?! Seriously, don’t make me come over there!!
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To: 03@colony.net
From: 01@colony.net
Re: Quatre and Wufei
It’s been confirmed that White Fang has Quatre and Wufei. Duo received a reply from Professor G. At the moment he’s ranting and punching the walls, so I decided to email you and let you know. We’ll try to get the location from them. Then what do you suggest we do?
Heero
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To: 02@colony.net
From: G@colony.net
Re: Re: WHAT?!?!?!
To begin with, I feel no need to discuss such sensitive information over an insecure email. Also, when did you become so attached to your comrades? I hardly think this is any of your business as long as you remain free of White Fang.
G
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To: G@colony.net
From: 02@colony.net
Re: Don’t be a dickhead
All right, you asked for it.
****