Eternal Flame
folder
Gundam Wing/AC › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
43
Views:
5,954
Reviews:
30
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Gundam Wing/AC › Yaoi - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
43
Views:
5,954
Reviews:
30
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own Gundam Wing/AC, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 26
Disclaimer: I don\'t own the G Boys, I just borrow them from time to time and return a w a whole lot happier ne? :) I do however own Shane, Paul, Colin, Mickey, Benny, Toby, Fayah and any other unfamiliar characters that crop up. I also own the plot if you can call it that.
Rating: NC 17
Warnings: Sap, angst, OC, Lemon, Lime, abuse, violence, language.
Pairings: 1x2x1, 3x4x3, 5xS, OC x OC and maybe some more... check each part to be sure ;)
Archive: http://gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com
http://sweetlysour.net
http://www.adult-fanfiction.org
http://www.theforsakenwk.com/
Status: Work in progress.
Beta: DBZVelena, Yami_Tai & Ryouga... *huggles*
Author: ShenLong
Authors notes: *sigh* Well here I am again caving into pressure. I know it has taken a while to get to this and for that I apologize but I could not come up with a plot I deemed worthy enough.... until now. This is yet another sequel... this time to United Hearts. I did promise I would write the wedding for you all and I intend to do that. For those hav haven\'t read United or Lost Souls I recommend that you do, otherwise this sequel will not make much sense. All of your favorite characters are back and up to as much mischief as possible.
This is set fourteen months after the end of United and all the children are older now. The Gundam Pilots are all 20yrs, Shane and Fayah are 16, Paul is 15, Colin is 14, Mickey is 12, Benny is 10 1/2 and not forgetting that little rascal Toby who is 10.
Thank you to all those who supported me through the writing of United, I hope you enjoy this just as much.
\"Eternal Flame\"
April 2003 ShenLong
Chapter 26
~ Flashback ~
\"Thank you. I appreciate the call. No, no, keep him there. My partner and I will come right down. Good-bye.\" Quatre folded the \'phone back up and clipped it to his belt before turning to Trowa. \"That was Detective Nicholls; it seems they have managed to find the person who murdered Shand.\"
~ End Flashback ~
There was silence in the room. Trowa looked at Quatre. \"They have?\"
\"Yes. They are holding him at the station awaiting fur inr instructions from Preventer. We need to go down there and question him, see what we can find out in relation to Shand\'s death and the missing chips. Once we have finished the police will formally charge him with the murder and he will stand trial. Depending on what we find out from him those charges may be added to.\"
\"Then I suggest you both get going and report back once you have finished your questioning,\" Wufei stated.
\"Yes, yes, you\'re right,\" Quatre mused. \"I think we should drop Benny and Toby back home first, heaven knows how long we will be at the station. I\'m sure Rashid won\'t mind watching them and putting them to bed if we are delayed for some time.\"
Quatre and Trowa stood, Heero looked up from his typing and Duo also turned to face them. \"Let us know what happens,\" Heero stated.
\"We will,\" Trowa replied. \"I will collect the terrible twosome and thank Shane and Fayah for watching them.\" Trowa exited the room in search of his *sons*.
\"We will be in contact soon,\" Quatre said as he also left the room.
\"Good luck, Quat,\" Duo said softly as he escorted the blonde to the door where Trowa met him, Benny and Toby each holding onto one of his hands. Duo ruffled each of the boy\'s hair in turn. \"Yer both behave now fer Rashid and come visit us again soon.\"
\"We promises ta be good,\" Toby sighed out.
\"Why does everyone keep on tellin us ta behave ourselves? Anyone would fink we was really bad or somefin,\" Benny grumbled.
Duo laughed. \"It\'s a grown up thing, kinda expected of us, yanno?\"
\"Jus like we kids is supposed ta always ask heaps of questions and be generally annoyin and stuff,\" Toby stated, a knowing smile on his face.
\"Yeah, short stuff, somethin like that.\" Duo turned to Quatre who had watched the exchange with mild amusement. \"I hope yer manages ta get some information outta this guy, somethin that we can use.\"
\"So do we, Duo. So do we,\" Quatre replied. \"Okay guys, go hop in the car.\"
\"See yer later, Duo. Thanks fer lettin us play,\" the pair chorused as they headed out the door and to the waiting car.
\"Anytime, guys!\" Duo watched until Trowa and Quatre were in the car and driving off before he shut the door and went back to the office and Heero.
Wufei leaned over Heero\'s shoulder as the information flashed across the screen. Heero\'s fingers continued to manipulate the keyboard at an alarming pace as his eyes scanned the various items of data that were displayed.
\"How\'s it goin?\" Duo asked as he sauntered back in.
\"Hn. It\'s taking longer than I thought; OZ has been quite meticulous in the protection of their files.\" Heero replied.
Duo dropped into the chair and relaxed back. \"I guess yer can\'t blame them, I mean they would have a lot of shit ta keep under wraps.\"
\"Try that one,\" Wufei said as he pointed to a particular set of data on screen.
Heero hit the keyboard to action the request and moments later had infiltrated the data source Wufei had indicated. \"Fuck!\"
\"I second that, Yuy.\" Wufei said.
Duo bounded up and looked over Heero\'s other shoulder. \"Holy shit!\"
The data scrolled over the screen, the three agents absorbing the information like sponges. \"Who woulda guessed?\" Duo stated as he began to read.
~ * ~
Bob Martins was taken to a small containment area, the guard closing and locking the door behind them. \"Through there,\" the guard said and pushed Bob towards a door way.
Bob complied, and found himself in a smaller room that contained a shower stall and small bench on which sat soap, a towel and a change of clothes. He turned to look at the guard.
\"The boss said you were to get cleaned up, have a meal and rest before returning to the control room. Take a shower.\" It was a command, not a request.
Bob walked silently to the small h anh and began to remove his shirt. He noted the guard still present in the room and turned to face him. \"I take it you\'re going to watch?\"
The guard had the decency to redden slightly but nodded.
Bob sighed and turned back around to remove his pants. \"I hope you get your jollies then,\" he muttered under his breath as he dropped the pants. He removed his underwear, still keeping his back to the guard and reached for the towel. He wrapped it around his waist and picked up the soap before entering the small stall and turning the water on. He wasn\'t about to refuse a shower, he couldn\'t remember when he\'d last had one; was it two days? ... Three? ... A week seemed to be more like it judging by the smell.
The water coursed over his skin, washing away the grime and the tension. Bob allowed himself the small luxury of enjoying the spray as it soothed his tired muscles. Picking up the soap, he began the task of cleansing himself.
~ * ~
Trowa and Quatre drove to the police station in silence; each was locked in their own thoughts and the up coming interrogation. Pulling into the parking lot and cutting the engine they got out of the car and prepared themselves for the ordeal. Trowa walked around the car and quickly took Quatre into his arms, holding the small blonde close to him and brushing his lips over the sweet ruby ones of his lover.
Quatre smiled up at his tall partner and returned the kiss with one of his own. \"When this is over I think I will need a good long massage,\" he breathed out.
\"Now that is a request I can fulfill,\" Trowa replied with a smile.
\"Then let\'s get inside and get this over and done with so you can take me home and relax me.\"
Trowa shook his head. \"Come on then,\" he said and began to lead the way into the police station.
They were met inside by a helpful Sergeant who fetched Detective Nicholls for them. \"Mr. Winner, Mr. Barton,\" the detective said as he shook hands with the two. \"Thank you for coming down here so quickly.\"
\"Where is the suspect?\" Quatre asked, his voice calm but commanding. He remembered the treatment they had received before from the detective\'s partner and he wasn\'t about to go through that again.
\"This way, gentlemen.\" Detective Nicholls led them down a corridor to a small room that contained a table and four chairs. One of the chairs was occupied by the suspect, while Detective Masaki sat part way upon the table. Trowa gave the detective a look of distaste, noting the small tremor that ran through the man\'s body as he shifted from the table.
\"Thank you, detectives. My partner and I will take over this questioning for now. Please leave the file and any other relevant material on the table. We will call you when we are finished.\" Quatre addressed the two detectives with a voice of authority, one that demanded instant cooperation.
Nicholls picked up the file and handed it to Trowa. \"All that we have, including the evidence for his arrest is in there.\"
\"Thank you.\" Trowa took the file and opened it, eyes scanning over the pages.
Nicholls and Masaki left, Masaki giving Quatre a *look* as he passed the blonde. Quatre ignored it; the man was an idiot in his opinion and not worth wasting either breath or time on. He turned to the figure sitting in the chair.
The man sat, hunched over, hands wedged deeply in pockets with a hat pulled down, hiding his face and his legs crossed at the ankle. For all intents and purposes he seemed to be totally relaxed and calm but Trowa could tell different. There was an underlying tension to the body, something akin to when the big cats were disturbed and on edge. Trowa was used to dealing with skittish animals.
Quatre took the proffered file from Trowa, sitting down in one of the empty chairs and proceeding to go through the pages. He knew that Trowa would watch his back and size up the suspect while he went through the information on the sheets of paper.
Fielding kept his face low and his body as relaxed as he could. His mind was reeling though, so many thoughtsblinbling around and getting mixed up. He knew why he was there, knew he was charged with Shand\'s death and knew they couldn\'t possibly pin it on him though. Davis had seen to that.... hadn\'t he? He took the chance to glance at the pair who had replaced the detectives; they didn\'t look all that smart in his opinion, too young for a start. Fielding smiled to himself. This would be easy; he would manage to talk his way out of this without even breaking a sweat.
Trowa noted the slight change in the posture, the subtle softening of the shoulders and smiled inwardly. / Good, the man was obviously making his first mistake.… Underestimating his opponents. /
Closing the file, Quatre took a deep breath and turned to face the man. \"Your name is James Fielding?\"
The figure grunted.
\"From what I have read in this file you are charged with the murder of a man called Shand, correct?\"
\"That\'s what they reckon.\"
\"And you are disputing the fact?\"
\"What do you fucking think? Of course I\'m disputing the fact,\" Fielding growled.
Quatre ignored the man\'s sullen attitude. \"It seems to me that the police have a pretty good case against you.\"
\"In your opinion.\"
Trowa moved to stand behind Quatre and looked over his shoulder at the pages in the file. \"I\'d say there is enough evidence in there to convict you of murder in the first degree, which, if memory serves me correct, is punishable by the death penalty,\" Trowa stated calmly and then raised his eyes to study the man. The posture had shifted slightly.
Fielding began to sweat a little. Maybe it was going to take a little longer to talk his way out of this than he\'d first thought. He reached into his pocket and removed a packet of cigarettes, pulling one from the pack he quickly lit it and inhaled the rich smoke, blowing it back out moments later.
Quatre resisted the urge to cough, instead he pressed on. \"Where did you meet Shand? What was your association with him?\"
Fielding turned his face slightly and gave Quatre a sneer. \"Who?\"
Trowa felt his fists curling, but Quatre continued with his questions, remaining calm as always. \"You know exactly who I\'m talking about. What I want to know is... what was your association with him?\"
Fielding declined to reply, blowing smoke instead into the blonde\'s face.
This time Quatre did cough. He reached for his handkerchief to smother the smoke and stop his coughing. Meanwhile Trowa moved around the table and before Fielding knew what was happening, the cigarette had been plucked from his fingers and ground out on the floor. He looked up in surprise, to be met with a pair of green eyes that promised him... Pain?
\"Smoking is bad for you,\" Trowa stated. \"And so is lying. The police have matched the tire prints from the crime scene to those of your vehicle. A bullet matching those contained within your firearm was located and removed from within a tree, also at the crime scene. The speed, trajectory and angl the the bullet, combined with the placement of the body all show it was the bullet that disabled the victim, even if it was the resulting inferno that finally killed him.\" Trowa moved away and stood behind his blonde partner, keeping a careful eye on Fielding.
Fielding felt the sweat increase and nervously rubbed his palms along his thighs, uncrossing his legs and pushing himself a little deeper into the chair. He still declined to speak though.
\"I\'m sure thou kou knew Shand was an employee of Winner Enterprises, Fielding.\" Quatre stated his voice still calm.
\"Really? Well, lucky for him,\" Fielding replied, sarcastically.
\"Did you also know he was stealing from the company?\"
Fielding shrugged.
\"To be more precise he was stealing high tech computer chips and to date those chips have not been recovered.\"
\"So? What has all that got to do with me? I never knew the guy.\" Fielding was still sticking stubbornly to his story.
\"Those chips could only be used for certain types of programming, something that was beyond Shand\'s capabilities and so therefore he must have been stealing them for someone else.\" Quatre continued to press on, determined to make the man crack.
Fielding was equally as determined to plead innocence.
It was Trowa who delivered the final blow. Striding over to the man in the chair, Trowa noted the changes in the body lane. Te. The man was getting more and more unsettled by the minute, even if he didn\'t openly portray it, Trowa could detect it. He was like a wild animal that was slowly being backed into a corner, all it needed was the final push and he would crack. Trowa lowered his face until he was millimeters from the suspect\'s face, the rankness of his breath stinging Trowa\'s nostrils. He made eye contact... and spoke.
\"Your alibi for the night of Shand\'s death...\"
Fielding swallowed.
\"...does not check out. In fact he was rather helpful, stating he hadn\'t seen you at all until late that night and when you did arrive you smelt of smoke.\" Trowa let that little bit of information sink in. It was a long shot but Trowa had seen things like this work before and it was obvious that the man was going to resist them for sometime to come. They needed the confession, needed information and needed it now, they couldn\'t play twenty questions.
Fielding looked up at Trowa. \"You\'re bluffing. I spent the evening in question with Mark Davis; he\'s already confirmed that with the police.\"
\"Has he? I\'m afraid I beg to differ. Mr. Davis has told both us and the police that he didn\'t see you until later that evening.\"
\"That can\'t be right. I was there early in the evening, I spent all night there.\" Fielding\'s voice rose a little. His mind was whirling. Davis had promised him he would stand as his alibi and Fielding had no reason to doubt the other man. But what if...
\"I think you have been sold out,\" Quatre said quietly and then leaned across the table. \"May I make a suggestion here?\"
Fielding looked up, his eyes betraying his inner turmoil.
\"Why don\'t you cooperate with us, answer our questions and when your case goes to trial it will look much better for you, the acknowledgment of your assistance should give you a lighter sentence; at the least it could mean the difference between the death penalty and life imprisonment.\" Quatre dangled the proverbial carrot.
Trowa watched the suspect carefully. He noted the subtle shift of the body, the way the eyes told of the conflict. \"Whether you help us or not, is irrelevant. We will track down what isng ong on, it may take a little longer but we will get to the bottom of this. So, you can either help us, and obtain a lighter sentence, or remain stubborn and start planning your funeral now because we will find out anyway.\"
Fielding turned away.
\"Fine, have it your way.\" Quatre made to stand and turned to address Trowa. \"I will let Preventer HQ know that the suspect has been unwilling to cooperate and leave him in the custody of the police.\"
Trowa nodded. \"In that case I will bring in Davis and get his confession down on paper.\" The pair went to leave the room.
\"Wait!\"
Trowa gave Quatre a small smile as they turned around. \"Yes?\" Trowked.ked.
\"You give me your word that I won\'t get the death sentence?\"
\"Only if you cooperate.\"
Fielding lowered his eyes. \"All right then. What is it you want to know?\"
~ * ~
\"This is getting more and more complicated by the minute,\" Wufei stated as he continued to read.
\"No wonder Martins\' file wlasslassified; if word of this got out he would be lynched.\" Heero stated, his mouth set into a grim line.
\"I wonder if Leith knows about this?\" Duo said as he rubbed his chin.
\"I doubt it. It isn\'t the sort of thing you would be telling people, especially your family. I mean, after all the harm that system did, I for one would be only too happy to forget about it,\" said Heero as he continued to peruse.
\"Yeah, I guess it ain\'t sor sorta thing yer would go around tellin people.\"
\"Well, if he is in the L3 cluster it would make sense to check out this Automaton Industries a little closer,\" Wufei said as his mind thought on possible scenarios.
\"If they produce highly skilled robotics then someonth Mth Martins\' experience would be an asset,\" Heero said. \"But why kidnap him? Wouldn\'t it make more sense to offer the guy a job?\"
\"Unless they know about his working on the Epyon...\"
The conveion ion was cut short as Shane entered the room. \"Sorry ta disturb yer but Trowa\'s on the \'phone.\"
\"Okay, Shane. Thanks.\" Heero stood up. \"I\'ll go see what they have found out.\"
Duo took up residence in Heero\'s chair as the Japanese man left to speak with Trowa and continued to read through the file on Bob. Wufei sat to one side trying to figure out why the company would want to kidnap Martins.
Heero sat in front of the vid \'phone. \"Barton, what news do you have?\"
Trowa proceeded to tell Heero what Fielding had confessed.
\"Are you sure?\"
\"Yes, Heero.\"
Heero thought for a moment, his mind analyzing all the information to date and then his eyes went wide as the jigsaw began to slot into place. \"If what you say is true, Trowa, then I think we are in serious trouble.\"
\"How serious?\"
\"We have managed to get into the OZ files and found out that Bob Martins worked on Epyon during the wars.\"
Trowa\'s eyebrow quirked. \"Meaning?\"
\"He worked specifically on the programming of the zero system for Epyon.\"
\"Shit!\"
\"Can you and Quatre get back here?\"
\"On our way.\"
\"Hn, good. I have a hunch, and it\'s not good. I\'ll wait until you and Quatre get herforefore informing you all what it is I am thinking of.\"
\"Okay, Heero. We will be there soon.\" Trowa cut the connection.
Heero sat for a few minutes looking at the blank screen. How he hoped that what he was thinking was wrong... but given all the information he couldn\'t see any other explanation. Still locked deep in thought he returned to the other two agents.
~ * ~
Bob finished his shower, dressed in his fresh clothing and was escorted to a mess hall of sorts where he was given a meal. Bob couldn\'t have said what the food was; he was far too hungry to notice and wolfed it down. Once he had eaten his fill the guard took him to another room, something similar to the cell-like room he had been in on the other \'satellite\'.
\"You will stay here and rest. I shall return for you in three hours,\" the guard said and then left Bob in the small room, locking the door as he left.
Bob sighed and walked over to the small cot. Sitting down on it he ran a hand through his thinning hair, once more asking himself how the hell he had gotten into this mess and more importantly; how was he going to get out of it?
His mind too tired to think anymore he lay upon the cot and drifted into a restless slumber.
It felt like he had only been asleep for five minutes when he was rudely awoken by a hand shaking his shoulder roughly. \"Time to get up, the boss want\'s you in the control room.\"
Scrubbing the sleep from his eyes and trying to get his mind to function, Bob managed to stand and leave the room, the guard pushing him in the direction of the control room. When they arrived there his eyes widened at the flurry of activity that was going on. People were everywhere, sitting at consoles or moving around with purpose to their stride. There in the middle of it all sat Roland Grant, staring out of the huge \'window\' into the black void of space. Sensing Bob\'s presence he swiveled the chair around and looked at the man. \"Ahh, Mr. Martins, so glad you could join us.\"
The guard shoved Bob forwards.
\"Please, take a seat. I\'m sure you are curious to see what all this effort has been f"
"
Bob found himself pushed into a seat just in front of Grant, a computer terminal blinking at him.
\"If you would be so kind as to watch out the window you will see the trials of these amazing suits,… suits you helped to create.\" Grant gave a hollow laugh.
Bob shuddered and watched, he had no other choice. Out in the blackness of space he could see a small army of mobile dolls assembling to the right of the window. On the left sat one solitary doll. Bob\'s brow furrowed.
Grant watched in amusement and then decided to put Bob out of his misery. \"The suit by itself represents a Gundam... or specifically a Gundam pilot. It has been programmed with all the fighting skills that we know of that the Gundam pilots used. The suits on the right are the ones we have created and you have programmed. Now watch.\"
From the ranks of suits to the right one suit emerged and headed towards the single suit on the left. Moments later the suits were engaged in battle.
Bob watched as the \'Gundam\' tried everything it had been programmed with to destroy the doll. He recognized several of the maneuvers it deployed, recalling the moves from the different Gundams during the war. His eyes widened as he watched the doll he had assisted in the programming of, counter the attacks and retaliate with its own. The programming and disc writing he\'d done, planning the doll\'s moves to perfection. but what was even more startling was the fact that the doll seemed to \'learn\'.
As the doll\'s beam saber sliced through the \'Gundam\' effectively destroying it, he could only sit there and stare. \"What the hell have I done?\" he whispered.
~ * ~
tbc.....
Rating: NC 17
Warnings: Sap, angst, OC, Lemon, Lime, abuse, violence, language.
Pairings: 1x2x1, 3x4x3, 5xS, OC x OC and maybe some more... check each part to be sure ;)
Archive: http://gundam-wing-diaries.150m.com
http://sweetlysour.net
http://www.adult-fanfiction.org
http://www.theforsakenwk.com/
Status: Work in progress.
Beta: DBZVelena, Yami_Tai & Ryouga... *huggles*
Author: ShenLong
Authors notes: *sigh* Well here I am again caving into pressure. I know it has taken a while to get to this and for that I apologize but I could not come up with a plot I deemed worthy enough.... until now. This is yet another sequel... this time to United Hearts. I did promise I would write the wedding for you all and I intend to do that. For those hav haven\'t read United or Lost Souls I recommend that you do, otherwise this sequel will not make much sense. All of your favorite characters are back and up to as much mischief as possible.
This is set fourteen months after the end of United and all the children are older now. The Gundam Pilots are all 20yrs, Shane and Fayah are 16, Paul is 15, Colin is 14, Mickey is 12, Benny is 10 1/2 and not forgetting that little rascal Toby who is 10.
Thank you to all those who supported me through the writing of United, I hope you enjoy this just as much.
\"Eternal Flame\"
April 2003 ShenLong
Chapter 26
~ Flashback ~
\"Thank you. I appreciate the call. No, no, keep him there. My partner and I will come right down. Good-bye.\" Quatre folded the \'phone back up and clipped it to his belt before turning to Trowa. \"That was Detective Nicholls; it seems they have managed to find the person who murdered Shand.\"
~ End Flashback ~
There was silence in the room. Trowa looked at Quatre. \"They have?\"
\"Yes. They are holding him at the station awaiting fur inr instructions from Preventer. We need to go down there and question him, see what we can find out in relation to Shand\'s death and the missing chips. Once we have finished the police will formally charge him with the murder and he will stand trial. Depending on what we find out from him those charges may be added to.\"
\"Then I suggest you both get going and report back once you have finished your questioning,\" Wufei stated.
\"Yes, yes, you\'re right,\" Quatre mused. \"I think we should drop Benny and Toby back home first, heaven knows how long we will be at the station. I\'m sure Rashid won\'t mind watching them and putting them to bed if we are delayed for some time.\"
Quatre and Trowa stood, Heero looked up from his typing and Duo also turned to face them. \"Let us know what happens,\" Heero stated.
\"We will,\" Trowa replied. \"I will collect the terrible twosome and thank Shane and Fayah for watching them.\" Trowa exited the room in search of his *sons*.
\"We will be in contact soon,\" Quatre said as he also left the room.
\"Good luck, Quat,\" Duo said softly as he escorted the blonde to the door where Trowa met him, Benny and Toby each holding onto one of his hands. Duo ruffled each of the boy\'s hair in turn. \"Yer both behave now fer Rashid and come visit us again soon.\"
\"We promises ta be good,\" Toby sighed out.
\"Why does everyone keep on tellin us ta behave ourselves? Anyone would fink we was really bad or somefin,\" Benny grumbled.
Duo laughed. \"It\'s a grown up thing, kinda expected of us, yanno?\"
\"Jus like we kids is supposed ta always ask heaps of questions and be generally annoyin and stuff,\" Toby stated, a knowing smile on his face.
\"Yeah, short stuff, somethin like that.\" Duo turned to Quatre who had watched the exchange with mild amusement. \"I hope yer manages ta get some information outta this guy, somethin that we can use.\"
\"So do we, Duo. So do we,\" Quatre replied. \"Okay guys, go hop in the car.\"
\"See yer later, Duo. Thanks fer lettin us play,\" the pair chorused as they headed out the door and to the waiting car.
\"Anytime, guys!\" Duo watched until Trowa and Quatre were in the car and driving off before he shut the door and went back to the office and Heero.
Wufei leaned over Heero\'s shoulder as the information flashed across the screen. Heero\'s fingers continued to manipulate the keyboard at an alarming pace as his eyes scanned the various items of data that were displayed.
\"How\'s it goin?\" Duo asked as he sauntered back in.
\"Hn. It\'s taking longer than I thought; OZ has been quite meticulous in the protection of their files.\" Heero replied.
Duo dropped into the chair and relaxed back. \"I guess yer can\'t blame them, I mean they would have a lot of shit ta keep under wraps.\"
\"Try that one,\" Wufei said as he pointed to a particular set of data on screen.
Heero hit the keyboard to action the request and moments later had infiltrated the data source Wufei had indicated. \"Fuck!\"
\"I second that, Yuy.\" Wufei said.
Duo bounded up and looked over Heero\'s other shoulder. \"Holy shit!\"
The data scrolled over the screen, the three agents absorbing the information like sponges. \"Who woulda guessed?\" Duo stated as he began to read.
~ * ~
Bob Martins was taken to a small containment area, the guard closing and locking the door behind them. \"Through there,\" the guard said and pushed Bob towards a door way.
Bob complied, and found himself in a smaller room that contained a shower stall and small bench on which sat soap, a towel and a change of clothes. He turned to look at the guard.
\"The boss said you were to get cleaned up, have a meal and rest before returning to the control room. Take a shower.\" It was a command, not a request.
Bob walked silently to the small h anh and began to remove his shirt. He noted the guard still present in the room and turned to face him. \"I take it you\'re going to watch?\"
The guard had the decency to redden slightly but nodded.
Bob sighed and turned back around to remove his pants. \"I hope you get your jollies then,\" he muttered under his breath as he dropped the pants. He removed his underwear, still keeping his back to the guard and reached for the towel. He wrapped it around his waist and picked up the soap before entering the small stall and turning the water on. He wasn\'t about to refuse a shower, he couldn\'t remember when he\'d last had one; was it two days? ... Three? ... A week seemed to be more like it judging by the smell.
The water coursed over his skin, washing away the grime and the tension. Bob allowed himself the small luxury of enjoying the spray as it soothed his tired muscles. Picking up the soap, he began the task of cleansing himself.
~ * ~
Trowa and Quatre drove to the police station in silence; each was locked in their own thoughts and the up coming interrogation. Pulling into the parking lot and cutting the engine they got out of the car and prepared themselves for the ordeal. Trowa walked around the car and quickly took Quatre into his arms, holding the small blonde close to him and brushing his lips over the sweet ruby ones of his lover.
Quatre smiled up at his tall partner and returned the kiss with one of his own. \"When this is over I think I will need a good long massage,\" he breathed out.
\"Now that is a request I can fulfill,\" Trowa replied with a smile.
\"Then let\'s get inside and get this over and done with so you can take me home and relax me.\"
Trowa shook his head. \"Come on then,\" he said and began to lead the way into the police station.
They were met inside by a helpful Sergeant who fetched Detective Nicholls for them. \"Mr. Winner, Mr. Barton,\" the detective said as he shook hands with the two. \"Thank you for coming down here so quickly.\"
\"Where is the suspect?\" Quatre asked, his voice calm but commanding. He remembered the treatment they had received before from the detective\'s partner and he wasn\'t about to go through that again.
\"This way, gentlemen.\" Detective Nicholls led them down a corridor to a small room that contained a table and four chairs. One of the chairs was occupied by the suspect, while Detective Masaki sat part way upon the table. Trowa gave the detective a look of distaste, noting the small tremor that ran through the man\'s body as he shifted from the table.
\"Thank you, detectives. My partner and I will take over this questioning for now. Please leave the file and any other relevant material on the table. We will call you when we are finished.\" Quatre addressed the two detectives with a voice of authority, one that demanded instant cooperation.
Nicholls picked up the file and handed it to Trowa. \"All that we have, including the evidence for his arrest is in there.\"
\"Thank you.\" Trowa took the file and opened it, eyes scanning over the pages.
Nicholls and Masaki left, Masaki giving Quatre a *look* as he passed the blonde. Quatre ignored it; the man was an idiot in his opinion and not worth wasting either breath or time on. He turned to the figure sitting in the chair.
The man sat, hunched over, hands wedged deeply in pockets with a hat pulled down, hiding his face and his legs crossed at the ankle. For all intents and purposes he seemed to be totally relaxed and calm but Trowa could tell different. There was an underlying tension to the body, something akin to when the big cats were disturbed and on edge. Trowa was used to dealing with skittish animals.
Quatre took the proffered file from Trowa, sitting down in one of the empty chairs and proceeding to go through the pages. He knew that Trowa would watch his back and size up the suspect while he went through the information on the sheets of paper.
Fielding kept his face low and his body as relaxed as he could. His mind was reeling though, so many thoughtsblinbling around and getting mixed up. He knew why he was there, knew he was charged with Shand\'s death and knew they couldn\'t possibly pin it on him though. Davis had seen to that.... hadn\'t he? He took the chance to glance at the pair who had replaced the detectives; they didn\'t look all that smart in his opinion, too young for a start. Fielding smiled to himself. This would be easy; he would manage to talk his way out of this without even breaking a sweat.
Trowa noted the slight change in the posture, the subtle softening of the shoulders and smiled inwardly. / Good, the man was obviously making his first mistake.… Underestimating his opponents. /
Closing the file, Quatre took a deep breath and turned to face the man. \"Your name is James Fielding?\"
The figure grunted.
\"From what I have read in this file you are charged with the murder of a man called Shand, correct?\"
\"That\'s what they reckon.\"
\"And you are disputing the fact?\"
\"What do you fucking think? Of course I\'m disputing the fact,\" Fielding growled.
Quatre ignored the man\'s sullen attitude. \"It seems to me that the police have a pretty good case against you.\"
\"In your opinion.\"
Trowa moved to stand behind Quatre and looked over his shoulder at the pages in the file. \"I\'d say there is enough evidence in there to convict you of murder in the first degree, which, if memory serves me correct, is punishable by the death penalty,\" Trowa stated calmly and then raised his eyes to study the man. The posture had shifted slightly.
Fielding began to sweat a little. Maybe it was going to take a little longer to talk his way out of this than he\'d first thought. He reached into his pocket and removed a packet of cigarettes, pulling one from the pack he quickly lit it and inhaled the rich smoke, blowing it back out moments later.
Quatre resisted the urge to cough, instead he pressed on. \"Where did you meet Shand? What was your association with him?\"
Fielding turned his face slightly and gave Quatre a sneer. \"Who?\"
Trowa felt his fists curling, but Quatre continued with his questions, remaining calm as always. \"You know exactly who I\'m talking about. What I want to know is... what was your association with him?\"
Fielding declined to reply, blowing smoke instead into the blonde\'s face.
This time Quatre did cough. He reached for his handkerchief to smother the smoke and stop his coughing. Meanwhile Trowa moved around the table and before Fielding knew what was happening, the cigarette had been plucked from his fingers and ground out on the floor. He looked up in surprise, to be met with a pair of green eyes that promised him... Pain?
\"Smoking is bad for you,\" Trowa stated. \"And so is lying. The police have matched the tire prints from the crime scene to those of your vehicle. A bullet matching those contained within your firearm was located and removed from within a tree, also at the crime scene. The speed, trajectory and angl the the bullet, combined with the placement of the body all show it was the bullet that disabled the victim, even if it was the resulting inferno that finally killed him.\" Trowa moved away and stood behind his blonde partner, keeping a careful eye on Fielding.
Fielding felt the sweat increase and nervously rubbed his palms along his thighs, uncrossing his legs and pushing himself a little deeper into the chair. He still declined to speak though.
\"I\'m sure thou kou knew Shand was an employee of Winner Enterprises, Fielding.\" Quatre stated his voice still calm.
\"Really? Well, lucky for him,\" Fielding replied, sarcastically.
\"Did you also know he was stealing from the company?\"
Fielding shrugged.
\"To be more precise he was stealing high tech computer chips and to date those chips have not been recovered.\"
\"So? What has all that got to do with me? I never knew the guy.\" Fielding was still sticking stubbornly to his story.
\"Those chips could only be used for certain types of programming, something that was beyond Shand\'s capabilities and so therefore he must have been stealing them for someone else.\" Quatre continued to press on, determined to make the man crack.
Fielding was equally as determined to plead innocence.
It was Trowa who delivered the final blow. Striding over to the man in the chair, Trowa noted the changes in the body lane. Te. The man was getting more and more unsettled by the minute, even if he didn\'t openly portray it, Trowa could detect it. He was like a wild animal that was slowly being backed into a corner, all it needed was the final push and he would crack. Trowa lowered his face until he was millimeters from the suspect\'s face, the rankness of his breath stinging Trowa\'s nostrils. He made eye contact... and spoke.
\"Your alibi for the night of Shand\'s death...\"
Fielding swallowed.
\"...does not check out. In fact he was rather helpful, stating he hadn\'t seen you at all until late that night and when you did arrive you smelt of smoke.\" Trowa let that little bit of information sink in. It was a long shot but Trowa had seen things like this work before and it was obvious that the man was going to resist them for sometime to come. They needed the confession, needed information and needed it now, they couldn\'t play twenty questions.
Fielding looked up at Trowa. \"You\'re bluffing. I spent the evening in question with Mark Davis; he\'s already confirmed that with the police.\"
\"Has he? I\'m afraid I beg to differ. Mr. Davis has told both us and the police that he didn\'t see you until later that evening.\"
\"That can\'t be right. I was there early in the evening, I spent all night there.\" Fielding\'s voice rose a little. His mind was whirling. Davis had promised him he would stand as his alibi and Fielding had no reason to doubt the other man. But what if...
\"I think you have been sold out,\" Quatre said quietly and then leaned across the table. \"May I make a suggestion here?\"
Fielding looked up, his eyes betraying his inner turmoil.
\"Why don\'t you cooperate with us, answer our questions and when your case goes to trial it will look much better for you, the acknowledgment of your assistance should give you a lighter sentence; at the least it could mean the difference between the death penalty and life imprisonment.\" Quatre dangled the proverbial carrot.
Trowa watched the suspect carefully. He noted the subtle shift of the body, the way the eyes told of the conflict. \"Whether you help us or not, is irrelevant. We will track down what isng ong on, it may take a little longer but we will get to the bottom of this. So, you can either help us, and obtain a lighter sentence, or remain stubborn and start planning your funeral now because we will find out anyway.\"
Fielding turned away.
\"Fine, have it your way.\" Quatre made to stand and turned to address Trowa. \"I will let Preventer HQ know that the suspect has been unwilling to cooperate and leave him in the custody of the police.\"
Trowa nodded. \"In that case I will bring in Davis and get his confession down on paper.\" The pair went to leave the room.
\"Wait!\"
Trowa gave Quatre a small smile as they turned around. \"Yes?\" Trowked.ked.
\"You give me your word that I won\'t get the death sentence?\"
\"Only if you cooperate.\"
Fielding lowered his eyes. \"All right then. What is it you want to know?\"
~ * ~
\"This is getting more and more complicated by the minute,\" Wufei stated as he continued to read.
\"No wonder Martins\' file wlasslassified; if word of this got out he would be lynched.\" Heero stated, his mouth set into a grim line.
\"I wonder if Leith knows about this?\" Duo said as he rubbed his chin.
\"I doubt it. It isn\'t the sort of thing you would be telling people, especially your family. I mean, after all the harm that system did, I for one would be only too happy to forget about it,\" said Heero as he continued to peruse.
\"Yeah, I guess it ain\'t sor sorta thing yer would go around tellin people.\"
\"Well, if he is in the L3 cluster it would make sense to check out this Automaton Industries a little closer,\" Wufei said as his mind thought on possible scenarios.
\"If they produce highly skilled robotics then someonth Mth Martins\' experience would be an asset,\" Heero said. \"But why kidnap him? Wouldn\'t it make more sense to offer the guy a job?\"
\"Unless they know about his working on the Epyon...\"
The conveion ion was cut short as Shane entered the room. \"Sorry ta disturb yer but Trowa\'s on the \'phone.\"
\"Okay, Shane. Thanks.\" Heero stood up. \"I\'ll go see what they have found out.\"
Duo took up residence in Heero\'s chair as the Japanese man left to speak with Trowa and continued to read through the file on Bob. Wufei sat to one side trying to figure out why the company would want to kidnap Martins.
Heero sat in front of the vid \'phone. \"Barton, what news do you have?\"
Trowa proceeded to tell Heero what Fielding had confessed.
\"Are you sure?\"
\"Yes, Heero.\"
Heero thought for a moment, his mind analyzing all the information to date and then his eyes went wide as the jigsaw began to slot into place. \"If what you say is true, Trowa, then I think we are in serious trouble.\"
\"How serious?\"
\"We have managed to get into the OZ files and found out that Bob Martins worked on Epyon during the wars.\"
Trowa\'s eyebrow quirked. \"Meaning?\"
\"He worked specifically on the programming of the zero system for Epyon.\"
\"Shit!\"
\"Can you and Quatre get back here?\"
\"On our way.\"
\"Hn, good. I have a hunch, and it\'s not good. I\'ll wait until you and Quatre get herforefore informing you all what it is I am thinking of.\"
\"Okay, Heero. We will be there soon.\" Trowa cut the connection.
Heero sat for a few minutes looking at the blank screen. How he hoped that what he was thinking was wrong... but given all the information he couldn\'t see any other explanation. Still locked deep in thought he returned to the other two agents.
~ * ~
Bob finished his shower, dressed in his fresh clothing and was escorted to a mess hall of sorts where he was given a meal. Bob couldn\'t have said what the food was; he was far too hungry to notice and wolfed it down. Once he had eaten his fill the guard took him to another room, something similar to the cell-like room he had been in on the other \'satellite\'.
\"You will stay here and rest. I shall return for you in three hours,\" the guard said and then left Bob in the small room, locking the door as he left.
Bob sighed and walked over to the small cot. Sitting down on it he ran a hand through his thinning hair, once more asking himself how the hell he had gotten into this mess and more importantly; how was he going to get out of it?
His mind too tired to think anymore he lay upon the cot and drifted into a restless slumber.
It felt like he had only been asleep for five minutes when he was rudely awoken by a hand shaking his shoulder roughly. \"Time to get up, the boss want\'s you in the control room.\"
Scrubbing the sleep from his eyes and trying to get his mind to function, Bob managed to stand and leave the room, the guard pushing him in the direction of the control room. When they arrived there his eyes widened at the flurry of activity that was going on. People were everywhere, sitting at consoles or moving around with purpose to their stride. There in the middle of it all sat Roland Grant, staring out of the huge \'window\' into the black void of space. Sensing Bob\'s presence he swiveled the chair around and looked at the man. \"Ahh, Mr. Martins, so glad you could join us.\"
The guard shoved Bob forwards.
\"Please, take a seat. I\'m sure you are curious to see what all this effort has been f"
"
Bob found himself pushed into a seat just in front of Grant, a computer terminal blinking at him.
\"If you would be so kind as to watch out the window you will see the trials of these amazing suits,… suits you helped to create.\" Grant gave a hollow laugh.
Bob shuddered and watched, he had no other choice. Out in the blackness of space he could see a small army of mobile dolls assembling to the right of the window. On the left sat one solitary doll. Bob\'s brow furrowed.
Grant watched in amusement and then decided to put Bob out of his misery. \"The suit by itself represents a Gundam... or specifically a Gundam pilot. It has been programmed with all the fighting skills that we know of that the Gundam pilots used. The suits on the right are the ones we have created and you have programmed. Now watch.\"
From the ranks of suits to the right one suit emerged and headed towards the single suit on the left. Moments later the suits were engaged in battle.
Bob watched as the \'Gundam\' tried everything it had been programmed with to destroy the doll. He recognized several of the maneuvers it deployed, recalling the moves from the different Gundams during the war. His eyes widened as he watched the doll he had assisted in the programming of, counter the attacks and retaliate with its own. The programming and disc writing he\'d done, planning the doll\'s moves to perfection. but what was even more startling was the fact that the doll seemed to \'learn\'.
As the doll\'s beam saber sliced through the \'Gundam\' effectively destroying it, he could only sit there and stare. \"What the hell have I done?\" he whispered.
~ * ~
tbc.....