Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Everbody Breaks ❯ Times Lost ( Chapter 16 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

The past comes back to protect Wufei revealing a new source of aid in finding those responsible for the bombing, but it's not just a couple of rogue agents, nope, seems it goes a LOT further than that.

Anime/Manga: Gundam Wing Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Hentai / Drama | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 05.11.2006 | Updated On: 05.11.2006 | Pages: 6 | Words: 8.7K | Visits: 890 | Status: Work In Progress

Everybody Breaks Part Eleven: Times Lost
By Kai

Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own Gundam Wing - and trust me - the boys are VERY thankful for that fact.

Ratings: NC-17 (sexual content and language) but not in this part, the rating is staying though because it applies to most of the story.

Warnings: Yaoi, 1x2x5x3x4 but not in this part... next part, maybe...

Special Thanks To Z for taking on the horrible and terrifying job of betaing for me. To think she was actually HAPPY to have the job.

Summary: The past comes back to protect Wufei revealing a new source of aid in finding those responsible for the bombing, but it's not just a couple of rogue agents, nope, seems it goes a LOT further than that.

Times Lost
By Kai

Heero and I got to the lab to find Duo near the elevator paying for a pizza. I didn't bother asking; I just smiled and shook my head. Not many people could stomach eating something like pizza in a forensics lab but then, this was Duo. And in the end that was all the explanation necessary.

"So, where's my present?"

Duo grinned, but his eyes were serious. "You got any siblings Wu?"

I couldn't help but blink. "I was an only child, why?"

"Cousins?"

Now I was frowning. "I had a few, but they were mostly killed when my colony was destroyed. I believe I have a couple of fourth cousins living somewhere in China though. Now, I repeat, why?"

"The suspect could pass for a female you, that's why."

He was watching me closely and I had a feeling Heero was as well, but I was sort of lost. "Strangers can look a great deal alike..."

Duo shrugged, "Just don't say I didn't warn you. She's in lab 3, follow me."

I followed him into the lab; the woman's head was lowered so I wasn't able to see her face. "I am Commander Chang Wufei of the Preventers Agency, and I'd like to ask you some questions..." My words trailed off as she looked up and then literally threw herself into a bow at my feet, but not before I got a good look at her. "LinXia?"

"Elder and Sun of the Dragon forgive my lack of proper respect." Considering she was hand-cuffed around both ankles and wrists I believed she'd done a remarkable job of showing respect something that I had never deemed necessary; for me anyway.

"There's no need for any of that, though I believe there is need for an explanation."

From her position on the floor she seemed embarrassed. "You are my responsibility. It falls to me to ensure your safety."

I blinked. LinXia was younger than I was by two years but, like me, she'd been a prodigy in the fighting ways since a very young age. She'd been training for a position with the Imperial Guard (even with the loss of the monarchy some things had still persisted in our Clan). She would have, in effect, become a bodyguard for both Meilan and me. She'd been sent away for specialized training shortly after our wedding. She was... a third cousin if I remembered correctly, but what I knew of her, I had overheard or read in a report as we never really interacted outside inspections and formal occasions and then it had been much like this, her bowing and me standing still while the Elders spoke for me. "Two questions. First, how did you come to that conclusion and second, how does that explain you being here."

I helped her sit more comfortably, but she kept her eyes adverted, not out of fear but a respect that had been taught to her since she was born. "Only a few survived the destruction of L5 as you know Lord, only those that were off-colony. My Master, ten other trainees, and I were all that remained of the Imperial Guard. We knew you'd survived because of reports involving Altron, but we were unable to find you until three months after the Wars had ended. Finding you working in Preventers was a bit of a shock my Lord. Master Shen thought it was best to observe for a time and protect you from a distance. He was aware of disturbances, forces that meant you and Preventers harm. He died in the line of duty, and with his death I became Captain of the Imperial Guard. I didn't know everything he did, but I have contacts and I was aware that there was trouble identifying the substance used in the bombs. I came to leave a message in the hopes that it would lead those investigating in the right direction."

I stared at her. "Message?"

The red tint to her skin darkened. "In the research file on the counter near the large microscope."

Trowa still had his gun trained on her but Duo took a large bite of his slice of pizza and skipped, actually skipped, over to take a look. He came back with a centimeter high stack of paper. I took it from him and flipped through it. There were personal statistics of several agents along with bank accounts for each, stats on Politicians, a detailed report on the nextrix including how much was missing from the evidence locker and what those three pounds could do... it was a lot of information but not enough. "Why didn't you come forward with any of this earlier?"

"Numerous reasons Lord though the main reason was that I didn't have all this information until a couple of days ago. Besides I wasn't sure who I could trust taking it to without Master Shen present."

I frowned at her a little more. "Why didn't you come to me?"

"You're already in great danger and knowing any of this will only make it worse. Our job is to protect you not endanger you, Lord."

I chose not to address that or the slightly questioning looks from the others. "How did you find out about all of this?" I waved the papers in the air.

"Master Shen figured most of it out and chose not to involve the rest of us so that we could spend our time watching over you or training. You make it extremely difficult to protect you, you know?" She seemed to have forgotten herself enough that she was actually glaring at me in irritation.

Duo laughed, "That he does. Doesn't like to be coddled, our Wufei. Though I'm beginning to think he comes by his stubbornness naturally."

I felt happily warm at the words 'our Wufei' and glared at 'stubbornness', just because I knew it was true didn't mean I had to accept it graciously.

She seemed to remember herself, paled and bowed, lowering her eyes. "Sorry Lord, I forget my place."

"Look, LinXia, I'm not a Lord anymore - I'm just Chang Wufei. You can call me Chang, Wufei, or Commander Chang if you'd prefer but I would appreciate it if you would stop calling me Lord." I was beginning to get a severe headache. "As to all this... we're going to go through this information, but until we do we're going to have to keep you somewhere safe and secret."

I glanced over at Heero and gave him the hand signals for Quatre and the Maganacs. He nodded curtly before leaving to make the phone call to Quatre and arrange for the Maganacs to hold her temporarily.

"Fei? I hate to be a spoilsport on all the fun you're so obviously having, but if she isn't the bad guy then that means we still have a chance of catching the ones who might be. However, the only way we can really do that is if you, Heero, and the, er, Imperial Guard here leave the lab relatively quickly and quietly. You know... make like ghosts and let us do the jobs that Trowa and I do so well." He grinned at me as he tossed the pizza box away and winked at LinXia's disdained gasp when he intentionally and so disrespectfully mangled my name.

It made perfect sense though and the moment Heero came back into the lab that was exactly what the three of us did. LinXia swore on her honor not to try and get away. It wasn't entirely enough for me, but I did believe her so we uncuffed her legs, got her in the car, and took her back to the safe house where ten Maganacs and Quatre were waiting for us.

The Maganacs took LinXia into a secure room. Once they were gone, I asked Heero to use his computer to check out the information she'd given us. Heero nodded and disappeared to get his laptop, leaving me with Quatre.

He raised a golden eyebrow in question, and all I could really do was shrug. "Her name is LinXia, and she's from L5. Apparently she's one of the last Imperial Guards and she may have both complicated and helped provide a break in the case." If everything she claimed was true...

Quatre seemed to pick up on my unspoken though. "I'll have the Maganacs run her DNA and see what they can come up with."

"I'd appreciate that." I rubbed my neck to try and ease the tension there. My thoughts were spinning around themselves.

Quatre moved behind me; he wasn't fully dressed - just pants and a dark blue, silk robe that looked really good on him. He pushed my hand out of the way as his began to massage my neck. ”It goes deeper than you originally thought, doesn't it?"

I thought about the information LinXia had had and felt my stomach twist at the idea that Heero's findings would only support what the papers had to say. "I believe it probably will be. Whatever is going on isn't just about killing me or upsetting Preventers, and I have a horrible feeling that it's been worked on for quite some time already. Maybe since the last war ended."

Quatre continued to work on my neck and shoulders. "There's more than that bothering you."

I turned, taking his hands in my own. "I had never once considered that any of my Clan who managed to survive the destruction of our colony would hold so tightly to a way of life that is almost entirely lost. I concluded that they would make new lives for themselves, but if what LinXia says is true and her story is far too... too... outrageous to be anything but, then there maybe others who feel the same. Since I am the last of the Elders alive and the Heir, it's my duty to aid my people in whatever way I can. There's enough money from before that L5 can be rebuilt if that is what they wish, and I have no problem with doing that but..." My heart hurt as I looked at him and realized he knew. He knew what I was trying, yet failing to say.

But he didn't let me get away with leaving it unsaid. "You may have to leave us to fulfill your duty to your Clan in the way the Elders wished." He traced my lips with a finger, and smiled. "You forget though Wufei."

I tilted my head to the side and spoke against his fingers. "Forget what?"

"You're the Elder now. Your Clan's authority lies with you and times have changed. The times that existed before L5 were destroyed and are lost. No amount of pretending is going to bring them back, and if your people, your Clan, can't learn to bend and change it'll all be lost before you even start. People can relinquish titles if they'll be of better use to their people in some other capacity. It's all in a future that may never come to exist, because, as we all know there is no certainty of what tomorrow holds."

He was right, and I pulled him into a quick kiss that wasn't quick at all to show him that I understood.

***************

Quatre had the test run on LinXia. Luckily while some files from L5 had been lost for the most part anything of true importance had been stored on a couple of other colonies as a precaution. The test proved she was who she claimed to be. Heero's search also confirmed that the information she'd provided was true as well. That didn't mean that I completely trusted her, but it did mean that I was willing to allow her to gather the rest of the Guard and return to the safe house…with a couple of the Maganacs tailing her without her knowledge, of course. I preferred having the Guard where I could keep an eye on them.

It was about four in the morning when she left and a half an hour after that, I got yet another phone call from Duo.

"Chang here."

"Hey love." I could hear the grin in his voice even as I blushed at the pet name. I really did like being called that. "Tro and I got another present for you; only this one is a little banged up."

"Oh?"

"Yep, but don't worry about coming to us, we'll come to you - well, as soon as the Doc is finished stitching Tro up that is."

My stomach knotted painfully. "Trowa's hurt?"

"A bit of a scratch, he got a tad too close to the shiny, pointy object your present was playing ineptly with. He'll be fine. So, anyway, you can expect us in an hour or so."

"Alright. Tell Trowa to take care of himself and that I love you both." Saying those words over the phone was a great deal easier than in person.

Duo chuckled. "Love you to. Bye."

I put my phone away all the while trying not to think about Trowa getting stitches or the fact that before the whole mess was over one of them might need to get a lot more done than stitches.

As soon as we had a chat with the suspect, I was going to have to go thoroughly through Agent Sebastian's report and see if his findings matched our own. If so... things would be getting even more interesting.

***************

Duo and Trowa showed up with a man about thirty years old. He was a high ranking Agent, someone who had strongly disagreed with my involvement and rank at Preventers from the moment I'd arrived, though it had all been fairly quiet consisting mostly of verbal slandering. Despite that, I would never have suspected Agent Schultz of being involved. He was a good Agent, one of the best really... not once during any of the times we'd gone on missions together had his prejudices interfered with his work. Not once.

The moment he saw me his lip curled up in a sneer, but that was all I saw before his face relaxed into its normal neutrality. He wasn't going to tell us anything, at least not if we played by the rules and being the good guys that was what we had to do. Bending the rules wasn't normally a problem for any of us, but since Agent Schultz was a Preventer he was also well aware of how far we could push things without stepping firmly onto illegal ground. And that meant that asking questions would be pointless, but we couldn't take him back to the Preventers HQ as whoever was involved would know that we were onto them sooner than they needed to.

"Duo."

"Yeah?"

"I want you to get a hold of Captain Warren and Agent Russo and 'quietly' investigate Agent Schultz's home as well as any other place that the search may lead to. Don't worry about the computer at Preventers though; I'll have Heero investigate that. As soon as you're finished, I want you to get some rest. Captain Warren can brief me on any findings. Trowa, if you'd be so kind as to find Abdul..." Trowa nodded and left. I wanted to pull him aside and see how bad his injury was, but work had to come first.

Agent Schultz stared at me and I obliged him by staring right back until he finally spoke first. "Aren't you going to ask me any questions?"

I kept staring, "Why? We both know that it would be a waste of my time... Of course if you choose to confess or give us some pertinent information..." His lips pressed together in a thin line just as Trowa came back with Abdul and... I believe the short one was Naseem. "You're choice. Abdul could you and your men keep Agent Schultz secure until tomorrow."

"Of course Master Wufei." I didn't feel like arguing over his choice of title so I let it go this time.

"Remember he is highly skilled and trained; make sure to treat him such." I probably didn't need to say that, the Maganacs took their jobs seriously, but I'd said it more for Agent Schultz than for Abdul or Naseem.

Once they were gone, I moved over to Duo and gave him a critical once over. "Will you be okay to go with Captain Warren?"

He flashed me a grin, but his eyes looked tired. "You bet Fei."

"You have five hours. Then I want you in bed."

His grin was swiftly replaced by an open leer. "If you join me..."

I was strongly tempted. "Perhaps but only if I've done all I can up to that point. By then, however, you may be too tired for extracurriculars." It wasn't just a teasing remark but an honest observation.

He moved close to me, eyes locked on my throat as his hand trailed over the skin there. "I'd have to be beyond dead before I wouldn't want you. Never gonna happen." He pulled away slowly. "Well, I'm off to HQ; I'll give Captain Warren a call on the way. The sooner I do this the sooner I can have my hands full of a hot, sexy, panting Dragon." He had his phone open before he had even left the room.

I looked over at Trowa and moved to him. "Where?"

He met my gaze and held it, but he soon shrugged and took off his jacket rolling up his left sleeve to reveal a gauze bandage. "It was fairly shallow, only needed four stitches that weren't actually necessary, but Duo was fussing over it a bit so the doctor and I decided to humor him."

I took his arm in my hands and felt a surge of guilt. "I'm sorry."

"Don't." Using his other hand he raised my chin until he could look in my eyes. "It isn't your fault. This and everything that happens is because of our own decisions. If we didn't wish to be here there would be very little that could make us."

That was the truth. I let go of his arm and smiled. "I need Heero to do a few things; do you think you could be my bodyguard for a few hours?"

"Of course."

"Okay, I need to speak with Heero, give me a minute."

********************

I found Heero in the office printing out something. He looked too tense so I shut and locked the door before going to him. He watched me as I made my way to him, completely still. The desk's surface was empty except for his laptop and the printer, so there was plenty of room for me to lift him onto the desktop, move between his spread legs, and pull him against me into a kiss that had him leaning completely into me and panting when I finished. He was truly beautiful like that, swollen lips and slightly glazed eyes. I wanted to do more but I didn't dare, there wasn't enough time.

Slowly I pulled away and waited until Heero was able to support himself again. "I wish I could be inside you right now." I hadn't intended to say that but the shy, almost bashful look on his face made me very thankful I had. "I have to go to HQ though, Trowa is coming with me. I need you to access Agent Howard Schultz's computer from here and see what you can find. Can you do that?"

"Yes sir." He was back to work mode as I made my way back to the door.

"I'll see you when I get back. I l-love you." It was still hard to say those kinds of things, but it was getting easier and I had promised to stop holding back. They deserved it.

His work mode faltered slightly as he smiled a small, pleased smile. "Love you, too."

It was enough - for now.

*********************

Trowa and I arrived at the HQ and I quickly began to compare Agent Sebastian's report to Heero's and found disconcerting similarities. In the meantime Trowa had made a sweep Une's office for any eaves-dropping devices. He found not one, but two devices. He went over them carefully before putting them back as taking them would only raise suspicions.

I also found a report from Agent Jordan. It seemed that the media had been tipped off about a 'problem' in Preventers that was being covered up which likely meant that whoever was responsible wanted media coverage. No one had claimed responsibility yet, but if they wanted media attention, then chances were that it was only a matter of time before they got it. That's when things were going to head into permanent headache territory. What a joy.

Heero called shortly after that to say that he'd found some interesting e-mails in Agent Schultz's secure e-mail account…e-mails that spoke of a Liberation Front. He was doing his best to track down the owner's of the recipient and sent e-mails. He also reported that Schultz was being a model prisoner - so far. Though how long that would last was impossible to tell.

At about nine o'clock Eric called to let me know that he, Duo, and Agent Russo had been unable to find anything of interest at Agent Schultz's house and that he had already sent Duo home.

If I remembered correctly, Quatre would have already left for the Board meeting and there was little else we could do at that moment because anything we did could cause a media frenzy except... I called Eric back and asked him to assign people to watch Agents Carrigan, Schwabe, Benton, Valdez, and Fujikawa; Senators Jackson, Lee, Malarcher, and Bernard; as well as Board members Clarkson, Fotinos, Park, and Santini. I knew I didn't need to tell him to make sure they were loyal - he already knew. However, I did remind him not to go anywhere without Agent Russo which earned me a curt goodbye and a dial tone.

Finished with business, I looked up to find Trowa standing still against the wall opposite my desk with the blinds open doing his disappear-into-the-background routine. "Let's go."

********************

By the time we got back to the safe house, my head was buzzing with so many things that it would have passed for a hornet's nest. I hadn't forgotten about LinXia or the rest of the Imperial Guard, but I'd put it to the back of my mind so I could deal with more pressing matters. What I found at the safe house made my head throb. All eleven of them were dressed in formal traditional uniforms of the Imperial Guard, and all of them dropped to the floor in a bow as I entered. Surprisingly, behind them were the Maganacs and Rashid all of which looked far too amused for my own good. I didn't want to deal with this right now... and why should I? There was nothing that said I had to. I found myself smiling at the Maganacs and felt a little smug when some of them shifted in uncertainty. "LinXia."

"Yes, Lor-er Commander Chang."

"You and the rest of the Imperial Guard are now under the supervision of the Maganacs and their leader Rashid. They have much experience and I wish all of you to learn from them whatever you can. I expect you to bring the Clan honor by being attentive and diligent, do not get in their way but aid them in any way that you can. I do not wish to be bothered for at least four hours. Understood?"

"Yes, sir." She showed no surprise, anger, or confusion - just acceptance. The rest were still fairly young, most between thirteen and fourteen, but after a slight moment of surprise their faces showed a similar acceptance.

"Very well." With that I made a hasty retreat up the stairs to the master bedroom before any of the Maganacs could protest with Trowa following closely behind.