"Relena?" Heero had trouble understanding Zechs' words. It didn't make any sense to him at all. "You're... you're delirious. How can the Queen of the World be your sister?"
Zechs chuckled again, but he ran out of breath and coughed violently. He held his grip on Heero tightly, as if he clung onto him like a last lifeline. "She still... believes the nonsense her father told her. Her adoptive father."
"Vice Foreign Minister Darlian?" Heero grew more and more confused. What was Zechs trying to achieve?
"I had her come to Libra, by making her think there was still a chance," Zechs said, one word tumbling after one another. "To talk about peace and negotiations... that we wouldn't unleash the mobile dolls..."
"We?" Heero asked sharply. Zechs looked at him, but his eyes were barely focused.
"I told you that there were... others. At Libra. Lunar Base. Tsubarov. Quinze. Dor... They're all there."
It was the last thing he said. Slumping against Heero, losing consciousness, Zechs' grip finally dissolved, his fingers losing all their strength. Breathing heavily, Heero sat for at least five minutes on the floor, Zechs half draped over him, the two damaged mobile suits on either side of them.
"01... 01, talk to me! Say something! Fuck! Is this link still working?"
He didn't recognize the voice at first, it wasn't like Howard to cuss like that. Heero had forgotten all about the communication link, that was build into his spacesuit. His body trembled and shook all over. The strain of the fight, the worries, the intensity... he knew his body was going to give out on him, and if somebody had offered him a hot shower right here and now, he would've embraced it. But taking a shower and getting some rest were luxuries he couldn't afford, not now, not yet. Not until he got Duo back.
"P-Peacemillion, come in!"
"Thank all our lucky stars! We're here, 01!" Howard didn't hide his relief.
"What did you hear?"
"Bits and pieces...not everything. Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Heero said, firmly ignoring the warning signs of his body. The adrenaline kept him going. "Duo is at someplace called the Lunar Base. Does that ring a bell?"
"I'll send you the coordinates," Howard said. "Though...you're not in the cockpit now, are you? I have received some frightening damage reports..." Of course, any engineer like Howard would've installed a backdoor in the mobile suit, to stay up-to-date with each and every function.
"Just tell me where I can find the Lunar Base," Heero said, curtly. "Get to MO-II as soon as possible. There's a whole mess to clean up." He looked at Wing. "The suit is in dire need of repair, yes. Don't worry, I've got another mode of transportation."
"All right 01, I trust your decision." A brief moment of silence. "About that mess... does that include certain... cargo?"
"Secure cargo and take good care of it," Heero said. He was too focused on rescuing Duo to feel any kind of hatred or anger towards Zechs. "I won't be here waiting for you."
"Go find him," was all that Howard said before the line went dead.
Without anything to confine him with, Heero simply laid Zechs next to Wing's right leg, so he'd be immediately in sight when someone entered through the large hallway. The strain of the fight and the brief pressure loss in Epyon's cockpit had made him lose consciousness, Heero was sure of it. Zechs was in need of medical care and he wasn't going anywhere, so he didn't bother spending time to find something that could serve as a restraint. Heero wasn't looking to kill him either. The man had to be tried and judged for his crimes... and if he really was Relena's brother, the Queen of the World would never forgive him, Heero, for killing him. Zechs wasn't a priority anymore. Lunar Base... Duo.
Heero made his way over to Epyon, which had sustained less damage than Wing. He climbed into the cockpit of the crimson suit and studied the control panels; it wasn't that much different from Wing's. He'd been right all along: the mobile suit was based on the Gundam designs Duo had stolen. Zechs, in his position as a double-crosser, had had all every access to it and shared the designs with Treize Khushrenada, who had used the Romefeller Foundation to build it, betraying Quatre in the process.
There was no time to think about it. Heero engaged Epyon's engines and moved the suit in an upright position again. He didn't take his space suit off as the pressure in the cockpit was still disrupted. He relied on the technology of his suit and helmet to recycle the air and to keep him able to breathe. It meant he was less mobile and it left him more vulnerable, but so be it. Approaching the Lunar Base with a suit as heavily damaged as Wing would be asking for even more trouble. At least with Epyon's chain and shield, he stood a chance of fighting his way in. After one last look at Wing, he made Epyon transform into bird mode and at a safe distance, he blasted the engines full force to get as much momentum as possible. MO-II soon was nothing but a blip on his radar, and with the coordinates of the Lunar Base in his mind, he tried to calm himself down without weakening his entire body.
The Lunar Base was nothing more than a factory on the Earth's moon. Heero had never been there, not even for his missions, not even as a tourist. He once had to investigate the increase of large shipments of unidentified alloy to the moon, which had made him cross paths with Tsubarov... but the whole mission had fizzled out, as there were no legal grounds to arrest the man or stop the shipments. More so, Tsubarov disappeared not shortly after, and the entire mission was shelved as 'inactive'. Perhaps the man had taken refuge in this Lunar Base to build those mobile dolls... it was a large web, but the threads started to come together. Intertwined, but independent threads - Heero could see it more clearly now. It didn't take away his growing worries about Duo though; what were they doing to him, what could they do to him? Torture? Brainwashing?
He kept his frequencies open in case someone from the Lunar Base would contact him. With a bit of luck, their radar equipment would pick up his approach and open up a landing path for him, assuming he was Zechs. Heero piloted Epyon towards the moon in complete silence. His mind was a beehive of jumbling thoughts, about Duo, Zechs, the secret service, the rebels, the Gundams... but mostly about Duo. He wanted to rest, but urged his body to continue. Sleep would have to wait - until he was back at the Peacemillion, with Duo. One of the screens to the right lit up, showing a pre-plotted trajectory to land on the Lunar Base. Heero released the breath he'd been holding, and adjusted his course to match the trajectory. As he approached the moon, the external cameras picked up on the buildings that made up the Lunar Base. Craftily hidden within the moon's landscape, he could see how a large hatch opened, paving the way for his landing. A large row of lights indicated his path, and Heero made sure that Epyon answered the invitation perfectly. The suit went inside and the hatch started to close behind him. The airlock wasn't accommodated for a mobile suit standing upright, so Heero left Epyon in its bird mode. He unbuckled himself and grabbed the bag he had hidden under the pilot seat.
Just before he departed from MO-II, he had taken his bag from Wing's cockpit. Heero wasn't really sure why he had brought it along in the first place. It held some of his gadgets, used when he was still operative as a secret agent. For some reason, back at the Peacemillion, he believed he might need those, as well as his Walther PPK. After checking the weapon (fully loaded and ready to use), Heero exited the cockpit, wary of his hostile environment. Whoever he was going to encounter, he (or she) was immediately an enemy. These people were all for Zechs' cause, believed in what he had told them, convinced that getting rid of Earth would be the end of all problems. This wasn't going to be easy. To make matters worse, he realized that he had made a mistake. Zechs' long blond hair was such an unmistakable trait, the long strands trailing behind him, that it was impossible to pretend to be him, unless he was wearing a wig. Furthermore, Zechs was taller... had no one detected the change in Epyon's pilot? Even so, was no one going to take care of the mobile suit, refueling and restocking it? Heero looked around frantically, but he couldn't detect any cameras. No alarm sounded. Apparently, Zechs dealt with the entire landing procedure alone, which gave Heero the opportunity to infiltrate without getting noticed the second he had left the cockpit. He moved towards the door of the airlock, reading the control panel: fifteen minutes to full decompression. He couldn't wait that long.
Leaving the bulk of his space helmet and suit behind, he rummaged through his bag. Heero took out his Watermark 1990 ballpoint pen and used its laser cutting function to open up the control panel. He held the pen between his teeth while he bypassed the electronic circuit; sure enough, the door slid open. The difference in pressure hit his body hard and for a moment, he doubled over as he had difficulties breathing. The immediate lightheadedness was a bad side-effect, and he waited a few precious minutes for it to subside. His body was giving out on him. Not now! Not until I've found Duo! As Heero had no idea of the layout of the Lunar Base, he went in search for a computer. Lady Luck smiled upon him again: a small office had been build next to the airlock, containing a desk, a chair and some kind of filing cabinet. Heero sat down and put his fingers on the keyboard. This computer monitored the landing and take-off procedures of at least ten airlocks, showing Heero that Epyon had been marked as 'landed', with the exact time stamp. It was completely self-running, and he soon discovered it was the only software it was running. He couldn't find any information on the layout of the Lunar Base. Growling in frustration, Heero attempted to hack the system. His fingers hovered over the keyboard. He had heard something. Footsteps. Boots. Someone was coming! He jumped away from the desk and hid between the filing cabinet and the wall, crouching down. It wasn't a perfect hiding spot; Heero took out his Walther PPK and waited.
A young man came to stand at the desk, not bothering to sit down. Leaning into the computer, he stared at the screen while his fingers touched the keyboard. "Epyon has landed, yes," he said and Heero's eyes widened. He recognized that voice! The man stood with his back to Heero, clicking at the keys. "Yes, I'll tell him as soon as I see him. Yes, understood. Nichol out."
Nichol! That little rat had managed to work his way up all to the Lunar Base. He was a fence, having provided Heero with some information when he was still using his Odin Lowe persona. Back then, Heero had assumed Nichol was of little importance, but now it seemed he had tied himself to the Romefeller Foundation, and Zechs' cause.
"Old fart," Nichol said out loud. He took something out of his ear and put it on the desk. He continued to type, mumbling a few more cuss words, and then straightened himself. Heero wasn't about to let him go. He stepped out of his hiding place, but as soon as he moved, Nichol turned around, looking straight into the nozzle of the Walther PPK.
"Lowe!" He hissed. "No, it's Yuy, isn't it?"
"I don't care," Heero was fairly proud that the gun didn't waver. "Keep your hands where I can see them, Nichol. Where are the prison cells? Where do you keep your prisoners?"
"I knew you didn't die in that botched mission, but to actually see you here?" Nichol was so stupefied that Heero's question went past him. "Wait... did you... Epyon... Where's Zechs?"
"He's not coming back," Heero said. "I'm not interested in you, Nichol. Where are the prison cells?"
"What? We don't have those." Nichol moved his hand slowly to his side.
"If you truly know who I am, then you should also know that I have no difficulties shooting you. Stop moving."
"You'd alarm the entire base." Nichol's fingers twitched, but he stood still.
"If you want to take that risk," Heero threatened as he cocked the gun. The obvious sound made Nichol swallow, his face pale.
"You wouldn't...!"
Heero took a step forward. "Zechs brought someone to the Lunar Base. Where is he? Where is he being held?"
"I.. I don't know." Nichol's voice squeaked. "I have no idea what or who you're talking about."
"I don't have time for this. Tell me right now or you're dead!"
Nichol didn't take his eyes off of the gun and as before, his cowardice won from bravery. "There's someone... Zechs brought him in... I can take you there..."
"Where!"
"The basement," Nichol said. "The lowest floor of the base. I..." His lips suddenly turned into a wicked snarl. "You'll need a code key and special authorization to get there. You're never going to make it!"
Heero resisted the temptation to punch Nichol. Showing no fatigue or tension on the outside, he calmly pointed with the gun to the hallway. "You first."
"Wh-what?"
"You'll lead," Heero said, "but I'll be right behind you. One misstep, one wrong sign, one cry for help, and you're dead."
Nichol's eyes darted towards the earpiece on the desk. "If I'm incommunicado, they'll raise the alarm."
"I doubt it." Heero pouted his lips. "You were like this at the Sphere Lounge, and you haven't changed a bit. You're still a lapdog, a lackey who runs insignificant errands. At least you owned that bar, here you're reduced to a butt monkey."
Nichol looked like he was going to attack him, but Heero tensed up, taking a step forward so that the gun was just millimeters shy from Nichol's brow.
"You arrogant son of a bitch…"
"You first," Heero repeated. "Now, Nichol. And don't lead us past any cameras."
Nichol went ahead. His movements were stiff, fully aware of the gun-toting Heero behind him. Not another word was said, and he led Heero straight to an impressive row of elevators, and he pressed the button to call one randomly. With an almost cheerful chime, the middle elevator announced its arrival and opened its doors. They both got in, Heero keeping his concentration fully on the former fence. Nichol pressed the button for the basement. The doors closed. As the elevator took them down, Heero checked his own breathing - calm and composed, despite everything. His body was treating this as a mission: alert and sharp, fluid, calculated and efficient through years of excessive training and experience. His mind was fully focused, but thoughts of Duo came up constantly; the thrill of seeing him any moment now invigorated him, kept him going.
The elevator arrived at the basement and as soon as the doors opened, Heero pressed the gun into Nichol's back. The fence grumbled, yet started walking again. The hallway was brightly lit, the light pouring from huge windows which revealed the inside of research and development laboratories. The 'research' was on mobile dolls; an upgraded version of both the Vayaete and the Mercurius hovered in mid-air, surrounded by scaffolding, computers, testing equipment and a massive amount of wires. Dwarfed by the suits, a bunch of scientists huddled together, exchanging documents and nodding and talking excitedly.
"Mobile dolls." It slipped out of Heero's mouth before he realized it.
"More power to wipe out the Earth," Nichol sneered. "More powerful than those pathetic Gundams of yours."
"Shut the fuck up." Heero pressed the gun harder into Nichol's back. "Move!"
No one in the research labs paid any attention to them, and no one passed them in the hallway. Nichol opened several doors with his keycard, and one even with a thumb print. It was the only security Heero had seen so far; either everyone at the Lunar Base felt invincible or they didn't care for guards walking around. They arrived at a T-intersection and Nichol chose the left hallway.
"Who's the old fart you were talking about?" he asked. Nichol was surprised by the question.
"Who? Quinze. He's the one calling the shots here, when Zechs isn't around."
Quinze. One of the names Zechs had called just before he lost consciousness. Quinze and Tsubarov. Khushrenada and Merquise. All in cahoots, all manipulating everyone and everything around them. If only his fellow secret agents could be here, to wrap these dangerous people up and put them away, for peace's sake!
A loud grunt jerked him out of his thoughts. Nichol had stopped in front of a door and the Walther PPK poked in his ribs painfully.
"It's here?" The electronic lock blinked. Nichol held his keycard in hand, about to swipe it. He nodded as he raised his hand to start swiping the card. Heero brusquely took it from him, and landed the butt of the gun on the man's temple. He fell unceremoniously in a heap on the floor. Heero dismissed him right away and used the card to swipe the lock. It buzzed and with an audible click, the door sprung open. Heero all but stormed inside. He spotted Duo within a second, sitting on an iron-framed bed, lifting up his head.
"Duo!"
"Heero!" He jumped off of the bed, almost tripping in his haste to reach Heero. Duo latched onto him in a very tight hug. Heero answered the gesture, pulling Duo so close to him that they were both choking each other.
"Jezus fuck Heero, do you know how long I've been waiting for you?" Duo pressed his lips on Heero's face, on his cheeks, nose, lips. "I thought I'd never see you again!"
"I promised." The relief washing over him made his knees wobble. Duo was holding him up with his strength; the fatigue returned full-force now that he had reached his goal: seeing Duo again. Heero noticed that Duo moved his hands freely - good, he hadn't been bound. So far, he couldn't see anything that indicated violence: no black eye, no bruises, no scratches.
"How are you?" he asked. "Did they treat you well?"
"Let's just get the fuck out of here," Duo said. "We'll talk later."
"You're right." Heero sobered up. Any joy had to wait until they were safe. "We have to steal mobile suits to leave the base."
Duo shook his head. "I'm not leaving without Deathscythe."
"You know where it is?"
"Eh... no. I mean... I was fighting off that red suit, when he got the better of me - with that chain thing of his! Before I knew it, he was towing me like some kind of old pick-up truck, the asshole! I couldn't do a thing about it!"
"It wasn't your fault," Heero said.
"Damn skippy it wasn't," Duo immediately returned. "As soon as I made some kind of move, that chain started to heat up. I was afraid he was going to cut me in half, so I remained still..."
"Duo, we have to hurry," Heero interrupted him. "Where's the Gundam?"
"Where's yours? You haven't mentioned Wing at all..."
"It's damaged."
"Fuck!"
"Yeah, pretty much."
"Who's the guy in front of the door?" Duo looked in Nichol's direction.
"Don't bother," Heero said. He tilted his head to follow Duo's gaze, but the other took the opportunity to kiss him on the cheek.
"Fuck, look at me, a damsel in distress, being rescued by her knight in shining armor!"
"And such a pretty damsel you make. Now let's go, before things get out of hand." Heero took Duo's hand and they stepped outside of the holding cell. He leaned into Nichol to pluck the keycard from his belt. "We're going to need this," he said.
Chapter 14 | Chapter 16