"So this is the sword of Kolanuhm." Howard brought the picture of the sword close to his sunglasses. He used a magnifying glass to study the picture; nobody mentioned that he should take his sunglasses off.
Hilde Schbeiker sat cross-legged on a chair, keeping herself and the stack of papers in her lap in balance. She preferred holding paper in her hands instead of staring herself blind at a computer screen. Heero had scanned all the paperwork Noventa left behind; he and Duo were using the computers, Howard and Hilde had copies. Howard mumbled something under his moustache.
"It looks far more intricate than I ever imagined," he said. "Are you sure it's Mongolian craftwork? The dragon and tiger heads on the sheath are magnificent, but those other animals don't seem like they belong in the Mongolian fauna."
"They're birds?" Heero asked.
"Eagles, I guess."
"There are vultures in Tibet. It's a natural tradition to feed corpses to the vultures."
"Gross." Hilde shivered in her chair.
"They believe in giving their bodies back to the Earth," Duo said. "The body is simply a hollow vessel for the spirit and recycling the flesh back to nature is, well, only natural."
"Tibetan Sky Burial," Howard said. "Jhator."
"I think it's gross," Hilde repeated and quickly leafed through the paper work.
"It's better than what the people do who can't afford a Sky Burial," Heero said. Hilde's eyes showed a little trepidation.
"What's that?"
"They place the deceased on a high rock, leaving the body to rot."
Hilde heaved a sigh. "Noventa's notes are extremely detailed," she changed the subject. "He managed to track the last whereabouts of the sword back to Tibet; Nyingtri, to be exact."
"He was about to cross the border from Chengdu into Tibet," Heero mentioned.
"That's where he runs out of notes," Hilde said. "Or did he give up by that point?"
Duo exchanged a quick look with Heero. They both had decided earlier upon not revealing Noventa's involvement with the death of Gianni Bartoli.
"He got into trouble," Duo said, his voice perfectly neutral. "Too little preparation, young and reckless, you know." He got treated to Hilde and Howard both snorting. "Anyway, he had to seek refuge at a monastery and from there he returned to his homeland."
"Too bad, I guess he was pretty close." Howard shifted the magnifying glass. "Eagles or vultures… I'll take this picture with me for analysis. Something about it is bothering me."
Duo nodded. "Once we pick up his trail, we can track the sword down and retrieve it."
"Don't think too lightly about it, Duo," Howard said. "The Himalayas aren't a fun walk in the park."
"You're talking to the one who was this close to discovering Atlantis." Duo held his thumb and index finger just a millimeter apart from each other.
"True." Howard shoved his sunglasses up higher on the bridge of his nose. "But not even deep-diving comes close to the bitter and hard nature of the Himalayas. You'll have to deal with the Dhaulagiri, the Annapurna or the Manaslu - the three highest mountains, and Tibet is already on an elevated plateau itself. You'll get high-altitude sickness if you're not careful…"
"Relax, old man," Duo patted his shoulder, "Heero and I have been there before."
Howard wasn't about to be swayed. "You were in China to retrieve the dagger of Xian and you spend two, three days perhaps in Tibet. Finding a sword belonging to a ruler like Kolanuhm isn't going to be easy, Duo."
"I know."
"You'll have to start in Lhasa for sure and make your way to the Nyintri prefecture. You'll need the proper permits; you can't get into Tibet and travel around freely without them."
"I'm sure you can take care of everything," Duo batted his eyelashes at Howard and made a cooing sound, "everything and anything indeed." He ducked to avoid getting hit by Howard's coffee mug.
"I'll make a special costume for you." Hilde already started sketching on a blank piece of paper. "You need something to wear the cold off, thermo stuff… to endure high altitudes…"
Duo left her to her creations as he turned to Howard. The older man saw him hesitate.
"Spit it out, Duo."
"I was just wondering, Howard. You were in the salvaging business, right?"
"True." Howard nudged his head just a little. "I' considered going into shipwrecking business too, but I had more than enough space materials for me and my group to recover."
"You rather wanted to salvage Gundams," Duo said with a wink. Everyone knew of Howard's contribution to the resistance, even though he had declined any medal decorations for it, claiming that he was 'just doing his job'. As soon as he heard from Noventa and the sword, he'd been at Duo's doorstep in the early morning.
Heero had an inkling as to where Duo was going. "Have you ever heard of the Bartoli family, by chance?" He asked. Howard took a long time answering.
"Can't say I do," he finally said. "I met a lot of people in the salvaging business, everybody wanted a piece of it. There could've been a Bartoli amongst them, but I'm not sure. Why do you ask?"
"It might be another lead," Duo said and pretended to write something on his paperwork. "Thanks, Howard. If you can arrange everything? The permits, and so on?"
"Sure thing, Duo."
"I'll get started right away on your costume, Duo. You too, Heero?" Hilde winked as she spoke, as Heero had always politely declined her somewhat eccentric designs.
"I'll be just fine, Hilde," he answered stiffly and shut down his laptop.
"Thank you for the invitation, Quatre." Duo lifted up his coffee mug, showing off the large amount of whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles on top, his favourite. Le Gavroche was happy to serve the friends of Quatre Raberba Winner at his usual table, even if it were beverages outside of the menu.
"I'm glad you like it," Quatre said, as always accompanied by his cup of tea - and Trowa Barton, of course. His silent partner sat beside him, enjoying his own cup of tea, and mimicking Heero in stoic behaviour. Quatre had commissioned Duo for the Never-Ending Circle and since then they had build up a friendly relationship. Even though the artefact was buried under tons of rubble, Quatre had appreciated everything Duo had done for him, as it was in the memory of his own father, the man who made so many mistakes and was murdered, ending a hard life in tragedy.
"So, what's your next expedition, Duo?" Quatre asked.
"We have a lead on the sword of Kolanuhm," Duo said. The restaurant was crowded for lunch and the guests were all occupied with their own delicious food. He did tone his voice a little down, however.
"The descendant of Genghis Khan?" Trowa might be silent, but he always listened. Duo nodded.
"The very same. True, the family tree is a bit hazy at some points, but it's been established that he was a descendant. I just don't know in which degree."
"A sword, hm." Quatre looked pensive. "What's so special about it?"
"Kol An Anuum ruled for over a century and when he died, he was rumoured to be close to twohundred and seventy years."
Trowa whistled softly. "There has to be something mysterious involved."
"The sword itself," Heero provided. "He kept it close to him at all times, and it was supposedly his source of longevity."
"But what's even stranger," Duo loved building up suspense, "is that after his death, the sword wasn't taken by the one who defeated him. There are no records of the sword after Kolanuhm… his whereabouts, that is. There's enough speculation floating around, but the truth is that no one physically saw the sword ever again."
"Strange indeed." Trowa laced his fingers together. "If I were the one to conquer such an artefact, I'd be sure to use it."
"Perhaps the sword granted longevity only to Kolanuhm," Quatre suggested. "If it lost its power when separated from its rightful owner, it wouldn't be of any value to others."
"True, true." Duo sipped from his coffee again and got a whipped cream moustache. He licked along his lips to remove it, eliciting a grin from Quatre. The CEO was glad to have Duo among his circle of friends; he sure made things a lot livelier than all his fellow business men.
"You're going to search for it yourself, or have you been commissioned? I'm sure that everyone's standing in line to use your unique services."
"It's a sort of commission," Duo said. "You know I only hunt for sports. This was an opportunity I couldn't refuse. It appealed to me, this sword…"
"And the extremity of the expedition itself," Heero said deadpan. "We're going to have to search for it in the Himalayas. Tibet."
"That's incredibly rough, Duo." Quatre sounded worried and he forgot all about his tea. "The climate, the mountains…"
Duo raised his hand. "Enough already," he said. "I've been scrubbed by Howard, and for your information, I know all about the Himalayas and how to conquer them."
"I didn't mean to offend you."
"None taken," Duo winked and reclined into his chair. "Considering we're going to Tibet, it would be nice if we had a Chinese contact who could guarantee passing for us," he continued. "How's Wufei doing?"
Quatre had no trouble with the change of subject. "The last thing I heard from him was his arrival at his clan," he said. "It's a bit of a mess, their independency isn't recognized by any government and their habitat is being preyed upon."
"By who?"
"The soil is extremely rich," Trowa took over from Quatre. "In that mountainous area where Wufei lives, are copper and silver mines as well. It belonged to the Chang clan for centuries, but with the current government…" He nodded brusquely. "I'll contact him and see what he can do for you."
"Give him my regards." Duo blew a kiss at Trowa.
"Who's your commissioner, if you're willing to share?" Quatre ignored the kiss, knowing that Duo didn't mean more with it than just a friendly gesture.
"No one else but Marshal Noventa."
"Noventa?" Quatre looked pensive.
"What about him?"
"I don't want to be a bother or to meddle in affairs that are not mine," Quatre said. "Did you agree on some kind of payment?"
"I don't search and retrieve artefacts for money, you should know that."
"I know, I commissioned you before, remember?" Quatre winked. 'However, you could've agreed on something else with Noventa. That information is private and it's not up to me to inquire about it. In any case, I know for reliable sources that Noventa is as good as bankrupt."
"The man is a highly decorated peace negotiatiator!"
"You can't buy bread with medals, Duo," Heero said.
"That's an outrage! How come he's bankrupt?"
"He might want to sell the sword and live off of the proceedings as a retirement plan," Trowa suggested.
"He knows that whatever I retrieve goes straight to a museum or to the Maxwell collection," Duo said. "Nobody commissions me to get the artefact in their own hands."
"I know, Duo. Just be careful."
"Awww," Duo said and cradled his cup of coffee closer. "Don't worry, guys. Nothing happens to me as long as Heero is here."
Quatre smiled and lifted his tea cup. "At least there's love to be found in your business."
Maxwell Manor was large enough to house its own hedge maze, a quad bike court and a large assault course. As part of his exercise regime, Duo made it a habit of taking the course at least once a day. Unlike Heero's regime, that was more focused on martial arts, Duo had a love for gymnastics and liked to jump, run, somersault and climb, traits that had bailed him out more than once and had proven to be very handy during his expeditions. Since Heero had moved back in with him again, he took the assault course with Duo and they both made it a sport to beat each other to the finish. The record was still in Duo's hands; Heero had sworn he would break it one day.
"Are you ready?" Duo jogged in place, stretching and flexing his muscles. For the exercise, Heero had changed into spandex biker shorts and a loose green t-shirt, showing off his muscles. Duo stuck out his tongue to him, just teasing.
"That's mean. You want to distract me with your tight ass! Where did you get that spandex thing anyway?"
"You've seen it before," Heero said dryly. "You made the same comment back then too, just seconds before you pulled it off of me."
"Let's say that the winner gets to pull the loser's pants down," Duo grinned. "I love peeling you out of your clothes."
"You don't look hot at all with that… that what you're wearing," Heero said mockingly. He disliked Duo's formless, large sweat pants and a long, black t-shirt with a skull on it, which was covered with maggots, torn bits of flesh and a few blowflies. The name of the hard rock band tied to the shirt was also covered with insects and Heero didn't care to try to read it.
"But you love pulling my pants off," Duo said confidently. He winked at Heero and then turned, like a flick of a switch, completely serious. "All right, on my count!"
Heero took his position and focused on the course in front of him. He heard Duo's voice count down, and as soon as he said "Go!" both men all but flew forward, taking immediately the first obstacle, lifting up their legs high to pass the hurdle. The assault course had been designed and built by Duo's father who wanted to stimulate his sons. Before Solo got a taste of the archaeological expeditions, he'd been a stereotypical bookworm without any life experience. He couldn't get past the first obstacle without falling, spraining his ankles or any other injure; Solo had hated being physically weak all his life and his younger brother Duo had always outclassed it when it came to physical strength and endurance.
Duo was already climbing the steep wooden scaffold with the minimalist help of a large piece of rope, his gloved hands (another design of Hilde) easy gripping the course material. Heero cursed softly under his breath; he knew the assault course just as well as Duo, but he was just faster. Heero groaned, he didn't like ending up as the loser, even if it did mean that Duo would touch him. He had this extremely sensual way of removing clothes… but getting hot and steamy certainly wasn't helping him beat the assault course, so Heero concentrated and ran behind Duo, his long braid tucked into his shirt.
It didn't take long for Duo to get close to the finish. His personal record was under ninety seconds, which was impressive with the amount of obstacles on the course. His shins burned from the steep hill he climbed, his shoulder muscles protested from the iron bars he hung from, and his breathing went fast. He could smell victory and pumped all of his remaining energy into one burst, to sprint to the finish line. That he didn't make it, wasn't his fault - Heero jumped at him, wrapping his arms around his waist and tackling him just before the finish line, and they rolled into the grass, dust and sand from the assault course washing over them.
"That's not fair!" Duo pushed at Heero. "You cheated!"
"This was a tactical move," Heero shushed him and put his lips on his, "a strategic move, if you will. Defeat the enemy with everything you've got."
"So now I'm an enemy?" Duo was mock-hurt. His hands were still on Heero's chest. "Then you're fraternizing with the enemy, mister."
Heero didn't answer and lowered his lips onto Duo's once more, enjoying the taste of his lips; a little salty, he'd been sweating from the exertion and had licked his lips over and over while concentrating on the assault course. Gently, he cupped Duo's face, enjoying how the other responded; warm and full with love. Nothing else felt as good as this, and not a day went by that Heero was grateful that they had picked up their relationship again. He didn't want to think back about the times they were separated; but there was something else he was thinking about.
"Something is bothering me about the upcoming expedition," he said, meanwhile his lips brushing Duo's cheek. Duo was used to Heero changing subjects and talking about 'business' while they were…sort of intimate. It didn't bother him. Instead, he raked a hand through Heero's hair, ruffling the stubborn strands, tilting Heero's head toward him so he could look him straight in his deep, blue eyes.
"What's bothering you about it?"
"Noventa," Heero answered. He shrugged brusquely. "I guess it's because of what Quatre said about him."
"It's not our business to get worked up over his bank account," Duo reacted a little irritated, "though I think it's an outright shame that the ESUN hasn't taken care of him! They could've provided him with a war pension in the very least!"
"I know." Heero heaved a small sigh. "That's not.. exactly what I meant. It felt like he was.. giving off the wrong kind of vibrations, if you catch my drift."
"No, I don't catch it." Duo pursed his lips. "This man is a highly decorated, well-renowned peace negotiator who has been horribly maltreated by the ESUN and spends his last days in the presence of his ill granddaughter, who also takes care of him. It's maddening sad how a war hero has to depend on the last member of his family, forgotten by everyone. Why don't people remember him? Do they think this peace came falling out of the air?"
"They look to Relena for peace," Heero said. "Noventa made it possible, no doubt about that, but Relena took it from there, assuring peace and stabilizing the nations."
"Noventa passed up the position because he was already in his sixties, Heero. No wonder he didn't think he'd be fit enough to take on such gigantic responsibilities! Relena was too young at the time, but she had the good fortune that Noventa stayed on as an advisor, and that she was raised by Darlian. He taught her everything she knew, and with his legacy, Noventa's advice and her own talent, Relena made it to Queen of the World. But…"
"You're getting all worked up, love." Heero noticed Duo tensing up under him and it wasn't his intention to get Duo upset. "I agree with you and we can talk to Relena or representatives of the ESUN ourselves to see if we can improve Noventa's situation, financially and.. emotionally."
"But..?" Duo said.
"But it's just bothering me that there's something about him, the expedition and Sylvia, and I can't put my finger on it."
Duo nodded. He knew well to listen to Heero's instincts, and if he couldn't put a finger on it, something really had to be astray.
"I admit, the thing with Sylvia was very strange."
"Did the family physician tell you something about it?"
Duo couldn't help but smile fondly. The Maxwell family physician was a professor in cell biology and was involved in several fields pertaining to his degree, particularly molecular biology and immunology. Professor G had always been in the service of the family, Duo didn't know how his father knew him, but the man was far more than 'just' a physician. Still, he enjoyed working for the family and despite his eccentricity, Duo got along with him quite well. He was an elderly man with grey, mushroom shaped hair, a gravely voice and a hooked nose the size of a battleship, as Duo usually described it.
"G told me that she said she didn't need anything. The dizzy spell, the coughing, were all 'normal' to her, she said."
"Noventa mentioned something that doctors couldn't find what was wrong with her."
"Heero, you saw his hands shake. Her hands shook as well when she grabbed the tissue."
"Early Parkinson?"
"I don't know. She wouldn't allow G to take any blood samples and the only thing he could do, was listening to her heart rate and measure her blood pressure."
"And?"
Duo puffed up his cheeks. "Her blood pressure was too high and her heart rate irregular, but that can be caused by so many other factors. G didn't know what exactly is going on with her, so he couldn't do a thing but to prescribe her bed rest."
"He didn't see Noventa's hands shaking. How could he know what's going on with her if she gives such brief information?"
"Hillary told me she drank a glass of orange juice and a glass of water, she didn't want something to eat."
"Strange."
"Is that what's bothering you?"
"Hmm-mmm."
"That's not an answer. I know you're worried just before every expedition, but I've seen you snow-proofing your laptop, am I right?"
"Snow-proofing?" Heero chuckled.
"Yes, snow-proofing. Sometimes I don't know what or who you love more, that thing or me."
"No laptop will ever give me this," Heero deadpanned and moved his hand to lower regions, brushing his fingers past a particular sensitive area. Duo barely refrained from moaning out loud.
"Don't, don't," he said but his eyes belied his words, "what if Hillary sees us…"
"The butler doesn't come out to the assault course." Heero moved his fingers to the waistband of Duo's sweat pants, keeping his eyes firmly from the hideous t-shirt. "And he's probably way used to our… activities."
"You didn't win," Duo protested.
"Neither did you."
"You tackled me!"
"I told you, it was a tactical movement…"
"Oh, all right you devilish sexy man you…"
"Now you're talking." Heero leaned into Duo and slipped his hand inside his pants, touching and fondling, and the ensuing sounds had nothing to do with taking an assault course.
Chapter 1 | Chapter 3 |