"L3?" The chief chewed on his unlit cigar, switching it from one side of his mouth to the other. "I don't like it. You're too far out of your jurisdiction, and I already know what they'll say if I send you officially. They'll tell me to turn it over to them and let them 'O' file it. They won't think that a small police precinct is investigating anything serious."
"I know that," Duo replied irritably as he paced the cracked floor, "but I have to go where the evidence is. Patterson didn't bring it Earth side."
"If you do find something, how will you make it stick to Patterson?" the chief demanded, taking out his cigar and pointing it at Duo. "You'll have to take it to the station police, admit that you were investigating without authorization, and explain why they should take you seriously."
"Are you forgetting who I am?" Duo asked, uncomfortable with reminding the man. "I don't need to go to L3 with my evidence. I do have direct channels to the government and Preventers. They may not like me, anymore, for leaving them for smaller things, but they will pay attention if I give them evidence."
"And if they're running their own investigation, under the radar,a s well, and you cock that up?" the chief wanted to know. "That's what proper channels are for, so we stay out of each other's way. For all you know, this Yuy is working for Preventers under cover, and you're about to blow that cover."
Duo glared, "Call it whatever you want to, but I feel, in my gut, that he's made these decisions on his own. Besides, if you really think Preventers is handling this case, then why are you pushing me so hard to investigate it? if you want me to back off, just say so, and I'll go back to finding out who spray painted graffiti on Mr. Johnson's house."
The chief glared back and then chewed on his cigar some more. "You realize that this might either make or break my career? You can't blame me for covering the bases."
"You've already thrown the dice," Duo pointed out. "You can't call them back. I won't stop my investigation because you're getting cold feet."
The chief grunted and sat back in his chair. "All I want is respect, and more funding, not to save the world. That's what Preventers do. I don't want to take this into Space. I wanted a quick investigation, here, and some dirt that we can arrest people for."
"Like, I said, too late," Duo replied. "This case is mine."
"I can take away your badge," the chief threatened.
"It won't matter," Duo told him as he began pulling it out of his wallet. "I'm still going after Heero, and exposing Patterson if he's breaking the law."
"Keep it," the chief grumbled and made a dismissing wave with his big hand, as he swiveled around in his chair, and gave Duo his back. "I can't stop you, but I can deny that I know anything about this. You're on your own."
"It's how I always end up, it seems," Duo sighed, rubbed at the back of his neck, and added, "I'll contact you when I reach L3."
"Don't," the chief said. "Plausible deniability."
"It won't be plausible, when they see the station babysitting Scythe while I'm gone," Duo snickered.
"Damn!" the chief swore. "I hate that bird."
"And he hates all of you," Duo assured him, "But take care of him anyway."
"He puts that eye on me," the chief said, half turning and looking at Duo sideways, "Like he's sizing me up for the grave, or something."
"I didn't know you were superstitious," Duo replied.
"Crows always hang around the dead," the chief insisted.
"You watch too many old movies," Duo snickered. "He eats, poops, and likes shiny things to peck. Nothing complicated or evil about that."
"Sounds like you, and you're plenty evil," the chief replied and turned his back again. "Get out of here, already. Your case is getting cold."
Duo had his duffel outside. He snatched it up and swung it over one shoulder, gave Scythe, in his cage, a short salute, and headed for the shuttle port.
Even Winner transport vehicles had a level of richness lacking in regular commercial ventures. Settling in the jump seat, hold full of lumber and food stuffs to sell to L3, and crew busy with their instruments, Duo could appreciate the leather padded chairs, the small foot rest, and a small compartment for chilled drinks close to hand. Even the sound of the thrusters and the push against gravity was dampened by expensive instruments and shock absorbing materials.
Once they had rolled over the horizon of Earth, and into the vacuum of space, the crew unstrapped and turned to their famous passenger, full of questions and wanting autographs. Duo indulged them with a grin and good humor, but was glad when they remembered their duties and started their scheduled tasks. He took that time, to sip at a drink, and then to let the lighter gravity make his body comfortable in sleep.
When the ship shuddered under the attack of magnetic grappling pads, and connecting tubes, and the pirates rushed through a jumped hatch, Duo was totally unprepared.
The pilots shut the hatch and secured the locks, Duo barely pulling flesh out of the way in his chair next to it. He had a fleeting glimpse of men in spacesuits, charging in with stun rifles, before the hatch closed, and then he was thrusting himself out of his chair and joining the pilots.
"What the hell?" Duo demanded.
"They're popping the cargo bay!" the captain swore. "Say goodbye to a very expensive load of lumber."
"Crew?" Duo barked, caring more about human beings than stacks of lumber and food stuffs.
The captain checked his life monitors. "Pete's down, but breathing.
Same with Karl and Janey. Everyone else is okay, so far. Any course of action,
Gundam
Pilot?"
Duo snorted. "For lumber and canned ham? Not likely. Talk to your insurance
company."
"Where's the police when you need them?" the second in command growled in frustration.
"Under manned and under funded," Duo replied bitterly as he took his seat again.
"Preventers, then," the man retorted. "Anyone! This has been happened way too fucking much."
Duo had almost closed his eyes, determining that the offload might take time, and that the danger was minimal enough to nap again, but the comment made him alert again. "Been that much of a problem?"
"Three times in the last two weeks," the captain replied as he leaned over his monitors in frustration. "Not us, but others supplying L3."
"That's understandable," Duo said with a nod, "The best goes to L3."
He had settled and closed his eyes again, when a thought struck him. "Who's shipment of lumber was this?"
"Super G Enterprises," the captain replied in disgust. "Materials for their new building on L3. Pretty cocky, if you ask me, since I'm told that he still doesn't have all the permitting yet. We had to pull special authorization just to ship this cargo to him."
"And now it's being stolen," Duo said thoughtfully. "Fully insured, of course?"
"Fully," the second in command replied,. as if he were proud of that fact.
Duo smiled and finally relaxed. "That's very interesting."
"Are you just going to sleep?" the captain demanded.
"Yes, I am," Duo replied irritably. "If they wanted us dead, they wouldn't have brought stun rifles. They didn't breech the hull, and they're offloading by the numbers, right?"
"Yes," the second replied after checking his instruments.
"No worries, then, for now," Duo concluded. "Nothing to do, but sleep."
"You are a police officer, aren't you?" the Captain demanded. "Isn't this your job?"
"Are you armed?" duo wondered.
"No," the captain admitted.
"Is this ship armed?" Duo persisted.
"No," the captain replied sounding angry now.
"Well, maybe you have a suit stashed up here," Duo told him,"but there isn't a hell of a lot that I can do in one without a weapon, except annoy them right up until they stun me."
"But, being who you are, I thought..." the second in command wasn't sure how to formulate the words to express his belief that Gundam pilots could do anything.
"It's lumber," Duo argued, "Not babies, not children, not men or women, or even small animals. They kill someone, wake me up."
Duo wasn't really sleeping, but pretending that he was kept the crew from gathering courage to demand action again. It always amazed him what people would risk their lives for, or demand that other people risk their lives for.
After a half hour, almost on the mark, the pirates detached with a shudder of metal and the roar of a metal welder. They hadn't left them open to space, but had sealed the open hatch shut. Someone knew their business and someone didn't want any bodies.
"That was damned expensive," the captain swore. "Winner is not going to be happy."
Winner might not be happy, Duo thought, but their incident was opening his eyes to new possibilities. He could hardly wait to get to L3 to pursue his suspicions further.
_____________________________________
Everything about L3 spoke of wealth, from the very clean space terminals, to the beautifully paved sidewalks, and manicured parks, to the shinning glass buildings that shone like jewels along the green curve of the station. L2 was red dust and sectioned lots, with a small area for official offices, like a green eye in a ring of misery. L4 had a more balanced mix of industrial and residential, but nothing that said 'waste of huge sums of money' like L3's patterned real stone walkways and excessive use of wood everywhere.
They were careful about who they allowed on L3, as well. Many officials, and important people, lived there. If Duo hadn't caught a ride on a ship, with a definite purpose for docking, the fee to dock a ship there, and L3's 'community enrichment' fee, would have made the trip impossible. As it was, Duo's papers were scrutinized closely, his badge number checked, and his purpose for not staying with the cargo crew questioned thoroughly.
"Here." One of the inspectors handed Duo a laminated card, with a detection chip. "Have this on your person, at all times," he warned, "or you'll receive a large fine and immediate expulsion orders. It gives you three days to conduct your business. If you wish to remain longer, you'll have to re -register and be approved. At that time, you will be expected to pay the community enrichment fee."
Extortion fee, Duo corrected sourly in his mind, but he was smiling pleasantly and nodding instead, as he took his card and hefted his duffel to one shoulder. He picked out a few items, once he reached the terminal lockers, and left the duffel there. He couldn't afford the high prices of the hotels. The local officials wouldn't be happy to see him trying to usurp their authority, either. They weren't going to offer him any accommodations. Duo intended to sleep where he could, well used to 'roughing' it.
In sunglasses, a white tank top, khaki pants that were covered in useful pockets, and hiking shoes, Duo knew that he stood out. This wasn't an undercover job. He wanted everyone to take notice and, hopefully, take the news of his arrival, to the right people.
Duo took the transit halfway around the station, and wasn't surprised to step out, at his destination, and find an official, and station polices barring his way. Duo kept his hands away from his sides, smile firmly in place.
"A welcoming comity," Duo chuckled. "I'm honored."
"Hardly," an overweight man in a government uniform huffed as he nodded to his men and they closed around Duo. "I'm Lt. Thuman. We would like to question you about your visit, Detective Duo Maxwell."
"No problem," Duo replied, "I suppose a strip search will be involved? I prefer dark haired men, with blue eyes, about my height, with warm hands."
Duo kept his smile firmly in place even when the official blustered angrily at his insolence. They took him to an office and ran detectors over him, wanting to find weapons, or other contraband.
"I'm a detective," Duo told them. "I'm not packing."
"That would be in violation of station laws," Thuman pointed out sternly.
"Yes, it would," Duo agreed. "If you check my badge number, you'll see that I have an exemplary record of conduct. I assure you that I am only here to check on the validity of information that I received on Earth."
"Harassing citizens is also in violation of our station laws," the man retorted.
"Which is why I won't question those people who choose not to be questioned," Duo replied.
"Certain places are off limits to you," Thuman declared, as if Duo hadn't spoken. "I've modified your pass card to alert you of those areas. Place it within any public terminal and it will show you a map of those off limit areas. I won't have you wandering the station, doing as you please, and disrupting the peace of the citizens, here. I remind you, that going anywhere without your card is-"
"A violation," Duo finished for him. "I understand and I will cooperate fully."
"As long as we understand each other," the man growled, "You may go." As Duo began to leave, though, police nervously making way for him, Thuman muttered, "That was Gundam Pilot 02? It seems the legends, were just that: pure propaganda."
That stung, but Duo was a master at not seeming to be the dangerous man that he was. Later, when he checked his card in a public kiosk, he had reason to regret not saying some choice words to thuman. He had been denied access to the very area that he needed to investigate.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Duo managed a meal of free fried noodles, bread sticks, and water, by planting himself at a table meant for two, and pretending to wait for a supposed date. Checking his watch forlornly, often, and then slumping in resignation, even garnered him enough sympathy, by a waitress, to get him a free desert, before he 'gave up' and left.
The prices for a meal, anywhere on station, were outrageous. Even 'fast food' seemed to involve lots of digits and unpronounceable names. Duo had to cut corners, financially, anyway that he could. Food expenses were controllable if he decided to ignore his growling stomach. Someone else didn't have that faith.
"Here."
Duo felt a plastic container pushed into his hands as he turned, startled, automatically ready to defend himself. His eyes were on his 'attacker', though, not the hot container warming his hands. Heero Yuy was looking at him guardedly, hands going into his jacket pockets, now that they were relived of their burden, as a sign that he wasn't ready to fight.
"You police chief should have given you more credits," Heero went on. "Or Winner."
"My chief is on a tight budget," Duo replied, his voice shaky, "and I didn't ask Winner for money. I'm not into begging."
"Just taking advantage of freebies at restaurants," Heero snorted. He nodded towards a bench, under the eave of a business.
Duo was almost afraid to turn and walk that way, afraid Heero would disappear as quickly as he had appeared, but, when he sat down, Heero stood by him, watching as Duo opened the container and found fried fish, rice, hydroponics beans, and a sealed container of protein drink.
Duo grinned up at Heero. "All my favorites and expensive as hell. Is this the kid gloves before the knockout?"
Heero puzzled over that terminology and then shook his head. "I doubt that I can convince you, with or without violence, to not do as you wish."
"Got that right," Duo snickered and began to eat. Between mouthfuls, he studied Heero and asked questions.
"Why contact me now? Why not let me get tied up in red tape and then go home?" Duo asked.
"Everyone is waiting for night cycle," Heero told him. "Waiting for you to make your move into forbidden territory. You must know that?"
"That's an answer or do you just want trade secrets?" Duo wondered.
"We both invented trade secrets," Heero replied irritably, "I
know how to hack a security card, as well as you do."
"
Then why make me tell you anything?" Duo wanted to know. "Why don't
you save me the trouble and tell me what I'll find out there?"
"Not a crime," Heero insisted.
"Then what?" Duo asked. "My transport gets robbed of building materials, along with a lot of other transports. A factory is being built on the most expensive real estate in Space or on Earth when no one here wants it. A toy maker hires a killer as a body guard. You tell me what all of that adds up to."
Heero grimaced as if Duo had hurt him. His blue eyes were still hard, though, as he said defensively. "I'm not a killer. Not anymore. I'll protect my employer, and for good reason, but I won't ever go that far."
"You didn't keep in touch," Duo accused. "I don't know what you're capable of anymore."
"Not that," Heero insisted and his hard eyed look turned haunted. "Not any longer."
"Where have you been?" Duo demanded. "Why come out of hiding now?"
"Little wars aren't always advertised on the news," Heero replied and his expression darkened. The flat 'killer' eyes returned, but then he blinked it away, in the next moment, and said, "I decided on ending it."
"Your life?" Duo asked in alarm.
"No," Heero replied, as if Duo were being stupid. He searched for an explanation and then smiled grimly as he said, "I came to your conclusion."
Duo blinked, confused, and then he grinned wider, "You decided to chuck it all and help the little guy, instead of the little war?"
Heero nodded. His eyes swept the area, the people walking by them,
and the cameras Duo was sure were hidden everywhere, as he said,"Someone
has to make sure that things get done, that everyone gets protected,while
others fight
the larger, important fights."
Duo nodded, pleased, while he ate for a while longer in silence, digesting
Heero's words along with his meal. His next question made Heero tense in
surprise, though. "Where does pirating building materials fit into your
new life style, exactly? There might not be any crimes being committed where
I want to look, but enough of them are being committed out there, in space."
Heero frowned and stared off into the distance, as if he found something down the sidewalk intensely interesting.
Duo sighed as he forked over the fish and picked through the bones. "I did recognize some professionalism in the operation," he told Heero. "A bit beyond toy maker level. Tell me, Yuy, where are all of those materials going?"
"To a good cause, a criminally neglected cause," Heero replied. "I have to go," he said abruptly. "I don't have a visa to be on station. I took a chance meeting you. I hope that counts for something?"
"I don't think it does," Duo replied sourly,"I am the police, after all, and you are breaking a lot of laws, Heero Yuy."
"Go home," Heero urged him. "Forget about this case."
"Like WuFei did?" Duo wondered.
"He saw the justice in it," Heero replied, "but I made sure that there was nothing for him to find, for his own honor's sake. You won't find anything, either. You can speculate, as much as you like, but it will only amount to suspicion."
He was gone, them, Duo watching him slide between pedestrians, and then saw nothing of him, after, as hard as he looked.
"At least he didn't kill me," Duo muttered as he finished his meal and then dumped it into the nearest receptacle.
TBC
TBC