"Ahmed- what's going on?" Quatre asked breathlessly, as Heero and Trowa joined the other two pilots in the street. "Is he alive?"
/"Alive, yes,"/ Ahmed answered cautiously. /"There are three people here. But all are unconscious. So far, we can't get any of them to wake up."/
"Are they all Maganacs?"
/"No. Only Auda. The others appear to be construction workers."/
"Is the medical equipment damaged?" Heero asked thoughtfully.
/"No. Nothing is damaged. There doesn't appear to have been a fight here,"/ Crowley answered this time. /"All three men were injured... but I don't think the injuries were caused by whatever happened to everyone else on this colony."/ He hesitated, before continuing, /"According to the computer records, your friend Auda was being treated for food poisoning. The other two were in a construction accident outside the ring two days ago."/
"Run a blood test on all three of them," Heero ordered grimly. "See if they were drugged. We're on our way."
/"Yes sir."/
The four pilots covered the distance to the inner ring in a sprint, slowing only slightly once they reached the inner hallways leading to the core. This part of the station was more finished than the colony ring, but after the vast empty distances of the outer ring,Trowa found the hallways almost reassuringly claustrophobic.
"Status?" Heero asked as they stepped into the crowded medical lab. Trowa took a quick look around as Quatre made his way directly to the bed where Ahmed was leaning over Auda. Hawes, Cryswell, Frost and the small group of sweepers and Maganacs were busy with the injured civilians, using every available counter and bed for makeshift surgery tables while Crowley scowled down at a computer in one corner.
"No change." Crowley looked back at them then stepped aside to gesture at his computer monitor. "According to this, all three of them have traces of Desflurane in their blood, which would explain why we can't wake them up."
"What is that?" Quatre asked anxiously, his brow wrinkled in confusion. "I don't recognize the name."
"It's a form of anaethesia," Crowley shook his head. "I'm not surprised you've never heard of it. It hasn't been in common usage since 2015. Though Oz had apparently dug up the formula and begun trialing it near the end of the war. But according to the computer, it can be dispersed in a vapor once it is heated to 39 C. It's insoluble in the bloodstream though, which means it builds up quickly to induce unconsciousness."
"Oz..." Heero scowled at the older man. "That's who we're up against?"
"No telling, sir," Crowley shrugged. "It's been a year since the war. Anyone could have found the formula to produce it since then."
"It has to be heated before release-" Wufei moved over to the computer, displacing Crowley as he began typing in a query. "I noticed that the temperature was reading slightly higher than normal inside the ships, and the main ring of the colony itself. Could enough of this be dispersed through the air exchange to render everyone on the colony unconscious?"
"Yes sir. I thought of that as well and checked the air exchange. There are traces of Desflurane in the air, but in very minute quantities. We should be in no danger of succumbing now."
"Heero, look at this," Wufei nodded at the screen. "The colony's air supply was vented six hours before we got here. The emergency life-support systems kicked in immediately, until the levels had built back up enough to cycle through the exchange filters again."
"Six hours." Heero shook his head and met Quatre's eyes. "If your shuttle hadn't been diverted by the crisis at L2, you and Relena would have been here on the Colony when this happened."
"If it was a trap for us-why would they have triggered it when we didn't arrive as scheduled?" Quatre shook his head. "It doesn't feel right, Heero. Why would whoever put the Desflurane in the air supply take everyone else on this colony instead?"
"I don't know." Looking around at the pale, frightened colonists, Heero sighed. "But we're not going to wait around for them to come back either. I don't like being dependent on an air supply that has already been tampered with. I want us back on Sandstorm and Giza's air supply before it cycles again."
Dorothy hesitated outside Lady Une's office; not at all sure this was a good idea. Last chance to back out and wait for Zechs, she thought to herself, then took a deep breath and knocked. After a moment she heard Une's call to enter. Steeling herself a last time, she stepped into the office. Une gestured to the seat Sally normally took, and with only a last brief hesitation, Dorothy sat down.
Neither woman spoke for a long moment.
"What did you need to see me about?" Une finally prompted, frowning slightly.
"I- look, I know this is going to sound really crazy..."
"Just say it, Dorothy," Une rubbed her forehead wearily. "I doubt anything you say is going to surprise me anymore."
"I'm still- it's still going on." Taking a deep breath, Dorothy threw caution away and just plunged into her explanation. "I can't explain how I know, but my nightmare is still happening. It's not over."
To her surprise, Une only nodded. "I wish I could truthfully say I don't believe you. But I do." The older woman sighed. "The situation is getting worse by the moment. Have you dreamed about L6?"
"No." Dorothy blinked at her, a little startled by the unexpected acceptance. "It's not... what I'm seeing is not L6."
"Are you sure?" The time the older woman did frown. "Because that's where the current problem is."
"It's not L6." Dorothy hesitated again, reading far too much into the grim look on Une's face. "But something has happened at L6, hasn't it? Are Relena and the others alright?"
"At the moment," Une frowned at her, though her expression was more troubled then disbelieving. "But there is definitely something wrong on that colony. The people are gone, Dorothy."
"What?" For a moment, she didn't understand what Une was trying to tell her. "What do you mean they're gone?"
"All the construction workers and engineers building the colony, nine out of the ten Maganac's Quatre left there to arrange security, the five Preventers that were assisting them- There were over two hundred people on that colony. So far we have found three."
"The others are dead?"
"We have no idea. There aren't any bodies, no signs of a fight. Nothing. The three men we have found so far, two engineers and one of Quatre's men, were all in the medical lab, unconscious."
"That...doesn't make sense." Dorothy rubbed her eyes. "We... I'm sure what I'm dreaming about is not on L6."
"What are you dreaming?"
"Bodies- a lot of bodies-floating in space." Dorothy paled suddenly. "Unless that's where all the people went." She met Une's eyes worriedly. "Were there children on L6?"
"There are now," the older woman muttered. "But among the missing- no."
"In my nightmare, there are children's bodies too."
Une swore softly under her breath, then turned away to reach for the communication console. "Howard."
/"Une? What's wrong?"/
"How much longer till those ships are ready to take off?"
/"Another hour, minimum. And none of the injured are back from the medical center yet."/
"I want those ships ready to take off the minute they're back."
"Une... what if L6 is where they're safe?" Dorothy asked, suddenly wondering if trying to second guess Epyon's nightmare was only going to lead to the events she was seeing.
"Whatever is going on, I doubt that they are truly any safer on that colony than they would be in the ships." Une shook her head. "And in ships where they can maneuver is the safest place for the Gundam Pilots."
/"Dorothy?"/ Howard's voice was strained. /"What's going on? Safe from what?"/
"Howard, I'm still dreaming. It's not over yet." Dorothy leaned over Une's shoulder. "Something's going to happen out there, very soon. I don't know where though. Or what."
/"Bloody Hell..."/ the old man growled. /"Sanders! Get me the status on the fueling, and have Gorman start doing takeoff preps. We're gonna be going out hot as soon as our people get back here. Tell Ahmed's men too. Lowell, I need you in here..."/
"Thanks Howard. Be careful."
/"Get them back to the ships, and I'll get them off this bloody colony."/
Une sighed and switched channels. "Yuy?"
/"Commander?"/ Trowa answered the com, rather than Heero.
"What's your status?"
/"We're searching the computers, but all traces of who tampered with the air supply have been wiped. Whoever did it is a damn good hacker to hide from Heero."/
"Leave that. There are reinforcements coming from L4 to take over the investigation of L6. I want your people back on those ships, now. Howard's prepping for takeoff, as soon as you're loaded."
/"Ma'am, no offense, but we're handling this investigation,"/ Quatre growled, interrupting Trowa before he could respond.
"Not anymore," Une snapped. "I am ordering you to get those civilians off that colony. Now."
"Une..." Dorothy tried one last time. "I don't think it's going to happen there, not on L6..."
"Something has already happened on L6, Dorothy. And you didn't see it coming either. I want them in those ships and on their way back. I trust the pilots to protect those people, but to do so they need to be where they can do the most good." Une sighed. "Until you can tell me exactly where and when this is going to happen-this is the only course of action we can follow."
"Yes ma'am."
"Winner, that's an order. Evacuate that colony, immediately."
/"Yes, ma'am."/
Zechs glanced worriedly at Duo as they followed Sally down the alley. To the casual observer, the younger man was calm and appeared almost bored; however, Zechs was far from a casual observer. He could see the strain in Duo's eyes as they got closer to the courtyard.
"Duo?"
"I'm fine," Duo snapped grimly. "I have to do this."
"You don't have to do this." Zechs took a deep breath. "You already passed out once. I'd rather you didn't do it again."
"So would I." Sally turned towards them, halting abruptly in the middle of the alley and forcing them to stop as well. "And while I am curious about this talent of yours, both of you, we cannot afford to have either you out of commission and out of the field for another three days recovering."
"I'm fine," Duo glared at both of them in annoyance. "I promise. I'll be very careful what I touch, okay?"
Zechs bit back any further comments, reading the stubborn glint in Duo's eyes. "Alright."
Sally sighed, but backed down as well. "Fine. But take it easy, both of you."
"Yes mom." Duo rolled his eyes as he brushed past her and continued down the alley. Sally glared at Zechs, who merely shrugged as he followed his partner.
The courtyard looked much as it had when he was there two days before. There were still teams of forensics workers clustered around the open space, carefully scraping at the stains on walls and fences or picking gingerly through the trash that had accumulated against the fence. Tarps had been stretched between the buildings in an attempt to prevent the weather from removing any more evidence, which only added to the gloom, despite the bright lights that had also been added.
He had to force himself to ignore the stench as they stepped fully into the scene of his nightmares. To his relief, there were fewer of the ghosts at the fence than there had been at his last visit to the site. Treize looked up from the blood-streaked figure he was speaking to, a strained smile on his face for Zechs, but did not break away from his work to greet his old friend. Zechs just nodded faintly at him and turned away. At his side, he felt Duo recoil slightly; almost leaning against him for a split second before shaking his head.
"That's a smell I'm not gonna forget anytime soon..." Duo muttered, glancing around. "Place looks a lot better though, without those nuts in black running around."
"I'm not sure I'd be making statements like that if I were you," Sally growled. "I seem to recall that you wore nothing but black for two years."
"Yeah, well- It worked on me." Duo's voice was subdued as he looked around. "Let's get this over with, huh?"
"Right." Sally sighed, then waved at a dour-faced man with a clipboard standing beside a table of equipment. "Albert..."
The shorthaired man glanced up, his scowl only deepening when he saw the two men with her. Zechs kept his expression neutral out of long habit, ignoring the hostility as the man left whatever task he had been doing to join them.
"Albert, I'd like you to meet-"
"These are your experts?" The man interrupted, eyeing them doubtfully. "I thought you meant you were bringing forensics experts."
"-Zechs Merquise and Duo Maxwell," Sally finished with a sigh. "And they are experts on the case. I don't need more forensics experts, that's what I have you for."
The man looked slightly less annoyed at that. "What do I need experts in the case for? Their part of this is finished."
"Maybe not." Zechs could see Sally fighting for patience as she answered. "And you might need them more than you think."
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Zechs sighed, and held out a hand to the man. Albert stared at him as if he was insane, blinking a little. "Dr...?"
"Riese," The man muttered, though he didn't move to shake the outstretched hand. "Why do I need them if they aren't forensic scientists?"
"Because they are members of the Preventers new Homicide Division," Sally growled, giving up on politeness. "And you will be working closely with them from now on."
"We have a Homicide division?" Albert blinked again, taking a step back. "It's about time-and I suppose they are experts on death, both being Gundam Pilots-"
"Whatever we were before we were Preventers agents, is really beside the point." Zechs shook his head. "Sally, I really think this is not going-"
"But this is my crime scene now, and I don't need amateurs mucking it up." Albert turned away with a heavy sigh. "So don't touch anything, try not to disturb any evidence, and..."
"Albert!" All three men stared at Sally, along with most of the techs. "Stop talking for three minutes and listen to me."
There was a moment of stunned silence, and she didn't waste any time before taking advantage of it, though she did lower her voice slightly so that most of the techs could not hear her.
"Zechs and Duo are not amateurs, and they will not mess up your crime scene. I expect them to make it much easier on your techs. However, Duo at least, is going to have to touch some of the evidence. He has a talent for Psychometry, and they have inside information about where to look for said evidence. So I expect you to work with them, listen to what they have to say... and perform your usual forensic brilliance in the meantime. No fighting, no sulking and no ignoring their very existence. Is that clear?"
Zechs waited for the man to begin arguing again, but to his surprise, Dr. Riese looked more startled than angry.
"Psychometry?" He peered at Duo. "What the hell is that?"
"It's a psychic ability to pick up impressions from physical objects-"
Now the man looked annoyed again. "Psychics? Dr. Po, I appreciate that you've been working long hours lately, but as one doctor to another, I suggest you take some time off immediately. Forensic investigations take care, patience, knowledge and a great deal of training. What they don't require is psychics running about touching things and picking up 'vibes'. This is my crime scene now, and you can take your pet psychics and..."
"Albert." Duo and Zechs both backed up at the tone in Sally's voice. "I've been having a very bad week, and this is not making it any better. They're staying, you are working with them, and that is final. Consider this a chance to debunk their claims if you want. I don't care. Just get me the evidence to put the scum who murdered nearly twenty-five people here away forever, and don't give me any more grief."
Albert sighed, and threw the two homicide agents a sour look. "Dr. Po- Sally- I cannot believe you are seriously entertaining the notion of psychic ability. It's never been scientifically proven as anything more than a fluke-"
"Two months ago, I might have agreed with you." Sally rubbed her forehead wearily. "Albert, trust me on this one. They have abilities that we do not understand, but that we need right now. I would appreciate your help in figuring out the best use of those abilities."
"You honestly believe this?" He frowned, but Zechs could see the first signs that he might be giving in.
"I do." Sally glanced at them, then looked back at Albert. "Without their- rather unique abilities- this case and the Jameson case, and a few others- would have stayed on the unsolved list forever."
The man looked from Duo to Zechs, then turned to Sally with a heavy sigh. "Fine, fine, they can stay." Dismissing her with an absentminded wave, he turned back to the two members of Purgatory. "But if you haven't been formally trained, then you're still amateurs. Talented, but amateurs. So before you touch anything...we're going to have a talk about forensic techniques."
"I'll just leave you boys to it then..." Sally smirked at the desperate glance Duo sent her, and Zechs could see the amusement on her face as she headed back towards the exit to the courtyard.
Tbc