Deep Play

By Caliko

ESUN Headquarters

The ESUN President sat behind his desk, visibly relieved at the news that not only were the missing mobile suits destroyed, but that Randolph Cecil was in custody. He stood up and seized Preventer Winds hand, enthusiastically pumping it in thanks.

"I can't tell you how happy you've made me, Preventer Marquis. ON behalf Of ESUN, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks in the speedy completion of this task."

"Thank you, sir, but I could not have done it without the boys. It will be good working with them again, instead of playing father to them."

"Yes.. err.. Of course. I'll see you tonight at the ball?"

It was unmistakably a dismissal, and the boys turned to leave, relieved to get away.

"Preventer Chang.. If you could stay a few moments?" The President asked, nervously tapping his desk.

Wufei turned back, startled at being singled out.

"Yes, sir." He asked, walking to stand once more in front of the desk.

"I.. I just wanted to apologize for this past fiasco. I was wrong in listening to one of your fellow agents. She claimed that you were spying for a rebel faction, and with your history.. I'm afraid that I believed her."

"Mr. President?" Wu tilted his head, trying to make sense out of his confusion. "I don't understand."

"I was the one to have you and the other gundam pilots declared wards of the government. I had met up with a female preventer during a speech of Miss Relena's. She claimed to be relieved to see me, that she had information about you. I brushed her off, said to make an appointment with my secretary and left. The next day, she was in my office, in uniform, presenting me with a conversation that she had recorded."

The man lifted a glass of water from the top of his desk, took a few swallows, and replaced it.

"In hindsight, I admit that it was a little convenient to have the recorder ready at just that moment.. but I have already admitted to being wrong. Anyway, it was audio only, and it did sound like you. The man speaking had admitted to treason, you see. But, we didn't have any proof that it was you..."

"So you had me put someplace where I could be watched."

"Yes, Preventer Chang. Looking back, I can see where the entire thing was arranged to get you out of the way... I just don't know why. Anyway, I wanted to apologize... and assign you to the case. We need to know what this is about. It may be tied to the Cecil matter.. or it may be something new entirely. Good luck, Preventer. I know that both you and Sally Po will get to the bottom of this."

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L2 - The Very Colorful Impromptu Wedding of the Maxwell's

It was a circus... literally. Trowa and Quatre SAID that they took special consideration of the bride and groom's temperaments when they brought the circus to their wedding, but it was quite possibly the only thing they could manage to throw together at the last minute.

At least, It was unforgettable. One of the smaller tents had been set up in the hall, complete with center ring and benches. An elephant held the position as ring bearer, and Hilde's bouquet was even made out of multicolored cotton candy.

The cake was made to look like a carousel, complete with horses, elephants, and lions. The Manager had even turned out to be a justice of the peace! All in all, it would definatly stay in the minds of the guests for a good many years.

Wufei tugged at his tie, trying to loosen the irritating knot as he scanned the crowd searching for Yuy. Catching site of the other man, he moved in a beeline towards him, dodging the jugglers and fire eaters in his path.

"Yuy!" He called out, drawing the pilot's scowl. "I need to talk to you."

"Is this about the President asking you to stay yesterday?"

:::Trust Heero to get right to the point.:::

He nodded, then filled him in.

"So.. someone was trying to get you out of the way, and the rest of us just got caught in the middle."

"Yeah... Maybe." Chang said, implying that there might be more.

"What have you learned?" Both, sensing the camera coming closer, turned and smiled just in time for the flash to go off.

"Something about that research facility bothered me. I dug into the Cecil Corporation... Randolph Cecil was only a minor share holder."

"There was no way he could have diverted the funds to man that colony on his own." Heero finished.

"Exactly. I don't think we're finished, yet. There is a good chance that they arranged this little fiasco, and we just triggered it early."

"Do you want to tell the others?" Heero asked, nodding to the newlyweds and their 'caterers'.

"We'll tell Trowa, Quatre, Zechs, and Sally. Let Duo and Hilde have their honeymoon. After all, They might take their time making their next move. Meanwhile, I could use your hacking skills to look into the corporation."

"Just ask, Wu. I can't do much else right now." He rubbed his arm, smirking when he caught Zechs scowl from across the room.

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In the Hotel Lobby

Sometime, in the middle of dinner, Sally had excused herself to go to the bathroom. Now, an hour later, Wu was beginning to worry. At first, he thought that she was helping Hilde get ready for her wedding night.. but Hilde was still on the dance floor, wearing a ribbon festooned hat and charging a dollar a dance.

"Where is she?" He grumbled, making his way to the front desk. Maybe she left a note for him.

"Excuse me?" A young man in an old fashioned bell hop uniform tugged on his sleeve. "Are you Chang Wufei?" He asked.

"Yes... That's me."

"I have a message from a Ms. Po. She said to tell you that she spilled wine on her skirt, and will meet you in your room."

"Thank you. Here." He handed the bell hop a five dollar tip and walked over to the elevators.

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Reception

"Heero! Have you seen Wufei?" Sally asked the pilot standing in the corner.

"He was just looking for you. Maybe he went outside to the garden." Heero replied, eyes raised.

"Thanks. I'll go check."

She was just about to walk out of the doors when she heard the sound of metal scrapping against metal. A loud crash followed, causing everyone to stand up at once.

She ran out to the front desk, digging her badge out of her reticule. Flashing it at the nearest hotel employee, she asked, "What happened?"

It was a maid, dressed in a short tailored skirt and black top. She straightened out her apron, stammering, "I don't know, Ma'am. I think the elevator crashed!"

Sally got a cold chill down the center of her back. Cursing, she ran over to the desk, vaulting over the top to check out the security camera's. Something told her that she had found Chang.

Rewinding the tape, she watched as the bell hop said something to him, then cursed as he walked into the elevator.

"Excuse me, Miss! You can't be here!" The desk watchman finally noticed her. Sally once again flashed her badge as she printed out a hard copy picture of the bell hop.

Showing it to the man, she demanded, "Who is this?"

"I don't know, Ma'am! I never saw him before!"

Her eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms, scowling. "He's wearing one of your uniforms."

"He must have stolen it, Preventer. I don't know who he is."

"Dammit! How soon can you get someone into that shaft to rescue Preventer Chang?"

"There's a preventer in that elevator?"

She watched as sweat popped out on his brow, and his gaze started to shift to the side. He edged back, calling for the maintenance crew to hurry, then picked up the phone, and called for an ambulance.

"We'll get him out soon, Ma'am.

Two hours later, she watched as Wu was lifted out of the shaft strapped to a board. Running forward, she demanded an emergency evaluation, brow's cocking when Wu told her to leave him alone.

"I'm alright! Just.. get me untied from this thing!" he said, squirming, then hissing with sudden pain.

"Forgive me, Wufei, if I need to see for myself how you are. I want him admitted ASAP. List me as the doctor." She bent down, holding a syringe of meds, "This should keep him quiet until we get him settled." She said, ignoring his sudden fit of cursing.

"Yes, Ma'am!"

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"Chang, stop glaring. I admit, you weren't as hurt as I originally thought, but you ARE hurt. You have a broken collar bone, a fractured wrist, and bruises all over your body. You can go home tomorrow, but I want to keep you in overnight to monitor for internal bleeding."

"Sally! Let me go."

"Wu.. don't make me give you another shot." She chuckled at his glare. "What did that Bell hop say to you, anyway, for you to go upstairs?"

"He said that you sent him to get me."

"Wu... I didn't. I was in the lady's room with Relena."

"Well..." He said, thinking hard, "It looks like the stakes went up. Instead of just getting me out of the way.. they might actually be trying to kill me.

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