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"Baby Series 4"Written By: Karina Rating: PG Spoilers: None Disclaimer: I don’t own Gundam Wing or the Characters from the series but the baby is mine. Pairing: Duo + Wu Fei Notes: Challenge 182. Baby Series 4 #3. Takes place approximately thirty minutes following Formalised Traditions. Many thanks to ShenLong for her work betaing
this fic.
Indoctrinated By The Past He could feel his hands beginning to itch, the palms feeling sweaty and uncomfortable the nearer the car came to the accommodation facilities for the Clan. It was temporary accommodation, but he could just imagine what some of their number would think at first sight of the compound. "I wonder if they might not consider it a concentration camp?" "Eh?" Duo looked at him askance, brow furrowed. "What is a concentration camp?" He had spoken aloud then? Unfortunate, but done was done. It had seemed to be going well, rather an auspicious beginning if he did say so himself, but how long that would last… "My apologies. I was thinking aloud." Blue eyes narrowed and then turned to peer ahead through the window of the car. It was one of the royal family's formal limousines, the rear of the vehicle separated from the driver by a clear partition that did nothing to obstruct their view of the road. They had had the pick of the garage and chosen this one for good all around visibility. It was notably high status and that was to add to the impression the clan had of Wu Fei. He was waiting for the questions to come as to why he wore Sanc's insignia. That would be soon enough, he was sure, and they would know he was nothing but a working individual who intended to remain just that. In a few minutes he would stand before them in their temporary housing and he would learn just how disgruntled many of them would be by that accommodation. It was temporary housing, secure and sheltering from the harsh Sanc weather at this time of the year. It had been chosen for practicality, allowing him easy access to the palace and the work he did there. He would not give up the daily access to Milliardo. It had been a part of the military compound constructed by the Federation during their occupation of Sanc. Practical as the Sancian people were, they had not torn down the buildings that had housed upward of five hundred soldiers, determining that they would find, eventually, a developer who would make something of the compound. That developer had proven to be Milliardo. When the need had arisen to accommodate a few hundred individuals the compound had been chosen and renovated, converted to comfortable housing accommodation, meeting rooms and kitchen and dining facilities. On the exterior it was still obvious what the buildings once had been, but the interior of the structures had been modified with comfort in mind. "If anyone calls that a concentration camp after all the work that has been done on it…" Duo snorted, shaking his head. "I'd like to hear their suggestions for housing so many in the formative stages of this… this… well, you know what I mean." "I know." He did know. Only too well. The King had spared as much in the way of finances as he possibly could, given the nature of this reformation of Sanc. Money was tight, projects to rebuild the city and suburbs were many, and there was always someone asking for more funds. Wu Fei had the vague idea something had been mentioned about turning the investment in the compound at some later time into hotel accommodation, but he was uncertain of that. At the time he had been distracted by other matters. The massive walls of the complex reared up ahead and he wished they might have been painted something other than that military grey they had been for so many years, but the money had gone to other, more needed areas than painting walls that would weather and discolour. The Federation had at least used long lasting, durable paint, even if the colour was unimaginative in this far from military use of the complex. There were guards at the gate but the gates stood open and inviting, and as they pulled in they could see the line of buses before the main accommodations block. People were milling about, looking around, looking… frightened. Wu Fei sighed. "Do they think I brought them here to imprison them?" "They have been indoctrinated by the past. You know what the Federation was like, Fei. You know the stories that circulated around the colonies. Look what your Elders did when they thought the colony would be invaded." He sighed softly, bowing his head slightly in acknowledgement of Duo's simple truth. The constant wars, the tales of atrocities, the mere fact they really had nowhere to go; they had not fitted in on the colonies they had fled to… "Then one must simply deal with it and put their minds at rest. I never expected this to be easy and I will admit that thus far it has been easier than my fears had me believing. One always imagines the worst." Duo exited the car first, stepping to one side for him to make his entrance, acting the perfect bodyguard, eyes everywhere, seeking every detail. He stepped from the limousine and made his way through the suddenly silent crowd and up the steps to the double entry doors. He surveyed them for a long moment, his expression, he hoped, reflected his state of calm. If he was calm and controlled he would be more believable. "We have made an auspicious beginning and I would commend you on the trust you displayed in coming to Sanc, and I assure you all your trust is well founded. An aide will take the names of those you nominate to represent you this evening in an audience with the King. I request that you all remember we are the guests of the King of Sanc, who has been kind enough to house us all together. Given our numbers such is not an easy thing and these accommodations have been modified to allow for greater comfort. There are aides waiting to take your names and assign you your rooms. Tours will be held around the immediate accommodation wings and to the meeting rooms and kitchens. Tomorrow will be time enough to talk of the transport facilities and tours of the city. In time we will discuss the relocation to permanent quarters, but that must wait for a later meeting." He had their attention and he could see the uncertainty in many of them. None had, as yet, entered the complex buildings and perhaps that might put their minds at rest. It no longer had the austerity of the former military barracks and though it was not four star accommodation, it was certainly far above what he liked to describe as `cheap and tacky'. "There will be a meeting for which I request you to gather in the main assembly hall in one hours time. This should be sufficient for you to find your accommodation and have the initial tour. It has been a long day for all and I hope that you consider it to have been a good day. The staff present are here to assist you, please speak to them if you have any questions or needs. I am informed that for those of you who might require regular medical monitoring there is medical staff on hand, and a pharmaceutical specialist to assist you. For the moment I bid you find your assigned accommodation. Welcome to Sanc." He turned to Duo and inclined his head slightly, the double doors swinging open before him to admit them into the blessedly warm interior of the foyer. ~ * ~ |
