Title: The Quest for Nagifar - Part 10
Author: Emily
Rating: PG-13
Couplings: 1x2, 3x4, 11+13
Warnings: action, adventure, language, angst, yaoi
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters. Don't own Indiana Jones, either. Both belong to something bigger than I could ever comprehend.
Comments/Lyrics/ and emphasis and 'thought' and flashback, some may not be used in this fic...it's just a heads-up. Sequel to "Heero Yuy and the Eye of Horus". Starts up maybe two or three months after its epilogue. You don't need to have read "HYatEoH" in order to understand this fic, but it would be nice.

Venice, Italy

Lucrezia Noin was the daughter of one of the richest ship building companies in Europe. This was why they chose to go to her, knowing that she more than anyone would have access to the information they sought out. She would have maps of the global currents as well as ways to calculate destinations a ship could reach judging from size, weight, and - in this case - the strength of the crew. The only problem was due to the fact that Lucrezia and Zechs Marquise were friends, if not more.

But Doctor Marquise seemed to have disappeared from the archaeological world after his search for the Eye of Horus. If he was on his own secret dig that no one had caught wind of or just decided to sit back and relax for a little while, none of his contemporaries seemed to know.

"She won't help for free as she did in the old days," Trowa said, trying to remember how much money they had between them.

They had a taxi bring them to the factory, knowing that at this particular time of day Noin would be working instead of sitting around at the family estate.

"Doctor Yuy," a man greeted at the door, standing and coming towards the pair so he could shake hands with Heero, nodding politely in Trowa's direction. "I'm not certain if Miss Noin will be pleased to see you or not."

"Is she here?" Heero asked. "We need her help."

The doorman nodded. "I can bring you to her, but if you are given the help you need or not is up to Miss Noin. Follow me, please."

Trowa took note of his surroundings as they were led up staircases, most of which went by the actual production area to watch as men yielding sharp implements cut and shaped the wood as they saw fit. Boats as small as gondolas and ships as large as the wooden pleasure yachts that were so popular in the area were being crafted all around them, each one specially ordered by a company or an individual who wanted to add to their collection.

On the top floor they went to an office that, Trowa figured, would look out over the extend of the city, most notably the network of canals that Venice was so well known for. The doorman knocked quickly, notifying his presence, before opening the door and motioning for the two men to enter.

The office was decorated mainly in white with accenting blues and greens every now and then. Trowa couldn't figure the practicality of white carpeting - it probably got dirty easily and thus was a pain to uphold - but, he quickly realized, the high maintenance of it was to signify the money the company had and that its owners could afford to waste.

Noin was standing with her arms crossed, looking out one of the large windows that took up an entire side of the office. She was dressed in a less formal business suit of yellow and white that was probably an Italian designer label. She turned and - two the surprise of the two adventurers - smiled in their direction.

"Heero. Trowa," she greeted, her English accentless as her family had sent her to school in the United States for her childhood. "It's been awhile." She looked over at the doorman. "You can leave us - we need to speak in privacy."

"Yes, Miss Noin," the doorman replied, inclining his head respectfully before quietly shutting the door as he left.

"We need your help," Heero began. "We're tracking down a boat and need an idea on where to start looking."

Noin sighed. "Of course - you always were one to get right down to business, not even taking the time to catch up with an old friend." Her smile transformed into a knowing grin. "Or maybe you're rushed because the sooner you find what you're looking for, the sooner you get back to Mister Maxwell."

Trowa caught Heero's gaze, which seemed to say how-the-hell-does-she-know? The taller man just shrugged in response.

"I am in correspondence with Sally, you know. I'm happy for you, really. A lover is just what you need to," she winked playfully, "loosen up a little." Trowa couldn't help but smirk as he saw Heero turn a little red at the innuendo.

"We need maps," Heero began, quickly changing the subject, "of the Atlantic currents."

Lucrezia pulled some rolled up sheets out of a drawer, stretching it out on a table in the middle of the room and using paperweights to hold down the corners. "Starting point and what type of vessel are we talking about here?"

"Oslo, Norway, and it's a Viking ship made entirely of ivory."

Noin seemed to hesitate, unsure how to process this information. "Most ships that size need to be a certain weight so it can be carried easily on and off shore. Ivory would be heavier so the hull would be thinner, and the decorations would not have been as abundant seeing how the ivory itself would more than triple the value." She held a finger to her lip, looking over the map as she continued to think out loud. "Was there a destination in mind?"

Heero shook his head. "Oar-slaves stole it and used it to escape."

"The slaves didn't have as good a sense of direction because they didn't have the maps. They were too busy rowing to pay attention to what was around and how to get where. My guess is they would have tried to cross the Atlantic, towards the then undiscovered Americas. The Atlantic is rough, many probably fell overboard and got lost at sea, reducing their numbers to make rowing more and more difficult. Eventually they would have given up, just letting the current take them wherever it would." Lucrezia traced more along the path, pointing at the Eastern coast of South America. "Here is where you should start looking."

Trowa seemed doubtful. "Even if they ended up on the continent, finding the exact location would take years with more manpower than we have at our disposal right now."

Noin shrugged. "You asked for my expert opinion, and you got it. Just have a little faith in other people every now and then. It'll do you good."

"We'll start in Ecuador at the seacoast, asking around to see if anyone remembers any stories. We just have to hope for the best at this point," Heero's face took on the expression he normally bore when he had a lot to think about. "Thank you for your help, Lucrezia. I'll have Quatre send you out a check when we get back to the States."

Trowa thanked Noin as well, mentally wondering what sort of wild goose chase they had gotten themselves into. 'Let's just hope the people in Ecuador still tell stories from before the Spanish came to their land, and what life had been like for the ancient empires before them.' Trowa sighed. 'Otherwise this might take a long time.'

End Part 10