Title: The Agency: Meeting of Souls 1/??

Author: Karina

Pairings 13x6 [eventual, 5xS [established, 3x4, Others undecided at this time.

Warnings: Extreme Alternate Universe setting. Aussie spelling, not much else in the early chapters though it will involve murder, stalking and possibly some colourful language down the track. Some Out Of Character depictions are unavoidable considering the alternate universe setting.

Rating: M [In Australia that would be mature adult 15+ Not sure with the new rating system. Rated for murder and violence as well as adult concepts.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing. That's about as plain as you could say it.

Summary: The world took a very different turn with the acknowledgement and training of select psychic individuals enlisted in elite fields such as law enforcement and politics. A grading system for the strength of psionic abilities was developed and those who were the top of the elite have been dubbed Prime Talents and are highly sought after. Elite institutions have been developed to mark, train and employ individuals with useable psionic talents. The colonies of canon Gundam Wing do exist in this fic and were founded before the psionic system was founded.

//…// Thoughts

+/.../+ Telepathy

Chapter One

The sound of traffic seemed to fade into the background as he nodded a brief thank you and dismissal to the waiter who brought his coffee. He had escaped the noise of the office for this back street café, one of the few places in the city that he considered capable of brewing decent coffee, to celebrate the successful conclusion of his latest case. The case had been officially concluded just three hours ago, and had been classified as high priority and involved high profile very public identities. His initial briefing was to keep the investigation discreet above all costs, as the powers that be could not afford a hint of scandal at this time. Investigating corruption amid high profile politicians in the ESUN Council was not what he would account as his favourite pastime, however the matter had been brought to a satisfying conclusion for all persons concerned.

Some days, and investigations, were worse than others and he had to admit that these last few days had brought home to him how much effort he had been extending to control his shields and abilities, and see the file brought to bed with all speed. Be discreet, they had said, and the case had been passed to him as he excelled at discretion. While he had a personal dislike for such matters he was a professional, and once again had provided them with both an efficient and speedy investigation. No doubt certain influential persons were far from pleased, but they would not be able to refute his findings, and the case had been brought to a satisfactory conclusion without the involvement of messy media interference.

With the task complete and his desk miraculously clear of further cases, he had filled out his report speedily and thoroughly, and felt himself to be justified in taking this opportunity to skip out of the office and rest and relax over a decent cup of coffee. Surely no one could deny him a break.

Truth be told he needed more than a few paltry minutes over a coffee to unwind. He needed more than a few hours to sort out his shields, though he knew already it was unlikely he would be given the time he needed. His services were in demand, but there was such a thing as being too popular and lately he had been a very desired commodity. It was all a part of the cost of being a Prime Talent, but even Prime level Psi's required consideration and time to restore equilibrium to their psyches.

He could not deny that his shields were under growing distress. The need to secure isolation and time to effectively strengthen his mental defences was becoming more and more imperative. At the same time he could clear his mind of unwanted residue picked up from the minds of others, and restore his inner balance. He hated the necessity of having to perform discreet deep scans on those subjects who employed electronic counter measures against unwanted telepathic contact.

Circumventing artificial shields was guaranteed to give him a headache no standard issue pain killers could help control. There was also the small matter that it was highly illegal to enter the mind of another person, but in this case he had been granted special dispensation to engage in a telepathic scan of not only a highly placed government official, but also one who employed the latest protections against telepathic intrusion. It was never pleasant dealing with the disruption caused by a personal mind shield, and not every Prime had the ability to circumvent the mechanical interference. It was a unique facet of his talent that he was one of three Prime rated telepaths capable of penetrating the artificial shields, but it was a task that usually turned his stomach. Literally.

As per his instructions he had left his subject in good health physically and mentally, and totally unaware of the contact that had taken place. The man had been intent on filling out his own paperwork, and no hint of awareness that his thoughts had not been his own exclusive property had existed when he had withdrawn that contact. It had required a delicate touch to accomplish the contact, and had required his total concentration to slip his awareness through the shields interference without alerting the subject. Nor had it been a quick contact as the information he had been required to learn was buried deep within the man's mind, but it was a task he had accomplished and then, thankfully, left behind him.

The support team monitoring him were on hand when he had returned his awareness to his own body, and he suffered through the usual uncomfortable side effects. Why his body equated the interference of the mechanical devices into a round of vomiting he did not understand, but it was always the same. Half way through the most uncomfortable and in his view, embarrassing, nausea the headache had bloomed. His attendant medical officer had, as always, dealt with each of the symptoms in a coldly professional manner, pumped him full of painkillers as soon as the nausea had subsided, and left him with the admonishment that he sleep. Which he did-like the dead-only to wake and fill out the paperwork which always seemed to take more time than the actual deep scan had required.

Sometimes in life it was the simple things that gave one the greatest satisfaction and pleasure. Simple things like being able to sit in a quiet café, with a well brewed coffee in hand, and take the time to watch the world go by. In this moment there was no need for him to send out his awareness to dabble in the thoughts of others. There was no need for him to seek out evidence of corruption and deception that could endanger the peace of the ESUN. He did not have to drown his awareness amid the mechanical noise of an artificial mind shield to gain the hidden thoughts of a man who should have known better than to attempt deception in this day and age.

Here on this quiet side street, in the hub of the city, it was all about ordinary people doing ordinary things, and that equated to each person being lost in their own isolated little bubble of reality.

It was a relief to be just one more person in the crowd, not worth a second look other than to have the odd man, and more than the odd woman, cast an admiring glance over his physical form. That basic human instinct he could live with, and he even enjoyed looking in return, but always he maintained that aloof 'this is my bubble and you can look but don't trespass' awareness that people sensed instinctively.

Had he ever been graced with the innocence he saw about him? Surely not since his early days of childhood had he viewed the world with the innocence he sensed from most of the people walking past the café. Those long ago days when he had been considered to be too young by his family to be of use in the adult world. His family had begun the training of his awareness of the world, and the intricacies of political expediency, from the tender age of seven. His place amid politics and world shaking intrigue had been planned out for him from the moment of his birth, and he could not curse them enough for their thoughtfulness. That he was not now a political creature he owed entirely to good fortune, an awakened awareness of his innate psionic abilities, and a gypsy named Gabriella.

//Ah, Gabriella. Some days I don't know if I should thank you or curse you. I miss you though. It is high time I visited with you, My Dear.//

His attention moved slowly over the few patrons of the café and to the people strolling past. It was a lovely day, and that seemed to bring out the tourists. There would be a change in the traffic lights soon and a larger mass would walk past, some hurrying and intent on work, others at a more sedate pace and admiring the scenery; the growing number of tourists out for a stroll with their obligatory cameras ready to indulge in the history of the old city. People out for a shopping excursion intent on finding that special something for someone in their lives, and the odd street urchin hunting for an easy mark. Largely simple people concerned with their own lives, and not giving a fig for the intricacies that enabled them to enjoy their little bubbles of reality.

//They have no idea. No idea at all. Each one of them lost in their own little worlds. Most of the time they don't see who is walking beside them. They don't give a thought to what others do to make this world go around. So many of them never pay attention to the world around them, other than to shake their heads at the news casts, mutter 'what is life coming to?' and then go back to their lives. All they see is their own world as it revolves around them and their immediate family. It must be nice to be safe and secure in the shell of ignorance that keeps the greater world at bay.//

He only wished he was graced with that innocence.

The coffee at least was good, though he could have wished there was more of it. The cup was tiny and for the price he had paid the quantity it delivered seemed hardly sufficient. It was, however, well brewed coffee, and he would still be enjoying the flavour of this cup in an hour's time and the aroma would linger in his nostrils, tantalizing him pleasantly. A good cup of coffee was worth a little expense and this was a most excellent Arabica blend.

Quality was what was important, not quantity. That was a lesson he had learned during childhood in his isolated and privileged world of wealth and prestige. If you wanted the finer things in life then you must understand that they would not simply come to you. For you to appreciate the finer things you needed to pay for them, and to pay for that quality usually required that you worked hard for the privilege of savouring the reward at the end. His father had always growled at certain frivolous habits amid his relatives, his favourite catch cry had been 'What was the use of having the means to buy what you wanted if you did not appreciate the value of what you brought?'

His lips twitched into a smile, a small curve of his lips discreetly hidden by the cup raised and positioned just before his face. His father. It had been a long time since he had thought of the parent lost to him in a night of chaos and bloodshed. One of the many reasons he had taken the path in life that he had was to ensure a repeat of that terrorist example not occur again.

He drew in a slow measured breath through his nose, the aroma of the blend rich and robust, and further tantalized his senses by restraining from tasting the brew. One must first savour the experience before one indulged in the flavour. White Russian. One of his favourite blends, and always to be savoured in every aspect possible, not simply swallowed. The taste would be robust, rich with the flavour of the liquor it was blended with, yet there would be a delicacy that would tease and tantalize his taste buds. Normally this would be an after dinner coffee, but he had felt the need to pamper himself, and White Russian was guaranteed to put him in a pleasant frame of mind.

One really should savour the taste, the texture and the aroma of a good coffee. It was all a part of the experience, much like living a full life.

The young man over by the sidewalk, sitting at a table partially concealed from the sidewalk, who was playing footsy with a pretty blonde girl with sparkling blue eyes. He had ordered White Russian and Treize lamented it as a waste of such exquisite coffee. The boy did not taste what he drank, being too wrapped up in the girl and whatever he had said that caused her to dissolve into a most unbecoming display of giggles. Treize did not, and never had, been able to abide giggling. She blushed most attractively, he admitted, but giggles were something that he found reminiscent of fawning husband-hunting aristocrats out for title and prestige. She was well worth looking at, but not at the cost of treating such a distinctive coffee so shabbily.

Loosing a testing tendril of awareness he eased back on the intensity of his personal shield. Now that his headache was under control he needed to determine the extent of his strength and sensitivity, and mark the resilience of his talent. He would skim the surface thoughts of a few of those around him, being careful not to invade the privacy of their innermost thoughts, and he might as well begin with that rather ignorant young man.

/ … I need to get her to agree. It could be a wild weekend if she would throw off the shackles her parents have around her. Yeah. I can see her lying naked on the beach with the surf washing over her…/+

He slammed down his barriers and sighed. He might have known it would be sex. It was a fact that the adolescent and adult human male could not think a thought that did not contain some sexual connotations for more that six seconds. Scientists had extrapolated it, and telepaths later confirmed, there was always something sexual to be derived from the thought processes of the male of the species. Primal instinct. A part of the human races survival instinct, ingrained into the male psyche somewhere in the primordial past, that lingered to this day of supposed enlightenment.

Think sex and breed.

If he should lower his shields and sample the psychic atmosphere surrounding him, touching on a dozen random people in the cafe and moving along the street, he had no doubt that the males he touched would be thinking about sex. Time and experience in the use of his talent had demonstrated to him that a greater majority of males over females would be entertaining such thoughts, though there would be women, particularly the adolescent females, whose thoughts would be flavoured with sex.

He snorted softly in disgust. There was no one in his immediate vicinity to hear him, certainly no one from his office or his social standing to mark his presence, and he could not, therefore, endanger his reputation by uttering so base a sound.

//If life was that simple how easy it would be.//

One of his instructors from the not so distant past had assessed the nature of the human male and summed it up in five basic words. Sex. Hunt. Kill. Eat. Sex. Treize considered him to be a rather wise man, and the fact that he was a Level Two telepathic talent only added weight to his observations.

//As my later observations have proven his assessment to be disturbingly accurate. Boiled down to basics the nature of the human male does appear to equate to those five basic things.// He smiled behind the shelter of his cup, recalling the man clearly and the serious expression in his eyes as he expounded on his theory. //He stressed five points, counting sex twice in his evaluation, not as one step on a never ending loop. He stressed that it is sex in many ways that was far more important to the human male than the urge to hunt, kill and eat. My observations since then seem to have justified his comments, though at the time I considered him to be attempting to be amusing and keep his audiences attention.//

Cautiously he extended a tendril of awareness once more, lowering his shield by degrees and sending his awareness skimming over the flow of humanity walking past the café.

+/ ...feel that skin on mine… Not good enough but for now it will do… Inferior. Totally inferior to his perfection but the hair… have to get these papers to… I wonder what Joshua would think of this dress… time waits for no man… Look at the legs on that… wouldn't mind getting a piece of that… /+

He shook his head slightly, withdrawing the tendrils of awareness and closing his eyes against the sights that might act as a distraction while he worked at tightening his shields against the growing onslaught of thought. It was enough to warn him that he would need to take major steps to avoid the danger of mental leakage. He was not on duty at this particular point in time, and he did not need the thoughts of others disturbing his peace of mind. It had been too easy to pick up the public thoughts of those people minding their own business as they walked by. He was a Prime talent and he needed to guard his awareness as jealously as a merchant banker guarded his vaults.

Soon enough he would have to return to his duty to the people, but for these few minutes when he had escaped the confines of the office, he sought only to savour his coffee, and to enjoy the peace to have his mind his own. No duty, as designated by his Commander, required him to spread his awareness out and touch the minds of these innocents, who did not suspect their every thought was an open book to a high level telepath. Nor did he need to suffer the encroachment of emotions not his own, as transmitted via his empathy, to disturb him. For these few brief minutes he could enjoy the solitary unit known as Treize Kushrenada, and give not a care to the needs of others.

A few blessed minutes of peace before reality crashed around him would be enough to restore him to a working level, and he sipped the coffee, rolling it gently over his tongue, allowing it to caress his sense of taste. This was indulgence at its best. Almost decadent indulgence but there was not a single thought of guilt. He needed to escape more often.

Of course it could not last.

"Treize. Mind if I join you?"

//Yes, I mind. No, you may not join me, but I cannot say that, can I? It would be notably impolite and I am, above all, polite. I will not breach my personal code of conduct and chance besmirching my reputation, by informing you that you are as welcome as a case of Hives would be about now. I know you are my partner, Chang, and that you have been set to watch dog the precious Prime, but I wish you would understand that I must have some peace. You encroach too much into my personal space and time. You and Une, and her endless stream of assignments.//

He sipped again at the coffee, rolling it over his tongue before he opened sapphire eyes and met the obsidian gaze directed down at him. Chang was at least polite enough to await permission before he set his rump to the chair opposite Treize. Said permission was granted in an unconsciously regal gesture, a tilt of the aristocratic head that drew eyes to them, but people lost interest quickly when the Oriental looking man nodded briefly and settled into a seat. He had always found Chang Wu Fei to be a personable young man, and while there were moments when he could cheerfully strangle the man, he was generally content to work with the agent.

Chang had his own personal code of conduct and politeness was high on his list of priorities. In that regard he had little in the way of complaints against the man, and therefore it was a warning when Chang brusquely waved away the waiter before he could approach the table to offer his services. That sent danger signals ringing for Treize, and he was certain Chang had not merely followed him to keep a watch on him, but had in fact come seeking him on a work related issue. He mentally reviewed his report and determined he had not omitted anything of importance, and decided Chang was in pursuit of him on their mutual Commander's instruction, thereby signalling a new case had been determined to be serious enough to warrant the Prime's attention.

For all that their appearance suggested them to be polar opposites, Treize being a shade over six feet tall and Chang all of eight inches shorter, one of oriental ethnic origin and the other clearly showing his Aryan descent, they had surprisingly little difficulty in working together. Their cultural differences were largely ignored by the other partner, though many people who knew them speculated on the success of their working relationship. Treize's privileged background was in direct contrast to the clan structure of the L5 partner in the team, and Chang displayed what Treize dubbed a most unhealthy eagerness to concentrate on his work to the exclusion of all else. Generally each held a high degree of respect for the abilities of the other, and their expertise had led them to be considered one of the best psi teams in the Agency.

//No doubt this is another example of his eagerness to please those above him. He may not consider adequate rest a requirement of his working conditions, but I am not so easily influenced by the words 'important' and 'mission'.//

"The streets are quiet today." Chang observed settling himself into the seat opposite his partner.

//Ah, polite small talk. That I did not expect.// "Pleasantly so."

The agent nodded, a single abrupt tip of his head that caused his tight ponytail to bob and his dark eyes moved over the area, scanning the sidewalk café. He had learned that Chang was always suspicious and always on edge, yet another aspect of the man that he found annoying, though he could live with the trait without difficulty. It had, after all, kept them from serious injury on more than once occasion.

"You turned your pager off."

//Ah, confirmation that it is not simple chance that finds you here. Well, I can not say that I am surprised. By this time in our relationship I should know that nothing you do is by chance.//

For the moment he chose to ignore the comment and instead enjoyed a third sip of his coffee, and took the time to inhale the rich aroma. He might be a decadent aristocratic fop, but he was not a stupid decadent aristocratic fop. His gaze flicked over the crowd moving past the café, marking a change in the traffic lights, and noted no one that sparked his interest. The powers that be preferred to keep the identity of their Prime level agent's secret, and it would be a rare individual who recognized him as more than the Duke he had become on the death of his father. It would be a rarer individual who dared to chance their life and sanity by taking action against him.

Contrary to popular belief Prime talents were not delicate jewels who needed to be locked away for their own protection. Despite the protests of his superiors in the Agency he refused a permanent bodyguard and that closeted protected existence. He had had enough of that kind of existence before he had broken from the mould the family had determined would be his future.

He had known that his absence would be noted, and he should have known that it would be Chang who would be dispatched to locate him. Their working association demanded a bond form between the two that neither partner could easily break, after having worked together for so long. That bond which allowed Chang to track him without conscious use of psi ability had begun to develop within days of their first introduction, and in the past it had led to some embarrassing moments. Embarrassing for Chang, he amended, as it took a great deal to embarrass him, or so his partner ranted on past occasions, but that closeness had also led to some highly amusing and entertaining moments.

He supposed it was his warped and, according to Chang, decadent sense of humour, that saw him enjoy Chang's discomfort so much, but the man did so rant over nothing. He supposed it was the clan upbringing that had produced the very private and personal individual with an overblown sense of modesty that he knew. If there was one thing that was guaranteed to get a reaction out of Chang, it was women and sex. Treize had found him to be a delight to tease using the insights their shared bond permitted him.

"You should not turn off the pager, Treize."

"Oh, do forgive me. I was under the impression that my contract stated I have the right to some modicum of privacy, and to three meals a day. If I choose to ensure that at least one of those meals is taken away from the office, and without an escort, then I do not see that they should complain."

Chang resisted the urge to sigh as he knew it would accomplish nothing other than to amuse the aristocrat. The man could give new meaning to the word difficult when the mood took him, and clearly today was to be such an instance. He wished the spoiled, pampered aristocrat would do them all a favour and get himself laid, and throw off some of that aggravation. He admitted to himself, if not to Treize, that the case so recently concluded had been a difficult and complicated piece of work for the telepathic empath, and the man deserved some down time, but he was not in control of the assignments. He was not the individual who had suggested Treize was the best suited for this new assignment, though to his great misfortune he was the one designated to find the man and ensure his presence at the briefing.

"There has been no complaint at your absence, but I recall you saying you would be available today. All day."

The rebuke was gentle. He dared not aggravate the Prime unnecessarily. This man, after all, could be more than reasonable, and while he might growl a little he had never refused an assignment. Personally he thought the Commander had a death wish to continue to exploit the man as she had. There was going to come a day when Treize Kushrenada, Mr Cool himself, would lose that legendary impassivity and stamp on the Commander. Hard.

"I can not enjoy even thirty minutes in which I might eat lunch? What has happened now that I am not permitted even this measure of peace?"

The question came out in a low voiced growl that clearly displayed his growing aggravation. Was it such an impossible ask? All he needed, all that he wanted, was to be given the time to unwind and to ensure that his shields could be maintained to peak performance. They would regret it if this Prime, like all other Primes, lost control of his talent, but then it would be too late for them to apologize as in the aftermath he would likely have little more intelligence than a vegetable.

//As if I did not know what was wrong. Perhaps it is corruption and dissent, or even blackmail that requires a delicate touch to extricate the knot of intrigue? Perhaps this time it will be murder and mayhem. The latter follows me around on a semi regular basis, and fits right in with political back stabbing. Or perchance it is yet another instance of riot control before the actual riot erupts? Which ever option it is, I could not feel less like participating in the investigation.//

"Business of the bloody kind." A low murmur and Chang scowled at the waiter who dared to make a foray in their direction. Again that imperious wave of dismissal, and he stood in a far from subtle hint that lunch was over and it was time to return to business.

// Here boy.// The errant vision of the agent calling him like a dog to heel flashed through his mind, and he ground his teeth in aggravation. His own visual interpretation, not Chang's he knew. //I do not feel like playing this game of Master and Slave. When is enough recognized as enough? I am tired. When do I finally receive the vacation I have been requesting? How long has it been since last I had an extended break? Almost two years? A touch more, perhaps? I do not call two days off from active duty, a condescending pat on the back and the command to 'sleep it off' a break. I am tired. Bone-aching tired, and I can foresee no change in the pattern of events. My verbal requests have been ignored, and written requests result only in two days free from the Agency. Something, but almost as good as nothing, a bone thrown to keep a dog quiet. Perhaps it is time to remind my esteemed colleagues of the exact terms of my contract, and their contractual obligations. In particular it may be time to remind them of the clause dealing with 'suitable respite' from activities placing strain on personal shields.//

He sipped, a deliberate small sample of the coffee and rolled it over his tongue and around his mouth, and held it for a long moment before swallowing, permitting the flavour to saturate his senses. Chang still stood expectantly over him, his dark eyes intense and attempting to will him out of the chair. Useless. One of Chang's particular expertise held no sway over a Prime Telepathic Empath.

//'Business of the bloody kind' undoubtedly means they have a corpse, and said corpse will not care that I delay five minutes to finish my coffee, and perhaps to make a point. I have gone out of my way since I joined the Agency to be amenable, but they have not returned the favour by given me the same consideration. If they ask I have no doubt Chang will tell them how uncooperative I have been. In fairness to him he will also elucidate on my reasons.//

Nor did he doubt that his employers would put this minor rebellion down to the eccentricities of the Talented, or to the foibles of the rich. Nor did he doubt that the Commander of his section would decide he was being bloody minded to spite her. There were days when he asked himself why he had chosen to work for the Agency. What ever had possessed him to agree to work for these people who seemed to conveniently forget the conditions of his employment laid down, not only for his well being, but their protection from his Talents? Unfortunately he knew the answer only too well.

Boredom.

Boredom and an unreasoning aversion and revulsion for the idea of working exclusively in political circles, nor was he minded to be nothing more than another asset of a multi millionaire and his greedy, money grubbing henchmen.

//Ah, but I am out of sorts today.//

He was independently wealthy, possessed one of the foremost noble titles in the European sector of the Earth, was brilliant intellectually and graced with a rare Psychic strength. He had craved change from the ambitions of his family to exploit the talents he had been born with. The chance to experience something very different from the hot house environment he had been reared to, and a far cry from the privileges his aristocratic roots had laid out for him and his family had determined he would live, had called to him.

For his efforts to assert his independence of mind, he had scandalized his family connections on the death of his father. What protection he had had from his mother had not lasted long when she had died soon after, but he had faced the elder relations with courage, and they had determined to put this young upstart in his place. How dare this stripling, not yet a legal adult in their closed society, dare to believe he could dictate terms to his elders and betters? If not for Gabriella, his gypsy saviour, he might have found himself stripped of his wealth and inherited title. As it was he had been disowned by the family, and few of their number dared to associate with him which, he had to admit, hurt a great deal. He had been raised to the importance of Family, and their disgust in his chosen lifestyle and sexuality was a wound far from healed by the time now passed.

Why was it that Kushrenadas were destined to become leading politicians and world shakers? What was wrong with him taking up employment, to the benefit of the entire ESUN that did not involve sprouting pompous speeches that said very little but sounded grand and far seeing? Not for him the political way of life, though he did admit he found himself amid political circles all too often, but in those cases it was weeding out the dangerous elements. It was fortunate that to date, he had not come face to face with the need to oust a family member engaged in nefarious doings.

"How unfortunate." He rolled the cup, gently, delicately rolling the crema to stir the aroma to life, and inhaling it deeply.

Chang actually blinked, in shock he presumed, and stared. The often volatile Chang Wu Fei had been known to enter into verbal tirades for far less reasons than his seeming disinterest in the matter of murder. It was rather astonishing, considering certain past exchanges that he finally seemed to have succeeded in shocking the man into silence. Well what did Chang expect?

He was jealous. Chang had a life beyond the work they shared, and he could not help the jealousy that was most unbecoming for a man of his upbringing. The man had a wife to go home with each night, and a family support structure that extended throughout the entire ESUN. He had a loving wife who was just as temperamental on occasion as the volatile telekinetic, and Sally challenged him frequently, never taking a back seat in the relationship. Chang had a reason to immerse himself in getting the job done so that he could go home to enjoy relatives who cared, his family home and wife, and the prospect of future children.

Jealousy was so unbecoming, but he was only human and he was very tired of being alone. He had a home, a loft conversion that was exquisitely comfortable, but disturbingly empty of what he needed the most. Family. His extended family had made it plain he was an outcast, and his influence over their heirs was not to be tolerated, and he was no longer welcome in their social circle. While he was not eager to return to their good graces it was lonely in his exile, and he did not like it. He was alone and likely to remain alone, unless he could find a mate for both his mind and body to take comfort in.

Did Chang have to enjoy his work so much he considered it odd, and even insulting, that his partner had a differing view? He enjoyed his line of work but they would get a far better result out of him, and no doubt Chang would be happier in his changed attitude, if they would give consideration to the needs of his Talent. He objected to being seen as little more than a human barometer for something as common as crowd control. There were lesser talents more than capable of fulfilling that need to work with the riot squads. He felt that all too often his talents were wasted.

Chang was a high level psychokinetic who fell just short of being rated as Prime classification for his kinetic ability, but his moderate telepathic receiving function elevated him almost to the status of a Prime. Such skills were in demand in many fields, and required their own considerations be met by their mutual employers. He had no problem with his partner's special requirements, though Chang and too many others, seemed not to understand how dangerous it was to ignore the potential hazards of his own much more sensitive telepathic and empathic abilities from overloading.

The mid level receiving telepathic abilities of Chang were closely monitored, as he was still young enough to develop a sending function to make him a fully functioning telepath. His telekinetic abilities were his greatest strength, and coupled with the added flexibility of his partial telepathy and a mind that was analytical and sharp, he deserved his respectable monthly pay check. Chang did not have the same problems of sensitivity and overload concerning his ability and work that Treize needed to deal with on a daily basis.

He liked Chang, but the man could be a frightful prude and was perhaps more of a snob than almost any of the aristocrats Treize had grown up with. Much as he liked the man and respected him for his abilities and dedication, there were limits to his ability to tolerate certain behavioural patterns, and blind obedience to the dictates of duty were right on that line of contention. He had already defied the traditions and duties that Kushrenadas had been slaves to for hundreds of years, and he was not about to become a slave to a new set of duties. He had rights and he would just have to learn to exercise them. Chang clearly did not understand that he had taken about as much abuse of his talent and nature as he would tolerate, without demanding leave in a rather dramatic fashion. He would try just once more to make his point before he took legal steps to assert his rights.

"Unfortunate?"

"Yes. How unfortunate. It is unfortunate that someone has died, and not from natural causes, else why would you need my humble talents? It is unfortunate that I have half a cup of coffee left, and that I intend to finish it. It is unfortunate that the Chief will need to wait an extra five minutes to brief me, because of said coffee. It is unfortunate for all concerned that I am in a bitch of a mood."

"Well, you have the last part right." Chang studied him with narrowed eyes, taking note of the tell tale lines about the sapphire eyes, of the drawn look and shadows under those fiery sapphire pools that so calmly met his gaze. "You need a rest."

"I do not need a rest." The gentle emphasis on the word 'rest' caused his partner's eyebrows to elevate, and he shrugged elegantly. "What I am entitled to, and what I actually need, is exactly what I am not getting. I need a vacation, Chang, not a rest. I need to get away from riots, murders and drug busts. I need time away from scanning conventions and sporting events, and I especially need to be away from irate screaming women who think that their every word is law, and that I am placed at their disposal twenty-four hours a day, and seven days a week."

Chang pursed his lips and considered the russet-haired man dressed in the impeccably designed deep blue silk suit nursing that ridiculously small cup of coffee. The entire tirade had been uttered in the same calm and controlled tone he had heard Kushrenada use, time and again, to order a cup of coffee. It took a great deal to make Treize Kushrenada lose his control, but it did not take all that much to annoy him, and what he was sensing now was not annoyance. He had the sudden impression that he was treading on a tightrope.

"If you have intentions of saying that to Commander Une, I will thank you to make certain I am out of the building first."

"One endeavours to please, though no guarantees are being offered." He sipped at the coffee which had cooled more than he liked, but it was the principle of the matter that dictated he sip and take his time. A little cold coffee could be endured if the sacrifice produced results. "So then, what is the nature of the crisis?"

The unspoken 'this time' hung in the air between them, and after a moment Chang had the grace to sit down and not glance at his watch. The aristocrat before him sipped delicately at the cooling coffee and watched him with cool blue eyes that could be described as being frosty. He knew his partner well enough after working with him for two years to know when it was not going to be worth the effort to push.

In his view Treize was usually an impeccably polite and helpful individual, though occasionally he was prone to odd periods of minor rebellion. He had to be honest and admit to himself that these rebellious periods usually revolved around a heavy workload. Psychics of the calibre and abilities of Treize Kushrenada were rare, and their mental sensitivity required certain privileges be met. Privileges such as a shielded office no one was permitted to enter without a specific invitation, where he could gain some respite from the constant pressures of the active, and subconscious minds, of his workmates and their clients. The man had to deal with a constant overload of input when he worked, and very little in the way of shields could be employed if he was to work to his best abilities. It had been a particularly nasty and sordid case they had put the finishing touches to this morning, and he supposed he could understand why Treize felt the need to demonstrate some degree of rebellion.

It was almost a foregone conclusion that Treize was not going to enjoy performing the duty Commander Une was intending to push onto him. Chang expected their Commander could expect a verbal protest, and perhaps a not too subtle reminder of the limitations and conditions contained within his contract. Conditions that he admitted were in breach of the agreed upon levels for the length and duration of his working days, and the Agency was certainly in breach of the agreed upon amount of rest days allocated between each case requiring deep level work. That Treize was well within his rights to take the matter to heads higher than that of their Commander was not in doubt. Taking it before Une would most likely engender a grunt to acknowledge his point, and thereafter she would stand her ground and ignore the matter. It had happened before.

There was going to come a day when Treize would not tolerate that disregard, and if he brought the other Primes into the matter it would mean the end of Commander Une's career. Some days Chang could not understand why she pushed the man so far.

"It is a delicate matter."

One eyebrow, delicately forked at the end, arched elegantly but he remained silent, again taking a sip of his coffee and his eyes flicked quickly over the patrons of the café. Chang sighed and acknowledged with a faint nod the silent demonstration of how many people there were not in the café, but he was not inclined to discuss confidential matters in public places. No one was seated close enough to Treize's chosen out of the way table to have a chance of overhearing their conversation, but there was more than eavesdroppers to worry about. The possibility of another psychic being in the area and capable of reading him, if not Treize, existed, and therefore he would not discuss confidential matters. Treize knew this only too well, and knew also his strict adherence to regulations.

"It always is a delicate matter."

The droll response was accompanied by yet another sip of coffee from the ridiculous cup. "I wish you luck playing the genteel rebel with Une. When I left to find you she was not in a particularly good frame of mind."

"Commander Une is never in a particularly good frame of mind at this time of the month."

Chang's jaw dropped and his obsidian eyes widened in total disbelief. For a moment he tried to speak, and performed a commendable imitation of a gold fish, before snapping shut his mouth. It took precious seconds before he could gather his wits enough to stand in a jerking movement far from his usual grace, and stab a finger toward the sidewalk.

"I will pretend you never said that, and I seriously suggest you finish that toy cup of coffee you are babying and get your butt back to the office, before Commander Une decides to send a Sweeper team to gather you in."

Oh, he had stuck a nerve there. Chang was always uncomfortable to even oblique mentions of women and their personal bodily functions, a matter he exploited shamelessly when the man annoyed him. To say that he was annoyed by the agent's attitude and his references to a Sweeper team forcing him to comply with the summons was an understatement.

"I would like to see them try." He purred, eyeing Chang over the rim of the cup with a smirk and a look that said he truly would welcome the publicity, and he would ensure it would be messy enough to engender a great deal of publicity.

The agent huffed and forced himself to calm down. He should have recognized the signs when he first entered the café, and approached this matter with more care. Unlike his own contract Kushrenada was on a private contract. An elite graduate from the Psionics Institute who, owing to his private wealth, had managed to stay clear of contractual obligations to the government sponsored institute in exchange for advanced training in his specialty Psionic field.

Wu Fei had no family or personal wealth to fall back on, and was required to serve in the agency as an agent and consultant for a period of ten years to pay back his government sponsored tuition and training fees. He was accustomed to being ordered around and expected to appear at the drop of a hat, but Treize was an independent agent who was well within his rights to tell Commander Une, and the Agency as well as the Psionics Institute itself, where to go on a dark night and in inclement weather.

"Treize, if you are spoiling for a fight don't use me as your scapegoat. Take it up with Une and her legal team. I am only doing my job."

He sighed, glancing into his coffee cup and considering whether to continue to make his point, or if he had succeeded. The coffee was practically cold and he hated cold coffee. He was aware that Chang no doubt thought he was behaving like a child, and it was certainly not his partner that he was upset with. His eyes flicked to his watch and he set the cup aside. The time he had allocated for this diversion had expired, and at this time he was not prepared to break the exact letter of his contract. He would be very careful to keep to his agreement. Fuel for the fire he might yet need to ignite if Commander Une was cautioned over her overuse of his talents.

He was not in desperate straights at this time, but there might come a time when she needed him to be clear headed and sharp on a vital case. If she did not back off and stop wasting him on crowd control when there were lesser talents more than capable of fulfilling the need, then she faced a situation when he was not going to be available when he was needed the most. He could feel the first warning signs, and while he was not in danger of immediate overload he, had no intentions of pushing his envelope. If he had to have the Commander reprimanded then he would have no compunction about doing so.

"The matter will be raised with Commander Une, you may be assured of that. Your wife can also expect a visit from me sometime this week for an analysis to be made." He could not mistake the sudden alarm in those dark eyes. Chang knew how serious he was if he was going to see the Medical Officer. "I am quite serious in my concerns. I can feel the first signs of trouble, Chang and I will not go beyond a certain point, and Une had better realize that. I will not place you or other agents at risk from me because she is being her usual bitchy self where I am concerned. If she breaks any more of the clauses in the contract I will be forced to take measures."

"Why tell me?"

He stood and moved away from the table with a small knowing smile. "I tell you because you will talk to Sally and inform her of everything I have said to you, and you have my permission to inform her of every word we exchanged. She will have a discreet word in Une's ear, and if the woman has any sense she will back off and give me the time I need to settle myself."

Chang snorted softly. Kushrenada knew him only too well, and the man respected his wife. Sally was the heart and soul of his family, and just recently they had passed the last of the medical and genetic scans they had been required to have performed and were waiting for word on the final clearance for them to begin a family. He so wanted children with the blonde haired woman who had driven him out of his introspection, and brought him to a new understanding of what it was to be alive.

Sally was a receiving, higher than average Empath, with a linked Healer's talent. Sally Po, now Sally Chang, had risen to the rank of Chief Medical Officer for the Agency. Her psychic skills, coupled with his own fields of expertise, were in demand within the ESUN, and there was little doubt in his mind they would be given permission to breed a new generation of strengthened psychics.

Treize was wise in going to his wife if there was any concern with his safety to work with other agents, or if his own personal safety was in doubt. His wife, in her capacity as Chief Medical Officer, had the final say in the use of the Talented agents at the disposal of the Agency, and in the event of a threat to the health of the Talents body and, or, mind she had the right to veto any choice of agent that Commander Une might make. If she judged Treize Kushrenada to be at risk, either physically, psychologically or psychically, then no amount of arguing or demanding on Une's part would see Kushrenada working, until his stress levels dropped appreciably. A discreet word by Sally to the Commander to back off and stop pushing the man so hard would be far preferable than having Kushrenada bring in the lawyers and threaten a law suit, or criminal negligence, against the Commander.

"It is highly possible should the Chief Medical Officer suspect you are at less than peak efficiency, she might be inclined to choose to have a word with your Commanding Officer. May we now return to the office for the assignment briefing?"

"Why Wu Fei, whatever is keeping you?"

t.b.c.

Karina Robertson 2006