(Untitled)

[lightningbaron6]

Zechs wouldn't say that Heero's decision to resign from the Preventer organization was the wrong one or a bad choice (especially since he himself advocated it), but it has created its share of snarls in an otherwise smoothly functioning network

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[lightningbaron6]

"If you'd rather work on a team," Zechs says, "then we can establish the sort of group that would make the best use of your skills and build it up from there." He takes a deep breath, the unspoken "but" hanging there for a moment before he speaks again.

"Were it solely my decision, I would just have you work by yourself. Your unorthodox methods are, as you say, a selling point, and not only do they make the formation of a team difficult, they would be hindered by trying to deploy you with said team in tow."

Zechs sits forward again and taps one finger against the surface of his desk, and thinks for a moment about his own difficulties. The formation of a team would require absolute trust between members, and that takes time that Zechs isn't sure they have.

"Teams take trust to form and work well. I was given a single designation early on because like you, I have 'unique' abilities and methods that work best when I'm alone. Plus, I don't trust people quickly or easily enough to form a team. Clearly I am not you and cannot state your situation like you can, but I wonder if it might at least be similar."

Minus the whole "governmental leash on the crazy guy" aspect, of course.

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Right, then. If we suddenly acquire the agents that for some reason need Duo Maxwell to complete them, I'll team up. Until then, wild card it is. I don't have a problem with that, so long as I've got support here."

Duo sits up straight. "I did have kind of a favor to ask."

[lightningbaron6]

"Of course," Zechs replies. "At this point in time flexibility makes sense. I've been wanting more 'wild cards,' as you say, but unfortunately those with the abilities to actually pull it off are few and far between. I think you could accomplish twice as much without unfamiliar team members weighing you down, though as you say it may be necessary to appendage you every so often." He grimaces. "We need to put on a very, very good showing right now, so the smoother things run the better."

A blond eyebrow arches and Zechs tilts his head curiously at the last part of Duo's statement.

"A favour? What is it?"

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Well. Since Heero's not an active agent anymore, information about him isn't such a high security clearance. Also, he's not allowed any clearance. It's his name on my emergency contact, and he's the only one who gets to make medical decisions on my behalf. But if something happens to me, I want him to know my status."

Duo fidgets, and shakes his head. "But the big thing, I guess, is I want to get his records sealed. This is his chance to start over, and I don't want anyone getting info about his past. And I mean anyone."

[lightningbaron6]

"Most information wouldn't be, you're correct. Given that he holds your medical power of attorney, provisions are already made for him to know your status in case something happens. And, of course, we have our good friend Miss Po over in Medical. I've already spoken with her and I believe you'll find her more or less willing to tell him whatever information he needs to know that could be denied through other channels."

Zechs leans back and looks contemplative. "Concerning sealing Heero's records, I can certainly give the authorization to do so. In the interest of not painting yourself into a corner, as it were, I presume you do have a list of people you'd like to be able to get into things in the event of an emergency?"

He pauses for a moment, then continues, "I would have one favour to ask in return, that being that you convince Heero to create the code for whatever firewalls and encryptions he wants in place. I'm more at home with the programming for MS, and I don't think any of us would be particularly keen on entrusting things to the Preventer security team. Not for the level of containment you're talking about. If he can get that to me, I can install it. I'm the only one besides Une who has legitimate maximum security clearance, and I really don't think you want her to do it."

He certainly wouldn't.

"This probably isn't a matter that could be taken care of under the table. That'd invite more questions than me locking down a former agent's records. After all, if they're officially locked then it'll be easier for me to bullshit a good reason if I have to."

[maxwellsdemon02]

"A list?" Duo doesn't have to think long. "Wufei. Quatre. Trowa. You probably should be able to, too. If Heero programs it, it shouldn't be a problem."

He frowns in thought. "Maybe Sally, too. For the medical records if nothing else. She's certainly got the best file on us. And how in the open are we talking, here?"

[lightningbaron6]

"I'd leave Sally in. You'll want someone who has a handle on his medical records, but I have a feeling she'll be of more use than that if things ever go wrong. As for the lock-down..."

Zechs shakes his head. "I don't plan on it being public knowledge. But there is always the possibility that someone will be looking around more than they should, during a review or the organisation and our methodology, and I would rather have a better chance of diverting suspicion if at all possible. What would it look like, not only for me not being able to explain the situation, but for Heero, if his records turned up looking like he'd broken in and locked them after leaving?"

Probably not all that good, honestly.

[maxwellsdemon02]

Duo's wince is answer enough. "Yeah, let's not go with that. Okay. What do I have to do?"

[lightningbaron6]

"Hopefully nothing too difficult," Zechs replies. "Just get Heero to create whatever security measures he would consider sufficient, and then get the end product to me. I can take care of things from there, and get a few good semi-truths written up just in case they're necessary later on."

He pauses. "Oh, and tell Heero not to program something in just because it amuses him, or include anything that will act as a trademark. I don't care how proud or entertained he might be. I'd like to distance both of you as far from this as possible."

[maxwellsdemon02]

He snickers a little, and stands. "I think he can live with the knowledge that the programming is his. And let me guess. I have paperwork to fill in, now?"

[lightningbaron6]

"Only if I gave it to you before you walked in the door." Zechs looks amused. "So very probably you do. But nothing related to this meeting. Your status change is something that I get joy of dealing with. I'll just have to drop by and collect a couple of signatures from you to finalize it, that's all. It's a lot less complex to assign an agent to single status than it is to break a pair up or make a new one."

[maxwellsdemon02]

"Great. I'll talk to Heero about this soon as I can. Thanks, Zechs. I appreciate it a lot." Duo extends a hand to shake.

[lightningbaron6]

Zechs reaches out and shakes Duo's hand.

"Not a problem, Duo. Really. Heero filled me in about everything that happened, and I frankly feel better knowing that his records are going to be locked, too."

Plus, he owes them more than a few favours. Not that he wouldn't have done this anyway. He's got a bunch of Heero's memories floating around inside of his head, and as such the entire situation rubs him the wrong way. The sort of people they might have to end up dealing with if things aren't secured, and fast, aren't the kind that inspire warm and fluffy feelings in him.

"Let me know if you need anything else. I should be able to get things around for your signature tomorrow. The sooner everything is taken care of, the better."