A/N: Hey there! In the middle of writing my other story, Dossier, I decided I should post this one, Mountebank (meaning: imposter). I started this one a while ago, and its definitely more of an expanded universe type of story, whereas Dossier is more about internal struggle. The two are not related in anyway! I'm really digging this one, but its so huge that I'm scared I will lose steam for it! Trying hard to stay focused here.
- murshmallow
MOUNTEBANK: Ch. 1
The calmest, most serene moment one can experience, is the feeling of floating in space.
At that moment, the galaxy was quiet and still as the sunlight spread its warmth through the dead expanse.
Watching the sunlight reflect off the far off Earth's moon was as about as relaxing as making my morning cup of coffee.
*THUNK*
"Oy Lowe! Do you have a spare drill? I left mine on board."
I waved the floating space junk away from my helmet and fished out my drill for the engineer or Sapper also working on the exterior hatch of the nameless supply ship bound for the Mars settlement.
Lunch on the Planetary Association of Terraformation Headquarters, or the PATH Finder, was the same as it was everyday. Choice of soup, bread, and sandwich. For dinner we had a rehydrated MRE and sometimes if I needed the sugar, crispy dehydrated ice cream. Although I had survived on limited food rations my entire life, I'd be lying if my entrance to the new Interplanetary Pioneer Corps. was not based solely on the three square meals a day I was promised.
My partner in the engineering squad could care less that we were receiving every vitamin necessary and then some, he was sore about the lack of variety.
"What I wouldn't give for a beer." Ahmed, my partner, sighed over chilling soup and stale rye bread.
"Ahmed doesn't even drink and he wants a beer. We should really figure out a way to get some in on the next supply run." A young female engineer quipped from the far end of the table.
I could care less. I didn't need alcohol to unwind, and I didn't eat for pleasure either. I was content.
"Odin, what's your favorite beer. Oh wait, you're from Japan aren't you? Do they have beer in Japan?" The young woman asked.
"Japan has everything, but I was raised on the colonies anyway. I don't drink."
"Odin you make a better man of faith than I do, I've never even craved alcohol until I joined the Pioneers." Ahmed laughed, I suppose you could call it genuine.
Our crew was incredibly small: besides myself, Ahmed, and the girl, there were maybe eleven others. I couldn't give an exact number, only half of us were out of cryostasis this month.
When the Mars Terraformation Project began in A.C. 196, hundreds signed up to join the ranks of the Pioneers. They had been swayed by the immortal words of their pseudo-queen: "The potential for humanity is endless."
Over time, with little improvement on the terraformation end, the ranks dwindled. Several minor catastrophes over the past ten years contributed to the thinning numbers. Preventer formed a lasting partnership with the Pioneers in A.C. 200, and I found my semi-permanent home, having fully transferred with the partnership to the engineering division.
"You were with Preventer at one point, weren't you Lowe? Did you see any action? Where were you stationed?" The girl piped in.
Questions like this were common place. I usually offered a quiet smirk. An air of mystery helped keep others guessing, and essentially out of my way.
The one pleasure of which I indulged in was sitting right in front of me. A steaming, hot cup, of black coffee. The one human comfort PATHFinder received every three months from the Earth's supply delivery. No matter what requests were formally made (and denied) for indulgences, cases of gourmet coffee grounds were the only real treat provided.
I usually took an opportunity to enjoy my cup when crew mates decided it was time they would ask me their questions.
"Why in the hell does your favorite, expensive, coffee brand get delivered every single supply delivery, but my request for simple bacon goes denied." Came the ice cold voice behind me.
I blew a bit on the piping hot liquid and brought it to my lips. I could hear Ahmed and the female engineer stand in their seats at the ready.
"Please be seated. No need to stand for us." A woman's voice smiled from the cafeteria doorway.
"Agent Fire, Agent Wind. Are you here to conduct inspection a day early?" I smiled from my seat. I hadn't yet turned around to greet them.
"Sapper Lowe. We're just here to grab a cup of that fine coffee you received in this month's supply delivery." I turned around to face them and stood.
"Its actually Doctor Lowe now. I graduated already." I revealed while shaking hands with my old friend Agent Fire, otherwise known as Lucrezia Noin. Ahmed and the others were generally uneasy with my familiarity with Preventers, but they always chalked it up to the known fact that I had briefly served in their intelligence department.
"Doctor Odin Lowe. Point me to the brew if you please." A cold voice reminiscent of one Zechs Merquise smiled through gritted teeth. I heard Noin chuckle.
"I'm not sure how this stuff gets mixed in with the PATHFinder rations every month." Noin sipped, enjoying hers with sugar and cream. "I know it's gotta be her doing it, but with her working in Africa this past year I have no clue how she's getting this through in Brussels."
"I'm not sure myself, but I'm not complaining. I never asked Relena to send me anything special."
"Hn." Zechs grunted.
Noin's eyes darted about the cafeteria. When she was satisfied that we were alone, she spoke, albeit with hushed tones.
"When was the last time you saw Relena, Heero?"
I set my cup down. I was used to this question every time they made their monthly "inspection" visit. The two had lived the past two years in space full time, making their rounds to the deeper space outposts each month.
"She's not here if that's what you're asking." They'd found her once or twice on the ship, making unannounced visits to PATHFinder for surprise inspections. She wanted to make sure we had an acceptable quality of life, since we were dedicating our years to ensuring the life support for the terraformation effort. But mainly, she was here to make sure I stuck around. I had assured her I was happy, and that there was no where left for me to run. I was also safe. Our last discussion ended her desire for surprise inspections.
"You heard that she was living in an war-orphan home in Africa. You've seen the news coverage. I know it takes nearly two months for televised transmissions to reach you here, but have you noticed anything odd about the latest transmission?"
Noin's words didn't seem to sit well. It gave me a sour taste in my mouth. I had given up Relena as my charge years before, but that didn't change the way I felt about her safety.
I tried to rack my brain, remembering the last time I saw Relena on the delayed television stream in my quarters.
She had been giving a news conference, but the way she spoke had been a little odd. She took quite a few pauses in between lines, and there were times I had thought, perhaps it was from the delay in transmission, that her audio was lagging.
The recorded view had been so far away too, taken from somewhere deep in the crowd. I remembered being annoyed that I couldn't see her face. I hadn't seen her in months, and I had been looking forward to watching her latest speech.
"So you're saying, that wasn't her up there?" I grumbled, annoyance now getting the better of me. How could I be that stupid? How could I miss this?
"It hasn't been her in nearly a year Heero. Are you saying you haven't noticed at all?"
Noins words sent a spasm through me. What did she mean it hadn't been her? Where was Relena?
I finished off my coffee. Relena's gift to me, as close as she could get to a human touch.
I set the cup down calmly, raking my hand through my hair out of frustration. I didn't need anyone on this ship to see me this anxious, but I was having trouble keeping it together. I'd been gone for five Earth-years. I'd left her in someone else's hands for half a decade. I hadn't seen her in over a year. I hadn't seen her.
"She arrived in Africa in January of 205, she stopped sending me security reports in March. Her security detail took over sending them in May. April is unaccounted for." Noin whispered.
Who was her security detail? Une had tapped me to go, but I declined. I was nearing the end of my doctorate, and I was focused on my dissertation on terraformation mechanics. Besides, I was trying to give Relena some space. Une eventually let me choose her final security detail for Africa.
But who was it? I knew them, I swore I did.
"Trowa."
Noin raised an eyebrow at me.
"Trowa Barton...or Triton Bloom now. I had assigned him as head of Relena's security detail in place of myself."
"Hmm.. well that is indeed interesting." Noin mused. She stole a glance at Zechs, who had been staring out into space from the cafeteria's large observation window.
Zechs turned and made his way over to our long table.
"Interesting indeed." Zechs narrowed his ice blue eyes at me. The look sent shivers down my spine, it had been years since I received a look like this from him. Looks like this were truly reminiscent of the Lightning Count.
"What are you getting at...Wind?" I growled, trying to remind him, we had all tried to distance ourselves from the past in this time of peace. I was Dr. Odin Lowe Jr., the aerospace engineer, he was Agent Wind, officer of Internal Affairs (glorified human resources) for Preventer.
Internal affairs...an investigation?
"You really think we've been springing surprise inspections on a crew of eleven people for the past year because we think you're sneaking kick-back coffee onto your vessel...Doctor?" Zechs muttered through gritted teeth.
Noin sat silent, studying me through steepled fingers.
"You think...you can't possibly think that I..."
"Heero, please. Just come quietly..." She finally spoke.