AC
195
Winner
Family Jet, somewhere over Nigeria
"
So, Noin tells me you are the best cadet she has seen in years ability wise."
Quatre asked.
His
voice no longer held that embarrassed tone.
"
Just because Noin says my abilities are exceptional doesn't mean that I'm
intelligent or quick witted." I countered.
He
smiled, " Well, you've just proven that you are quick-witted and intelligent by
saying that. If you had just accepted the position without considering what it
meant to you as the daughter of Treize Kushrenada, then I would have not even
accepted you."
"
I may be his daughter, but that doesn't mean we see eye-to-eye on all issues.
For instance, I think letting the people know and see how vicious wars really
are would be a better way to resolve this conflict than just annihilating the
colonies and their inhabitants."
"
That is a well thought out view, but how would you accomplish it?"
"
I am, and always have been ready to sacrifice myself and only myself for
my beliefs. If I want to do something that would endanger other lives because
of what I believe in, then the human price is too high."
"
You' re starting to sound like some of my comrades."
He
smiled warmly then continued, " Some of the other friends I fight with hold
views like that. As far as I know though, I am the only one who was a pacifist."
I
looked up from my lap to gape at him.
"
That's right. I was a pacifist at one time. Were you ever a believer in peace."
"
May I call you Quatre?" I asked. I knew what I was about to say might offend
him.
He
nodded and I continued, " Quatre, I was brought my father and my grandfather.
My father, as you know, is Treize Kushrenada, the man who is aiming for the
destruction of the colonies. My grandfather, from my mother's side, is the man
who trained the pilot 01. Do think that I ever had a chance to even learn what
true peace was until I was sent here?"
"
I did not know that. I'm sorry if I might have offended you." He shifted his
gaze from me to the view from his window.
"
There is a man following me around. He is trying to take me back to Aalari to
become queen." Quatre's eyes locked with mine. We sat there for some time.
"
I am the rightful heir to the throne of Aalari. Aalari is the mystery planet
beyond Pluto. That is all you need to know now." I continued to tell him most
of my history. However, I omitted the parts where my life collided with some of
the other pilots. Near the end of my life story, a man who introduced himself
as Rashid asked Quatre when the rooms should be ready. Quatre broke out of the
reverie I had had him in.
"
Two hours?" Quatre's sounded dazed a little confused.
"
It's as good as done, Master Quatre."
Rashid left. Quatre turned to me and asked, "When
did you find this out?"
"
Soon after I arrived at Victoria. There has and always was something different
about me and my ways." I smiled again, but this time the smile was not
returned.
"
I whish Noin had told me." He murmured.
"
Noin does not even know. I learned because of several transmissions. Most were
from Aalari and one each from my grandfather and father."
"
I'm surprised." I watched Quatre's eyes darken with confusion and then begin to
change as he accepted what I was telling him. I looked out my window. A thought
seemed to have dawned on him.
"
Do you want to be the queen?"
"
Absolutely not. I only told you about Nitro because I thought you should know
that this man could complicate missions." His eyes again pierced my shell. I
felt truly venerable for the first time in my life. This person had accepted
everything I had just told him without fail and now he was asking my opinion of
the situation. That had never happened before.
"
Quatre, I think that if anyone else had heard my tale, they would have shunned
me, but you have accepted me for who I am. You are the first person to hear my
whole tale and to continue to care. I have never had that experience." His eyes
shone.
"
You have not ever been loved?" I shook my head and smiled.
"
I feel that, because I have never felt the care of someone, I am not missing
it."
"
Don't say that! You don't know what you're missing."
"
This is just something else you are going to have accept about me. I promised another
and myself that when I was ready, I would come out of my shell. Right now,
however, it not that time."
"
You promise?"
"
Quatre, I have no reason to lie to you." He laughed and I smiled. We understood
what the limits of our friendship were. Neither of us was willing to push those
limits at the time.