Chapter Four.
Senator Relena Peacecraft woke the next morning with a strange feeling of glee. Perhaps it was the fact that the Gundam pilot – still asleep in the other bed – had not slit her throat in the middle of the night. Shaking the horrific thought and the cruel conversation from the evening before, she stood and tugged her robe around her shoulders. No matter what Chase-san said, she believed she was doing the right thing. Vrisiot-san wanted what was best for the Earth and Space. He wanted what was best for everyone. Someday Chase-san would see that and would come around.
"If that bloody thing rings one more time it's going out the window," the assassin in question growled out and sent the alarm clock a death glare that would have rivaled her husband's.
"You know, Anna-san has told stories of your foul humour upon waking-"
Chase chuckled at this. "You have no idea. Get dressed. I'll be waiting downstairs." She watched the senator disappear into the bathroom and roused herself from the bed. Two hours of sleep was not what she wanted to have going for the day, but she hadn't been able to bring herself to sleep the night before. Anna had been right: dreams of a man – whose face was eerily obscured from direct view – drenched in red haunted her much like he did little Ethan Peacecraft. She shook her head slowly and slipped into more appropriate clothes than the ones she had slept in. Relena had tried to convince her to wear a skirt suit to the press release, but there was no point in that. She'd never be able to move if she needed to. Granted, the former queen had not been happy when her guard chose a much more casual suit, but at least she wasn't there in jeans.
Chase switched the television on lazily, irritated. Mornings were not meant to be.
"…In other news," the reporter was saying, "three different incidences were reported late last night all around the globe and beyond. They have been linked to three separate terroristic groups…"
"Three different attacks?" Relena's voice sounded behind the Destined Soldier.
Chase looked up, startled. When had the water turned off? "Apparently so," she answered with eyes narrowed.
"This has to stop," the senator whispered with tears beginning to spill down her cheeks. "It has to stop now, Chase-san, do you understand?"
"For once, Relena, you and I agree on something."
The steady clicking on the keyboard had become a constant sound to Heero's ears. He typed away, searching every nook and cranny for something, anything that might be useful. He felt strangely as if he were going into the battle for his life, but blind, deaf, and with slight brain damage to top everything off, even if the call from Une-sama the night before to tell the Preventers about the terrorist attacks had provided some sort of a lead. He had pulled up every available piece of data on Nathaniel Vrisiot, but nothing was logged of any interest. There were speculations of his connections with some of the more radical of groups, even some terrorists, but nothing concrete enough to keep him from being heard. He couldn't even find if his terroristic connections were likely to be those that had attacked just a few hours before. His pacifist views seemed to bring him into the forefront after Relena's rise.
"I found something interesting," Trowa Barton's voice sounded from the door.
Heero pulled his eyes away from the screen, turning to look at the young acrobat. "I hope more than I have," he murmured, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Hopefully it will be of some use. Vrisiot has been found with loose connections two three different terrorist groups via their radical leaders. He has actually been seen, according to the government's databanks-"
"I thought Quatre was still getting permission to get into those," Heero cut in.
"Anna didn't have the patience," Trowa answered him with a shrug. "Anyway, he's been seen and there are records of conversations between them. Now, here's where the issue is on convincing Relena-san of his… less than pure agenda: These three with the connections have never been tried or convicted of their crimes. Each time they've gotten off and the case seems to drop off the records for no true reason. Wufei, Anna and I have been scouring this trying to find something about how and why, and there's nothing out there."
"So, Vrisiot has connections to… three groups you said?"
Trowa nodded. "Yes. Two colonies and one Earth."
"Alright, but these extremists have never been convicted of terrorism."
"I can't see why they wouldn't have been. I remember hearing about them some time ago. Eric Nobou, James Lycen, and Amelia Cho. They're even questioning if it was their three groups that attacked last night, but nothing official. Their names haven't even been mentioned in the media or on any official documents. It's more been in the theory rooms."
"And she – Cho – was the one that set off the chain of bombs in the malls last year?"
"Never convicted, once again," Trowa sighed. He handed Heero the paperwork. "All three of these, along with Vrisiot, have been seen meeting regularly over the past several months just before this bill was put into the works. They are all of extremist nature."
"Those that believe that they must murder innocents to prove how much Pacifism is the way of life," Heero grumbled.
The green-eyed man nodded. "That's all I've got so far."
"It's a lead on something, but from what Chase-chan said, Relena's writing off everything as bad media publicity. If we were to lay the facts out before her, she'd believe it was set up just to make him look bad."
"She's smitten."
Both pilots turned to see the blue haired swordsman leaning against the doorframe. "Hey look, it's a party of those that love Chase-chan," he grumbled out sarcastically.
Trowa could feel his face heating up. "I'll get back to you if we find anything more concrete, Heero."
The Perfect Soldier shot him a look that seemed to beg him not to leave him alone with Ryuujin, but Trowa darted as quickly as possible. "I thought you were supposed to be watching from the rooftops."
"I'm on my way out right now."
"And you decided to grace me with your presence?"
Ryuujin did not move further in, nor did he back away. Instead, he kept his gaze steadily on the smaller man. "What the hell are we up against, Yuy? I can't get a straight answer out of anyone, but I've learned that when Une gives me a call, you're going to need more ground work done than usual."
Heero sighed and he suddenly looked much older to the half dragon. "We don't know," he admitted slowly. "Bits and pieces, but that's it. We're thinking it has to do with Vrisiot, but we don't know for sure."
"You don't know anything more than the others then?"
"No."
"Alright… Not what I came to hear, but alright."
He left Heero alone with his computer and his exhaustion. All he felt he could do was hope that nothing happened to Relena when she stepped up on that stage.
People milled around everywhere. For a press conference there were a lot of people in a very large room. Where there really this many reporters around the world that were interested in how Senator Relena Peacecraft would vote on this one bill? Perhaps there were.
Chase Yuy pushed her hair out of her face subconsciously, following closely behind her charge. She had seen Ryuujin upon his arrival and was happy to see him. Une had a habit in calling the swordsman in when the Preventers were stretched thin, but he always had a place waiting for him at their table even if they were in peaceful times. It was the deal they had.
The young soldier came out of her thoughts when Nathaniel Vrisiot approached them. He stretched his arms widely and embraced Relena, kissing each of her cheeks.
"Vrisiot-san," Relena greeted him with a smile.
"Please, Relena, after everything, you were calling me 'Nathaniel.'"
"And we are at a press conference now, Vrisiot-san," she reminded him with an almost childish giggle.
Chase watched this exchanged in disgust and it suddenly became clear why Relena had been so adamant in her defense of Vrisiot. There was a relationship there. She wasn't sure, yet, to what degree they had reached, but there was affection far beyond a simple working relationship.
"Relena," Chase said quietly, getting her attention. "You're on in just a couple minutes. I'll be watching for you." She paused, eyes well guarded. "I am here on a mission to protect you."
"Convincing her or yourself, Yuy-san?" Vrisiot asked with a smug look.
Chase said nothing as she moved to her own position and watched Relena take the stage.
The crowd slowly quieted down, all eyes turned to the blonde woman standing with her hands folded neatly on the pulpit before her and lips nearly pressed to the microphone. "My friends," she began, and the words were translated throughout the room to accommodate the many different languages, "there has been much upheaval as of late." She paused, listening to the agreement from the press. "A bill has been put forth for us that is requesting the complete disarmament of every military base. We began this eight years ago after the war with OZ. Our government still sponsors several military branches, but is this truly necessary?
"Many have questioned my stance, and I am here today to make my vote known before my people." Tears built in her eyes and she purposefully avoided Chase's dark eyes amongst the crowed. "After last night's occurrences, I cannot, with good conscious, vote against this bill." Chaos broke loose in the room and she waited until it quieted down.
"Senator! Senator!" one reporter called out.
"Yes? In the front?"
"Senator, you have long been connected with the Preventers. It's even rumoured that your bodyguard today is a Preventer, yet this bill would destroy them, would it not?"
"Destroy, no. The time of soldiers has passed us, ma'am," Relena answered, eyes focused fully on her.
"And what of the terroristic attacks?" someone else called out. "Who is to protect the people?"
"With full disarmament, the terrorists will have few places to look for their weapons to harm our people," Relena explained.
"Senator, is it true that you're planning to run for President in next year's election?"
Relena paled at this. "I'm afraid that is not the topic of our discussion today."
"But it has weight, doesn't it? Your family has long been a part of the peaceful movement for Space and Earth, and to vote against this bill would make it look as if you were unsure where you stood."
"I will do what is best for Space and Earth," Relena said with passion. "I believe the complete destructions of weapons, of any kind, is of the utmost importance to our safety."
"What of your rumoured engagement?" the same reporter called out.
Relena's eyes desperately sought Vrisiot out just below the stage, then turned back to her audience. "I'm sorry everyone, that is all today."
"So are you or are you not engaged to the radical Nathanial Vrisiot?"
"Thank you everyone," Relena said simply, bowing slightly, and stepping off the stage. She stepped passed both Vrisiot and Chase, starting for the back. Chase hurried after her, but Relena turned quickly. "Please, Chase-san, can't I have a moment to myself to gather my thoughts?"
"My mission-"
"I don't give a damn," the blonde answered and took off.
Vrisiot's vice like grip took hold of Chase's wrist. "If she needs time alone, I'd suggest you give it to her, Yuy-san. You wouldn't want to be accused of something, would you?"
"You don't fool me, Vrisiot," Chase growled. "I know who and what you are. Give me time, I'll prove it to everyone."
The politician smiled darkly and leaned forward. "You'll be dead long before that day, Chase Yuy," he whispered in her ear and released her wrist. The next thing he knew he was flat on his back, the crowd all staring. His jaw hurt and the small pilot was flexing her hand.
"Keep your slimy hands off of me." That was all that needed to be said before she took off after her charge.
"Mari-chan?"
"What is it, Marq?" Mariemaea asked as she opened one eye slowly. It had been a nice nap.
"News."
Mari leapt up and was at the television before any of the children could fully get out of her way. "What did she vote?" she demanded.
As if the reporter had heard her, he began speaking. "Senator Relena Peacecraft spoke on the Disarmament Bill this morning, saying that she could not, in good conscious, vote against it. Rumours about her potential run for presidency and her equally as unsure engagement was also spoken on, but she made no comments about either. As of now Senator Peacecraft is nowhere to be found as she dashed off the stage...."
"Aunty Chase?" Jack asked, wide eyes looking at the pictures scrolling across the screen.
Mari looked closer and saw what he was talking about. Chase, more dressed up than she had seen her in some time, looked to be yelling at Vrisiot about something. She smiled as she saw the politician go flying. That was her Chase-nee.
"So what's next?" Marq asked.
"Heero-nii and the others will work everything out. Don't worry, Marq-kun. I won't let anyone hurt any of you."
"Ethan's scared," Marq said quietly, looking over at his sleeping younger brother. "He says he's a 'weapon'."
"Eh?" Mari asked, following is gaze. "But he's just-"
"He said he's like Chase-san. He said Zero System. What does all that mean, Mari-chan?"
Fear laced the former revolutionary's eyes. "It means that I have to protect you. And not to worry."
Chase moved along the alley way with as much speed as her heels would allow her. Never, never again would she be convinced to wear heels to a mission. Finally she spotted her. Relena was surrounded by five men in civvies. No matter how they were dressed, Chase would have bet quite a bit on the fact that they were a militia group.
"Hey," she called, pulling her gun from its holster. "Release her now."
"Says who?" one of the men answered back, eyes flashing dangerously.
"Preventers," Chase responded, pulling her ID and flashed it. "Release the senator now."
Relena had fainted by this point, or bit hit on the head, but either way she was going to be of no use to the soldier and these men weren't going to give up easily to one small woman. Shaking her head in irritation, Chase took one shot, nailing the man who had been speaking between the eyes.
The remaining four men scattered, rattled now, and one grabbed Relena and began to run, the other three backing him up with guns drawn. Chase dodged the first round of bullets aimed at her and returned fire, hitting two men and taking them off their feet. She knew one was probably dead and the other might have been, but she wasn't willing to stop and check. She spun and pulled the trigger on her gun at the remaining man and it clicked.
"Poor little Preventer," the man grinned. "Outta bullets?"
"Doesn't matter," Chase answered as she jumped upwards, spinning – thankful for the pants versus the skirt – and her heel connecting with his head. He flew back at the same time as the pilot heard her name called out. The sound of a gunshot accompanied it and a strange numbing sensation in her left shoulder made her stop. There hadn't been anyone else. She turned to see the man who had run with Relena – the senator still limp over his shoulder – holding a gun. His eyes widened and he took off as she sank to her knees, the numbing turning to a burning.
"Chase!" the same voice called over and the Destined Soldier saw Ryu with her military backup in tow.
"Lotta good you do showing up late, boyo," she managed before everything blacked out.
He watched the large man lean down and pick up the fragile-looking pilot with care, holding her closely and gently. A smirk crossed his face. It didn't matter that the shot hadn't killed her. She was the most useful of them all when it came down to it. A spirited assassin with a well known love for honour and hatred for Relena Peacecraft. It all fell into line perfectly.
A cell phone rang and he reached into his pocket and answered it in hushed tones. "Take her to my safe room. And I don't want to see a scratch on her, do you hear?" The smirk turned to a smile as he closed the phone. "Thank you, Yuy-san," he murmured under his breath. "You've just sealed your fate."
