Title: Gravity
Chapter 4: Intertwined and Overrun
Summary: Sylvia thinks her worries are over, but finds they've only just begun.
Characters are not mine. I am just borrowing.
F/F content.

Sylvia stared out of the shuttle window as it departed from the colony. She felt content that she had made some sort of difference there, but still, something made her think she had failed. Her foundation did good, but like any charitable work it could only do so much and go so far. There was an element of guilt that stirred in her for not giving away her family fortune and living in ghettos and rags herself. Even that would hardly be enough, and the more sensible part of her understood that it would always be that way. All she could do was work to help the world and its colonies become the peaceful places she wanted them to be.

She shut her eyes and then turned her attention towards the book in her lap. It was a gift from the school the Noventa Foundation had just helped to sponsor. She had helped to donate a majority of the school's new library.

She thumbed the spine and then opened it up to start reading it. Despite all the wonders of the technology, the exploration of space and everything that went with that, there was no greater adventure for her than having a book in her hand. The debate could rage forever, but there was a power in the printed word that exceeded the digital. There had to be, otherwise people wouldn't have made such an effort to keep it alive.

The book was one she had read before, but apparently the school had gotten wind that she enjoyed that particular ancient author. It was a lovely thought, that book. A gift she would truly cherish.

There was a noise from the front of the cabin that caught her attention. She looked down the aisle and noticed a few businessmen chattering. It was nice to finally be free of escorts, and the cloying demands of the press. She was back to being hardly news worthy which was a small blessing.

The man who had taken Heero Yuy hostage had not been her brother back from the dead. He was a just a man who had served along side him, and knew just enough to find Heero and get his attention, and that had not been a relief or terribly heart breaking for Sylvia. It just made her sad that such things had to happen to people. The man had no remaining family, and Sylvia wondered if it would be beneficial or cause the man a relapse into his delusion if she happened to visit him.

She knew deep inside she would never meet that man, but she forgave him all the same. No one ever understood her capacity for forgiveness. It was not easy for her. However, just because she held on to some of anger at an action that didn't mean she could not forgive. It was always a work in progress, and a long road.

Her thoughts kept drifting as the shuttle approached the newly restored moon base. It was mostly a giant shuttle terminal and tourist attraction. She never liked the way it looked up close. It was always so much more mysterious from far away reflecting the sun's light. She shut her book as she considered that her thoughts on the moon might be used for her thoughts on Lady Une. Though, it was not quite the same.

She had thought after everything had blown over that Lady Une would make her overtures less subtle. Instead, they disappeared completely. Sylvia couldn't be heartbroken because there was no relationship there to speak of. She was merely disappointed that somehow she had missed a chance.

The shuttle landed, passengers departed and new ones boarded. The vacant seat next to Sylvia was suddenly filled by the easy going form of Sally Po who was wearing her best grin and a Hawaiian shirt with margarita glasses and palm trees all over it.

"Sally."

"Sylvia," Sally replied as she leaned into her seat. "I was on vacation."

"Really?"

"No, I was just undercover. How are you holding up?"

Sylvia set her book to the side and said, "Well. Just working." She took a deep breath and then asked very softly, "Are you working right now?"

Sally nodded.

"And am I in danger?"

"Quite possibly."

"This really isn't the best way to let someone know," Sylvia retorted.

Sally nodded and then touched Sylvia's hand. "Well, sometimes an official meeting can't be called when someone's life is on the line. You're a tough chick. You can handle a little speed bump like this."

Sylvia laughed.

"What?"

"You might be the first person to call me tough, Sally."

She shrugged. "No, not the first, but I have a feeling you'd get angry if I told you who the first was."

Sylvia huffed. "You are correct." She crossed her arms over her chest and shut her eyes. "Is there a plan?"

"Yes."

"Do I get to know what it is?"

"No. You just have to trust us."

"Us?"

Sally just squeezed her hand and pretended to be falling asleep.

There was very little excitement on the trip and at the shuttleport once they arrived. However, halfway en route to the safe house the Preventers had set up for Sylvia there was a sudden burst of gun fire.

Sally and the driver, whose name was Darren Nichol, evaded the gun fire, and returned it expertly. There came a point however when Sally realized the original plan wasn't going to work and decided to have Nichol take the car one way, while commandeering another to get Sylvia to a new location.

Sylvia somehow managed to remain calm and in command of herself during the entire course of events. It was only when she and Sally reached the small loft serving as a backup safe house that Sylvia noticed she was shaking. She was frightened, but mostly she was just frustrated and infuriated that she was under attack again.

Sally had bolted the door and looked over at Sylvia with an uneasy expression.

"Is this backlash," Sylvia asked. "Or is it just some random group targeting me because I have money and ties to the old Alliance?" She clenched her fists together and that seemed to steady her resolve. "I won't allow myself to be bullied into hiding whenever there's a problem! I can't! I have work to do. Good work. Things I truly believe will make this world a better place."

"You're starting to sound like-"

"Don't say Relena," Sylvia interrupted. "I'm tired of being seen as her shadow."

Sally shook her head. "No. Not Relena. You sound like Mariemaia Khushrenada."

Sylvia took a breath and then let it out as any response she could have uttered suddenly failed her. She hadn't considered that before. She felt terrible for not having thought of it before. After a few years the war dwindled away, and just like she and Relena had been the focus of media attention at one time or another, Sylvia realized there was probably a very palpable reason Mariemaia was not always under constant attack from the press. But just because the child's name was dragged through the mud didn't mean there wasn't always a constant threat to that girl's safety.

She reached out and caught the edge of the sofa, sitting herself down, and putting her head in her hands. Sally came over and put her arm around her.

"This will not last," Sally said.

"I won't have to wait forever," Sylvia said, and then asked, "Why did you say that?"

"Because you won't," Sally replied. "Diana thinks this will blow over quickly. That it's just random backlash from the previous attempt."

Sylvia chuckled. "Diana?" She smiled faintly. "Oh she did introduce herself that way."

"She doesn't introduce herself like that to everyone."

"Hard to ask a girl out for a coffee when she's worrying about keeping the bad guys at bay?"

"Something like that."

"And what about you, Sally?"

She sighed. "What about me?"

Sylvia shook her head. "Never mind." She pulled away and asked, "What's the next plan?"

"For now," Sally said, "we sit tight, and wait."

Lady Diana Une stared out of her offices windows. She was not quite looking at anything in particular, though she would occasionally acknowledge seeing a bird fly by, or a group of Preventers walking through the courtyard below. She held her hands behind her back, almost too tightly as she lost herself in contemplation. The door to her office opened behind her and she did not turn around to greet the man who entered.

He stood and watched her expectantly, noticing the small touches about her that were more military than usual. She was wearing her official Preventer uniform, and her hair was pulled back in a tight French braid. Lady Une generally opted for a business suit since it detracted from any public sense that the Preventers were an army.

Then he glanced across the very tidy desk towards the objects that were out of place. Her glasses were haphazardly settled near an open bottle of prescription medication, and then to the far side of those things was a black file. He was going to clear his throat to announce himself, but Lady Une spoke before he could do so.

"Mr. Nichol, your report," Une asked crisply.

"As you suspected we had to switch to plan B. Preventer Po has taken Miss Noventa to the secondary location."

"Good." She turned around and looked him over. "Do you know why I asked you to join the Preventers?"

Nichol had an inkling, but could not voice it. She had not asked him to join the Preventers. He had done that on his own, and had been fairly certain of a career pushing paper. She had spotted him one day and asked him if he'd rather do something else. Suddenly, he was part of her personal team, and he thought he knew why, but could not help but question his reasoning since that day on Barge.

"No," he replied.

A faint grin tugged at the corner of Une's lips. "I think you do, but that isn't important. I can't say I've forgiven you for the boundaries you over stepped in the past. However, it was not as if I could give you orders on how to handle my... condition."

He felt sweat begin to form along his brow.

"This plot against Miss Noventa is more complicated than I first thought. There are webs being woven against each other obscuring the heart of the matter. This has made me come to an uneasy conclusion, and so I would like you to help me."

Nichol nodded. "Of course."

"And, can I trust you, Mr. Nichol, to do as you are ordered?"

"Yes."

"Good." She crossed her arms over her chest and stepped towards her desk. "This information is very sensitive, and if during this meeting you feel you can not keep your obligations to me, or follow the orders you are provided then say so immediately. Do you understand?"

"Yes."

She nodded. "Let's not beat around the bush. You have seen me in delicate states, brought on by my unwavering dedication to serving someone I hold dear. I will quite literally split myself in two if that's what it takes to do my duty."

"I am aware, but I thought-"

"My current physicians have ensured me that I'm in no danger of that ever occurring again."

Nichol noted the lengthy pause and so he said, "But you think otherwise?"

"I believe it is often necessary to take precautions so that no lives are placed in danger," Une replied and then continued, "But, yes, I believe this situation may prove taxing. The full details are in the black file here on my desk."

"I see."

Une titled her head and narrowed her eyes slightly. The she frowned and said, "I've no doubt that you do. You lacked proper orders on Barge. I am giving you proper orders should you accept."

"I accept," Nichol said quickly, and almost immediately regretted his decision. It was too late though, he couldn't find a way to take it back.

"Take the file, memorize the contents, and then destroy it," Lady Une said sharply.

"Oh, and as a consideration for you, I want you to know that one other person is aware of what I'm telling you." She smiled, almost cruelly. "You won't be pleased, but I need the extra insurance."

Nichol nodded, and reached out for the file. Une picked up her glasses and placed them on her face as he did so.

"Keep on the mark, Mr. Nichol," she said. "Well on it."

To be continued...