October 13- Preventers Headquarters- Brussels, Belgium
Commander Anne Une sat behind the desk in her large office. Papers and photographs lay strewn across the large surface of the desk in no apparent order.
Her eyes were closed and her honey brown hair was pulled back into a low bun at the nape of her neck. She was dressed in a white dress shirt, her tie loosened around the collar. Her Preventers jacket hung on a coat rack near the door.
A soft knock sounded at the door and Anne's light brown eyes opened.
"Enter."
Wufei stepped through the door as it opened, Quatre following behind.
Anne stood and walked around the desk, extending her right hand to Wufei. The black haired man shook it firmly and smiled at the mastermind behind the Preventers.
"Good to have you back, Chang." Une returned his smile and turned to Quatre. Before she could hold out her hand, the blonde embraced her in a tight hug.
"And very good to see you again, Quatre," she said, returning the embrace.
"And you, Lady Une." Quatre smiled at the woman in front of him.
He was still amazed about how much his impression of Anne Une had changed over the past six years since the war. Back then he had seen her as a twisted and cruel military leader, now he saw her as a friend.
Anne waved her hands, indicating two leather chairs near her desk.
"Gentlemen, please have a seat. I just spoke to Trowa. He and Heero are on their way here now from the hotel."
"So, he was able to track Heero down." Quatre said, taking the proffered seat.
"Yes, it wasn't too difficult once we were able to talk to Relena. She had spoken to Heero about two months ago, told us he had been in St. Petersburg at the time. From there it was only a matter of following his trail."
Quatre was about to ask where all Heero had been over the past two months when another knock came at the door.
"Enter." Une said again.
Trowa swung the door open, leading a weary looking Heero Yuy through into Une's office.
Quatre and Wufei rose to their feet, their eyes widening in shock as they took in Heero's appearance.
The ex-pilot of the Wing Gundam stood before them, his eyes rooted to the floor. His hair had been washed and combed. It hung framing his face and falling to his shoulders. He was thin, a ghost of the muscular man they had last seen a year ago at the funeral.
"Heero." Quatre said, his voice soft.
Heero raised his eyes from the floor and met Quatre's light blue ones. The ex-Sandrock pilot bit his lip to keep from crying out. The haunted look in Heero's cobalt blue eyes brought a deep ache to Quatre's chest.
"Hi guys." Heero's voice wavered.
"Jesus, Yuy." Wufei's own voice sounded weak.
Une stepped forward again and placed her hand on Heero's shoulder.
"Have a seat, Heero. We have a lot to discuss and I know it's not going to be easy on any of us."
Heero's eyes fell to the floor again and he nodded his head.
Une resumed her seat behind the desk and let her eyes rove over the four men sitting in front of her.
"I'm sure you've all been briefed as to why you're here." She settled her eyes on Trowa who nodded his head.
"Good. Now, we need to keep level headed about all of this. As of this moment, Quatre and Heero, you are officially instated as Preventers. You have full access to the entire compound here, all of the files and databases. I have uniforms and badges ready for both of you, as well as clearance passes to Alpha level areas.
"That said, I must remind you, do not abuse these privileges. Ineed you all focused on this case. It is centered around the four of you, after all. There is no one else who I trust more working on this. I know it's a highly painful subject for you, but we need the Gundam pilots and their training behind this."
Une wove her fingers together and rested her chin on her hands.
"Firstly, I need the written and verbal approval from all four of you to exhume the body of one Duo Maxwell from Arlington Cemetery in Washington."
Heero's hands twitched, grasping the armrests of his chair. His eyes retained their distant look however. Quatre reached out his right hand and placed it on Heero's left, giving him silent reassurance through the touch.
Une noticed Heero's movement, but pressed on.
"You have all seen the photographs, the case files. I hope you understand that this is a necessary move in order to confirm whether or not the face in those surveillance photos is that of Duo Maxwell, or a very, very good imposter."
She leaned forward and shuffled through some papers on her desk.
"I'm going to call several witnesses to come in and observe the signing of these documents and your verbal agreements to my request. If any of you are uncomfortable or opposed to this, please let me know now."
She paused and allowed the four men to contemplate her request.
Quatre spoke first.
"I agree to your request. I think it's important for us to find the imposter, and if digging up Duo is the way to do it…well, then that's just how it has to be."
"I'm with Quatre." Wufei said.
"As am I." Trowa agreed.
"Heero?" Une's eyes settled on the dark haired pilot once again.
He sat in silence for a moment, his arms crossed and his chin resting against his chest.
"We're not going to find Duo in there."
He spoke so softly the others had to strain to hear him.
Trowa and Wufei exchanged confused looks and then turned their eyes back to Heero.
"He's not dead. That casket is going to be empty." Heero's voice was stronger now.
Anne was the first to regain her composure.
"Well, then, we have an accord?"
The four pilots nodded their heads in agreement.
She reached forward again, touching the button on an intercom.
"We have reached an agreement. Will the three of you enter please?"
