Valkyrie
Part 14: Reunions and something extra: part 1
By Animefreek
Dawn: The Storm Industries Complex
Duo, Hilde, and Quatre were the first to arrove at the complex. Connie and Lady Une were already there. "Whoa, dude theis place is huge its like a selfcontained city." Duo saild looking around at the apartments, research and development buildings, and some sort of training facility that seems to be very high security. "Q-man what do ya make of that building?" Duo said pointing toward the high security building. Quatre frowned, "I don't know, but tim sure we won't like it." He said.
"Mr. Winner, Mr. Maxwell, Ms. Schreibecker?" A high pitched voce asked. "Yes." Quatre answered. "Hello, I'm Laurie Wkolf, head of Storm R&D labs, but my co-workers call me Q as a joke. Sorry I didn't meet you at the gates but there was a slight problem in the labs tis morning with one of my interns ns some helium." Laurie looked to be about 20 with small brads throughout her copper colored hair with colored beads. Her eyes were the same color as her hair. she wor what looked like a spandex blue uniform under her lab coat.
"Why do they call you Q?" Hilde asked. Laurie grinned. "Hmm. Have you ever seen any of those old 20th century James Bond Movies? Well there's a guy in them who makes the hero's cool gadgets. Its what I do here." "Cool so you made that staff she uses." Hilde said. "Yeah amkong other things. That weapon was my first design, but the jideas was Miss Storm's. My job is to take someone's idea and make it a reality." Laurie said with pride.
"Wolf, Wolf? I've heard that name before." Quatre said as the walked. "You should Mr. Winner I used to work for Winner Telecommunications." Laurie said with a small chuckle. "Yes now I remember, Ms. Storm stole you away from me." Quatre said. "No Ms. Storm just made me a better offer. Free raine over an entire department, ckomplee freedom to explore and improve on any idea. Plus all the department heads have a seat on the board. How could I say no?" Laurie said. " She must trust you very much to give you a seat on the bard." quatre said. "It has nothing to do with trust and Ms. storm doesn't give anyone anything I earned my color." Laurie said.
"Color?" Duo asked. "Yes. KYou see the darker your uniform csolor the higher your rank." "Explain." Suo said as they walked and her looked around at the employees. "Okay, there are four basic colors to the uniforms here blue, green, black, and red. Black signifiles you're the head, only Ms. Winters and Ms. Storm's uniforms are black. Blue means you're second in command, the darker the blue the higher the rank. Blue is the reserved uniform color of R&D. Rookies in the division wear sky blue. Stay away from the rookies they'll get you in trouble. Most of them have some problems with "authority." Green uniforms signify your're with the ensgineering and intelligence. Thets where you'll find Connie most of the time, tinkering with her 'baby.'" Then Laurie stopped as if she'd said skomething wrong. Duo and Quatre let it slide andt put that look she gave away until later questions. "And the red uifroms?" Hilde asked. "Oh the red unifroms are not really in use. They only come out in dire circumstances and so far we haven't had to wear them." Laurie said with a worried face. "Who wears the red uniforms ans wht do they mean?" Hilde asked.
"Well basically the top brass of the company, so it'd be myself, Ms. Winters, Ms. Storm, and the co-head of the engineering and intellegience division. she'll be arriving today. She's a newbie but form her records she's sthe best up and coming intel analyizer out there. As for what the uniforms mean I'll let Ms. Storm or Ms. Winters explain that if the time comes."
Meanwhile Connie sat with Lady Une and Marimia in her plush office/conference room. "I hope your rooms are satisfactory." Connie said breaking the silence. "Yes more than. If I didn't know what I do about Valerie I'd swear she'd been spying on me tkofilnd my likes and dislikes." Lady Une said with a smile. "Yeah my room is so cool! It has everything! Marimia dbust out and then caught herself. "Sorry." she said. "No need, that used to be my room when the place was first built, Valerie made sure I wouldn't be bodred when she was away." Connie said. "And no need to be sorry we're not very formal. Most of the 'grown-ups' here are very relaxed about rank." Marimila smiled. There was a knock at the door and a young woman with Copper hair and eyes popped her head in. "Yo, Connie some of our guests have arrived. Oh and he is cute." Laudrie said with a teasing smile. "Thank you Q, and shut up." Connie said in a low almost menacing tone. Laurie smiled and let the trio into the conference room. "Well I'll be in the labs if anybody needs me." Laurie said. "Hey Q why don't you take Marimia with you You can show her the new VR program you've been working on." Connie suggested. " Sure! Always ready to show off. Come on Marimia this is giong to be fun." Laurie said. With that done sthe two scurried kout of the room. Connie kind of had a worried look on her face when they left.
"What's wrong?" Quatre asked. Connie smiled a bit and said, "Nothing I hope. Its just that when some body from R&D says they're going to show off that could mean one of three things:
1. Something is giong sto blow up soon.
2. Somebody's going to be blown up.
3. Something really cool is going to happen.
I don't care for the explosions but I hate missing the cool stuff." Connie pouted. "Hey I wouldn't mind an explosiion." Duo said. "You would if you had to rebuild a part of the lab almost every month. They're costing us a forturne." Connie said. Quatre laughed, then became serious. "When will the others arrive?" quatre asked. "Trowa and his sister will be here soon they called a little while ago and Noin, Zechs, and Heero will be bringig Valerie within the next hour. Artemis will be with them as well in tkhe next hour." Sally and Wu-bear should be hear any minute now." Connie said with a smirk. "Please don't call him that when he gets here his rants are very trying at times." Lady Une said. "And what about the other Preventors?" Hilde asked.
"Most of them have been put on standby. Only my most capable and loyal Preventors will bde allowed jinto the complex for security reasons." Une answered. "Yes the are a few devices in the complex that would be deemed 'illegal' by the public, but they'll be necessary to keep this war small or at least in space and away from the conlonies." Connie explained.
"Yes how are the colonies handlling all of this?" connie asked. " They're scared and unfortunately after the 'display' the enemy's Gundum put up at least those two have goined forces with Tiger's Claw. I'll give tigress this much she knows exactly what buttons to push." Quatre said.
Meanwhile at the Hospital
Heero was patiently sitting in a chair next to Valerie's bed waiting for her to wake up. He'd gone straight back to the hospital after packing a duffle bag of his things frm his apartment. He was determined not to let Valerie leave him again.
Valerie had been partially awake for an hour now and was watching Heero form underneath her eyelashes. She didn't know if she should speak or let him speak first. It was then that Noin and Milliardo made their appearence. Milliardo glared at Heero whil Noin gently shook Valerie. "Valerie its almost time to leave." Noin whispered. Noinw as surprisedto hear a fully awake voice come from her future sister-in-law and former charge. " I know. I'm ready when you are." Valerie said as she tried to sit up. Tried being the best word to describe the almost movement of her torso before she whimpered and layed back down. This ended the glaring contest between Milliardo and Heero as they bodth came to her side. Noin wished sheo could make men jump like that.
"Rel...Valerie, you shouldn't move like that, the doctor says you'll be out of commisiion for at least a month." Milliardo said. "A month." Valerie whined. Of all the things that he missed about having his little sister around it was that whine. It was the same tone she used whe he came to get her for a political meeting. Heero thought it was cute too and Noin almost caught a dreal smile on his face.
"I'll get a wheelchair." Heero said matter-of-factly. "So you guys ready to see my place?" Valerie asked. "I really think we should be at the palace." Milliardo said. Valerie smirked. "Trust me, Storm Industries has better security." She really didn't want to go back to the palade anyway. She wanted to be in her own element. "I think you'll like it, something interesting is always happening there." Valerie said with a weak smile. "When we get there I'll have Connie give everyone the grand tour." "Its an industrial complex ther can't be that much to see." Noin said. "You'd be surprised." Valerie said.
Back at the Complex Wufei and Sally had just arrived to be greeted by Dante Anders the head of the medical unit. "Mr. Chang, Ms. Po welcome to S.I. I'm Dr. Dante Anders head of the medical division." Dr. Anders was in his mid-forties with slightly greeying short cut chestnet hair and dark almos indigo blue eyes and a devilish grin. He was clearly American with a fun and layed back air about him. "I've heard a lot about you and Mr. Chang. All good of course. I'll show you to Connie's conference room and maybe later I couold show you around the medical facilities here." Dante said as he gave Sally a small wink. "I'd love that. I've heard S.I. has made soe wonderful improvements on the current medical equipment." Sally said as they walked throought eh complex. "Improvements is an understatement. thanks to the lovely lady who is the head of the R&D we're using equipment that won't be acessable to the public for at least a decade. It's really revolutionary what we've made together." Dante said.
Wufei was silently fuming, how dare this man flirt with his onna. Especially since last night he actually claimed her as his. After all Valerie was right, llife is short, might as well spend it with someone you care about.
Sally couldn't help but think that this guy reminded her of someone.
They made it to a rather plush outer office and Dante told the secretary to anounce them. Sally was a bit taken back at the conference room. It was huge to say the least. Quatre could seat all 29 of his sisters and still have a lot of room to spare. Waiting for them already were Hilde, Duo, Quatre, Une, and Connie.
"Hey Dante, looking good." Connie said. "Always, Connie, always." Sante said while waggling his eyebrows a little. Wufei rolled his eyes this guy was as bad as Maxwell. Dante then focused on the occupants in the room especeallly the one with the long chestnut braid and Cobalt Blue eyes almost indigo like his. "Dominic? Is that you?" He asked.
~FLASHBACK~
A couple with two children are running for cover as a mobile suit attacks a near by building. The man is carrying a small boy on his hip and the woman is carrying a toddler, barely one. A little by the pink dress. "Over here!" he shouts. Leaning his head toward a building. "Dante it doesn't look safe." The young woman says worried. "Its safer than being outside right now Andie." Dante said as they went inside. They listened as the sounds of fighting gkot louder and closer. Dandte's saughter Laurie was crying and little Dominic was huddled close to his mother. Dante was getting worried the mobile suits were making the building wery unstable they'd have to leave soon. "Andie I want you ant ehe kids to go into the alley and wait for me there. We have to move agin the fighting is getting too close." Dante said. Andie knodded and took Dominic and Lauire outside. Andie looked around and found that Dante was right, the fighting was too close, but where could they go to escape. Then Dante stepped out. Everything after that was a blurr for Dante. there was thesound of falling stone, Dominic screaming, and him waking up in a hospital very bandaged and bruised to a weeping wife who now had a permanent limp to her once graceful stride, a baby girl who was remarkably unscaved, and the fact tat his son was dead.
~END FLASHBACK~
Duo stared at the mand before him with his mouth open. Dominic was dead or so he thought. Dminic died with his parents that day and he became a no name street kid. And now stnding right in front of him was his Dad. Duo's emotions raced across his face. He didn't know whether to hug the man or punch him for not coming to find him.
Dante made the dcisionn for him and hugged him tightly. "Your name's Dominic?" Hilde asked. "Yes his name's Dominic Angelus Anders. God! We thought you were dead. Oh God if we'd have known..." Dante said. Suo was stunned but still managed to studder out, "We?" "Yes, your mother and sister are here. Oh my God we've got to call Andie in here." Dante said as he pushed a button on the intercom. "Susie call my wife in here ASAP." Dante said.
"You all are alive, I thought that you were crushed under that building. Mom, Laurie... OH MY GOD. Lourie wouldn't happen to be Laurie Wolf of R&D would it?" Dup asked with eyes wide open. Sante smirked, "yeah. wolf is her married name got married about a year ago. Hah! Wait until she realizes that her big brother was standing right next to her and she didn't know it. She'll be so shocked and nervous she'll be blowing things up in the lab for a week!" Dante laughed. Connie moaned in the background.
Behind Duo, Hilde was looking at the resemblance between the two. It was amazing. sme hair, same smile. Duo was definately only going to get better with age. Just then a woman with a limp using a cane came in. She had Copper hair and eyes and looke like an older version of Laurie. Duo just looked at her stunned.
"Dante what's the all fired hurry? I was schecking the intake on the new engines. Why are you staring young man?" Andie asked looking at the braided 21 year old iln front of her then all at once she started to cry and drop to her knees. Duo rushed in and swept up her sagging fokrm. "Dominic? Please tell me its you? Tell me I'm not dreaming again." Andie said in between sobs. "Mom." Was all Duo couldmanage to say but it was enough for Andie.
The others in the room just stared at the familial scene ans smiled. "This is touching. Makes you want to go out and start a family of your own." connie said wiping away some tears. Quatre and Wufie audibly gulped as Connie and Sally sent them looks. Even though Duo was enveloped in a hug he managed to send Wufie and Quatre a grin and mouth, "Kiss bachelorhood goodbye."
Andie then caught sight of Hilde and smiled. "Who's this?" She asked. Duo straightened up and said, "Mom, Dad this is my girlfriend Hilde." Andie smiled. "You always did have a thing for brunettes, even in preschool you were the litte charmer." "Really? Does this mean I have to watch you around Noin?" Hilde teased. "Babe you know You're the only one for me." Duo said. "Anyway, Zechs would kill me if I even tried." He said cheekily.
"Don't believe him honey. I can tell right now he's his father's son and it took him forever to marry me." Andie said. "And if I'm not mistaken he's probably inherited his father's sense of humoror lack there of. Let me guess practical jokes every other day on his friend." She continued.
Quatre and Wufei groaned. Dante smiled. 'New targets.', he thought. Hilde laughed. Andie came over and hugged her. The The American woman turned toward her 5'5' frmae "She's adorable Dominic, she's a keeper. Your kids will be absolutely gorgeous." Andie teased. Hilde blushed and Duo sputtered.
Quatre then thought of something. "Your middle name is Angelus?" He said with a grin. "Yes, he's my wittle angel baby." Andie said in baby talk. "Not to ake away from the family scene, but your 'Wittle Angel baby' is a preventor and ex-gundam pilot. Onna I suggest you let us get settled and down to business." Wufei said. Dante went pale as he noticed the 'look'. The look that said, 'I-CAN'T-BELIEVE-HE-JUST-SAID-THAT.' Andie smiled at Hilde and Duo before she turned to Wufei and put on a veneir of ice. "Okay lets get one thing straight. My name is Mrs. Andrea Anders not onna. I WILL talk to my son for as long as I want, because I've missed most of his life already." She then spun her cane under Wufei'd feet tripping him up.
Connie stood as someone else entered the room and cleared their throats. All heads turned to see a visibly stunned Millilardo and Noin, a stoic Heero, and a grinning Valerie in a wheelchair, closely followed by Trowa and his sister Catherine. Duo turned to them and said, "Hi guys! Meet the Folks!" Andie shook her head in laughter, Dante and Dominic were definately related.
Soon everyone was settled in their rooms and had gathered again for the grand tour of the complex. Valerie was in her wheelchair which was pushed dutifully by Connie.
The first stop was the medical complex A.K.A. the home of Dante. Dante greeted them at the entrance and gave them the grand tour. Which was mostly the medical equipment that he and Laurie designed. He wasn't just bragging the equipment was state of the art. Nest was engineering/intelligence Connie and Andie's domain, where Duo was promptly bombarded by hugs form the mechanics and slaps on the back. "so you're Andie's kid huh? Know anything about engines?" A man with dredds asked. Duo ginned, " I own a salvage yard on L2, yeah." The guy grinned and looked at Andie. "He's got your tude girlie." he said Andie was beaming a Duo. Andie sighed and began to speak. "Well 'angel baby' and friends this is where I work. We make some of the finest engines here and its my job to see that these slackers don't mess anything up. Connie here's the top brass, but I'm the one that does all the work. At least until the newbie comes in." Andie joked. "Ha Ha old lady." Connie said with a smile. "Yeah, and we also are going to branch off into aerodynamics depending on how Connie's prototype plane flies. God thats a beautiful piece of machinery." Andie saidwith a glazed over look.
"Hmm, you fight, you hack, look absolutely fabulous in leather, and sesign prtotype planes. Is there anything else you can do?" Wuatre asked looking at Connie. Connie's smile cecame wicked as she saddled up close to Quatre. She whispered in his ear and everyone watched Quatre turn the shade of a ripe tomato. Then a wicked gleam came into his eyes, "Prove it." he said picking her up in a fireman's carry and leaving the room. Down the hall they could hear her say, "make a left, third dor on the left." All the engineers and Valerie cracked up laughing. Andie looked at the pilots' questioning looks nd said, "Maintenance Closet." Duo promptly fell o the floor laughing. "Way to go Q-man!" he hooted.
"Injustice! Maxwell you have corupted Winner!" Wufei said whil everyone's laughter at the situation got louder. Even Heeroand the stoic Trowa had looks on their faces. They always knew Quatre wasn't 'innocent' so to speak, but they never thought he'd be blatant. Valerie was trying not to laugh it made her sides hurt. Heero bent down to her ear and said, "I need to talk to you tonight." Valerie knodded. "After dinner."
"Well I guess we'll see them later in R&D. We haven't told Laurie yet we wanted you to be a surprise for her and plus she has a surprise for you too." Andie said with a grin that looked like Duo's. 'Its hereditary.' Wufei thought with a sigh. The rest of the tour was amazing but routine. The most impressive was the gym/training area. Equipped with the latest diagnostic readouts, weight training machines, saunas, and an olympic sized indoor heated swimming pool. Noot to mention the med lab and the gym were also self-contained rehab centers too. The gym even had a room whre you could program training scenarios in a holographic projector. Heero and the others wanted to try this out immediately, but they had to get to R&D.
Duo looked like a nervous wredk. Andie and a resently resurfaced Dante gave him a reassuring not as they entered R&D. All over there were people scurring and computers clicking. Then Laurie came bounding over with Marimia and a toddler around the age of one which Marimia was carrying. "This place is so cool mom! The VR game is so much fun. I like the racecar sym. the best. And my new friend here, Dominique is so cute!" Marimia gushed taking to Lady Une and bouncing Dominique. "Cute kid." Duo said reaching for the baby. She practically jumped into his arms. "Hmmm. She never does that and now she's done it twice today already. Usually she's a bit standoffish about strangers and she doesn't let anyone pick her up let alone go to them." Laurie said puzzled. "Um your kid?" Duo gulped asking. "Yeah thats my Dominique or Demoness as my co-workers call her." Laurie smiled. "Yeah she's a real demon to babysit, tets into everything and sneaks off without a sound." A tall dark hared mansaid walking up and offering his hand. "Yeah but she's partly my fault too. Nick Wolf." he said. Duo got this goofy grin and threw the little girl in the air and caught her. Dominique giggled. "I'm an uncle. Cool." He said. Laurie gave her mother a look then it dawned on her and she started to cry. "Dom?" she said as she touched his face. "I can't believe I have my wholw family again. Hey everybody this is my brother!" She whooped and lab techs turned back to what they were doing like her outbursts were a normal occurance; which they were along with the lab exploding.
Laurie looked around at the nonreaction she got and shrugged and glomped Duo and Dominique. Her mother laughted and said, "Things are going to be som much more interesting around here valerie." Valerie knodded. Duo squeezed Laurie tight. "I got a lot of birthdays to make up for kiddo." Duo said to his sister. "So do I", she said.
"So you think the kid's cute?' Dante asked. "We like grand children, we expect one from you now." Andie chimed in. Duo paled again. "I don't thilnk I could make one this cute." Duo said getting getting up and holding Dominique like a football. "Duo she's a little girl not a football." Sally scolded reaching for the baby. Dominique jumped to her. Sally then went off into baby talk land. "Wufei don't you think she's cute? Here hold her." Sally said reaching him the baby. Dominique smiled at him and said, "Fei!" wufie was moosh and took her Dominique rested her head on his shoulder.
"Laurie I think we've lost our little demoness ans she's not even a teenager yet." Nick said wiping a mock tear away. "She likes you Wu-Man! Look Sally he's a natural." Duo teased. "Maxwell! Shut. Up." Wufei Said Shootilng daggers at Duo. "And don't call me Wu-man!" Then Wufei got a ferel grin on his face. "Yes, she is a cute kid. I bet yours'and Hilde's kids would look great. Just think of all the fun a whole house full of little Maxwells would be." He said. duo paled again and Hilde got a far of look in her eyes. Duo mouthed to Wufei, "You are so dead." Wufei mouthed back, "You wish Baka." Sally said, "You're a natural dear. She absolutely adores you." Dominique hugged his neck and cooed. "the onna has taste, even though she is related to Mazwell." Wufei said. Everyone laughed and he handed Dominique back to Laurie.
Part 14: Reunions and something extra: part 1
By Animefreek
Dawn: The Storm Industries Complex
Duo, Hilde, and Quatre were the first to arrove at the complex. Connie and Lady Une were already there. "Whoa, dude theis place is huge its like a selfcontained city." Duo saild looking around at the apartments, research and development buildings, and some sort of training facility that seems to be very high security. "Q-man what do ya make of that building?" Duo said pointing toward the high security building. Quatre frowned, "I don't know, but tim sure we won't like it." He said.
"Mr. Winner, Mr. Maxwell, Ms. Schreibecker?" A high pitched voce asked. "Yes." Quatre answered. "Hello, I'm Laurie Wkolf, head of Storm R&D labs, but my co-workers call me Q as a joke. Sorry I didn't meet you at the gates but there was a slight problem in the labs tis morning with one of my interns ns some helium." Laurie looked to be about 20 with small brads throughout her copper colored hair with colored beads. Her eyes were the same color as her hair. she wor what looked like a spandex blue uniform under her lab coat.
"Why do they call you Q?" Hilde asked. Laurie grinned. "Hmm. Have you ever seen any of those old 20th century James Bond Movies? Well there's a guy in them who makes the hero's cool gadgets. Its what I do here." "Cool so you made that staff she uses." Hilde said. "Yeah amkong other things. That weapon was my first design, but the jideas was Miss Storm's. My job is to take someone's idea and make it a reality." Laurie said with pride.
"Wolf, Wolf? I've heard that name before." Quatre said as the walked. "You should Mr. Winner I used to work for Winner Telecommunications." Laurie said with a small chuckle. "Yes now I remember, Ms. Storm stole you away from me." Quatre said. "No Ms. Storm just made me a better offer. Free raine over an entire department, ckomplee freedom to explore and improve on any idea. Plus all the department heads have a seat on the board. How could I say no?" Laurie said. " She must trust you very much to give you a seat on the bard." quatre said. "It has nothing to do with trust and Ms. storm doesn't give anyone anything I earned my color." Laurie said.
"Color?" Duo asked. "Yes. KYou see the darker your uniform csolor the higher your rank." "Explain." Suo said as they walked and her looked around at the employees. "Okay, there are four basic colors to the uniforms here blue, green, black, and red. Black signifiles you're the head, only Ms. Winters and Ms. Storm's uniforms are black. Blue means you're second in command, the darker the blue the higher the rank. Blue is the reserved uniform color of R&D. Rookies in the division wear sky blue. Stay away from the rookies they'll get you in trouble. Most of them have some problems with "authority." Green uniforms signify your're with the ensgineering and intelligence. Thets where you'll find Connie most of the time, tinkering with her 'baby.'" Then Laurie stopped as if she'd said skomething wrong. Duo and Quatre let it slide andt put that look she gave away until later questions. "And the red uifroms?" Hilde asked. "Oh the red unifroms are not really in use. They only come out in dire circumstances and so far we haven't had to wear them." Laurie said with a worried face. "Who wears the red uniforms ans wht do they mean?" Hilde asked.
"Well basically the top brass of the company, so it'd be myself, Ms. Winters, Ms. Storm, and the co-head of the engineering and intellegience division. she'll be arriving today. She's a newbie but form her records she's sthe best up and coming intel analyizer out there. As for what the uniforms mean I'll let Ms. Storm or Ms. Winters explain that if the time comes."
Meanwhile Connie sat with Lady Une and Marimia in her plush office/conference room. "I hope your rooms are satisfactory." Connie said breaking the silence. "Yes more than. If I didn't know what I do about Valerie I'd swear she'd been spying on me tkofilnd my likes and dislikes." Lady Une said with a smile. "Yeah my room is so cool! It has everything! Marimia dbust out and then caught herself. "Sorry." she said. "No need, that used to be my room when the place was first built, Valerie made sure I wouldn't be bodred when she was away." Connie said. "And no need to be sorry we're not very formal. Most of the 'grown-ups' here are very relaxed about rank." Marimila smiled. There was a knock at the door and a young woman with Copper hair and eyes popped her head in. "Yo, Connie some of our guests have arrived. Oh and he is cute." Laudrie said with a teasing smile. "Thank you Q, and shut up." Connie said in a low almost menacing tone. Laurie smiled and let the trio into the conference room. "Well I'll be in the labs if anybody needs me." Laurie said. "Hey Q why don't you take Marimia with you You can show her the new VR program you've been working on." Connie suggested. " Sure! Always ready to show off. Come on Marimia this is giong to be fun." Laurie said. With that done sthe two scurried kout of the room. Connie kind of had a worried look on her face when they left.
"What's wrong?" Quatre asked. Connie smiled a bit and said, "Nothing I hope. Its just that when some body from R&D says they're going to show off that could mean one of three things:
1. Something is giong sto blow up soon.
2. Somebody's going to be blown up.
3. Something really cool is going to happen.
I don't care for the explosions but I hate missing the cool stuff." Connie pouted. "Hey I wouldn't mind an explosiion." Duo said. "You would if you had to rebuild a part of the lab almost every month. They're costing us a forturne." Connie said. Quatre laughed, then became serious. "When will the others arrive?" quatre asked. "Trowa and his sister will be here soon they called a little while ago and Noin, Zechs, and Heero will be bringig Valerie within the next hour. Artemis will be with them as well in tkhe next hour." Sally and Wu-bear should be hear any minute now." Connie said with a smirk. "Please don't call him that when he gets here his rants are very trying at times." Lady Une said. "And what about the other Preventors?" Hilde asked.
"Most of them have been put on standby. Only my most capable and loyal Preventors will bde allowed jinto the complex for security reasons." Une answered. "Yes the are a few devices in the complex that would be deemed 'illegal' by the public, but they'll be necessary to keep this war small or at least in space and away from the conlonies." Connie explained.
"Yes how are the colonies handlling all of this?" connie asked. " They're scared and unfortunately after the 'display' the enemy's Gundum put up at least those two have goined forces with Tiger's Claw. I'll give tigress this much she knows exactly what buttons to push." Quatre said.
Meanwhile at the Hospital
Heero was patiently sitting in a chair next to Valerie's bed waiting for her to wake up. He'd gone straight back to the hospital after packing a duffle bag of his things frm his apartment. He was determined not to let Valerie leave him again.
Valerie had been partially awake for an hour now and was watching Heero form underneath her eyelashes. She didn't know if she should speak or let him speak first. It was then that Noin and Milliardo made their appearence. Milliardo glared at Heero whil Noin gently shook Valerie. "Valerie its almost time to leave." Noin whispered. Noinw as surprisedto hear a fully awake voice come from her future sister-in-law and former charge. " I know. I'm ready when you are." Valerie said as she tried to sit up. Tried being the best word to describe the almost movement of her torso before she whimpered and layed back down. This ended the glaring contest between Milliardo and Heero as they bodth came to her side. Noin wished sheo could make men jump like that.
"Rel...Valerie, you shouldn't move like that, the doctor says you'll be out of commisiion for at least a month." Milliardo said. "A month." Valerie whined. Of all the things that he missed about having his little sister around it was that whine. It was the same tone she used whe he came to get her for a political meeting. Heero thought it was cute too and Noin almost caught a dreal smile on his face.
"I'll get a wheelchair." Heero said matter-of-factly. "So you guys ready to see my place?" Valerie asked. "I really think we should be at the palace." Milliardo said. Valerie smirked. "Trust me, Storm Industries has better security." She really didn't want to go back to the palade anyway. She wanted to be in her own element. "I think you'll like it, something interesting is always happening there." Valerie said with a weak smile. "When we get there I'll have Connie give everyone the grand tour." "Its an industrial complex ther can't be that much to see." Noin said. "You'd be surprised." Valerie said.
Back at the Complex Wufei and Sally had just arrived to be greeted by Dante Anders the head of the medical unit. "Mr. Chang, Ms. Po welcome to S.I. I'm Dr. Dante Anders head of the medical division." Dr. Anders was in his mid-forties with slightly greeying short cut chestnet hair and dark almos indigo blue eyes and a devilish grin. He was clearly American with a fun and layed back air about him. "I've heard a lot about you and Mr. Chang. All good of course. I'll show you to Connie's conference room and maybe later I couold show you around the medical facilities here." Dante said as he gave Sally a small wink. "I'd love that. I've heard S.I. has made soe wonderful improvements on the current medical equipment." Sally said as they walked throought eh complex. "Improvements is an understatement. thanks to the lovely lady who is the head of the R&D we're using equipment that won't be acessable to the public for at least a decade. It's really revolutionary what we've made together." Dante said.
Wufei was silently fuming, how dare this man flirt with his onna. Especially since last night he actually claimed her as his. After all Valerie was right, llife is short, might as well spend it with someone you care about.
Sally couldn't help but think that this guy reminded her of someone.
They made it to a rather plush outer office and Dante told the secretary to anounce them. Sally was a bit taken back at the conference room. It was huge to say the least. Quatre could seat all 29 of his sisters and still have a lot of room to spare. Waiting for them already were Hilde, Duo, Quatre, Une, and Connie.
"Hey Dante, looking good." Connie said. "Always, Connie, always." Sante said while waggling his eyebrows a little. Wufei rolled his eyes this guy was as bad as Maxwell. Dante then focused on the occupants in the room especeallly the one with the long chestnut braid and Cobalt Blue eyes almost indigo like his. "Dominic? Is that you?" He asked.
~FLASHBACK~
A couple with two children are running for cover as a mobile suit attacks a near by building. The man is carrying a small boy on his hip and the woman is carrying a toddler, barely one. A little by the pink dress. "Over here!" he shouts. Leaning his head toward a building. "Dante it doesn't look safe." The young woman says worried. "Its safer than being outside right now Andie." Dante said as they went inside. They listened as the sounds of fighting gkot louder and closer. Dandte's saughter Laurie was crying and little Dominic was huddled close to his mother. Dante was getting worried the mobile suits were making the building wery unstable they'd have to leave soon. "Andie I want you ant ehe kids to go into the alley and wait for me there. We have to move agin the fighting is getting too close." Dante said. Andie knodded and took Dominic and Lauire outside. Andie looked around and found that Dante was right, the fighting was too close, but where could they go to escape. Then Dante stepped out. Everything after that was a blurr for Dante. there was thesound of falling stone, Dominic screaming, and him waking up in a hospital very bandaged and bruised to a weeping wife who now had a permanent limp to her once graceful stride, a baby girl who was remarkably unscaved, and the fact tat his son was dead.
~END FLASHBACK~
Duo stared at the mand before him with his mouth open. Dominic was dead or so he thought. Dminic died with his parents that day and he became a no name street kid. And now stnding right in front of him was his Dad. Duo's emotions raced across his face. He didn't know whether to hug the man or punch him for not coming to find him.
Dante made the dcisionn for him and hugged him tightly. "Your name's Dominic?" Hilde asked. "Yes his name's Dominic Angelus Anders. God! We thought you were dead. Oh God if we'd have known..." Dante said. Suo was stunned but still managed to studder out, "We?" "Yes, your mother and sister are here. Oh my God we've got to call Andie in here." Dante said as he pushed a button on the intercom. "Susie call my wife in here ASAP." Dante said.
"You all are alive, I thought that you were crushed under that building. Mom, Laurie... OH MY GOD. Lourie wouldn't happen to be Laurie Wolf of R&D would it?" Dup asked with eyes wide open. Sante smirked, "yeah. wolf is her married name got married about a year ago. Hah! Wait until she realizes that her big brother was standing right next to her and she didn't know it. She'll be so shocked and nervous she'll be blowing things up in the lab for a week!" Dante laughed. Connie moaned in the background.
Behind Duo, Hilde was looking at the resemblance between the two. It was amazing. sme hair, same smile. Duo was definately only going to get better with age. Just then a woman with a limp using a cane came in. She had Copper hair and eyes and looke like an older version of Laurie. Duo just looked at her stunned.
"Dante what's the all fired hurry? I was schecking the intake on the new engines. Why are you staring young man?" Andie asked looking at the braided 21 year old iln front of her then all at once she started to cry and drop to her knees. Duo rushed in and swept up her sagging fokrm. "Dominic? Please tell me its you? Tell me I'm not dreaming again." Andie said in between sobs. "Mom." Was all Duo couldmanage to say but it was enough for Andie.
The others in the room just stared at the familial scene ans smiled. "This is touching. Makes you want to go out and start a family of your own." connie said wiping away some tears. Quatre and Wufie audibly gulped as Connie and Sally sent them looks. Even though Duo was enveloped in a hug he managed to send Wufie and Quatre a grin and mouth, "Kiss bachelorhood goodbye."
Andie then caught sight of Hilde and smiled. "Who's this?" She asked. Duo straightened up and said, "Mom, Dad this is my girlfriend Hilde." Andie smiled. "You always did have a thing for brunettes, even in preschool you were the litte charmer." "Really? Does this mean I have to watch you around Noin?" Hilde teased. "Babe you know You're the only one for me." Duo said. "Anyway, Zechs would kill me if I even tried." He said cheekily.
"Don't believe him honey. I can tell right now he's his father's son and it took him forever to marry me." Andie said. "And if I'm not mistaken he's probably inherited his father's sense of humoror lack there of. Let me guess practical jokes every other day on his friend." She continued.
Quatre and Wufei groaned. Dante smiled. 'New targets.', he thought. Hilde laughed. Andie came over and hugged her. The The American woman turned toward her 5'5' frmae "She's adorable Dominic, she's a keeper. Your kids will be absolutely gorgeous." Andie teased. Hilde blushed and Duo sputtered.
Quatre then thought of something. "Your middle name is Angelus?" He said with a grin. "Yes, he's my wittle angel baby." Andie said in baby talk. "Not to ake away from the family scene, but your 'Wittle Angel baby' is a preventor and ex-gundam pilot. Onna I suggest you let us get settled and down to business." Wufei said. Dante went pale as he noticed the 'look'. The look that said, 'I-CAN'T-BELIEVE-HE-JUST-SAID-THAT.' Andie smiled at Hilde and Duo before she turned to Wufei and put on a veneir of ice. "Okay lets get one thing straight. My name is Mrs. Andrea Anders not onna. I WILL talk to my son for as long as I want, because I've missed most of his life already." She then spun her cane under Wufei'd feet tripping him up.
Connie stood as someone else entered the room and cleared their throats. All heads turned to see a visibly stunned Millilardo and Noin, a stoic Heero, and a grinning Valerie in a wheelchair, closely followed by Trowa and his sister Catherine. Duo turned to them and said, "Hi guys! Meet the Folks!" Andie shook her head in laughter, Dante and Dominic were definately related.
Soon everyone was settled in their rooms and had gathered again for the grand tour of the complex. Valerie was in her wheelchair which was pushed dutifully by Connie.
The first stop was the medical complex A.K.A. the home of Dante. Dante greeted them at the entrance and gave them the grand tour. Which was mostly the medical equipment that he and Laurie designed. He wasn't just bragging the equipment was state of the art. Nest was engineering/intelligence Connie and Andie's domain, where Duo was promptly bombarded by hugs form the mechanics and slaps on the back. "so you're Andie's kid huh? Know anything about engines?" A man with dredds asked. Duo ginned, " I own a salvage yard on L2, yeah." The guy grinned and looked at Andie. "He's got your tude girlie." he said Andie was beaming a Duo. Andie sighed and began to speak. "Well 'angel baby' and friends this is where I work. We make some of the finest engines here and its my job to see that these slackers don't mess anything up. Connie here's the top brass, but I'm the one that does all the work. At least until the newbie comes in." Andie joked. "Ha Ha old lady." Connie said with a smile. "Yeah, and we also are going to branch off into aerodynamics depending on how Connie's prototype plane flies. God thats a beautiful piece of machinery." Andie saidwith a glazed over look.
"Hmm, you fight, you hack, look absolutely fabulous in leather, and sesign prtotype planes. Is there anything else you can do?" Wuatre asked looking at Connie. Connie's smile cecame wicked as she saddled up close to Quatre. She whispered in his ear and everyone watched Quatre turn the shade of a ripe tomato. Then a wicked gleam came into his eyes, "Prove it." he said picking her up in a fireman's carry and leaving the room. Down the hall they could hear her say, "make a left, third dor on the left." All the engineers and Valerie cracked up laughing. Andie looked at the pilots' questioning looks nd said, "Maintenance Closet." Duo promptly fell o the floor laughing. "Way to go Q-man!" he hooted.
"Injustice! Maxwell you have corupted Winner!" Wufei said whil everyone's laughter at the situation got louder. Even Heeroand the stoic Trowa had looks on their faces. They always knew Quatre wasn't 'innocent' so to speak, but they never thought he'd be blatant. Valerie was trying not to laugh it made her sides hurt. Heero bent down to her ear and said, "I need to talk to you tonight." Valerie knodded. "After dinner."
"Well I guess we'll see them later in R&D. We haven't told Laurie yet we wanted you to be a surprise for her and plus she has a surprise for you too." Andie said with a grin that looked like Duo's. 'Its hereditary.' Wufei thought with a sigh. The rest of the tour was amazing but routine. The most impressive was the gym/training area. Equipped with the latest diagnostic readouts, weight training machines, saunas, and an olympic sized indoor heated swimming pool. Noot to mention the med lab and the gym were also self-contained rehab centers too. The gym even had a room whre you could program training scenarios in a holographic projector. Heero and the others wanted to try this out immediately, but they had to get to R&D.
Duo looked like a nervous wredk. Andie and a resently resurfaced Dante gave him a reassuring not as they entered R&D. All over there were people scurring and computers clicking. Then Laurie came bounding over with Marimia and a toddler around the age of one which Marimia was carrying. "This place is so cool mom! The VR game is so much fun. I like the racecar sym. the best. And my new friend here, Dominique is so cute!" Marimia gushed taking to Lady Une and bouncing Dominique. "Cute kid." Duo said reaching for the baby. She practically jumped into his arms. "Hmmm. She never does that and now she's done it twice today already. Usually she's a bit standoffish about strangers and she doesn't let anyone pick her up let alone go to them." Laurie said puzzled. "Um your kid?" Duo gulped asking. "Yeah thats my Dominique or Demoness as my co-workers call her." Laurie smiled. "Yeah she's a real demon to babysit, tets into everything and sneaks off without a sound." A tall dark hared mansaid walking up and offering his hand. "Yeah but she's partly my fault too. Nick Wolf." he said. Duo got this goofy grin and threw the little girl in the air and caught her. Dominique giggled. "I'm an uncle. Cool." He said. Laurie gave her mother a look then it dawned on her and she started to cry. "Dom?" she said as she touched his face. "I can't believe I have my wholw family again. Hey everybody this is my brother!" She whooped and lab techs turned back to what they were doing like her outbursts were a normal occurance; which they were along with the lab exploding.
Laurie looked around at the nonreaction she got and shrugged and glomped Duo and Dominique. Her mother laughted and said, "Things are going to be som much more interesting around here valerie." Valerie knodded. Duo squeezed Laurie tight. "I got a lot of birthdays to make up for kiddo." Duo said to his sister. "So do I", she said.
"So you think the kid's cute?' Dante asked. "We like grand children, we expect one from you now." Andie chimed in. Duo paled again. "I don't thilnk I could make one this cute." Duo said getting getting up and holding Dominique like a football. "Duo she's a little girl not a football." Sally scolded reaching for the baby. Dominique jumped to her. Sally then went off into baby talk land. "Wufei don't you think she's cute? Here hold her." Sally said reaching him the baby. Dominique smiled at him and said, "Fei!" wufie was moosh and took her Dominique rested her head on his shoulder.
"Laurie I think we've lost our little demoness ans she's not even a teenager yet." Nick said wiping a mock tear away. "She likes you Wu-Man! Look Sally he's a natural." Duo teased. "Maxwell! Shut. Up." Wufei Said Shootilng daggers at Duo. "And don't call me Wu-man!" Then Wufei got a ferel grin on his face. "Yes, she is a cute kid. I bet yours'and Hilde's kids would look great. Just think of all the fun a whole house full of little Maxwells would be." He said. duo paled again and Hilde got a far of look in her eyes. Duo mouthed to Wufei, "You are so dead." Wufei mouthed back, "You wish Baka." Sally said, "You're a natural dear. She absolutely adores you." Dominique hugged his neck and cooed. "the onna has taste, even though she is related to Mazwell." Wufei said. Everyone laughed and he handed Dominique back to Laurie.