Chapter Twenty-Two
On The Record

It had been a day and a half since Serena had last seen Heero. Trowa had come to her room, bringing her food as always. He wasn't able to stay the whole day and while she was starting to grow fond of the time they spent together, at the same time, she was grateful for the time alone. She needed the time to herself. Time to think of what her next decision would be.

Unfortunately, time wasn't going to be on her side that day. Heero walked into the room like he was on a mission. She eyed him carefully as he came to stand a few feet away from her. His jaw was set and his eyes were narrowed into slits. She wondered briefly if this was due in part to what had happened almost two days ago. Were they able to obtain any information from Watson? And if so, what did he reveal to them?

"Get dressed," Heero said in a commanding tone.

"Why?" Her brow arched in question.

"Get dressed. Now," his tone left no room for an argument.

After a brief standoff, Serena got up. Grabbing a pair of jeans and a shirt, she headed towards the bathroom. Within a few minutes, she reemerged to find Heero thrusting a pair of shoes into her hands. She glared at him as she put them on. Once she was finished, Heero grabbed her arm, dragging her out of the room.

Trowa stood in the small room leaning against one of the walls. His arms were crossed as he kept his head bowed. Une, along with Duo, were in the room with him. Une's mood was apparent as she stood staring at the large window that was opposite him, with her arms crossed over her chest. Her eyes were tightened around the edges as she waited for the next person to be brought in. Duo had been quiet as he stood off to the side of her.

Duo's posture was similar to how Trowa's stance was. Though his mood was sullen. The interrogation of Muller Watson resulted in little information and now one deceased lead.

Early that morning when rounds were made to check on him, Wufei had found him lying on the floor. His bedsheet wrapped tightly around his neck. It wasn't what they needed right now. But there was nothing they could do about it. Whatever secrets he held, went with his last breath.

When Trowa heard the door open to the other room, he lifted his head in time to see Serena walk through the door followed by Heero. He shot Une a look.

"Is this necessary?"

Une betrayed nothing as she kept her gaze trained on the two in the other room

"For the record… yes."

Trowa glanced at Duo who only briefly made eye contact with him. Trowa tightened his eyes as he looked back through the window. Serena was standing near one of the chairs. Her arms were by her side as she looked at Heero. Her lips were pressed into a thin line. No other hint of what she may be thinking about.

"Sit," Heero's voice broke through the silence of the other room.

"Is this an interrogation?"

"Sit," Heero said with a little more force this time. Serena moved to sit in the chair. Crossing her arms, she hardened her eyes as Heero moved around the table. Taking a seat opposite of her. Their gazes locked as he folded his hands in front of himself.

Trowa saw out of the corner of his eye as Une moved to press a red button located just below the glass window. A red light glowed. Indicating that the session was being recorded.

Heero waited a moment before starting his line of questioning. He glanced up to see the red light above the two-way mirror turn red, telling him Une had started the recording.

"What is your name?"

"Which one?" Serena asked with a hint of smugness in her voice. Heero knew she was angry. She had made sure to tell him before they walked to the integration room. But he wasn't going to let it get in the way of what he needed to do.

"Original."

"Delta," Serena said, folding her hands together on the table.

"Is that the code name that was given to you?"

"Yes."

"What name do you go by now?" Heero's voice still held the authoritative edge he had when he started.

"Serena Lowell."

"How old are you?"

"Actual? Or-"

"How old are you?" Heero asked again, cutting her off.

"Twenty-two," Serena's eyes tightened.

"Where are you from?" Heero didn't waver. Her age wasn't a necessity but if he was going to do this, he was going to do it right.

"L1," she said

"Why are you on Earth?"

"Work." Heero glared at her. "Reconnaissance mission," she glared back at him. He knew he was going to strike a nerve with his next question.

"Who do you work for?"

"Edwards," there's a small pause before she continued, "Revolution of Edwards." Heero saw the hesitation in her eyes. Going back to one of their very first conversations he remembered that she had said he, then quickly changed it to they. Serena hadn't made the same mistake when they were in Une's office. He knew she was lying, but he couldn't figure out why. It almost seemed like she was protecting the organization.

"What is their objective?

"Complete control of the Earth Sphere and the Colonies."

"How do they plan to do this?" Serena sat unmovingly. Her face had changed, she wasn't glaring at him anymore. But he couldn't read her. After a few minutes without her answering Heero tightened his gaze. "Answer the question."

"They want to change the ruling order of the ESUN and eliminate the embodiment of the government as a whole. One leader, one ruling order. They want to replace all delegates from the senate, with their own. Similar to Romefeller. They plan to do this by using key figures already established. Such as the Vice Foreign Minister of Affairs. They want Vice Minister Darlian to persuade the citizens of both Earth and the Colonies to accept the new ruling Government. Force will be used when necessary."

"Keep going," Heero's voice dropped to a low growl.

"I can't give you information I don't have," Serena said. Heero watched her face. She betrayed nothing. He wanted more information but he thought that switching topics might give him some more hints.

"What can you tell me about Muller Watson?"

"That idiot?" Serena laughed darkly. "He's an ex-White Fang and OZ Special-Troop soldier. Trained as an MS pilot. He came highly recommended from what I've heard."

"Watson is associated with ROE?"

"Yes."

"Is that how you were able to recognize him two days ago?"

"Yes."

"Do you know why he would attempt to assassinate the Vice Foreign Minister?" Heero narrowed his eyes. He was still unsettled by what had happened.

"Orders were never to harm the Minister. Why he was attempting to do so is unknown to me."

"Do you believe orders were changed for them to gain an upper hand?"

"No," Serena shook her head. "It would be foolish on their part if Darlian were to be killed."

Heero watched her for a moment. He had seen a flash of anger pass through her eyes when she spoke. The nagging voice, he had come to deem annoying, was at the forefront of his mind. It was telling him that she was still just as unsettled by what had happened as he was. He ignored the voice for now. There were still more questions he needed to ask.

"We've learned that there have been illegal shipments of metals being sent and received by ROE. What types of metals are these and what are they being used for?"

Serena glanced at the mirror, her face changing. Heero knew then that she was debating whether she was going to be truthful with them or not. Taking a deep breath she turned her eyes back to him.

"Do you want to know?" Heero nodded his head. He moved to cross his arms over his chest as he stared at her. "Repairs to the resource satellites they've obtained. Along with private and shipping shuttles…" Serena trailed off, her eyes downcast. She took another breath before she spoke. "Weapons. Not just for guns and ammunition, but to repair Mobile Suits from both wars."

"They've been getting Titanium Alloy?"

"Yes…"

Heero tightened his eyes as he leaned forward, "you mean to tell me after all this time that they have suits that are being rebuilt?" Serena said nothing in response, keeping her eyes averted. "What do they plan to do with them?" The words seething from his mouth.

"They were able to obtain the suits from some of the private companies who assisted in the clean-up after the wars. Since Preventer was formed after AC 195, they hired private companies to help," Serena said, meeting his gaze.

Heero knew this, but he knew she was also stating it for the record as well.

"One of those companies was sold by Winner Corp back in AC 190. The shipping company that the Winner's once owned was sold to someone who was associated with Romefeller, back then at least. After the wars, the company was hired by ESUN to help Preventer with collecting debris. Just not all of it was ever recorded and turned over."

Two knocks came from the mirror right after Serena had stopped speaking. Turning his head he glared at the mirror as he stood from his chair. It wasn't long before Une entered the room. Instead of sitting down in the chair that he had been occupying, she leaned over the table letting her long brown hair fall over the dark olive and black Preventer jacket.

"They're manufacturing Mobile Suits," Une's voice was harsh. As if reprimanding a small child. "Are they manufacturing anything else?" Serena kept her gaze hard as she stared at the head of Preventer. "I'll ask one more time, are they manufacturing anything else?"

Serena lifted her chin as she continued to hold Une's gaze. Heero knew then, without a shred of doubt, what Serena had been so hesitant to tell them. It only meant one thing. War.

A/N

Happy Monday!

I had a lot of fun writing this chapter and I still remember it from years ago. I wanted to play with Serena's attitude and the annoyance she causes Heero. While she did give up some more information, I hope you're caught on to the fact that she's still not sure which things to tell them. There's going to be another chapter posted because this was so short and granted at this point I'm sure everyone can figure things out by now... if not, well you'll find out in the next one. So on to the next! (In a little while because I forgot I was doing a double upload and need to check over the chapter first. I keep making edits still.)

-MM

I decided I wanted to add something. When Serena asked Heero about her age, she's referring to her actual age, which would be six, lol because she's only been alive six years, or the age she was aged to. She was only doing that to push his buttons a little, and also a reminder that she technically hasn't been alive that long.