ttw5

Thicker than Water
five


Miss Relena, someone called, entering the cabin soon after Relena replaced the album and cleaned up the spilled drink, Miss Relena Darlian?

She winced, not sure of who she really was now. Relena stepped out of her bedroom, buttoning up a shirt that replaced her pajamas. She also wore a pair of khaki shorts. Dorothy? Dorothy, what are you doing here?

I should be asking you the same, she mused, you're stronger than that, Miss Relena. I was sure that you would be trying to get away.

Relena sat down on the couch again, the television still displaying crummy daytime TV. Dorothy let herself in and took a seat on the love seat across from Relena. Let me guess, Relena began, you're in cahoots with the kidnapper, Harlequin.

Dorothy chuckled. Oh, because of the mask. Well, I guess you could say that I'm working with him, in various ways.

They traded a few moments of silence before Dorothy snuck past the communication lines her superior had laid down for her. She was going to tell Relena what was really going on. Relena, do you remember the Peacemillion?

She nodded.

Well, it was owned by the Sweeper group, Dorothy crossed her legs, intentional emphasis placed on was. A group of misled soldiers left over from the White Fang hijacked it from a satellite. Now they're using it to place threats like a bunch of drunken yahoos. They seem to think that the soldiers got the short end of the proverbial, Dorothy made air quotation marks and made an irritated face,

Relena blinked at Dorothy, not sure where she was going. They want what, exactly?

They want a place to feel comfortable. Without a military organization, they don't have anywhere to go.

What about Preventer?

Dorothy picked a bit of fuzz from the shoulder of her blazer. This little group was a bit too peculiar to join Preventer. And for good reason, so it seems.

How large is this group, Dorothy? Relena leaned forward, getting worried about the rise of another war. Don't hold back now, tell me what's going on.

About half of the living remains of the White Fang group, led by a man named Gershwin. I think that he's someone from the old Romefeller Foundation. Perhaps a son or grandson.

The problem at hand shoved the ordeal about her family out of the way. Relena started to create a list of alternative solutions. One, she could contact Preventer. Two, she could meet them in person to try and reason. Not much else sifted through as she watched Dorothy's glossy eyes drill into her.

Dorothy fiddled with a small figurine of a cougar on the coffee table, what are we going to do now, Miss Relena?

Then it struck her. We? Why do we have to do anything? Harlequin made it obvious that he was trying to stop this, like he said in a letter he left me.

Dorothy's eyebrows lowered over her eyes, expressing the first vantages of her anger.

He seems to think that I'm in danger with them. Probably because I started this whole peace thing, Relena stood up and mocked herself. Maybe I should just hide out here and let the world start fighting again, Dorothy. Wouldn't you enjoy that?

Her hands clenched, turning her fingers white. No. No, Relena, I would not.

Instead of looking inflamed, Relena looked sad and lonely. Then what are you trying to do here?

I want you to stop falling into this pre ordered life the ESUN put you into. She got to her feet as well. Can't you see that they're sucking the life out of you? Where were you happy? Where did you find life at its most pleasurable?

I don't have the choice to pick what life I lead. I have to do what's best for the people. I live for the people and the peace of the world.

Fed up with Relena's self-righteous, self-improving, self-inspried shtick, Dorothy threw her arm back and slapped her. Relena's hand went to her reddened cheek, and she closed her eyes in shame.

I'm sorry.

To be continued...