"I trust you're doing well Miss Relena?" The pilot asked, shaking ever so slightly. He stood in front of the symbol of peace and was finding it hard to keep his awe in check. Relena smiled and the pilot nearly fainted.
"I'll be well once we're in the air Captain Everett." He smiled wide and bowed.
"It will be a pleasure flying with you ma'am! Mai will show you to your seat."
Relena turned to the stewardess and found she had to take a deep breath. The woman was possibly the most gorgeous person she'd ever seen before. She wore a crown of raven black hair that tumbled down a perfect head, resting comfortably on her back. Her eyes were jade green and they sparkled underneath long blue lashes. Relena blinked, blue lashes? That seemed... strange. She was just tired that was all. Then why did the woman have black eyebrows if she had blue eyelashes?
Relena sighed. As of late, everything seemed insane to her.
"Hello Miss Relena," Mai said, her voice flowing smooth as cream. "May I show you to your seat?" Relena shivered involuntarily. That woman, there was something wrong with her. Perhaps it was the slight smug glimmer in her eyes or... Relena stopped herself. There was nothing else to be said, for Relena understood her at once. Yes, she knew what Mai was.
Relena nodded and allowed Mai to show her to her seat. The shuttle was spacious as one could be and as Relena entered the passenger area she saw that many of the Gundam pilots were already there.
She sat down and sighed. Now all she had to do was prepare herself for what she'd have to do next. Slowly, the shuttle filled with everyone that would be taking the trip. Last to board was Heero, and he sat in the back. She looked down at her hands, still confused about why she had been so mean to him.
'Blame it on your exhaustion,' she told herself. She cleared her throat and stood, her very presence commanding silence.
"As soon as we are in the air, everything will be cleared up. I just want to make sure that we're on our way first." With that she sat back down. Duo ambled forth and took a seat beside her, leaving a surprised looking Hilde in the row behind them.
The lights turn off for take off and everyone fastened their seat belts.
"Hi ya Relena!" He said cheerily. "Gee, I'd really like to know what the heck's going on!" Relena turned to him, her placid face very serious.
"Duo, I know you. Stop acting like the stupid American, I won't fall for it like everyone else. Please, just be patient and you'll find out soon enough. As of right now, I have to think about how I'll tell everyone." Relena looked down, frowning ever so slightly. They were going to hate her for this, she knew. However, she couldn't help but do it.
Suddenly they lifted off, and everyone was quiet for the moment. Then they evened out and the clank of removing seat belts could be heard. Relena sighed and stood once more. She pulled out a small recording device that she had placed underneath her seat before takeoff.
Duo was still sitting in his seat, trying to come out of his stupor. He shook his head and looked at Relena once more. This time with a different appreciation of the girl.
She pushed play on the box and the crackle of static could be heard, then something else.
"Hello Miss Relena." Sinister, dark, the voice the was so awful. It belonged to a man.
"Who am I speaking to?" Relena's voice now, this was a phone conversation. The pilots unconsciously leaned forward in their seats.
"Did you like the fireworks?"
"Who are you?"
"Now Miss Relena, all good things to those who wait."
"At least tell me why, why you did it!"
"I do believe that you know, my dear. There need be no explanations, you just didn't think that anyone else knew, did you?"
A sigh from Relena.
"Well, what do you want then?"
"You of course, I believe that you know how valuable you are. Your position is undeniably important."
"You want me to meet you?"
"No, I want you to give yourself over to me."
"You're insane."
"I'm not and you know it. Dearest, I propose a trade. I have a friend of yours over here. A Lady Une to be exact. Forgot about her, didn't you now? Would you like to speak to her? Here she is!"
There was a moment of silence and then:
"Miss Relena, don't..." It was undeniable. That was Une's voice.
"Une?" Relena cried.
"That's right!" The man was back. "Now I could kill her! Would you like that? I mean, I know she's not the best hostage after all she did kill your father, but... You ARE Relena Peacecraft sovereign of peace and all that is good and wholesome and shit like that. Will you make a deal with me?"
"I'm not going to negotiate a hostage situation with you," she replied, anger apparent in her words.
"Oh I think you will. You should come to the Ottoman base, bring your friends. That way they can retrieve dear Lady Une. Step off the shuttle and your fate is sealed my dear, there's no escape. I know your dirty little secret, I'm not afraid to destroy Haven. I don't think you want me to either! You've got far too much resting on that now don't you?"
"How.."
"No! I want an answer! Yes... or no." Without hesitation.
"Yes."
"Very well, my dear, see you at Ottoman, or what was Ottoman..." A chuckle and the phone clicked.
Relena looked up once the message was up. All eyes upon her and not a one blinked.
Author's Note: I know what you're thinking. Who the heck's Mai, what's Haven and who's the big bad guy with red eyes? Like he said, all good things to those who wait! Till then, luv to everyone and drink your milk! That is all~JZero
