Canta Per Me
Episode 16: The Order of Assassination, Part I
Disclaimer: ClareBear owns nothing, but this story. Use with permission. Gundam Wing and Noir belong to their respective owners.
Author's Note: This is the fun episode that I have been planning to write all along. ^_^ You can imagine my excitement. For the people who have been wondering when Relena and Millardo/Zechs meet again, it's coming up. I've been slowly working up to it. Here's a question: what's the real difference between an assassin and a solider? Both are paid professionals, but the differences are present. Who has the nobler pursuit? I've been thinking of opening up a website by myself, but I haven't worked on it yet.
* * * * * *
"NOIR.
The word
designates the name of destiny from a distant time.
The two Virgo
reign over death.
May the Black
hands over the green field…
Please protect the newly born peace."
- opening from the anime, Noir.
Paris, France
'I am an assassin. Not just any assassin, but the assassin. I am feared by many and respected as well. I am not a solider. I only work for the money, but I am not held accountable for taking lives needlessly. I do not have a noble cause that I protect…I simply do as I am ordered to. I do not care if it is for my country or people. As an assassin, I don't have either. A solider cannot disobey or choose not to follow the orders of a commanding officer. I am above such concerns. I work when it is peace time. When the war is over for everyone else, mine began. I am Noir,' thought Relena as she sat on the park bench that she sat on with her uncle a few months back.
She watched as families had pinics, children played, and lovers met in front of her. She looked at the sky above her head and sight. There were just too many people around. Meia hadn't joined her for her walk to the park. Relena walked to the park to clear her head and remind herself what she was fighting for. She was fighting for the people she was watching, although they were unaware of it. She thought about her recent trip to the Sank Kingdom. Francisco Marx was a broken man who had regained his dignity and honor as he died. She came back on time, but there were no jobs waiting for her upon her return. The Preventers were rather quiet, but that was because Relena and Meia hadn't done anything in a week.
She stood up and walked back the flat. When she returned to the flat, at the mailbox there was a large envelope waiting for her that was sticking out of the mailbox. She looked at it with uneasiness as she gently pulled it out. If it were a bomb, it would have already gone off. Instead, it looked as if the envelope was holding something heavy that distributed to the bottom left corner of the envelope. Sighing in relief, she continued upstairs, when she opened the door Meia was watering the plants.
"Did you have a good walk?" asked Meia.
Nodding Relena held up the envelope for Meia to see it, and Meia looked at the envelope strangely. "I don't know what's in it. But, there's only one way to find out," said Relena as she opened the it. It was relatively easy to open because it was sealed, rather it was kept shut by the clasps. Relena emptied the contents on to the pool table next to her laptop. The sound of a distinct cluck was made as the solid object fell onto the table, along with a piece of folded paper. Relena ignored the solid object in favor of the piece of paper. It was a copy from a book, and it was the full oath of Noir. Relena gasped when she read it. Meia stood next to her on alert when Relena read it.
"I don't get it," whispered Relena. Meia tugged on the lower right corner of the paper gently to alert Relena that there was something written on the lower part of the paper that couldn't be seen when it was just laying on the table. She turned it over and it out loud, "This is what belongs to you. The other belongs to him." Relena's attention was now turned to the object on the table. She gently picked it up. It was a necklace with a silver chain. She remembered where she had seen the necklace before. "This is my father's. It's the seal of the Sank Kingdom," whispered Relena as she turned the pendant so that Meia could see the symbol.
"What does this mean?" asked Meia quietly.
"I don't know," said Relena, shaking her head. She walked over to the envelope and peered into it, but found nothing more inside. She turned on her laptop and waited for it to boot up. She needed to clear her mind with work. Meia stood next to her, reading over her shoulder. "There's a new contract," whispered Relena as she opened the e-mail, which read:
"The order of assassination is for Millardo Peacecraft. He is to be eliminated in one day upon accepting this contract. He is working for the Preventers under a codename, Wind."
Relena sat back in shock. How could there be a contract out on a dead man? She looked at the royal seal on the table. The seal that only the King of the Sank Kingdom could wear. She glared back at the laptop screen with her hand clutched in fists and her jaw clutched tightly. Her brother was alive.
* * *
Zechs was at his desk one of the sealed off sections of the Preventers offices in Paris. Noin suggested that was best when Relena came storming in a few weeks ago just before the incident in Japan. Relena had almost seen him, if Noin hadn't shut the door right away. According to Heero, Relena had gone home to the Sank Kingdom for three days, but no one had any idea as to where she went in the Sank Kingdom. His concerns about Relena didn't fade away, and he was also concerned about the assassin who was running around because it had become his new mission. Lady Une gave orders that finding out information on Noir was exactly the job that was perfect for him. The Gundam pilots were more open and accessible to the public than he was, and the job was perfect for a covert agent like himself.
"I look forward to meeting you, Noir," he said very softly as he looked at the evidence in front of him. He looked forward to the challenge. He wanted to meet this person known as Noir. Zechs always liked it when he was able to meet someone whose skills were exceptional. He wondered if anyone out there matched Heero Yuy. Despite their utter dislike towards one another, there was a grudging respect.
Zechs wondered if Noir was worthy of the title and reputation that the name commanded. Little did he know the ties he had to Noir were deep. He also unknowingly had ties to the Society of Night, but like his father was kept in the dark about such things.
* * *
"We don't have to accept the contract, Lena," said Meia, snapping Relena out of her deep thought.
"No. We have to accept it," said Relena in a tired and sad voice at the same time she shook her head. She had thought about it. If she didn't accept the contract, then someone else would be hired to do it, and they could finish off her brother without much thought. She was one of the best, if not the best, in the business, but there were many whose skills nearly matched her own. Relena thought of Kurai. Relena had to forty-eight hours to do the job. That was more than enough time for her to find out who the original contractor was and eliminate him or her, so that the contract on Millardo would cancel out. By accepting the contract, she could buy him some time.
Meia sat down the edge of the pool table, playing with one of the balls. She gently rolled it into the hole that was across from her. "We'll find out who the contractor is," said Relena as she accepted the job.
"One day, Lena, we'll have to take out some of the Preventers. It's unavoidable," said Meia without looking at her.
"I know. I know," whispered Relena as she swallowed and nodded. "But, I can't kill my brother. I just can't." Meia looked at her and nodded. Relena said, "Thank you, Meia."
Without saying a word, Meia agreed to kill Millardo for Relena, if she couldn't do it. However, there was still time. And perhaps, Relena could it herself.
* * *
Relena had to come up with something. She had to warn the Preventers and her brother, but that meant confirming the existence of Noir. After several hours of mind numbing work in front of the computer, she found out the Preventers had reports on Noir, but they couldn't confirm if Noir had done the hits or nor. Some of them were Noir, others were not. There were other unsolved cases that Relena knew that she and Meia did. Relena knew now that her brother was the agent that Jack had warned about before. She had no warning about this. Worst yet, Millardo had been recently assigned the case of locating Noir by Lady Une. Relena and Millardo were going to have to face off with each other. 'How biblical?' thought Relena with a wry smile. She found out where his office was at the Preventers Offices, but she wasn't that surprised to find out that he was stationed in Paris. Relena's anger was starting to seep through her cool façade. True, she was happy that he was alive, but she had been lied to by not just him, but Noin and the former Gundam pilots. Her anger was starting from her belly like a fire that was filling her chest as well.
"I'm going to the Preventers," said Relena quietly after sitting still for ten minutes. Meia looked up at her.
"Do you think that's wise, Lena? Are you going to see him?" asked Meia.
"Of course. It's been a while. Six years. It's about time for a family reunion," answered Relena as she walked out the door, shutting it behind her with a soft, almost inaudible click.
Meia leaned back against the wall that she had been sitting against. 'I hope her judgment isn't getting to clouded. She's in danger of making mistakes,' thought Meia.
Relena didn't know exactly how she got to the Preventers Offices because she was kind of walking blindly. It started to rain on the way over, but she didn't pay attention to the rain, or rather she didn't seem to notice it. She didn't pack her gun with her because her only intention was to talk to her brother, and the metal detectors would go off for sure. The Gundam pilots were spread out. Quatre had to be at a function in L4; Duo was at home with Hilde in London; Trowa was with the circus at L3; Wufei was working in London, and Heero was in Kyoto tying up loose ends on behalf of Dr. J because he had to rush back when Ambassador Riley was killed, he didn't have time to finish.
Relena had to find the way to the sealed off section where Millardo's office was. It was a good thing that she had her portable with her with the map of the Preventers Offices scanned into it. Luckily, she was able to get into the building without much trouble. She charmed the man at the front into believing that she was going to see Lady Une and convinced him that she had an appointment, so that he wouldn't have to call ahead. She walked down the hallow corridors until she reached the place she wanted to go to.
Zechs was at still at his desk at his computer compiling a profile of the assassin, Noir. Relena opened the door to his almost without making a sound. He was so engrossed in his work that he didn't bother to look up even though he heard someone walk in. Relena stood at the doorway, expressionlessly as she cleared her throat to get his attention.
"Millardo," Relena finally said causing him to snap up at attention because she was the only one who called him that. Millardo actually looked surprised, and that was hard to do to the former Lightning Baron. His light blue eyes widened as he looked at the figure in front of him. Her hair was still a little wet from the rain outside, and it was clear that she didn't take an umbrella or a cab over to the offices. Millardo stood up from his chair and walked over to her. Relena remembered what Jack said about Millardo. She carefully kept her distance because she still knew who she truly was.
"Relena," said Millardo in a soft whisper as he reached out to touch her hand to see if she was real, when he confirmed it, he slightly smiled. "What are you doing here? You're not supposed to be here. Did you walk here in the rain? You shouldn't have done that. You could get sick," he said softly with concern.
"I feel fine. And you're not supposed to be here either. You're supposed to be dead," said Relena blandly as she pulled further away from him. A flicker of pain came across his face momentarily because she was being so cold towards him, but he expected it.
"Why are you here?" asked Millardo because he could sense something.
"About Japan. Some of the people I work for have been known to hire assassins. I don't know anything about them personally, but I do know one thing: Noir has been contracted to kill you. If you don't find out who the original contractor is before twenty-two hours are up starting right now, then you'll be dead," whispered Relena without looking up at him, letting her hair shade her face. Millardo was surprised twice in one afternoon.
* * *
"I hope that she passes this test," said Athena Angeleno. She was in her mid-thirties and a very elegant woman with long dark blonde hair and clear amber eyes that held a serene look in them.
"What if she doesn't?" asked Kurai who was having tea with Athena in Paris.
"Then you will have no choice, but to exact punishment on her," answered Athena simply.
"I do not think that is going to make her come home any sooner," said Kurai as she sipped her tea.
"You two are halves of a whole. One piece together. Remember that, Kurai. You must not be just sympathetic. She is a lost lamb. You must return her to the flock. You must return her to us," said Athena. When she looked up Kurai was gone.
* * *
"You know about Noir?" asked Millardo as he shut the door to his office. "Sit down," he ordered Relena in a gently tone that most of the people underneath him wouldn't believe it if he used it on them. Relena shook her head and refused to take seat. Millardo sighed inwardly at her stubbornness because it matched his own.
"I've heard of Noir. Noir will be impossible for you to find on time. Noir is typically hired by people who are more dangerous than the assassins. Noir just follows the orders that it's given. You won't get any answers any from Noir," said Relena in a steady voice. She took a big risk approaching her brother like this. She knew that no one in his or her right mind would believe, even with evidence, that Relena was Noir. By coming to the Preventers with information, she diverted them away from her even more so. No one would call Relena a fool.
Millardo looked at her and found that he believed her, even though he didn't know why. He could tell that she was worried about him, but it seemed deeper than that. He simply couldn't tell what it was exactly. She was hiding something from him, and he could tell. "Is there anything else you want to say to me?" asked Millardo because he realized that she should have been upset at him. He placed his hands on her shoulders, which he realized were stronger than they were before. Had she really changed all that much in the past five years?
"There's nothing else. Just find out who hired Noir. I don't have anything else to say to you right now, Millardo," said Relena as she walked back to the door to open it. She opened it without saying another word and walked out of the office. Millardo let her go without making a move to stop her. He thought that there was something wrong with her, but he could figure out why. All the time he had seen her ever his return to Paris, he had observed her from a far. This was the first time he actually felt the coldness that everyone else had discussed before. What was wrong with her?
"Relena?" asked a voice from behind her as she made her exit from the Preventers Offices. Noin and Sally were standing just behind her. Sally was the one who spoke to her.
"Yes," said Relena, pausing in her steps.
"What are you doing here?" asked Noin.
"She came her to visit me," answered Millardo from behind them.
"What? How did she find out?" asked Sally. That was a good question. When everyone turned around, Relena was gone.
* * *
Relena and Meia weren't wasting their time, hoping that the Preventers would find out who the original contractor was on their own. Noir's plans were to find the original contractor and take him or her out before the Preventers could get there. Relena had to start by back tracking Millardo's past cases with hopes of finding clues.
"The Society did this," whispered Relena after some time had past. Five hours had past since Relena accepted the contract. If she didn't think fast, she would have to kill her own brother. It was the contract. She had never broken a contract before. Meia was already prepared to do it for her.
"Why would they contract you to kill him?" asked Meia. She learned something about Relena. Relena always wanted to know why the targets were targeted. It was the only way she could justify her work.
"Because of what happened during the war. Millardo was head of the White Fang at the end of the war. He nearly destroyed everything in an attempt to bring order. The Society sees him as a threat to the peace now, but he isn't," said Relena. The anger was starting to really searing her insides. Her brother was not only alive, but he was again interfering with her life and work. The Gundam pilots along with Sally, Noin, and Lady Une deceived her. She felt like a fool visiting his grave, even though he was alive. 'What are you thinking? You're the one who's lied the most out of all of them,' said a voice in Relena's mind. She shook her head.
"Relena, what are we going to do?" asked Meia. They were out of options, and they both knew it.
"We'll have to wait. There's still more than a day left," whispered Relena as she stood up.
"Where are you going now?" asked Meia.
"Out," answered Relena as she picked up her .35 automatic and two cartridges of bullets.
"But, what about the contract?" asked Meia with concern.
"Hack into the Preventers' computers. Find out everything they know," answered Relena.
"Alright," agreed Meia. She got to the laptop to start working automatically. Relena left the flat without looking back. She didn't bother to ask if Meia could hack into the Preventers systems because she already knew that she could.
* * *
"I can't believe Relena's actually heard of Noir," said Dorothy with a low whistle at the end. Sometimes Relena really impressed her.
"She says that it was one of her employers who hired Noir to kill you, Zechs," said Noin.
"Well, I've contacted Trowa, Quatre, and Heero to come back to Paris," said Wufei.
"What's their ETA?" asked Duo who caught the fastest transport to Paris with Wufei from London.
"Heero should arrived in three hours from Kyoto. He had to take a later transport. Quatre said that he'll try to be here by late afternoon tomorrow, but he's got some meetings with some delegates. Trowa said he'll be here at dawn tomorrow," answered Wufei.
"There isn't much time left. I'll have to meet Noir soon," said Millardo in a causal tone.
"Aren't you the slightest bit concerned?" asked Dorothy.
"No. This is the best chance we've got to trap Noir. I should have thought of this sooner," answered Millardo calmly.
"I get it. Be bait for Noir. And why not? You'd be the best target out of all of us," said Duo with a small laugh. Noin glared at him, but Millardo shook his head.
"He's right. He's absolutely right. I would be a target," said Zechs. He was slipping off his Millardo persona that he was used only in the presence of his sister; he was back to his Zechs Marquise mode. He was racking his brain earlier as to how to locate Noir he wouldn't to have to think about it if Noir was coming to him. The way he saw Relena's information had put him at an advantage. Although, at the same time he was concerned about her safety. As soon as Heero arrived, they would discuss it. Zechs had already decided that Heero should already protect Relena. Otherwise, Zechs would have liked protecting his own sister, but that wasn't possible because Noir was after him.
He didn't realize how wrong he was.
* * *
Relena was walking down the streets of Paris alone after sunset. The sun was slowly dipping into the horizon, but she was going off somewhere to be alone for a while and think about things. The decision she was faced with was horribly heart wrenching. At this time, she remembered her decision to kill her Uncle Gustave, which only resulted in more pain for her. Kurai watched her leave the flat, but didn't follow her to where she was going. 'The lost lamb,' thought Kurai as she moved through the shadows of Paris' alleys. She was not allowed to infer with the test that Relena was facing. All she could do was watch. Only after the outcome of the test could Kurai act. She hoped that she wouldn't have to.
Relena walked passed many cafes and shops until she was in a less populated part of Paris. She walked until she was along side a small stream. She had gone to this place many times with Uncle Gustave and with Meia. This was the only training grounds of Noir. She walked until she was underneath an old bridge that was no longer used at all. There were no people around, so she took out her .35 caliber gun and pointed it at a large circle that was drawn into the concert wall. The circle already had numerous bullets inside it because Relena would come to the bridge even before Meia arrived to practice her shooting, and even after Meia arrived they would come together. It was ritual they did before every job.
She kept firing at the circle. The shots went off until she extinguished the first clip. She changed clips and fired again and again. She kept hitting the circle without any trouble, remembering how her uncle stood behind her keeping her arms steady to get her accustomed to the kick back of the gun. Suddenly, Relena was missing the foot-wide circle.
Her vision was blurring because tears were filling the rims of her eyes. She gasped and pulled back her slightly trembling arms, allowing her left arm to go down, but kept firing. The bullets were going everywhere, except the circle. The bullet clip was empty. No more bullets were in the gun. She kept her finger on the trigger continuing to press it with her index finger. She sank to her knees in tears. Finally, she let her right arm fall to her side. Her crying wasn't a loud sobbing cry where she was shaking uncontrollably.
Her tears were slowly falling down her face in total silence. "I can't do it. I don't think I can continue," she whispered finally in a clear voice.
'I am Noir. I cannot fail. I am Noir. I am the best assassin in the world. I am Noir. I will honor all contracts. I am Noir. I will kill my own blood if necessary,' thought Relena over and over again.
There was less than twenty-four hours left.
Next Episode, Episode Seventeen: The Order of
Assassination, Part Two…